Seminar

What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“So “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:6 What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

Marriage is a “great mystery”. (Eph 5:32) We come to the altar as two, and we leave as one! We come to the altar as two, and we leave as one! What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

Today, divorce has become an epidemic! 50% of American marriages end in divorce! 65% of second marriages suffer the same fate! Today, divorce has become an epidemic! 50% of American marriages end in divorce! 65% of second marriages suffer the same fate! What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

Christ’s Exception: “ And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery. ” Matthew 19:9 “ And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery. ” Matthew 19:9 What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“Truly, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.” Acts 17:30 What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

Marriage Experiment says: “I’ll try it out, and I hope it works.” Marriage Commitment says: “I’m making a commitment for life, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make it work!” Marriage Experiment says: “I’ll try it out, and I hope it works.” Marriage Commitment says: “I’m making a commitment for life, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make it work!” What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“My “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed.” Psalm 57:7 What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“Awake, o north wind, and come, o south! Blow upon my garden, That its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden and eat its pleasant fruits.” Song of Solomon 4:16 “Awake, o north wind, and come, o south! Blow upon my garden, That its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden and eat its pleasant fruits.” Song of Solomon 4:16 What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

A garden takes a constant care: thought, time and effort. So does a marriage! A garden takes a constant care: thought, time and effort. So does a marriage! What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

Husband says, “How beautiful you are my darling! Oh how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves, your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead. All beautiful you are my, my darling, there is no flaw in you.” Song of Solomon 4:1,7, NIV Husband says, “How beautiful you are my darling! Oh how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves, your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead. All beautiful you are my, my darling, there is no flaw in you.” Song of Solomon 4:1,7, NIV Words of love: What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

Wife says, “My beloved is white and ruddy, chief among ten thousand. His mouth is most sweet, yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!” Song of Solomon 5:10,16 Wife says, “My beloved is white and ruddy, chief among ten thousand. His mouth is most sweet, yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!” Song of Solomon 5:10,16 Words of love: What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

In addition to words of love, we need the acts of love: a kiss, a card, a gift, a flower –not only on birthday and anniversaries, but on any day of the year! What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

1 Problem 1 2 Feelings 2 Feelings 3 Wants 3 4 “I” Statements 4 “I” Statements 5 Interpreting 5 6 Empathizing 6 7 Mirroring 7 8 “You” Statements 8 “You” Statements 9 Bargaining 9 Col. 4:6 James 1:19 What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself.” Romans 15:1-3 “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself.” Romans 15:1-3 What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

The root of every marital problem is “ self first ” James 4: 1, 2 The solution to each conflict is “ spouse first ” The root of every marital problem is “ self first ” James 4: 1, 2 The solution to each conflict is “ spouse first ” What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“I “I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:19 What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“Jesus “Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” Matthew 19:26 What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

On the sixth day of creation, Adam and Eve were joined together. In Eden, another union was consummated! On the seventh day, Christ and His Sabbath were also united together. In God’s plan, Christ and His Sabbath are united forever. What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

It is sometimes said that Christ and the Sabbath are united in the Old Testament, but divorced in the New! Let us stop at three places where, it is believed a divorce took place. What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

When Christ was Crucified, was the weekly Sabbath crucified with Him? The Cross What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. “Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” Colossians 2:14-17

Before the Savior came in human form, His shadow was the sanctuary and its services. Christ’s “Shadow” What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

This ceremonial system had seven annual holy days like Passover, Pentecost and the Day of Atonement. They occurred once a year and were called Sabbaths. What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. “Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your Sabbath ” Leviticus 23:27,32 “It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your Sabbath ” Leviticus 23:27,32 What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

When Jesus died, this whole system with its animal sacrifices and its annual Sabbaths came to an end. What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“The veil of the temple was torn in two.” Matthew 27:50,51 “The veil of the temple was torn in two.” Matthew 27:50,51 “It is finished!” John 19:30 “It is finished!” John 19:30 What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

No more Candlestick, for Christ is Light of the world! Altar, for Calvary was the altar! Candlestick, for Christ is Light of the world! Altar, for Calvary was the altar! What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

Priest, for Jesus is our High Priest! Lamb, for Christ is the Lamb of God! Passover, for Christ is our Passover! Priest, for Jesus is our High Priest! Lamb, for Christ is the Lamb of God! Passover, for Christ is our Passover! What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

So, at Calvary, there was No Divorce! So, at Calvary, there was No Divorce! The Savior and His Sabbath are still married! And what God has joined Together … And what God has joined Together … What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

There are only eight verses of the New Testament that mention the “first day of the week.” Five of them (Matt. 28:1, Mark 16:2, Mark 16:9, Luke 24:1 & John 20:1) give us the Resurrection story, but tell of no meeting. Let us examine the other three. There are only eight verses of the New Testament that mention the “first day of the week.” Five of them (Matt. 28:1, Mark 16:2, Mark 16:9, Luke 24:1 & John 20:1) give us the Resurrection story, but tell of no meeting. Let us examine the other three. What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.” John 20:19 Why were the disciples assembled? “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.” John 20:19 Why were the disciples assembled? What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“On “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.” 1Corinthians 1Corinthians 16:1,2 Was this a meeting? What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“Now “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” Acts 20:7 What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

The early Church was “breaking bread” any day, anywhere. (Acts 2:46) This was a Saturday night farewell meeting. On Sunday, Paul continued his journey. The early Church was “breaking bread” any day, anywhere. (Acts 2:46) This was a Saturday night farewell meeting. On Sunday, Paul continued his journey. What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

The sanctity of Sunday is not found in Scripture! Emperor Constantine issued the first Sunday law on March 7, 321, AD What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

When the mighty Roman Empire lost its power, the Church took that power! But instead of making wrongs right, the Church called wrong “right”! She legalized Sunday worship! When the mighty Roman Empire lost its power, the Church took that power! But instead of making wrongs right, the Church called wrong “right”! She legalized Sunday worship! What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“Question: Have you any other way of proving that the Church has power to institute festivals of precept? The church’s statement What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“Answer: Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her; she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.” Rev. Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism, p.174. “Answer: Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her; she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.” Rev. Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism, p.174. What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

So, after Christ’s resurrection, there was no divorce! The Savior and His Sabbath are still married! And what God has joined together… So, after Christ’s resurrection, there was no divorce! The Savior and His Sabbath are still married! And what God has joined together… What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8 What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” Romans 3:31 “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” Romans 3:31 What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“ I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts. ” Hebrews 8:10 “ I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts. ” Hebrews 8:10 “ I “ I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts. ” Hebrews 8:10 What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

Because God has written His law in my heart and I obey… No more I obey the Law of Jesus because I'm saved by the Grace of Jesus What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce StealingLyingDisobedienceAlcoholAdultery Bowing to idols FetingSwearingSabbath-breaking

When I’m saved by the grace of Jesus. I keep the Sabbath of Jesus. What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

When God recreates this earth, there will still be No Divorce! The Savior and His Sabbath will be united forever! What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

“‘For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,’ says the LORD, ‘so shall your descendants and your name remain. “‘For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,’ says the LORD, ‘so shall your descendants and your name remain. What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,’ says the LORD.” Isaiah 66:22,23 And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,’ says the LORD.” Isaiah 66:22,23 What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

That will be God’s Happy Family eternally! What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce

Together Forever! Sabbath and Savior! Sabbath Commitment! Together Forever! Sabbath and Savior! Sabbath Commitment! What God Has Joined Together! Six Steps to Prevent Divorce