Day 14 Marriage is Sacred

Day 14

Marriage is Sacred

“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’  But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.”

(Matthew 5:31-32)

Marriage is Sacred is the 6^th pillar

Marriage, sacred and binding, is the sixth pillar that holds the temple of Truth!  

Marriage is a God-ordained and God-originated institution. From the beginning, God intended it be so, as the earth must have order.  But marriage is still a great mystery to us, for we cannot fully comprehend in our finite minds the depth of the infinite spiritual meaning of marriage:

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.  This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”  (Ephesians 5:31-32)

Marriage is not just about us; it is about God and His divine purposes.  It must be ordained by God, and originated by God.  A marriage that is not ordained and originated by God will not stand. For it is written:

 

“Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” (Psalm 127:1a)

Marriage must be built on The Rock, which is Christ.  If you build it elsewhere, you have built it on sinking sand, how then do you expect a marriage to stand on a day full of tempests?

I say then, if Christ is not the center of your marriage, it will not stand.  Only God has the power to make two people unite and become as one!  And keep them cleaved as one.  No government institution or organization, no

church, pastor, bishop, or prophet, no families, friends, and the like, none of them has the power to keep two people together.  They might seem to have the power to bring two people together, but they do not have the power to keep them together!   And that is why those who are brought together by men are just as easily torn apart by men, but those who are brought together by God, though they face trials and tribulations, the LORD is able to make them stand and He will make them stand.  He will keep them by the power of His mighty right hand.  Hallelujah!  For it is written:

“…Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

(Matthew 19:6)

 There are two kinds of marriages: the physical and the spiritual.

1)    Physical marriages (based on social responsibilities):

Physical marriages are men-ordained and men-originated.  These are our social responsibilities and we must fulfill them.  For us Africans we have:

A)   Traditional marriages:

This involves Lobola, or dowry, negotiations.  Once the families have reached an agreement, the man’s side pays what was agreed, and the woman’s side gives permission for the man to marry their daughter.  This is a traditional wedding.   And we are all encouraged to do this, even Christians, because it is biblical.  Abraham did this for Isaac; Jacob did this. And not only that, we also obey the fifth Commandment:

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”   (Exodus 20:12)

Women don’t grow up on trees, where a man can just come and grab one and go.  No!  Women are created by God and raised by families who spend time and resources on them, bringing them up in a way that a man would love the woman to be his wife.  So the Lobola is a thank you gift to the woman’s family for a job well done.  Amen!

B)    Social marriages:

This is conducted by the Home Affairs Department of the government.  Two people can wake up on any given day and decide to get married. They can do so as long they have two witnesses.  This, again, is our social responsibility, and we ought to allow this; however, as heavenly citizens residing on earth, we have a spiritual duty to consult our King and obey His ordinances.

2)    Spiritual marriages:

Spiritual marriages are ordained and originated by God.  It starts with God; it is officiated by God through His servant.   God has chosen to bring these two people together as one--male and female--and keep them cleaved as one forever.  This is done in the spiritual realm, so earthly paperwork is not really necessary, for the marriage is registered in the heavenly books.  Angels take record of every word spoken, so you better keep the vows you made to each other.  Now this command is not if you feel like it.  If you are a citizen of the Heavenly Kingdom, it is your spiritual duty to fulfill all righteousness.

If you were married before you were converted, just surrender your marriage into the hands of God and invite Christ to be the center of your marriage.  The Holy Spirit will guide you on what to do and it shall be well with your marriage.

Conclusion:

That which man has brought together, man also can pull it apart.  When a man pays Lobola, but he is not fully satisfied with his wife, he can bring her back to her family.

And when the only thing that keeps you together is a signature, that is what you have signed to keep you bound, the same can also be ‘unsigned’ to set yourself loose. This is divorce.

                                                                                                                   

Now when God gives you a spouse and you are angry with your spouse, you can take your spouse back to God--only you have to find His address first! If   you do find it, please let us know where it is.  Then you have to go into the spiritual realm, and find the knot which God used to tie you up together, and then untie this knot.  See how it is much easier to stop complaining about your spouse that the LORD has given you, and start learning to live with each other.  If you are married, cherish the one you have.  That’s it. There is no one else coming, so you better start cherishing each other, love each other, be happy and content with each other.  That’s all you’ve got!  Or you can spend the rest of your life wishing you were with someone else, which will never happen if you are God-fearing.

Husbands

Love your wives.  God is not asking you, God is commanding you to love your wife.  This is not when you feel like loving her; it is not up for discussion; it is not a suggestion; and it is definitely not negotiable.  It is a command.  You must love her, please her, make her happy, rejoice with her, praise her, honor her, understand her, guide her, and even bear with her.  She is not perfect, but neither are you.  Build her up the way you want her to be, but accept who she is first, and then work with who she is.   A woman is like a field:  you reap exactly what you sow, nothing more nothing less.  If you sow oranges you will get oranges, but if you sow lemons, you will get lemons.

Therefore, if you show her love, care, trust, praise, understanding, respect, honor, patience, and teach her with love and patience, it is guaranteed she will give these back to you.  In fact, you will get a double portion back of all that you have given to her.  And please spend time with her:

“When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken.”  (Deuteronomy 24:5)

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD.”  (Proverbs 18:22)

“Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 9:9)

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”  (Ephesians 5:25)

“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”  (1 Peter 3:7)

Husbands, if you have problems with your wife your prayers may be hindered, for God commands unity within the home.  Please keep peace with your wife so that your prayers may be answered.

Wives

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.  Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.”  (Ephesians 5:22-24)

“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands.”  (1 Peter 3:1-5)

Wives, be submissive to your own husbands.  Even if they are not Christians, please continue to submit yourselves, that by your good conduct they may be won into the faith and be saved. As we study the Scriptures, God is continually commanding us to love and submit.   These two go together.  Just as the husband is not complete without the wife and the wife is not complete without the husband, even so, you cannot submit without loving, and you cannot be loved without being submissive.

Let us therefore fulfill our ministries.  Those who must love, let them love their wives wholeheartedly.  Those who must submit, let them submit wholeheartedly, that we may live in peaceful homes, not in houses that are battlefields.  For the devil wants to break the institution of marriage, to makes us weak through sin.  The devil wants to break marriages to make the church weak.  But the LORD will not allow us to be weakened by the enemy if we remain in the fear of the LORD and continue in prayer day and night, both as families and as individuals, praying for each other.  The love of God will bind us and keep us together.  For it is written:

      “…When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.”  (Isaiah 59:19)

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
      and every tongue which rises against you in judgment
      you shall condemn.
      This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
      and their righteousness is from Me,”
      says the LORD.”  (Isaiah 57:17)

And again:

“But those who wait on the LORD
      shall renew their strength.”  (Isaiah 40:31a)

Singles

“...Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases.” (Song of Solomon  2:7)

Let your steps be ordered by God.  Do not let your heart, or the devil, deceive you.  Do not pray with desires of your heart.  The devil will answer your prayer, and you will suffer.  Do not ask God to say “yes” when you know the answer is “NO!”

Young person, if another young person has not committed his or her life wholeheartedly to Christ, this person is not good for you, whether this is the cutest guy or girl that you have ever met:  he or she is not good for you!

 For, when it comes to marriage, physical beauty is not everything.  Also, do not bring another young person to church, because you want to marry this person.  If you do marry, God bless your soul, but the truth is that most of the time it will not lead to marriage!   Just wait patiently.  God is faithful.   God will send you the one He has created especially for you, just for you; the one that will fit perfectly in your life.  You will not need to share this person with others; he or she will be just yours.

“Trust in the LORD, and do good;
         dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
  Delight yourself also in the LORD,
         and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
           Commit your way to the LORD,
         trust also in Him,
         and He shall bring it to pass.”  (Psalm 37:3-5)

Finally my beloved, marriage is an honorable thing among us who believe, but God will judge those who cheat on their spouse.

Singles, young people, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and it is not for fornication. Please, I urge you to abstain from sexual activities, and keep yourself pure.

“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”  (Hebrews 13:4)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.  Amen!

Meditation:  Marriage is a God-ordained and God-originated institution; therefore, marriage is sacred!

Prayer points (Husband):  LORD, please help me to love my wife unconditional, I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Prayer points (Wife): LORD, please help me to submit to my husband wholeheartedly, I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Prayer points (Singles/young person):  LORD, please help me to keep myself sexual pure, please give me strength and grace to abstain until I am married, I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Commitment (Husband):  I commit myself, by Your grace oh LORD, to love my wife unconditional and wholeheartedly, through Christ who strengthens me, Amen!

Commitment (Wife):  I commit myself, by Your grace oh LORD, to submit to my husband wholeheartedly and respectfully, through Christ who strengthens me, Amen!

Commitment (Singles/Young person):  I commit myself, by Your grace oh LORD, to keep myself sexually pure, to abstain and wait upon You as you lead me by Your Holy Spirit through Christ who strengthens me, Amen!