The Wedding Charge

-As we gather together today in the house of God to perform this ceremony in the eyes of God

- may it be known to all in attendance that the ceremony is for the purpose of establishing

-a commitment which was ordained by God. The marriage ceremony is a joyous occasion.

- It is to be cherished, enjoyed, and honored. But, this marriage testimony is not to be taken lightly, for it is a commitment made under Heaven by God.

-Today, Christopher and Raquel have agreed to make this commitment to each other and to God.

- In talking with (groom name) and (bride name), I have found sufficient evidence that they are prepared to

-establish a marriage commitment under Heaven, before God, and before all who have gathered here today.

- Based on this, it is my responsibility to bring Christopher and Raquel together in matrimony under the authority of God. And, it is my duty to bring this charge.

-When kings, presidents, and pastors are brought into their particular office, they are given a formal declaration of their responsibilities.

- It is important to know that the responsibilities of a marriage are just as grave and important as that of any official office on earth.

- For before the first king walked the earth, men and women had already walked throughout the earth in marriage for several thousand years.

-You see God established the first king, the first priest, and even the first pastor. But before all of those offices were even considered, God established marriage between one man and one woman.

-In the book of Genesis, the second chapter, God’s word tells us the Lord formed man out of the dust of the ground.

- He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.

- The Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept. He took one of the ribs and closed up the flesh.

- From the rib, which the Lord had taken from man, He made woman and brought her to the man.

-Adam said, “this is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of man.”

- Therefore . . . shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

-The word of God says that God formed man from the ground.

- But, rather than form the woman from the ground, God formed her from Adam’s side.

-God is all powerful and had the ability to make the woman from the ground, just as He made man.

-But, Scripture tells us that God chose not to. Instead, God chose to make the woman from or out of man.

-God never acts recklessly or without purpose. The purpose of his actions in the creation of the man and of the woman was to establish two things on this earth.

- First, he wanted to establish responsibilities. God said to the woman Eve, “thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” -

But, Scripture also says that the husband is to love his wife even as Christ loves the church and gave his life for it.

-(groom name), Scripture commands men to love their wives sacrificially. We have the responsibility as the spiritual leader in our home.

-We are the priest of our homes. We are the pastor of our homes. We are to lead our families toward God. That is our God given responsibility.

-The second reason God made Eve from Adam was to show God’s desire for unity in the marriage.

-Again, Scripture tells us, “and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman and brought her unto man.”

-And, Adam said, “this is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man.”

-Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.

-The word, “cleave” literally means to be stuck together. You see, not only is God ordaining leadership in the home, but God is also ordaining unity.

-To be unified, the man and the woman are to be of the same spirit, and of the same mind.

- That means they are to have the same goals. They are to work together toward the same dreams, and to do all things together in unison.

-In a moment, (groom name) and (bride name) are going to light the unity candle. This part of this God-ordained ceremony has great symbolism and meaning.

-It represents the very thing I am talking about. (groom name) and (bride name), when you light the unity candles, you will pick up your individual candles.