Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, July 27, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD IN RELATION TO COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE

By Pastor Michael D. O’Neal Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Malachi 2:11-17

Text: Malachi 2:14

Malachi 2:14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

Introduction: I really do want God to bless America, but if we want our nation to be blessed by God, we need to pray for our leaders to come to recognize Him, know Him, believe Him, and obey Him! In July, the month of our birthday as a nation, we should admit that we HAVE been truly blessed by God. However, we should also sadly admit that in many ways we have FORGOTTEN God, which brings to mind the fearful verse:

Psalms 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

Let’s not forget God!

I believe one of the areas in which we have forgotten Him is in relation to courtship and marriage.

This is a foundation of our country!
This is a foundation of our communities!
This is a foundation of our churches!

I. WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD IN THE PARTICIPANTS IN MARRIAGE

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

A. We have rejected God’s division of the sexes

B. We have ridiculed God’s divisions of the sons of Noah

C. We have rebelled against God’s divisions of spiritual families – John 1:12; 8:44; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

II. WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD IN THE PREPARATION FOR MARRIAGE

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

The marriage bed is being defiled by those who are using it without being married. The pleasures of marriage are only intended for the participants in marriage, who prepared FOR marriage!

A. Conversion

B. Consecration

C. Confidence in God

D. Cleanliness

E. Counsel

III. WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD IN THE PERMANENCE OF MARRIAGE

Matthew 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

A. Marriage should have a cohesion that cannot be divided

B. Marriage should be a contract that cannot be dissolved – Malachi 2:15

IV. WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD IN THE PURITY OF MARRIAGE

1 Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

A. There should be purity in preparation

B. There should be purity in participation

C. There should be purity in perpetuation

Abstain from the very appearance of evil
Avoid opportunities for sin

V. WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD IN THE POSITIONS IN MARRIAGE

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

A. The head of the home is the man

B. The heart of the home is the woman

C. The heirs to the home are the children

D. The hope of the home is the Lord Jesus Christ

VI. WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD IN THE PICTURE OF MARRIAGE Ephesians 5:22-32 (Read)

A. Christ is pictured by the husband

Sacrificial in love
Steadfast

B. The church is pictured by the wife

Submissive
Serving
Supporting

VII. WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD AND THE PRIORITY IN MARRIAGE

Psalms 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

A. Christ

B. The couple

C. The children

D. The church

E. The community