THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOME
Psalm 11:3: If the foundations be destroyed. what can the righteous do?
Marriage is an institution ordained by God for the benefit of mankind. Marriage is not the idea of man but God. It is the oldest institution on earth. To understand the mystery behind marriage then, there must be a reference to the time of creation and a focus on God’s final work of creation; that is the family.
Although the church is very important, it is worth mentioning that the family is older than the church. God was the first officiating minister at the first wedding. A family consists of people with a common goal, unified aspirations and a common course.
THE SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATION
A family unit begins with a male and a female that are joined together. The divine agenda on the foundation of the family, is well laid out in the scriptures.
However, many have laid other fake and shaky foundations. This is the major cause of the trouble of mankind. All through the ages, the family has been severally assaulted by Satan and the battle is still going on.
Behind every operation and manifestation is a foundation, which is either hidden or visible.
A foundation, is the base on which a particular thing rests. It is the root and the origin. It is the base on which a structure rests.
Marriage therefore is a church, within a church. It is a republic within another republic. It is a world within a larger world. If things go right here, then things will go right everywhere. If things go wrong in the home, things will go wrong every where.
Marriage is the foundation of the church and the state. Because of the sensitivity of this foundation, you must let Christ be the first and the last in your home.
THE FIRST INSTITUTION
The institution of marriage was created by God and He was the first pastor to join two people together in holy matrimony. It is the first institution ordained by God.
Genesis 2:18: And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
God’s verdict before Genesis 2:18 was that everything was good. But here, God said; “it is not good” that the man should be alone.”
In this verse, we consider the first reason for marriage. That is, companionship or getting rid of loneliness.
Genesis 2:21: And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
God was the first surgeon. He opened up Adam and took a rib from Adam and replaced it with flesh.
Genesis 2:22: And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from men, made he a women, and brought her unto the man.
THE ORIGINAL RIB
So, every man has a rib taken from his side to create an help meet for him. The world is in trouble and many things have gone wrong. This can be traced to the fact that, a lot of women are “taken” to men other than the men God made for them. It is by the grace of God and the blood of Jesus that things could be brought back to good shape for many people. There is no way you can find things easy when your partner is not your original rib. There is no way things can move on positively when a wife is not from the rib of her husband.
Genesis 2:22: And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
It was God who brought the woman to the man. It was not the woman who brought herself to the man. Neither did the man bring himself to the woman. The whole idea was from God.
Genesis 2:23-25: And Adam 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. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
There is no other story about the root or origin of the family, that could surpass God’s account concerning the family.
STRANGE BEDFELLOWS
The rate at which marriages are collapsing is alarming. One out of every three marriages is breaking down. This is a cause for concern to any serious minister or man of God. In many places, what is called marriage is just a companionship of convenience. A lot of people are regretting ever getting married and many of them are planning to jump out of the relationship.
The next terrible thing after hell fire is a bad marriage. Once entered into, it is very difficult to come out of it because, it is a lifelong contract as far as the Bible is concerned. The Lord intended that marriage should be a lifetime affair.
We all know that the pomp and pageantry of a marriage ceremony is never the indication of the fact that such a marriage would last long. The reason the blood of people would not be required from pastors on the last day, as far as marriage is concerned, is because of the confessions of the couples on their wedding day.
THE MARRIAGE VOW
The statements of oath taken at the wedding ceremony can be likened to a death sentence. When you cruise over the wordings of the oath taken by husbands and wives on the day of their wedding, then, you would recognize that these are very heavy and implicating words. It bothers on issues of life and death.
Men and women sit down as witnesses and observers of marriage ceremonies. The couple stands with their priest or the pastor reading out marriage vows or oaths. Here are the words of the marriage vow.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here before God and before this congregation to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony.”
Thus the husband and the wife have called God as witness and have called the congregation as witness (meaning that if the couple decides in the future to break up the matrimony, then, all the congregation that was present at the marriage must be summoned again for the dissolution of the marriage. If all of the congregation cannot be called upon again then the marriage must remain in place.
Marriage is honourable
Marriage is an honourable estate established by God before the fall of man.
Marriage signifies the mystical union between Christ and the Church. (This is another purpose of marriage) It is an institution which Christ both honoured and glorified by His presence, at the wedding at Cana of Galilee,
where he performed his first miracle. If Jesus could do this, He can perform a miracle in your home.
Declare this loud and clear: My Father, perform Your miracle in my family, as You did at Cana of Galilee, in the name of Jesus.
A fresh understanding
We need a fresh understanding of the institution of marriage. We also need to understand the power of the marriage vow. The marriage vow is necessary to be read again for people who read it before, but are now speaking rubbish concerning the institution of marriage.
People who intend to marry, should also listen carefully to the implications of the marriage vow that are read which are binding on marriage partners.
It is also commanded by Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that, marriage should be of great honour among men. Therefore, nobody should rush into marriage. It should not be treated lightly to satisfy our carnal lust and appetite. (The purpose of marriage is not just for sexual pleasure as some people think. This view lead many in this generation to go astray. It is a wrong view of marriage). “Marriage is not what anyone should rush into as an animal who lacks understanding. Marriage should be handled discreetly, assuredly and soberly with the fear of God.
God’s purpose
Now let us examine the divine purpose for marriage.
It is a remedy against sin
To avoid fornication, it is advised that those who are not married and are eligible, should get married. Those without the gift of continency might marry and keep themselves as undefiled members of the body of Christ.
It is established for procreation
God wants us to bear children that would be trained in the fear of God and praise His holy name. It is established for mutual understanding. help and comfort
God wants partners to benefit from one another, both in prosperity and adversity for which the people are joined together.
No turning, back
Remember that during the wedding ceremony the pastor will say. “I charge you both … as you will answer at the dreadful day of judgment …”
When you open your mouth on the day of your wedding to say “I will” without being coerced or manipulated, you have attested to it that you will give an account of your marriage on the great day of judgment. To come back later and say that you are no longer interested in that marriage is an impossible task.
There was a brother who was so much soaked with the interest and desire to get married that he worried his pastor saying; “I want to get married on time.” The man of God cautioned him:, “Pray!” The brother said he prayed and came up with a sister to get married to.
The man of God looked at them and told the brother “Go and pray again.” Anytime a man of God tells you, “Go and pray again”, it means that something is wrong somewhere.
But, the man of God may not tell you the details. The brother prayed and came back to say “I have prayed enough sir; I want to go ahead.” According to the confession from his mouth, they were joined together. The two of them said, “it is God’s will for us to get married.” If eventually, these two people should make mistake in their marriage, then, their blood is on their heads.
For those who married before they became born again, the Lord would give you balm or iodine to cover your sore. But, for those who are no longer
ignorant of God’s will and yet make mistakes, their blood is upon their own heads.
The couple in question got home after the reception. The brother said, “We thank God for today. Let us pray to God.” The brother said; “Father in the name of Jesus,” he was expecting a loud and supportive Amen from the wife, but an Amen did not come from her. The brother repeated “Father in the name of Jesus” – still no Amen came forth. The brother then said; “Sister please say, Amen.” But suddenly the eyes of the sister became wild and she said; “I don’t want to hear the name of Jesus again.”
The brother said: “What? I should not mention Jesus?”
And she responded, “Yes, do not call that name henceforth. You do not know whom you have married.” The brother then quickly ran back to the pastor and said; “Sir, it is not too late. This marriage is just a few hours old now. So, I want it dissolved now.” The man of God said, “I am sorry. It is to late! You can no longer dissolve it.”
The reverse is also true for sisters who have gotten into wrong marital relationships. Coming out of such a relationship can be very difficult. Once a marriage is contracted, God wants them to stick together for life.
Malachi 2:16: For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
Marriage is for life and God hates “putting away” (divorce).
1 Cor. 7:27: Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
Also in Matthew 19:9-10 we are clearly instructed.
Matthew 19:9-10: And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
The only time divorce is permitted is when a woman and a man are yet to be joined in wedlock. But once joined, there is no more remedy. While they are in courtship they could dissolve or cancel their intention of getting married.
After marriage, there is no room for divorce again. If you wake up one morning and you discover that your husband is drinking blood as water, such a reason is not enough to dissolve that marital relationship. If you wake up one day and you truly discover that your wife is a witch, there is nothing you can do than to stick to her. This is the Bible standard on such issues.
The devil is attacking Christian marriages vehemently. In order to add salt to injury, most of the children that are born these days are born by unwedded mothers. The cycle of trouble therefore continues. This is a very sad situation. Only God can deliver us.
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