Calvary Creekside - January 4, 2010 - Marriage
10 Truths about Marriage - with a bonus point
1. Marriage is not designed to make you happy rather it is designed to make you holy - Phil 1:6 - A spouse is one of Gods primary instruments of grace at work in our lives. Our marriages cannot be separated from Gods overall purpose for us - Great reading on this - Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas -
2. You must be secure in Jesus - read Ps 84:10, Ps 16:11, I Kings 8:61, John 7:38 - these experiences are only true in Jesus.
3. Forgiveness must be constantly available within marriage - Matt 18 - How much have you been forgiven when Jesus was nailed to the cross?
4. Love is a choice and commitment - not an emotion. I Cor 13 read it again - it suffers long - Til Death Do Us Part - intimacy does not produce commitment rather commitment is the precursor to intimacy - read Joshua Harris' book on dating if you need some help here -
5. The ministry of reconciliation is lived out first in our marriages - II Cor 5 - We must model reconciliation with our spouse with the same fervor and passion that Christ has sought to reconcile us to God!
6. Our marriages are a portrait of Christ's love to a broken world. Eph 5 - are you painting a Picasso or a stick figure? If the good news has not had an effect on your marriage and brought good news there then what message do you have for the effectiveness of the gospel?
7. Seek to give your very best to your spouse - Love and Respect - Eph 5 - Redeem their faults, study them, be available, bring healing to their lives - en gedi
8. Your independence has been suspended - Phil 2:3 - Your spouse has a claim on all parts of your life - money time friends resources hobbies - if you dont want to give that stuff up - dont get married
9. Prepare yourself to be a good mate - I Ptr 1:16 Be someone worth having
10. Serve - If you are not actively serving the Lord by serving others then you have some radically broken pieces in your life that must be addressed - Mark 10:45 - do not think so highly of yourself - love and serve others -
11. Bonus Point - Oneness - Gen 2:24 - it is possible by Gods grace - the marriage you have dreamed of, wished for and tried to get is there for the taking !
