What God Has Joined Together (6) - Rev. Andra D. Sparks

Aug 16, 2020 "What God Has Joined Together" 8/16/20 Speaker: Pastor Sparks Text: Various (Genesis 1:18-28; Colossians 3:23; Lamentations 3:22-23) -Why did you get married? -Did you even think about The Lord when you got married or only “oh Lord!” -Before you can fully understand what marriage is, you gotta know what it ISN’T. Marriage is NOT... 1. A strategy to make you whole * Degree, good job, car, house, marriage is not the order for marriage. Marriage happens when it happens, but to force it as the “next step” on your journey is to devalue the significance of it * Marriage acts as a highlighter over your problems. Marriage doesn’t solve your issues, it simply highlights them 2. The cure for being lonely * Lonely people become lonely married people! * Trying to have someone serve as your constant, ever present emotional partner is draining 3. Your escape from being bored * Boredom doesn’t come primarily from a lack of EXTERNAL stimulus, but instead from a lack of INTERNAL stimulus -To fully understand and enjoy marriage, we have to seek God first; our marriage has a purpose as laid out in Genesis 1:18-28. When we seek God first... 1. It gives my marriage purpose * You won’t fulfill your purpose in God until you & that spouse are on the same page moving in the same direction! * In the (b) part of verse 28, God gave Adam & Eve a unified purpose. God has given you your spouse a reason for existing together! * Building a home is a purpose; raising children is a purpose; building a Godly business, etc. is a purpose * Marriage is not marriage if all you do is focus on your stuff and handling your own individual needs * CHALLENGE: Over the next 7 days, pray WITH & FOR your spouse 2. Gives my marriage maturity * A mature marriage has a head; not a boss, but a head * There’s absolutely equality in marriage, but 3. Gives my marriage grace * There’s no successful marriage without a measure of grace, without understanding that people are flawed & need the same grace Christ gives us! Sermon Notes courtesy of Deacon Anthony Sparks