8-7-22 - God’s Design For Marriage

In your Bible. If you would look with me to the gospel of Matthew chapter number five. Matthew five and when you find your place you would honor God's word with me as we stand with a reverse number 31 and 32 just to versus today Bible tells us in Matthew chapter 5 verse 31 it has been said, whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication because of her to commit adultery.

And whosoever shall marry her that is divorce committed adultery. Father, we thank you for your work today. We praise you for the truth of the gospel. We thank you for the good news that Jesus Christ came and died and rose again more.

There is even people here today that perhaps don't know Christ as their Savior pray today that they might come and trusting Christ as their Lord that I pray that you would be with marriages.

Pray that you protect the marriages of this church prayed that you would draw hearts together. Lord I pray that you would give a renewed vision of the purity and sanctity of marriage.

But I want to elevated to where you elevated it to you and we pray that your word would do that today speak to hearts be glorified in this message. We ask in Jesus name God's people said man, you may be seated.

Lord is just dealt with the sin of adultery as we saw last Sunday in the previous verses, verse 27 through 31 and Jesus showed that adultery is not something silly that happens at outside of a person or externally, physically speaking, but it's something that happens in the heart of a person that it is the lustful intent that adultery begins and adultery is found first in the heart before it's found in the life that after Jesus addresses the issue of lust and adultery in verse 27 through 31.

He then deals with what can result from adultery, which is divorce when sinners into a marriage in the area of adultery can often lead to divorce.

Divorce is a massive issue in our day. It's become huge throughout these last decades in. It was also a massive issue in the New Testament times as well. Each year in America over 2000 2/2,000,000 marriages happen every year and him 2 million marriages and out of those 2 million marriages. There's a million of those marriages that end in divorce people. He said I do end up saying I don't and the effects are are tremendous. They not only affect the people that are being divorced but they also affect the children that friends and family to close people into their lives in and I know that there's probably no one here today. This not been affected by divorce in some manner whether you've been divorce your child of parents who were divorce her family and friends close loved ones.

There's a lot of confusion and questions surrounding divorce and remarriage what our Lord says here in verse number 31 and 32 is not all that the Bible says about marriage and divorce and it actually Jesus expounds upon this in chapter 19 of Matthew as well as all talking about enforcement in seven and so next Sunday on Mexicana preach on a biblical note what the Bible says about marriage and divorce and were look at that more in detail, but today I want to look at a message I've entitled God's design for marriage with God's desire is for marriage and not really want to give us a vision for what God says about this most special union that that needs to be elevated because our country today marriages been slaughtered marriages been assaulted probably more than anything else in our country and in this is the uprooting of a nation.

This is the destruction of a nation and the people. When that happens, and so let's look at God's design for marriage in your Bibles if you flip back with me to Genesis chapter 1 will begin where marriage begins Genesis 1, God gives the amazing account of creation how the God brought all into existence out of nothing, created ex Nate Hilo out of nothing. All that is, each day of creation started with the statement, God said, and it ended with the words and it was good, God said, let there be light there was light. And at the end of day one. It was good from creating life the planets to solar systems to galaxies to the universe to separating water from the land, the sea life. The animals and plants and vegetations. God's crowning creation happened in Genesis 126 when he made man in his own image. Genesis 126 says and God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let him have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.

Verse 27 says so God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them. God bless them, and God said, be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth subdued and have dominion cc the God bless them to procreate after their kind, and to have dominion over all that is to rule over all the earth that have dominion over the fish of the sea fowl of the air over every living thing that liveth upon the earth. In Genesis 2.

The Scriptures begin to rehearse some of God's creative genius that happened in chapter 1 it goes into some more detail.

If you notice in chapter 2, verse 18. The Bible says this chapter 2 it says in the Lord God said it is not good that man should be alone I will make him a helpmeet for him.

The first statement you see there and that versus God saying it is not good that managers should be alone. That's the first time that God says something is not good and it is not good. It is not fulfilled that man would be alone. God created man to be a relational creature, God did not make us to be isolated. Sometimes it was a lot. I just want to be alone. You don't believe me you ever known somebody visceral isolated you get around and they talk your ear off and on time.

I don't know anybody in life you go say hi to and five hours later there's a log into your psych date that they're dying to communicate with somebody that knew all I need is mud all Billy.

Now you need somebody to talk back Arianism I listed and so one prison system in the United States is 25,000 of the most dangerous inmates. They endure solitary confinement and small concrete cells virtually have no contact with the outside world. When the inmates at the Oregon State penitentiary said the most difficult part of such isolation is in his words, not being able to see somebody face-to-face to communicate touch. However, to feel you don't even feel human and this man is declaring the pain of isolation. There is also a growing, you may not be aware of this but there's a growing rental family industry in many countries like Japan to meet the needs of lonely people. Some use the service to maintain appearance others to fill the void of some the strange relative that may not be in their home or one man in Japan said this, he said. I played a father for a 12-year-old with single mother girl was bullied because she didn't have a dance of the mother rented me on. I've acted as the girls father ever since I'm the only real father that she knows if the client never reveals the truth, I must continue to roll up indefinitely.

The daughter gets married. I have to act as a father in the wedding when I have to be, and then I have to be the grandfather pretty tragic thing that people are looking to even rent people to fulfill those voids because there is an emptiness that's created and in some of you perhaps grow up without a data without a moment and can be very challenging this morning we had a wonderful celebration.

We had a dedication for little Chris Miller is a precious child it that Darren and Karen, they just finish the adoption. This last week and and and and it's so special when somebody adopt someone because they they truly choose and desire to have that person in their family and it's a reflection of God. You know when you get saved are adopted into God's family. He is he is chosen, you of the Bible uses the word chosen elected and called us and and and saved us, and it's a car it's an incredible reality that God would love us in such a way that you need understand. Man was created for relationship and the greatest of those relationships is found in the marriage union. I'm so thankful to be married. I told you last Sunday we celebrated 20 years of marriage this week.

My wife is put up with me for 20 years and I've got to enjoy her for 20 years and so it's just so fondant and that we get to enjoy life together and love to serve the Lord together. We've been out witnessing lead people to Christ together through the years with counsel, together with we played sports together. She's beat me and I'll see you when you when you marry someone who is a better athlete than you.

It's really tough enough to try to try to stay up with her in different things of me. I went bowling with her this last week.

I think she bought a 227. One of her games unites just this is who you you know you marry somebody like that you like about seven strikes.

I still lost isolated both of his rights, but I will like to, I can tell your friends marriages of lists. It's wonderful. It really is and in God says I will make him a helpmeet for him is not good that man's alone. I'll make him a helpmeet for him and what does this work helpmeet mean work helpmeet comes from the Hebrew word as here this word does not mean that the woman is in a position of subservience to the man, but rather carries the idea that she is the ideal partner for the man. The Bible uses that word is ear in reference to God's relationship to us and someone nine 115 verse nine says oh Israel trust Allen the Lord is their help.

It's the same word God is our help and in in in the same way the woman fills that need in the man.

And so it says not only was he a helpmeet in that it uses the word for him that work for him is the Hebrew word negated and it means your counterpart.

She's a helpmeet that is a counterpart of his.

She's the right match. He literally would be it in in the idea of it.

She's just right for him.

She fits him and in Genesis chapter 2 verse 20 it says that and Adam gave names to all the cattle and the fowl of the air in every beast of the field for Adam there was not found in helpmeet for him. So God gave Adam here in Genesis 220 the responsibility of naming all the animals.

Eve was not yet created, which probably helped in the argument process of naming animals. Could you imagine she probably would clean the list off a little bit you know what you come up with the name wildebeest you know. Can't you figure out something better than that at the Anna South said he was created after Adam named all the animals but it says that there was no helpmeet, not knowing that was comparable for Adam out of the animal kingdom goes on in Genesis to look at verse 21 the Lord, because God is in the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept. This is God putting him under the says and he took one of the ribs and closed up the flesh thereof week we see where God creates the first surgery right performs at verse 22 and the rib, which the Lord God are taken from the man, made he a woman and brought her unto the man and Adam said, this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh I shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh. So the woman was taken not from the head of the man or from the foot of the man, but was taken out of the side of the man and all CC that she was taken out of Adam. Adam said, this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh and this is reflective of the oneness of marriage. Marriage is the uniting of two unique persons who become one, and that this is a unique relationship. There's nothing like it on the earth. Verse 25 speaks of the purity and harmony inside of their marriage.

It says in going on in verse 25 and they were both naked in the manner the woman and they were not ashamed and you see the innocence that both the man and wife had. They were not skewed in their minds from the pollution of a perverted world.

They had a pure mind.

Everything is pure to them about assisted pure all things are pure, and they lived in without shame without guilt without any any adverse effects like that. So in this we see God's design laid out in Genesis chapter number one is that God designed one man for one woman decreed he could've created multiple wife or husband or multiple hazards were likely doesn't do that.

He created one man for one woman. That's God's design that he created them male and female. There's only two genders, a baleful event is only male and female.

There is an X and Y chromosome that always find interesting when when when the world wants to be scientific until it goes against what they think I if if if you just get down to the science of it.

If you asked the historian to earn archaeologists. He dug up the remains of somebody they can test that body and find out if there was a male or female, scientifically, but now they come out and said you can't say that because you don't know if that's degenerate gender identity of the person that they don't have dug up. That's how insane the thinking is of our day and so the Bible tells us God created them male and female marriages designed by God is only two genders possible. The marriage creates a one flesh relationship. There is no longer to you become one. There is a unity in marriage that is completely unique.

Listen, I'm not one with my children but I am one with my wife my my relation with my wife usurps my relation with anybody else on this planet is one of the worst statements people say the world is my kids are number one that's tragic you think that helps them. You think it benefits you or them. That doesn't benefit anybody make your kids, your God make in your idol if you put your kids at number one that will mess them up into the mess you up in a mess you marriage it. If you have a terrible marriage that's giving your children a wonderful marriages. For example, exemplified in your home a joyful marriage is one of the greatest gift you can give your kids the deed. The order needs to be God's number one than your spouse and your children. Listen your kids are going to grow up in their gonna leave you at least they should payment an average me to my next point is says in verse 24 therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife will be one flesh. The Bible teaches a leaving and cleaving when when you get married you don't live with mom and dad anymore.

If anybody the church is to live with their in-laws or parents or whatever else, with that needs to be short-lived. Sometimes there's a transitional process.

I understand that but that needs to be short-lived. I know when we got very weak lately facing a Bible college for about a year and so forth.

We we moved back to the state of how to help a brother start a church in while buying a house.

We had to live with my in-laws for about 30 days or so, and 30 days is about as long as I would prefer and we transferred on a man I love my in-laws but I will live with them from long and so listen, this is this is that this is a big deal.

There is one of the things it messes scans can cause problems in marriages outside family interference you want to the top 3 to 4 reasons for divorce. His family interference into the marriage if your kids get married let them be married, don't go to you know they don't have to come over every single week of their life to see you there married now. Okay, it let them enjoy their life. Don't inject yourself and let me say couple things. If you need marital counseling. Don't go to your parents or in-laws for that probably somebody disagrees with me. That's okay. I'm just telling you what I believe the reason you don't do that is set say I had a problem with my wife. So I called my dad up and said you know where my wife burnt the biscuits and then she got me in with me and then it would ever badmouth my wife and you know she's treat me this way could you think my parents are going to naturally side with her.

But then if she if she did that to me. Her parents reside with her and in the what happens is you begin to pit your parents against the person, then what happens when your spouse that even though you talk to that your in-laws are outlaws about that. The chief you when talking about it. And then there's this this discomfort listen.

They're not the ones to be the counselors noted that this time they can give counsel for different things, but you need somebody that's a godly mentor a godly man or woman. It doesn't have any skin in the game is not going to sign one way or the other that can give you some counsel, you need to be very careful about that. I've been married for 20 years I've not called my parents one time in my life about anything negative about my wife.

She's never done at one time in 20 years to her parents.

There is probably 5000 things he could've called him behind on the but listen there's there's some things just some biblical wisdom there that you need understand it says leave your parents that's what God calls us to do, cleave into your life.

I got four daughters and I I think about this, but there is a releasing of that year.

Your your letting them underneath the care of someone else.

And so marriage is also elevated here because it's it's God created 33 different institutions. The family the government and the church in the first that he instituted is the family. God created marriage to be innocent and pure. There was no shame their worldly impurities notify all hearts, their minds were clean. God also created marriage to be the one special union on the planet to produce children. He tells them in Genesis 128, be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth by Kids, no go. Enjoy your life and have a bunch of babies for only God's God does that in and you know I need to say this. Children are such a gift from God. They really are.

Genesis 127 says low children are a heritage of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is his reward as arrows in the hand of a mighty man so our children the of the youth we live in a day-to-day where people seek kids is of burden kids is ordinary and is very difficult like you tell somebody you have three or four or five or six or nine or 10 kids and they think you're crazy when we you know somebody overcomes you and they said it we got seven kids my responses. That's fantastic.

Also that's a blessing you the families I know that have like a bunch of kids are usually like that. They seem to have a lot of harmony there. It's it's not the ones it just have one or two to keep the harmony and so we need to let people know how blessed is he, you know, one of that one of the tragedies of our nation is you talk to the former generations. All of them had four, five, 10, 15 kids coming there to who grew up with more than five siblings raise her hand was a lot older generation it of done that and so he said you just beat only pay pass reset on the older generation raised my hand but but win-win. When you look around in the world today, you know, one of the reasons why Islam is is is growing faster than about anything else is because they have so many children were grown up with Christianity are are decreasing the number of kids are having very intentionally. Some of them, not even having any kids and then people start making fun of families that have a bunch of kids all fulfill sorry for you, you know, all poor you got four kids or five kids are 10 kids and I know that's a blessing. Friends say that's a reward of God and in that's it. That's a thing to be cherished. I have I have four daughters and I tease about it sometimes be getting a four daughters pray for me but I am serious mom. I love having all four girls were just so fun.

People always told me all way to you to wait till they hit their teenage years. There 17 down to 11 and it's gotten easier if I just love it. I really do mean it's it's it's a home of joy it listen.

It's not always perfect design.

There might acting like we have some some perfect little home but I'm telling you it is. It is fun. It is not arguing it is not yelling is not divisive. It's the easiest years I've experienced. And I'm so thankful for that.

In and in. Don't be afraid and also something cheaper like well you can have kids until you're just financially ready to be financially ready. Gotta be suited at 20 family house who is not financially ready to have kids razor hand rawhide hold up for just a moment. Keep it up there. Okay, let's put both hands up with our feet, a nobody in Israel right it is when you look at your bank account. We were not ready warily. Guess what the Bible says that God will also provide you with the Bible says in Genesis 129 that God said, behold, I've given you every herb bearing seed face of the earth, every tree and in and got settlement provide for you. You get over Matthew six. The New Testament parallel to that Jesus says don't worry about your clothing. Don't worry about your food, your heavenly father knows or should have need of all these things will be provided. Stop worrying about having everything financially set in the world. If God blesses you the child praise God for that child. A man now sometimes you that there's some wise planning involved but I can tell you if you don't have to think that you have to have everything. I don't know how we made it through the hoops and that you talk to the older generations and they had it even tighter than we did. And so the God gave God gave them blessing of posterity have children multiply the also gave him provision gave them up regarding the groom produce that he gave them protection in Genesis 217.

He warned them what to stay away from. He said no need of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Do not do that.

You shall surely die. You know God in his love comes to the marriage, and he protects it there some things that you have to guard your marriage in your home from get things away that are destructive get things away.

They can cause costs into coming to destroy. And then God created man to have a perfect relationship with himself. In Genesis 389. It talks about how Adam and Eve walked with God in the cool of the garden and God's relationship was perfect with man then God also designed marriage to be lasting that there would be no end to the marriage outside of the death of one of the spouses.

The only thing that would, in the marriage would be the death of a spouse in your Bibles just you know your place there. Genesis and flip over the book of Matthew want to show you a few verses that are extremely important for multiple reasons.

Matthew chapter 19 verse number four, and I apologize if I sent of the scratchy today. I really struggled early this in the early service of been dealing with some coffin stuff this weekend, so thankfully somebody gave me a cough drops its face like I drink a gallon of Vicks vapor rub or something I needed his I feel rejuvenated math like flowers are growing inside of me or something like E. coli or something on the night is that it's pretty strong. I said I'd say is very strong arthritis thing I could even sing on like breathing on the gun is is legal to breathe this stuff and ugliness vapor rub whether this person give me. I may not live from this not open me up now. Like all clear now. Matthew 19 verse four as being honestly on the but here Jesus also deals with divorce and remarriage and it says in verse four and he answered and setting them. Have you not read that he which made them and what's the next three words so did Jesus believe in the Genesis account of creation so you believe in that Genesis 3 stuff yet because Jesus did you believe Jesus died on the cross and rose again. Yeah, then you need to believe in Genesis 3. You don't believe Jesus died and rose again and then I wouldn't believe the Genesis account. If you believe that he is the Savior that you also need to believe in what he says and he said at the beginning he made them what were the two genders. So does Babylon define genders or does God so so Babylon or America. None of these places number verse five and six for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother shall cleave to his wife and they twain are they too shall be how many flesh.

So we see a uniting there is a is a one oneness there verse six wherefore they are no more twain, or two, but one flesh. Notice what he says. What therefore what's the word God has joined together, who brings two people together. Remarriage God does. God's the one who unites the marriage is not simply a contract between save a covenant between three and he says what God joined together, let not man put asunder. Do not let man divide that they say why then did Moses command to give the writing of divorcement to put her away a safe ended and Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. God's design is for no one to be divorce. That's not his desire God hates divorce. Malachi says we will get into the details of why divorce happens and what God says about that next Sunday will going to the details of divorce and remarriage and so forth. And that has great implications for us, but you need to understand God's design is that marriage would read mainly together until death do you part and so marriage is so special it's so precious.

You need understand this morning that there was one thing that God says I want to show you what my commitment and salvation is like I'm going to take the commitment that I have for mankind. The death the salvation I brought to mankind and I'm going to use.

Marriage is a picture of that and so you what you have in Ephesians chapter 5 is a God comparing his relationship and salvation to bringing the church into relation with himself as a marriage covenant is called the marriage supper of the Lamb. In Revelation 19 and Ephesians 5 verse 22 through 33. It it compares that the marriage relationship to God's relationship to us and salvation. He says in Ephesians 525 husbands, love your wife even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it incredible marriage is God's design to work to conform sinners into the image of Christ that this is essential for us to understand is where husbands and wives. I believe get to express their love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, patience, respect, kindness, faith commitment to one another in it. Out of all relationships.

It is marriage that is the greatest and most consistent opportunity to grow you in your walk with God it did. There is nothing that you will be involved in. There's no relationship that provides a greater opportunity that God has placed in your life to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ. Jesus says by this shall all men know you are my disciples, by your love one for another, in and out of all relationships, it needs to be the relationship with your spouse that does that God's design is for two people to live together in love, commitment, and to reveal Christ to the world through that relationship. It's it's it's important for for marriages to see that that that husbands your your call to to to grow your wife wives to grow your husband's took to be molded into the image of God that there your ministry that you would seek to reflect God to the world and so I would ask is your marriage rate. What does your marriage reveal to the world, then you said you get to the end of Genesis chapter 1 and two and you have Adam and Eve happily married, totally fulfilled without any sin without any needs in perfect relationship with God. The ruling the world supremely blessed above all creation. There is no divorce is no adultery, no lust, no broken promises, no violations, no covenants of marriage been broken. No infidelity, no pornography, no lies, no deceit. This is simply sinless paradise. And that is what God designed perfection, beauty, harmony, joy and an end. That's what God left me in with and then what what happens in Genesis 3. Everything goes downhill because man puts his thoughts on it. Man begins to allow sin into the marriage and that's what we find.

Secondly, the attack on marriage. A marriage is been under assault of this nation. Romans one tells us one of the sins that will be known in the last days will people will be covenant breakers. It will break the covenant their valves and in so sin has assaulted marriage. It is what produces divorce today in America. We now define marriage between a man and a man and a woman and woman will will marry anybody that there is no boundary to it when people say well if love is the foundation of marriage.

Love is not the foundation of marriage traces to be built upon truth if if if you were to tell me that love is the only thing necessary for marriages and I would tell you been like in a 12-year-old marry a 40-year-old right and that's not legal, should it be no why can't five men marry seven women loves the only issue I can a man marry a horse me this is the insanity that our world is moving towards and happening so just understand you. You have to. You can't divorce truth from love you no longer have love, because love and truth are harmonized right so so that makes sense.

Don't make me preach drawbacks all expand this and I can get through the whole sermon today, but but 100 essays greatest the taxes against the marriage because the Bible tells us if the foundations are destroyed. What will the righteous do. If he can undermine marriage will undermine the society undermine churches to be three truths about sin and are marriages there. Is there some things that we need to see in this attack that Satan would bring against marriage.

First of all realize sin will pursue your marriage. So marriage happens in the end of Genesis chapter 2. Look at chapter 3. Verse one how long does it take for Satan to show up to attack the marriage chapter 31 now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made an serpent set in the woman you have God set shall not eat of every tree of the garden so what does it tell you that Satan shows up so soon let you know that there might be an enemy that would like to assault your marriage somebody would like to take it down was even looking for Satan was was she looking for a the enemy to attack her. Satan is the pursuer.

He's the one on the attack the street. First Peter 58 together. It's up on the screen it says the sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walk is about, seeking whom he made about so the word be sober is built off of the previous verse which says God cares for you so you can have a sober minded peaceful by knowing the guy cares for you same time, be vigilant, like, be alert and the reason you need to be alert is because you have an adversary the devil like a roaring lion walk about, seeking whom he may devour.

And in the picture is like in a lion coming after its prey, and if you watch this hunt that this shows like when lions kill or something and in and you have the little gazelles that are dancing around in and in and I know always inside of a crowd. You have the gazelle fans in the you have a lion fans and is the fan of a gazelle like you really want them to live your life and I want them to get away. It was like a lion needs to eat. Yes that's me on my Kindle, Chase get to know my daughters are like no other smack him like he's got getting Cindy help but it's just that maybe will have more babies with the you you you you you see that in the gazelles are so fast on the knees. Lions are innovate they can't catch the healthy gazelles. There's not even a chance to gazelle like kicks him in the face but Solomon like runs off and laughs and but but but what the lion does is is they try to sneak up but they look for the ones that are little or the ones that are heard are the ones that they can separate make and surround and so the picture there is that there's an isolation there is in the lion looks for the opportune time. They look for the one who isn't doing well. The one who is is is pulled away from the pack and so what Satan does is is he is watchful he is pursuing he will seek you at times when you're not ready for him marriage that is not watchful will find itself caught off guard. I can tell you that and so also when you when you read in Genesis 3 you see that he didn't come to Adam he came to Eve he didn't attack the man he attack the woman first year and so I will ask the question what does God require men not only to care for their wives and protect them physically but also spiritually with the hedge of protection around the home and men are you making sure that your home is safe from sin. You put up some guards to make sure that your home doesn't get invaded with evil.

So first of all realize that sin is pursuer and secondly, we see that sin is not ignorant in its pursuits and verse number one of chapter 3 says now the serpent was more subtle. The word means crafty. He is coming he he he knows some things about people and how they are processes are and Satan will bring temptations that are suited to our desires. He attacks our weaknesses. He tempts us at the point of those weaknesses. I think we see that very clearly in Matthew four it says when the tempter came, he said, if thou be the synagogue command these stones to be made bread.

Why did Satan tempt Jesus with bread because Jesus had not eaten for 40 days he he attacked him at the point of greatest temptation this and if you struggle with insecurities.

It's easy for Satan to bring someone along who will validate you will affirm you will encourage you if you struggle with lust. He will bring someone along that will tempt you in such ways of bring some thing in your life. If your marriage is going through a combative time. He may bring somebody in your life.

It's super agreeable to you, always getting along with you where you'll say why can't my husband. Why can't my wife agree with me like that, why are they always combative and you'll find yourself beginning to be fulfilled inwardly even though there's nothing may happen externally, but if you start finding yourself being fulfilled in any way validated. Affirmed. Encourage these things only inside from someone other than your spouse either recognize that is a sly attack from the enemy that you need to remove yourself from such a relationship that could turn into something very simple.

He waits till you're worn out. He waits to. You're tired he waits till you're exhausted. He waits till you feel overwhelmed you feel unloved when he hits you with the temptation and you think that he has your best interest in mind. You think that he really cares for you. That is why in marriage. We need to hold each other up. You know it's rare that both spouses go through a hard time at the same time. It's rare that like a husband's down a wife, don't usually the husband may be down in a season and then the wife may be doing good and stable the wife down the husband stable. This is what you need to hear today in marriage each spouse needs to see each other as a ministry your number one ministry husband's is to your wife. Wife your number one ministry is to your husband. There's no one on this planet you're called to minister to before them and not one flesh with your kids. You're not one flesh with people at church and not one flesh with your loss, coworker, your one flesh with your spouse. It is God your spouse and your children and everything else and so what can happen. Sometimes this is the husband has a bad day not doing well that the wife's having a good day he comes home and and he's just not being kind is not being being gracious and cutting her off and maybe his spiritual life is been down in the dumps and mentoring the Bible or flip that around were she's not been rated by one.

Maybe she's having a bad season.

He's doing well, you know, we need to make sure that we do is to see our spouse or someone we can minister to and not in those situations, how their failing to perhaps minister to you because what we can do is say well she's going to treat me like that and then start hunching back at her with your words with your attitudes and being unkind and being ungracious in all this stuff and instead of helping build her up and protect her from the satanic and spiritual attacks income against her life. You're not looking to minister to her you're looking to minister to yourself and it becomes a selfish person that sees their spouse having a bad day or a bad week or a low season in life are struggling with depression are struggling with something in and instead of saying how can I build them up and minister to them.

Maybe I need to just sit down and say you know what what what how I was your day going a note we need to talk and spend some time in to help build them up in the Lord and instead of doing that we get offended because they've they've been short with me or they work unkind to me in their response.

I asked him once and they were cutting me off and I don't care, and listen selfish marriages become destructive in entities they you need to have a selfish and selfless mentality, a minister mentality.

I would ask this question this way is the last time you looked at your husband or wife as a ministry when the last time you said you know what I need to minister to them in my life as I minister to people.

I find it so most it's almost impossible for me to get offended people I seek to minister to. It almost is impossible.

It literally is when whenever you seek you find this to be the case. Like if you when you when you raise your kids eat your you're just costly ministering them. You don't get personally offended at them maybe do when they get older because you start thinking about yourself in some situations more but but you you look at them just as a ministry if you go out and say your ministering in some drug rehab for ministering to somebody in some difficult situation if they say something offer curricula, but you don't get personally offended you, like many on the other going through difficulty, but I'm just here to minister to them and care for the when you look at your spouse is a minister I can tell you it I don't flip something your brain just the reason people get offended. Is there there ministering to himself.

That's why that's why some young people are mad all the time.

Just focus on himself just me me me my my my in it and it creates the most miserable person on the planet.

You're if you're there. There's givers and takers. And if your endeavor. Your your life is filled with some joy. Take your your life is filled with the misery so so become the giver, the one who seeks to minister to support your life out to others and so so so what are some of the elements of Satan's attack upon Eve. What you see in chapter number three. The first thing that he did was he got in a conversation with her of the Bible tells us in first Corinthians 1533 be not deceived evil communication corrupts good manners. You know, there are some conversations you don't want to get involved in some conversations you need to avoid any cause doubt in the word of God. He says EA hath God said the first question in history that we know of, and in the Bible is the question in verse three, EA hath God set up to this point. It's all statements of facts just truth after truth, after the first questions in chapter 3, verse one. He says EA hath God said, you shall not even surgery begins to question the word of God. Then in verse four he just flat out denies it. Eve says if we eat of the tree of the knowledge of an evil and if we touch it. We shall die in and he says in verse four you shall not surely die, and then we see here that he lessens the consequence.

Not only does he cause doubt of the word God, but he lets his accounts with. You're not going to die. You see serious. You know the person who would preach the message. You'll never go to hell would be Satan. Satan would be the first person who would say hell is fictitious, universalist, everybody goes to heaven. Nobody goes to hell when when he/she said if we needed for the tree. We shall surely die.

Satan laughed and said that's a choke you're not going to die. So when somebody gets upset say the Bible says without Christ. Trust in Jesus Christ, your Savior, a simple guide to be found guilty. You'd end up in hell. Satan would laugh and say if you're not going to hell you kidding me. What a joke.

Satan is one who always lessens the consequence sin won't mess your life up.

You know how severe Jesus talked about it.

He said if your eye lost. If your hand must cut them off, chop them off, get rid of that. That's how severe that's how real hell is an Satan comes along and says no it's not so so work Jesus heightens the consequence Satan constantly lowers it.

Which voice are you listening to today.

Then Satan told Eve that it was not obedience to God, but was in fact disobedience to God that would fulfill her life. Look what he says in Genesis 35 Satan told the woman for God doth know that in the day that you eat of this fruit you eat of this fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, your eyes shall be open and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. What Satan was saying is you want fulfillment you want true satisfaction. Then disobey God, then do exactly the opposite of what he told you to do. Satan will always lessen your consequence, he will always validate you in your sin. He will tell you things like you have a right to treat your spouse this way.

Look at what they've done to you have a right to be angry, resentful and unforgiving. You have a right to yell and scream and to cuss them out anybody would act that way after what you've been through.

Satan is always easy on the ears and on the conscience.

He has no standards. He passes no judgment, you will not make you feel guilty, he will not convict you of your sin. Satan will never judge you as are some of the things you need to understand so sin will pursue your marriage.

It is not ignorant in its pursuits. It is exact.

It is precise it is wise and how it proceeds.

And thirdly rely sin has power to destroy your marriage. Sin is very powerful is very powerful. Just think about how much sin did it take to destroy the world and take 50 did it just of one sin is very powerful when Adam and Eve chose to Senate cause great separation notice. The first thing it does actually let me give you a quick walk-through of the sliver six. And when when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, so so the first step in the process of her sin was. She saw this and that it was pleasant to the eyes.

That's that's the look turned into looking the glands turned into gazing.

He fixed her eyes on the temptation you see before you ever take something that sinful, you have to observe. You have to look at it you have to begin to long for it and then when he can get you looking he can get you taking that's where Jesus says you gotta pluck your dizygotic rigor hands. You gotta get rid of this and assist her. She looked upon it. That's the first step ends in a tree to be desired to make one wise.

That's the desire that's the last. That's the covetousness that's that inward part of the person that begins to desire that which is not right when you look long enough, the desire will be enhanced and it's not long that after you desire something that the third step will happen and she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also and her husband with her, and he did eat. But you look at you less for and you begin to take that three step process. If you don't want to be a taker of sin. You don't want.

You don't be a looker. It's in right don't don't glance at it. Don't observe it now know the things that happen immediately.

Notice what happens in verse seven. This is so tragic in the eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons unit first thing their innocence was lost. Direct is you waste one of the things he said I don't want my kids to lose their innocence.

I don't want them to hear things that I want them to see things in the world I can mess up their innocence it would happen. One state, the fruit innocence is gone, innocence gone to get mad when your kids lose some innocence. When would it if it is why some parents around the country pretty irate because it teaches them R-rated material to kindergarten children in some places around this country and its violent it's like that's is a need to be talked of her height so you are protected and in what it does is sin just destroys innocence in and then in verse eight through 10 you know what they do, they begin to hide from God they hid from the Lord. It wasn't Adam and Eve looking for God in the garden was God looking for Adam and Eve. They hid themselves. I can tell you the first thing that happens when you get involved in sin is. You don't want to be around the things of God. You want to be a church you don't hear the Bible you will have conviction you want to distance yourself.

You need to be very careful for that because what you desire God can ultimately give you don't want him.

He won't let you have read Matthew 13 they kept rejecting God and God says I'll turn the light out for you. You don't want me, you'll never have forever.

All remove you from my presence forever 20 did to the Jewish people, they said, why do you speak to them in parables, he says, because to you.

It's given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them. I've not given it to them because they have eyes, they will not see they have ears, they will not hear and I'm giving them over that that is a judgment of God and then you have to take very seriously things a year. I tell people coming.

The lighthouse is a very serious thing because you are accountable for what you now have heard not everywhere is going to teach you the Scriptures, and when you hear the word of God. Know your accountable for that you need to apply that to your life.

And so, sin separated them from peace and childbearing we see in verse 16 that the woman fell under the that the curse where she now had birth pains and childbearing. We also had a fight in verse 11 through 13 were Adam blames God and Eve for the sin. Eve blames the serpent their separation. There no end in and they also deal with the great tragedy of chapter 4 where there separated from their kids because Cain kills their son Abel and Cain is a fugitive and in sin has this massive effect instead of things getting better. Is Satan promoted and promised everything got worse. Everything that became destructive in verse 16 on a highlight. What a specific consequence came into their life and I want you to see this look at Genesis 316 says, and unto the woman, he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow in my conception in sorrow thou shall bring forth children and then it says in thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over the know, what does that mean I desire shall be divided husband. I don't think it means that she's going to desire her husband physically because that is not a curse, plus men typically have a greater desire physically than women do the work for desire, here is a Hebrew word Sue, and it is used only one other time in the in tire Pentateuch are the first five books of the Bible. It's used 15 verses later in chapter 4 verse seven and ended in the word means to compel to seek to control it does not come from a root word that means exciting or loving, and so look how it's used in Genesis chapter 4 verse seven Genesis 47 God tells Cain that you need to bring the right kind of an offering you to bring the right kind of a heart in your sacrifices well and gives a warning in verse seven as well.

He says if thou do as well, shalt thou not be accepted if thou do is not well, sin lies at the door. So sin will lie at the door and onto the shall be his desire. In other words, sin is waiting for how you respond and it desires you, and thou shalt or you should rule over it. So can you need to do what's right because if you don't do what's right, sin is literally crouching like an animal it's ready to pounce upon you to control your life. And so the grammatical structure and form is identical in chapter 4, seven, as it is in 316.

In the Hebrew.

It's exactly the same and so whatever it means in chapter 4 verse seven is it is what it will mean in chapter 3 verse 16 and in selected chapter 3 per 1680 mm share with you what it means. Chapter 360, literally, could be like this.

Your desire wives will be to control your husband, and he will rule over you desire for your husband is a desire to control him. That's the desire prior to the fall. There was a blissful marital union. When the husband lovingly let his wife. The wife was respectful and submission to the husband harmony and love abounded respect abounded. But after the fall no longer the desire to be under the leadership of the husband and the husband no longer lovingly led his wife that was doing so in a domineering way in here you have the battle of the sexes that erupted, he would seek to rule over you, and you would seek to overthrow his leadership and that has been the clash of marriages.

Ever since the curse you know why divorce happens you know why divorce happens because sin was injected into the marriage and the consequence is women hate submission and men want to rule with a heavy hand those curses are intrinsically inside of the human heart and in so now you have the that the feminist movement that seek to overthrow everything and that that that that would be a type of male leadership of any kind, and then we see that happening for our country and we seen over the centuries were male domination has been unloving, unkind, domineering and evil in so many ways and in that has been the history of mankind, but what God's design is that the man would treat the wife is Christ treated the church and that the wife would treat the husband is the church responds and under the loving guidance of Christ.

Leadership in tell your friends, marriage, according to the word of God.

He calls it the grace of life you not marriages, marriage is the grace of life you want to have a you and have a wonderful marriage you build it on the word of God, stop looking at what the world has to offer. I wanted him to say this to young people today save yourself for marriage. Pray for your marriage be excited for marriage. Don't wait till your 30 to get married get married young enough under some wisdom and guidance of some counselor at some level, but this you need to you need to recognize save yourself for marriage marriages. They get into fornication and lived together before they're married, have a 50% higher divorce rate than those who save himself purely for marriage. Marriage is awesome, so good to be doing some things in our church over this next year to really invest a lot more into the marriages of our church really help build them up and I believe it will be generationally helpful, but understand there there's going to be some attacks upon marriages and if your husband today. I would ask you what are you doing to take care of your marriage. Sometimes men could be better at pre-maintenance singular trucks and they are there marriage. Some guys are better at checking the oil in their trucks in the yard to see how their wife's doing my ask you this question. What's what's what's it what's a more wise way to approach life pre-maintenance think things are post made me think things better to post maintenance your vehicle or pre-maintenance. It you'd rather check the fluid in the oil and all these things before they got over heater. They were to live right mask when the last time you sit down with your wife husband's was a lesson we sit down and said honey how are you doing her house and how things going to work out how are you doing reading has your spiritual life going in oak. What are some goals that we can set for marriage.

What are some things that we can when's the last time wife you sit down and were concerned about how your husband was doing spiritually. When's the last time you sit down and asked him you know as your Bible reading going when we take some time to pray together know some guys say me and I don't feel comfortable reading my Bible prayer. This is some you guys have been to war. Sunny skies have done some crazy things and I've been through battles get uncomfortable and read the Bible with your spouse get uncomfortable and talk about Jesus with your spouse. If God is the number one and the only true God and in that marriage relationship is the number one relationship would be good to bring those together it's necessary. Be willing to be made uncomfortable and in and talk through that stuff and I like mad really go through World War III would have a long conversation. I'm not sure how this thing works and all this stuff this and I thought that's what courage is about the step up the courageous your comfort zone. Grab that girl's hand and say you know what I love God I love you and I will gotta protect us and say a five word prayer 50 word prayer doesn't matter but you you leave that family, the ways of God and wife support and encourage him and you be that leader you come alongside him and encourage him and and and pray together spent time together. How's your kids doing how's your house, your sons and daughters doing how are they doing if your kids are doing well.

Do you ever sit down and talk about it yet. Sit down and say, let's talk. Let's pray for kids this week minorities are going back to school, they pray for the unit of the church and pray for them, surely we can use it as a husband-wife we could sit on a pray for our kids and in our kids doing it. You know, I know they're going to the struggling and let's talk about that. Let's get on the same page. Let's not address problems after they come when we address problems before they come when we sit down and say, let's talk about this. It's worse if that's make sure both on the same page because I want to go into this battle with our teenager battle with their child and then you have your point of view and I my point of view and we end up arguing the whole place the chaos if these are the most important relationships will take some time and work on them. What else in the world is so important. What's so important on this little device that we can spend so much time on this silly thing and not spend time with her husband or wife or children investing in what really matters. I can tell you after doing 130 funerals. No one has ever told me. I wish I spent more time on this device ever. There's people who, with tears running down their face a well wish I spend more time with my family can't take it back pain in their face. Friends seen it can even tell you how many times make the can even really get the words out done things different going back would change things is not one adulterer that I've ever her sale was over than that. Again, no fornicator. I sit down with marriages were a 70-year-old has been addicted to pornography for 30, 40 years is life's a wreck his marriage is a disaster. Was it worth it notes chaos chaos tell you something. Put God first marriages bowl lists. It is wonderful is at work, yes, but everything in life is worth anything is worth and and you want the production of a joy filled life with wonderful kids. You can say let's race together and were 70-year-old that sit on the porch someday holding hands and just thinking back through the pictures and the memories and enjoy seeing our grandkids and all the wonderful things that God's blessed our life with and knowing that one day will be in heaven together. This is the beauty of this is the beauty of what God has for you that set the pinnacle where it needs to be.

Let's put marriage on the top shelf and not on the ground with the world's casted a man maybe a day just need to come and spend some time in prayer for not encourage you to do that, take that bride come down to the drama pray with my wife to date down the autograph wanted to grab the hand your wife come down to maybe figure not married major engagement you come to the altar and pray, maybe, or maybe satellite get married when they want to come and say God wants you could prepare me a life prepare my life for the spouse you have for me one day put your heads about me and if you don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior will have men women stated that during the store down here you come today and say you know what I need to be saved. I need to trust in Christ as my Savior.

So I encourage or whatever your need is want to make a spiritual decision today. It's all stand this morning has been nice close.

The authors open other. We thank you for your work today. We thank you for your mercy, your love, your grace.

Thank you for all your blessings. Pray that she would bless this invitation time. Help us to be humble was to apply what you have for us. Nothing you race anyone is watching online earlier today than those in Christ. Today they might come and trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior give you all the praise for all you've done. Jesus