Marriages and Divorces

YEAR
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988

MARRIAG
ES
336
349
275
315
355
330
409
422

DIVORCE RATIO
S
45
43
48
57
53
64
44
92

1:7
1:8
1:6
1:6
1:7
1:5
1:9
1:5

Marriages and Divorces

YEAR
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997

MARRIAG
ES
407
414
n.a.
495
598
480
430
497

DIVORCE RATIO
S
75
77
77
83
86
90
126
131

1:5
1:5
n.a.
1:6
1:7
1:5
1:3
1:3

Genesis 2:24

 Therefore Shall a man leave his

father and his mother, and shall
cleave unto his wife: and they shall
be one flesh

Verse 24:
Therefore shall:
leave, cleave, and
become one

Verse 24
Remain in a state of having
left
Remain in a state of having
cleaved
Remain in a state of having
become one flesh

Leaving Home

Leaving
It includes leaving such close
relationships like the dearest ones of
parents or sports or even liming on the
block.
Even professional or educational dreams
can be put on the back burner

Leaving
Leaving behind
positions as dependent
children, ending
financial dependence
on parents
Leaving behind family
and parental attitudes
Leaving behind inner
wounds and hurts

Cleave

Cleave
In Hebrew it suggest the idea of
being permanently glue
It is unwavering loyalty or
faithfulness to ones marital partner

Become One
Flesh

Becoming One Flesh

Complete identification of one
individual to the other.
This involves a unity of interest
This involves a unity of pursuits
This involves a union consummated by
intercourse

Ephesians
5:21-22

 Submit
Yourselves one
to another in
the fear of God
Wives submit
yourselves to
your own
husbands, as
unto the Lord.

Ephesians 5:25

 Husbands, love your wives, even as

Christ also loved the church, and gave
himself for it;

Companionship
Demonstration of love
Sexual fulfillment
Procreation
Climate for growth and
nurture of children

Five Purposes of
Marriage
1.Companionship
2.Demonstration of
love
3.Sexual fulfillment

Five Purposes of
Marriage
4.Procreation
5.Climate of growth
and nurture of
children

Two Things Required

1)Unselfishness
2)Humility

Developing
Successful
Relationships

Always look for the good

Never criticize
(Psalm 41:7; Proverbs
27:15; Colossians 3:19)

Developing
Successful
Relationships

Know their values and

rules (Romans 12:10)
Be big enough to say
Im sorry (Luke 6:37;
Colossians 3:13)

Three Things
People Believe
1. I am the Power
2. I am the Truth
3. I am the Right

I am Power
I am Truth
I am Right

Five Common Marital

Problems
Breakdown in Communication
Loss of shared goals & interests
Sexual Incompatibility
Infidelity
Loss of excitement and fun

Matthew 19:9
An I say unto you, whosoever shall
put away his wife, except it be for
fornication, and shall marry another,
committeth adultery; and whoso
marrieth her which is put away
doth commit adultery.

Leviticus 20:10
And the one that committeth
adultery with another mans
wife, even he that committeth
adultery with his neighbor's
wife, the adulterer and the
adulteress shall surely be put
to death

Malachi 2:14 -16

Yet ye say, wherefore? Because
the Lord hath been witness
between thee and the wife of
thy youth, against whom thou
hast dealt treacherously: yet is
she thy companion, and the
wife of thy covenant

Malachi 2:14 -16

And did not he make one? Yet he
the residue of the spirit. And
wherefore one? That he might
seek a godly seed. Therefore
take heed to your spirit, and let
non deal treacherously against
the wife of his youth.

Malachi 2:14 -16

For the Lord, the God of Israel;
saith that he hateth putting
away: for one covereth
violence with his garment,
saith the Lord of hosts:
therefore take heed to your
spirit, that ye deal not
treacherously

Marriage is a Covenant
Contract

Covenant

Engage the service

of people

Engages people

Made for a
stipulated period of
time

Are forever

Marriage is a Covenant
Contract

Covenant

Can be Broken with

material loss to the
contracting partners

Cannot be broken
but if violated,
results in personal
loss and a broken
heart

Witnessed by people
with the state as
guarantor

Witnessed by God
with God as the
guarantor

Spiritually speaking,
There are only two families

Family

Family

Of

Of God

Two Questions
Am I part of
the family of
God?
Is my partner
part of Gods
We are all born into
family?
Satans family, and
must be converted
into Gods family.

How do I become
part of the
Family of God?
The story of Jacob
has the answer.

Jacob was a
thief - stole from his brother
liar - lied to his blind father
runaway - separated forever
from his loving
mother
Lonely, disappointed and
discouraged, he lay on the ground

But the good news

is: Our Loving God
did not forsake
him!
Genesis 28: 11-13

God was telling Jacob!

I still love you!

Next morning, Jacob

journeyed to Haran.
He spent 5 years, 10 ye
15 years, 20 years!
He married, got a family
got wealthy!
But he experienced
no change spiritually!

Then one day, Jacob got bad

news!
Esau was coming
with 400 armed soldiersready for revenge!
Jacob was terrified!
He made lifes most important

Then Jacob was left

alone; and a Man
wrestled with him until
the breaking of day.
Genesis 32:24

ALONE!
He left his wives!
He left his children!
He left his cattle!
He wanted to meet His Go
He kneelt in earnest praye

IT WAS MIDNIGHT!
Suddenly a hand grabbed
him!
Was it Esau?
Hour after hour they
wrestled!
Then the Man touched his
thigh.
He became paralyzed!

Lets listen to
their conversation
in

Genesis 32:26-28

Jesus: Let Me
go, for the day
breaks.
Jacob: I will
not let You go
unless You
bless me!
Genesis 32:26

Jesus: What is
your name?
Jacob: Jacob
(deceiver).
Jesus: Your
name shall be no
longer be called
Jacob (deceiver),
but Israel
(victor)!
Genesis

A MIRACLE!
Jacob was
changed!
From thievery to
honesty!
From lying to
truthfulness!
From deceiver to
victor!

My prayer.

Gods Answer.

Create in me I will give you

a clean heart, a new heart
O God, And
and put a new
renew a
spirit within
steadfast
you.
spirit within
Ezekiel 36:26
me.
Psalm 51:10

ITS A MIRACLE!
The drunkard
becomes sober!
The drug-user
becomes an
abstainer!
The smoker
becomes drug free!
The abuser becomes
a care-giver!

If anyone is in
Christ, he is a new
creation; old things
have passed away;
behold, all things
have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

The Master Key to Marital Compatibility

Adultery changes
to purity!
Revelry changes
to sobriety!
Gambler becomes
a money-saver!
Hurter is changed
to healer!

There is therefore now

no condemnation to
them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk
not after the flesh, but
after the Spirit
(Romans 8:1)