WEDDING VOWS RENEWED

RENEWAL OF THE WEDDING VOWS

Matthew 19:5 …For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
We have gathered here tonight to celebrate the Renewal of Marriage Vows between ¬¬¬¬_______and ______________.
Many of you may have wed, when you were not true believers and therefore, you may not have understood fully what marriage was all about.
Some of you may have forgotten the grand significance in marriage. So I ask if you will please take to heart the true meaning of the marriage vows.
*I want to ask the congregation to do something, if you are not already doing this. I would like to ask that husbands and wives to sit together.
I want you widows to know that God says for you to “trust in Him” in Jeremiah 49:11. He will take care of you. He will be a father to the fatherless and a judge to the widow, Psalms 68:5 tells us.
For the youth, what you hear tonight, if you decided to be obedient to God’s Word will make your future marriage a success or a failure.
For all single folks here tonight, this is as much a spiritual covenant as a married covenant. Listen closely.
The ceremony tonight is not just for Andy and Jennifer. It is for every person that wants a greater understanding of the spiritual relationship you can have with the Lord and each other.
As this song is sung, will you sit next to your mate if you have one here tonight? If not think upon the Lord.
YOURS FOREVER
When the sun is shining bright, I’’ be yours forever.
When you face the darkest night, we will face it together.
Through the good times, I’ll be there, clinging warmly to your hand;
When there’s no one else to care, I’ll be there to understand.
Chorus:
Yours forever, only yours; I’ll be yours forever.
Yours forever only yours; God has brought us together.
On the wings of love you came, Then you taught me how to fly.
Through the years it will be the same; I’ll be yours for ever.
[2nd – …and ever; I’ll be yours forever, forever]
When I look into your eyes, I can see us together.
There will be no sad goodbyes as our love blossoms sweeter.
There’s a place inside my heart I know only you can fill.
Until death we’ll never part; You’re the keeper of my heart.
Chorus:
-Many folks have a wonderful, loving and joyful marriage in oneness and harmony with God.
--Some folks live together but the love and joy is gone. They live in the same house but their hearts are not nit together.
---Sadly, some folks just have a difficult relationship.
So, I ask tonight, if you will rethink what God says about the Biblical marriage vows?
*********
THE WEDDING CEREMONY
A wedding ceremony that is not directly related to the Lord Jesus Christ loses its real significance.
It loses its significance to the couple getting married as well as to those who have gathered to form the covenant.
The traditions of the Christians wedding come from the Christian Bible. It is taken from the Jewish wedding ceremonies in the day of Christ.
Any Jewish couple that observed the life of Christ would have seen the covenant of marriage in the very life of Jesus Christ.
Ten Thoughts about a True Christian Wedding and Commitment
1. The Bridegroom initiated the relationship and the engagement or betrothal period. He left his father’s house and went to the house of the prospective bride.
a. Spiritually, Christ left heaven to gain a bride on earth – Eph 5:25-28.
b. Physically, a man is to initiate the relationship.
c. He is ready for marriage when he is able to provide spiritually, financially and physically for a wife.
d. He then leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife.

2. The father of the woman then negotiated with the bridegroom the price that must be paid to secure the bride.
a. Spiritually, Jesus sacrificed His life and paid with His blood to secure a wife, the Church as His bride.
b. Physically, a man must be willing to give his life for his wife. He forsakes all others for her.
3. When the bridegroom paid the purchase price, the marriage covenant was thereby established. At that point, the man and woman were regarded as husband and wife, even though no physical union had taken place.
a. Spiritually, the consummation of the marriage between Christ and the Church is yet future. Consummation means to bring something to a satisfying conclusion or completion.
Though we are betrothed to the Lord in Salvation, the joy and bliss in that relationship has not yet begun.
b. Physically, the consummation of marriage between a man and a woman is more than physical.
It is first spiritual. One must learn discipline and have a good relationship with the Lord.
It is second soulish. A couple must have common loves, such as love for Christ, the Church, the Bible, raising children and bring glory to God.
Third, it is physical. Though satisfying, the physical will be the enjoyment drawn from the spiritual and soulish relationship.

4. The couple drank from a cup sealing their love one for another. Though they lived apart for a time period, they were faithful one to another.
a. Spiritually, we are apart from our Lord today, but we are to be faithful to Him.
Every time we partake of communion, we are to reconfirm that intimate relationship and longed for desire to be one with the Him.
b. Physically, couples would be wise to weekly, reestablish a time, to be alone and reconfirm their love one to another. A date night or a walk together, alone is needed, by both for security and the reassurance of love.
5. After the marriage covenant was in effect, the groom went back to his father’s house. He remained there for a period of time, preparing for his wife.
a. Spiritually, Jesus went to the Father to prepare a mansion for His bride (John 14:1-3).
b. Physically, a man may meet a girl at an early age, but maturity is seen when that man, prepares for his future by getting an education or developing a skill to take care of his bride.
6. During the separation period, the bride gathered her wardrobe. She beautified herself and planned and prepared for married life according to the scriptures.
The groom made accommodations in his father’s house for his bride.
a. Spiritually, the Church is to purify and beautify herself for her coming bridegroom. She has been given pastors and teachers and evangelist and gifts to perfect the bride. (John 14:2; Eph 4:11-13). We should all be faithful to Church of Jesus Christ.
b. Physically, the bride is to beautify herself for her husband, daily. She should know what the Scriptures say about how to be a loving wife.
c. Physically, the groom is to discipline his life financially, spiritually and physically and give security to his wife.
7. The separation ended when the groom and his wedding party left the father’s house. He usually left at night and made his way to the house of the bride.
a. Spiritually, Christ promised to return for His own with an angelic host (John 14:3). No one knows the exact hour.
b. Physically, the husband shows his love for his mate, by making a public showing of his bride to his friends. (This is why Christians should have a public wedding ceremony or showing).
8. The bride was ready and expecting her groom to come, but she did not know when. As the groom neared, his coming was preceded by a shout or the sound of a trumpet.
a. Spiritually, when Christ comes, the Bible declares his coming will be preceded by a shout (2 Thessalonians 4:16). Though the Church does not know the day or the hour, we are to live in expectation of His return any moment.
b. Physically, the wife should live in anticipation to see her husband come home each day. She should prepare her life for and around him.
c. Physically the husband desire at the end of each day is to be should be sure his wife is safe and secure in her life and heart.

9. The groom received the bride with her female attendants and returned to his father’s house.
a. Spiritually, Christ will take His church home and she shall be His testimony of His power and grace.
Spiritually, the bride of Christ is going to leave this old world, for that is what she has been looking forward to, since the day she fell in love with Christ. She will witness to the world for the 1,000 year millennium of our Lord Jesus Christ’s grace and goodness.
b. Physically, the bride, when married, leaves her old world. She leaves her parents, her family and her friends.
c. Her life is a witness to the world of her husband’s goodness to her.
10. The marriage is finally consummated by physical union for the first time in the privacy of the bridal chamber.
a. Spiritually, our consummation with our Lord is spiritual. We will experience, behold, taste of, hear and see and touch a world we have never known before. We will sense the height of love.
Paul said, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard what the Lord has for those who love Him.”
b. Physically, as a virtuous married couple enjoys a union beyond all other beauties in this world, the Church will see, enjoy and experience love and joy and ecstasy like she has never known.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
This may be the first time many of you have heard a message like this. So, I ask, “Do you want to make have a Christian marriage? Will you make such a commitment?” If you have previously or you would like to renew you marriage afresh, I ask if the husbands will initiative the act, like Christ. Husbands, will you extend your hand to your wife. Wives, if you desire this commitment, place your hand willingly in your husband’s hand?
WORDS OF MARRIAGE
If you _MAN___ want your marriage to be a Christian marriage…
Will you give yourself to WIFE first and foremost?
You must love her as you love God.
You must talk to her as you talk to God with gentleness and kindness.
You must live to serve her and make her a queen.
You must be willing to die for her.
She must never come second to anyone or anything.
You must give her your heart. You must give her your best. Do you vow to do so, Andy?

If you WIFE want your marriage to be beautiful beyond belief, you must give yourself first and foremost to HUSBAND.
You must love him with all your heart.
You must be willing to forgive the past and live a new life together.
You must talk to him as you talk to God.
You must make him your king and live to make him happy.
He must never come second. You must give your best to him.
Do you vow to do so, WIFE?

CONGREGATION, the vows you heard tonight are Christian vows.
If you want a Christian marriage with Christ or each other, if you want to make those Christian vows real, then, join with Husband and Wife, and, repeat these words in your heart.
I am sorry if I have not been the mate that I should have been.
From this day forward I want to live a life that pleases God.
I re-confirm the love covenant with God and my mate, (if that applies to you).
I promise to love, honor and cherish my mate as the Lord wants me to.
I promise to give myself to my mate only and to no one else.
I am committed to making my marriage work till the day I die or till the day Jesus comes.

If as a widow or a single person, if you want to refresh your vows with the Lord, close your eyes and tell Him, you love Him, and promise to spend time with Him in His word.
Ask Him to be your husband and judge. Ask Him to take care of you.
If as a couple you want to make your vows afresh, tell Christ in your heart that you desire to do so.
If you are a youth and you understand what I have presented tonight and you want to truly marry this way one day, tell Christ in your heart.

Look this way for a moment:
Though, this may have felt romantic to some of you, and though it may have seemed emotional to others, marriage is act of faith.
Marriage is for companionship. It is for pleasure. It is for completeness. It is for fruitfulness. It is for protection. But, mainly marriage is a picture to of Christ’s great love for the Church and the Church’s great love for Christ.
Christ leads and the Church submits. This is the testimony you give to your children and family and to this lost world of the great love Jesus had for the Church.
For love is giving and forgiving. It is serving and sacrificing.
It is at its best when both partners live for the other and they expect nothing in return.
As marriage is a commitment for life for better or worse, so is your commitment to God.
As marriage is for richer or poorer, in life, sometimes you may have much and sometimes, you may have little.
If your love for God and your marriage vows are Christian, riches or poverty cannot stop true love.
A marriage is a commitment in a time of health and a time of sickness.
If in a time of health, you can run and play and travel, rejoice. But, if the times comes when the one you have committed your life to, can no longer physically do the things, they once did, it is time for you to take care of the one you committed your life to.
That is what the Lord promised to do for you when he saved you. He will never go back on His promises. He will never leave you or forsake you.
God is committed to you! Be committed to God. Be committed to your mate! Be committed to Christ! Be committed to your family! Be committed to your Church! Be committed to righteousness!
Lastly, as this song is sung, if you, with all your heart would like to recommit your lives one to the other, as this song is sung stand together during this song and remaining standing until prayer is over

Whither thou goest, I will go. Wherever thou lodgest, I will lodge.
Thy people will be my people my love, Whither thou goest, I will go!

For as in that story, long ago, The same sweet love story, now is so,
Thy people shall be my people my love, Whither thou goest, I will go!

Whither thou goest I will go, Wherever thou lodgest, I will lodge,
Thy people will be my people my love, Whither thou goest I will go. . .

For as in that story long ago, The same sweet love story now is so,
Thy people shall be my people my love, Whither thou goest, I will go