Marriage

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday AM Service February 14, 2016:

Scripture: Hebrews 13:4

1. Marriage is of Divine origin

Marriage was a part of God’s plan and He performed the
first marriage ceremony
Genesis 2:18 ( KJV ) 18And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man
should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Genesis 2:21-22 ( KJV ) 21And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made ahe a woman, and brought her unto the man.

A. God established marriage to be between one man and one woman for one lifetime
The book of Genesis gives God’s original intent for man and his partner:

  • God made them male and female – Genesis 1:18-25
  • God told the man and woman to be fruitful and multiply – Genesis 1:28
  • God made them distinct, unique, different to complement one another, including sexually – Genesis 1:28, 2:24
  • God was pleased with His creation – Genesis 1:31

Sexual relations outside of marriage is sin: Hebrews 13:4, 1 Cor. 6:18-7:2

  • Pre-marital, Extra- marital, Homosexual, Incestuous

B. God established marriage for procreation
Genesis 1:28 – “God said unto them, be fruitful and multiply”

C. God established marriage for companionship
Genesis 2:18a – “The Lord God said, it is not good for man to be alone”

D. God established marriage for completeness
Genesis 2:18b – “I will make him an help meet for him”
One who would complete and complement

2. Marriage is a picture of Christ’s relationship to the church – Ephesians 5:22-29

  • Christ’s relationship with the church is one of the churches submission to Christ – vs. 22-24
  • Christ’s relationship with the church is a loving relationship – vs.25
  • Christ’s relationship with the church is a giving relationship – vs.25b
    Christ gave everything He had including His own life for the sake of the church
  • Christ’s relationship with the church is a sanctifying relationship – vs.26
    Believers are to be sanctified (set a-part to Christ) and cleansed (from sin in their lives) Husband & wife set-apart to one another, pursuing godliness together
  • Christ’s relationship with the church is a secure and lasting relationship – vs.27
  • Christ’s relationship with the church is a nourishing and cherishing relationship – vs. 29

3. Marriage is meant to be a lifelong commitment

Matthew 19:4-6 ( KJV ) 4And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh.
What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

  • Genesis 2:24b – “They shall be one flesh”
  • Matthew 19:6 – “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder”
  • Malachi 2:16 – God hates divorce

Divorce only comes as a result of sin and the harness of human hearts

4. Marriage is an opportunity to express the love of Christ to one another

God’s Word speaks of love in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a (ESV)
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”
Description of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

  • Patient
  • Kind
  • Envies not
  • Does not brag
  • Not arrogant
  • Never rude
  • Does not want its own way
  • Not irritated or angered in personal offence
  • Devoted to truth
  • Protects, believes, hopes and endures
  • Lasting and has permanence

Love –

  • Sacrificial – giving of ourselves
  • Unconditional – He loved the church as it was
  • Purposefully – Love depends on the one who chooses to love
  • Not based on attractiveness, merit or the response of the one loved

5. Marriage Involves Work

A. Giving God His rightful place in your marriage

“Marriage Take Three” B.A.S. © Dickson 1984
Marriage takes three to be complete. It’s not enough for two to meet. They must be united in love. By loves creator, God above. A marriage that follows God’s plan takes more than a woman and man.
It needs a oneness that can be only from Christ – Marriage takes three.

B. Managing expectations

C. Properly dealing with conflict

D. Being intentional about affection and sexual intimacy

E. Prioritizing meaningful communication
“Many marriage counselors say that the number one problem in marriage is poor communication”

F. Maintaining integrity in the relationship
Dishonesty / Deceit – Ephesians 4:25
“The act of lying is much more damaging than the things that are being lied about”
Lying and deceit break down all certainty
Don’t underestimate the power of deception on a relationship
Couples deceive one another in many ways:

  • Finances
  • Spending
  • Failures
  • Feelings
  • Resentment of things not dealt with

Deception is one thing that is hard to work through because it denies the problem
Couples often live out their lives with falsehood trying to protect and save a relationship, all the while destroying the chance of a real intimate relationship