08/05/2023
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Restoring A Bad Marriage by Pastor Faith Oyedepo
Topic: Restoring A Bad Marriage (Part 1)
Dear Reader,
Dominion greeting in Jesus name! You are most welcome to another inspiring edition of family matters. I see the Lord doing great and mighty things in your family this month, as you apply yourself to these eternal truths for successful family living, your home shall become a garden of treasures in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
In this eight-month, I will be taking you through the process of restoring a bad marriage This week, I will be sharing with you first the root cause for a bad marriage that is; a faulty foundation.
Foundations must be solid! Nothing can adequately substitute the need for a solid foundation. In Psalm 11:3 the Bible says: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? A building with a faulty foundation is a time bomb waiting to explode; it is usually evidenced by cracks all over. No reinforcement can adequately repair the cracks. The foundation of a house is what determines how stable, strong and lasting the building will be. When a foundation is faulty, every other part of the building is faulty as well.
When I say faulty foundation, I mean those who entered into a marriage relationship without proper marriage procedures. So many people today have been living together with their partners without paying the dowry, having a formal engagement or a public Christian wedding. Rather than feel or live in condemnation, why not make things right? This is the major reason for this teaching. Take a practical step right away, go and pay the dowry. If you are not legally married and you fall under this category, go and “legalize” your union.
I want you to know that time never corrects an error. An error of yesterday remains an error today, except it is corrected. Some couples have been living together for years and have even had children together without a proper marriage. A proper marriage union is a foundation for the family. If you must enjoy a successful marriage, then you must first be married. Pay the dowry, if it has not been paid. The payment of any form of dowry is scriptural. That you are a Christian does not override the payment of that which is due to the parents. The Word of God says: And Jesus answering said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him (Mark 12:17). The payment of dowry is the right of the bride’s family, so ensure you give it to them. After you have paid the dowry, let your pastor bless your union.
The Bible records a graphic picture of a typical wedding, and all that is required to be done. Abraham sent his servant to get a wife for his son, Isaac, from among his brethren. (Genesis 24:51:53). However, I must mention that in the payment of dowry, you should watch the kind of things you present as dowry. Anything that you know will affect your Christian testimony should never be given.
Marriage is a covenant relationship between a man and a woman on the horizontal level, then between God and both of them on a vertical level. This is the reason why it is important to have a public Christian wedding ceremony in a Bible-believing church. When you have your wedding in the church, you have formally invited God to be the third party in your union. That is why you must not just pick up a woman, go under a tree, ask your friend to officiate as well as bless the marriage and both of you just start living together without anything formal. This is one of the reasons many marriages break up after a few years because proper Christian wedding ceremony is lacking.
A piece of advice to those that are not yet married. If you are in courtship, there is no room for a sexual relationship or anything that leads to it. Someone may say, “But we intend to marry”. As long as you are not yet married, it is sinful for you to go into it or do anything that leads to it. This is the beginning of a bad marriage. The Bible says ‘Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge’– Hebrews 13:4. If you have been doing it, stop it or it will stop you from enjoying God’s blessings in your marriage.
Friend, for you to have and build a good and sound foundation in your relationship, you need to first have a relationship with God. This is by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you are yet to do so, please say this prayer of faith with me: Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today as a sinner. I believe You died and rose on the third day for my sins. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom in Jesus name, Amen.
