Foundation Stones For Marriage Series

Compiled by: Herman Abrahams (Pastor), Cornerstone Faith Ministries, P.O. Box 740, Westridge 7802, Rep. of South Africa.

E-Mail: Mentorship2003@yahoo.co.uk

Note to the reader:

If you have been blessed with this sermon compilation, I would be honoured to receive an e-mail from you merely telling me where in the world you are based- I do not need any other information. This is merely so that I can have the pleasure of giving thanks to Almighty God that all over the globe the ministry which he has entrusted to me, is blessing the body of Christ and helping to extend the Kingdom of God. Many thanks and God bless. Herman Abrahams, Cape Town, South Africa.

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Series: Successful Family

Foundation Stones for Christian Marriage

PART 1 - WOMAN CREATED FOR MAN

OUR PURPOSE: To understand marriage as God intended it to be, in contrast to the opinions of the world around us. Let us therefore go on a scriptural tour in our search for foundational truths on which to build our marriage.

1. THE IDEA OF MALE AND FEMALE WAS GOD’S IDEA.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Gen. 1:27)

Genesis 1 declares the fact of man’s creation while Genesis 2 reveals the process by which this occurred. God made male and female for his own good purposes. The creation of two kinds of people - men and women - was not meant to be a put-down for women or to thwart the ambitions of the women’s liberation movement. Men and women are equally important and are complementary to each other in God’s design. The creation of woman became a testimonial, for creation was incomplete without her. Think how colourless, how one-dimensional a world it would be if there was only your sex in it! Can you imagine living in an all-male world or an all-female world? You need to see and rejoice in the fundamental differences between male and female in order to enjoy the goodness God planned for you in marriage.

2. MARRIAGE WAS DESIGNED TO MEET THE FIRST PROBLEM OF THE HUMAN RACE: LONELINESS

“And the Lord God said, It is not good for the man to be alone …………..” (Gen.2:18-22)

The insight expressed here is that man was made for fellowship and not for isolation. Picture Adam in this beautiful environment - he had the fellowship of God and the company of the birds and the animals, yet he was alone. God saw that this was “not good”. So God created woman - a perfect solution for overcoming the man’s loneliness. Our wise and loving Creator made another creature, like Adam, yet wondrously unlike him. The creation of man was now complete; the woman complements the man. Man and woman coming together in marriage is God’s ideal of completeness. Woman was designed to be man’s ‘helper’. Dr Ed Wheat points out that this term ‘helper’ refers to a beneficial relationship where one person aids or supports another person as a friend and ally. Perhaps you have thought of the woman as a kind of glorified servant. Ed Wheat also points out that the same Hebrew word for ‘help’ is used of God himself in Psalm 46:1 where He is called our ‘helper’, “a very present help in trouble.”

Man and woman, meant for each other and totally suitable for each other - spiritually, intellectually, emotionally and physically. It is possible for you to be living in the same house with your mate but because you or your

mate’s needs - spiritually, intellectually, emotionally and physically are not

being met by each other, you could still be lonely. However, this is not God’s design for you; his design is COMPANIONSHIP and COMPLETENESS for the two of you together.

3. MARRIAGE WAS DESIGNED TO BRING HAPPINESS, NOT MISERY

“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” (Gen. 2:23).

Ed Wheat calls this the world’s first love song! Adam is delighted with the sense of unity and equality he has with the woman. He expresses a tremendous excitement, a joyous astonishment. *The phrase “bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh,” became a favourite Old Testament saying to describe an intimate, personal relationship. Finally Adam had found the one to complete him, who could take away his loneliness and who was as dear to him as his own flesh. God has designed marriage for our joy and happiness; his purpose has never changed.

*”AT LAST, I have someone corresponding to me!”

PART 2 - LEAVING, CLEAVING AND ONE FLESH

4. MARRIAGE MUST BEGIN WITH A LEAVING OF ALL OTHER RELATIONSHIPS IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN.