Marriage

Foundation for a lasting marriage is understanding and obedience of God’s plan

4 Key concepts to build the family in the beautiful way that God intended

Companionship (time)

Commitment (decision)

Covenant (pledge or vow

Communication (expression)

Genesis 2:18

God saw the need for companionship early on in the creation of man

God did not wish for Adam to be lonely and made him a partner and brought her to him

English Standard Version Chapter 2

18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

Companionship

God saw the need for companionship early on in the creation of man

God did not wish for Adam to be lonely and made him a partner and brought her to him created from rib of Adam

This companionship is designed to meet the needs of both. Every part of marriage is based on this.

“As God by creation made two of one, so again by marriage he made one of two.” (Thomas Adams in Gathered Gold)

Ephesians 5:25-33

(Thomas Adams in Gathered Gold)

English Standard Version Chapter 5

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

The NET Bible Chapter 62

62:4 You will no longer be called, “Abandoned,”

and your land will no longer be called “Desolate.”

Indeed, you will be called “My Delight is in Her,”

and your land “Married.”

For the LORD will take delight in you,

and your land will be married to him.

62:5 As a young man marries a young woman,

so your sons will marry you.

As a bridegroom rejoices over a bride,

so your God will rejoice over you.

(2nd “C” COMMITMENT)

Marriage was used by God to explain the depth of his commitment to Israel. Therefore, if God would never break His commitment to Israel, husband and wife should not break their commitment to one another

“Commitment is not a cage; it is a safety net.”(William Coleman)

When marriage is entered into with this understanding about the commitment involved, it is difficult to put it asunder

“Commitment is not a cage;

it is a safety net.”

(William Coleman)

The NET Bible Chapter 31

31:32 It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I delivered them from Egypt. For they violated that covenant, even though I was like a faithful husband to them,”

Jeremiah 31:32

The 3rd C is Covenant

“We all should know, and David and Alicia do know that marriage is not to be entered into lightly or unadvisedly, but reverently, not only with the joy and hope of Christians but also in awe of God whose will they shall seek to follow.

In a Christian Marriage

there must be a total allegiance to Christ and His will

The NET Bible Chapter 19

“Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female, 19:5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 19:6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

Matthew 19:4–6 ESV

He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

He answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female, 19:5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 19:6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Matthew 19

7:1 Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is lord over a person as long as he lives? 7:2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage. 7:3 So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she is joined to another man, she is not an adulteress.

Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2005), .

7:1 Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is lord over a person as long as he lives? 7:2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage. 7:3 So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she is joined to another man, she is not an adulteress.

.

A covenant is “an agreement between two parties; a sealed contract.” The covenant of marriage is one of many styles available. They are all meant to become lifelong vows, taken in front of God (with His blessing), the two families being joined in this marriage, and any other witnesses present.

As we move into the vows you will make with each other, i am reminded of Paul’s instructions to husband and wife

Paul on avoiding neglect of each other..

3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), .

“Pastor: David and Alicia you have stated your desire to formally be united in marriage, and being assured that no legal, moral, or religious barriers hinder this proper union, I ask you to join your right hands and give heed to the vows you make with one another..”

“David In taking Alicia whom you hold by the right hand to be your lawful and wedded wife, God requires you to promise to love and cherish her, to honor and sustain her, in sickness as in health, in poverty as in wealth, in the bad that may darken your days, in the good that may light your ways, and to be true to her in all things until death alone shall part you. Do you so promise?

DAVID: “I DO”

“ Alicia In taking David who holds you by the right hand to be your lawful and wedded husband, God requires you to promise to love and cherish him, to honor and sustain him, in sickness as in health, in poverty as in wealth, in the bad that may darken your days, in the good that may light your ways, and to be true to him in all things until death alone shall part you. Do you so promise?

Ring Ceremony

ALICIA: “I DO”

PERSONAL VOWS

Ring Ceremony

The wedding ring is a symbol of eternity. It is an outward sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two hearts in endless love. And now as a token of your love and desire to be forever united in heart and soul, we will now exchange rings.

So, David, as you now take the ring from the pages of the Bible to place it on your bride’s finger, please repeat these words after me: Alcia, with this ring I commit all my love to you,. AS I love the Lord, so do I love you. I receive life as purposed by God to perfect virtue in me. As God enables me, I will lead our home spritually under the lordship of Jesus Christ. I will seek to support and encourage you through each life challenge. All that is mine is yours until death should part us

Now, Alicia, as you take the ring for David from the Bible to place it on his finger, please repeat these words after me . David, with this ring I commit all my love to you. As I love the Lord, so do I love you. I receive you as God’s gift to me. I receive every quality of your life as purposed by God to perfect virtue in me. I trust the Lord to enable me to be submissive to you as my spiritual head and leader of our home. I will seek to support and encourage you through each life challenge. All that is mine is yours until death should part us.

4th C in this beautiful marriage built by God is Communication

“Communication is the needle and thread that sews the partners of a marriage together. It is the only means by which two people become one.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Prayer is the communication glue that becomes our anchor in dealing with the daily tasks of fulfilling God’s will in marriage. The important thing is ensure that we are listening to God’s voice in driving your communication with each other on a daily basis.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Prayer is the communication glue that becomes our anchor in dealing with the daily tasks of fulfilling God’s will in marriage. The important thing is ensure that we are listening to God’s voice in driving your communication with each other on a daily basis.

So we ask that well bow together as we seek God in asking a blessing over this marriage and this family...

Marriage

Focus of Marriage