Covenantal Love: Strengthening Marriages Through God's Commitment

 

Summary

In our journey through the "Strengthen Your Marriage" series, we began by exploring the foundational truths of marriage as established by God in Genesis. God created marriage to be a union, a reflection of His love and commitment to us. However, the enemy seeks to divide what God has united, as seen in the story of Adam and Eve. This series aims to refocus our understanding of marriage, moving away from cultural redefinitions and towards a God-centered covenant.

We examined three approaches to marriage: casual, contractual, and covenantal. The casual approach is driven by fleshly desires, leading to temporary unions that dissolve when conflicts arise. The contractual approach is based on mutual agreements and emotional needs, often resulting in separation when those needs are unmet. In contrast, a covenantal marriage is rooted in a spiritual commitment to God and each other, transcending personal desires and situational agreements.

A covenantal marriage is not just about fulfilling personal needs but about aligning our spirits with God's spirit. It is a commitment to live with an eternal mindset, honoring God and each other. This approach requires us to listen to God's voice and lead our families with faith and example. Fathers and husbands are called to be the spiritual leaders of their homes, demonstrating what it means to be a man of God.

We also discussed the importance of unconditional commitment in marriage. Unlike contracts, which have exit strategies, a covenantal marriage is forever, with no plan B. This commitment is mirrored in our relationship with God, who calls us to a covenant relationship through the sacrifice of Jesus. Just as the blood of the lamb protected the Israelites, Jesus' sacrifice covers us, allowing us to build marriages on a foundation of righteousness.

In conclusion, we are encouraged to choose love, forgiveness, and commitment daily. Our marriages and relationships with God should not be casual or contractual but covenantal, reflecting the eternal love and faithfulness of God.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Enemy's Agenda: From the beginning, the enemy has sought to divide what God has united, as seen in the story of Adam and Eve. Recognizing this helps us understand the importance of unity in marriage and the need to guard against isolation and division. [01:44]

2. Three Approaches to Marriage: The casual, contractual, and covenantal approaches to marriage reflect different priorities. While casual and contractual marriages focus on personal desires and agreements, a covenantal marriage is rooted in a spiritual commitment to God and each other. [04:43]

3. Unconditional Commitment: A covenantal marriage is based on unconditional commitment, with no exit strategies. This mirrors our relationship with God, who calls us to a covenant relationship through Jesus' sacrifice. [14:36]

4. Eternal Mindset: Living with an eternal mindset means honoring God and each other in marriage. It involves listening to God's voice and leading our families with faith and example, raising children to be world changers for Jesus. [13:16]

5. Daily Choice of Love: Love, forgiveness, and commitment in marriage are daily choices. Our marriages and relationships with God should reflect the eternal love and faithfulness of God, not be driven by fleeting emotions or desires. [22:26]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:44] - The Enemy's Agenda
- [03:53] - Tri-Part Being and Marriage
- [04:43] - Casual Approach to Marriage
- [06:58] - Contractual Approach to Marriage
- [09:01] - The One vs. Number Two
- [10:05] - Covenantal Approach to Marriage
- [11:21] - Eternal Mindset in Marriage
- [12:02] - Role of Fathers and Husbands
- [13:16] - Raising Children with Eternal Mindset
- [14:36] - Unconditional Commitment
- [17:03] - No Exit Strategies
- [18:36] - Fighting for Marriage
- [19:09] - Feelings vs. Commitment
- [22:26] - Daily Choice of Love
- [24:40] - Covenant Relationship with God
- [26:34] - Jesus' Sacrifice and Covenant
- [30:23] - Jesus at the Center
- [31:43] - Prayer and Commitment
- [33:32] - Trials and Faith
- [34:20] - Conclusion and Call to Action

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Strengthen Your Marriage

#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 2:21-24
2. Matthew 19:6
3. 1 Kings 19:19-21

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#### Observation Questions
1. What does Genesis 2:21-24 reveal about the original purpose and design of marriage according to God? How does this passage relate to the idea of unity in marriage? [01:44]
2. In Matthew 19:6, Jesus speaks about marriage. What does He say about the union of marriage, and how does it relate to the sermon’s emphasis on covenantal marriage? [03:53]
3. How does the story of Elijah and Elisha in 1 Kings 19:19-21 illustrate the concept of having no exit strategies in a covenantal relationship? [17:03]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the enemy's agenda to divide marriages, as seen in the story of Adam and Eve, manifest in today's cultural context? [01:44]
2. What are the key differences between casual, contractual, and covenantal approaches to marriage, and why is a covenantal approach emphasized in the sermon? [04:43]
3. How does the concept of an eternal mindset influence the way one should approach marriage and family life? [13:16]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own marriage or relationships. Are there areas where you might be allowing cultural redefinitions to influence your understanding of marriage? How can you realign these with a God-centered covenant? [04:43]
2. In what ways can you actively guard against isolation and division in your marriage, recognizing the enemy's agenda to divide? [01:44]
3. How can you and your spouse work together to ensure that your marriage is not just fulfilling personal needs but is also aligned with God's spirit and eternal purposes? [10:05]
4. Consider the role of unconditional commitment in your marriage. Are there any "exit strategies" you need to eliminate to strengthen your covenantal relationship? [14:36]
5. How can you, as a father or husband, take steps to become the spiritual leader of your home, setting an example of faith and commitment for your family? [12:02]
6. What daily choices can you make to ensure that love, forgiveness, and commitment are at the forefront of your marriage, reflecting the eternal love and faithfulness of God? [22:26]
7. Identify one specific way you can incorporate an eternal mindset into your family life, perhaps by raising your children to be world changers for Jesus. What practical steps can you take this week to begin this process? [13:16]

Devotional

Day 1: Unity in Marriage Against Division
In the beginning, God established marriage as a sacred union, a reflection of His love and commitment. However, the enemy has always sought to divide what God has united, as seen in the story of Adam and Eve. Recognizing this spiritual battle helps us understand the importance of unity in marriage and the need to guard against isolation and division. By being aware of the enemy's agenda, couples can actively work towards maintaining unity and harmony in their relationship, seeking God's guidance and strength to overcome challenges. [01:44]

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively guard your marriage against division and isolation today?


Day 2: The Spiritual Commitment of Covenantal Marriage
Marriage can be approached in different ways: casual, contractual, and covenantal. While casual and contractual marriages focus on personal desires and agreements, a covenantal marriage is rooted in a spiritual commitment to God and each other. This approach transcends personal desires and situational agreements, aligning our spirits with God's spirit. It requires a commitment to live with an eternal mindset, honoring God and each other. By choosing a covenantal approach, couples can build a marriage that reflects God's eternal love and faithfulness. [04:43]

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24, ESV)

Reflection: How can you and your spouse deepen your spiritual commitment to each other and to God today?


Day 3: Unconditional Commitment in Marriage
A covenantal marriage is based on unconditional commitment, with no exit strategies. This mirrors our relationship with God, who calls us to a covenant relationship through Jesus' sacrifice. Just as the blood of the lamb protected the Israelites, Jesus' sacrifice covers us, allowing us to build marriages on a foundation of righteousness. This commitment requires us to choose love, forgiveness, and commitment daily, reflecting the eternal love and faithfulness of God. [14:36]

"Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous." (Hebrews 13:4, ESV)

Reflection: What does unconditional commitment look like in your marriage, and how can you embody it today?


Day 4: Living with an Eternal Mindset
Living with an eternal mindset means honoring God and each other in marriage. It involves listening to God's voice and leading our families with faith and example, raising children to be world changers for Jesus. Fathers and husbands are called to be the spiritual leaders of their homes, demonstrating what it means to be a man of God. By focusing on eternal values, couples can build a marriage that not only honors God but also impacts future generations. [13:16]

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2, ESV)

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from temporary concerns to eternal values in your marriage today?


Day 5: Daily Choice of Love and Forgiveness
Love, forgiveness, and commitment in marriage are daily choices. Our marriages and relationships with God should reflect the eternal love and faithfulness of God, not be driven by fleeting emotions or desires. By choosing love and forgiveness daily, couples can build a strong and lasting marriage that honors God and each other. This requires intentionality and a willingness to put aside personal desires for the sake of the relationship. [22:26]

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to choose love and forgiveness in your marriage?

Quotes

"Can I tell you today, one thing we must realize that from the beginning of time when God created man and he created woman, since that time, and we see it through the, through the, through the, all of creation and into the fall of man, that the agenda of the enemy, the scheme of the enemy is to bring division in what God has called to be united." [00:01:44] (22 seconds)


"And so isolation is what the enemy is looking for. He's looking to divide our families and our marriages and redefine what even that means in our culture today. And so this series is all about refocusing on and making our marriage stronger so the enemy cannot divide us. Amen? All right. So in Matthew chapter 19, we even see Jesus speaking. He says, look, what God puts together, let no man divide, no man separate." [00:02:39] (27 seconds)


"And the dangerous place will be, is when, when the body or the soul has dominion over our spirit. That's where the danger comes in. The spirit was created to be in tune with the Father and to have dominion over our flesh and over our emotions. Amen? And so our focus today is that we can live only under the direction of one of them." [00:03:40] (25 seconds)


"This casual approach to marriage is, is the shortest, shortest lifespan of marriages that you'll see in our culture today. And, and because it's so casual, we have normalized alternate forms and alternate definitions of what marriage is. See a casual marriage that's really based upon my flesh and my needs, we then define what marriage is based upon who we want to share our bed with." [00:04:43] (27 seconds)


"The second approach of marriage is really based upon our mind, our soul, our mind, our will, emotions. It's more of a contractual marriage. It's an agreement. And if you are fulfilling my emotional needs, then we'll keep this thing going. If you'll do this for me, then I'll stay in this thing. Right? See, contracts, let's just talk about business contracts or real estate contracts. Most contracts, you need a contract when there is mutual distrust." [00:07:06] (36 seconds)


"And so what you do, you have to understand that, and here's the thing, if there is a person that can fulfill all your needs, you'll find out real quick, it's not just that person. It will be any person that can fulfill your needs. If you're searching for an emotional fulfillment, you'll marry somebody who gives it to you, and as soon as someone else comes by that meets that same needs, you'll just change households. You'll just change relationships." [00:09:19] (27 seconds)


"The idea that our spirit, man, our spiritual approach to marriage is, is that we must be in tune with God so that God can be at the center of our marriage. Here's the thing about marriage. Marriage can't be casual. It cannot be contractual. Because God's called it to be holy. And when it's holy, it's our spirit aligned with God's spirit. It's how our hearts align with God's heart." [00:10:05] (30 seconds)


"A covenantal marriage has unconditional commitments. I'm going to say that one again. I don't want to act like there's not and avoid the fact that there are difficult situations even in this room. There are hurts and there are pains that some of you are going through now and have been through in your past. But can I tell you, but if you're in this room, Jesus is also in this room." [00:14:36] (26 seconds)


"It's not like the contract. You do this for me, I'm in this thing. You violate the agreement, I'm out. It's something that is forever. Therefore, my last point in this approach, there are no exit strategies in a covenantal marriage. Y 'all hear me? There are no exit strategies. There's no back doors, there's no way outs, there's no plan Bs, there are no exit strategies in a covenantal marriage." [00:15:25] (26 seconds)


"See, a covenant is not based on feelings. It's not based on our fleshly desires. A covenant relationship has no... Nothing to do with contracts or agreements. A covenant relationship is forever. See, in the old covenant, in the Old Testament, we see that Israelites, they would take a lamb once a year to celebrate Passover, and during Passover, they had to slaughter the lamb, and they had to come, they took the blood of the lamb, and they allowed the blood to drain into the bucket." [00:25:34] (47 seconds)


"And we see that as the blood was applied to the doorposts, I'm sure you can picture it dripping down, falling all the way down the doorposts, covering every single thing that it was supposed to cover, and we see that foreshadowing of the New Testament, when Jesus, the lamb, the spotless lamb, the perfect sacrifice, he comes, and he puts himself on the cross, and on the cross, his blood flows, covers everything, because there's no remission of sin without the shedding of blood, and at that moment, we see that he has come with blood spilled and cut a covenant with you and with me forever, and at that moment, he provides a way for us to know him." [00:26:34] (47 seconds)


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Transcript
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