Series#1: REALationship; "Marriage WOW"

20120205 Sunday Celebration Church [with Britta]
Series#1: REALationship; "Marriage WOW"
By Pastor Joe Champion

Nothing is real until you are in a relationship
Be real in a relationship to God
Be real in a relationship to People
Be real in a relationship to your spouse
He who is in the Light loves his brother
You cannot love God and hates your brother/sister [spouse]
Relationship is God’s way of testing us-if we are true to Him

Phases in Marriage
1. Wow Phase-Friendship and Courtship [!]
2. Vow Phase-Making a promise [.]
3. How Phase-Questioning [?]

Marriage is a covenant
Welfare of the spouse is the priority-this creates reciprocity [symbiotic relationship]
In our modern culture, not all normal is good
Relationship between God and Man – a model of relationship [fire concerning marriage]
Be on fire for God
Be on fire for your spouse
When you say "I Do" – you keep it until the end of time
When you say "I Do" – you keep the fire burning
When you say "I Do" – that means till eternity [forever]

Marriage
    keep the fire burning
    keep putting fuel
    put wood/fuel everyday [praises, encouragement, listening, affection, concern, provision]
    Fire-always burning at the altar

WOW
    Beginning of Maturity
    Keep the WOW-No death of relationship
    Keep the WOW-relationship never grows old
    First Love feeling-let it be forever [keep it the same]
    Keep the WOW no matter what
    WOW-keep the relationship filled with excitement
    When feeling low/empty, go back to the WOW phase [find it again if it is gone]

VOW
    You promised-so you do it
    A covenant-no storm can destroy because you made a commitment
    Vow is not a contract-it is a promise [covenant]

HOW
    Avoid the HOW Phase
    Avoid questioning
    Marriage was given to both of you-endure it
    Be willing to change and admit fault
    Be willing to forgive and then forget
    Let go everyday-don’t look back

Principles of Marriage
    1. Marriage is designed to be forever
    2. Man is the leader in marriage [be an example]
    3. Man answers to God
    4. Wife submits to the husbands

Purpose of Marriage
    1. To create a family
    2. To procreate [produce offspring]
    3. To expand the family of God
    4. Sex
    5. To glorify God

"Love/keep your spouse because you glorify God in doing so".