MARRIAGE IS ONE OF LIFE’S GREATEST GIFTS FROM GOD.

4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” 5 And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” Matthew 19:4-6 NLT

 

• Marriage is a Holy covenant. 

• A contract is based on mutual distrust.

• A covenant is based on mutual commitment before a Holy God.

• Your marriage is worth fighting for.

 

WHAT IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’VE ALREADY LOST?

3 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?” 4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” 5 And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” 7 “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked. 8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. 9 And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.”  Matthew 19:3-9 NLT

 

WHAT ARE THE BIBLICAL GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE? 

• Sexual immorality & abandonment. (Matt 5:32, 19:9, &

1 Cor 7:15)

• Hard hearts lead to broken marriages.
• What about abuse?  You need a safe place separated.

• Separation is done to work towards repentance and restoration.

 

16 “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.” Malachi 2:16 NLT

 

• Divorce is painful and impacts those around us.

• We can feel like failures.

• Some of God’s greatest blessings come after true repentance.

 

GOD IS THE GOD OF SECOND CHANCES!

56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:56-58

 

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 NLT

 

VICTORY IS SO SWEET!

• When there is confession and true repentance there is Victory.

• When there is confession and true repentance there is Healing.

• When there is confession and true repentance there is Forgiveness.

• When there is confession and true repentance there is Peace.

• When there is confession and true repentance there is Hope.

When there is confession and true repentance there is Joy.