Lord Of The Marriage Series

Who is the The Lord of the Rings (part 1 of 5)

"I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, "and I hate a man’s covering himself with violence as well as with his garment," says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith. Mal 2:16

1. The family is in trouble in the United States! Marriage is taking a beating!!! (Divorce FACT SHEET)

2. Who is the Lord of the Rings”? (Husband- NO? Wife- NO? Couple- NO? Children- NO? Courts- NO?)

3. God is Lord of marriage by virtue of:

His Nature: Copyright c Creation, Knowledge, Wisdom, Power

His Character: Holy, Good, Loving, Compassionate, Merciful and full of Grace

4. God instituted marriage. The family is God’s idea.

Divorce is one of man’s innovations in the broken covenant. (Reason God hates divorce”)

MAT 19:8 Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. (NIV)

God hates” the causes and the results of divorce. Because He loves people.

5. The Bible recognizes the fact of divorce, but it does not always condemn divorce.

God hates divorce could not mean that it is always wrong because God Himself was involved in a divorce.

JER 3:8 I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries…

“The person who will have nothing to do with the divorced person can’t have anything to do with God. He is a divorced person!” (Jay Adams)

6. The church must stand up and clear its throat and compassionately proclaim Jesus as Lord of the Rings”!!!

Condemning divorce is not as simple as it may seem.

Attitude toward divorce is important. It will determine my relationship with a growing number of people.

I need to hate what God hates about divorce while recognizing that sometime divorce is necessary.

7. If Jesus isn’t the Lord of Your Rings” you marriage is in DEEP TROUBLE!

Several Biblical Truths Should Determine My Attitude…

1- Divorce Within Biblical Guidelines Is Not Wrong (Jer. 3:8)

1. Desertion by an unbeliever.

1 COR 7:13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.

1 COR 7:15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. (NIV)

2. Death of spouse.

1 COR 7:39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. (NIV)

3. Sexual infidelity.

MAT 19:9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery." (NIV)

2- All Divorce, No Matter What the Reasons, Stem From SIN

MAT 19:8 Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. (NIV)

3- Divorce Outside Biblical Guidelines Is Always SINFUL

4- Divorce Always Has BAD Consequences. Hope Floats” clip

5- God Will Not Excuse Wrong Divorce, But He Can Forgive It.

Matt 12:31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men… (NIV)

We cannot wink at divorce, nor can we simple denounce it.

Both are extreme and are not based on the Bible.

DEALING WITH THE GUILT OF DIVORCE

God s view of marriage and divorce tells us these things…

1. If you divorced for Biblical reasons you are free. Don’t let Satan bring you into condemnation.

2. Did you get a divorce before you knew Christ? (2 Corinthians 5:17)

3. If you divorced as a Christian you must recognize and confess your divorce as a sin, ask God for forgiveness and trust His great mercy.