One Plus One Equals One

As we take a closer look today at God’s creation of mankind, we will see that not only did He create man, He also is the author and creator of MARRIAGE!

Marriage is His idea, His creation… He thought of it. It is NOT a man made idea or invention

This week Lisa and I were privileged to celebrate 19 years in this covenant union of marriage

So if God created and designed marriage… then like everything else He created, His design and purpose are best.

Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7-9; 2:15-25

Genesis 1:26–31 NASB95

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Genesis 2:7–9 NASB95

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:15–25 NASB95

Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

TOP TEN PICKUP LINES USED BY ADAM 10. “You know you’re the only one for me!” 9. “I'm the type of guy that can make you feel like you're the only girl in the entire world” 8. “Trust me, this was meant to be!” 7. “Look around, baby. All the other guys around here are animals!” 6. “I already feel like you’re a part of me!” 5. “Honey, you were made for me!” 4. “Why don’t you come over to my place and we can name some animals?” 3. “You’re the girl of my dreams!” (Gen. 2:21) 2. “I like a girl who doesn’t mind being ribbed!”

1. “You’re the apple of my eye!”

The good thing is that Adam did not need to use a pickup line… God had created marriage with design and purpose. We will look at four key points of His purpose and design today briefly… Dennis Rainey’s outline

To Mutually Complete One Another

Verse 18… something is “not good”… God made man with a need for woman. There was something or someone lacking...

NOTICE… God is the One who meets this need for Adam! (no pickup lines needed!)

God completes Adam (Adam=man) issah=woman or wife

She is different… she completes Adam.

From the very beginning God created them male and female… there is no other genders!

She is called by God… a helper suitable for him

God completed this “adam” when He brought Lisa and I together

She see and notices the things and ones i miss

Her heart of compassion challenges my heart consistently

I would not desire to do life or ministry without her by my side… my helpmate

HELPER= helper n. — a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose.

Psalm 70:5; Psalm 146:5 are two examples of that same designation being placed on God Himself!

Psalm 70:5 NASB95

But I am afflicted and needy; Hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.

Psalm 146:5 NASB95

How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the Lord his God,

God beautifully, through marriage completed what was lacking, needing fulfillment, to further His purpose!

To Multiply A Godly Legacy

Verse 28 … is a clear directive to us married to be fruitful and multiply! Psalm 127:3-5; Psalm 78:6-7

Psalm 127:3–5 NASB95

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Psalm 78:6–7 NASB95

That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments,

Children are not only part of God’s blessing they are His plan and purpose for a Godly legacy. God’s perfect design see’s passing on God’s truths and purpose through family, Marriage, parenting. (Specially your own, but also the young ones God brings you to minister to!)

To Mirror God’s Image

Verse 26-27… you and I are made in His image.

Dennis Rainey as a good question… “When people look at your marriage, what will they see? Two people using each other to meet their own needs and experiencing nothing but conflict because of their selfishness? Or two imperfect people determined to love each other unconditionally and reaching out to others with the overflow of that love? In a time when about 50 percent of marriages eventually end in divorce, a successful marriage becomes a testimony of God’s love and power.”

It is critical that we understand that God intends for marriage to reflect Him, His character, … God chose to reveal to us, (His creation) a part of Himself, His being, through OUR MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP!

LOVE… FORGIVENESS… UNITY…

Preparing for Marriage Chapter 1: Why Marriage?

God created us to know Him and to live within the context of His plan for our lives. When a man and woman come together in a marriage, with God at the center of their relationship, they will reflect His image. The world will see in that relationship a representation of who God is and how He loves.

Mysteriously, God chose to use a husband and wife to represent, or mirror, Him to humankind. It is through this marriage relationship that a couple can demonstrate a portion of God’s love, His forgiveness and His longsuffering commitment to people.

If we begin to realize these three purposes or design of Marriage by God then we will see a unity in our marriages like no other… God’s equation for marriage is simple

One Plus One Equals One… REALLY!

When we allow God to work in our marriages, we will see a unity… verse 24 states “and they shall become one flesh. This goes beyond sexual intimacy!

This requires commitment and keeping God at the center… Notice in last verses of chapter 2

There is a reviving of your spouse… as the one God has given you! His provision for you.

There is a leaving of your parents… your marriage relationship holds a higher priority, you are now ONE, creating your own family.

leave financially, emotionally, maybe physically

There is a joining to your spouse… a commitment, this is a covenant relationship, God’s plan, commitment is vital for marriages today more so than ever before.

Satan is attacking the home and marriages because it is what God used to reveal His Image to the world around us!

Marriage is NOT 50/50 its 100/100

No meeting half way… each one must be willing to go fully all the way

and God must remain at the center

Marriage is far more than a cultural institution or an arrangement for a man and woman to meet their needs for companionship.

There is more at stake in your marriage than just two people enjoying each other’s companionship and partnership.

God’s reputation—His image—is at stake in your marriage.

As you unite with our God, as you unite with your spouse… we see His design for oneness and a powerful marriage!

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