Only in the Lord

 (Sermon Notes)  By Warren Zehrung 2/13/2021

 

 

Why does God give Christians the admonition to marry – “Only in the Lord?”

With the scattered condition of the Church today – some people say it is nearly impossible for a Christian to find another Christian to marry.  It is true, we Church members are few and far between.

 

Why does God give Christians the command to marry only another converted person?  Brethren, there is no greater challenge than building a Godly marriage is a God-less world.

 

Today we will take a look at what God intends for His Church.  We will take a look at what God knows is best and right for His people.  The Title of today’s sermon comes from this verse:

 

1Corinthians 7:39  The wife is bound [by the law of God] as long as her husband lives; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty [free] to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

 

And likewise for the husband.  – marry whom he will; only in the Lord.  Today we will look into the Bible – “A little here, a little there” – to see why Christians are given this Scriptural caution to marry only another converted Christian.

 

That is what “only in the Lord” means.  It means that Baptized, converted, Christians, in God’s Church can marry –  only another Baptized, converted, Christian, within God’s Church.

 

God’s demand is that His people be holy as He is Holy.  This is a principle that is found throughout the holy Scriptures.  We are not to make exceptions to God’s express will:

 

Some people will ask, “Is that really a hard and fast rule that God has given us?”  Shouldn’t we ease up and make some exceptions.  Isn’t that some kind of old timey rule?  There are some attractive and well-to-do people out there!  Aren’t we rather sophisticated these days?  Aren’t we smart enough to avoid the pitfalls?  Shouldn’t we be allowed to judge another person’s character – and decide for ourselves?  Aren’t we supposed to let our light shine? – being a light to the world.

 

Brethren, human reasoning – carnal thinking – can lead us into all kinds of traps.  It is God who says that believers should only marry other believers:   Absolutely!

 

Why will some people try to reason around God’s perfect way by saying:  Isn’t this kind of like saying we are better than other folks?

Isn’t this like looking down on other people?  Isn’t this kind of un-Christian?!  Aren’t we supposed to love everybody?  What if we didn’t mean to fall in love – and it just happened, and you are deeply in love?  Couldn’t God just work it out that way?  Wouldn’t it be okay if two people really love one another?  Doesn’t, “Love conquer all?”

 

Brethren, God wrote the manual on marriage.

Here is the principle that God gives us:

 

2Corinthians 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness?  And what communion hath light with darkness?

 

You might say, “We are a ‘Christian’ nation, right?”  Trying to apply the label. “Christian,” does not make it so.  Think again!

 

What does the archaic word, ‘yoked’ mean?  It comes from two oxen with a collar (yoke) pulling a plow – or a wagon.  The oxen must be a matched pair; they must be equal in strength – or else the weaker ox is choked when the pulling begins.  “Equally yoked” together means you can pull together.

 

One cannot prefer Sunday, and the other the Sabbath Day.  One cannot prefer a pork chop, and the other a hamburger.  One cannot prefer Christmas, and the other the Feast of Tabernacles.  And I have not scratched the surface on our diametrically opposed customs and beliefs as compared to the world.

 

We have come out of this present evil world – and left a lot of old habits behind.  Marriage to an unbeliever is difficult at best, and severely harsh, if not impossible, at worst.

 

An unequally yoked marriage can be so demanding on the human spirit as to be unbearable.  One or the other partner is being choked at every turn of life.     It cannot be avoided.

 

That is because in being bound together in marriage, lives are interwoven and intricately tied together.  Lives are interlaced by our goals, desires, moral values, doctrines, principles and beliefs.

Lives are totally interlinked by a common faith and hope.

 

In marriage, converted men and women’s lives are strengthened by a common faith and hope.  They can pull together when equally yoked.

However, when a couple is not married ‘in the Lord,’ the tendency is to pull in different directions – because they are ‘unequally yoked.’

 

Deuteronomy means the second giving of the Law:

 

Deuteronomy 7:1  When the LORD thy God shall bring you into the land whither thou go to possess it [the Promised Land], and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;

 

That was a formidable conquest to undertake…

 

Deuteronomy 7:2  And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them:

 

Utterly destroy them,’ – only God could issue a directive like that!  This concept of a nation who knows its Lord God and Deliverer was so necessary that God called for the genocide of the foreign nations which remained in the holy land.  That is how vile those religious practices are to God.  That should give us some idea of how important it is to God for His people to be holy and set apart from the world.

 

Deuteronomy 20:16  But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breathes:

 

Deuteronomy 20:17  But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:

 

Why?  Because, God’s demand is that His people be holy as He is Holy.

 

Deuteronomy 20:18  That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.

 

Sadly, ancient Israel did not carry out God’s instructions, but adopted many of the foreign false-god belief systems in the land.  That should be an object lesson for us.  That disobedience – to follow God’s will – cost Israel a great deal.  They were cast out of the Holy Land – and carried away into captivity.

 

You might say, that would never happen to me – my heart cannot be turned.  How do you think it came about that everyone in our nation of America has turned to Easter and the doctrine of an immortal soul – and many other false gods?  It is obvious, the heart of this nation has been turned from God.  King Solomon – the wisest man who ever lived – also thought he was smart enough not to let his foreign wives turn his heart.

 

1Kings 11:4  For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

 

1Corinthians 15:33  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

 

God tells us clearly that not everyone is subject to God’s mercy.  Our country has come to the point that we think that we should show mercy to drug traffickers, abortionists, radical terrorists, murderers…the immoral, and God-less elements of society.

 

“No Mercy” – Sometime God doesn’t sound very “Christian” does He.  Never mind that these foreigners, Hittites, Amorites, and Canaanites, etc., had those most blood-thirsty, savage, rituals that were an abomination to God.  Not to mention their false-gods, false worship, their customs, diseases, destructive practices, and hatreds destroyed them, and would have destroyed God’s people.  It should have gone without saying!

 

Deuteronomy 7:3  Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; your daughter you shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

 

Why not make marriages with them?  Because it will ruin everything!  And, you will lose your children by those abominations to Paganism.

 

Deuteronomy 7:4  For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

 

Ancient Israel was just exactly like the people we know today as everyday people.  They liked good food, fun music, exciting customs…

 

Israel knew better – – – – and they did it anyway.  They reasoned that since they knew the consequences, they could avoid the consequences.

 

Do we marry only in the Lord because we are better than other people?    Not at all!   More than anyone else, we Church of God brethren recognize our weak and sinful nature.

 

Deuteronomy 7:5  But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.

 

Deuteronomy 7:6  For you art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen you to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

 

Deuteronomy 7:7  The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

 

Brethren, let me remind you that America is great today for one reason:  Because of the oath God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

 

Deuteronomy 7:8  But because the LORD loved you, and because He would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

 

Deuteronomy 7:9  Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations;

 

Nehemiah 13:3  Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. [of the Ammonites and the Moabites]

 

Ezra 9:1  Now when these things were done, the princes came to me [Ezra], saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

 

Ezra 9:2  For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

 

Ezra 9:3  And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.

 

Malachi 2:11  Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness [the sanctuary] of the LORD which He loved, and has married the daughter of a strange god.

 

The men who absolutely knew better did it – the Priests – the professors – the lawyers – the scholars – the ministers.

 

Exodus 34:14  For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

 

God wants us to walk the straight and narrow – not only for our own good – but for His own name’s sake.

 

Malachi 2:12  The LORD will cut off the man that does this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offers an offering unto the LORD of hosts.

 

Where Israel failed to eradicate the God-less nations from their lands, God will not fail to purify the earth for the Kingdom of God.

 

Revelation 21:7  He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

 

Revelation 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

 

We marry only in the Lord so that we remain a holy people.

 

But, we reason foolishly:  “I know that Sunday keeping is pagan – I only do it for my spouse to make peace, and be sociablesurely God will approve of that good intention!”

 

Brethren, you cannot have it both ways – one foot in God’s Church, and the other foot in the world.

 

1Corinthians 10:20  But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

 

Brethren, Paul was not distracted by things like Presidential elections and Super Bowl games.  He had time to think about things like mixed marriages, Passover and Easter.  Paul works those three concepts into the next verse!

 

1Corinthians 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table [Passover], and of the table of devils. [Easter]

 

Brethren, this year Easter falls the Day after Passover.  In a mixed marriage you would be hard pressed not to have your nose rubbed in Easter.  You might ask, “What could possibly go wrong if I allow some Easter eggs, and Chocolate Easter Bunnies around my house?”

 

“God knows my heart – He’ll understand the bind that I’m in if I appear unreasonable.”  Does God understand – let’s see?

 

1Corinthians 10:22  Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?  Are we stronger than He is?

 

God has a very good reason for His rules.  God is the author of peace, but God’s Peace is different from man’s peace.   (1Corinthians 14:33, 40)   Marrying only in the Lord, is not to hurt us, but to help us – toward God’s Kingdom.  It is for our security and protection – because God loves us!  God’s will is that we be protected – having peace of mind in a marriage of love and harmony.

 

God instituted marriage.  Marriage is of God and for man.  God alone makes the rules of marriage.  God knows that some things don’t work well together…  Some things don’t mix well…  Like oil and water – no matter how hard you try to shake them together they remain separate.

 

2Corinthians 6:15  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believes with an infidel? (unbeliever)

 

2Corinthians 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?  For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

 

God emphasizes that His people are not to be any part of this world…

 

2Corinthians 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,

 

Only God has the prerogative to bring about an unequally yoked marriage by calling one out of a marriage.  He does so by calling an unbeliever to His truth.  He does so for His purposes – even His long range objectives – that is our faith.

 

Romans 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!

 

Yes – those marriages exist – where one mate is called and the other mate is not.  God tells us not to create the mix.  A mix marriage comes about when God calls a previously unconverted person.

 

There is a clear distinction between a converted person –i.e., “in the Lord,” and an un-converted person – who does not know the will of God.  The converted Christian must do everything possible – make every sacrifice – to make their marriage a good one in God’s sight.  Only God knows who is able to live up to His high standards in a mixed marriage.

 

1Corinthians 7:13  And the [converted] woman who has a husband that believes not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

 

Why?  Because her Godly life will testify to her husband that something incredible has taken place in her life!  Her Christian living example will cause her husband to be set apart – take notice of the wife’s faith and sacrifices.  And vice versa:  It works for wives and husbands.  It is God’s choice who He will call.

 

1Corinthians 7:14  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified [made holy, set apart] by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

 

It is a beautiful thing when a change takes place and the unbelieving spouse becomes sanctified.  The basis for a wonderful, Godly marriage, has been established in that case.

 

As Christians, each and every one of us has made a lifetime commitment to serve God.  That commitment to God – is not possible for an unbeliever.  That is why we marry only in the Lord.

 

God will provide in every case:  “But now are they holy,” means these children are growing up in a Christian home.

 

True Christianity is difficult – that is why we count the cost before being baptized.  True Christianity is not easy, it is an arduous and demanding life.  True Christianity is impossible without the help and motivation of God’s Holy Spirit.

 

There cannot be any spiritual conversation between a husband and a wife when only one is living by faith.  If the unbelieving spouse finds God’s way to be too restrictive, too constraining, too difficult, from what they have been used to in the world – they may chafe at what they believe to be limiting and obstructive to their lifestyle.

 

Paul realized how difficult a mixed marriage is – where one mate is converted, and the other is not.  That is why God tells us not to ever originate such an arrangement.  The unconverted spouse may decide that their Christian mate has changed too much – and they are not going to put up with it.

 

1Corinthians 7:15  But if the unbelieving depart [the marriage relationship], let him depart.  A [converted] brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

 

Marriage partners cannot center their lives together around Christian living when one is not led by God’s holy Spirit.  So, if the unbelieving departs, let him depart.

 

When an unconverted spouse departs the marriage relationship, a Christian brother or a sister is no longer bound by that marriage covenant – because it takes two to sustain a marriage covenant agreement.  The marriage can become untenable when it is not possible to set spiritual goals together.

 

Brethren, keep in mind that there is a tremendous test placed upon the converted Christian when this unequally yoked situation arises.  It is required of the converted spouse to do absolutely everything possible; and make every sacrifice to bring peace and harmony into the mix in order to make the marriage work.

 

1Corinthians 7:16  For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

 

Stay in that situation – it is by God’s design.  God knows very well what kind of dilemma young people are facing.  God is working in a unique and special with every person He calls.

 

People – especially young people – ask themselves – “Who will I Marry?”  Here’s an excuse for violating God’s rule “to marry only in the Lord,” that you may have heard before:

 

“He’s not in the Church – but he / she is nicer than the guys or gals in the Church…”

First of all — shame on us in the church if that is how we come across.

 

Secondly – when someone is courting – they usually put their best foot forward – not exactly laying all their cards on the table – not showing all their character traits.  Courtship is a time to have your eyes wide open.  There is definitely a way to tell if a person is converted or not

 

Start with the holy things of God:  Ask yourself, “How do they treat God’s holy Sabbath Day?”  Do they believe that fasting on Atonement is important to God?  You can go down through all the doctrines of Jesus Christ in Hebrews 6:1-2.

 

Hebrews 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

 

Hebrews 6:2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

 

But, a Godly Marriage Relationship goes much deeper than that; – and it goes to the heart of why converted women should marry converted men, and vice versa.  Christian conversion is a life-long process – that’s a long time.  It comes down to being able to live your Faith not only in Peace – but in an environment of spiritual growth.

 

2Peter 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.

 

2Peter 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

In marriage we must be growing, and helping our spouse to also be headed for the Kingdom of God.  A main purpose of marriage is to nurture one another for the Kingdom of God.

 

It is a spiritual attribute – to be able to give until there is nothing else to give.  A converted person makes spiritual sacrifices – not putting themselves first – but the Way of God is primary in their lives.

 

A believing Christian is always willing to be forgiving.  True forgiveness is a spiritual act.  A non-believer is not able to forgive with the same fervor and feeling as a converted person.  That is just another reason that God calls for spiritual compatibility in a marriage.

 

Responsible parents watch out for their inexperienced children.  Out of love and concern, parents set strict guidelines for the protection of their children.  Once a young person “falls in Love with someone in the world – it is too late – they will not be spiritually rational at that point – the trouble will come.

 

Israel was coming out of the wilderness into the promised land.  Israel – like a young virgin had every expectation of a life of happiness.

 

Joshua 23:11  Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.  [well, doesn’t everyone love God? – not in obedience]

 

God tells Israel, “Marry only in the Lord.”  God warns Israel not to become unequally yoked….

 

Joshua 23:12  Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these [pagan] nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:

 

God says that if you become unequally yoked – He will not bail you out.

 

Joshua 23:13  Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.

 

People in the world – just don’t know.  In all fairness, an unconverted person thinks he is the same as everyone else.  And– yet, being un-yielded to God’s more perfect way – he chooses to serve himself rather than God.  (Same for young women)

 

Romans 8:7  The carnal mind [an unconverted person] is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

 

He can’t help it – In his mind he says “It seems to me that this or that would be best” – but God is not a part of his equation.  True Christianity is a WAY OF LIFE.  It is the WAY that will bring greatest happiness at this time, and bring ETERNAL life in God’s Kingdom.

 

It is the way of SURRENDER and OBEDIENCE to God and His

commands, and of spiritually growing each day more like God that we may finally be BORN into His family and kingdom.  An unconverted husband or wife is going to oppose the WAY OF LIFE God reveals.

 

So what you end up with is the unconverted person bring the difficulties into the marriage and the converted person carrying the heavy burden of spiritual sacrifices – while the unconverted person is not concerned about moving toward God.  The status quo is okay in his mind.

 

Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived.  He saw cause and effect.  He really thought he could beat the odds.  He said to himself.  I’ll enjoy the pleasure of love with these foreign women – but I’ll be true to God, also.  “I’ll control the situation – and stay close to God.”  Solomon did not grasp or believe the negatively spiritual ramifications of sin.  He really convinced himself that he could do both – please God and play with fire.

 

1Kings 11:1  But king Solomon loved many strange [foreigners who did not know the True God] women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

 

1Kings 11:2  Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon cleaved unto these in love.

 

“They will turn away your heart.”  Because we retain much of our carnal nature, we say, “I have an eternal love of God and this beautiful woman, and they will not turn away my heart away.

 

They said they would try to get off on Saturday

They said they would try to keep the Sabbath,

They said they would try to …try to Go to the Feast

They have never lied to me

I know their word is good…

I’m sure it will all work out…

I’ll pray for God to bless it…

 

But, God said, Ye shall not go in to them.

 

1Kings 11:3  And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

 

1Kings 11:4  For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

 

Yes, David got in trouble with God – but he repented bitterly:

 

Psalm 51:11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

 

Psalm 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right Spirit within me.

 

Solomon had a wrong spirit in him.  Solomon had David’s example in front of him and thought he could beat the odds.

 

1Kings 11:5  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth [God of Easter] the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

 

1Kings 11:6  And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.

 

1Kings 11:7  Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

 

1Kings 11:8  And likewise did he for all his [700+300] strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

 

This is written for us, brethren!

 

1Kings 11:9  And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

 

1Kings 11:10  And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.

 

1Kings 11:11  Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.

 

Solomon didn’t heed God when God said not to be unequally yoked.  Only God is wise.  Now, God calls some people into this difficult situation for his purposes – but he tells us not to make that choice on our own.  That is God’s choice alone.

 

God’s rule, “marry only in the Lord,” about not being unequally yoked is a great blessing designed to help us live the happy and abundant life that God intends.  It is too easy to be inundated – get in over our heads.

 

Ask any person in a mixed marriage about keeping the Sabbath alone, praying alone, fasting alone, Bible studying alone – preparing or going to the Feast alone, visiting sick brethren alone… Ask them what it is like to have Christmas right in your home – mistletoe and decorations or worse…

 

Ephesians 5:11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

 

Ephesians 5:12  For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

 

You must think about that before you marry someone in Satan’s demonic world.  Not to mention trying to instill Godly principles in the children all by yourself.  The unconverted won’t see a major problem with the children dating outside of their churches.  The unconverted won’t know to be cautious.  What a great blessing it is when both the husband and the wife are converted.  That is God’s intent.

 

Our young people need our guidance, experience, wisdom, and knowledge of God’s word – to see the pitfalls that lie unseen before them.  You know what happens when young people date?  They will find someone they like.  You know what happens when young people find someone they like.  They end up getting married.

 

In the same way converted and unconverted are told by God not to marry – they should also not date.  Thy are just asking for trouble.

 

Many will think that is a puritan view and outdated – and will watch their children go through pain and divorce, and worse… Young People should date other Young People with the same values and morals – those with the same backgrounds…  It best for our children to date other believers.  God will provide a suitable mate.  God will provide:

 

Young people will sometimes loose heart – saying, there is no one for me.  “I’ll never meet the right person.”  “I’ll never be able to get married.”

 

Brethren, there are thousands out there – praying, fasting, keeping themselves, and God says.  There are 7,000 who have not bowed their knee to Baal.

 

I can’t tell you how many times we have seen the perfect mate – suddenly appear.  (not just for young people – but for older members as well.)  The young man and the young woman both say, “Where have you been all my life?”

 

The answer is – they were in association with other converted brethren.  As godly young men and women – they were keeping themselves unspotted from the world.  God was saving them for each other.     Preparing them for each other.  God has promised – because He knows our needs.

 

God will supply the need.  What young people need to be doing is preparing themselves.  You know the old joke about the man looking for the Perfect wife – and then he found her – She was perfect in every way…  Unfortunately – she was looking for a Perfect husband.  (Ha Ha)

 

There is a good point here.  Each must be working on, and preparing themselves to be Godly Christians.  (That is Our First Responsibility)  That comes before preaching the Gospel to others – as well.  Prayer:

 

“O God, strengthen me, guide me, help me by your Spirit and power, lead me to thy will.”

 

Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

God will take care of the rest.  God made us male and female.  It is God who ordained marriage.  God intended that young people come to know each other, fall in love, and marry – that is a right and proper part of God’s Plan.

 

The danger and different approach of an unequally yoked marriage presents the disparity and incompatible focus that resides within partners of different faiths and beliefs.

 

The unity and love within a Godly, Christian marriage reflects the oneness of Christ and the Church… The harmony between Jesus and His chaste Bride.

 

Dating, Courtship and marriage are proper.  It is the way young people make a wise choice of a Christian life partner.

 

 

Christians should exercise great care in selecting the persons whom they date and marry.  God is bringing many sons to Glory.

 

He has given us His instruction for selecting our lifetime mate – it is:

 

Only in the Lord.

 

End: Only in the Lord