Sound didactic discuss on topical and textual issues on marriage and family life matters.

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or

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Topic:  ”Then God blessed them”

Text: Genesis 1:27-28

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves of earth. [New King James Version]

God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. God bless them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of the Earth. [The Message]

So God created humans to be like himself; he made men and women. God gave them his blessing and said: Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth. [Contemporary English Version]

So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. [Col. 3:9, 10; James 3:8, 9.] And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth. [Amplified Bible]

 

Introduction

We are aimed at deep study of this topic, trusting the Lord to open our understanding to the significance of this to our own marriage. Hopefully, each one will discover why he or she has been missing out of the fruit of “the blessing” hitherto. Above all, may we gain a humble heart that should cry out unto God hereafter to regain “the blessing” and enjoy its workings uninhibitedly henceforth.

 

1. God bless “them”

• Who are the “them”? 1:27, 5:1-2
• This is God’s first and priority act toward the Man He had just made. Why?

 

2. “The blessing”

• Note: not blessings, but blessing
• What is the blessing?
• How does it come? It was a gift of God. God gave them his blessing [CEV]. It didn’t come by asking; it is gifted at God’s prerogative. It is not earned or acquired; it was given by God’s sovereign choice!

 

3. Who is the beneficiary of “the blessing”?

• “The Man” in the “image of God”
• What is the image of God? Essential & Functional perspectives

 

4. Can a man with “corrupted image” still have the blessing?

• Yes! But it won’t operate for his good! 3
• All the things around him, upon which the blessing is to operate, will turn against him!
• He will be experiencing hardship in the midst of all that was meant for his good!

 

5. Is it possible for the blessing to be restored to Man?

• Through Jesus Christ. Gal. 3:13-14, 29
• Only a man with the restored image of God can enjoy the working of the blessing

 

6. The workings of the blessing

It is divine support system, propeller, to:

• Prov. 10:22
• Reproduce
• Fill the earth
• Take Charge
• Be responsible

 

7. The working of the bless in Marriage

• It is, “the God bless “them”; not him, not her!
• It will work only in 2-in-1 set-up; not in 1-in-2
• It is prerequisite for the couple to “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion” [NKJV]
• It is the “synergic force” that generates desirable fruitfulness in marriage building efforts. Psa. 127:1, 1 Cor. 15:10, Eccl. 4:9-12, 1 Cor. 3:6-8, Deut. 32:30

Note: The blessing work only in Christian marriage where both spouses are truly “in the image of God”.

 

Conclusion

Marriage is God’s workmanship. It can only be properly and profitably handled by hands strengthened by God. Otherwise. The ordinary hand of man will mishandle the precious gift of God’s love. It will be like giving that which is holy to the dog! [Matt. 7:6]

 

 

Topic:   Adam’s Revelation

Text: Genesis 2:23-24

And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. [New King James Version]

“This is it!” Adam exclaimed. “She is part of my own bone and flesh! Her name is ‘woman’ because she was taken out of man.” This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife in such a way that the two become one person. [Living Bible]

And the man exclaimed, “Here is someone like me! She is part of my body, my own flesh and bones. She came from me, a man. So I will name he Woman!” That’s why a man will leave his own father and mother. He marries a woman, and the two of them become like one person. [Contemporary English Version]

 

Introduction

Prov. 29:18 – “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; ….”

Why many married people handle their spouses as distinct and different persons from themselves is because they lack true revelation of who their spouse actually is in relation to themselves!

This is also a noticeable culprit as to why many “cast of restraint” or commit so many matrimonial crimes against their spouses!

We therefore believe that all married folks need divine light in their inmost being, so that all misunderstanding, misgiving and misdeed towards their spouses could be grossly reduced if not totally eliminated.

 

1. The Man that God made into “man” and “woman”

• 1:26-27, 5:1-2
• Who was this Man?
• Where was & who is the woman from? – 1 Cor. 11:8-9
• What remained of the Man after “waking up”?

 

2. The man’s “welcome speech”

• Had he seen this creature before?
• Who identified her to him?
• Were the woman to have been recorded, what do you think could have been her response?

 

3. The implications of Adam’s revelation

• The Man in the “image of God”
• What is the image of God? Essential & Functional perspectives

 

4. Can a man with “corrupted image” still have the blessing?

• Right understanding of the creative co-existence of both – Gen. 1:27, 2:8
• Right understanding of the personhood of this
• Right understanding of the connection between himself and her
• Right valuation or estimation of the woman.
• Right appreciation of her
• Right acceptation of her in the MAKER’S MODE.
• Right understanding of her indispensableness to himself – I Cor. 11:11, 1 Pet. 3:7
• Right mindset to start a marriage with, and to build upon in marriage.

 

FURTHERMORE:

• It conveys a deep conviction in the mind of the man concerning the rightness of the woman God brought to him.
• It shows an appreciation of God for giving him the best-fitted companion and helper.

 

MORE SO:

• This revelation becomes the compelling reason & propelling impetus for obeying the command of Gen. 2:24 (see also: Matt. 19:4-6)
• Without this revelation, revealing right understanding, valuation, appreciation, conviction and attitude of mind, “leaving” and “cleaving” will be hard thing to do!
• This failure could become the basis of “disunited Union”, and a reason why each one could feel comfortable in aloneness, though married! – (Jn. 12:24)

 

Conclusion

NOTE: This revelation came from God to a man in right relationship with Himself, and with right heart to receive, accept obey and live God’s design of marriage!

Are you such a man?

Are you such a woman?