Marriage Works God’s Way Part 1
Marriage is a Covenant Not a Contract
Sunday, March 10, 2024
I.Marriage Works God’s Way
A.Marriage is God’s Idea
(Prov. 24:3-4 AMP) Everything God created is made to succeed (ref. Gen. 1).
a. We have a 100% chance of success in life including marriage if we do it God’s way.
b. Formula for success in life:
Realistic Expectations
+ God’s Knowledge, Understanding & Wisdom
Guaranteed Success
c. (Mk. 10:6-9) Marriage is God’s idea not man’s.
B. Marriage is a Covenant Not a Contract
1. (Mal. 2:14 NIV; ref. Gen. 2:20-21)
a. A biblical covenant is a sacrificial permanent relationship that always involve blood.
~Covenants aren’t made but cut.
~Covenants aren’t relationships of convenience but sacrifice until death.
~In covenant – I surrender my rights and assume responsibilities
~In contract – I protect my rights and limit my responsiblities.
b. Today’s culture views marriage as a contract not a covenant; no blood, no sacrifice, no commitment.
2. (Luke 22:19-20) the new covenant is ratified by Jesus’ broken body and shed blood, but we are required to give up all in this covenant as well.
a. (Luke 14:25-33 NLT) cost of discipleship
~What Jesus could have said…
-When you fish imma sink the boat…
-Imma’ multiply your bread and fish.
-Imma’ turn all your water into wine…
b. We over sell the expectations of marriage and under sell that it come with the realities of life.
~“…to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, to love and to cherish, until death do us part.”
3. (Eph. 5:21-33) marriage works when both the husband and wife view marriage as a covenant where we serve each other.
a. Wives are to submit to her husband as to the Lord.
Husbands are to love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her.
b. Husbands submitted to Christ are able to fulfill the wife’s greatest needs of Security and affection.
Wives in Christ are able to give their husbands the Respect and Sex he needs.
[Pastor Lee Stokes]