How Two Became One

By John Hawkins and Needra Hawkins

A Journey of Love, Faithfulness, and Lasting Partnership

Are you looking to get married? Do you want a better relationship with your spouse? You can have a stress-free, happy marriage, no matter where you are right now.

The authors share their story and give you the tools to create a wonderful marriage—filled with love and faithfulness. They draw from their joyful marriage to help you build a foundation and experience the same happiness! John and Needra married in their early 20s. After years of a blissful marriage, they are writing this timeless book for your enrichment.

Get ready to find answers to common relationship questions:
•How do you make financial decisions when both spouses work?
•Should you have a specific plan for your marriage?
•What does submit to your husband mean?
•In a world where everything is temporary, can marriage last forever?

Join them on this remarkable journey as they dispel the myths about gender roles and show you how to create an extraordinary partnership. Whether you’re newlyweds or have been married for years, the insights in this book will transform your perspective and help you achieve the oneness you’ve always wanted. Step into a new chapter of life and unlock your true potential as husband and wife.

John and Needra Hawkins pastor The Living Water Church—making a global impact through their prayer nation, social media platforms, dynamic youth ministry, healing crusades and mass evangelism. They established Christian Academy Bible College to equip a generation with the Word of God. They are committed to training others to live successfully in every area of life. John and Needra are passionate about helping married couples learn the value of the Marriage Covenant and to experience continual bliss in their marriages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Living Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9781562295929

John Hawkins

Pastors John and Needra Hawkins are the visionaries of the Living Water Church. This is a thriving international ministry.They are mandated to Preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to the ends of the world, forming a prayer nation, healing the sick, reaching the Next Generation, and raising up entrepreneurs for Global impact.They desire to reveal man’s very purpose for living and the true meaning of life which is to know God and Jesus Christ, the One He sent (John 17:3)In 2016, John and Needra co-founded and launched the Living Water Church, and today, their ministry continues to make a great global impact through their prayer for the nations, multiple social media platforms and in-house services. Some of their work involves a dynamic youth ministry, raising up kingdom financiers, healing crusades that see drug addicts totally healed, the lame walk, and mass evangelism, including outreach efforts in Mexico City, Mexico.They have established a Bible College and Business College (Christian Academy Bible College-CABC). Here, they endeavor to equip a generation with the Word of God through practical application and teaching the importance of being led by the Holy Spirit every step of the way. They are committed to training others to live successfully in every area of life—spiritually, physically, mentally, socially, and financially.John and Needra firmly believe in the structure of the family and are passionate about helping other married couples learn the seriousness of the marriage covenant they made before God. Their desire is for every couple to experience continual bliss, peace, love, joy, and wisdom in their marriages.If you need help or would like to partner with the Living Water Church, connect with us.Connect with the AuthorsWebsite – thelivingwater.worldYouTube – John-Needra HawkinsFacebook – John-Needra HawkinsInstagram – john_needrahawkinsEmail – [e-mail]

Book preview

How Two Became One

The Secret Behind a Successful Marriage

John and Needra Hawkins

Largo, MD

Copyright © 2023 John and Needra Hawkins

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please go to christianlivingbooks.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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ISBN 9781562295929

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version, in the public domain. Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Scripture quotations marked (AMPC) are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked (BSB) are taken from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, in the public domain. Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are taken from the Contemporary English Version, Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Scripture quotations marked (MSG) are taken from THE MESSAGE, Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the New International Version®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®. Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Scripture quotations marked (TPT) are taken from The Passion Translation®, Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.

Dedication

We want to dedicate this book to the One Who is the center of our marriage: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. The Father has taught us how to be responsible with the marriage Union. The Son, Jesus Christ, is an exceptional example of what it means to be an authentic Christian within a marriage setting. The Holy Spirit has been the glue that has kept us unified for all of these years.

To the many couples that the Lord has used as mighty examples that have played a part in the longevity of our marriage, we thank you.

Finally, to newlyweds and those who want to take their marriage to the next level.

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 – God Instituted Marriage

Chapter 2 – The Husband

Chapter 3 – The Wife

Chapter 4 – Respect and Understanding

Chapter 5 – Love and Respect in Action

Chapter 6 – The S Word

Chapter 7 – Divine Order

Chapter 8 – The Power of Unity

Chapter 9 – Jesus Is The Foundation

Chapter 10 – True Love

Chapter 11 – The Language of Love

Chapter 12 – A Vision for Your Marriage

Chapter 13 – The Importance of Prayer

Chapter 14 – Building a Legacy Together

Chapter 15 – The Power of Forgiveness

Chapter 16 – Singles Be Hopeful

Chapter 17 – Is Divorce the Solution?

Chapter 18 – Things to Watch Out For

About the Authors

Acknowledgments

Introduction

We endeavor to take you on our journey and equip you with the tools to build a wonderful marriage that is filled with God’s favor and faithfulness! Believe it or not; you can experience a stress-free marriage full of bliss and peace. Over the years, my wife and I have learned some key principles about life and marriage, that when applied, can lead to a truly fulfilling journey together, regardless of where you currently stand in your relationship!

On the very first day of meeting my wife, I told her that I was only looking forward to marriage. I assured her of my seriousness and emphasized that I was not playing games. I expressed that I was tired of dating different women and made it clear I would not give her my number unless she was ready for marriage. When a man is finished playing, he puts down the cards. I specifically told her, You have everything I need in a wife. I don’t need to look any further. Her reply was, Okay! I’ve never met a man like you. I can’t wait to tell my mother about you!

We talked every day until we fell asleep. We asked each other questions like What’s your favorite color? and What kind of food do you like? I learned that when people have those kinds of conversations, it’s often because they’ve run out of other things to talk about. But even now, I still remember that her favorite color is purple.

In short, I married the woman of my dreams, and our relationship has remained wonderful. She is not only my spouse but also my prayer partner and best friend. At the time of this writing, we have been happily married for 18 years, by God’s grace. Our marriage keeps getting better each day. Thus, we want to share the biblical principles that have helped us, so you can experience the same kind of marriage.

We understand the challenges you face because we’ve been through similar struggles. We were disappointed with our previous relationships, but when we found each other, we knew it was genuine. However, adjustments had to be made, and it wasn’t always easy.

The Bible asks, Can two walk together unless they agree? (Amos 3:3). When you come together as husband and wife, it’s important to align with what the Word of God says about your partnership. You must gain an understanding of your roles as husband and wife. Many marriages fail because people lack the correct knowledge about marriage from the Word of God. The Word brings light to your hearts and lifts your burdens.

In this book, we share from our hearts and the Word of God to establish the foundations of a biblically sound marriage. God instituted marriage, so His perspective is crucial. You will discover the purpose of your relationship and learn how to establish order. It will also dispel misconceptions about gender roles that society may have taught you.

As a happily married couple, we have provided counseling to numerous young men and women who are preparing for marriage, as well as to married couples experiencing various degrees of conflict. Here are some of the questions they often raised: Since we are both earning an income, do we come in as equal partners or is he still the boss? Who makes the final decision? Can we still have separate accounts or do we have to pool everything together? Are there specific roles we play or do we just wing it as we go along? Is marriage really an until death do us part thing? I mean, this is the 21st century where everything is changing. What happens when the freshness goes out the door?

We can’t promise to provide you with specifics in every case, but we can establish a solid foundation based on biblical principles that will ensure, not only your success but also your ability to thrive. Our narrative begins with purpose and continues by exploring the different roles of each spouse. You will also discover the significance of that S word, which holds the key to peace within your family.

Communication is necessary in marriage, so how can we better understand each other’s perspectives? How can we learn the language of intimacy and love? These are the big questions we answer. Finally, we delve into the vision and legacy of your family and discuss the importance of raising children with godly character to keep your family name alive.

We love you and want to share effective and practical keys we have learned with you so that your journey is rich, purposeful, and full of laughter.

Chapter 1

God Instituted Marriage

As human beings, we are made from the dust of the earth. Therefore, without God’s input, our understanding of marriage is ineffective and prone to error.

Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:18 NIV)

Grasping the concept of marriage without consulting the Creator of the institution is like a caveman assuming he knows how to work a microwave without first studying the manual. A man may think he understands a woman’s emotions, but how can he if he has never been a woman? It is evident we cannot assume that simply being married means we understand the purpose of marriage. Many couples are unhappy or getting divorced precisely because of this reason.

Two Become One

God made the two one:

That’s why a man