This is one of Pastor Steve's sermons on Marriage that has helped me out tremendously!!! It really puts things into perspective. These notes are great to use as a guideline as we continue to grow!Remember, all this applies to men and women. After all, that is what we are, men and women.

Intro:

Because marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church, we know that marriage is not primarily for the purpose of making us happy or meeting our needs. Rather, marriage is for the good of the world. This tells us how our marriages are to operate. The chief end or marriage is God’s glory and the advance of this kingdom through gospel re-enactment.  Marriage is in this way, central to the Great Commission and the future consummation. Marriage matters and it matters a great deal. What is necessary for us to live in the covenant of marriage in such a way that our marriages will be blessings to the world?

1.       YOU MUST FEAR GOD! Fearing God means honoring god for who He is and living before Him as if He really is who He says He is. The fear of God will express itself in various ways in your life.

a.        The man who fears God worships Him and understands that worship is NOT optional! If you don’t understand the centrality of worship, you are not to be married.

b.      The man who fears God sincerely desires to glorify Him in all that he does. If you don’t care about pleasing God and seeking to honor him with your life, you are not fit to be married.

c.        Fearing God means submitting to His Word. If you don’t believe that God’s word is truth and are not committed to doing what God says, you are not fit for marriage.

2.       TO BE FIT FOR MARRIAGE YOU MUST BE COMMITTED TO WALKING BY FAITH! (i.e., you must believe God, trusting in his promises, taking His warnings and threats seriously, and obeying His commands.)

a.       Walking by faith means that repentance is not optional for you but mandatory. If you are not devoted to seeking to obey god every day, you are not fit for marriage.

b.      Walking by faith means seeking to be faithful every day.  If you are not devoted to seeking to obey God every day, you are not fit for marriage.

c.       Walking by faith provokes a desire and effort to grow in maturity and in the knowledge of Christ. If there is no interest in learning and growing in faithfulness and maturity, you are not ready for marriage.

3.       TO BE FIT FOR MARRIAGE, YOU MUST BE GROWING IN BOLDNESS AND COURAGE. Marriage is to proclaim the gospel to the world. We have to be courageous in our testimonies and outspoken in our allegiance to Christ, desirous of seeing other come to the faith. If you are embarrassed to be identified as a Christian, you’re too self0absorbed to be married. Marriage requires an ability to endure pain and hardship without complaining and whining. You must be willing to undertake the risk of love. If you are too cowardly to give yourself for life to love another, you are not fit for marriage. Marriage is for those who are ready to be KINGS. Kings are those who lay down their lives for others.

That is the first three points. More is to come tomorrow.  Please take these words to heart.  It has helped me by using this as a guideline as I continue to seek Gods grace.