God’s Plan for Sex & Marriage: Honorable Relationships

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Visit our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org will easily be able… About weddings forget about marriage more time to talk about mergers rather than the whole bill today. Pastor Greg Laurie couples give their marital priorities is recognizing what's important and one last thing about this house. It's a home wedding marriage your marriage on the right nice friend of when he opens it is more excited about watch so today on a new beginning after Greg Laurie points out how coupled with those things that surround the marriage see how to make sure we honor our relation to the way God wants us to a good reminder today of the sanctity of marriage. One of the most requested here is the article in the paper while back about a well-known actress who was getting a divorce and that she sounded a cynical note about marriage in general.

She said and I quote I don't to sell better because I'm definitely not, but I don't know if people are meant to be together forever" though this article goes on to say that this actress is not alone in wondering there's no doubt, particularly as lifespans of increase that there's less certainty about finding and keeping lifelong love with just one person, 2014 survey of millennial's commission by the USA Network trauma satisfaction found 43% with some of this 3% would support a beta marriage model that is testing relationship for two years before deciding to commit or dissolve beta marriage model and then also 36% back the real estate marriage model in which couples would commit to a separate of time ranging from 5 to 30 years that the end have to renegotiate if they want to remain married. Let me help you out if you think this is some validity. The Beta test and the marriage test are not going to work you do it God's way and it'll work you do with these other ways you're already setting the stage for failure and I think that sometimes will think well will just live together and love all the fringe benefits of marriage without the commitment and to be sort of a test run to see how will do later. If were ever to get married but actually that is a good way to set the stage for a divorce, not a successful marriage to read an article that said couples who live together are gambling and are losing listen and 85% of the cases.

Many believe the myth that their inner child marriage. Actually, it's more like a trial divorce in which eight out of the 10 couples will break up before the wedding, or afterwords in the horse okay so a successful marriage is a total commitment.

You just go for or you don't go for.

Let me say a word about not going for. Really, if this is your attitude. If you're not sure if you're marrying the right person. Do not get married and it was Benjamin Franklin once said, keep your eyes wide open before marriage and half shut afterwords. The problem is we walk in the marriage of the rise have shot sometimes agreeable sake. I this guy has a lot of flaws but he's going to be my project I'm going to fix it.

Newsflash he's probably going to get worse is going to just become a more exaggerated version of himself. If you can love them as he is. If you think you're going to change them you might be in for a real shot for the guy marrying the girl. That's why I say if you're not married yet. If you're recording or even if you're engaged in it doesn't work out, go ahead and break up do us all a favor, break up, get the breakups over with before the marriage. So the be none after the marriage is the know my wife and I we broke up three times.

We were young kids to. I might add. We recorded for three years. There's a word you don't hear anymore court three years we went out if you will, and it became an annual event. We broke up and you know it was one of those breakups, like I never want to see your face again.

Then we got back together and finally after the third one we said okay this is it. We know were meant for each other and we got married. But honestly, this might even surprise you.

Even if you had your wedding announcements printed in a month.you decided this is a bad decision. Go ahead and cancel just give the gifts back to the people. That's all I'm saying don't be a runaway bride trying not to do it on the actual wedding day, but my point is figure this out.

I had a time because wedlock should be a padlock and if you're not willing to make that commitment then do us all a favor and stay single.

Okay.

But God has a plan and it will do it his way. He can bless, and you know what God is given us an instruction manual online that includes marriage and that includes family that includes raising children. That includes being single. It's called the Bible. PI BLE basic instructions before leaving earth.

We need to pay attention to what the Bible says God will tell us how to do this right. Notice why this series is anchored in attacks but we wonder, is it possible to have a marriage where we live happily ever after woman. We are to lose the fairytale and just rephrase it as I said earlier to you can live happily even after if you build your marriage on the right foundation wasn't. If you see a strong and thriving marriage that did not happen by accident or by default of a marriage is strong and thriving. That's because two people are doing their part. The man has his part and the woman has her part and it's amazing to me how people… About weddings, but forget about marriage at the spend more time talking about the house again. A purchase rather than the home they're going to build so the most important thing is not that house.

It's the home.

The most important thing is not the wedding. It's the marriage and here's how to do it right. Ephesians 5 God takes us back to the very beginning. Verse 31. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife as himself, let the wife see that she respects her husband. There no Paul here is to get his back to the book of Genesis specifically to the garden of Eden, the garden of the eye when you think of when you envision this amazing place. I think sometimes we see it as more of a mythological place like the city of Atlantis or Neverland or Camelot. When the listen to this, the garden of Eden was a real place and I was a real guy and he was a real girl this is a real story. These are historical event but even surpassed any beautiful place you've ever seen. Think of the most gorgeous place you've ever been to and magnify that a thousand times and you get a glimpse of the beauty of Eden and was surrounded by all of God's handiwork in creation in the plant life and the animals and and Adam had the coolest job of all time. His job was to discover what God had made it to give names of the animals to ensure he started running out after a while.

But what a wonderful time that was in the animal kingdom was attainment wasn't hostile like it is now in so here's this incredible environment, but something was missing and actually was a someone didn't know what that was. Yet because she had not yet been brought into this world so the Lord instead of all of his creation. It is good. It is coded is good, but then God looked at the aloneness of men and said it is not good. So I will make my help meet for him. Genesis 218. Make a helper comparable to him. It's an interesting phrase to be translated from the Hebrew when the Bible speaks of the role of the wife to the husband a helper is someone who assists another to reach fulfillment can also be translated. Someone who comes to rescue another Eve would rescue Adam and Adam would rescue Eve from loneliness and much more story may not of heard the story, but God and Adam were having a conversation in and out of Ascot after the Lord made Eve while Lord why did you make are so beautiful God said to Adam, so you would love her and said God, why did you make are so soft, God said again. So you would love her.

Then Adam asked God why did you make are so stupid. God said so she would love you, not just a joke course women are not stupid like to say that the that's a silly story. But God has invented marriage in its insane to me that we think we can now redefine it.the thoughts we built our very nation, United States of America, on the foundation of marriage and the family George Washington our first president warned that we can never expect in his words, the smiles of Heaven on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained those we disregard God's rules disregard God's laws. Working to pay a price for it.

It's been said that a family can survive without a nation but the nation cannot survive without the family God has given us this template and the further we get from it the worse things, by the way this institution of marriage is been tested by millions of people over centuries and in multiple cultures and have family survived explorers Greg Laurie of the second half of this message moment right after a quick look at the way a new beginning touches the lives of listeners and sky.

Wow, she that's a great little letter is netted 10 years old. She wants to dicker cat they have, and I don't know what I can say about that.

But I'll tell you this much. I'm so glad that she's watching and it's getting through to her that she loved the rush of hope. I'm always thrilled when I get a letter from a kid, I have to tell you I have a soft spot in my heart for little ones. I love to engage them because you know you never know they might so little Steve in their heart that will break ground later but we loved children and were still thankful children are watching our ministry that we put out there online and on radio and if you're a little kid in your listing right now. I'm so thankful you're listening and I know a lot of times you tell me you love the jokes so the jokes are going to keep coming kids and keep listening. You know, these daily studies connect with people of all ages and connect with people all over the world and is only possible through the partnership of our listeners. Thank you for your support of a new beginning and you could send a generous year-end gift today by going to harvest.org subject today is marriage from our series of most requested messages of the last year. Pastor Greg is highlighting God's plan for sex and marriage okay so let's drill down a little deeper now. Why did God bring the woman to the man because she would bring what was missing in his life and the purpose and objective of marriage can be summed up in two words go back to Ephesians 531 for this reason a man will leave his father and mother in Cleveland to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. I want to write down two words if you're taking notes. The words are leave and flee leave and cleaved two very important words that must be in constant play in the marriage relationship to keep it vibrant, strong. So it's leave and cleaved or sever and attached to or loosen and secure a successful marriage begins with a leaving a leaving of all of the relationships that are misunderstanding. I'm not saying that you don't have other relationships are still at a child to your parents sure you're still a sibling.

Your you're still that person.

But now a new relationship. A new family has emerged and that should become your number one priority. The closest relationships outside of marriage is specified here. A man will leave his father and his mother, meaning that if it's necessary to leave your father a mother then all lesser ties must be broken. Change or left behind.

The primary responsibility of a husband is to his wife.

The primary responsibility is of a wife to her husband. You still honor your parents for the leaving must take place, and this can be detrimental in the marriage.

If you don't do it so get this figured out ahead of time. I heard about a guy that wanted to get married in the worst way. So he found a girl and took her home to meet his parents. His mother didn't like her got another girl took her home to meet his parents again. His mother didn't like her. He took four more girls home to meet his parents.

Mother didn't like her. So when Anna found the girl that look like his mother dressed like his mother talk like his mother back.

She was like his mother in every way, but the problem is now his father didn't like her so that there is that this boy needed to leave his father, mother, I think he joined his wife leaving also means giving other relationships. Lesser degrees of important. Let me say that again leaving as a leaving pleading also means giving other relationships. A lesser degree of importance.

Listen guys, you can still live your bodies girls you can select your girlfriend. You can have those relationships but the most important relationship is that of you to your spouse so it's kind of hard to have a best friend that isn't your husband or wife you can have), but your best friend should be your spouse and I hope I don't need to tell you that it's very problematic to have close friendships with members of the opposite sex right so if you sit here waiting on him going out with my best friend Mary ever get to go to dinner and then do a movie but there's nothing here to worry about, forget that.

Okay, that just has to stop.

You can't do that, your best friend should be your spouse. Here's a really key verse, you might want to write it down and look at it later, but I'll read it to you.

It's Malachi 213 God says the Lord is good with this between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless although she is your companion and wife is interesting to God's are proving the individual for unfaithfulness, but he's refers to the wife is not just the white but your companion and your wife see your wife is just your wife sees your companion and your wife in the word companion means someone that you united with an thoughts, goals, plans, and offer thoughts, goals, plans and efforts. Your companion are the same ideas communicated over a first Peter three husband's throat with your wives with understanding, giving honor to the wife as to the weaker vessel as being heirs together of the grace of life, so your prayers be not hindered so actually what Peter is saying is take you need to understand how important your wife is because of you know if your you're not united with her as you want to be your prayers will be me ask a question of some of you guys have you wondered maybe why your prayers don't seem to go anywhere lately couldn't be that because you got honored your wife is. You should that is actually kindred.

Your prayer life. The Bible says I can happen. By the way the word the Peter uses. Therefore, dwell with your wife doesn't mean just live with her and needs to be aligned to give maintenance to be aligned sewer to give maintenance to. We maintain our homes, things break after re-landscape repaint change this change. That sum is always breaking in the house right things happen and cars do you have to maintain your car. You know you have all of you but got put gas in your car after put oil in your car periodically have to change the tires on your car you take your car in for a tuneup but some of us waiting until the idiot light goes off to do that that would be me that you very much and I would if we need an idiot light in our marriages. When that be nice like those of India. India you're neglecting your wife idiot, idiot, and not respecting your husband idiot, idiot, pay attention… Is a warning we neglect these things and so can the analogy of a car. I love old cars that have been restored to any of you like old cars. I love okay so when I see a perfectly restored unit 57 Chevy cruise along that is beauty on wheels right there. I love that my wife doesn't understand home will look what that car yeah so it's an old car look at it it's perfectly restored.

You know, I don't know why, just notice things like that. Okay so think of your marriage is a car. The idea is not to take your spouse and trade the men on the new model. The idea is to be the original owner and turn it into a classic that will stay on the road forever. I was your marriage so periodically it's a good idea to take stock of your life in your marriage and say, is there anything I'm doing that is hurting my relationship with my spouse not be attention. Which of these is Greg. I don't like it when you do that or this concerns me know it may seem trivial to me. Okay, I may dismiss and say what that's ridiculous noble weight if it means something to her, it should mean something to me, and same with her and I when this I don't like this thing here that is happening you need to listen to each other in these areas and take stock and if there is another relationship.

Or maybe at your career. It could even be your ministry, and is becoming more important to you, then your first ministry which is to your wife and your children then you need to reevaluate and you need to realign again is a Scripture tells us we should listen to this.

I believe that husband's hold the key to a successful marriage to know will Greg why do you single out the husband's will because God is called the man to be the spiritual leader in the home.

God is called the man to be the initiator would've been told to do.

They're told to love their wife as Christ loves, well, why does the church love Christ because he first loved us so the wives submission the wives respect comes as a response to her husband's loving servant leadership is seen just like we became Christians because Jesus one is over with his undying love for this everlasting love and we said, I want to follow Jesus all the husband can win over his wife for the way that he loves her and the way that he servicer and sadly into many relationships of the husband is not the spiritual leader affect the wife is often the spiritual leader of the husband is well passive advanced and sometimes hostile awards.

We don't want that now doing. We want the husband to be the leader God called him to be good insights to pastor Greg Laurie's message called God's plan for sex and marriage is from our series of top 10 most requested messages of the year pastor Greg movies and TV programs about Jesus go back decades, yeah, but it seems they're more common now than ever before. That's true. What you think. That is, I think people have a real interest in the Bible and I think when you visualize it when you cast people to play parts and it's directed well and you add music and you know what you're doing. It can be a powerful way of getting people into the greatest stories ever told and I'll pretty much watch any dramatization of the Bible. I've seen some okay ones, I've seen some pretty good ones. But we are offering you right now, which I think is the cream of the crop.

I don't know if you've seen it yet, but if you haven't, you're going to see it now.

It's a special series on the life of Jesus, called the chosen, it's directed by Dallas Jenkins. Dallas is the son of author Jerry Jenkins who wrote the left behind books and Dallas is got lightning in a bottle.

Here he is just cast this series so perfectly. Peter and Andrew and Thomas and Marion Nicodemus he's made these characters come to life. But his crowning achievement is the casting of actor Jonathan Rumi in the role of Jesus. I've seen many cinematic portrayals of Christ, of the years and I think this is the best I've ever seen. In fact, I was speaking with actor Jonathan Rumi, who plays the role of Jesus and told him how powerful his portrayal of Christ was in those scenes of the chosen, and from seen from spiritual death. God loves the world's way that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish with that same God did not perceive it for him.

So I'm very excited to announce that here and harvest we are offering season one of this amazing series on the life of Jesus, called the chosen to you for your gift of any size is is not the perfect time to watch this with your children and I'm telling you, your kids are going to love it. My grandkids love it, you're gonna love in older people get 11 because it's done so well. The New Testament stories will come to life for you in a way like you've never seen before. So for your gift of any size to us here and harvest ministries for the month of December we want to send you the chosen. Some of you can give more some of you can't give as much, but whatever you send will be put to use to continue teaching the word of God is you cured here in a new beginning and giving people an opportunity to come into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Yeah that's right and it's the most strategic time of the year for that investment. Not only are there tax deduction benefits at the end of the year, but this is when we determine how far we can reach with the gospel in the coming 12 months and we have huge plans for 2022, including a large Crusade outreach and a film documenting the Jesus movement were praying God sends another revival like the Jesus movement so your donation couldn't come at a better time and with your investment should ask for season one of the chosen on DVD and time is running out. We can only mentioned this a short time longer.

You can donate online@harvest.org or write us at a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime. Again, dial 1-800-821-3300 one more insights from Pastor Greg about God's plan for sexual intimacy within marriage sure to turn in for more from our series of most requested messages of the year. Join us here on a new beginning. Pastors and Bible teachers Greg Laurie and everybody thinks or listening to this podcast to learn more about harvest ministries follow the show and consider supporting it. Just go to harvest.org and find out how to know God personally go to harvest.org and click on know God