1. Genesis 2:24 [By Ron Halbrook]

2. 2

3. 3 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Gen. 2

4. 4 Introduction: 2.Seek to better understand this gift: What God did in the beginning Includes the gift of children Means two friends in love Permanent relationship Ordained of God as holy & honorable

5. 5 Introduction: 1.Marriage is God’s gift to man & woman 2.Seek to better understand this gift 3.The better we understand it, the more we value it: Show God we are thankful! Fulfill our duties to God & to our mates! Cultivate the relationship!

6. 6 I. In the Beginning

7. 7 Gen. 1

8. 8 In God’s Image GOD GOD: Father, Son, Holy Spirit Spirit Intelligence Moral choice Emotion Fellowship GOD GOD: Father, Son, Holy Spirit Spirit Intelligence Moral choice Emotion Fellowship MAN MAN: Male, Female Spirit Intelligence Moral choice Emotion Fellowship MAN MAN: Male, Female Spirit Intelligence Moral choice Emotion Fellowship

9. 9 I. In the Beginning

10. 10 Gen. 2

11. 11 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Gen. 2

12. 12 I. In the Beginning C. Cultivate the Garden of Marriage!

13. 13 A. God Ordained Birth & Nurturing of Children in Marriage Child needs father & mother Deepens fellowship of marriage Enriches character of parents Perpetuates mankind II. The Gift of Children

14. 14 II. The Gift of Children

15. 15 Ps. 127:3-5 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

16. 16 II. Gift of Children

17. 17 Eccl. 4:9-12

18. 18 III. Friends in Love

19. 19 7 Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases [NKJV]. Song of Sol. 2:7

20. 20 III. Friends in Love

21. 21 Song of Sol. 8:6-7 6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned [scorned, NIV ]. Remember Irrevocable Eternal flame Indestructible Priceless

22. 22 III. Friends in Love

23. 23 22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. Prov. 18:22

24. 24 III. Friends in Love

25. 25 24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Prov. 18:24

26. 26 III. Friends in Love

27. 27 20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Prov. 13:20

28. 28 III. Friends in Love

29. 29 17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Prov. 27:17

30. 30 IV. Permanent

31. 31 Mal. 2:13-16

32. 32 Mal. 2:13-16

33. 33 Mal. 2:13-16

34. 34 IV. Permanent

35. 35 Matt. 19:3-9

36. 36 Matt. 19:3-9

37. 37 C. “Except It Be for Fornication” Porneia: Unlawful Sexual Intercourse in General Fornication Including:  Harlotry, Prostitution  Adultery  Incest  Homosexual acts  Unlawful marriages  All such “‘sexual intercourse’ in gen. without more precise definition” (Kittel, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament VI:584, 587)

38. 38 IV. Permanent

39. 39 Matt. 19:4-5

40. 40 IV. Permanent

41. 41 Rom. 7:2-3

42. 42 IV. Permanent

43. 43 Matt. 19:3-9

44. 44 IV. Permanent

45. 45 Mal. 2:16

46. 46 Matt. 19:9

47. 47 IV. Permanent

48. 48 Rom. 1:26-27

49. 49 V. Marriage Holy, Honorable

50. 50 4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Heb. 13:4

51. 51 V. Marriage Holy, Honorable

52. 52 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Eph. 5:22-33

53. 53 V. Marriage Holy, Honorable

54. 54 Col. 3:18-21

55. 55 V. Marriage Holy, Honorable

56. 56 Conclusion: 1. Cultivate the Garden of Marriage!

57. 57 Conclusion: 2. It Is Time for Our Nation to Repent— Or Face God’s Judgment!

58. 58

59. 59 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jn. 3:16

60. 60

61. 61 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38

62. 62

63. 63 2 Thess. 1:7-9