At Last

<p><br></p><p>God’s WORLD; God’s MAN; God’s GARDEN; God’s UNION; God’s Worldview - If marriage is foundational to a strong spiritual society then is it no wonder society is struggling so? Psalm 11:3</p><p><br></p><p>Scripture Reading: Mt. 22:23-33</p><p><br></p><p>I. The Union - 2:18-25</p><p>1. God acts - vv. 18-22</p><p>2. Adam reacts - v. 23</p><p>• At last</p><p>• Same body (bone/flesh)</p><p>• Same root name </p><p>3. Moses speaks - vv. 24-25</p><p><br></p><p>II. The Break Up - 3:1-13</p><p>1. From bliss to blame </p><p>2. Covering our own sin </p><p>3. Consequences of sin </p><p>4. In Christ reconciliation and healing is possible - Love God more than spouse; Love even your enemies (like ex’s)</p><p>5. Anger blinds us from seeing - Matthew 7:1-5</p><p>6. Jordan P - divorce of parents is more damaging on kids that the death of a parent </p><p><br></p><p>III. The Reunion (After the Fallin’) - God’s Word speaks as if we can walk in marital bliss even after the sin of Adam and Eve and after our own sin!</p><p><br></p><p>1. We will learn a lot from the marriage of Adam (Eve) - </p><p>2. We don’t learn much about the marriage of Noah (don’t even know her name) - </p><p>3. We can learn a lot about the marriage of Job (unnamed) - </p><p>4. We can learn a lot from the marriage of Abraham (Sarah, “Hagar” - Ishmael, Keturah after Sarah died w/ whom he had 6 sons) </p><p>5. We can learn a lot from the marriage of Isaac (Rebekah) - twins after 20 years of marriage (Jacob & Esau sibling rivalry not all that different from Cain & Abel).</p><p>6. We can learn a lot from the marriages of Jacob</p><p>7. We don’t know a lot about the marriage of Joseph arranged by the Egyptian Pharaoh (Asenath - daughter of priest Potipheri)/. She bore Joseph the forefathers of 2 of the 12 tribes (Ephraim & Manasseh)</p><p>8. We can learn a lot from the marriage of Moses (Zipphorah) - She saves his life and then in anger throws something at Moses - Ex. 4:24-26; don’t hear that every day in our biblical counseling sessions!</p><p>9. We can learn a lot from the marriages of David (8) - from Michal (daughter of King Saul) to Bathsheba (mother of Solomon). He had children with 7 of them!</p><p>10. I wouldn’t put anyone through studying the marriages of Solomon - however he had some great things to say about wives: Proverbs 5:18; 12:4; 18:22; 19:14; 31:10-31</p><p><br></p><p>(1) Passages that apply very well to marriage:         *Ecclesiastes 4:11-12 -        *I Corinthians 13:1-13 -       *Ephesians 4:32 -      *Philippians 2:3-4 -</p><p><br></p><p>(2) Marriage according to Paul - *I Corinthians 7:8 - don’t do it *Ephesians 5:18-21, 22-33 (In what culture is Christ the Head of the Church?); Colossians 3:18-19</p><p><br></p><p>(3) Marriage according to Peter - I Peter 3:1-7 (“likewise”; “grant her honor”; “fellow heir”)</p><p><br></p><p>(4) Marriage according to Jesus - Matthew 19:1-9; 22:23-33</p><p><br></p><p> 5 Marriages Worth Studying:</p><p>• Adam & Eve (forgiveness) </p><p>• Boaz & Ruth (selflessness) </p><p>• Zechariah & Elizabeth (communication - 9 months of non-verbal communication)</p><p>• Joseph & Mary (trust) - Put her away privately </p><p>• Aquila & Priscilla (mutuality) - I Corinthians 18; Romans 16:13-14</p>