Eternally Married

Sermon - eternally married?

- There is a statement used to describe marriage that I really don’t like.

- This isn’t a message describing divorce, but one of a marriage that is like the

marriage between the church & Christ.

- The notion is why don’t you let yourself go, you’ve already got the girl.

- With that comes the idea that, I don’t care what she thinks now, she’s stuck with

me anyway.

- That’s not the picture for the bride of Christ, & it’s not the picture for spouses

either.

- Yes, our marriage vow says, till death do we part.

- Ruth Graham joked, I’ve never considered divorce. Murder, yes, but not

divorce.

- When the idea of marriage is brought down to, oh she’s stuck with me now. That idea

robs the marriage of the intimacy, the closeness you’re supposed to have.

- Let’s read part of Paul’s letter to Ephesus concerning husbands now.

Ephesians 5:25-29

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

- The Words Love your wife as you love yourself.

- Let’s put it, Love Christ, the one in whom we are engaged to, as yourself.

Q- Do we show as much care for Christ as we do our own bodies?

Prayer

> The Woman of His Dreams. - (www. Jokes.christians unite.com)

young man called his mother and announced excitedly that he had just met the woman of his dreams. Now what should he do?

His mother had an idea: "Why don't you send her flowers, and on the card invite her to your place for a home-cooked meal?"

He thought this was a great strategy and arranged a date for a week later. His mother called the day after the big date to see how things had gone.

"The evening was a disaster," he moaned.

"Why, didn't she come over?" asked his mother.

"Oh, she came over, but she refused to cook."

- Christ committed Himself to the church!

- Jesus gave over & above what any person deserves.

- Christ wanted the very best for His bride, to be completely acceptable in the beloved.

Ephesians 1:5-7

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

- There is no doubt that Jesus is beloved by Father God.

- In marriage, two become one.

- Jesus shows the unity, the bond between us. There is no void between us.

- The perfection, & righteousness, of Christ is seen on us, by Father God!

- In this marriage He gave us a family.

- He unified us to increase & grow the family.

Q- We always hear the words, be fruitful & multiply, but do we understand them?

- Having children is a clear understanding of that statement.

- Just as more people accepting Jesus as Savior is to growing the family.

Q- Did you know one of the leading causes of divorce is having children?

- Now, here’s the thing, multiplying is the latter part of that command.

- God first said in marriage be fruitful.

Q- Be fruitful in what?

- Be fruitful in your marriage, make it grow!

Q- Why do you hear so much about celebrity divorces?

- It’s because as soon as there’s one thing they don’t like about their spouse,

they’re done!

- That’s not being fruitful.

Q- How many of us cut out their rose bush because it has thorns, or their apple trees

because they attract bees?

- Not very many do that, because they learn to cultivate around, or deal with the

things they don’t like.

- Often Times you see barriers set up around a rose bush, so no one gets hurt.

- God’s direction for the Church is to be fruitful in growing to be Christ’s bride.

- Listen to the day the bride is revealed, in all her perfection.

Revelation 19:7-9

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.