SECURING & SAVING MARRIAGES

1. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES Gen. 2:24 [Ron Halbrook, Steven Deaton]

2. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES • Introduction: • God’s Word: build good marriages, save troubled ones • Apply lessons for stable, secure, happy homes—not seek divorce

3. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES • Introduction: 3. Gen. 2:24 leads to good marriage, happy home, eternal salvation! 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

4. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First A. Gives Life Meaning, Guidance, & Purpose • Prov. 1:7 1st lesson in life 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

5. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First A. Gives Life Meaning, Guidance, & Purpose • Eccl. 12:13 “The whole of man” 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

6. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First A. Gives Life Meaning, Guidance, & Purpose • Matt. 6:33 1st, greatest need 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

7. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First A. Gives Life Meaning, Guidance, & Purpose • Matt. 16:26 All lost w/o God 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

8. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First B. Wicked May Succeed, Temporarily • Ps. 73:12, 18 Wicked stand in slippery place

9. Ps. 73:12, 18 Wicked stand in slippery place 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

10. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First B. Wicked May Succeed, Temporarily • Ps. 73:12, 18 Wicked stand in slippery place • Stable home by divine principles but lack divine teaching=trouble • Like a cut flower

11. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First C. Be a Faithful Christian, Marry a Faithful Christian • Eph. 4:4-6 Deepest unity of soul 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

12. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First C. Be a Faithful Christian, Marry a Faithful Christian • Gen. 24:3-4 Diligent effort to find a believer

13. Gen. 24:3-4 Diligent effort to find a believer 3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: 4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

14. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First C. Be a Faithful Christian, Marry a Faithful Christian • Deut. 7:3-4 God’s law: do not marry Canaanite idolaters

15. 3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. 4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. • Deut. 7:3-4 God’s law: do not marry Canaanite idolaters

16. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First C. Be a Faithful Christian, Marry a Faithful Christian • 1 Cor. 7:12-16 God allows Christian to marry non-Christian, but dangers

17. 12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. • 1 Cor. 7:12-16 God allows Christian to marry non-Christian, but dangers

18. 1 Cor. 7:12-16 God allows Christian to marry non-Christian, but dangers 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

19. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? • 1 Cor. 7:12-16 God allows Christian to marry non-Christian, but dangers

20. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES C. Be a Faithful Christian, Marry a Faithful Christian • 1 Cor. 7:12-16 God allows Christian to marry non-Christian, but dangers • May or may not convert him • Convert later, too late for children • Unbeliever hinder believer • Convert him 1stor do not marry!!!

21. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First D. Worship Together • 1 Thess. 5:17; 1 Pet. 2:2 Draw closer to God: private worship 17 Pray without ceasing. 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

22. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First D. Worship Together • Heb. 10:23-25 Draw closer to God: public worship

23. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. • Heb. 10:23-25 Draw closer to God: public worship

24. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First D. Worship Together • Heb. 10:23-25 Draw closer to God: public worship • As draw closer to God, closer to each other!

25. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First E. Seek God’s Help in Decision Making • Ja. 1:5-6 Need God’s wisdom & providence

26. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. • Ja. 1:5-6 Need God’s wisdom & providence

27. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First E. Seek God’s Help in Decision Making • Ja. 1:5-6 Need God’s wisdom & providence • Marriage filled with decision making

28. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First F. Restore This Principle if Lost! • Ps. 90:12 Urgent to put God first! 12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

29. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES I. Put God First F. Restore This Principle if Lost! • Matt. 6:24 Repent, renew commitment to God, start where you are

30. Matt. 6:24 Repent, renew commitment to God, start where you are 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

31. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES II. Remember Our Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship A. Gen. 2:18-23 Background to Marital Companionship • Vs. 18 Man needs a companion 18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

32. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES II. Remember Our Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship A. Gen. 2:18-23 Background to Marital Companionship • Vv. 19-20 Animal no companion

33. 19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. • Vv. 19-20 Animal no companion

34. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES II. Remember Our Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship A. Gen. 2:18-23 Background to Marital Companionship • Vv. 21-23 God created a perfect companion

35. 21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. • Vv. 21-23 God created a perfect companion

36. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES II. Remember Our Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship A. Gen. 2:18-23 Background to Marital Companionship • Purpose of marriage: Fulfill need for companion, share all experiences of life

37. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES II. Remember Our Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship B. Gen. 2:24 Covenant of Committed Companionship 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

38. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES II. Remember Our Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship B. Gen. 2:24 Covenant of Committed Companionship • Leave father & mother • Parent-child relation close: form attitudes & values for life • New relationship supersedes old

39. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES II. Remember Our Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship B. Gen. 2:24 Covenant of Committed Companionship • Leave father & mother • Initiate independent home • New home: strong, stable, secure

40. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES II. Remember Our Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship B. Gen. 2:24 Covenant of Committed Companionship • Cleave unto his wife • Cleave: cling, keep close, glue—loyal, devoted, affectionate • Man leads: unselfish, her welfare 1st, protect & provide

41. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES II. Remember Our Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship B. Gen. 2:24 Covenant of Committed Companionship • Cleave unto his wife • Create peace, security, & stability • Relationship deep, close, & strong • Permanent companionship

42. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES II. Remember Our Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship B. Gen. 2:24 Covenant of Committed Companionship • One flesh • Complete companionship: unite as one • Intimate, tender, loving sexual union

43. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES II. Remember Our Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship B. Gen. 2:24 Covenant of Committed Companionship • One flesh • Children for committed companions • Sexual union unselfish, mutual giving: not selfish demands & instant gratification

44. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES II. Remember Our Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship B. Gen. 2:24 Covenant of Committed Companionship • One flesh • God’s gift, not “necessary evil” • Companionship enriched by patience & adjustment

45. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES II. Remember Our Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship C. Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship • Mal. 2:14-16 Marriage vows: sacred covenant of companionship

46. 14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. • Mal. 2:14-16 Marriage vows: sacred covenant of companionship

47. Mal. 2:14-16 Marriage vows: sacred covenant of companionship 15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

48. 16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. • Mal. 2:14-16 Marriage vows: sacred covenant of companionship

49. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES II. Remember Our Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship C. Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship • Mal. 2:14-16 Marriage vows: sacred covenant of companionship • Sacred: God primary witness to certify marriage valid, make two one by His law

50. SECURING & SAVINGMARRIAGES II. Remember Our Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship C. Marriage Vows: Committed Companionship • Mal. 2:14-16 Marriage vows: sacred covenant of companionship • Treacherous divorce no release: “yet is she thy companion…wife”