Protecting Marriage
Griffith Baptist Church – 1/11/09
P.M. Service
Text: Nehemiah 13:23-31
Key verse: Nehemiah 13:27 - Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
Premise: Our marriages are weak because the tie that binds them is weak, which is Jesus Christ.
The Introduction
A young couple decided to wed. As the big day approached, they grew apprehensive. Each had a problem they had never before shared with anyone, not even each other. The Groom-to-be, overcoming his fear, decided to ask his father for advice. "Father," he said, "I am deeply concerned about the success of my marriage. I love my fiancée, very much, but you see, I have very smelly feet, and I’m afraid that my future wife will be put off by them." "No problem," said dad. "All you have to do is wash your feet as often as possible, and always wear socks, even to bed." Well, to him this seemed a workable solution. The bride-to-be, overcoming her fear, decided to take her problem up her mom. "Mom," she said, "When I wake up in the morning my breath is truly awful." "Honey," her mother consoled, "everyone has bad breath in the morning." "No, you don’t understand. My morning breath is so bad, I’m afraid that my new husband will not want to sleep in the same room with me." Her mother said simply, "Try this. In the morning, get straight out of bed, and head for the bathroom and brush your teeth. The key is, not to say a word until you’ve brushed your teeth. Not a word," her mother affirmed. Well, she thought it was certainly worth a try. The loving couple was finally married in a beautiful ceremony. Not forgetting the advice each had received, he with his perpetual socks and she with her morning silence, they managed quite well. That is, until about six months later. Shortly before dawn, the husband woke with a start to find that one of his socks had come off. Fearful of the consequences, he frantically searched the bed. This, of course, woke his bride, who, without thinking, immediately asked, "What on earth are you doing?" "Oh, no!" he gasped in shock, "You’ve swallowed my sock!" SOURCE: Pastor Tim, http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh
Marriage in our country has been in trouble for a long time.
Many Christian marriages are also in trouble and the numbers are increasing.
o One reason for this is the secularization of the home
o God is not being kept the center figure in the home
Another reason is the weakening of believers in their resolve to marry those that are saved as well.
We have crossed the line somewhere and bought into the lie that this is an area we can be lax in.
And Satan laughs as he proclaims his plan, “Destroy the family and marriage, destroy the church.”
Discuss text briefly
Three marriage principles for Christians
Body
1. Christians Should Marry Only Christians – 23-25
A. Never lower the principles
i. God has established marriage
a. It was God’s standard way back in the garden of Eden
b. One man for one woman has always been what God created
c. It is a picture of Christ and His bride, the Church (Rev. 19:7-9; 22:17; Eph. 5:22-33)
ii. Purity before and during marriage
a. Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
b. Your body is the temple of God – Read 1st Cor. 6:14-20
iii. Marriage is a sacred union - Matthew 19:6 - Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
B. Never settle for second best
i. Don’t fall for the pressure of finding a spouse is a “have to” thing
ii. We should want the best God has to offer in a life’s mate
iii. We should want to be the best God can make us for a life’s mate
C. Top two requirements for looking for a Christian mate:
i. Salvation (Is he/she saved?)
a. Psalms 119:63 – I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
b. This is not just lip service salvation, but genuine salvation
c. There ought to be evidence of a relationship with God and a strong testimony
d. Never let someone tell you what you want to hear.
• Some know the Christian lingo
• Never decide with your heart alone, it can be deceived
• Never go on your emotions, they can frustrate common sense
ii. Service (Is he/she active and serving faithfully?)
a. The test of a true disciple is obedience
b. Service should be consistent
c. Service should be done with joy
d. Service should be done out of desire to serve God
2. Marrying Non-Christians Will Pull You Away From Your Faith – 26-27
A. Solomon is a prime example of what compromise can do
i. He was a man of wisdom
ii. He was beloved of His God (see text)
iii. Yet he married foreign wives who made him compromise
iv. LESSON: As wise as Solomon was, he sinned. What makes us think we are invincible?
B. Success stories are few and far between
i. Good intentions are never enough
ii. 1 Corinthians 15:33 - Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
C. Marrying outside our faith is sin:
i. 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 – 14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
ii. To be unequally yoked is to be joined with one unlike you, this having to do with the spiritual aspect as well as other aspects
iii. Look at the contrasts:
a. Righteousness with unrighteousness
b. Light with darkness
c. Christ with Belial (Satan)
d. He that believeth with an infidel
e. The temple of God with idols
iv. The Bottom Line: These are opposites and don’t share commonality with each other to bring glory to God.
3. Marriage and Family Must Have High Standards – 28
A. God is first
i. One thinks this would be a given, but it isn’t
ii. To many homes today have other gods before God
iii. Going into a marriage, it ought to be agreed that God would be first
iv. Mark 12:30 - And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart (emotional), and with all thy soul (spiritual), and with all thy mind (intellectual), and with all thy strength (physical): this is the first commandment.
v. The reason it is the first commandment is because God wants to be first in your life, no matter what part - Exodus 20:3 - 3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
B. Purity is non-negotiable
i. 2 Timothy 2:22 – Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
ii. Purity in your relationship (watch how you look at and interact with others of the opposite sex)
iii. Purity in your influence (stay away from temptation i.e. porn, wandering eyes, etc.)
C. Worship together is mandatory
i. Joshua said, . . . as for me and my house we will serve the Lord (Josh. 24:15)
ii. Worship is a together activity and becomes more special when both are dedicated to the Lord.
iii. This will carry on with children when done with consistency and joy.
Conclusion:
Is your marriage strong like it should be?
Do you encourage others in their marriages to remain strong?
For those who are single, have you set high priorities for finding a mate?
