MAINTAINING GOD’s INTENT For MARRIAGE(& Singleness)-III—1Corinthians 7:1-9
(Making Marriage Worthy of its Creator)
Attention:
Scorpion In Your Tent:
A military recruiter was conducting a service member forum at a local high school in hopes of gaining some fresh military personnel. He wanted the high schoolers to see the benefits of each of the branches of the military. He posed the question of some currently in the service: "What would you do if you found a scorpion in your tent?"
The Navy man said, “We sleep in the sleeping quarters. But if a scorpion was there, I’d wash it overboard.”
The Soldier said, "I'd crush the scorpion with my boot.”
The Marine said, “I'd catch it, break the stinger off, & eat it.”
The Airforce vet said, “I'd call room service & find out why there's a tent in my room.”
The interviewer intended to highlight the differences between the military branches so the students could better choose the best branch in which to serve.
We must nurture God’s Intent in our marriages!
Paul answered the inquiries & clarified the concerns of the Corinthian Christians regarding marriage.
Christians maintain God’s intent/design for marriage.
How do/can Christian couples maintain God’s intent for marriage?
6 focal points for Christians regarding marriage.
We have found that Maintaining God’s intent for marriage(& singleness) demands a concentration upon...
1. His DIRECTIVES(:1)
2. His LIMITATIONs(:2)
3—Maintaining God’s intent for marriage(& singleness) demands a concentration upon...
His AFFECTION(:3)
Explanation:(:3)
1Cor. 7:3—“Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, & likewise also the wife to her husband.”
Both the husband & wife each have a sexual ‘duty’ or kindness to fulfill toward their spouse. For anyone to teach otherwise is blasphemous of God’s designed intent!
*This is not merely mutual ‘consent’, but rather a mutual ‘good thought’(eunoia) toward one another’s betterment.
3a--Lit.=“Let the husband due benevolence render”
“When a couple’s love for one another is compelled of God’s Holy Spirit, then they have chosen to give voice & place to God in & through their marital relationship.”
Sometimes your infatuation with your spouse takes a backseat to other things...other real obligations/commitments—Occupation(on-call, manager, owner), Children(of all ages), Church, Diapers, Homework, Meal preparation, Laundry, Yard maintenance, Car-Truck maintenance, Cleaning, Vacuuming, Sweeping, School, House repair, etc.
But it’s important to keep these things in proper perspective so that none of them takes attention away from your spouse. Husband & wife are one flesh(Gen. 2:24), & thus must function as a single body...Not merely as a team of two.
Nurture your marriage! And remember that God put you two together ‘before’ you had children! The two of you are still ‘an item!’
Wedding vows(2018)—for the man—“Will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live as one flesh after God’s ordinance within the holy estate of matrimony? Do you commit yourself to securing her fulfillment & completion? Will you cleave to her, love her, honor her, comfort her, uphold her, & keep her in health & in sickness, in prosperity & in adversity, & forsaking all others, keep yourself only for her, so long as you both shall live?...Do you?...Response: I do”—& likewise for the woman.
“Let...Render/Let...Fulfill”—apodidwmi—Verb—Lit.=‘Give away from’—1) To deliver, to give away for one's own profit what is one's own, to sell; 2) To pay off, discharge what is due—2a) A debt, wages, tribute, taxes, produce due, 2b) Things promised under oath, 2c) Conjugal duty, 2d) To render account; 3) To give back, restore; 4) To requite, recompense in a good or a bad sense. Strong—To give away, i.e. Up, over, back, etc.(in various applications).?From—apo—1) Of separation—“From.” Strong—a primary particle; “Off,” i.e. Away(from something near), in various senses(of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative).—&—didwmi—1) To give; 2) To give something to someone; 3) To give—3a) To cause, profuse, give forth from one's self, 3b) To appoint to an office, 3c) To cause to come forth, i.e. as the sea, death & Hell are said to give up the dead who have been engulfed or received by them, 3d) To give one to someone as his own; 4) To grant or permit one—4a) To commission. Strong—To give(used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection).
“Husband”2X(See :2, 4, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 34, 39)—anhr—Noun Masc.—1) with reference to sex—1a) Of a male, 1b) Of a husband, 1c) Of a betrothed or future husband; 2) With reference to age, & to distinguish an adult man from a boy; 3) Any male; 4) Used generically of a group of both men & women. Strong—A man(properly as an individual male).
*“Affection/Duty”—eunoia—Noun Fem.—Lit.=‘Good Thinking/Mind/Meaning’—1) Good will, kindness. Strong—Kindness; euphemism--Conjugal duty. Used 2X. Here & Eph. 6:7.?From—eu—neuter of a primary euv(good); adverbially--Well.—&—nouv—The intellect, i.e. Mind(divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by implication--Meaning.
*“Due”—ofeilw/ofeilew—Verb—1) To owe—1a) To owe money, be in debt for—1a1) That which is due, the debt; 2) metaph.--The goodwill due. Ofeilei indicates rather[in distinction from dei[necessary]] the personal obligation; it is that which is proper, something that ought to be done. Strong—probably from the base of ofelov[Gain](through the idea of accruing); To owe(pecuniarily); figuratively--To be under obligation(ought, must, should); morally--To fail in duty.
“To”2X—o,—OR—feminine--h, —OR—neuter--to—Article—1) This, that, these, etc. Strong—The definite article; The(sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).
“Wife”2X(See :2, 4, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 27, 29, 33, 39)—gunh—Noun Fem.—1) A woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow; 2) a wife—2a) Of a betrothed woman. Strong—A woman; specially--A wife.
“And”(See :4, 10, 11; :2—“Nevertheless”)—de—Conjunction—1) But, moreover, and, etc.. Strong—a primary particle(adversative or continuative); But, and, etc..
“Likewise”(See :4)—omoiwv—Adverb—1) Likewise, equally, in the same way. Strong—Similarly. Used 30X.?From the base of—omou—genitive case of omov (the same; akin to ama[properly--at the "same" time, but freely used as a preposition or adverb denoting close association]) as adverb; At the same place or time.
“Also”(See :7—“Even”)—kai—Conjunction—1) And, also, even, indeed, but. Strong—apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative & sometimes also a cumulative force; And, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection(or composition) with other particles or small words.
Argumentation:
Jer. 29:10-14—“For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you & perform My good word toward you, & cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace & not of evil, to give you a future & a hope. Then you will call upon Me & go & pray to Me, & I will listen to you. And you will seek Me & find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, & I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations & from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, & I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.”
Eph. 6:23-24—“Peace to the brethren, & love with faith, from God the Father & the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.”
Gen. 29:32-35—“So Leah conceived & bore a son, & she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The LORD has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.” Then she conceived again & bore a son, & said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. She conceived again & bore a son, & said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived again & bore a son, & said, “Now I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.”
1Cor. 13:4-7—“Love suffers long & is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Ps. 117:1-2—“Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!”
We must invite the Lord God Himself into our marriage...into every aspect of it...into every relational aspect of marriage.
Prov. 31:25-31—“Strength & honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up & call her blessed; Her husband also, & he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful & beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.”
It is easy to express lovingkindness to a wife like that.
Ps. 36:7—“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.”
Ps. 63:1-4—[A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah.]—O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry & thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power & Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.”
God’s lovingkindness anticipates the lovingkindness & affection of each spouse within marriage.
Illustration:
Exchange of Wedding Rings:
“The exchange of wedding rings is exceptionally significant. There is a visibly constant symbolism with each ring. The wedding ring is more than an ornament or a piece of jewelry. It is a standing symbol of the absolute & total commitment of each spouse to the other in marital love.
The rings are obviously circular...having no end, & thus signifying the un-ending devotion which you both vow to each other, even until death.
The rings are also of gold...the precious substance of which is incorruptible & which is incapable of being tarnished, further signifying the absolute & unmatched quality & purity with which this covenant of love is to be cherished & maintained.”
Application:
?Is a focal point of your Marriage(or Singleness) upon God’s AFFECTION?
?Is your Marriage endued with or immersed in God’s AFFECTION?
?Does your Marriage(or Singleness) Maintain God’s Intent??
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Scorpion In Your Tent—The military recruiter intended for the high schoolers to see the benefits of each of the branches of the military.
Action:
Maintaining God’s intent for marriage(& singleness) demands a concentration upon...
3. His AFFECTION(:3)
1. His DIRECTIVES(:1)
2. His LIMITATION(:2)
Pt#3-only! presented 09/16/2018am to:
FBC C’belle
206 Storrs Ave. SW(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
