Aquilla and Priscilla

Turn your Bibles to Acts chapter 18. Acts chapter 18. We're going to continue our series today on marriages made in heaven but lived on earth. Looking at Bible couples and what we can learn from their lives. And today we're going to look at one of the New Testament couples. And this is one that may or may not be familiar with in Acts chapter 18. And beginning with verse number one, the Bible says, "After these things, Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth and found a certain Jew named Aquilla, born in Pontis, lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because at Claudius commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome, and came onto them, because he was of the same craft, he abodeed with them and wrought for their occupation.

They were tent makers." Before I get too far into the message, let me apologize for my voice. picked up a cold at the men's retreat and I'm trying to stay away from people. I'm not shaking hands and not because I'm not trying to be nice to you, but I just trying to avoid that. But I'll apologize trying to get through this messes and uh finish it up today. But anyways, we got Aquilla and Priscilla as a couple we want to learn from for our not only our marriages, but I believe these things can be learned for each of our lives individually as well. And and the first thing I want you to see from their lives is the fact that Quill and Priscilla were had a missional mindset.

They had a missional mindset. In Romans chapter 16 verses 3-5, it says, "Greet Priscilla and Aquilla, my helpers in Christ Jesus, who for have for my life laid down their own necks unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. salute my well-beloved Epapanisitis which is the first fruits of Acacia onto Christ. He talks about Priscilla and Quilla who were willing to lay down their own necks and uh and and for Paul and for the church. And as you go through and you read about them in the Bible, there's six different references to their to them as a couple in the Bible.

As you go through and read, one of the things you see is that that they they live their life with a mission or a purpose. They live their life with a mission or a purpose. And I wonder what is your mission or what is your purpose as an individual, as a couple or as a family? In Romans 8 28, the Bible says that we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them that are called according to his purpose for whom he did for. No, he also did predestinated be formed to the image of his son that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Do you have a purpose in life? Do you have a mission in life that you are fulfilling for the Lord that you are aiming towards?

You know, every great company has a purpose statement. They have a missional statement. Uh, for example, there's Disney, and they're going to put that up on the screen here. We create happiness by providing the finest entertainment for people of all ages. And, uh, and you know what? I think they've probably accomplished their mission, haven't you? If you've been to Disneyland, you've been to Disney World, uh you could say yes, they they have created entertainment and fun. And then you've got Google. Their their mission is to make the world's information universally acceptable and useful. And and I would say again, I'm not always happy with Google, but as a whole, they've been a real they've fulfilled their mission.

When I need to know something, I Google it. Don't you as well? And then you've got Coca-Cola. uh their mission statement to refresh the world to inspire moments of optimism and happiness to create value and make a difference. Uh they've done that overall though I think Dr. Pepper does a better job. But anyway, um then you've got Microsoft and Microsoft statement is empower every person, every organization on planet to achieve more. And and again, that computer you have on your desk or in your lap, uh it it just allows you to do more than you thought ever possible before. And then you've got Walmart, their mission statement to be the best retail retailer in the hearts and minds of consumers, employees, saving people money so they can live better.

And again, you know, we sometimes get upset with Walmart and think that Target might be better because they're, you know, whatever. But, uh, overall, Walmart has done that. They've brought better prices. And then you've got, uh, Southwest Airlines or no, Facebook. Facebook is the next one. Mission, giving people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. And they've done it again. They've done that all those ways that I'm not sure I like, but uh, they've accomplished that goal. And then finally, you got Southwest Airlines. And their mission is to dedication to highest quality of customer service.

Deliver with sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and company spirit. Purpose to connect people to what's important in their lives through friendly, reliable, lowcost air travel. Anybody flown Southwest recently? Have they fulfilled their mission? No. Okay. Uh they're not maybe not do as well. But you know, a mission statement doesn't mean you're going to accomplish that. But what it does do is give you a goal to work towards. You've all been to companies that you they really strive to meet their mission statement. You go to certain companies, you could see, boy, they really are working hard to accomplish what they what they start out to do.

I like uh saving canes and and they've got a very focused mission of the kind of food that they're going to make and and you know when you you have a mission spa statement and I believe that every one of us as a couple, as an individual, as a couple, and as a family ought to have a purpose, a mission statement. God created you for a purpose. The Bible says in Isaiah 43:7, "Even everyone that is called by my name, for I have created him for my glory. I have formed him. Yay, I have made him." Not only did he create you for a purpose, he saved you for a purpose. In Ephesians chapter 1, turn over there with me if you would in Ephesians chapter 1 and beginning with verse number six.

Ephesians chapter 1 and beginning with verse number six. Ephesians 1 and verse number six it says to the praise of his glory of the glory of his grace wherein he had made us accepted in the beloved. Then skip down to verse number 12 that we should be the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ and whom also after you also trusted after that you heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation in whom also after that you believed you were sealed with that holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance the redemption of the purchase and possession unto the praise of his glory.

God created you for his glory, but he also saved you for his glory. He saved you to bring glory to him. Now, let me ask you a question. Have you trusted in Christ? It says in verse 13, whom al you also trusted after that you heard the word of truth. Have you heard the gospel that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again that God so loved you that he gave his only begotten son to save you from your sins? Have you heard the truth of the gospel and trusted in him? You need to put your trust in Jesus Christ as your savior, not in your own self. The Bible says in Ephesians chapter 2:es 8 and n for by grace are you saved through faith that not of yourselves.

It's the gift of God, not of works lest a man should boast. We can't trust in our religion. We can't trust in our rituals like baptism or catechism or church membership. We cannot trust in our own righteousness. We need to trust in what Jesus did when he died upon the cross. Trust in his death, his burial, his resurrection. Not only do you need to trust, but you also need to believe. In verse number 13, it tells us uh in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Have you believed in Jesus Christ as your savior? In 2 Timothy 1:12, it says, "For this cause I also suffered these things.

Nevertheless, I'm not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and it persuades able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day. Have you believed in Jesus Christ, trusted him, and said, "Lord, here is my soul. I want you to keep it for all eternity. I want you to take me to heaven when you die." You see, you need to believe in him. You need to trust in him as your personal savior. See, you cannot make a statement, a personal mission statement that I'm going to glorify God if you're not saved. You got to make, you got to be able, first of all, make a statement of your salvation.

Could you make a statement of your salvation? In 1 John 5:es 12 and 13, the Bible says, "He that hath the son hath life. He that hath not the son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the son of God that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may believe on the name of the son of God. Could you make a statement today to say that I know if I died today I would go to heaven. I know that my sins are forgiven. I know that I have eternal life. You see that's not me talking. That's God talking. And God says, you can make that absolute statement that I know I'm going to heaven, not because of who you are or what you've done, but because of what he did for you when and you trusted in him.

You believed in him as your personal savior. And so, do you have that ability to make that statement? God created you for his glory. God also saved you for his glory. In Esther 4 and verse 14 is this where thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time. Then shall there enlarge men and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed. Now listen to this last statement. And who knoweth whether thou come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Amen. You see, right now, God's put you here for a purpose. You're not here by accident. You're here for a purpose.

Maybe you're here because you're not saved and you need to trust Jesus Christ your savior. Maybe you're here because you're a Christian, but you you're not growing in the Lord like you need to and you need to you need to be more faithful to him. But for whatever reason, God has a plan and God has a purpose in your life. And and and Aquilla and Priscilla, they they knew their purpose. And I don't know if they had an actual purpose statement, but you know what? Uh what is your mission or what is your purpose? Could you put that into a statement like these companies did? In Joshua 24:15, it says, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers serve, which were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, whose land you dwell.

But as for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord." That's Joshua's statement. You know, that's a lot of you have got that on your wall. How many have got that that statement? As for me, my house, we shall serve the Lord. How many have got this somewhere on a wall or place in your house? It's it's the second most popular Bible verse to put on your wall or on your gate in Hawaii. Do you know what the first first one is? The most popular Bible verse. Philippians 3:2, beware of dogs. That's the most popular Bible verse in Hawaii. And by the way, you can use that in witnessing people. When you when you come to their house, you can say, "Hey, I see you got a Bible verse on your gate, you know, and you can use that to open up to talking about the Lord as well."

But uh but you know a lot of people have that statement as for me in my house we shall serve the Lord. But is that real in your life? Is that true in your life? You see I I think it's good for everyone in this room to have a purpose statement. I would challenge you if you've never done this sit down and write a purpose statement for your life, a mission statement for your life. It could be done like this was uh this first one is one that was done by a young couple and they put this down. If you could put that one up and this was their marriage vision statement. Through God's grace, our marriage will exhibit the glory of God.

As Mark reflects Christ and Andrew reflects the church. As husband and wife, we covenant together to display the gospel, making Christ known to one another, our family, our church, and our community as we serve each other selflessly, love unconditionally, give sacrificially, and forgive generously. ee, when they got married, they said, "This is what we want our life to be." And they made a statement to that. And and maybe you could do that as a family as well. Here's a couple examples of some family uh statements. This one, you probably seen something like this. Family rules. Always tell the truth, keep your promises, use kind words, do your best, say please and thank you, laugh often, try new things, show respect, take care of stuff, work and play.

You you've seen plaques like that. That's a good thing to have. Or here's another one. Uh this one is the sum is family mission statement. As a family, we live to glorify God in all we say and do and and are are we will live simply, serve others, pursue growth, nurture relationships, and celebrate life. And then here's another one here on the screen. Our family mission to have a Christ-C centered home that brings glory to God through the way that we love and the way that we live. That we should be servants of grace and mercy who give more than we are given and forgive before we are forgiven. And then one final one here is this uh Freeman.

We got the free. Where the Freeman at? I know. There you are. This was this is for you. I found this on the internet. Found this on Google. They did their purpose statement. Uh freely speak of Jesus to others. Remain fervent in prayer. Encourage each other. Edify each other. Maintain a godly lifestyle. Always give thanks. Uh thanks. And never forget the price paid for me. You know, those are some examples. But what about you a as an individual, a as a couple, as a family? What what would happen if you sat down and said, "What is our purpose for being in this world? What's our purpose as a couple?

What's our purpose as a family?" And to sit down and write that out. And then every day when you woke up, you look up at the wall and you say, "That's the my purpose today. That's what I want to accomplish. How am I going to accomplish that purpose in my life today? And I would challenge you to establish a purpose statement for your family and then to teach it and model it for your family. Go over to Deuteronomy chapter 6 in the Old Testament. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy chapter 6. Deuteronomy chapter 6 and verses 4-9. Deuteronomy chapter 6 and verse number four. Here, oh God.

Here, O Israel. The Lord our God is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart. That's a purpose statement. Okay. Now, skip down to verse number 20. And when thy son askketh thee in time to come, saying, what what mean the testimonies and statutes and the judgments which the Lord our God hath commanded you? Then shalt thou say unto thy son, we were Pharaoh's bond men in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. And the Lord showed signs and wonders and great and soar upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household before eyes.

And he brought us up out of the from then, and he might bring us in the in to give us the land which he swore unto our fathers. And the Lord commanded us to do those statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our God for our good always, that we might preserve us alive as it is this day. And it should be our righteousness if we observe do all these things commanded us before the Lord our God as he commanded. So here's our purpose statement, son. And here's what we why we live this every day. And then going back, it says in verse number seven, "And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, shall talk of them when thou liest in thine sitst thy house, and when thou walst by the way, when thou liest down, when thou risest up."

It's something that we every day if you have a purpose statement, every day you get up and say, "Now I want to fulfill my purpose today." And every day during the day, you can think about, "Am I fulfilling the purpose for which God created me? Are we fulfilling our purpose as a couple? Are we fulfilling our purpose as a family?" I think one of the things that makes stronger marriages is having a purpose. Having a purpose in life. Most of many of you couples, you you wake up every day and you have no real purpose. What's my purpose? What's our purpose? Why are we here? You teach it, model it to your family.

And then along with that, you remember in both good times and bad. You remember when things are going well and you remember when things are going bad. in Deuteronomy chapter 6 and:es 10-18. We don't have time to read that. He said, "Listen, when your when when every when your houses are full and everything's going great, remember God. When your stock when your bins are empty, remember God because God is still God and God is still good." And and and I believe that reason Aquilla and and Priscilla had such a great marriage is because they had a mission. They had a purpose in life. What are your values?

You see, it's not only a purpose. And in our church, we have a purpose statement. And we also have 10 values. And uh and we talked about that in my start class. And and you we talked about the different values that we have that we're going to edify and and glorify the Lord and so on down the line. And you ought to have a purpose statement. You ought to have values. That first family statement about what what we do and not do. That was more of like a value statement. In Micah chapter 6 and verse number eight, it says, "He has showed thee, oh man, what is good and what the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God."

See, values are based on what we value. Values are based [snorts] in what we value. When you value something, you treat it differently, do you not? If you value your car, you wash and wax it every week. If you don't value your car, you haven't washed and waxed since the day you bought it. If you value plants, you go down and buy the plants and you put them in the ground and you plant them and you fertilize them and you water them and you weed them but put all kinds of labor into them. If you don't value plants, when you walk at Home Depot, the plants scream, "He's here again." Because you're a murderer of plants.

What you value, you treat with value. Turn over to Matthew chapter 6. Matthew chapter 6. See, by being in church this morning, you've shown that you value church. When you come, you've showed that you value it. You give it your time, your money, and your effort. In Matthew chapter 6, and beginning with verse number 19, it says, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

So when you establish a missions or a purpose statement, you're saying this is what we value in life. This is what's important that every day we we accomplish these goals that we fulfill this mission. And that's our our desire. And when you value something, you spend your time on it. Ephesians 5:16, redeeming the time because the days are evil. See, many of us, we wake up and we go through a whole day. We get the other day said, "What did he accomplish?" Nothing. Because we didn't start with something. If you start your day, this is my purpose. These are my values. Then you can live that day according to your purpose and according to your values, and you can lay your head in the pillow at night saying, I spent my time doing what I wanted to do, what I purposed to do.

You give it your time. You also give it your money. In Matthew 13:45 again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man seeking goodly pearls. And and he went out and sold everything he had to gather those pearls. And when you value something, you're going to give it your money. And when you value something, you're going to give it your effort. In Ecclesiastes chapter 1:es 2 and three, it says, "Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh on his son?" Have you ever spent a whole day and the end of the day you think like what did I accomplish today?

What was what was what value was in today? If you want God to bless your bless you to bless your marriage, bless your family, establish a purpose in life. This is our mission. This is our purpose. Set values that you're going to live by. Then every day when you wake up, you can say,"I want to accomplish my purpose for being here. We want to accomplish our purpose as a couple and as a family." And these are the values we're going to use to help us to accomplish those purposes. So let me ask you a question. How much do you value God? In Matthew 6:33, it says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

When you value God, you put him first in your life. How much do you value your family? In 1 Peter chapter 3 and verse number 7, it says, "Likewise, you husbands dwell with them according knowledge, giving honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together the graces of life, that your prayers be not hindered." The idea of honor unto your wife is the weaker vessel doesn't mean she's less than you. The idea of the weaker is is is more precious. It's like a a a a vase that can be broken easily and you don't want to break it because it's so expensive. It has so great a value.

The word honor means to value. When you value something, you when you honor something, you value it. When you show honor to someone or something, it's because you value them in a special way. And in our marriages, in our families, we need to value each other as a family. Again, that that first uh purpose statement for a family, they talked about what they're going to do, how they're going to treat each other as a family. These are our values, and this is the way we treat each other because we want to honor each other. And make it also your mission in life to reach people for Christ. Romans chapter 1 14-16.

I'm a debtor both to the Greeks and the barbarians, both to the wise and the unwise. So much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are Rome also. For I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it's the power of God on salvation to everyone that believeth to the Jew first and also the Greek. If you go through and look at the six places the Bible talks about Aquilla and Priscilla, everywhere they went, their goal was to reach people for Christ. In fact, I think a couple days they moved specifically for that purpose. And as a couple, if you want to have God bless your marriage and God bless your family, make it your marriage and your family's goal to reach people for Christ.

Use your home for giving hospitality. See, the first thing that Aquilla and Pearl Seal did right is they had a a mission or a purpose in life. And if you as a couple want God to bless your marriage, sit down together and say, "What is our mission? What is our purpose?" Write it out. Write your values. And then wake up every day and remember them. and live by them. But secondly, this was a couple was given to hospitality. In Acts chapter 18, Acts chapter 18 and verses number two and three it says that they uh found a certain Jew named Aquilla. In verse three, two and born and pontious lately coming from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had commanded all Jews depart from them and came onto them and because it was the same craft he abode to them and wrought uh for by their occupation they were tent makers.

And so they they opened up their home to Paul and said, "Hey, we got an extra room. Come stay with us." In Romans 12 and verse 13, it says, "Distributing to the necessity of saints given to hospitality." given to hospitality. And somebody once said this, and I think it's a great statement. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. This church will not be remembered for our building, our parking garage, for our sound system, or fancy screen behind me. We will be remembered for our hospitality. for being friendly and welcoming.

And you and your home need to have that testimony that I care and my home is open to you. The word hospitality means a lover of strangers. In Leviticus chapter 19 verses 33 through34, it talks about strangers. There's no strangers. They're just friends you haven't met yet. It's kind of like what we're saying there. And listen folks, let me say this as as nice as I can, but you are not being friendly if you only talk to your friends. Sometimes churches will say, "Well, we're a real friendly church to each other." But the real test of friendliness is what do you do with strangers? Every one of you has been a stranger at this church when you first came.

and you're thankful for people that treated you like a friend and not as a stranger. And don't ever forget that. And as a couple, if you want to build your marriage, one of the greatest things we did in our marriage is hospitality. We had people over our home to get to know them, to welcome them, opened up our home and our lives to others. And and what a blessing that was. And just practicing hospitality. Proverbs 18:24 says, "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly." There's a friend that stickketh closer to the brother. It's easy to be friendly to people that are friendly. Luke chapter 6 tells us that you can give to those who give to you.

You can love those who love you. You can be kind to those who are kind to you. But the real test of friendliness is loving those that don't love you. You know, sometimes most of the time when I talk to people after they visit Ohana, they'll say, "Boy, that was one of the friendliest churches I've ever been in." And I'm praise God for that. That's the testimony we want to have. But once in a while, you get people say, "This this church wasn't very friendly." And I I want to make sure we're doing our best to be friendly, but I often find times people say, "It's not very friendly." They're the They're the last ones to show up.

They're the first ones to leave. They don't talk to anybody and they wonder why the church is not friendly. A man that has friends must show himself friendly. You got to stick around long enough to talk to people. You got to take some time for fellowship to get to know one another. But this is a couple that decided at the very beginning of their relationship, we are going to be a family of hospitality. We're going to welcome people wherever we're at, including in our home. In Ephesians 2:19, it says, "Now therefore, you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with Christ, with the saints, and of the h household of God."

I'm so thankful that Ohana Baptist Church, we have 30 different nationalities, but one family. We have a bond in the unity in Christ. Now, we do have some strange people in this church as well, but nobody's really a stranger to you. You know, if you if you stop and look at it, you've got a connection with everybody in this room. Let me let me give an example here. Just some quick examples. How many of you are from the state of Texas? Raise your hand. Okay. Now, see, they're no longer strangers. They got something in common. How many of you are from the state of Ohio? Raise your hand. Okay. How many of you are from state of California?

Raise your hand. How many of you from state of confusion? Raise your hand. You got something in common there. All right. Let's try another one. How many of you are in the military? Raise your hand. Wow, they got a lot. How many of you are in the army? Raise your hand. You got something coming here. How many in the Air Force? Raise your hand. How many Marines are here? I'm sorry. I'll pray for you. What about Filipinos? How many Filipinos? Raise your hand. Yeah. How many How many wish they were Filipinos because they had great cans of good food? Yeah. You got a connection. You You live in the same area.

Do you like the same thing? How many like sports? How many like basketball? By the way, Monday nights they have a group goes out plays basketball together. You talk to Rick, the guy play guitar over here to find out where that's at. How many of you like hiking? See, now a bunch of people get get with them and go out hiking together. See, there's so many connections we have. And by the way, when you entertain a stranger, you may be entertaining an angel. Hebrews 13:1-2, "Let brother love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some many some have entertained angels unaware."

God wants us to be hospitality. In Philippians chapter 2, turn over there if you would please. Philippians chapter 2, the Bible says, "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers in Hebrews." And what does that mean to be not forgetful? to lose out of your mind. Now, you may have already lost your mind, but to lose out of your mind is to make it a habit. When you're at church, make it a habit of meeting people. When you're at church, every week, make it a habit of having We have a habit almost every week. We have people over our home almost every week. I sometimes two families are more. Make that a habit.

Make it a habit to go out a cup of coffee with somebody. Make it a habit in your life. In Philippians chapter 2 and and verses 1-5, Philippians chapter 2 and beginning with verse number one. If there be therefore any consolation of Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the spirit, if any bows and mercies, fulfill you my joy, that you be likeminded, having the same love, be of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or fain glory. But in loneliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man his own things, but every man also in the things of Christ uh things of others.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. We need to be likeminded to show the interest to show interest in other people to care about them. Romans 12:16 says, "Be of the same mind one towards another. Mind not high things but condescend to men of low states. Be not wise in your own conceits." The problem with a lot of us is we're so stuck up and hung up on ourselves. We're not paying attention to people around us. It's going out of our way to take interest in other people's lives. Bible says be of one accord that same soul to be in harmony with each other to be in loneliness of mind in verse number three the humbleness of mind not thinking I'm better than others and having the mind of Christ in John 13:15 Jesus says I've given you an example that you should do as I have do as I have done to you treat others Jesus there in John 13 had washed the disciples Everybody's waiting for someone else to reach out to them instead of being the one to reach out.

You want God to bless your marriage. You want God to bless your family. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13 says give into hospitality. Destiny says give into hospitality. That word given literally means pursue or persecute. In Matthew 5:12, it's translated persecute the prophets. You ought to be pushing so hard to get people home. Sometimes it's like people like you're you're almost stalking them. Seek them out. Psalms 122:1, I was glad when they said unto me, let's go into the house of the Lord. And then verse number nine, because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good. I'm not coming just to be blessed.

I'm coming to be a blessing. And not only that, Aquilla and Priscilla had church in their home. 1 Corinthians 16:19, "The churches of Asia salute you. Aquilla and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord with the church that is in their home." Folks, let me tell you something. If you've never had a Bible study in your home, if you've never had a a mini fellowship with a group of people in your home from the church, if you've never had people over your house, you're you're you're missing out. You want God to bless your marriage, you want God to bless your family, open up your home. Open up your home to the church.

Make it your goal to have people over to get together because it's a blessing for you. That's how Aquil and Priscilla had such a great marriage because they had a purpose and they practiced hospitality. And then lastly, they provided for mentorship. They were mentored by Paul in Acts 18:1. In Philippians 4:9, the Bible says, "Those things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do. And the God of people, God of peace be with you. Listen, if you want God to bless you as an individual, you want God to bless you as a couple, you want God to bless your family, find mentors.

Find godly individual, godly couples, godly parents that you can go to and say, "Teach me. Teach me everything you know. Teach me what you did right. Tell me what you did wrong. Tell me what you would do different, but teach me." And then they mentored others. You go on in the book of Acts, Acts, chapter 18, they were mentoring a young man named Apollos. Apollos was a great speaker, but he didn't know all of the things that he was supposed to know yet. And so Aquilla and Priscilla took him under their wing and began teaching him and discipling him. Romans 16:es 3-5 says, "Greet Priscilla and Quill, my helpers in Christ Jesus."

One of the best ways to grow your marriage is to get involved serving the Lord. I'll tell you what, we got couples in this church that are serving God together and that's made them stronger as a couple. Get involved. Get involved serving the Lord. These were folks that they were helpers. They were involved and they established accountability partnerships. Hebrews chapter 10:es 23-2. Let's hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering for he's faithful who promised. And let's consider one to provoke unto love and to good works. Not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together as the manner of sum is, but exhorting one another.

So much more is the same day approaching. This is a couple every time you see in the Bible, they're with Christians because they know that's what's going to make us a better couple. That's what's going to make us a better family. That's what's going to make us better individuals. the more I'm around Christians, not just in church, but out of church, just getting that fellowship, getting that accountability. We talked about that at the men's retreat this last weekend is is you got to have accountability, and that's what makes a difference. So, let's learn from this couple in the Bible. You want a marriage that's made in heaven even though you have to live it on earth.

Sit down together and say, "What's our mission? What's our purpose as a couple?" Now, if you're not married, do as an individual. If you're a family, involve your kids in the process. But why are we here? And then every day when you wake up, remind yourself, look at look at that plaque on the wall and and and read it out loud as a family and as a couple and remind today, this is my purpose to live today. Then what are my values? What are the values that we're going to live by? This is the way we're going to treat each other. This is the way we're going to treat others. If you want God to bless you as a couple, then learn the principle of fellowship and how important it is and being with God's people and having mentors in our lives and mentoring others as well.

Giving hospitality, pursuing it, making it an important part every week. What are we going to do to pursue hospitality this week? Not just being friendly with our friends. You have your friends over, you're not being friendly. It's really friendly when you show friendliness to somebody's not your friend. Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't have your friends over, but reaching out to strangers as well. Let's bow a prayer. Every head bowed, every eye closed. No one look around.