The Biblical View on Singleness, Marriage and Divorce

Harvest podcasts featuring Pastor Greg Laurie are brought to you by harvest partners to receive Pastor Greg free online daily devotions or to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org hey let's turn in our Bibles to Matthew chapter 5 the title of the message is the biblical worldview on singleness marriage and divorce a teacher of fourth grade Sunday school class was going to give a talk on merit.

So he turned to the class and says, what does God say about marriage little boy lifted up, and then he called on him and the boys said father forgive them for they know not what they do. He can understand what he might've thought that because there are so many marriage and even more tragically marriages that end in divorce. It was J.

Paul Getty, one of the richest men. Whoever said I would give half of my fortune, but you think I would give my entire fortune for one happy marriage. I don't think he ever found it. Have you how many of you are happily married razor.

A good way.

Let me ask a question to the vessel for how many of your married razor. Now how many of you are happily married uncle Kate Goguen. How many of you are single, how many of you who are single weeks or you don't have this thing that's called being too eager. That's why you're still single. How many of you are single, but are you are single but wish you were married razor. Okay, how many of you were married which you were still single rate so all go do it. Marriage and divorce. What is the Bible of the say what is the biblical world view.

I speak with some experience in this topic for two primary reasons. Number one. I know little bit about divorce.

I haven't been divorce but my mother was married and divorced. Seven. Talk I've seen divorce up close and personal. And it ain't pretty. In fact it was that very thing that may be determined. When I found the right girl to have a marriage that would work number two by God's grace. My wife and I have been married now for 36 year so we thank God for that.

He hates it when I say this, she doesn't look like she's 30, much less being married for 36 years know if it would assess how love you guys been married and we tell them how long they look like we came from another planet. What how is anyone married them along our people are married longer even than us, but I want to talk about what the Bible has to say about this topic because we need a biblical worldview here, not the secular worldview. I hope you're not looking to celebrity culture for your cues and how to have a successful marriage, they can keep a relationship together, much less a marriage.

We don't even have to go looking for the information you're just in the market and checking out and there on the cover of us and people of the latest hook up or break up and they happen so rapidly beginning to keep track of them all know this secular culture is very little to say on the topic, but the Bible has a lot to say on how we can have a successful marriage, why my bringing up the topic of divorce as well because is working to be looking here in Matthew Bible see that Jesus dealt with that I was we could take the word divorce and strike it from our vocabulary. But of course it is a reality but I do believe this weblog should be a padlock. Let me repeat that weblog should be a padlock when you make that commitment to that woman to that man should stand by it for your entire lifetime.

However, there are times when frankly, a marriage cannot survive in the Bible makes allowances. That's what we need to take our time to find the right person. Listen if you are single.

I believe that God has someone handpicked just for you. You may not know them yet again. You may know them already, but you can certainly stop you. I mean, you can certainly start praying for them because the good thing is you need to give it time so you can figure out who the right person is. I know it's hard to be single.

I know you get lonely.

I know your theme song is Lola Lee hi Mr. Lowe Lee anyone to win this out right person to come along in my life. You know the just think if I were married. I know I would be happy of course when you're married itself only ever single again. I would be happy and said that marriages like flies on a screen door. Those on the outside want to get in and those on the inside want to get out. By the way Pauline gave me that quote I said which one are you he said I'd rather not say that trouble know you didn't say that when you give me that quote but listen, there are advantages to be married in the been single. I would far rather be married, but at the same time when you're single.

There's a certain mobility that you do not have when you're committed to a man or woman through marriage. Listen to the words of the apostle Paul in first Corinthians 7, he says.

And this is from a modern translation when you're unmarried, you're free to concentrate on simply pleasing the Lord.

Marriage involves you, and all the nuts and bolts of domestic life and wanting to lead your spouse leading to so many more demands on your attention the time and energy that married people spend on caring for and nurturing each other, the unmarried or the single can spend in becoming holy instruments of God. I'm trying to be helpful to make it as easy as possible for you not to make things harder.

All I want is for you to be able to develop a way of life in which you can spend plenty of time together with the master without a lot of destruction distractions. Rather, so Paul is not critical of a man and a woman nurturing their marriage is not speaking ill of the time that we spend strengthening the bond.

The fact is we should do those things. But he is saying when you are single you of a certain mobility uncertain ability to concentrate even more of your affection on the things of God. Here's the key. Whether you are single are your married you need to be content where you are right now. Your contentment should not come from your relationship should come from your relationship with God. I should restate that your contentment should not come from a relationship with a person, but from your relationship with God because people will disappoint all people, even the best people posit I have fun whatever state I'm in there and to be content. Hebrews 13 5 Says Let Your Way of living be without covetousness, be content with such things as you have, for he himself is said I will never leave you or forsake you. Listen girls. No man is going to meet the deepest needs of your life. Guys no girl is going to do that either. I know little girls are longing for that friends. It's a funny thing with little girls in this thing with being a princess is not. I'd never seen this before raising two boys, but now having more girls in my life to granddaughters three granddaughters.

I I spent time with them and I watch how they love to dress up like a princess with her little tiara and I was actually playing princess with my granddaughter Stella the other day and and I thought I would teacher is one on day my principal cup. She saying that the rest of the day or something in the little girl's heart.

She's longing for her prince to come, preferably riding a white horse. But like the old story goes, instead of the frog turning into her prince more often. The friends print the friends, the Prince of princes, a frog Prince only, or how often the Prince turns into a fraud and that I was trying to say when I said friends but it's the Lord that we need. It's the Lord that we long for. So if you're single what you looking for in a guy or girl. A survey was done among single and the single most important quality. They look for in a date were number one Judy 43% number two brain's 50% number three disposable cash at 6% so Judy brains and money. That's what you're looking for. No one said anything about inner qualities or spirituality only say something.

I think it's great to have beauty and handsomeness, but that fades in time. I happen to believe my wife is more beautiful than she has ever been. However, what impresses me even more than her outer beauty is her inner beauty girls instead of fighting age concentrate your energies in becoming women of virtue instead of being cougars, praying a little cups you know what that phrase cougars means I older women praying on younger men actually read a very bizarre article in USA Today about a cougar crew with a bunch of older women and some younger men and you figure out the rest. They had little risk and that's it. I'm available for a little bit about it but the whole thing was a little scary actually pay concentrate your energies ladies becoming a woman of virtue. Proverbs 31 says who can find a virtuous and capable wife. She's worth more than precious rubies. Her husband could trust her chill and riches lying she will not hinder him but help them all her life. Charm is deceptive. Judy does not last, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Now, we often think of the word virtue is a feminine word we have quieter girls in certain words that girls use that guys don't necessarily like precious all that so precious guys don't use that word okay that's precious and there might be a few exceptions would generally girls will use at work, and we think virtuous feminine will actually the word which you mistranslated many ways in Scripture. Sometimes it's used to describe an army, sometimes a man yet. I'm Proverbs 31 it's describing a woman supported together.

You have a woman who is strong, a woman who is influential. A woman who is powerful yet a woman feminine. This is what you should think about a girl should think more about her inner beauty in her outer appearance. Don't neglect your outer appearance.

There certainly a place for that. But don't neglect your inner beauty either in the words of first Peter three. What matters is not your outer appearance is telling of your hair. The jewelry you wear the cut of your clothes but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty and gentle, gracious, kind, that God delights in how many girls today even give a passing thought to the inner person. By the way when you're a godly woman pretty on the outside as well as the inside.

This is very attractive to men all kinds of men Christian men and non-Christian men.

You know what they haven't seen anything like you before that it was a virtuous young Christian girl that got my attention before I was a believer and I went to a Bible study to find what she was into cousin and I knew she hung out with Christian which was a great disappointment to me not being a Christian. At that time. But as I heard the gospel. I I give my life to the Lord that girl and I never had a relationship. She just was a friend, but you know the Lord used her. She had that inner glow that spiritual beauty and guys will be attracted to this and nonbelievers would come up to maybe the last few and and you'll say well I can't go out with someone that's not a Christian.

Are you a Christian.

The all praise God help you whatever you want me to be baby, the faster you know what guys really think about the better off you'll be. That's why fathers are so protective of their daughters. They know what's going on in that young man's so grossly careful because you don't want to hook up with the nonbeliever. The Bible is very clear in this topic.

Second Corinthians 614 says do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. No plays an unpleasant one fellowship. What friendship, what partnership does righteousness have with unrighteousness or lying. What darkness or Christ with the devil.

What part does a believer have of the nonbeliever. Yes, how many girls have been brought down in this area and starts dramatically. Usually it becomes sexual and we find the believer being pulled down. So here's what I'm saying don't run out there and engage in what is sometimes described as missionary dating look for a man of God, look for a woman of God.

Let me take it a step further. Look for someone that's more godly than you. Not someone that just says they're a Christian that's almost meaningless. Most people will say that Christians today are they all I don't know of to hang out with them for a while and all know what they are.

So that is why time is your friend and you get to know a person in your looking for a godly person now frankly sometimes people can wait a little bit too long, you know, I heard about a couple there were quite elderly. Jake was 92. Bessie was 89 when they found each other and decided to get married. They were so excited one day there walking along discussing the wedding plans and they were walking by a drugstore.

Jake said that's going here so Bessie follows seven and Jake see the guy in the back of the struts is are you the owner of this establishment and the man's as if I am so Jake says I've a few questions for you yes will personally tell you that this is Bessie, and were going to be married. So here my questions do you have heart medication. The pharmacist says oh yeah do you have medicine for circulation. Yet we have that, too, medicine for rheumatism and scoliosis definitely says the drug is about medicine for memory problems, arthritis, jaundice. Yes, we have a large variety. Jake goes on behalf of vitamins D have Geritol yet antidote for Parkinson's disease. Yes, we have all those things away. We have wheelchairs and do you have walkers and the of those scooter chairs all shapes and sizes and Jake says that doesn't work in a register here for our wedding gifts still way too long. Chances are if you're single you to be married one day study so that 9/10 Americans are married at one point in their life, but let it stand the test of time that courtship and if it's really of God. It will because the Bible says many waters cannot quench love. Neither can floods drown it first Corinthians 13 says love is patient know it's been said love at first sight is nothing special between two people have been looking at each other for years and it becomes a mirror. When looking at my wife for 36 years. She looks better all the time and I would reveal to you now the secret to a lasting marriage. Are you ready get your pencil Mary, yourselves. That said, that's what I did see on my wedding day. After my wife and I stated our valves to each other Sunday before Pastor Chuck Smith. He looked at his boat and said I now pronounce that Greg and Lori are man and why he meant to say Greg and Kathy evidence of the use my last name. People often call my wife Lori pretty Ms. Kathy, Lori, but I pronounce Greg and Lori Madden wife. So I married myself. It's working very well the joke. Of course, listen every marriage gets test every marriage gets challenged our marriage has been tested just like yours is because I'm a pastor doesn't mean they were exempt from this sort of thing, and we've gone through the most intense test ever with the death of our son and were still going through it. By the way, you don't get over these things and we have clung of the Lord into each other like never before and I've only come to a greater appreciation for my wife and I trust her for me. Every marriage is getting the storm to see a lot of people just buckle when the personal Google. This is our weekend and will pay you understand that test and build your marriage on the right foundation at the end of the sermon on the mount that were looking at together.

Jesus says this in Matthew seven. Anyone who hears my teachings and obeys me is wise like a person a builds itself on solid rock though the rain comes in torrents in the floodwaters rise in the wind be to get that out.

It won't collapse.

Why because it's built on a rock, but anyone who hears these teachings and ignores them is foolish, like a person who built his house on sand and when the rains and the floods, the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash at the perfect picture of the family because we all have a foundation we build on my question for you today is is your marriage on the rock visit on the rocks. Is it going on Jesus Christ for the shift instead of human emotion is not a matter of if the storms will come. It's only a matter of when and how many and if you're building your foundation on the Lord you will stand the test time and I think when life is over three things that matter. I happen to know this because I talked to a lot of people and real eternity, and people don't think a lot about how much money they have in the bank when they're on their deathbed.

They're not all that concerned about their collection of what ever or the sports that so preoccupied their thoughts know three things seem to bubble up to the top. When one looks back over their life and they are as follows faith family and to a lesser degree friend it's day or the lack thereof. They're either clinging all that. More to the Lord is your faith is stronger as they know they're going to see God face to face.

You are there, wondering why they didn't spend more time in the pursuit of God and then family is a close second. Usually the regrets. I wish I'd done this said that spend more time here done more of this other thing, faith, family, and then to some degree friends, but this is why we need to think about these things and do everything that we can to have a strong and lasting marriage yelled in and talk about marriage a little bit were also going to talk about divorce and this is given to us in Jesus right here in the sermon on the Mount, and I love the fact that Jesus just sorta shifts gears and goes right to this topic coming. We've been reading through it and he's talking about matters of the heart is talking about hatred toward your brother he's talking about lust and then he just turns really fast and we land on the text before is Matthew five verse 31. Furthermore, Jesus says it is been said over divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce but I say to you, whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery. Whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. Now let's keep a marker here in Matthew five will come back to it later and let's fast-forward to Matthew 19. Reason being, this is another time when Jesus addresses same topic of divorce, but he added a few words that I think are very important for us to see Matthew 19 verse three the Pharisees came to him testing again they didn't really wanted out of this was just the trap saying to him is unlawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason and he answered and said to them, have you not read that he that made them at the beginning made them male and female, and he said for this reason a man will leave his father a mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate. Interesting how Jesus a basic question and goes back to God's original plan. Hey you know what before I get to the board. Let's talk about what God really wants a man and a woman in a husband and a wife and he goes back to Genesis thoughts about adamantly. Of course we all know that Adam ultimate set up.

I mean, you want to talk about the best bachelor pad ever.

The garden of Eden and all these incredible fruits and and things of beauty to look at in the animal kingdom as companions and best of all, the Lord God would come walking to the garden in the cool of the day and adamantly in the Lord whatever personal conversations it couldn't be better.

But something was missing and out of his life. More specifically, someone went out and didn't know what or whom it was because she did not exist yet God said not good is the aloneness of man, God said, I'll make him a helper comparable to him which could also be translated someone that comes to rescue another so Genesis 2, says a deep sleep fell upon Adam as he slept. The Lord took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh and the rib, which the Lord God had made. Taken from med media woman, any part of the man and Adam said, this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh, she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of bed therefore shall a man leave his father or mother cleave to his wife. They shall become one flesh. One little-known story that happened shortly after this was when Eve came up to Adam and went occasioning and was a little suspicious. He said I think you're running around with other women and is all you crazy.

You're the only woman on the face of the year and then Adam fell asleep and he was awakened by Eve poking on his chest said he what he is going she said just counting your written that didn't really happen.

By the way some people are going worse at exactly. Matthew Henry said and I quote Eve was made by God, not out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected and there is hard to be love. You know, really, when you get down to it Adam and Eve had everything you would want for an ideal marriage she would never have to hear about the way his mother calls you didn't have to hear about all of the other men. She could have married yet. The purpose of a man and a woman coming together is to leave and clean two words leave and cleave. Here's the funny thing I've met married couples would never gotten this basic premise of marriage down leave and clean. Now the work clean. By the way doesn't mean to cut something and have as you might do with a meat cleaver. The word cleave means to glue or to claim its leave and cleave Sever and Bond loosen and secure. Apart from and attached to marriage begins with the leaving a leaving of all other relationship. Another close this relationship out of outside of marriage is specified here implying that if it's necessary for Amanda leave his father and mother that certainly all lesser ties must be broken. Changer left behind.

Let me explain, you're still a son or a daughter to your parents still is simply but no a new family has started and you are a husband and you are a wife and your primary commitment. Husband must be to your wife and wives, your primary commitment must be to your husband sure honor your parents are leaving must take place otherwise. This can be detrimental to the marriage.

I know marriage is where the leaving is never actually taken place. I heard one young guy that want to get married. We can never find anyone that his parents approved you bring home a girl and his mother didn't like bring home another girl's mother didn't like her bottom. Two more girls. His mother didn't like either one of them so we went out and found a girl that looked like his mother walk like his mother talk like his mother and his father didn't like her so leaving and completing the word cleave means to glue together and by the way, this gives you the idea of the kind of relationship a man and a woman should have Malachi 214 says that the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless although she is your companion and wife.

God talks about a marriage and he says of the wife to the husband. She is your companion and that were companion means one your United within God's goals, plans in upper husband's are you united with your wife in that way you know her favorite color and all that you get it your wine should be your best friend, your husband should be your best friend leave and cleave adhere to sticky attacks. That's what the word means when you go to the New Testament, it is a word that speaks of being glued together even welded together so the two cannot be separated without serious damage to both never use superglue and stuff just freaks me out a little bit because it's like it's not even glue. It's like water all the stuff doesn't even work all know what to do if you blew your fingers together what to do if you blew your fingers to the superglue bottle it out. This is the idea that your glued together. Also, the verb in the original language speaks of holding on to something. So it's not like I'm just stuck. Stuck. It's like I'm holding on to that marriages were stopped. No no no. You're holding onto each other as the differences in their that's how it should be in your marriage right now. Are you leaving and cleaning.

One way to maintain this is through constant communication without question. Communication is the lifeblood of any relationship.

A survey was done among divorced couples, and they were asked why there marriage failed 86% said efficient communication, deficient communication, consider this a woman experts say speaks 50,000 words a day. I believe this I've witnessed this man supposedly speak That many 25,000 images watch the way women converse. It's like a stream of consciousness, like any other and what amazes me is there talking all at the same time talking dog in the butt. Their understanding there like connected in all these levels guys on site. I would select that I need… That's all we only have 25,000 words. You know the girls are coming something you know so here's the problem is girls are more communicative.

There are more adept in this area.

Men have a problem. We don't say it is much as we often feel it don't think were not feeling it would just don't express ourselves as well. You know, guys.

Honestly one the last time you just told your wife you love. I wife was last time you told your husband love you know even a hug would be neither heard about a couple it was having some marital difficulties so they went to see their pastor need had a few sessions with the mass melodic question and after Tiny's.

I think I figured out what the problem is in this marriage, and he got up from behind his desk and walked out to the front and walked up to the man's wife and gave her a hug return of the husband said sir, this is what your wife needs every single day hasn't collude to the passer for a minute and said so what time you want me to bring her back tomorrow and he missed the point leaving cleave Sever and bond.

What about divorce when is it permissible what is the number one reason that is cited as to why people get a divorce reconcilable differences that drive me crazy okay irreconcilable differences. Everybody has irreconcilable differences.

My wife and I've had them for 36 years. She's very neat I am often messy.

She sometimes late.

I'm usually early. She likes the toilet seat down. I like that I'm working on that. Even my granddaughter scolded me down pop-up put the toilet seat down. Sorry.

Always wash her hands after he touched little to. It's a funny thing.

The very things that attracted you to your mate in the beginning now would become things that divide you wanted to like her in the first place because she was different then you she was outgoing and talkative. You're more quiet and reserved.

He's more, this you're more that you love that about them.

Now it's driving you crazy right I can handle it. Reconcilable different ones that can be resolved in some way. Sometimes it is a decision to change, but I love them anyway. I made about for better or for worse, richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, and irreconcilable differences.

Did you say that in your vowels that I guess you have a now otherwise viewed all the Bible doesn't recognize this as a reason to dissolve a marriage so what are the things offers well before we read the words of Jesus. Let's consider the fact that there was a very lax attitude toward marriage. In these days ago I could pretty much divorce his wife for anything. In fact, all the divorce laws favored them and sure a man could divorce his wife. According to one liberal rabbi of the day for incompatibility of temperament will that sounds like irreconcilable differences.

Stated another way, American.

Also, divorce his wife for such trivial things as burning his meal or embarrassing him in front of his friends or even a more attractive woman came along. According to one rabbi known as Hillel America divorces like this was absurd. Okay so this is the background that was prevalent in the day when this question was posed to Christ. Go back to Luke 19 and they said to him, why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce to put her away verse seven verse eight he said to the Moses because of the hardness of your heart permitted you to divorce your wives.

I would like you to underline the word command in verse seven and underline the word permit birthday but from the beginning it was not so ICD whoever divorces his wife except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery, nor remarry served with divorce commits adultery. They said commanded. Jesus said permit it.

Why did Moses command guys.

Get it straight. He didn't commit any permitted because of the callousness or hardness of your heart. Moses gave a release clause. Generally, because the woman was being taken it advantage to protect the woman from the hardship of endeavoring to carry on in a home where she was unloved and unwanted because a man had failed to realize the high ideal of marriage okay yeah there's an ounce, so one is divorce allowed number one divorce is allowed sexual immorality takes place is not commanded, but it's a lot. Matthew 99 I see anyone who divorces his wife except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery back cortex from the sermon on the Mount Matthew 532 whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality commits adultery okay, but what is sexual immorality comes from the Greek word Cornelia yes with English word we get from that pornographic. It speaks of extramarital sexual relations including the so-called affair member. The woman also incest, prostitution, sexuality. Why is immorality a dealbreaker potentially in the marriage because the oneness of the marriage bond is violated.

Paul even said when you have sex with a prostitute, you become one flesh with her. All I know you call it a one night stand and say it didn't mean anything, it means a lot to God and that you mean a lot to you. You enter into a union with that person and if you're married, you violate the union between you and your spouse. Having said that, that does not mean that you have to get a divorce if immorality has taken place. In fact, I would even say every effort should be made to restore the marriage and examine the steps of the length of the said and apply some preventative measures try to save the marriage for immorality is not only grounds for divorce. It's also grounds for forgiveness. Then repeat that immorality is not only grounds for divorce. It's also grounds for forgiveness.

Try to forget. Try to save the marriage number two.

One of the reason God gives for divorce to be allowed desertion desertion first Corinthians 713 pulses of a woman as a husband that believes yet. He is pleased to dwell with her, not put them away.

Now let's play this out. This means that a girl is married to a non-Christian guy, and vice versa. Okay, how does this happen will sometimes it happens because of disobedience.

Because Christians don't wait to find that right guy that right girl. They marry a nonbeliever and then after a little time goes by. They realize they shouldn't of done it and they want to stay in the marriage anymore, and maybe they come to church and they meet some night nice Christian guy never people like to come up to me and say you know what Greg I married this nonbeliever and he doesn't love God. He doesn't want to go to church and he will pray with me and then I met this really cute loving principal guy at church who is a Christian and the Lord spoke to me and said dove. The key then nonbeliever and marries a man of God. So what you think. What I think is unimportant.

What matters is what the Bible says. The Bible says the first Corinthians 713 if a woman is a husband that believes not yet. He's pleased to dwell with her, but are not put them away your job description.

Now girl is to win that guy the Christ your job description. Now guy is to win that person, the Christ you want to reach them for the Lord. But let's just say the nonbeliever the parts and by that I mean he or she abandons you, Paul goes on to say and Corinthians 7. If the unbelieving depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases because God is called us to be appraiser used for bondage meeting held by consent of agreement or to be a slave.

So if the nonbeliever leaves your free one of the claims to be a Christian doesn't matter. It's the leaving not what they say they are, quite frankly any man or woman that would abandon their spouse in the Lord's leading them when their spouse wants to be with them. I've the question of their Christian because the Bible says you provide for your own home.

Your worsening nonbeliever mean the proof of our faith is not in just what we say it's in what we do is so if that person abandons you, and they leave you, according to the Scripture. You're not held to the agreement any longer. Listen legitimate divorces that have a scriptural basis are rare.

Trust me when I get there rare.

Most divorces that I've seen could have been avoided if the people would've applied themselves. Can we say that working to submit ourselves to what the word of God says can we say that were going to try to do this. God's way instead of worlds way. Take stock of your marriage and periodically look and see if there is anything that is bringing division between you and your spouse get rid of it because your goal is to leave and clean, but let me just close with this final point, you know, with little girls wanting to be princesses wanting their prince to come rescue them with guys with the romantic notions of some girl beating the deepest needs of their life. Let's get real for a moment what you really long for as God, you know, a guy can do certain things for you and a girl can do certain things for you, but they can't do everything, but God. He's the one you really long for. He's the prince you want to come. Prince of peace because we are all created to know him and God is the one that's getting help you to be the single person's culture to be in God is the one that's getting help you be the married person. He has called you to be. God is the one is getting help you be the person you want to be and ought to be, but you must admit you're a sinner and you must cry out to him and ask for his help in this forgiveness and in Christ himself can come and live inside of you and give you the strength to be the man of the woman that God is called you to be. Whether you be single or married. If you cannot get put your faith in Jesus, I urge you to do it today as we close now in prayer. Let's pray father, thank you for your word to us and I pray for every person listening that you will extend your hand to them. Lord, for the marriage that's hanging by a thread today. Would you touch it. Lord and turn it around and restore it. Maybe it's never been built on the right foundation help that the change. Lord, help them to build on the rock so they don't end up on the raw reprieve for single people today help the Lord to be patient and wait for that right guy that right girl help them to look for a godly person and not settle for just whoever Lord help us once he made this commitment and marriage to honor the valves and not violate them and be the best husband or wife. We could possibly be by your strength, but Lord, I prefer any that don't know you. Help them to come to you. Help them to believe in you.

Help them to be forgiven by you today. We ask now in Jesus name, amen