Topical Sermons Power Point Show
Scripture Reading: Mark 10:2-12
Part 2
God Hates Divorce (2)
Intro.
1. Divorce is the device of Satan, the boon of
lawyers & the bane of society. It is not from God,
Mal. 2:16; Mark 10:2-9 (Gen.
2:24).
2. God hates divorce (Mal. 2:16). (See Part 1)
a. Due to the hardened hearts of men, God (through Moses) regulated the practice (Matt. 19:7-8; 5:31; Deut. 24:1-4).
b. Moses is contrasted with Jesus, Matt. 19:7-9.
3. Whoever separates (chorizo, sunders) what God has joined together (whoever destroys marriage) faces eternal wrath of God, Heb. 13:4.
I. WHY GOD HATES DIVORCE (SUNDERING WHAT HE HAS JOINED TOGETHER).
A. It Violates the Marriage Vow,
Mal. 2:14-16 (of faithfulness & duty).
1. Divorce downplays the importance of the marriage vow,
Eccl. 5:4-5; Ezek. 16:8, 15, 32, 59. (Oath
& covenant: Solemn vow of alliance, Mal.
2:14; Prov. 2:17)
2. Sundering forgets that God is included in the vow that was made (He gave
marriage – Obligated to Him in it).
B. It Defiles What God Loves, Mal.
2:10-12.
1. God loves & honors marriage, Gen. 2:18.
2. Sundering it is an affront to God who gave us our marriage (our lifelong
companion), Heb. 13:4.
C. It Denies the Consequences it Causes,
Rom. 7:2-3.
1. To the spouse. cf. Mal. 2:13
a. Left to pick up the pieces of a broken home, a broken heart & a broken
life.
b. Spiritual trauma: He/she is still bound to the obligations God
established to remain unmarried or be reconciled (Matt.
5:32; 1 Cor. 7:11).
c. Emotional trauma: Grief, fear, anger, depression, etc.
d. Financial trauma: Bills, new obligations, less income.
2. To the family. Left with division, isolation, uncertainty,
insecurity, etc. [Can you imagine Jesus putting away His wife, the church? (May
the church put away Jesus & marry another? Rom.
7:4; 2 Cor. 11:2-3)]
3. To the local church. Hurts the influence of God’s people & can
have a leavening effect, making it easier for others to consider divorce
as an option to a troubled marriage.
4. To oneself. Damage to your example & influence, lost without
repentance; after repentance the very real possibility of remaining celibate to
be right with God (Matt. 19:12).
D. It Destroys Children, Ezek.
16:20-21.
1. Children are “passed through the fire” of divorce & distorted by
the emotional “flames” of its trauma (fear, anger, grief, depression, worry &
anxiety, sadness, self-blame, shame, etc.).
2. Divorce distorts & retards children spiritually, emotionally &
developmentally; it wrenches from their lives the safety & security
of family.
Conclusion
1.
Christians must honor their marriages & all scriptural marriages.
2. We must teach & live the permanency of marriage & that God hates
divorce (Mal. 2:16).
3. We cannot please God by destroying what He ordains, blesses, loves & honors
(Matt. 19:6).
4. We must help those in troubled marriages to save their marriages; not look
for ways to “get out” of what God has joined together.
5. We must always put God first & serve Christ before any thing or any person (Lk. 18:29-30; 1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23).