This Light and Momentary Marriage, Part 3

Today on Summit line with G rear point of marriage is not to make you happy by giving you a perfect soulmate God's point of marriage is to make you whole wheat teaching you to love what you always Fitzpatrick says it. The point of marriage is to learn to wash the feet of another center center was disappointed you presented with the trade you see State Sen. crucify you Pastor, author and legend Jeannie Greer. I'm your host Molly events today pastor JD helps us answer the question actually looking for you long for love and romance in your life are going to deal with our expectations for marriage but also clearly see God's plan for singleness as he continues our study of Ephesians chapter 5 called first live if you missed any of our previous messages, you can listen online, free of charge@jeanniegreer.com today is part of a message titled light and momentary marriage. Let's jump back in with pastor Janie Ephesians chapter 5 verse 31 a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery of marriage is profound as I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. Paul in these two verses explains to us that marriage was given to us not as an end in itself. It was given to us as a side of a higher reality, that is, according to Paul, Christ relationship to his church. There's only one you should write this down this is deep. Marriage is not ultimate is a sign and a shadow of a higher reality. A gift of God to matter how good should never replace in your heart. The thing it symbolizes is my question for you to be honest, could you single your whole life and not feel devastated.

Could you go through life without a happy marriage still feel happy and fulfilled.

Because of the answer is no. The marriage is probably become an idol to you.

I don't mean do you want to be married because that's a God-given desire will say that a minute what I mean is it so significant to you that you will see how life would be worth living without it. So it's leave their first Corinthians 7, Paul wrote both Ephesians in first Corinthians, so he is going to take the concept that you got here. Ephesians 5 is you apply it first premium seven to a church that's made up of a lot of single people right first premium 77 Paul says regarding marriage. I wish that all were as I myself am now merely speaking multiple notice singleness right, but each of us has his own gift from God.

When one kind one another. Number two. Write this down singleness is not an inferior state marriage, it will look more Paul thought, what is give her 29 was a great employee time has grown very short for no one but those who have wives live as though they had gone, the EEOC immersed €30 on receipt for the present for this world is passing away. The world is passing away, and along with the world is passing away. Marriage is passing away. Biological families are passing away. They're not ultimate, and they're not permit to watch you say to people who are married you to reflect on the fact that this marriage that you ran your biological failure if it's just temporary flight image momentary and is not eternal. It's not eternally significant: you single people. You are reflect on the fact that that state that you're in right now. That's not permanent return leader. That's a temporary life thing that what ultimate and what's eternal as Christ and the church, not marriage and biological family. Christ and the church. What's permanent and ultimate. That leads me to number three.

Both marriage and singleness are temporary gifts that God uses for the fulfillment of his purposes both marriage and singleness are temporary gifts of God uses for the fulfillment of his purposes. Universe seven.

Each of us has his own gift from God 11, one of another. Notice that both marriage and singleness in this verse are called gifts. Flight was for both singleness and marriage have their advantages and drawbacks okay marriage is wonderful.

It really is, but it has its drawbacks.

Paul acknowledges this, verse 33.

The married man is anxious about worldly things to please his wife and his interest are divided into the women he says exact same thing. Verse 34, the unmarried of the preferred woman is anxious about the things Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things that we worldly their living simple. Just make things of the world worldly things, how to please her husband don't listen.

I don't want to take away from be married. Marriage is my gift.

I would not be half the man that I am with the minister that I am.

If I was a husband and father. The things of God is going to my life to these roles are wonderful, but my interest are by God's design divided. There are advantages to being single.

There are drawbacks to be single.

There's a manager to be married there drawbacks to be married so you number five, the answer to. Should I get married you to parse it. If the answer to get a marriage is a do I have the gift that's the answer we got out. I know that I have differ not to question verse nine, it's better to married Mindy aflame with passion little words do not go to virginity and you should work toward getting married you aflame impact you want to play with passion means it means when you look at the girl God.

You admit she is hot, aflame with passion is what a girl feels when she sexually desires a guy and he's like, you can't control that you want to ask God for the gift of a spouse.

You could have an easier time be holy Paul who had to get the singleness describes himself like this, verse 37 little bit whoever is firmly established in his heart be under no necessity having his desire under control. He will do well might underline those three phrases firmly established in his heart. Under no necessity having his desire under control those things describe you right now you probably have the gift of singleness, at least for the time being and you want to take advantage of it reasonable describe you at all, then you should ask God for spouse. The second sidebar that they are interested I get married is be.

Is it time do I have a gift and is it time sometimes sothat you might feel like you want to get married but it's obviously not God's will because you don't have the right person is on your life or circumstances dictate. That is just not the right situation to get asked is it time little Paul says in verse 26 this is a tad bit follow me is by the McMenamin colossus of her choices. I think of you. The present distress is good for a person remain as he is by Paul's writing this women era of history were Christians were experiencing an unusual amount of persecution families literally being torn apart. Kids are being sold into slavery.

Families are being butchered in the arena and fed to the Alliance and what Paul says is in view of the present distress universe is probably best if you don't have Mary because every face it you go to persecution as a single person you go through it as a married person with a family that's a whole different level.

When you want your kids fed the wives that's different. In view of the present distress, you should probably not seek to be married.

Okay, that was the but were not in a particularly persecuted era of history right now were not in the present distress. We can't bear them or not. So what does that mean for us.

Here's how you extrapolate the principle and apply it right in your life. There can be present situations that would make it more advantageous for you to wait. You can find a situation because like they were in when you realize it's more advantageous for you to wait few examples you complete your education you try to get established in your career maybe you need to heal from something in your life. Some past relationship that is just to complicate things. If you're in another relationship is that the present distress that you gotta go through single or maybe it's a call to a mission assignment. Listen to me. There are times when marriage or relationship would hinder some of the good things that God wants to do in your life and if that is the case, take advantage of this chapter of your life right now. Press into the charisma tied to spiritual empowerment that God gives you to be single because it's a gift it's a gift that God can use to do some things in your life and through you that he would not do otherwise. Don't look at it as a curse. It's not a curse at the gift page backgrounds. This is a love it. I'm not single because I'm too spiritually unstable to possibly deserve a husband nor because I'm too spiritually mature to possibly need one. I am single because God is so abundantly good to me. And because this is his best for me right now. Which leads me to number six. Don't squander one blessing by coveting another one. Don't squander one blessing by coveting another life you thought about this thing about David King David when he was called by God to be king.

Did you know the story well enough to answer. True false after David was anointed by single, to be king.

The porn old is it true false. David immediately was whisked off by their version of a limousine interior whisked off to the palace, where he was road to kingly robes. He was paraded out about putting old nation jeered and went right to make a good kingly decisions that day that all happen wrong. False data was anointed to be king and where did they go right back to the pasture was that like what is it like to just have been told by a prophet of God that you're speaking of Israel in your next morning you get up and you chase about the sheep around shoveling up there, Dominic even fall off a cliff, but David would not have been half the kink had he not gone to that time in the pasture. That's what God told him some of the best lessons of his life that's real encourage.

That's where he learned to depend on God. That is where he learns to commune with God the way that he probably wrote Psalm 23 in the pasture. Some of you feel called to be married, but you're in a pasture of singleness and you squander the things of God wants to do by his spiritual gifting in this time because your coveting a blessing you think is coming later there both gifts don't squander one blessing by coveting another when they would not of been half the king he was about the pasture you will never be half the person God intends you to be unless you learn to take advantage and press into the charisma taught that God is going to give you right now in this chapter of your life singleness you do not have to wait to start your life you need to get going with you what God is doing in your life right now is your call to be single during this time need to put your sites, not a marriage fee to put them on the will of God. You start chasing the will of God as fast as you can and let God add marriage when he chooses not to.

633. One of my life versus seek first the kingdom of God and all these things Jesus that will be added to you not seek first marriage seek first the kingdom of God, letting him add that to you when he wants all certainly includes the blessing the marriage to Elavil Tommy Nelson describes that he is like a team of God the will of God out here is a single person what you gotta do is just set your sights on the will got it running as fast as you can handle the will of God is and what happens after running for a while, eventually you turn over look under somebody running right beside you going as fast as you are in the same direction in their cute and you want to go together and you do you'll find that person by wandering around an obsession of desperation. Focus on the kingdom of God and let God add that right is down and get on the highway of God's will for your life build plants around in the cold side of desperation to go along with this teaching, I wanted to quickly share a little bit more about our resource. This let the distractions of today destroyed action that come from sitting in learning and resting at the feet of Jesus to get started. We created a bunch of devotionals for anyone who feels distracted and disconnected at times it covers the topics of relationships and wrath, and in addition we've got 20 conversation cards to help kickstart these conversations in your home made on relationship truly personal by reaching out today in support of his ministry, give us a call at 663-3552 20 or go online to Judy Greer.com and reserve your copy today. Now let's get back to the final vision are teaching on marriage and singleness number seven.

When it's time.

Don't wait when it's time to wait like this again you will interpret this a little pulses were 36 and one thinks is not behaving properly toward his betroth this passenger strong and has to be lead annuity wishes let them marry.

It's no sin in verse 37 he says that if a single be firmly established and do that translation watches translation. Whatever you do, do it confidently and do it boldly.

I got a special word from the Holy Spirit for some of you single guys write this down.

Make your cotton picking mind. I don't string her along.

Do not put a ring on her on her finger with an elusive promise of marriage way out there for four years down the road if she's the right one and it's the right time.

Paul says here.

This is a calling in your life if you will go to Mary show some confidence was. I'm not unlike this is probably just go to gender's gender stereotype is against immigration, but girls usually do not respect. Some wishy-washy guy who does what we call our church.

The sneaky date that is the guy doesn't have doesn't have the courage that you asked the girl out to disk on arranges way for them to be together together again sneaky date. You know and you got it you got you got you got a friend Dacian ship little exhibits, like told her to befriend so don't don't cry I merely show some confidence that asked her out. I don't dramatically grow up right put on the shirt buttons start shave brave dismay she had put product in your hair. Girls got into a got something haircuts. He was 40 right i.e. Star Trek outfits don't play PlayStation all the time showed become a man and show some initiative it's not listed if it is not time for you to get married. Gentlemen God is and you'll have a job request form, whether quickly neuron and get on what God is doing in your singleness girls you to not time to get married. Don't leave the guy off. Don't make him the victim of your propensity to serial dating as you gotta be attached to the drawing of a new relationship to make you feel good about yourself. Dating is a road that leads to marriage and if you're not ready for the destination off the road, but whatever you do and do it boldly. The point is listen when it's time to wait on God wait when it's time to go boldly in the land.

Be strong and courageous. Now guys one word of moderation.

If she says no leave her alone do not go to quickly. Do not pull God card. Do not drop the marriage card on the first date is positive, he said, but I just does gold probably third for the first date. Godliness and confidence should never be confused with creepiness. Okay fine line between receiving godliness and confidence creepiness. Don't confuse those number eight number eight quickly reject the eHarmony myth which methanol eHarmony.

Nothing wrong with it, but the myth is that if you could just find the perfect person you have a happy marriage and that leaves you almost paralyzed, trying to find Mr. or Mrs. born Mrs. perfect bed. Never Mrs. perfect Mr. perfect or Miss perfect leisure paralyzed because you're so afraid that if you'll get the exact right person to get happy marriage that's a myth. You know, while we believe it. We believe it because we we buy into what Tim Keller called apocalyptic romance about a little romance that you appreciate us never notice that every romantic movie every romantic movie has the exact same plot the life story begins as two people are about to meet each other and then they realize that everything in their lives has been leading up to this point. So then they exchange some witty banter and then they have a Disneyesque romantic affair with a find true love, and once they do, the story fades out.

You don't want to see the SQL because the sink will be borne if it is them hanging on the married life you want to watch that and the message is clear. Life begins and ends by finding romance saturated in infatuation with your new/okay there is no perfect person. If you think that you found the perfect person checked her hand and unless it's nail scarred. That's just an illusion that you will see through about 18 months which is how long a psychologist say it takes for infatuation aware off thing about this lesson, the person you are so into you think is so perfect was so bad that Jesus had to die to save. There was something in them that was so screwed up that only Jesus is blood could fix it. You think that's can cause some problems in your marriage if it was bad enough that Jesus had to die to fix it, it's probably because you some mild irritation, at least here is the point because you idolize marriage or try to find the perfect person. You're terrified to marry the wrong one you are married about this your miserable thinking that you married the wrong person. I know that some of you are married and you just secretly maybe vocalizing to beat all you like.

I think I was too young and immature, but I chose my spouse and I married the wrong person. And so were never to be happy. That's the eHarmony myth cannot say something that will really help your marriage right is them you always Mary wrong person that's not a joke.

That is gospel truth because you are marrying a center about a late even if they were the right person you married them. Veronica says she's been married about four different JDs and 13 years later, married because I change so do you think she was made the right one on one time the guys going to be gone a few years and could be a brand-new dating.

His voice, the eHarmony myth is that happiness in marriage depends on finding the right person, but it's not compatibility that makes for a happy marriage.

It's grace that makes for a happy marriage. The point of marriage receipt lesson is not to make you happy by giving you a perfect soulmate. The point of marriage God's point of marriage is to make you holy by teaching you to love like Jesus. While appellees Fitzpatrick says it. The point of marriage is to learn to wash the feet of another center.

That's the big point of marriage is a long-lost bit of another center center who is disappointed you center who has betrayed you center who let you down.

And Jesus takes center to crucify you last one here we go quite number nine number never settle never settle verse 39 tells you to marry only in the Lord never marry a nonbeliever or somebody who is not walking strongly in Jesus against not only the gender stereotype all the things apply to both genders.

But just for sake of illustration. A lot of girls freak out about the age 25 that are single, or somebody if you married listen and God gives you children.

The children of the most precious things in the world to you and the person that you attach yourself to his can become the biggest spiritual influence on your kids for good or for bad. If they are not a believer, if not somebody who is a spiritual leader.

Don't sacrifice don't sacrifice the souls of your children for the temporary euphoria of the drug of infatuation. Once you learn to be happy in Jesus, to be satisfied in Jesus and why don't you van let God give you his choice. God gives his best of those who leave the choice to him. Never settle pulses only the Lord men only Mary someone who is running after Jesus like you are limited only Mary someone who is running after Jesus like you are. Never settle. There's John Piper's final word here single but listen.

Marriage is light and momentary. God promises you singles blessings in the age to come.

Better. Better the blessings of marriage and children.

I have not sent the metallizing singleness to make the unmarried feel good. I am declaring the temporary and secondary nature of marriage and family over against the eternal and primary nature of the church marriage and family are temporary for this age, the church is forever. I am declaring the radical local truth that being in a human family is no sign of eternal blessing beating God's family means being eternally blessed relationships based on family are temporary relationships based on union with Christ, our eternal marriage is a temporary institution, but what it stands for last forever so renounce the primacy of your natural relationships and follow Jesus into the fellowship of the people of God. I say it again, all singles in Christ. God promises you blessings in the age to come, that are better than the blessings of marriage and children. Marriage is temporary and it will finally give way to the relationship to which he was pointing all along. Christ and the church that said you got again down the principal marriage is light and momentary Christ and the church are eternal.

Everything else we learn about relationships and love and romance rose out of that light pastor there and legend Jamie here Jenny we blown away by the generosity of our gospel partners. We mentioned often here in the program that remind us again what exactly is a gospel partner. Oh my goodness, Molly gospel partners are so much a part of our team here at Summit library listeners who become interval pieces of art boldly proclaiming the gospel through our radio and podcasts ministry and said, this group allows us to be able to expand into new places where were the gospels not being preach this way, or it allows us to stay on the on the air in your area is a growing ministry. We would love to have more gospel partners join us because it allows us to accomplish the purpose of saturating our country in the gospel centered teaching on that we find in the Scriptures give God a stirring in your heart. It all just go to JD where.com you can find information out about how the consider becoming a gospel partner stating partners today we'd like to send you a copy of our exclusive Summit life resource, devotion to distracting family 15 days on relationships with our thanks to a gospel partner to support his ministry level.

$35, eight 665-2520 here when you get online here.I Molly that it continues Wednesday night