THE PROBLEM WITH REDEFINING MARRIAGE

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Through the years, certain words have been redefined.

I remember growing up, the word “salvage” meant someone getting killed. But later on, I found out that it really meant rescuing and saving something or someone.

Same with the word “dope”. I grew up thinking it was drugs. These days, young people say, “That dope doh!” which means, “That’s so cool!”

In basketball, to get a facial doesn’t mean going to a dermatologist to get cleaned. It means getting dunked on in your face.

Certain words when redefined seem harmless. But there are certain words when we redefine them will not only be dangerous but outright destructive.

Marriage is one of them.

Jesus in Matthew 19 talks about marriage.

1. Marriage is a PHYSICAL union.

Matthew 19:5 says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

It is a physical union, a coming together of sorts, between a man and a woman. These days, we have moved boundary lines and allowed marriage no longer just for male and female but people of the same gender.

We’ve rebelled against those lines and said we can have an affair as long as it’s in secret. Ask Ashley Madison about it. Their tagline says that because life is short, then have an affair.

2. Marriage is a PROVIDENTIAL union.

Matthew 19:6, “So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

It is God who joins two people together.

While it is true that He does that, in the bigness of the Sovereignty of God, He has given us the freedom of choice to make the decision who we will get married to.

3. Marriage is a PERMANENT union.

Matthew 19:6, “So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Divorce is the undoing of the work of God.

The only reason why divorce was allowed was because of the hardness of our hearts – sin.

That’s why in many wedding vows, the promise is till death do us part. It’s not until another career do us part nor another bank account do us part or another person do us part, but until death do us part.

“When emotions become the primary basis for our decision to get married, then emotions will also become the primary basis for our decision to separate.”

Here’s my message yesterday at Victory Fort that further expounds on this topic of marriage.

God bless you guys.

HAS GOD FORGOTTEN ME?

Has God forgotten me?

People asked this when they are in crisis.
Even if we don’t articulate it, it sure may cross our minds.

But the real question is, who forgot who first? God never forgets His children. More so, He never forgets the covenant He makes with His children. He is a Covenant Maker and a Covenant Keeper.

The Israelites were in slavery under the Egyptian rule.  After the time of Joseph has passed and the Pharaoh who showed favor for them was gone, the new King put them to slave labor.  They were in distress and a lot of hardship.
[23] During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. [24] God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. [25] So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them. (Exodus 2:23-25)

God heard.

“God heard their groaning…”

Our tears, God can see. He is able to see beyond the smile and the facade.
In the quietness of the moment, while we struggle with our circumstances, God hears the cries of our hearts.

A call for provision… a cry for restoration of ruined relationships… a desire to have a baby… a lament for someone who passed away… a whimper because the dream you held on for years just died.

God remembered.

“He remembered His covenant with Abraham…”

His covenant with Abraham was made centuries prior.
That’s how much God is able to remember.

We may have forgotten our promises to God but He never forgets His.
He is a Promise Maker and a Promise Keeper.
He is faithful to keep His end of the bargain even if we are not.

God looked.

“So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.”

God doesn’t just hear and remember, He takes action.
The Israelites were in trouble. God’s Father heart took action and raised up a man named Moses to be the deliverer of His people.

This is the thing that’s fascinating about God.
He hears our prayers. And based on the covenant He has with us as His children, He acts and moves on our behalf. In the moment of weakness, He becomes our strength. In the times of unfaithfulness, He remains faithful.