FOR PERSONAL APPLICATION These aspects of the study can be used in between group sessions on your own, either with your spouse or individually as part of your devotional and confession life.
Do Something During the week ahead, turn your learning into doing.
Memorize Paul’s ad hoc list of Christ-like traits—aka “the fruit of the Spirit”—at Galatians 5:22-23 . Rehearse this list several times a day, as a prayer to the Spirit that his sanctifying work within you will proceed at a pace. Also, add to your prayer other characteristics that are particularly wanting in your own self—perhaps humility? Purity? Wisdom? With this list now constantly on your mind, be vigilant to apply it in the little moments of your marriage where you would be prone instead to serve the kingdom of self. Search Me, O God For introspection during the coming week. Why do I want the kingdom of my own self in my marriage, when I know the perfections of God’s better Kingdom? Where precisely does the problem lie? What can I do to identify the reason(s) for my selfishness? And then what steps can I practically take to subdue and forsake it? Is there someone who knows me well, and whom I trust in the Lord, who can help me answer these questions, and will pray for me? Want to Know More? One of the Bible’s grand themes is sanctification : God's work does not stop at conversion, but the Spirit then conducts a work of progressive holiness in our hearts us to conform us to the character of Jesus. Throughout Scripture the writers enlist an agrarian metaphor of fruit-bearing to depict the Spirit’s work. This theme is directly pertinent to today’s discussion, and it will be helpful to consider several such sanctification passages as you resolve to serve the Kingdom of God rather than the kingdom of self in your marriage: • Psalm 92:12-15 • Proverbs 12:12,14 • Isaiah 61:1-3 (Jesus speaking prophetically through Isaiah; note the end of v3 ). • Matthew 13:18-23 • Luke 3:7-9 • John 15:1-11 • Romans 6:20-23 • Galatians 5:13-25 • Philippians 1:9-11 • Colossians 1:9-12 • Hebrews 12:3-11
For More From Paul Tripp, Read: Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make, Chapters 15 and 16
Session 8
WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?
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