THE MARRIAGE OF GOD
Proverbs 18:22 NKJV
“He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD.”
A MARRIAGE MADE IN HEAVEN
Contemporary meaning:
“a very happy, harmonious, and successful partnership or a perfect combination of two people”
Original meaning from the 16th century:
“A matrimony of a man and woman of divine destiny”
A couple's union that is predestined and arranged by God long before they actually meet.”
Genesis 2:21-22 NKJV
“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.”
The Divine Romance - by Gene Edwards
“He was alone
The first tick of time had never been sounded nor had the unending circle of eternity yet commenced. There were neither things created nor things uncreated to share space with Him. He dwelt in an age before the eternals, where all there was... was God. Nor was there space for anything else. He was the All.
Within infinite sphere of His all-ness, He remained the everlasting now. Nor could it be said that He was old, for He was ageless. I was, therefore, young, for until this very hour this ageless God has never been older than thirty-three.
He was also Life. Not a life, for He was the only life. There would be other forms of life later yet, in this non-time of so long ago, there was but one life form on the biological chart.
He was also light.
Effulgent, billowing light. In the endless sphere of light there was an unceasing, ever upward spiraling revelation. And the revelation was God.
He was also power.
Unbridled, unleashed... power; awesome, unlimited, measureless power. He was, and is, all power.
But that was not all. There was something else in Him... something that was very much His nature; the very essence of His being. An element in Him so vast it matched—nay, exceeded-all other elements of His being combined. The very essence of God, this. • •
He was Love.
Passionate, emotional, expressive... love.
And in this God, dwelling so alone, so all alone, there was no flaw. Bur there was a paradox; though He was alone, He also loved. Within the triunity of the Godhead, there was an ever exchanging expression of love, but there was no counterpart for Him to love. A love so vast, so powerful,
was pulsating within this unaging God. Yet, there was no "other than” for Him to love.
And so, within this paradox, He dwelt alone.
Until…”
We meet the Bride of Christ were birthed out of Godly desire from the sinless heart of Almighty God.
TOP 5 REASONS FOR MARRIAGE
1. LOVE (Intimacy)
2. COMPANIONSHIP
3. PARTNERSHIP
4. FAMILY & CHILDREN
5. FINANCIAL AND LEGAL BENEFITS
(Security)
Imagination has always had the power of resurrection that no science can match
Ephesians 5:30-32 NKJV
“For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
Marriage on earth is a temporal shadow of the eternal state for which God created us
Matthew 22:30 NKJV
“For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.”
Revelation 19:5-9 NKJV
Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and 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.”
“Marriage is like renovating a house:
It cost more than you plan
It takes longer than you plan
It’s a lot messier than you plan”
Charles Swindoll
MARRIAGES MADE IN HEAVEN
1. ADAM &EVE
2. ABRAHAM & SARAH
3. ISSAC & REBEKAH
4. BOAZ & RUTH
5. HOSEA & GOMER
6. AQUILA & PRISCILLA
7. JOSEPH & MARY
1. ADAM & EVE (God Communicates)
Genesis 3:8-9 NKJV
“And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
Face brokenness together
From separation to redemption
2. ABRAHAM & SARAH (God Provides)
Genesis 18:9-14 NKJV
Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” So he said, “Here, in the tent.” And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my Lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
Face brokenness together
Trust God to provide
A husband trusts God to provide when he takes Kingdom risks
A wife trusts God to provide when she submits to her husband
3. ISAAC & REBEKAH (God Comforts)
Genesis 24:67 NKJV
“Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”
Comfort one another
4. BOAZ & RUTH (God Redeems)
Ruth 4:13 NKJV
“So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son.”
Take hold of hope
5. HOSEA & GOMER (God forgives)
Hosea 3:1 NKJV
“Then the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel…”
Love Unconditionally
(Relentless Grace)
6. AQUILA & PRISCILLA (God partners)
Romans 16:3 NKJV
“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,”
Serve God together
7. JOSEPH & MARY (God Unites)
Matthew 1:18-21 NKJV
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Don’t be afraid
Walk by faith
MARRIAGE MADE IN HEAVEN
1. ADAM &EVE (God Communicates)
2. ABRAHAM & SARAH (God provides)
3. ISAAC & REBEKAH(God Comforts)
4. BOAZ & RUTH (God Redeems)
5. HOSEA & GOMER (God forgives)
6. AQUILA & PRISCILLA (God partners)
7. JOSEPH & MARY (God Unites)
8. JESUS & THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
John 17:21-23
“may they be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them just as You have loved Me.”