Maximizing Marriage

Our small Group Bible Study started a new D. James Kennedy video series last week on the Importance of Marriage. This sacred institution designed and created by God between man and woman is essential for a stable family and society, but is under attack and threatened in our day and age by those who would redefine, dismantle and destroy this blessed union. In this week's lesson by Pastor Kennedy came from a sermon of his back on May 5, 1985 and is as true today as the message was back 35 years ago. Dr. Kennedy's message is to learn the truth of the original design and get marriage back to the loving and stable committed union that was God's original intent and thrive.

Ephesians 5:18-33 “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So, husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 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. Nevertheless, let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

In the story of “Acres of Diamonds”, the author describes his long search for riches and treasures which took him around the world, just to find his treasure right in his own backyard. That is a parable of the life of many people. God has told us that the true treasure of life rests in relationships. First of all, in the relationship that we have in Him. How many people have testified that they have sought for wealth, fortune and fame, and found them all but found their life to be empty until they found God? Our hearts, indeed, are restless until they rest in Thee. Spoken by St. Augustine so long ago, are still as true today. That the personal relationship of knowing Jesus Christ as our own Savior and friend, Lord and God is the most precious treasure in this world. 

Kennedy states that next to that, God would have us to know, He has placed us in families in order that we might discover in the relationships here on this earth, something of that special treasure that is to be found in that special relationship above. The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians (above) that he speaks of the relationship of the husband and the wife as a relationship of Christ and His church. This is a great mystery, he says, “but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” And, I’m afraid that most of us never fully realize the potential that exists in that relationship, If we were to ask all the people in churches or listening to my voice, to rate their marriages, I’m sure that there would be those who would say that their marriage was a disaster, others who would say it was just terrible, others that might say that it was just “So-so”, others that might say that they have a good marriage, and some that would same that their marriage was terrific, fantastic; that it was the greatest blessing that they had known in this world. I have a feeling that, like any “bell” curve, the majority would in the middle, with some going out in each direction. I believe that God would have us to experience what a terrific marriage relationship could be like.

More to come later.
In Christ, Brian