Sermons from Genesis #4-HE-HARMONY Genesis 2:18

Sermons from Genesis #4-HE-HARMONY Genesis 2:18

Intro- Internet dating is a trend catching on like wild fire. EHarmony was founded in 2000 by relationship expert Dr. Neil Clark Warren to help people build successful, long-lasting relationships. EHarmony states their mission: to help millions of people find the right partner for life-long love and happiness. I’m sure you’ve seen the ads showing happy couples hugging and kissing, laughing and walking through the park or some field with flowers everywhere. All it takes is $______and fill out and info sheet snap a pic and you’re Match Made Heaven is computer generated. According to the statistics it seems to be working. I know and you may know different ones who have found that special someone, through internet dating!...Time will tell. I want us to consider Marriage, God’s way. What is God’s Plan? Is there a such thing as True Happiness?

Ill- A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.

For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover. In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside.

She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box. When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money totaling $95,000. He asked her about the contents.

"When we were to be married," she said, "my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll."

The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only two precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with happiness.

"Honey," he said, "that explains the doll, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?"

"Oh," she said, "that's the money I made from selling the dolls."

A third-grade teacher asked her students to draw a picture of what they wanted to be when they grew up. The pictures came in, and there were pictures of nurses, of astronauts, of firemen. But one little girl handed in a blank piece of paper. The teacher said, "Don't you know what you want to be?" And the little girl said, "Sure I know. I want to be married. But I don't know how to draw it!"

Well that little girl is not the only one that doesn't know what being married is supposed to look like. But God knows what a marriage is supposed to look like. In fact, He's the one that came up with the original design. And He has shown us through various passages in His Word what He wants marriage to look like.

I. THE LORD’S INTENTION- (How did start?)

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.(Genesis 2:18a)

A. We See God’s Concern for Man– As I sat in my study, I could picture God looking down upon Adam and Adam looking around at all of creation yet Adam Sighing out of loneliness. The word "alone" carries the idea of "being cut of, of being a piece which is isolated from the whole."

B. We See God’s Conclusion for Man– “…I will make an help mate for him.” (Gen. 2:18b)God knew it was not good for man to be alone. Clothes would pile up everywhere. And microwave ovens were not on the list for another 6000 years. God’s decision was to make a "help" for Adam. This word “help” means, "One who assists another to reach fulfillment." It speaks of the idea of a "completer". The word "meet" refers to “one whois suitable to, or corresponds to." In other words, God is going to give Adam someone who will fill up that which is lacking in his own life. One who makes him complete.

(Ill. God's intention in making woman was to compliment and complete the man. By the way, it still works that way today.)I. The Lord's Intention

II. THE LORD'S INTERVENTION- (Vs. 19-22)

A. A Desire Shaped By God (vs.19-20)- Why did God allow Adam to give names to all these animals? God was cultivating a Desire in Adam. As Adam saw all these animals pass before him. Surely he must have noticed that everyone of them had a mate. It must have dawned on Adam that he was the only creature who seemed to be alone. A desire for the opposite sex is a natural God given Desire…

B. A Desire Satisfied By God - (Ill. The Lord never awakens a desire that He isn't prepared to fulfil in His own way and in His own time.) Notice how God Satified Adam’s Desire…Verse 21- And the Lord sat Adam down, and said Adam, what kind of woman are you looking for? Adam what are your hobbies? What do you like to do for fun Adam? For the Low- Low price of $99.99 I’m gonna fix you up! NO! I wonder if you get what you pay for? What if you paid extra?God knew what kind of mate Adam needed!...

There were 3 things involved in providing this help meet for Adam. 1. It Involved Sleep–We get our naps honestly! Does going to sleep sound like going to the bars & night clubs? Does going to sleep sound like putting on make-up and half a bottle of cologne? Stop stressing & Wait on GOD to bring them too you!

2. It Involved Surgery - While Adam was asleep, God performed surgery on Adam, opened him up and took out a rib. It was from this rib that God made the woman. (by the way, the Bible says, God took ONE of his ribs…he didn’t take 2 or 3 incase the first one didn’t work)

3. It Involves Symbolism - Notice where the woman came from. In taking her from the side of man, God was painting a picture that speaks volumes about what the marriage relationship should be. Matthew Henry put it this way, "Eve was made by God not out of Adam's head to rule over him, nor our of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, from under his arm to be protected and from near his heart to be loved."

I. The Lord's Intention II. The Lord's Intervention

III. THE LORD'S INSTITUTION- (vs.23-35) These verses constitute what was the first marriage ceremony. There are three aspects that were involved in that first marriage ceremony that will go along way in helping our relationships this evening.)

A. Marriage Involves A Response- (vs.23)– Notice Adam’s Response… “this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh…in the Hebrew that means “Hotdiggity Dog! She’s Purdy!” It was LOVE @ First Sight.

B. Marriage Involves A Responsibility- (vs.24)For a marriage to work, there’s got to be a “leaving” & a “cleaving”. 1. To leave means to place every other relationship at a lower priority than the marriage relationship. Excluding, of course, one's relationship with God.

When my kids move off and get married, I’m changing the locks on the doors! Drop your keys off on your way out!Why? Because Mom & I are getting back to dating again and don’t want un expected drop ins!

2. To cleave means "to stick like glue, to be welded together so that the two cannot be separated without serious damage to both." If we really believe that 2 become 1 flesh when they are married, then we would also believe that anything that tore that apart was a serious matter.That’s Why Marriage can never be a Trial Run!

(Ill. Every married couple in this room needs to realize that they have been made one. You are not really a couple, you are a single unit. Declared by God in Heaven to be joined together until death rips you apart. If we really lived with this assurance, it would transform our homes, our churches and our nation! Then, divorce would not be an option, but just like we would spare no expense or effort to save a member of our own body, we would everything in our power to safeguard our marriages.)

C. Marriage Involves A Righteousness-(vs.25) - This verse tells us that Adam and Eve were naked, but that they were not ashamed in their nudity.

How is it possible for them Not to have been ashamed? Because, they had never had their hands on one another! They had not crossed any sexual boundaries yet! They were Morally & Sexually Pure!

Conc: When it comes to marriage. Whether it’s EHarmony or HEHarmony, make sure it’s God’s Way! God made us &He knows exactly who & what we need.

If you would be honest this evening, how does your marriage line up according to the Bible? Has there been a Leaving & a Cleaving? Are you one flesh this evening?

If the SIZZLE is beginning to FIZZLE… take your marriage to God!

If you are seeking a Mate…the altar would be a good place to start!

If you’re glad God didn’t leave you ALONE SIR, why don’t you make your way to this altar, with your wife and just Thank Him…!

Maybe your not even married, but you are concerned about the future and the person you will marry, why not bring that need to the Lord. Singles and singles again, are there areas of your life that need to be brought under the Lord's control this evening? Please understand that God has a plan for everyone here. Part of that plan includes salvation, that is a constant for everyone. Beyond that, God has an individual plan for your life. I am asking you tonight to come before Him and find out what it is. Will you do that?

If we learn nothing else, let's learn how to keep the home fires burning!