Pleased to Dwell

Dear Brethren,

God instituted the marriage covenant between a man and a woman.  This is one of the ways God has chosen to reveal Himself to us.  God has created us to be like Him.  Our God is a covenant God – a faithful  covenant God.  All that we know of God is found in His Word, the Bible, and in His creation.  God tells us where to look in order to be able to know and identify with Him.

“That which can be known of God is plain before their eyes; for God Himself has shown it unto them.  For the invisible attributes of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even His eternal power and divine character; so that they are without excuse.”  (Romans 1:19-20)

When God made Adam, He knew that there was no one to help Adam, and no one to be his mate.  Adam needed someone to complement him physically, emotionally, psychologically, and especially, spiritually.  “The Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an helper, comparable to him.”   (Genesis 2:18)

Then God created Eve, a counterpart for Adam, and together, man and woman were physically complete.  They were the first human family.  It is God’s intention that a husband and wife, together, reach the pinnacle of love and unity.  In a Godly marriage between two called-out and converted Christians, there exists a covenant, not only between the man and wife, but also with God.  The man vows with God and his wife, while the wife vows with God and her husband.  For this reason, a marriage between two of God’s people rises to the level of a spiritual God-plane relationship.

Though marriage is a physical union, it is a divine institution established by God at creation. What does it mean to be bound in a covenant relationship?  When a man and a woman come together as husband and wife, a covenant is established.  A covenant is a binding compact or promise, a formal sealed agreement or contract that binds the parties until completion of the terms, or as in marriage, until the death of one of the parties.  It is a great travesty when a marriage covenant is broken.

Man enters into covenants, and God enters into covenants, but only God has proven faithful to honor and keep the covenants He has entered into.   Jesus explained that the marriage covenant was to be kept sacred and unbroken:  “He [God] who made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?  Wherefore they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto Him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?  He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts allowed you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, commits adultery: and whoso marries her which is put away does commit adultery.”  (Matthew 19:4-9)

The purpose of a Godly marriage is, first of all, for each partner to help complete the spiritual development and character within their spouse.  It is the solemn duty of each spouse to help their mate achieve their full spiritual potential.  In so doing, each spouse will ultimately arrive at the highest place in God’s kingdom that is attainable.  Marriage is also a type of the prophetic covenant relationship of Jesus Christ and the Church of God.

God will use the “good” marriages of today as beautiful examples to all those in the world tomorrow.  If you search the Scriptures, you will find very few exemplary marriages.  It is God’s intention, and with His help, that wonderful marriages are absolutely possible at this time.

One of the greatest blessings from God in this life is a happy marriage.  Marriage reflects the exact picture of Jesus Christ and His loving relationship with His Church.  Sadly, very few marriages reach the level of marital harmony that God has intended.  Too many marriages are plagued with anger, resentment, hurt and infidelity.  As with all things, God has given us instructions on how to have a happy and successful marriage.

In today's chaotic world, the sanctity of marriage is all but lost.  Marriage, as an institution, is being rejected as unnecessary and out of date.   God’s view of marriage is entirely different from this.  God designed marriage for the purpose of bringing many sons and daughters to glory – and He has given man an integral part in that creation process.  The sacred establishment of marriage is under attack by Satan because it is the foundation upon which the family and society is founded.  Too many decide that they are not pleased to dwell with their mate with whom a covenant has been made.   As a result of a broken covenant, a Christian is left in a dilemma.  Here is God’s instruction in such a case: "But if the unbelieving [mate] depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister [converted husband or a wife] is not under bondage [enslaved] in such cases: but God hath called us to peace."  (1 Corinthians 7:15)

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Sermon:

"Pleased to Dwell"