Marriage undefiled
 
Introduction

Marriage was divinely instituted by God long before man fall into sin. In this lesson, we will reflect on holiness of marriage.
Body
  1. God made everything beautiful
    1. Including marriage. Marriage was divinely instituted and hence not to taken lightly. Marriage came before the fall of man in the garden
      1. Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
      2. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
    2. God instituted marriage before the fall.
      1. Genesis 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
  2. Physical intimacy was God's design
    1. Hence, it is vital for married couples to spend time together. Physical intimacy builds physical, emotional, and spiritual bonding.
      1. Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
    2. Paul also affirms that marriage and physical intimacy are considered holy.
      1. Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
  3. Unfaithfulness in marriage causes loss of excellence
    1. Reuben lost his double portion and excellence because he defiled his father's bed
      1. Genesis 49:3-4 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
      2. Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
  4. Joseph rose to power and excellence by keeping himself undefined
    1. Joseph ran from temptation because he feared God and respected God's rules around marriage.
      1. Genesis 39:8-9 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
      2. There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
  5. Build your marriage
    1. It will bring satisfaction and stability. Children will grow strong and holy in Godly homes. Spending time to build marriage is a wise thing.
      1. 1 Corinthians 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
 
Conclusion
May God bless your marriage and let the children grow in a loving, Christian, and Godly homes.
 
Self-reflection questions
  1. Was marriage instituted before the fall of man?
  2. Can believers commit fornication or adultery?
  3. Does fornication affect excellence? Give an example from the bible about one who lost excellence.
  4. Can careers be affected by unholiness in marriage?
  5. What does bible say about Children born to believers?