Wedding Sermon
Marriage Sermon
“Holy Ground”
Matt. 19:4-6
The Lord yokes man and woman together on the holy ground of His presence.
I. The Lord’s Holy Ground.
A. What God made was Holy. In the beginning God created. What He created was glorious and Holy – from the twinkling of the first star to the dawning of the first day, from the sound of the first wave crashing upon the shore to the song of the first bird singing His glorious praise. Everything God created was Holy. From the Holy earth God formed a Holy man and breathed into Him His Holy breath of life. And knowing that it was not good for man to be alone He made woman from him. God created her from man and gave her back to him. Adam was given the gift of life and then he is given the gift of a holy wife, Eve. Adam rejoices as he cries out “you are bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. They walked on Holy ground because they were in the presence of the Lord.
B. Marriage is a Holy Yoking. In that holy place of paradise God instituted marriage making man and woman for each other and joining them to one another. Jesus said, “What God has joined together, let no one separate.” The word joined can be literally translated as yoked. In other words God has yoked man and woman together. Holy marriage is where the Lord Himself fits and fastens two people together. He fastened the first man and woman together. Now, Steven and Renee, on this Holy ground, in this church, in the presence of the Lord, He is fastening the two of you together, giving each of you as wonderful and holy gifts to each other.
Why do two Christians who stand at the alter fit each other? On their wedding day, at that sacred time and in that sacred place, they fit each other because each one has been fit to Jesus Christ first. Each one of you has been yoked individually to Jesus Christ. As Christians, both of you has been shouldered with the yoke of Christ. It is not a yoke that burdens. It is the yoke of the gospel and the free gift of forgiveness that gives life and salvation.
II. Made Unholy through Sin.
Unfortunately Steven, you are not Adam and you Renee, are not Eve. And you do not live in paradise. You live in a fallen world. You do not live with original righteousness but with the consequences of sin. Sometimes the consequences of sin bring harsh realities. You will not always feel like being yoked together. You will not always treat each other well. Your sins and faults will be magnified to each other. There is nothing like these times to take your strength away, make you weary towards each other and your love grow faint. Your marriage will not always seem holy.
III. Made Holy Again, Redeemed by Christ.
When these times come remember who you are in Jesus Christ. You are the baptized children of God. You have been made holy and your sins have been forgiven for the sake of Jesus Christ who suffered and died on the cross for your sins and the sins of the world. Christ has redeemed you. Through Christ and the power of His love forgive each other as you have been forgiven. Then the Lord shall renew your strength. Together you shall mount up with wings like eagles. You shall run together and not be weary. As you walk together, in love and forgiveness your love for each other shall not faint.
Conclusion: In the beginning God created. What He created was glorious and Holy. God continues to create the world, making it holy again in Jesus Christ. In Him your marriage is created holy. The Lord has made you a new creation together. With His yoke of forgiveness he has given you unity and direction. Together you look in the same direction, toward Jesus Christ. You are in His presence, hearing His Word, and coming to His alter. Here he stands together with now as He will in the years to come. For His sake your marriage stands on holy ground.