Josiah & Aida

Josiah & Aida’s Marriage Ceremony

Good afternoon,

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Today is a special day for Josiah and Aida, and we would like to keep it sacred and well pleasing to the Lord.

Friends and family, we are gathered here today in the presence of God and the sight of all these witnesses to join together this man and this woman in Holy matrimony. The Scripture says that marriage is to be honoured by all. Therefore, before we enter into marriage, we must give it serious and careful consideration. Marriage is not just a civil ceremony, but it was created and instituted by God, therefore, it must be entered into reverently, respectfully, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate, these two persons present come now to be joined. Can anyone show any just cause why this couple cannot be legally joined together, let them now speak or forever hold their peace.

Do either of you have any reason why you should not be married?

Who gives this woman to be married to this man?

We Do. (You may be seated)

At this time, I’d like to ask Aida’s father to come and read Scripture from Colossians 3:1-24. Then I’d like to ask Joshua to come and read Genesis 22:9-18. After that, we’ll have Aida’s father read John 4:7-21.

Message

Every marriage ceremony is unique. We might wonder, what makes one unique as compared to others?

Today, I am standing in front of two people that are created in the image of God and we believe that God is going to bring Josiah and Aida together as one flesh. This may seem like a mystery, but this is how God has planned it. There is only one Josiah and there is only one Aida, and God is bringing your together today. We believe that this is God’s will, His plan, and His purpose.

I’ve been asked to read 1 Corinthians 13, and then share a few thoughts.

Let’s read

1 Corinthians 13:1–13 KJV 1900

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

What we know as charity or love comes from the Greek word, Agape.

Agape love is essential in life and it is essential in marriage. We often think of agape love as unconditional love or self-sacrificial love, but I believe that it is more than that.

1 John 4 says that God is love, God is agape, and those who abide in agape love abide in God and God in them. Because of this statement, I believe that agape is reserved for children of God.

1 John 4:7–8 KJV 1900

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

The exch ange of the Vows I believe that God’s word is truth, everybody can love, but not everybody has agape love because that is only for those who know and love God.

Josiah & Aida, you are children of God because you have believed in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and you have decided to follow Him all the days of your lives.

Because of this, as you make this covenant today before God and all of these assembled people, you can walk in agape love toward each other. The same love that sent Jesus to the cross for people that were dead in their trespasses and sins, is the same love that can keep your marriage strong no matter what storm comes and tries to defeat you.

Charity, agape love, gives us the ability to look past each other’s faults. It might be hard to believe it, but it’s only by God’s grace that any of us can stand, and when we think that we are perfect, that’s the time that we fall.

1 Corinthians 10:12 KJV 1900

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

But God’s love works in us so that we won’t keep record of wrongs. It isn’t puffed up. Love doesn’t boast, it vaunteth not. Love protects, it hopes, it trusts. It perseveres, and it never fails.

We can have great ability, amazing knowledge and gifts. We can even give away all that we have, even our bodies to be burned, but if we don’t have love, we become a clanging cymbal, we gain nothing, and we are nothing.

Josiah, God’s calling for you as you enter marriage is to lay down your life for Aida, just as Christ laid down His life for the church. If you do that, Aida’s calling is to submit to you and to respect you, and that becomes a lot easier as she sees you following Christ’s example and walking in that love that bears all things, believes all things, and hopes all things.

I want to close with a passage from

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 KJV 1900

9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

As you are joined together in marriage, only allow Christ to be that third cord in your marriage. As He is the center of your marriage nothing or nobody can come between you. Always keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, and He will keep you and sustain you.

Let’s pray!

The exchange of the Vows

Josiah & Aida,

I’m going to ask you a couple of questions, and if you agree to this commitment, I would like you to answer, “I DO”

"Josiah, Will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"

I DO

"Aida, Will you have this man to be your husband, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"

I DO

Josiah, would you repeat"after me: I, Josiah, take you Aida, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do us part; as God is my witness, I give you my promise.

Aida, would you repeat after me: I, Aida, take you Josiah, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do us part; as God is my witness, I give you my promise. (Seasons of life Ceremonies)

The exchange of the rings

Josiah, will you take this ring and place it upon ’Aida’s finger, and as you do, repeat after me, these words:

With this ring, I thee wed and pledge my faithfulness and enduring love.

Aida, will you take this ring and place it upon Josiah’s finger, and as you do, repeat after me, these words:

With this ring, I thee wed and pledge my faithfulness and enduring love.

Josiah & Aida, based on the vows that you have made today in front of these friends and family who have witnessed them, and even more importantly before God, you have vowed to love, honour, and respect each other as long as you both shall live. “Now, by virtue of the authority invested in me as the minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord in the presence of God and these assembled witnesses, I pronounce you husband and wife.

You have given sacred vows before each other, before us, and before a holy and righteous God. These vows are never to be broken. What God has joined together let no man separate.” (Prince on Preaching)

You may kiss the Bride

Prayer of Blessing

Signing of the Register

Presentation of the Couple

I now present to you Mr & Mrs. Josiah & Aida Bishop