Questions and problems

1. How do I stay connected with my spouse for life? 
2. How do I solve the conflict within my family? 
3. How do we feel that the atmosphere in our home is blessed?
4. The secret of this and all relationships is “atmosphere.”

The royal atmosphere

1. Charles Green: “The only thing we ever argued about in 69 years was the temperature of the room.” 
2. The man is the THERMOSTAT: he sets the environment of the home. The wife is the THERMOMETER: she lets him know what the temperature really is. 
3. God placed Adam and Eve in an atmosphere of PARADISE. It was PEACEFUL. It was HARMONIOUS. It was INTIMATE. It was PRODUCTIVE. 
4. God has an atmospheric change coming in our families. We need an atmospheric change in our nation right now! We need a royal atmosphere, an environment where people are treated like royalty. We need a priestly atmosphere, a place where the presence of God lives.
5. The following three principles will work in all relationships.

1. AN ATMOSPHERE OF HONOR

1. In our nation: “HONOR EVERYONE” (1 Peter 2:17 ESV). 
   1. Honor is what James referred to as the “royal law”: “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well” (James 2:8 ESV). 
2. Wife honoring her husband: “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful [HONORING] and pure conduct” (1 Peter 3:1–2 ESV).
3. Husband honoring his wife: “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing HONOR to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7 ESV, emphasis added). 
4. Parents honoring their children: “He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children” (Malachi 4:6 ESV). 
5. Children honoring their parents:  “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12 ESV).

2. AN ATMOSPHERE OF UNITY

1. “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind” (1 Peter 3:8 ESV). Unity is an atmosphere. It comes from five attitudes, five Greek words listed in this one verse.
   1. UNITY OF MIND (agreement)—coming to agreement about controversial issues. We disagree without becoming disagreeable. We get together and solve problems to create progress. “I can see your side of this problem.” 
   2. SYMPATHY (shared feelings)—“I feel what you feel about every problem. I enter into your feelings. I rejoice when you rejoice and weep when you weep.” 
   3. BROTHERLY LOVE—“You are my brother because we are all of one blood.” 
   4. TENDERHEARTED—“I will not be harsh, aggressive, attacking, and mean toward you.” 
   5. HUMBLE-MINDED—“In my mind, I see you as better than me. I refuse a superior attitude.” 

3. AN ATMOSPHERE OF BLESSING

1. “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9 ESV). We must preserve unity with BLESSING. Our tongue fills the atmosphere and creates an environment of blessing . . . or cursing. 
2. Fill your home with FORGIVENESS, blessing those who curse you. Jesus said, “Bless those who curse you” (Luke 6:28 ESV). 
   1. As Christians, we can live on one of three levels. 
      1. We can return evil for good, which is the SATANIC level. 
      2. We can return good for good and evil for evil, which is the HUMAN level.
      3. We can return good for evil, which is the DIVINE level.
3. Fill your home with POSITIVITY. 
4. Fill your home with WORSHIP.