MAINTAINING GOD’s INTENT For MARRIAGE(& Singleness)-?IX—1Corinthians 7:10-17(7:1-17)
(Making Marriage(& singleness) Worthy of its Creator)
Attention:
My wife & I are ‘empty-nesters.’ Our children are all grown & out of the house(small but respectful ‘hallelujah’ with fingers crossed!). We are not consumed with the joys & frustrations of absolute directive authority over the children living in our home. We now have a secondary & distanced directive role.
So now, my wife & I are using this ‘grand opportunity’ to live with & love one another again without interruption. Our ‘co-workers in raising kids’ relationship has changed & come full circle.
We have personal couple-goals that are now more loosely-tethered to the children. The work of raising children underfoot has shifted into the realm of parental consultation—repudiating &/or confirming their lifestyles & choices per the request of our children(along with a little of our own chosen interventions!).
If we are careful to nurture God’s Intent in our marriages, then they will NOT end up ruined as do many marriages!
Paul answered the inquiries & clarified the concerns of the Corinthian Christians regarding marriage & singleness.
Christians maintain God’s intent/design for marriage & singleness.
But How do/can they do that?’
We've found previously that:
Maintaining God’s intent for marriage(& singleness) demands a concentration upon...
1. His DIRECTIVES(:1)
2. His LIMITATION(:2)
3. His AFFECTION(:3)
4. His AUTHORITY(:4)
5. His COMMITMENT/Attention(:5-6)
6. His GIFTEDNESS(:7)
7. His GOODNESS(:8)
8. WHAT GOD CONSIDERS ‘BETTER’(:9)
9—Maintaining God’s intent for marriage(& singleness) demands a concentration upon...
His DESIGN(:10-11)
Explanation:(:10-11)
:10—“Now to the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.”
“Now to the married...”
In the previous verses—:1-9—Paul’s focus was upon those who might ‘consider’ marriage—the unmarried & widows. Paul described the depth of mutual spousal commitment among God’s people. The Holy Spirit thru Paul briefly describes how that spousal commitment plays into practical matters of commitment to our Lord & flows from that relationship.
Paul also reveals the God-driven virtue of sexual self-control, & how marriage is the God-ordained means of tempering/managing that.
What follows :10-11 in verses :12-16, are directives for those who are married to unbelievers.
The verb form here—Perfect Active Participle—shows us that once we marry, then we are to remain married.—RWP
Here in verses :10-11, Paul—“Now”(actually “but”)—enters into a discussion that is pertinent to Christians who are “married” to Christians., i.e., :10-12 concerns marriage between believers.—MTNAC
“Now/And/But”(See :9—“but”, :2—“nevertheless”; :3, 4—“and”)—de—Conjunction—1) But, moreover, and, etc.. Strong—a primary particle(adversative or continuative); But, and, etc..
“Married”(See :9, 28, 33, 34, 36)—gamew—Perfect Active Participle Dative Plural Masc.—1) To lead in marriage, take to wife—1a) To get married, to marry, 1b) To give one's self in marriage; 2) To give a daughter in marriage. Strong—To wed(of either sex). Used 29X.?From—gamov—Nuptials[i.e., relating to marriage or weddings].
“I command, yet not I, but the Lord:...”
What Paul will say next is NOT something that originates with him alone. He is NOT interpreting or expanding on a QUESTIONABLE subject. The direction that follows is something which our Lord Jesus spoke to directly(cf.-Mat. 5:31-32; Mat. 19:3-12; Mk. 10:2-12).
Paul has an ULTIMATE PURPOSE in re-stating the Lord’s command. Paul’s purpose is to secure, for the Lord, any marital activity within the Corinthian church.
•So with the following statements, Paul also seeks to put a stop to any marital activity that would undermine God’s intent for marriage.
So before discussing the boundaries that surround ‘marriage to an unbeliever’(:12-17), Paul reminds the Corinthian church of “the Lord’s” desire regarding ‘divorce.’
“I Command/Give Instructions/Charge”—paraggellw—Present Active Indicative 1st Sing.—1) To transmit a message along from one to another, to declare, announce; 2) To command, order, charge. Strong—To charge, is used especially of the order of a military commander to his troops. Strong—To transmit a message, i.e. by implication--To enjoin.?From—para—1) From, of at, by, besides, near. Strong—a primary preposition; properly--Near; i.e. From beside(literally or figuratively),or--At(or in) the vicinity of(objectively or subjectively), or--To the proximity with(local especially)--Beyond or opposed to, or causal--On account of.—&—aggelov—1) A messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God. Strong—A messenger; especially--An "angel"; by implication--A pastor.
“Not”(See :9; :1, 4, 5—mh(See below))—ou, ouk, OR--ouc—Particle—1) No, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer. Strong—a primary word; the absolute negative [compare mh] adverb; No or not.
“I”(See :12)—egw—Pronoun—1) I, me, my. Strong—a primary pronoun of the first person I(only expressed when emphatic).
“But”(See :4, 7; :11, 14—de)—alla—Conjunction—1) But—1a) Nevertheless, notwithstanding, 1b) An objection, 1c) An exception, 1d) A restriction, 1e) Nay, rather, yea, moreover, 1f) Forms a transition to the cardinal matter. Strong—neuter plural of allov[else, i.e. different]; properly--Other things, i.e. adverbially--Contrariwise(in many relations). RWP—Perhaps, "nevertheless," in spite of the difference just noted.
“Lord”(See :12, 22, 25)—kuriov—Noun Masc.—1) He to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord. Kuriov has a wider meaning[than despothv], applicable to the various ranks & relations of life & not suggestive of either property or of absolutism. Strong—from kurov(supremacy); Supreme in authority, i.e. as noun--Controller; by implication--Mr.(as a respectful title).
“A wife is not to depart from her husband.”...
...“And a husband is not to divorce his wife.”
“To depart/separate from” is a phrase signifying a ‘divorce’ based on insufficient reasons & thus ungodly ones. Apparently in that day & culture(Corinthian) a woman could initiate “divorce” proceedings(cf.-:13; Israeli-Mk. 10:12).
•These are “commands” of the Lord, & as such, they are entirely reasonable in the scheme of Christian living, so that Paul can easily “command” such “to the married.”
•Simply put: “The burden of Christ’s command was that the married(particularly those married in Christ) were not to be divorced(Mat. 5:32; 19:3-9; Lk. 16:18).”—EBC1976
•Malachi 2:16—“For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the LORD of hosts. Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.””
•”Violence”—omx khaw-mas’—1) Violence, wrong, cruelty, injustice.
•“Deal Treacherously”—dgb baw-gad'—To cover(with a garment); figuratively--To act covertly; by implication--To pillage.
•Just because there has been no physical blood shed in a divorce, does not mean that no violence, wrong, cruelty, or injustice has occurred! There is ALWAYS some degree or aspect of “violence” that is associated with divorce!...‘Verbal Condescension’ is an example of what will destroy your marriage...It sets a marriage up for failure!
Even a world awash in it’s subjectiveness sees the ramifications of destructive words & attitudes.
•To ‘treacherously’ finalize a spousal relationship by means of divorce, causes a person to be viewed by God, in a manner similar to the way God would view the clothes of a murderer being covered with the blood of his/her victim.
Mat. 19:3-12—“The Pharisees also came to Him[Jesus], testing Him, & saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” And He answered & said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male & female,’ “& said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father & mother & be joined to his wife, & the two shall become one flesh’? “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, & to put her away?” He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, & marries another, commits adultery; & whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But He said to them, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: “For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, & there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, & there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”
•?Have you put or are you putting your ‘ex’ in an impossible situation?
•Jesus’ directives in those verses really give ‘marriage’ the godly reverence that God intends. (CONT...)9—Maintaining God’s intent for marriage(& singleness) demands a concentration upon...His DESIGN(:10-11)
*A CAUTION:—WORK ENVIRONMENT.—Attention to gender in one’s Work Environment, is something that can aid in PREVENTING divorce. BUT a LACK of attention to it is a common occurrence. Many if not most, would say that gender considerations in the Work Environment are irrelevant—that those considerations are not a subject for undue concern, & may rather say is even a necessity for proper business interactions...
•A married man or woman working singly/one-on-one with a member of the opposite sex. Such as A secretary in the same enclosure/cubicle/glassed-in area as her boss. That can be a recipe for marital disaster!
•Now most would say that my above statements make me a ‘male chauvinist pig’(1970s), sexist, & prejudiced against women(mysogynist). BUT someone would only say that IF they have a total ignorance of or disregard for the REALITIES of human nature.
*Divorce or permanent Separation is NEVER an OPTIMAL choice!
•It is NEVER ‘INSISTED’ upon in Scripture, even in cases of adultery or physical violence or abandonment.
•God’s INTENT is that the estranged couple become reconciled to one another & ‘live happily ever after.’
“Divorce”, no matter who initiates it, “is contrary to God’s plan for mankind.”—MNTC
But Divorce or permanent Separation IS ‘ALLOWABLE’ even though God has a hatred of it.
*“Divorce...is a gracious concession to the innocent party in an irreconcilable case of unfaithfulness.”—John MacArthur
Particularly “a wife”(a woman) is not to initiate a “departure” “from her husband.” But before you get all flustered about that statement, ...
•Paul also adds in verse :11, that neither is “a husband to divorce his wife.”
Some ‘elephant in the room’ questions surrounding the discussion in 1Cor. 7:10-11ff. are:
•?Is your divorce &/or re-marriage legitimate in God’s eyes?
•?Have you begun a string of failed relational attempts to please yourself rather than to please God?
•?Have you pushed your former spouse into adultery resulting from your sheer selfishness & your unwillingness to properly relate to your spouse?
•?Have you sought, & do you seek God’s blessing in your marriage, divorce, or re-marriage?(See :11)...
OR, let’s say it this way—?Is it possible for you to honor God in your former marriage? -&- ?Is it possible for you to honor God in your divorce? -&- ?Is it possible for you to honor God in your remarriage?
“Wife”(See :2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 14, 16, 27, 29, 33, 34; :1, 13—“woman”)—gunh—Noun Accusative Sing. 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.
“Not”(See :4, 5, 10; :10—ou, ouk, ouc(See above))—mh—Particle—1) No, not lest. Strong—a primary particle of qualified negation(whereas ou, ouk, ouc expresses an absolute denial); adverbially--Not, conjunctionally--Lest; also(as an interrogative implying a negative answer[whereas ou expects an affirmative one])--Whether.
“Depart from/Leave”(See :11, 15)—cwrizw—1Aorist Passive Infinitive(middle emphasis)—1) To separate, divide, part, put asunder, to separate one's self from, to depart—1a) To leave a husband or wife—1a) Of divorce, 1b) To depart, go away. Strong—To place room between, i.e. Part; reflexively--To go away. Used 13X.?From—cwra; feminine of a derivative of the base of casma through the idea of empty expanse; Room, i.e. A space of territory(more or less extensive; often including its inhabitants).
“Husband”(See :2, 3, 4, 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).
:11—“But even if she does depart,...
Remember the context in :10-11 is of: A person who is committed to God, & who is married to another person(of the opposite sex) who is also committed to God...AKA—A Christian couple.
Divorce or permanent Separation CAN be acceptable for a Christian couple—no harm, no foul...BUT ONLY IF one of only two options is fulfilled following the divorce...
1)“...let her remain unmarried...”—
•This phrase heavily implies that the divorcing wife had no legitimate incentive/motivation for the divorce. That her desire for divorce, birthed during her legitimate marriage, was based upon her possibly having: ‘Fallen in love’ with someone else, -OR- Found a husband who is a ‘better provider’, -OR- Found a man who was more in touch with her feelings, etc.. To act in such a manner is to deal treacherously(Mal. 2:16).
?Will the divorce-er find singleness appealing in the long haul? If not, then there ‘MAY’ be personally harbored sin that is driving a decision to divorce, thus making it illegitimate!
“Remain”(See :8, 20, 24, 26, 40)—menw—Present Active Imperative 3rd Sing.—1) To remain, abide—1a) in reference to place—1a1) To sojourn, tarry, 1a2) Not to depart—1a2a) To continue to be present, 1a2b) To be held, kept, continually, 1b) in reference to time—1b1) To continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure—1b1a) Of persons, to survive, live, 1c) in reference to state or condition—1c1) To remain as one, not to become another or different; 2) To wait for, await one. Strong—a primary verb; To stay(in a given place, state, relation or expectancy).
“Unmarried”(See :8, 34)—agamov—Adj.—1) Unmarried, unwedded, single. Strong—Unmarried. Used 4X.?From—A(as a negative particle)—&—gamov—of uncertain affinity; Nuptials[relating to marriage or weddings]. (CONT...)9—Maintaining God’s intent for marriage(& singleness) demands a concentration upon...His DESIGN(:10-11)
1)“...let her remain unmarried...”
OR--
2)“...or be reconciled to her husband...”—
A “departure” from one’s spouse does not have to be final. In a failed marriage, the unity brought about thru “Reconciliation” is ALWAYS more appropriate than the finality of separation thru divorce!
A husband or wife who ‘needlessly’ divorces his/her spouse should “remain unmarried” in order to effect “reconciliation” & remarriage to his/her former spouse(Deut. 24:4).—DEGBECNT
Deut. 24:1-4—““When a man takes a wife & marries her, & it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, & he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, & sends her out of his house, when she has departed from his house, & goes & becomes another man’s wife, if the latter husband detests her & writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, & sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife, then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the LORD, & you shall not bring sin on the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.”
!That is how illegitimate divorce produces adultery & profanes God’s truth!
• “Reconciliation” assumes that there has been a removal of the animosity which originally spurred the divorce.
• “Reconciliation” thus assumes there will be remarriage or some officially recognized expunging of the divorce that involved one’s former spouse.
The Greek form of the word translated as, “Reconciled” is significant, in that it implies 3 things:
1)Aorist tense—True Reconciliation is to be a point-in-time change which continues into & thru the future. That is, it expects that the re-marriage will remain viable till death.
2)Passive voice—True Reconciliation involves a wholehearted & unhesitating reception of the other person.
3)Imperative mood—True Reconciliation occurs thru personal effort to make it happen.
These verses—:10-11— inform us of the intentionally inviolable godly design for marriage. Marriage is never to be dishonored, infringed upon, broken, or approached carelessly in any way. Marriage is an extremely serious matter.
•Let’s remember the tug toward the sinful fulfillment of the flesh, that is brought on by a lack of self-control(:9).
“Or”(See :16)—h—Particle—1) Either, or, than. Strong—a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive--Or; comparative--Than.
“Reconciled”—katallassw—2Aorist Passive Imperative 3rd Sing.—1) To change, exchange, as coins for others of equivalent value—1a) To reconcile(those who are at variance), 1b) Return to favor with, be reconciled to one, 1c) To receive one into favor. Strong—To change mutually, i.e. figuratively--To compound a difference. Used 6X.?From—kata—Preposition—1) Down from, through out; 2) According to, toward, along. Strong—a primary particle; (prepositionally--Down(in place or time), in varied relations(according to the case [genitive case, dative case or accusative case] with which it is joined).—&—allassw—Verb—To make different.
“Husband”2X(See :2, 3, 4, 10, 13, 14, 16, 34, 39)—anhr—Noun Dative Sing. 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). (CONT...)9—Maintaining God’s intent for marriage(& singleness) demands a concentration upon...His DESIGN(:10-11)
ALSO: This “command” of our Lord—to not depart or divorce—also informs us of the SIGNIFICANCE of the Church’s being ‘the bride of Christ’(2Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:22-33; Rev. 22:14-17; Rev. 21:2, 9; Mat. 25:1;). Jesus is also referred to as the bridegroom(Mat. 9:15; Mat. 22:2; Jn. 3:29).
*2Cor. 11:2—Paul to the Corinthian church—“For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
*Eph. 5:22-33—“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; & He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church & gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify & cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy & without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes & cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh & of His bones. For this reason a man shall leave his father & mother & be joined to his wife, & the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ & the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, & let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
*Rev. 19:5-9—“Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants & those who fear Him, both small & great!” And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters & as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! “Let us be glad & rejoice & give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, & His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean & bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
Mat. 25:1ff—“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins[the Church] who took their lamps & went out to meet the bridegroom.”[Jesus]
Mat. 22:2—“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son,”
*Jn. 3:29—John the Baptist of his missional relationship to Jesus—““He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands & hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.”
Rev. 22:14-17—“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, & may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs & sorcerers & sexually immoral & murderers & idolaters, & whoever loves & practices a lie. “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root & the Offspring of David, the Bright & Morning Star.” And the Spirit & the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”
Rev. 21:2, 9-11a—“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband......Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me & talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great & high mountain, & showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God...”
•The redeemed Church will inhabit the New Jerusalem so that the city itself can be referred to as a Bride!
Argumentation:
Some examples of God’s DESIGN:
*Deut. 7:7-8—“The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, & because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, & redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”
*Gal. 3:19-4:5—“What purpose[God’s Design] then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; & it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, & heirs according to the promise. Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians & stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
*John 1:12-13—“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Acts 13:26-44—In the synagogue, on the Sabbath, in the Pisidian city of Antioch, Paul spoke saying:—“Men & brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, & those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, & their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree & laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. And we declare to you glad tidings--that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’ “And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ “Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’ “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, & saw corruption; “but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; & by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: “Behold, you despisers, Marvel & perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.’” So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews & devout proselytes followed Paul & Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.”
Illustration:
Traffic cones in a highway work zone/They are made of a softer material than your car, so that no lasting damage will occur, IF you were to make the mistake of running over one or two/Their particular placement of the cones at the worksite is designed is to keep you in the correct lane & from wrecking your vehicle/We will inevitably witness some cones that have been knocked over by other drivers/BUT the intent of the cones is to NEVER have you run over them or thru them!/Likewise, God is continually in the process of guiding you along the only reliable & safe path to & within His kingdom!/His DESIGN
Application:
?Are you fulfilling God’s DESIGN for your marriage(& singleness)?
?Is God’s intent for your marriage(& singleness) being maintained?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Empty-nesters—The work of raising children underfoot shifts to the realm of parental consultation—repudiating &/or confirming their lifestyles & choices.
Action:
Maintaining God’s intent for marriage(& singleness) demands a concentration upon...
9. His DESIGN(:10-11)
1. His DIRECTIVES(:1)
2. His LIMITATION(:2)
3. His AFFECTION(:3)
4. His AUTHORITY(:4)
5. His COMMITMENT/Attention(:5-6)
6. His GIFTEDNESS(:7)
7. His GOODNESS(:8)
8. WHAT GOD CONSIDERS ‘BETTER’(:9)
Pt# 9 only! presented 11/08/2020am to:
1BCCbelle(Video lost, NOT shared)
206 SE Ave A(Storrs Ave.)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
