So, Here You Are...Now What?

INTRO- RECALL

One man, one woman

Our bodies are amazing gifts to use for His glory

We have a decision to make, our wisdom, or His?

Three Groups of People - Concept of Marriage

1) Married - both believers

Sexual context

Not to be abused or misused

God owns our bodies - given to us to use for His glory

Marriage is amazing gift, to join with another, to serve and glorify God

THAT’S THE PURPOSE OF MARRIAGE!

He has authority over her body; she has authority over his - (good marriage conference material)

Sex is given to be used in the confines of marriage - it’s good!

Any other sexual activity is outside God’s will - clearly - straight truth - urge is natural, God-given, and the urge is to be satisfied within Biblical marriage

Abstinence is not denial - don’t say “no” b/c you are “being spiritual” - but mutual discussion, prayer is intimate part of the union, too.

Focus

Each focus on the other - selfless (so much other Scripture about marriage, too)

Both focus on the Lord

Do not allow yourselves to give in to the world, for Satan, the enemy to separate you with temptation

Paul’s clear focus is devotion to the Lord

“Remain like me” - unmarried, understand the context of the imminent return (developed more later)

If both have a clear focus on the Lord, and surrendered and serving Him, the rest of the relationship takes care of itself - actually, God takes care of it

POINT - Family, Biblical marriage, is under attack, and is even losing support from the “Church” - (sorry, this bothers me, it bothers the Lord)

SIDE POINTS

2) Unmarried, Single (Widows/Widowers/Divorced)

Women created to be helper to man, wife to husband

NOT Women to serve men

No inferior/superio

Marriage roles discussed other places, like Ephesians, Genesis, etc.

When you give of yourself completely to the other, you should be in the best, safest relationship God gave you!

2) Unmarried, Single (Widows/Widowers/Divorced)

Section is not a “how-to” and “what if?”

Situations can be unique and independent - (talk outside of this message)

Context - Paul thought of imminent return, like, before his death

So if not married, don’t put the energy into that, “spend the short time left here in full devotion to the Lord”

If that proves too difficult, don’t burn, get married

(divorce situations are challenging, unfaithfulness, abandonment, dangerous situations, again - this section is not the “how to” for all circumstances - PAUL HAS A BIGGER PICTURE IN MIND THAN JUST PEOPLE’S DESIRES)

Marriage was never intended to be a battle

But an opportunity to serve

If single, and considering marriage - WHY? Really, why?

Do not let marriage be a distraction from devotion to the Lord

Single, following Christ - stay focused, stay single, or...

get married and serve the Lord with and through your marriage!

Context

Then - family was supremely important over Christ

Now - family is supremely important over Christ

God says marriage and family is given by Him:

For pleasure to us

For service to Him!

3) Rest of you, Married, one is believer

Context - many of this audience were married before either became a believer

It is a blessing to the unbeliever to be married to a believer

Challenge - to the believer, life priorities change (or should)

Priorities to those who are married, and unbelievers

Family, etc.

The unbeliever is called to serve the Lord, and place Him above all else, including the unbelieving spouse (difficult)

It is a blessing to the unbeliever to be married to a believer - because the believer will honor Christ - a “holy” effect on the relationship and family

POINT - don’t leave the relationship, let God work!

POINT - GOD DOES THE SAVING! God needs you where you are, to show the unbeliever who Christ is!

SUMMARY POINTS

Marriage is not to be a battle - but there is the curse (), so we battle

Marriage better not mean a divided interest - we are not to split time, or separate family from our relationship with Christ.

Use your relationship within your families to serve Christ

Use your relationship with Christ to serve each other

A strong marriage points people to Christ

DOES YOURS?

Biblical marriage is for believers

Believers are not to marry unbelievers (“in the Lord”)

(but, two unbelievers get married, and then one trusts Christ, I know)

Don’t marry someone you can’t serve the Lord with - discuss it ahead of time

If married and this is a struggle, let’s talk, and understand how God can grow and use your relationship)

COMMON POINTS TO ALL THREE GROUPS:

Diverse as they are...

Common challenge - Serve the Lord!

Avoid distractions that will keep you from serving Him

Unity in Christ - important to Corinth, important to Cornerstone!

A strong church is crucial to growing strong families

Strong families, growing in the Lord, are crucial to growing a strong church

CLOSING

Marriage, at present, might be working wonderfully, praise God!

Marriage, at present, might be a challenge, difficult, even “messy”

DEVOTE TO GOD - let Him grow you, “fix” you, from inside out

It takes BOTH to be devoted

Closer you are to God, the closer you’ll be to each other

“Redeem” the time

Ephesians 5:16 NASB95

making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Family, marriages, need the Lord to be strong, His way

Relationships done His way WILL withstand trials, struggles, evil

Relationships done His way will POINT PEOPLE TO CHRIST!

SO...

Start now, right now, wherever you are

Married? Serve Christ

Single? Serve Christ

Going to marry? Marry well, “in the Lord”

And in ALL SITUATIONS, REMEMBER:

Think you’re unimportant, damaged, of little value? Check that!

God’s grace is amazing

God’s forgiveness is incredible

His desire is for you to be devoted to Him, no matter what