Marriage That Lasts

By Samuel Oduro

Marriage is the foundational relationship of society. Established and blessed by God, it also serves as the symbol of the relationship between Christ and His church. In an age of increasing divorce rates among Christian couples, Marriage That Lasts calls on God’s people to return to biblical marriage principles. Samuel Oduro draws upon numerous biblical and present-day examples to demonstrate how total surrender to God will not only lead readers to the Lord’s partner for them, but will equip them to overcome any challenge faced in their marriages. A must-read for singles and couples alike!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Word Alive Press
• Release date: Feb 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781486618293

Book preview

MARRIAGE THAT LASTS

Copyright © 2019 by Apostle Samuel Oduro

All rights reserved. Neither this publication nor any part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

The views and opinions expressed in this publication belong solely to the author and do not reflect those of Word Alive Press or any of its employees.

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked (AMPC) are taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMPC), Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. www.Lockman.org. Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

eBook ISBN: 978-1-4866-1829-3

Word Alive Press

119 De Baets Street, Winnipeg, MB R2J 3R9

www.wordalivepress.ca

Cataloguing in Publication may be obtained through Library and Archives Canada

Dedication

I dedicate this book to the Holy Spirit, my counsellor, and to the Lord Jesus Christ and to our heavenly Father, God Almighty. I also dedicate this to all who will read this book.

Contents

Preface

1. Godly Marriage

2. Marriage before Sex Brings True Love

3. Godly Love

4. Marriage Relationship

5. Family Relationships

6. Things That Help Marriages Last

7. Things That Destroy Marriage

8. Marriage with Non-Christians

9. Human Error and Spiritual Error Bring Divorce

10. Remarriage

My Personal Testimony and Calling

Preface

The lack of godly love in marriage has led to a high divorce rate among Christians.

What Is Godly Love?

Godly love is a divine love that comes from the heart of God, who is the source of love. The Bible says, "God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him" (1 John 4:16, AMP). Jesus said that the love of God existed before the foundation of the world (John 17:24). We must have a good relationship with God to gain godly love. No one can destroy godly love—not even Satan.

If we want our marriage to last, we must exercise divine love toward one another as husband and wife. Jesus wants husbands and wives to walk in love, just as He loved us and gave Himself for us, offering a sacrifice to God as a sweet-smelling aroma. Husbands and wives must put their love into action, and then God will make their marriage last.

Godly love always resolves problems and brings peace into the marriage. Godly love never ends in divorce court. Unfortunately, many Christians ignore godly love and base their marriage on human, natural love, which is selfish. This type of love can lead one to say: I want nothing to do with him/her. I don’t want to have a sex with him/her anymore. I don’t want to see his/her face anymore. Godly love always brings peace into the marriage.

What Is Marriage?

Marriage takes place between a man and a woman. Anything other than that is counterfeit and from Satan. Period! Marriage is part of God’s creation.

What Is Godly Marriage

God provides instructions in His Word for Christians who want to get married. These are His marriage principles that are to govern our approach to marriage. A godly marriage is one in which God Himself is involved. Remember—anything in which God is involved is good and long-lasting! It also has a solid foundation. No one can destroy a godly marriage, not even Satan! God always protects the things in which He is involved. Above all, God is the founder of marriage, so we should apply His biblical principles of marriage.

Abraham’s servant did a magnificent job of finding Rebekah as a wife for Isaac. This is the best model for those who want to get married. Ask God to choose your spouse for you, as only He knows your partner. This is the principle of biblical marriage. Marriage is sweeter than anything else if you have a godly partner.

Submission is a key principle established by God for married couples. All believers are called to live in mutual submission to one another; however, before any marriage can stand on solid ground, this principle must be applied in a unique way to the relationship between husband and wife. Amen!

Sexual intercourse is an intimate expression of affection between a husband and his wife. Marriage is the one and only place that God has provided for sexual union. Sex is a remarkable window into the growth process of husband and wife. It can provide the spark, warmth, and heat of passion. The only grounds upon which divorce is permitted by God are adultery or sexual immorality. Divorce does not fit into Christianity, for it is disgraceful to our God.

A divorced couple can be reconciled to each other and re-marry, as God can transform their human, natural love and marriage into godly, divine love and marriage. May the merciful God bless your marriage and grant unto you peace of mind, in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

chapter 1

Godly Marriage

A godly marriage is built on biblical principles. You pray to God, allowing Him to show you your wife or husband. When you ask God for your spouse, your prayer must be specific, with a request for visual evidence or proof to accompany God’s answer. Amen!

The Old Testament

The son of promise, Isaac, was Abraham’s son. God pointed out his wife for him. Abraham told his servant to go to his country to his family and find a wife for Isaac. When the servant reached outside the city by a well of water in the evening, he prayed a specific prayer to God with a request for visual evidence or proof:

O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham … I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, Please let down your pitcher that I may drink, and she says, "Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink— let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.

—Genesis 24:12–14

Before the servant had finished speaking, Rebekah, a virgin, went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. The servant ran to meet her and requested water to drink, which she gave him. And she drew water for all his camels.

When the servant saw what Rebekah did, he knew that God had answered his prayer and that Rebekah was the right woman for Isaac to marry. The servant followed Rebekah to her house and arranged for her to marry Isaac. Then Rebekah and her maids rode on camels and followed the servant back to Abraham. When they arrived, Isaac brought her into his mother, Sarah’s, tent, and he took Rebekah as his wife. The Bible says Isaac loved her, and he was comforted after his mother’s death. This was a godly marriage based on biblical principles (Genesis 24:1–66). God Himself was involved, so it would be good and long-lasting with a solid foundation. No one can destroy a godly marriage, not even Satan! God always protects what He’s involved in. Above all, God is the founder of marriage.

The New Testament

The Word of God says:

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

—1