FAMILY MATTERS: MARRIAGE MADE IN HEAVEN

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

As we discussed last week, God created the idea of marriage as a perfect relationship in perfect harmony with a perfect God. This is what He intended when He made man and woman in the Garden of Eden. We know sin destroyed God’s perfect plan, but we must also know that our actions can allow us the best-case scenario for our marriages today, even in an imperfect world. 

1 Peter 3:1-7 (NLT) In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives. 3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands. 6 For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do. 7 In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered. 

1. Honoring Spiritual Roles 

Vss 1b-2 you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives. 

Vs 5 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands.

• Understanding God’s plan for the roles of men and women in a marriage do not lessen the importance or value of the individual, it elevates the importance of the individual 

Vs 7 In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered. 

2. Rejecting Cultural Pressure 

Vss 3-4 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

• Allowing outside influences to determine your actions and behavior will never make your marriage better
• Trying to fit into cultural norms leads us to rejecting Biblical admonitions

3. Following Christ’s Example 

1 Peter 2:22-25 (NLT) He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. 24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. 

• Here’s a clear picture of the right way to treat your spouse…and everyone else

4.Recognizing the enemies 

• Lust – Heb. 13:4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit 
• Competition
• Arrogance
• Anger
• Lack of Forgiveness
• Money 

 5. Implementing the remedy 

• Start right
• Fix now
• Never too late

Heb. 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.