THE 4 FOUNDATIONAL LAWS OF MARRIAGE

THE LAW OF PRIORITY

Genesis 2:24-25 INTRODUCTION:

While many want or desire a marriage that ___________, fewer and fewer ____________ they can have it. The reports of marital success gets fewer with reports of failures seem to be an everyday occurrence.

Because of this, more and more people are staying ___________________________ together afraid to get married because of the fear of divorce. Divorce affects our society. Those who split up are devastated. The emotional agony, the social stigma, the pain for children involved, and the financial loss for both parties are some of the reasons why people are afraid of marriage.

What is sad is that the divorce rate in the Church is _____________________________from the divorce rate outside of the Church.

These____________ of marriages are NOT necessary. Every bad marriage and divorce could be replaced by a warm, loving, and successful marriage if each COUPLE would ________________ Gods plan for marriage.

When God made Adam & Eve, HE had the ____________________ for marriage. The problem is that man has ___________________to the Creator and Designer of marriage for the right answers. He has given us an instruction manual.....the _____________________________.

God created a perfect woman for a perfect man. It was His most majestic and beautiful work. She was created from the closest place to his heart, ________________________. God gave them a perfect plan for marriage and that has _____________________.

NOTE: Our society changes with every new fad that comes along, but God and His Word _____________________. Hebrews 13:8. We must build our lives on His Word.

THE 4 FOUNDATIONAL LAWS OF MARRIAGE

THE LAW OF PRIORITY

Matthew 7:24-27

As marriages fail, we realize the ________________________________________________, but the faulty __________________ of those marriages. Marriages only work when we do them __________________________. His Word is the sure foundation upon which we can build.

Marriage is very important to God. __________________________________________________________

_________________________ quoted about it: Matthew 19:4-6 _________________________ quoted it: Ephesians 5:31

In chapter 2 of Genesis we see the _____________________________________________________________. To Break any of these laws will cause _____________________________________ to a marriage. Break two or more of these laws and divorce will come in most cases. This is very important.

When God designed Marriage, He intended for this to be a _______________________________________________ between a man and a woman.. It was to be the most important Human relationship.

Before a person marries, the most important relationship is between his or her parents. God told them to _____________________ his parents and ___________________________ to his wife.

I.

THE MEANING OF THE WORD LEAVE (GENESIS 2:24 )

THE 4 FOUNDATIONAL LAWS OF MARRIAGE

THE LAW OF PRIORITY

It means to LOOSEN or RELINQUISH. A man was to relinquish the highest position of commitment and devotion given to his parents in order to give it to his wife. She is now to come before his parents.

It does not mean to abandon or abuse your parents. We are never to _________________________________ our parents. Exodus 20:12/ Matthew 19:19/ Ephesians 6:2

Marriage is to operate as the___________________________ priority in life. Your relationship with ________________________________. If you put your marriage in any position of priority other than this, your marriage _______________________________________. Most marriage problems result in _________________________________________________.

I.

THE MESSAGE OF THE WORD LEAVE

Our spouses belong to us before anyone or anything else except God. When things or others threaten that priority, ____________________________________________________.

Both spouses have _________________________________ to God and each other to _________________________ that relationship from being violated by ______________________________________________________________________________________ _____ of less importance.

When time, energy and resources that rightfully belong to me are given by my spouse to someone or something else, _________________________________________________.

THE 4 FOUNDATIONAL LAWS OF MARRIAGE

THE LAW OF PRIORITY

Exodus 34:14....Gods name is________________________. God has created us and expects us to love Him ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______, because He is a Jealous God when that relationship is threatened. That is why Israel and Judah turning from God was compared _____________________________________________________________________.

WHY DO THESE PROBLEMS BEGIN?

While dating, we spend time together and focus much attention and energy on one another. This usually last until the children come, when we now become parents. The problems with _________________________________________________________ to surface here.

The Mother begins to pour her _________________________________________ into caring for the baby and the father becomes jealous, and he might pour all his effort into ___________________________________________________. Not really noticing after some time goes by all the attention and time we had for each other is now _____________________________________________________________________.

The husband replaces the _________________________________________ with his job, career, and interests outside the home, hobbies, friends, etc.

The _____________________________________________________________________________ of marriage with her children and interests inside the home, and in this world today many homes, both parents work.

THE 4 FOUNDATIONAL LAWS OF MARRIAGE

THE LAW OF PRIORITY

REMEMBER: To avoid problems, one must NOT __________________________________________________________ to replace the priority of ones spouse.

Complaints: He works all the time and when he doe s get home, he is tired and doesnt want to do anything. When he does take time off he spends it with his friends or on the golf course.

She doesnt even know I am home. She is so busy with kids and house that whenever I want to get romantic, she is too tired or is worn out.

Both are saying: ___________________________________________________________ of what has taken my place in your life!!!!

His priority is now his job, her priority is the kids or home.

WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF THIS PROBLEM?

Studies show that as couples get older and their children get older, _________________________________________________________________ of marriages gets lower and lower. Ever heard the saying, the honeymoon is over.

God wants and desires our marriages to get better and better. God did not goof when He formed His plan.

WE NEED TO ________________________________________ AND PUT OUR SPOUSES __________________________________ EVERYTHING IN OUR LIVES BUT GOD.

THE 4 FOUNDATIONAL LAWS OF MARRIAGE

THE LAW OF PRIORITY

II.

THE MANDATE OF THE WORD _____________________________

This is not a suggestion but a _________________________________________________________!!!!

There needs to be some veterans modeling or teaching rookies these principles.

The parents should be ______________________________________________________ this in front of their children so they can see the importance of priorities.

Children do not get jealous of your relationship with their mom over them, it is when you put your __________________________________________________ ahead of them. Children grow up and leave home with _____________________________________________________ but have been watching the wrong type of role model of what a marriage is supposed to be.

III.

THE MODELING OF THE WORD LEAVE

JOHN 14:15....If ye love me keep my commandments.

*** A Priority Check list: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. God Spouse Children Church Extended Family/ Special friends Work or career Hobbies and other interests

THE 4 FOUNDATIONAL LAWS OF MARRIAGE

THE LAW OF PRIORITY

*** We need to establish, live by, and protect these Priorities: 1. 2. 3. We need to ________________ the Priorities We need to __________________ by the Priorities We need to ___________________ the Priorities

Matthew 6:33

HOMEWORK Discuss what has kept you from putting your spouse first amongst each other and make every effort to change those priorities for your spouse without anything expected in return. Continue to pray with and for each other.