HONOUR YOUR MARRIAGE

Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 7:1-5

MEMORISE
Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge (Hebrews 13:4)

EXPOSITION
Marriage is a union of all lifetime covenant between a man and a woman. It is a gift from God and a sacred institution that should be treated honourably among all Christians (Mal. 2:14). After all, God instituted and ordained it at creation (Gen. 2:18). God ordained marriage and sex within marriage relationship. Sexual intercourse is the deepest and most sensitive aspect of the marriage covenant. Sex makes the man and woman one body and soul (1 Cor. 6:16-18). The sexual union should be within the bond of marriage covenant relationship. To engage in sex outside marriage is sin and disastrous. For the sacredness of marriage, God cannot help but judge such people. You dishonor God and your marriage by having sexual relationship outside of the marriage covenant.

According to our memory Scripture, God will judge the fornicators (single people who have sex) and adulterers (married people who have sex with people other than their spouses). God punishes pre-marital sex among the singles and extramarital sex among the married, immediately, with diseases, poverty, etc., and ultimately in hell (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Eph. 5:5-6).

To avoid pre-marital sex, the single brothers and sisters in the Lord should be strongly determined not to allow their fiancées/fiancés to see their nakedness before their wedding nights. To avoid extramarital sex, be resolute in the Lord never to defile your marriage bed (Job. 31:1; 1 Cor. 7:1-5; Heb. 13:4).

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, help me to always stay away from casual and illicit sexual relationships.
2. Lord, grant all our single brothers and sisters grace to keep their bodies holy till the night of their wedding day.
3. Lord, give the married people enough grace to be faithful to their mates in marriage.

Extra Text: Job 4:9-6:23, Acts19:26-20:6

Courtesy: Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide