Re-Engage: Keys to be a Better Marriage
Part 1 – God’s Goal For Marriage
Genesis 2:18-25
January 14, 2024
Dr. Mark S. Hartman, Lead Pastor
Introduction
Genesis 2:18;23-25 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
1. MARRIAGE IS STRONGEST WHEN GOD IS First IN YOUR LIFE.
Marriage is strongest when your relationship with your spouse is second.
2. GOD INTENDED MARRIAGE TO BE A COVENANT NOT A CONTRACT.
A. Contracts are about self-interest and protecting assets, covenants are about self-giving and sharing life. A contract is about what you get; a covenant is about what you give.
B. Malachi 2:14 (Why does God not accept your worship?) Because the LORD is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.
C. A contract has happiness as the primary goal, a covenant has honor and holiness as the primary goal. A contract is motivated by feelings, a covenant is motivated by faithfulness. A contract is built on mutual distrust in the other; but a covenant is built on a mutual trust in God to see this through.
CONTRACT – > COVENANT
Renting -> OwningIf The -> Even IfHappiness -> HollinessFeeling -> FaithfulnessMutual Distrust -> Mutual Trust in God
D. God intended marriage to be a covenant in which both parties had God in first place in their lives.
3. THE GOAL: COMPLETION OF EACH OTHER.
A. Genesis 2:18 I will make Adam a helper suitable for him.
1. Psalm 33:20 The Lord God is my helper.
2. In the Bible a helper is not someone subservient but someone who helps to complete.
3. The man and woman complete each other to together form a beautiful picture of what God intended marriage to produce.
B. “When God made woman, He did not take her from man’s head to rule over him,
Nor from his feet to be trampled on by him, But from his side to be his equal, From under his arm to be protected, From near his heart to be loved.” (Matthew Henry)
C. To complete each other means that where one is weak, the other is strong and where the other lacks, the first supplies the need.
4. HOW DO WE REACH THE INTIMACY OF COMPLETING EACH OTHER?
Genesis 2:24-25 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
A. Leave Your Parents.
B. Cleave To Your spouse.
This is describing a covenant not a contract.
C. Become One Flesh.
D. Reach Genuine Intimacy.
– 1. Genesis 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
– 2. To be laid bare means to be totally exposed, totally transparent emotionally, mentally, all your strengths and weaknesses, inwardly and outwardly. To be laid bare in front of another and still not embarrassed.