Yesterday I was honored to officiate a “Church Covenant Marriage.” Just prior to the service I had a marvelous time of communion with the Lord as Holy Spirit illuminated the "mystery of God." I was captivated by the revelation of what marriage pointed to starting from the dawn of creation.
It helped me better understand Satan's multifaceted attack on God's design. Let me highlight one aspect by asking, what’s the difference between a typical wedding in America verses a Church Covenant Marriage? The typical marriage ceremony in the Church in America has been slowly watered down as the moral integrity of the Church has been compromised to accommodate a changing modern culture.
However, most of us don't realize it because of the slow subtle half truths and heresies introduced through the decades. I say this speaking from my perspective having been raised during the sexual revolution in America. The cultural changes (free love, co-habitation, the mocking of the roles of father and mother through Hollywood, the attack on sexuality, gender, abortion etc.) certainly impacted the Church and watered down some of the revelation and power found in covenant in the church and in marriage. It also impacted the laws our government created such as "No Fault Divorce." This is why we are not grasping the full blessing found in the "mystery of God."
In my previous article "Taking Marriage Back Through Covenant,” I shared about the history of “no-fault divorce” introduced in 1970 by President Ronald Reagan. “No Fault Divorce” is one of our adversary’s strategy to undermine God’s design. If we look at this in context in America we see this decision sandwiched between taking prayer out of schools in the early 60’s and legalizing abortion in the early 70s. This was followed by the removal of the 10 Commandments from school. What is the fruit of these decisions?
Marriage & the Mystery of God
The couple whose wedding I officiated at both have a prophetic gift. God spoke them out of Colossians 2:2
It helped me better understand Satan's multifaceted attack on God's design. Let me highlight one aspect by asking, what’s the difference between a typical wedding in America verses a Church Covenant Marriage? The typical marriage ceremony in the Church in America has been slowly watered down as the moral integrity of the Church has been compromised to accommodate a changing modern culture.
However, most of us don't realize it because of the slow subtle half truths and heresies introduced through the decades. I say this speaking from my perspective having been raised during the sexual revolution in America. The cultural changes (free love, co-habitation, the mocking of the roles of father and mother through Hollywood, the attack on sexuality, gender, abortion etc.) certainly impacted the Church and watered down some of the revelation and power found in covenant in the church and in marriage. It also impacted the laws our government created such as "No Fault Divorce." This is why we are not grasping the full blessing found in the "mystery of God."
In my previous article "Taking Marriage Back Through Covenant,” I shared about the history of “no-fault divorce” introduced in 1970 by President Ronald Reagan. “No Fault Divorce” is one of our adversary’s strategy to undermine God’s design. If we look at this in context in America we see this decision sandwiched between taking prayer out of schools in the early 60’s and legalizing abortion in the early 70s. This was followed by the removal of the 10 Commandments from school. What is the fruit of these decisions?
- Divorce more than doubled - click here for Marriage and Divorce what to the Stats Say?
- 59+ million of the most innocent unborn murdered by 2016 - click here for source document FS01AbortionsinUS.
- Families without fathers has risen dramatically such that 72% say that this is the most significant social problem in America - click here for The Extent of Fatherlessness.
Marriage & the Mystery of God
The couple whose wedding I officiated at both have a prophetic gift. God spoke them out of Colossians 2:2
"that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ… "
That was the scripture God used to confirm to both of them that this was a divinely arranged marriage. When they shared that the "mystery of God" jumped off the page in my spirit. Holy Spirit began to teach me.
This mystery is spoken of in Ephesians and all things are summed up in Christ. It says starting in Ephesians 3:9;
“and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,”
We discover that this eternal purpose of the Church, this divine mystery is expressed through the holy covenant of marriage in Ephesians 5. Starting in verse 21 it begins to define how marriage between a man and a woman speak of and prophetically points to the divine mystery and that is the marriage between Christ and the Church. Ephesians 5:30-32;
"For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church."
This revelation, this mystery is what makes marriage, holy, set apart unto the Lord. It’s a divine pattern. A heavenly truth manifesting on earth as it is in heaven.
Satan's Attack on Marriage
This is why Satan has unleashed a horrendous attack against the truth as it pertains to marriage. His mission is to kill, steal and destroy. He knows God loves people therefore like a villain, he will torture people because it is his way to vicariously attack God Himself. Think about it, if you a spouse how do you feel when you see your spouse attacked or mistreated? If you are a parent, how do you feel when your child is mistreated?
But ultimately, Satan is not just attacking truth. He is attacking God Himself who is The Word, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is attacking Jesus.
We are in a spiritual war that spilled from heaven on to earth (Revelation 12).
If we look at the context of Ephesians 5 we will discover part of the purpose of marriage and it is for spiritual war; spiritual war for family members and their destiny in Christ.
God's Eternal Purpose
Ephesians 1 begins by describing God's eternal purpose through Jesus Christ even before the world began. In Ephesians 2 God begins to introduce the Church and what its foundation is. Ephesians 3:9 reveals;
"and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,.."
What's the foundation of this mystery? Love and relationship! Ephesians 3:17;
"that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,"
Ephesians 4 deals with how God equipped the Church and reveals more of its purpose and its interaction with our adversary the devil.
Ephesians 5 exhorts to walk in love, light and wisdom and then it introduces the purpose of marriage and how each party is to respond. It goes on to powerfully proclaim in Ephesians 5:32 that;
"This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church."
Spiritual Warfare
Ephesians 6 introduces more family relationships followed by Ephesians 6:10-13;
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
God knew there would be a war over truth and He called and equipped us to contend for the truth.
That is the context of marriage. Marriage was created by God, not by the state nor civil government. God placed the stewardship of marriage in the hands of the Church.
The State Overstepped its Jurisdiction
When Washington State for example began to enact laws to redefine marriage as something other than between a man or a woman, it violated an eternal principle. That principle is, what you create you have the right and ability to legislate (click “Taking Marriage Back Through Covenant”). Washington state did not exist till 1889. Jesus was involved in creation and we've discovered His purpose was eternal.
Eternal or eternity begins before creation. Marriage and the Church are all intertwined in Christ's eternal purpose. Therefore, a government that did not exist until 1889 has no jurisdiction in what it did not create. Based upon the scripture the responsibility for marriage falls to the Church.
Civil government has muddied the marriage waters. A confused apathetic Church allowed it.
But not to fear. There is a way, a scriptural and a legal way for the Church to take marriage back right now even before the law is changed in my state and nation. It requires the Church to return to some of it's biblical roots as it pertains to an understanding of covenant. You'll find in the article I referenced that those that practice Judaism in America have a better grasp of that truth than most of the Church does and the fruit of its practice illustrates how powerful God's word is. They experience only a 3% divorce rate.
The Church came out of Judaism. Our roots come out of the Jews. We'd be wise to return to our roots for in this area they've done a better job of modeling truth than we, the Church has. Please note, that I acknowledge my broad sweeping statement and recognize there are exceptions who have walked in truth. But they are currently not prevalent but rather the exception.
As the Church returns to its roots as it pertains to the application of covenant we will position ourselves to address the marriage covenant. The fruit will be stronger families, less divorce, less fatherless homes, fewer destroyed lives and many more who have a wonderful relationship with our heavenly Father and the family of God.
Lord, I pray for a revelation of Your divine mystery that is to be displayed through Jesus Christ and the Church.
That was the scripture God used to confirm to both of them that this was a divinely arranged marriage. When they shared that the "mystery of God" jumped off the page in my spirit. Holy Spirit began to teach me.
This mystery is spoken of in Ephesians and all things are summed up in Christ. It says starting in Ephesians 3:9;
“and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,”
We discover that this eternal purpose of the Church, this divine mystery is expressed through the holy covenant of marriage in Ephesians 5. Starting in verse 21 it begins to define how marriage between a man and a woman speak of and prophetically points to the divine mystery and that is the marriage between Christ and the Church. Ephesians 5:30-32;
"For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church."
This revelation, this mystery is what makes marriage, holy, set apart unto the Lord. It’s a divine pattern. A heavenly truth manifesting on earth as it is in heaven.
Satan's Attack on Marriage
This is why Satan has unleashed a horrendous attack against the truth as it pertains to marriage. His mission is to kill, steal and destroy. He knows God loves people therefore like a villain, he will torture people because it is his way to vicariously attack God Himself. Think about it, if you a spouse how do you feel when you see your spouse attacked or mistreated? If you are a parent, how do you feel when your child is mistreated?
But ultimately, Satan is not just attacking truth. He is attacking God Himself who is The Word, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is attacking Jesus.
We are in a spiritual war that spilled from heaven on to earth (Revelation 12).
If we look at the context of Ephesians 5 we will discover part of the purpose of marriage and it is for spiritual war; spiritual war for family members and their destiny in Christ.
God's Eternal Purpose
Ephesians 1 begins by describing God's eternal purpose through Jesus Christ even before the world began. In Ephesians 2 God begins to introduce the Church and what its foundation is. Ephesians 3:9 reveals;
"and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,.."
What's the foundation of this mystery? Love and relationship! Ephesians 3:17;
"that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,"
Ephesians 4 deals with how God equipped the Church and reveals more of its purpose and its interaction with our adversary the devil.
Ephesians 5 exhorts to walk in love, light and wisdom and then it introduces the purpose of marriage and how each party is to respond. It goes on to powerfully proclaim in Ephesians 5:32 that;
"This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church."
Spiritual Warfare
Ephesians 6 introduces more family relationships followed by Ephesians 6:10-13;
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
God knew there would be a war over truth and He called and equipped us to contend for the truth.
That is the context of marriage. Marriage was created by God, not by the state nor civil government. God placed the stewardship of marriage in the hands of the Church.
The State Overstepped its Jurisdiction
When Washington State for example began to enact laws to redefine marriage as something other than between a man or a woman, it violated an eternal principle. That principle is, what you create you have the right and ability to legislate (click “Taking Marriage Back Through Covenant”). Washington state did not exist till 1889. Jesus was involved in creation and we've discovered His purpose was eternal.
Eternal or eternity begins before creation. Marriage and the Church are all intertwined in Christ's eternal purpose. Therefore, a government that did not exist until 1889 has no jurisdiction in what it did not create. Based upon the scripture the responsibility for marriage falls to the Church.
Civil government has muddied the marriage waters. A confused apathetic Church allowed it.
But not to fear. There is a way, a scriptural and a legal way for the Church to take marriage back right now even before the law is changed in my state and nation. It requires the Church to return to some of it's biblical roots as it pertains to an understanding of covenant. You'll find in the article I referenced that those that practice Judaism in America have a better grasp of that truth than most of the Church does and the fruit of its practice illustrates how powerful God's word is. They experience only a 3% divorce rate.
The Church came out of Judaism. Our roots come out of the Jews. We'd be wise to return to our roots for in this area they've done a better job of modeling truth than we, the Church has. Please note, that I acknowledge my broad sweeping statement and recognize there are exceptions who have walked in truth. But they are currently not prevalent but rather the exception.
As the Church returns to its roots as it pertains to the application of covenant we will position ourselves to address the marriage covenant. The fruit will be stronger families, less divorce, less fatherless homes, fewer destroyed lives and many more who have a wonderful relationship with our heavenly Father and the family of God.
Lord, I pray for a revelation of Your divine mystery that is to be displayed through Jesus Christ and the Church.
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