What is it about Marriage? Socrates says, “By all means marry. If you get a good wife, you’ll become happy. If you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher.” Apostle Paul says, “But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.” Solomon says, It is better to live in a desert land than with a contentious and vexing woman. Socrates, a renowned Greek Philosopher, Paul the great Apostle, and Solomon the wisest man, all warn us in some way about the challenges of marriage.

Socrates, a renowned Greek Philosopher, Paul the great Apostle, and Solomon the wisest man, all warn us in some way about the challenges of marriage.

Marriage: Happiness Not Included Why did your wife marry you? • I believe the benefit my wife married me for was How am I demonstrating God’s rulership over me by how I treat my wife? Here’s an example: • Why did you marry your wife? The benefit I married my wife for was Here are three specific ways God uses/is using my wife to make me holy like Him: • 1. • 2. • 3. Why do you and your wife remain married? The benefit we get from staying together is How am I demonstrating God’s graciousness toward me by how I treat my wife? Here’s an example: • Copyright © 2016 Marriage 4 Ministry

MARRIAGE BENEFITS Basic Protestant Vows "I, ___, take thee, ___, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge myself to you."

MARRIAGE BENEFITS Basic Protestant Vows "I, ___, take thee, ___, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, to bring you the happiness you have longed for, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge myself to you."

MARRIAGE: HAPPINESS NOT INCLUDED EPHESIANS “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;” Ephesians 5:22-28 NASB

God created marriage for husbands to demonstrate His grace. MARRIAGE: HAPPINESS NOT INCLUDED God created marriage for husbands to demonstrate His grace. As Recipients of His Grace (2:1, 8) As Transmitters of His Grace (4:7) As Instruments of His Grace (5:26) Nobody deserves the kind of love Ephesians 5 commands us to give to our wives. Nobody outside of Christ

God created marriage for husbands to demonstrate His holiness. MARRIAGE: HAPPINESS NOT INCLUDED God created marriage for husbands to demonstrate His holiness. Loving with a holy love (Ep.5:25) Facilitating holy living(5:26-28) Defending a holy union ( 5:31)

God created marriage for husbands to demonstrate His ruler-ship. MARRIAGE: HAPPINESS NOT INCLUDED God created marriage for husbands to demonstrate His ruler-ship. As Federal Head ( Eph 5:23-24; 1 Cor.11:3) As Spiritual Head (Eph. 5:26, 27) As Responsible Head (Eph. 6:4;1 Tim.2:13,14; 5:12)

Benefit #3 : To demonstrate Christ– God’s Rulership over me! Marriage: Happiness Not Included Why did your wife marry you? • I believe the benefit my wife married me for was How am I demonstrating God’s rulership over me by how I treat my wife? Here’s an example: Benefit #3 : To demonstrate Christ– God’s Rulership over me! • Why did you marry your wife? The benefit I married my wife for was Here are three specific ways God uses/is using my wife to make me holy like Him: • 1. • 2. • 3. Why do you and your wife remain married? The benefit we get from staying together is How am I demonstrating God’s graciousness toward me by how I treat my wife? Here’s an example: Benefit #2 : To demonstrate Christ –God’s Holiness in me! Benefit #1 : To demonstrate Christ– God’s Grace through me! • Copyright © 2016 Marriage 4 Ministry