For this Reason
Genesis 2:20-24 But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Why was a woman given to Adam by the LORD? Because no suitable helper was found for Adam, and according to the LORD, he needed one! Amazingly, these may be the first words ever spoken by man. Isn’t it interesting that it took a woman to get the man talking? Hmmm, just like today- we need lots of help at times just to get the words out. I am personally very grateful for my wife Helen for her patience and humility to “wait” on me form the words and get them out in a coherent way-thank God I have a helper. This year we are celebrating our 15th year of marriage right after the Gathering Conference in London. Of course, we are grateful to be able to serve the European disciples while there, but it is equally exciting to me to have some special time to travel, sight-see and remember the years for a few days with my awesome wife. Thank God for marriage! Here we find that Adam had no “father” or “mother” on earth- so this scripture was written for us. He had no one to “leave”, but the LORD provided for his needs. No one had ever been married before and yet God comes up with the greatest potential relationship on the planet to take care of and meet the needs of his first “son” Adam. What an awesome God we have! Do you value marriage as the LORD God does?
Saturday October 13, 2007 will be forever etched in our memories as Luke Speckman married Brandyn Revis. Who would have thought that a suitable helper would have ever been found for Luke? Just kidding- God did! The Lord has known us since before we were born. Psalm 139:13-14 He knows our needs Matthew 6:8, 32-33 and is able and willing to supply when we seek first the kingdom and righteousness. Isaiah 58:9-12 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
What an awesome promise! Watching the courtship of Luke and Brandyn has been fun, exciting, unpredictable and with three amazing kids in the mix- a bit crazy at times. It has been so encouraging to me as three single moms in our small congregation have been married in the last 6 months. Our God knows our needs and sees the oppressed and those needing families Psalm 68:5-6 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families-and truly he has blessed our church! Starting off their relationship having never even kissed is a miracle in our sinful world. God has truly protected them while dating and during their engagement. Although, there were struggles, they kept on fighting and God is blessed them with honor as Brandyn was able to proudly and gratefully wear a white dress. Starting a marriage relationship with purity is so incredibly rare and so important as disciples. We are called to be distinct from the world by dating and marrying only disciples, honoring the call of God through the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:39 and 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1. Purity is the only standard in regard to sexual behavior Philippians 2:15, 1 Timothy 5:2 and Titus 2:4-5. Our God expects and desires purity in his church and anything less is contempt toward Him. Is your dating relationship or engagement pure before God? If so, you are to be commended. If not and you call yourself a disciple, repent quickly and radically. Get the help you need and turn your relationship over to God, humbly following his plan rather than yours.
Marriage also must be a haven of purity. Hebrews 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. This example of purity in marriage allows God to be honored. When men and women are living as God has designed, marriage is honored and inspires the next generation to trust God with their lives. Phoenix church let us honor God in all of our relationships; especially those God has specially designed to meet the needs between a man and a woman. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
He stoops down to make us great,
Matt Sullivan
