Topic: Understanding the Marriage Covenant (4)
Dear Reader,
This week, I will be discussing the Benefits of Keeping the Marriage Covenant, which includes:
Divine Favour
God’s favour is the maker of men. When you secure His favour, you progress and succeed effortlessly in life. Success in life and marriage is not a function of your smartness or connections, but a function of God’s favour, because the Bible says: The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them (1 Samuel 2:7-8).
Once your marriage is fashioned according to God’s prescriptions in His Word, you procure His favour, and once that favour is there, your marriage becomes irreversible. When God’s favour comes upon your marriage, people are compelled to favour you, because the Bible says that when a man’s ways please the Lord, He causes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
That means the favour of God will always elevates you to great heights that will make you a source of envy among men. When you step out hand-in-hand with your partner, people will see the glory of God upon you and be moved to honour, and open all manner of doors before you. The single persons among them will desire to be like you, because the good hand of God that is upon your home will make marriage desirable to all who see you. God’s favour also secures for you a lifting and promotion in status, which also affects your financial and material prosperity. It is an established fact that society honours the married. Certain jobs and key positions are reserved for the married, because they are regarded and expected to be more responsible than single persons. God created marriage to give man an easy access to His favour, so that he can live a “sweatless” life. This shall be your portion, in Jesus’ name!
Taking a look at the first family (Adam and Eve), one would discover that even after the fall, Adam’s family still enjoyed God’s favour. They had sewed fig leaves together and made aprons to cover their nakedness. But because of the special favour God reserved for the family, He overlooked their betrayal and clothed them with animal skin. He clothed their nakedness and thus removed shame from them.
In spite of the fact that Eve was the one deceived and the primary cause of the fall, out of favour, God made her a promise in Genesis 3:15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Prayer Power
Marriage offers you unity on a three-dimensional basis: spirit, soul and body. Only couples enjoy this level of unity and it enhances the success of their prayer lives. The Bible says: Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 18:19). A couple is more readily united on issues than any two friends are. So, whatever they desire in the home, marriage or children, when they pray in faith, God is compelled to grant their request. I believe strongly that the reason the devil brings disagreements and bitterness between couples is so that he can hinder their prayer lives, and ensure that they remain on the same spot (1 Peter 3:7).
Divine Security
God, the husband and the wife form a three-fold cord that is not quickly broken. God’s Word says: …If one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12).
As man co-operates with God and establishes God’s purpose for marriage in the home, God honours that family by ensuring that nothing prevails against it. They (the man and his wife) are equipped to withstand, with the help of the Lord, all demonic forces and the pressures of the secular world.
Divine Presence
The enemy is walking to and fro looking for “cold” homes to infiltrate. When there’s fighting, discord, selfishness, quarrelling and unforgiveness, the home can be said to be “cold”. But when there is love, understanding and harmony in a home, God rewards it with the warmth of His presence and peace that burns off the attacks of the devil which could cause tension. For in God’s presence is fullness of joy and on His right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).
Although God ensures His presence and peace, the man and his wife still have the responsibility to lie together to enjoy it. That means, God’s presence is guaranteed when the husband and wife join hands together to ensure that their marriage runs according to God’s prescriptions, such as unconditional love from the husband, submission by the wife, and doing other little things that keep the family “aflame”.
However, if you are not born again, you are not entitled to the benefits that are in the marriage covenant. Therefore, God’s grace of salvation is extended to you today. If you desire to be born again, say this simple prayer in faith: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”
If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).
Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).