Welcome to Illuminate Church! We are glad you’re here. Real Marriage “New Marriage, Same Spouse” Pastor Tre’ Faulkner How Kristin and I became a Couple The First Marriage Genesis 2:18-­‐25, “18 And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” God created us and understands that men need a helper 19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 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. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” Nakedness done God’s way is not shameful and should be enjoyed by all who have entered into a marriage covenant… The First Commandment for Marriage Genesis 1:28, “28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Our Hurricane honeymoon experience… BEFORE WE WERE MARRIED… Grace Driscoll said, “If I had understood the gospel more deeply, I would have known that repentance keeps shame from condemning us because Jesus died and scorned the shame.” I John 1:8-­‐10, “8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” WHAT SECRET DO YOU HAVE THAT YOU NEED TO SHARE? Proverbs 18:20-­‐21, “20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Not only does speaking things bring death, NOT speaking things can bring death too…You can’t have the ultimate intimacy God desires if there are secrets… This confession to each other brings health and restoration. Don’t be afraid. TELL ALL Hebrews 12:14-­‐16, “14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. a. Deal with the bitterness b. Keeping secrets breeds bitterness and a lack of trust Micah 7:19, “He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.” Just as God forgives us in our sorrow, we should forgive each other immediately after an apology Cleaving to each other Ephesians 5:31, “31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” A beautiful marriage is one that handles its problems within the household without bringing the IN-­‐LAWS into it… Closing thoughts: Satan hates God, God’s people and Christian marriage the most because Christian marriage represents the gospel and God’s love for us through Christ. It also represents Christ’s love for the church. God’s plan for marriage is always the best plan for marriage. John 1:29, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” This includes your sin It is possible to have a biblical view of marriage and not have a good marriage.