The Feeling is Mutual (05.13.18 Notes - Mother's Day)

The Feeling is Mutual

#YouAskedForIt Week Two

Pastor Kris Freeman

Revolution Church

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Scripture: Ephesians 5:21-33 (NLT)

21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

Submission is - believe it or not, an actual of MUTUAL respect.

Submission in parenting and the marital relationship begins with GOD at the head of everything that we do together. As a couple, but FIRST as an individual, we must be submissive to him.

Today’s You Asked For It question deals with the roles of men and women in marital relationships, even what is the man’s role as the head of the family and what does that mean?

25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 

This scripture proves that a man should be a LEADER, a SERVANT, and SUBMIT and SACRIFICE.

1. There is nothing wrong or chauvinistic about good male leadership in the family.
2. Men should be AWESOME husbands.
3. Men should be good role models.
4. Men should be good friends.
5. Men should be GREAT dads.

Our God is every quality of a GREAT dad - and even a great mom! Believe it or not!

28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 30 And we are members of his body.

Husbands, love your wives! And here’s why women deserve to be loved!

1. Women are vitally important and Biblically significant to the plan of God.
2. Women should be INCREDIBLE wives.
3. Women should be fantastic mentors and leaders.
4. Women should be good friends.
5. Women as mothers are the GREATEST THING on earth!

31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Relationships should seem easy - but it’s very difficult! It’s EXTREMELY difficult.

Then you add KIDS. Wow!

Being a parent is such a blessing! But it’s a tough road!

1. Being a parent is a biological thing - God said be fruitful and multiply!
2. Being a parent is a psychological thing - it produces mental growth and challenges!
3. Being a parent is a spiritual thing - you are the leaders of your children’s future!
4. Being a parent is a tragic and heart-breaking thing - the roller coasters are so hard!
5. Being a parent is a perfect thing to illustrate the love of God toward us.

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. (Proverbs 22:6 NLT)

The Church Should Step Up (05.08.18 Notes)

The Church Should Step Up

#YouAskedForIt Week One

Pastor Kris Freeman

Revolution Church

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Scripture: Psalm 34:17-20 (NLT)

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. 19 The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. 20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!

Today’s question for You Asked For It addresses what the Bible says about mental illness, depression, stress and handling the prevention and awareness of our country’s epidemic of suicide.

The most important thing you need to know - the church MUST do a better job with this!

A survey by Lifeway Research in September of 2015 found that close to HALF of evangelical, fundamental and born-again Christians believe prayer and Bible study alone can solve mental illness. So if that’s true, why is this PARALYZING the modern church with seemingly no answers?

The facts about mental illness:

1. Half of all adults will struggle with some type of mental illness, depression or suicide thoughts at least once in their lifetime.
2. Chronic mental illness often begins by age 14
3. One in five children struggle with mental illness prior to the age of 18
4. Estimates say that 90 percent of suicide cases involve mental illness or depression.

For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7)

The horrific results of untreated mental illness, depression and PTSD result in a complete loss of self-control and TRAGEDY.

It’s time for the church to stop believing the WORST-CASE SCENARIOS only happen to those we don’t know or don’t NEED!!!!

Worst-case scenarios:

1. Domestic violence
2. Suicide
3. Violent crime
4. Institutionalization and Removal
5. Mania/Unrealistic expectations

THREE REASONS the CHURCH must ADDRESS this issue:

1. It’s Biblical - the GOSPELS show Jesus caring for others.

So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. (Matthew 4:24)

2. It’s Historical - the church was the originator of the hospital. The church has been CARING for the sick and the hurting longer than any government, agency or civil authority or organization.

This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. (Psalm 91:2)

3. It’s Practical - This is a Crisis.

Before anyone will ever call a doctor, a law enforcement officer or a counselor, the first place they often turn is the church or a pastor. Why? Because we should help! But secondary, we often fear stigma, procedures and financial obligations.

The church cannot do this ALONE.

You - as a representative of Jesus - MUST INTERVENE.

1. Set aside your fears and DO SOMETHING.
2. Be hope. Be help. Be hard.
3. Stay firm. Stay friends. Stay faithful.

A set of RESOURCES is provided for you to seek help.

The most common question asked by the church in regards to suicide is “Does someone who commits suicide go to Heaven?” Can I stir you up for a moment? Can I push your buttons? Stop asking that question! INSTEAD…let’s STEP UP so that the person battling those thoughts NEVER believes they have to give up.

The Hope Circle:

1. I hate myself - YOU ARE LOVED - 1 John 4:10

2. I don’t matter - YOU HAVE A PURPOSE - Jeremiah 29:11

3. I don’t fit in - YOU BELONG - Romans 12:4-5

4. I want to give up - YOU HAVE A CHOICE - 2 Corinthians 4:7

5. I feel useless - YOU ARE NEEDED - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Let our mourning for those who DID be a catalyst to help those who MIGHT to inspire them with hope to be those who DIDN’T because someone helped them! Someone helped you!

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)