Choices in a marriage-recognizing the land mines

Night before Desert Storm 
Troops to begin land invasion trying liberate Kuwait from Saddam Hussein
Supernatural intervention took place-troops will never forget
There was a sudden shift in the wind
Usually wind blows from the north
This time, it shifted and blew from the south
One Saudi officer said that “It never blows from that direction”
They cannot say that anymore!
When invasion began the next morning-the allied troops witnessed an unbelievable site
There was a huge, exposed minefield in front of them
The mines that had been concealed under the sane and would have destroyed many soldiers-were un-covered by this unprecedented wind.
The soldiers knew exactly where to step

The ability to distinguish good from evil is discernment
Hebrews 5:14 “Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil”

Getting tougher and tougher on marriages and families to see sin
It is disguised in our lives

You guys have seen relationships and marriages struggle….
What are some of the reasons that you have seen?
Power, Alcohol, drugs, infidelity, money, in-laws, pride, possessions, Pornography, Abuse

These are land mines.

Our world is a moral minefield

We can easily step into something we never meant to.

We must train ourselves to be able to distinguish good from evil

Instead of teaching what every moral choice should be, we should teach how to make moral choices.

In our house:  “What is the right thing to do?”

Five questions:  

Will it let darkness into my mind?  Proverbs 4:23  “Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life”.  Don’t be softened up for an invasion of your mind by letting some dark thoughts and ideas get in there through what you watch or listen to.

Will it hurt our reputation?  Proverbs 22:1 says “A good name is more desirable that great riches.”  Protect your name.

Will it hurt the people I influence?  Kids, siblings, friends, people that look up to me?  Romans 14:13 says “Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

Will it hurt your body?  If it devalues or degrades your body it is sinful.  Corinthians 6:19 says “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit”.  God lives in you.  Don’t hurt him.

Will it hurt Jesus who is watching what I am doing?  Ephesians 5:10 says “Find out what pleases the Lord”
Conclusion:

All these land mines are out there….they are everywhere and everyday.  We make choices.  You make choices.  Think about the disagreements that you have had with your spouse.  Someone made a choice.  Sometimes both of you made a choice to dig your heels in and not admit that you were wrong.  A choice maybe to hurt the other person.

You can have easily chosen to do the God-like thing and find the compromise, provide unconditional love, provide support and understanding.  You could have made a sacrifice.  God made a sacrifice of his only Son.  How did your sacrifice compare?

If you have been married 2 years or 20 years-you are realizing that so much of the small stuff really didn‘t matter.  What matters is that you have the ability to make the right choices, it is totally up to you.

If you need God’s help in blowing away the landmines, he gave us an incredible tool.  Use the bible and pray.