GOOD SEEDS OF MARRIAGE

INTRODUCTION:

This beautiful weekend I helped my son roof part of one of his houses.

We used a Chalkline to set a guide to keep the shingles straight.

It’s so easy to get off track especially if the roof is out of square.

As humans we are out of square.

We need guides in our:

Lives

Marriage

Parenting

Every Marriage involves two imperfect people.

It is challenging to workout problems

The enemy is also seeking to destroy relationships

He will highlight your spouses shortcomings

Tempt you to harbor anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness

If you allow Hardness of heart to develop it will begin to disintegrate your marriage

SEEDS OF A GODLY MARRIAGE:

Genesis 1:1 (NLT)

1 In the beginning God created...

Genesis 2:18 NLT

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

Helper: Adam was inadequate in and of himself. He needed help with daily work, procreation and mutual support through companionship.

Genesis 2:21–24 NLT

21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. 23 “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’ ” 24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

GOD IS A COVENANT GOD. WE SHOULD BE A COVENANT PEOPLE

The Hebrew word for Covenant means “To Cut” it’s not made it’s cut! It’s an arrangement, contract, agreement,

God cut the rib (A SEED) from Adam’s side and created Eve.

Why not form her from the ground and breath life into her nostrils?

It’s not to be a relationship of convenience or ease.

It is a selfless, permanent relationship.

God made a covenant with us that is paralleled in marriage

Malachi 2:15 (NLT)

15 Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.

Marriage was God’s Idea.

ILLUSTRATION: BLUEPRINT OF MARRIAGE

He created the blueprint to have the dream marriage giving birth to children and raising them to love God.

It’s like building your dream house. A country house with a wrap around porch with a pond out back and birds singing. If you defer from God’s blueprint you may end up with a dysfunctional shack to live in.

It still works to some capacity but it is not all that God intended for your marriage.

Marriage is often dysfunctional when we get off track from God’s original plan.

2 Corinthians 6:14 (NLT)

14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?

1. We Must Experience A Heart Transplant

We are all selfish and evil at heart, it is hard to have a good relationship like that.

Genesis 6:5 NLT

5 The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.

Jeremiah 7:24 (NLT)

24 “But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward.

Jeremiah 17:9 NLT

9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

Jesus was always more concerned about the condition of the heart than the outward appearance.

Matthew 5:21–22 NLT

21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

Matthew 5:27–28 NLT

27 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

ILLUSTRATION OF LUST

2 Samuel 13: The Account of Amnon and Tamar (Absalom’s Sister)

God commands us to Love Others as we love ourself (because we are good at loving ourselves in a fallen state)

The best way to become a better husband or better wife; better father or better mother...is to become a better son or daughter of God.

We were created to fellowship with God

The Fellowship was broken by sin

Satan’s Seed In The Garden Destroyed and Separated family relationships and brought about corruption and defeat.

God sent His SEED JESUS His Son to redeem us and purchase us back from the enemy.

The only hope you and I have of getting into heaven is by crying out to God and admitting my sin and receiving His Sacrificial Grace.

ALTAR CALL FOR SALVATION

2. We Must Remain Loyal To Our Marriage Vows

Malachi 2:13–16 (NLT)

13 Here is another thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, weeping and groaning because he pays no attention to your offerings and doesn’t accept them with pleasure.

14 You cry out, “Why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows.

15 Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.

16 “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”

In the Persian period according to ancient writings, divorce appears to have been common and uncomplicated; with economic implications concerning dowery, bride price, property and children being the greatest concerns.

GOD IS A COVENANT GOD.

The Hebrew word for Covenant means “To Cut” it’s not made it’s cut!

God cut the rib from Adam’s side and created Eve.

Marriage is not to be a relationship of convenience or selfish need

It is a selfless, permanent relationship.

God made a covenant with us that is symbolized in by a marriage covenant

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

We should never abandon our spouse. “TILL DEATH DO WE PART”

The rib Adam placed in Eve, made the two one, Consummation of the marriage, The TWO become ONE FLESH

The Church in Corinth sent a letter to Paul with questions regarding marriage and we can learn a lot from that.

1 Corinthians 7

1 Corinthians 7:10–16 NLT

10 But for those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband. 11 But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife. 12 Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a fellow believer has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her. 13 And if a believing woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him. 14 For the believing wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the believing husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy. 15 (But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the believing husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.) 16 Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?

Matthew 19:3–10 NLT

3 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?” 4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ 5 And he said, ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” 7 “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked. 8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. 9 And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.” 10 Jesus’ disciples then said to him, “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!”

1 Corinthians 7:4–5 (NLT)

4 The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.

5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Have Sex Frequently!

There are only 3 conditions for sexual depravation:

Mutual Consent, A Limited Time, Spiritual (not selfish reasons)

3. We Must Forgive Quickly

Ephesians 4:26 NLT

26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,

4. We Must Encourage and Build One Another Up

Proverbs 18:21 NLT

21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

Hebrews 10:24–25 (NLT)

24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Romans 14:19 (NLT)

19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

Paul Expressed His Thankfulness For Those In His Life

Philippians 1:3–4 (NLT)

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,

CONCLUSION:

The seed leaves your hand but not your life, God will look over the seed to produce a harvest for your life

Pray over marriages