Dr. Cecil A. Fayard
Marriage/Family Sermon Series  

INTRODUCTION: In Hebrews 11:7, the Bible says that Noah, "prepared an ark to saving of his home..." Year by year, Noah built the ark for the saving of his family. There is nothing more important that the saving of our homes.

1. Noah walked with God.
   
2. Noah's walk with God was a witness to his family-this is the most important witness of all. We need to live the Gospel before our children.
   
3. Noah won his family to God. They believed because Noah's witness. Noah, "prepared an ark to the saving of his home for our family.

1. PSALM 127:1, CONSTRUCTION
   1. Jesus is the Master builder.
      
      1. He is the cornerstone.
         
      2. He is the Rock of Ages.

   2. To build a spiritual home, we must follow God's blueprint, the Bible.
      
      1. Marry the right person. Make a big deal out of choosing a mate.
         
      2. To marry the right person, you need to be the right kind of person.
         
      3. "Be not unequally yoked." Marry in the faith.
         
      4. Don't marry for beauty alone. That Revlon, Maybelline, Max Factor and Avon wash off.

   3. Study and learn Bible love.
      
      1. Not sentimental, moon-eyed love. Illustration: One piece of pie and a coke.
         
      2. There is no such thing as free love. Love costs something. It cost God His Son (John 3:16). Free sex leads to guilt and emptiness.

   4. Love needs to be expressed in the home through action.
      
      1. A wife needs to meet the needs of her husband. The wife needs to ask, "How can I meet my husbands needs: spiritually, emotionally and physically?" In I Peter 3:6 God's Word sys, "Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord..." The word obeyed means to pay attention to. Sara paid attention to Abraham's needs.

         Needs of a husband:
         

         1. Respect - don't run him down all the time.
            
         2. Acceptance as a leader (I Corinthians 11:3).
            
         3. Be beautiful for him - don't greet him in curlers, two old wooly slippers and frayed cotton housecoat.
            
         4. Realize he needs time with the Lord.
            
         5. Be grateful for him.

      2. A man needs to meet the needs of his wife. The husband needs to ask, "How can I meet the needs of my wife: spiritually, emotionally and physically?" In I Peter 3:7, the Bible says, "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge. The word dwell means to share in life, to live with her "according to knowledge". Realize that she is precious.

         Needs of a wife:

         1. Security, stability, direction. Don't tell her you are going to leave her or divorce her. Tell her that it's for life - not exactly a life sentence, but for life. Someone said, "Single people die earlier - marriage is a slow death."
            
         2. Let her know that you love her and that she meets your needs.
            
            1. If a man has enough horse sense to treat his wife like a thoroughbred, she'll never turn into an old nag.
               
            2. Marriages are like diets - they can be ruined by a little dish on the side.
            
            
         3. Let her know that you cherish her, that you delight in her.
            
            1. At anniversary time, the wise husband will always forget the past - but not the present.
               
            2. The BONDS of matrimony are a good investment, only when the interest is kept up.
            
            
         4. Protect her - the weaker vessel. Illustration: ERA, in the garden, your mother ate us out of house and home."
            
         5. Converse with her, spend quality time with her.
            
            1. Date your mate
               
            2. Give her flowers
               
            3. Run away with her
               
            4. Tell her, "I'm glad I married you."
               
            5. Share happy memories.

   5. "Except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen waketh but in vain."
      
      1. Every city is a collection of homes. No city can be stronger than its homes. To take Christ out of our nation and cities is a sure way of destruction.
         
      2. Building our homes on Christ will bless our city. Every robber or doper is the product of a home.
         
      3. To keep the city from the danger of prostitution, perversion, drugs and alcoholism - we need Christ in the home.

2. VERSE 2, CONTENTMENT IN THE HOME
   
   1. Let God be the builder of our homes. Don't base your life on material goods, have it on Christ.
      1. Trouble starts in a marriage when a man is so busy earning his salt that he forgets his sugar!
         
      2. Many folks are so busy making a living they can't live.

   2. Many folks spent the first half of life spending their health to get wealth, and the second half spending their wealth to regain their health (Haggai 1:6-7).

      
      

3. VERSES 3-5, CHILDREN OF THE HOME.
   
   1. Verse 3, children are a blessing not a penalty or a burden.
      
      1. Some say children make a rich man poor. Others say they make a poor man rich.
         
      2. They are not a history; they are a heritage.

   2. Verse 4, Direct them.
      
      1. They can and are aimed. They are in your hands.
         
      2. Put them in the bowstring of prayer. One of these days you'll be sending them off. Do your aiming now.
         
         1. Accept them for who they are.
            
         2. Love unconditionally.

   3. Verse 5, Dependability of the home.
      
      1. Quiver-normally 5. Yet a quiver may be small yet full. Illustration: Twins, 3M, 7 Up.
         
      2. Shall not be ashamed. We need courage in our young folks.
         
         1. They meet the foes head on.
            
         2. His sons will stand.
            
      3. Speak with enemies at the gate.
         
         1. As a defense of a besieged city.
            
         2. Gate common place of attack. Hope for America is Godly children.