The Covenant of Marriage By Rev Adeola Akanbi

Father, we have come again that you may speak to

us in the language that we will understand. Let the

entrance of your word bring life. In the name of Jesus,

we ask that evans will be open upon us, and

you will back up your word with science and wonders.

In the name of Jesus. Thank you, Holy Spirit, because

you are going to help us to be better in

our Christian journey. In Jesus Mighty name, we pray Amen.

The Covenant of Marriage. The Covenant of Marriage, part two

of what we discussed last week. But I want to

read from the Book of Malachi, chapter two, ten to sixteen.

Malachi chapter two, ten to sixteen. I'll be reading from

two different versions of the Bible, and I argue that's

New International Reader's version and then the Pigeon Bible. So

flow with me and the Lord we give us a

correct interpretation in Jesus' name, The Covenant of Marriage Malachi,

chapter two, ten to sixteen. People of Judah, all of

us have one father when God created us. So why

do we break the covenant the Lord made with our

people long ago. We don't even keep our promises to

one another. You have broken your promises, a hateful thing

has been done in Israel and Jerusalem. The Lord loves

his temple, but you have polluted it. You men have

married women who worship other gods. May the Lord punish

you who do that. It doesn't matter who you are

made the Lord who rules over all how you are

from the tents of Jacob's people, May you remove you,

even if you bring of friends to him? Here has

something else you do? You flood the lords alter with

your tears. You sob and cry because it doesn't pay

attention to your off friends anymore. It doesn't accept them

from your hands with pleasure. You ask why it is

because the Lord is all you accountable. He watches how

you treat the wife you're married when you were young.

You have broken your promise with her. You did it

even though she's your partner. You promised to stay married

to her, and the Lord was a witness to its

Verse fifteen. Hasn't he made the two of you one?

Both of you belong to him in body and spirit?

And why has he made you one? Because he was

looking for godly children. So guard yourself in your spirit.

Don't break your promise to the wife you married when

you were young. I hate divorce, says the Lord God

of Israel. I hate it when people do anything that

harms others, says the Lord who rules over all. So

guard yourself in your spirit and don't break your promises.

This is Aldubai who says it in the pigeon English.

Not be the same, Papa, all of us gates not

be the same. God create all of us. Then while

we they break our promise where we make to each other,

can't eat the covenant where God make withever with our

grand grand Papa. Then do the people don't break their

promise where they make with God? Can't they do wicked

things for Jerusalem and everywhere for the land them don't

get in the temple where God love and their men

marry women where they serve? Did you those way? Do

this kinteen, Make God get power, remove them come out

from Israel community and make in all ever let them

joy again for the sirc where our people they bring

hong Gian. This is another thing where they do when

I go cry until you not yeah for God oughter

because you know accept the sacrifice. Where when I bring Hongian,

when they ask, why not accept our sacrifice again? Not

because you know, saying when I don't break the promise.

Where when I make with the wife, Where on our marry,

when when a young now on our partner?

Be?

But now when I don't break the promise, even though

on a promise for God present, say go the faithful

to him God, no say because you make on now

make it, won't make when I get children, well go

be God, people, I age when one person, I'm not

gonna do that kind we get in. I guess in wife,

make when I make sure, say when I know, break

the promise? We say when I go, when I go

the hearing and reading of his words to hearts in

Jesus name the Covenant of marriage. Malachi in this passage

is addressing the Israelites after their returned from exile. The

people of Israel. After they left Egypt, they spent forty

years in the wilderness, and then they arrived at the

Promised Land. And at the Promised land the art kings,

and they were doing so many things that God did

not like. And at the end of the day the

kingdom divided, the Northern Kingdom, the Southern Kingdom, the Northern Kingdom.

The Amalaikid came and the Assyrians. Assyrians came and took

them away, and the Southern Kingdom was taken to Babylon

because they didn't repent, and many years they were there,

about seventy years they were in exile. But by the

time we got to this Book of Malachi, the Bible

records that they were already they had returned to the

Promised Land again. They were now experiencing spiritual downfall, including

on faithfulness in their marriage. The passage rebukes the people

for breaking their marriage covenants, and that shows the impact

on their relationship with God. So has what is happening

between a man and a wife shows clearly what is

happening between that man and God. In that passage. There

are three major themes or sections that you can see

in that passage. You see covenant and faithfulness. Invest ten.

The Bible says that the Israelites were reminded in that verstand.

They are reminded of the ashiared covenant with God showing unity.

And then this scene of betrayal was also alighted in

that verse ten. In verses eleven and twelve, God condemns

marry foreign women who worship other gods, leading to spiritual compromise,

and there you will see again where there is a why.

In the Christian faith, we hold to the fact that

if indeed you are a Christian, you can marry any

other person that is not a Christian. If indeed you

are truly a Christian, you cannot marry a person who

is not a Christian. And you see God frowning at

that year. Number two things you see in this passage

is marriage as a covenant, which was what we discussed

last week. Verse certain describes marriage as a covenant witnessed

by God. This is where many people often fail to understand.

The marriage between a man and a woman is not

just two of you alone. God is part of that

and therefore God requires faithfulness on the two sides. Another

thing we see is that God's hatrede. God shows his

a trede for divorce and violence. We'll talk more about

this does in verse sixteen, God declares his a trade

for divorce enviolence, and this shows that God desire matrimonia, harmony,

and protection. Let's look at each of the verses in

detail before we give some explanation about it. Investing unity

and faithfulness. Is there so God cause the Israelite to

remember their common creator Rather the prophet caused the Israelite

to remember their common creator and the Covenant, and then

it was rebulking betrayer and on faithfulness. How does this

apply to us. It is simply saying that in marriage

the emphasis loyalty and integrity, and this reflects God's faithfulness.

So in our marriage it is important that we are

lawyer to one another and showing a sense of integrity.

If you look at Versus eleven and twelve, we see

a spiritual compromise through maritter choices. And this is to

tell us that the prophet in this letter, in this

section is saying that God condemns intermarriage with idol worshipers

leading to spiritual effectfulness. Let me clarify some things. Yeah,

it is possible that some of us have made we

have entered into error. The point is that when we

talk about Christian marriage, and this is what we are

talking about it the Covenant of marriage. It's about God's

way of this marriage as institution, how God created it

from the inception. Any other relationship that is outside of

the way God has done it originally is non avoid

There is a way God has put it and it

has to be done in that way. So in that

section eleven and twelve, the Bible is condemning intermarriage with

either worshippers. Either worshippers in this sense means anybody who

is not worshiping God your way, anybody who is worshiping

any other God apart from Jesus Christ. That's a strange person.

Don't marry the person. God condemns such intermarriage, because that

was what the people when they returned from exile, they

met some other people in that land. You remember that

the instruction for them to destroy all of those people,

the can and now the Jerbi side. Just like we

read in number thirteen. They were to explore the land

so that they will know how they will strategize and

going into that place. And God are instructed that they

were to clear all of them. But you know, they

didn't finish planning all of them until they left for

exile because those people actually, you know, because the problems

they had, and now they returned and then he started

intermarrying with them, and God was angry with him. In

today's context, it was against a liar, says the compromise

our fair and the connection. No, many people will come

and say that it's not a Christian, but are we converting?

Who are you? When have you become the only spirit

that you're going to convert to the person? When have

you become the only spirit? That is the job of you,

only spirit. It's not your job to convert anyone. If

the person is not a Christian, run run, it cannot

be approved by God. You see the problem. When we

get to the divorce, we talk about it more, but

you see the problem we have today begins from the

time we commit into marriage. Before the commitment is made

into marriage, errors have been made, and in as much

as we get it wrong from the beginning, there is

no way you can fulfill God's divine mandate in that marriage.

In section versus three are thirteen and fourteen, we see

broken covenant and on answered prayers. You see there's the

relationship between broken covenant and on answered prayers. The people's

on faithfulness in marriage affected your relationship with God, and

that led to unanswered prayers because you were unfaithful to God.

Perhaps for some of us, because of our faithfulness in

our relationship in our marriage, it is possible that it's affecting.

He won the answer to our prayers, and this shows

the spiritual consequences of betrayer and injustice in marriage. When

you betray your husband band or betray your wife in marriage,

there's a spiritual consequence to it. Let's be very careful.

In Spain, verse fifteen, there is godly offspring and maritter unity.

Why why is marriage? Why should the marriage be between

a Christian and a Christian man and a Christian woman.

God is saying, because I want to godly offspring, godly children,

godly children. So if it is not coming from that understanding,

how does that child become godly? And this is an

encouragement for Christian families to raise children in faith righteousness,

because that's our primary responsibility. It is not the Church's

responsibility to raise your children for you know, originally, and

I've always been saying it, he that, Hey, fathers and mothers,

it is your responsibility to lead your children to Christ.

It's only when you feel in that responsibility that the

Church cannot take the opportunity to help you in leading

them to Christ. But primarily it should be done, and

that has to do with what you are doing even

in your home. In verse sixteen, the Bible says that

God hates divorce, and not just divorce and vowlence. God

hates divorce because it breaks the covenant of love and protection.

So the term violence here includes any form of harm

or abuse in marriage. So we'll come back to all

of this because I want to stress more on this

very aspect. So how does this apply to ross These

stresses the need for love, for respect, and for protection

in marriage. So it is not just divorce but also

violence in marriage. God does not approve of it. Let's

look at Bible's position about abuse in marriage. Now. The

reason why I'm taking it this way is this, in

our world today, there's been a lot of things going

on and part of what we hear as far as

the Bible is concerned, and even in the New Testament,

because originally God does not give room for divorce. And

so God says this clearly, Yeah, God hates divorce. I've

had men of God who says there can be whatever

they have been been able to, you know, design it

in there in a way because they've been involved in

such kind of things. But does that change what God

has to say? No, God is saying yet I hate divorce.

Simple forget about how you are looking at it, forget

about your own personal interpretation. So what is. But before

divorce we come, something must have come right, right, all right,

somebody will not just wake up one day and say

I'm going to divorce you. No, something happens, and divorce

can take place at any point in time. Right. Somebody

was sharing I can't remember, maybe recently, and the person

was sharing, okay, I think I was listening to something,

you know, to a program someway, and a man of

God was sharing that a wedding that he conducted. That

as soon as they shared degrees and the couple danced outside,

that marriage ended day. They were totally divorced. They didn't

have any night extram some just at their wedding night.

They will sleep together in the same room, and before

the daybreak they have parted. Some it would take many years.

Marriage as a covenant of love and respect. Marriage is

meant to reflect rise love for the church. In Official

chapter five, verse twenty five, the Bible says, husbands, love

your wives just as Christ loved the Church and gave

himself off for her. In Colossians chapter three, verse nineteen,

that verse once against being harsh, and that shows that

in relationship. It shows in relationship that is built or

love and respect. You must not be harsh with each other.

Gods or Bible's position on abuse abuse violets. God's command

of love. Any form of abuse, whether it is physical,

it is emotional, it is verbal, contract dates biblical love

and respect. You know, the problem we always have is

that when we talk of abuse, you think when a

man he's not man enough, and it's fighting a woman,

he's not man enough. I meet another man and let

them take you, then you know whether you're really ready.

But when you see a man who has finished taking

the man like this, Eh, there's one everybody will know. Ah,

why are you beating now? Why did you have to

beat your wife? Ah? This was this one? But you know,

some women they can beat the man. But there's what

is called emotional abuse. There is what is called verbal abuse. Eh,

some women their mouth. Just like I said last Sunday,

someone said that because women are in pursuit of making

six thousand words in a day, so blah blah blah blah,

they're going to do this so they will flush their

husband anyhow. But nobody is saying I want no abbe.

It's also an abuse. God hates it whichever way it

contradicts the biblical love of the Biblical love and respect,

efficiency for night twenty nine commands words that build up

and not harm. Speak words that we build up and

not harm the other person. Manachi to sixteen, where we

have read God condemned violence, which includes all abuse in marriage.

Every form of abuse in marriage is violence. God hates

it two before he gets to divorce, because it is

the violence that leads to divorce. So why are you

abusing the other person physically, emotionally, psychologically. Again and understand

of the Bible or issue of abuse, protection for life

and dignity. So every human being is created in God's image,

and so they deserve dignity and safety. So today you

begin to fight that person, you abuse that person, You

are going contrary to the way of God. P. Eleven,

verse five. The Bible said that God opposes those who

love violence, those who are involved in such violence. God

opposed them Proverbs two, twenty four and twenty five. The

Bible they're once against associating with the violent individuals, suggesting

the necessity of separation for safety. Don't associate with people

that are violent. Let's look at the Bible on divorce.

But let me start this way. I'll just list out

some possible causes of divorce in marriage. There are biblical support,

but then I'll just read them like that. Then you

can just know. Number one is lack of communication James

one night, and the Bible say everyone should be quick

to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.

So effective communication is what is what promotes understanding and harmony.

Number two is infidelity and trust issues, all right, when

there is no trust between the man and the wife,

all right. The issue of adultery adultery, that's betrayal of

true through emotional or physical affairs. And the Bible says

in Exodus chapter twenty, verse fourteen, you shall not commit adultery.

So adultery is sexual intercourse between adults. A married adult, right,

a married adult and another person. That person is committing adultery.

But somebody who is not married at all, and you

see a girl, you see a boy, and because of Valentine,

your destiny was put inside the cage. And then you

fail for it and you open your leg for that person.

That is for nication. It is against God. Matthew chapter five,

verse thirty two. The Bible say, but I tell you

that anyone who divorces his wife except for marital and

faithfulness causes her to become an adultress. Right, So somebody,

when a divorce the wife, you have made that woman

an adulteress. So Jesus acknowledges adultery as a legitimate grand

for divorce anyway, But I want to look at causes

of divorce financial problem first to Multi sixteen. For the

love of money is the rue to ruth of all

kinds of evil. So management or greed can strain any relationship.

Abuse and violence. Like I've said before, it could be physical,

it could be emotional, it could be verba in any way.

So and God wants against doing that. So abuse contradicts

the biblical call for love and protection. Have a lack

of commitments and of faithfulness Maluki two fourteen. You have

been unfaithful. You have been unfaithful to her though she

is your partner, the wife of your or marriage covenant.

Let's not be on faithful. On faithfulness can be a

cause of divorce. Incompatibility and lack of intimacy. When there

is no that intimacy between a man and a wife,

it can bring them apart. So first Corinthians seven three

to five, the husband sho fulfill is marited duty to

his wife, and likewise the wife to our husband, do

not deprive each other. What is the marrited duty that

the Bible is referring to a sexual intercourse because that's

the only place where you have that God has ordained

sexual intercourse. It's a covenant. Sexual intercourse is a covenant.

So when you are when you do it outside the

marriage covenant, you have only built a covenant with a man.

And you know, we have seen women who have multiple

multiple men, and those who are in the business of

doing all of these things, they create that not covenant,

not covenant, and it contradicts the will of God. You know,

in marriage there's all realistic expectations. You expect so much

from the man or from the woman or in that relationship.

All realistic hobes can cause emotional distress and that can

lead to divorce. Have a lack of conflict resolution skills.

When we cannot resolve our conflicts amicably, it can result

into divorce. How about cultural and religious different and differences

which we have mentioned. The Bible says in Second Corinthian

six fourteen, do not be equally yoked with unbelievers. That's

another passage that says that don't get married to a nonbeliever.

It is wrong. That's a spiritual incompatibility, and that can

create tension because when the person say, no, you have

to do my things, No, you have to do my things. No.

How about infertile and child related issues when they're looking

for children and they're not able to get that can

bring that strain. And the Bible shows that child related

issues can also cause emotional distress. Genesis thirty one and two,

you will see Rachel struggling with infertility and which led

to conflict between her and Jacob. And Racheld was selling

Jacob give me a child, and Jacob had to say, hey, woman,

take it easy. I'm the one who gives children, right.

How about influence of extended families, family and friends. These

are people who have caused divorce in so many family.

How about addiction and substance abuse, drugs, addiction to drugs,

addiction to alcohol, addiction to handful behavior. You know this

can destroy Please a beg of us for those of

us in this kind of thing. Please stop it. You're

not born with it. You can stop it. It will

destroy your life. Prove have twenty vers one. The Bible

say wine is a more and be a brotherer whoever

is led astray by them, it is not wise. You

know gaes sense have a like of personal growth and bordom.

You're not willing to grow by yourself, but you complain

about everything eclessuses for nine. The Bible say two are

better than one because they have good return for their label.

So staying together, don't get bored, let their big growth

and also help your personal your your partner to grow.

Sometimes differences in life goals and priorities can be another challenge.

Why some people with divorce and most three three do

two work together unless they have agreed to do so,

It's impossible. So when two of them are not in agreement,

always tell people you never enter the man house who

not a fight like this make you think well before

you enter, so that I don't be that you're entering

boxing ring. There is also the problem of any marriage

and immaturity. I always believe that marriage is not for

boys and girls people who cannot keep themselves. That's not

the marriage is not meant for them. Marriage is meant

for men, men of insights. Corinthians thirteen eleven. The Bible

said when I was a child, I talked like a child,

I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.

When I become a man, that's the difference I put.

I put the ways of childhood behind me. But you

see some men, you know they are still children because

they receive instructure from their mother. It is whatever my

mommy says. And you say, you're a man married, No

you're not ready. You see a woman. Everything that happens

in our house, she must tell our people you're not

ready for marriage. God wants you to build your own.

Therefore a man leave his father and mother. You have

to live and cleave aber mental health issues, depression, anxiety

can bring about divorce Prohaps twelve twenty five. Anxiety ways

down the art, but a kind world chas it all resolved.

Past issue can be another one. Lack of support and

appreciation can be another one. Sexual incompatibility is another one.

First Corinitians seven five do not deprive each other except

by mutual consent. But when one is looking for one's

tire and the other one cannot give that stile, that

is incompatibility, then trouble begins. About legal and social influences,

you're a lot of changing social norms, you know, and

the legal process. There's a legal process to make divorce

more accessible. Just wake up, I want to divorce, and

just go ahead, go to one low cut and everything.

The process is done. But what the Bible saying in

Romance Chapter twelve, verse two, do not confound to the

pattern of this world. That is the pattern of the world.

Divorce is the pattern of the world. But be transformed

by the renewing of your mind. When your mind is

consistently being remote renewed in the power of the only girls,

you will not think of that. But my submission in

all of this is that from the inception, before you

even get into that relationship, let God be part of it.

Is there any ground in the Bible where divorce is possible? Matthew,

Chapter nineteen, verse nine. Matthew, Chapter nineteen the nine. The

Bible says, I tell you that anyone who divorces his

wife except for marital and faithfulness and marries another woman

commits adultery except for marital on faithfulness. So what exactly

is marital on faithfulness? When in a marriage, either the

man or the woman is having extra marital affairs or

is having sexual intercourse with another man, another woman outside

of that relationship that is marital on faithfulness, and the

Bible condemns it. The Bible condemns it in totality. Let

it not be heard. That's the only ground that Jesus

is giving for divorce. Another one is abandonment by an unbeliever.

In First Corinthians, First Corinthians, chapter seven, look at what

the Bible says. There's Confians chapter seven, verse fifteen. Or

let me take it from verse twelve. The Bible says

to the rest, I say I not the Lord. If

any brother has a wife who is not a believer

and she is willing to live within, he must not

divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who

is not a believer, and he is willing to live

with her, she must not divorce. In for the unbelieving

husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving

wife has been sanctified through our believing husband. Otherwise your

children will be unclean. But as it is, they are

only because one of the partners is holy. Is a Christian?

Now understand this. In Malachi, the Bible is saying, don't

get in connection with those who worship other gods. Right,

But so person you have entered into it. Paul is

not encouraging us in this place to put the person away.

And I've seen many people in this kind of conditions.

Don't put them away. But look at these fifteen. The

Bible now says, but if the old believer lives, let

him do so. A believing man or woman is not

bound in such circumstances. All right, So you have married

somebody that is not a Christian. But this person that

is not a Christian decides that I don't like you

again because of your Christian faith, and the person walks away.

What Paul is saying is that it's okay, just let

the person go. You are not bound in that covenant

of marriage. So if an unbelieving spouse leaves, the believer

is not bound. But the question is this, we have

talked about abuse. Does abuse justify divorce? The Bible did

not just mention, did not mention abuse as a ground

for divorce. Right principle of safety, dignity and protection suggest

separation for safety in that same force. Corinthian chapter seven

ten to eleven. Look at what the Bible says ten

and eleven. To be married. I give this command, not I,

but the Lord, a wife must not separate from her husband,

but if she does, she must remain unmarried or else

be reconciled to our husband. And her husband must not

divorce his wife. That's biblical standard. There is no room

for divorce. But so person it happens. Listen, you must

remain unmarried. You we understand that you must remain or married.

Don't marry another one. Don't marry. But what if the

other person that has left has gone into another relationship already,

then the covenant that you have with that person is broken,

because that is another extra marriage outside of that your

initial marriage. Do you understand what I'm saying. Two people

have gotten married, but everything scutter, and every attempt to

bring them together, the thing does not to work. Look

at what the Bible saying here. Abuse, it's not really

said in the Bible as a ground for that divorce.

But God again is saying that there is need to protect.

And that's why verse sixteen of the passage we have

read today. God's a trade for violence for violence in

a relationship. In a marriage supports the need for safety

and protection from abuse. So it there is violence, the

man is bitten, the wife, the wi is meeting the man.

Whichever direction it is, it is important. Sister Hannah, please

go to Tasha to go and stay there first. Brother Paul,

you go to Carasana, go and stay there first. Within

that time, we talk to Sister Hanna, we talked to

Product Paul. We pray for them one month, two months,

and all of that as strong as God will help us.

If we see that things have become okay, we can

carry them. Come you people go, oh good, and then

we resolved it and then we leave them. Just in

Tasha too. Was it last year or so? A wife

and the husband were fighting. We're fighting, and some people

came and they just came, stop fighting, stop fighting, this one,

this one, and they say, okay, we're not fight again.

And everybody went to bed and they till they went

to bed. Passionate to people. The following day, what did

we see the death of the man and the wife.

They both killed themselves inside the house. Excuse me, excuse me?

Which is better to have both of them remaining alive.

Let them be there, Let them be there, let them

work on their relationship with God first, and by the

time they are sold out individually to God, God can

help to bring them together, because it was the world

who organizes marriage in the first place. But many times

the advice is hey, because God hates divorce, then you

allow people who are buising themselves to stay together. No,

God hates violence, whether it is psychological, whether it is emotional,

where that it is physical, in any way, if Baba,

God hates it. Separation for safety in cases of abuse,

separation is recommended for safety and well being. Prohaps Chapter

twenty seven, verse twelve. The Bible says, the prudent see danger,

what do they do? They take refuge, run away, run away.

Don't wait until you die. Don't wait until you die.

If you die there you die. Are you waste? You

remember that beautiful singer very powerful when she grabs the mic,

But she was going through a lot backing at home.

Nobody knew anything until she was wasted. It could have

been avoided if it was undued. Where separation for safety

some eighty two verse four, the Bible said, rescue the

week and the needy. Deliver them from the end of

the weekend some eighty two verse four. Rescue them some

of them cannot help themselves. Go there and rescue them.

It is not divorced. Let them separate first, and they

see Our God with herpos to bring them together. What

are we saying today as a wrap up this morning?

We want to promote healthy marriages in our church, in

our community. Churches like us should teach biblical principle of love, respect,

and protection in marriage, and that is what we are doing.

People should try to reflect Christ's love and selflessness in

addressing abuse. The charge must provide a self space for

victim of abuse, ensuring protection and shuring counseling, ensuring healing,

and victims are encouraged to seek safety. You seek protectional

and godly counsel supporting separation for safety in cases of abuse.

Like I said, separation for safety is bibliker protecting life

and dignity. It is good let them separate. It is

not divorce. Let them separate first because you never can

tell the one that is abusing. The other person can

just want to do it. Let me just do it.

Let me kill this woman, let me kill this man.

Then I can go and marry another person. Because as

far as marriage covenant is concerned, in the Christian faith,

it is until death. Do all spats. Once there is death, hah,

you're free to go marry another man or marry another woman.

Let me conclude this day. God designed marriage as a

covenant of love, faithfulness and protection. Abuse violates that design

that God has put on ground. While divorce is permitted

for maritter and faithfulness and abandonment in case of unbeliever,

separation for safety is supported in cases of abuse. When

there is abuse, there can be separation temporary one until

we are sure that the two of them are ready

to work together. The church has a responsibility to protect victims,

to promote healing, and to provide biblical guidance. As a church,

we must uphold the scriptures in this matter. I wish

we can have discussion, but that may be for another time.

But how can Christian communities balance this biblical teaching or

marriage and divorce with the need for safety and protection.

We have heard marriage is God's design, but abuse is

turning it away, It makes it, is rubbishing it, and

then people are now deciding to divorce. But God is

saying no, I hate divorce. But how do we balance

it between obeying what God said we should do and

trying to also create safety space for the person that

is being abused. What are the practical steps that the

charge can take that Baptist churge can take to support

victims of abuse and promote healthy marriages. Let me wrap

up this week and what of caution For as many

as many of our young people. I want to plead

with us before you enter the relationship, is that person

in Christian For everyone who has come to me to

ask me, pastor I want to get married, the first

thing I ask them is the person you want to

marry to? Is the person in Christian Your response to

me we tell me whether you yourself you understand what

Christianity is all about. And for many times they just

tell me the lady or the man goes to church

is from a Christian family? Yes, what else? He prays

very well the first seven days a week lituus. That's

all Litus. What I'm asking this person gets experience with Jesus.

I say, ah, the father is a decay. If I

even the mom, he said, the grandma, the grandma, the grandma,

the pastor, she'd be how does that affect the person

that you're about to marry. Before we enter into the

left of separating fights, let us work on our relationships.

This is a challenge to believe us to abboord the

sanctity of marriage, protect the vulnerable, and reflect the love

of Christ and justice in all our relationships, not just marriage.

I pray that God will help us. There has to

this question this morning. How is it going with your

marriage and for those of us who have sold part

of our destiny in sexual intercours. You're not married? Eh.

The instruction in Genesis you have torn it upside down? Eh?

You know the instruction to man to man where God

created man is what go and do? What multiply? Is that? Not?

So people are not married, but they're just multiplying. You're multiplying.

You are multiplying. Danger looms. There is a course that

you are bringing because you are going against God's original plan.

You need healing. You need healing. You need to surrender

to Jesus. You need to surrender your life to Jesus.

Let me take that song. God give us Christian homes.

It's a prayer and we pray that died God, we

give us Christian hopes. If your home is not sweets,

it's an opportunity for us to pray and to give

room for commitments. You want God to heal your home,

to heal your wound list. You can come to the

altar and just lay it before the master. This lesson

birs time one. God give us squeeze chainos own swear.

The Bible is lord and.

Own swear Master sweet resort.

Oscran read beauty your love.

And frost Godiva screeze channel war, God keep a screez.

God giv a screez Channo homes where the fu istrum

and strum.

Ooms that are free from the blind o roll ons.

That joy sween the love that song.

Argy a screeze and old hogy ho screez jano. God

give us greez chanos armswear. The mother in Ca request

strives to show.

All that your with the space ownswhere the lord is

on a lord gas. God gave mos grist channels. God

give as gres channels. God give us Christian rooms woms

where the children are led to know Christ in its beauty,

who loves them so arms were the altar fires burn

and glow. God give us Christian rooms. God give us Christian.

Foom gogy s greezeo.

W s wheen children are lands to know.

Christ sities beauty who lives and soul once whether of

fast born and God goy s greezedted wod.

Gogy s gree channel. Can you just take a moment

and just pray for your home. It doesn't matter how

the condition of that home. If you're a child, to

pray for your parents, if yeh, can you pray that

God begin you a Christian? The characteristics of a Christian

home is a home where the Bible is loved, where

the Bible start, and where the Master's will is done.

A Christian home is a place where the Father is

true and strong, a home that is free from the

blight of Rome. A Christian home is that home where

the mother of the old is a caring person, a

place where she's trying to show other the way of God.

A Christian oop is a oom where the children are

led to do Christ. If you've not been leading your

children to Christ to your home, you are feeling in

your responsibility. Can you pray that God will give us

a Christian home? Is shit about discharge in our communities

where we are this residing Lord, give us Christian homes,

homes where the fear of the Lord is held in

Jesus Mighty name. We pray, Gracious God, our sincere cry

is a lord. You will give us Christian homes to

the glory and honor of your name. In Jesus' name,

we pray, Amen, Please let us be sited the Lord.

Bless us in Jesus' name