Marriage of Ian /Candice

Thank you for the special privilege of this Christian marriage study on this unique occasion,   Your grandmother is alongside, praying for you and all your loved ones on your joyful day.

Ian and Candice , we shall commence our journey in Genesis, where God inaugurated the human family when He created Adam and brought his beautiful bride to his side.

 Man is metallic; the Lord God formed him from minerals from earth’s dust.   He belongs to inorganic chemistry. Aluminium, cobalt, lead, copper, silver, gold,   from 100 minerals- yet still composed of   dust of the earth.   Then the Lord breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and he became a spiritual soul. Adam had a three fold nature, spirit, soul and body. In God’s blueprint, 4 trillion cells, each with their unique DNA, formed that first man, Adam,    The same Lord God ruled that it was not good for Adam to be alone, hence I will make him a helper comparable to him. 2;18   A peculiar significance on this wedding occasion of Ian and Candice.

In a mighty process the Lord God created every beast of the field and every bird of the air. And brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. Adam called each living creature by name. The lion and lioness; the stallion and mare, the cock and hen.   Adam was alone, ’For Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 2;20   Your Lord performed the first thoracic surgery under general anaesthetic. ; as the Lord caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and he took one of his 12 ribs, and as the perfect surgeon, closed up the flesh in its place. Then a masterpiece of creation followed, the rib which the Lord God had take from him ( His Name repeated often through this passage ),   He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.   Adam would have been ecstatic, enraptured   in seeing the first perfect woman - and sensed she was his own. . Just as you Ian are overjoyed when God brought Candice, your Eve, to you.. God’s perfect gift to His child.

Adam said, ‘This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; she shall   be called Woman, because she was taken from Man.’ Woman in all her complexity was created from living tissue- organic chemistry, bone, elastic tissue, blood, nerves and bone marrow, for reproduction of cells- just as her God-given nature is for reproduction of life.   God graciously ordained that womanhood’s origin   distinguished   her   from her male life partner. .A type of the Lord Jesus and His church taken from His pierced side at Calvary.

In the first recorded song from the human family, Adam burst into music, appropriate for Ian and Candice, ‘This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man. Heavenly music is appropriate on this memorable marriage occasion. Then-now! God’s word is a benediction on Christian marriage, for ‘A man shall leave     ( break the original nest structure ) his father and mother,( preserve closeness with them ) and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.( so forming a new nest structure ). One flesh implies one name, where Candice assumes her husband’s name; one major interest to provide a love-structured home; the joining of the entire life in holy wedlock’   Blending of all interests, and literature and wealth. Sidlow Baxter.    Sharing hopes and interests . Nurture and admonition of such children as the gracious God entrusts.

Unembarrassed,   Scripture states, ‘They were naked, the man and his wife( notice that marriage has been enacted ) and they were not ashamed.   They were clothed with the Shekinah or heavenly glory.   Our heavenly Father endorsed and supported sexual relationship within the blessed intimacy of marriage. God launched the man-woman oneness as the expression of   holy wedlock.    Candice, Matthew Henry wrote, Eve was not taken from Adam’s   head to rule over him; nor from his feet to tread on him;   but from his side, near to him, close to his heart, to be protected b y him.  
 God’s eternal Word has laid the structure for this union of Ian and Candice.

4000 years later, God’s word speaks with unclouded authority as in Ephesians chapter 5.    The foundation for Ian/Candice’ enduring, hallowed marriage is ‘Be filled with the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, not with wine or any substance abuse, but the life-giving enriching Spirit of God, flowing in to every aspect of your togetherness.

God’s Word is specific for Ian./Candice, ’Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs , singing and making melody in your heart ( note this is singular )to the Lord.   God’s textbook is appropriate for these young   lovers,   pursuing their musical post graduate studies.  

Thanksgiving is on the menu of every meal, as they ‘give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ‘Always and all things’ leave no exception for constant thanksgiving.   My Go-fearing grandfather thanked my beloved grandmother for every meal prepared on primitive stoves, regardless of its worth.    I have sought to emulate him. Four generations later, Ian this is your unique moment.     Just, ‘Thank you. My beloved.’

Then Scripture staggers us, ‘submitting firstly to one another in the reverent fear of God,’ Ian to Candice in her gentle womanliness and Candice to Ian in his rugged manliness and God-given authority.   The fear of the Lord is   heavenly recognition and protection of each . The Lord longs for a perfect , pure oneness of heart . V21 All present in this glorious setting joyfully discern this.

The first specific instruction is to woman, and is a command from the eternal God. ‘Candice, as’ Wife,   submit to Ian as your own husband, ’ a revered description of one who is your distinct possession for life.   To ’submit’ is to surrender the whole of your life as a heavenly offering before your Lord and husband. You will transform your home, simple or refined, into a place of beauty by your womanly,   refined touch.
I cannot arrange my vase of roses as elegantly as Gran rearranges it.   I set the table mechanically.   Gran has for 66 years added her womanly touches of beauty, color and order.   That is to submit, Candice.

Ian, as husband you are the head of Candice, your wife, as also Christ is the head of the church; and a beautiful addition, He is the Saviour of the body.’

Heaven’s command to you Ian, is “Love your wife, Candice, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. Your Saviour is your example. He had a noble purpose, ‘That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word ( purifying effect of the Word of God daily studied and hourly lived out ) .   His holy purpose was ‘to present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should b e holy and without blemish.   God commanded you., Ian, as husband to love and cherish Candice, which   HE also graciously empowers.
A woman treasures this security.

Ian, man pampers his own body.   Hence, ‘A husband ought to love his wife ( Candice) , as his   own body; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. V29

The Holy Spirit repeats the truth of Genesis, ‘A man shall leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh.’   Paul bowed his head after this amazing, sensitive   discourse on   marriage of two deeply in love; ‘This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.’   The richer your union, the more deeply you will value Christ’s love for His bride, the church.

Paul summarizes the truth, ‘Let each one of you in particular, Ian,   so love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. My dear wife jokingly reminded me:   The Amplified bible has this delightful comment, ’That she Candice, respects and reveres her husband; regards, honors, venerates and esteems him; that   she praises him, and she admires him exceedingly’

I commend the marriage counsel from the Word of GOD to our beloved grandson Ian and his treasured Candice, whom the Lord has chosen for him.
‘The blessing of the Lord makes rich.   He adds no sorrow to it.’
PRAYER: Great salvation won by our Lord,   when our Redeemer purchased us at Calvary.
 Ian and Candice’ personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus as Saviour and Lord: and commitment to Him.
You introduced them in seminary by your infinite wisdom and over-ruling graciousness.
You guided them to their holy wedding day:   Candice in her stately bridal frock, supported by her bridesmaids:   Ian in the dignity and expectation of a husband , reinforced by dear friends..

Parents   bless the Lord for the fufilment of this occasion; a marriage made in heaven.

Family, friends, the people of God rejoicing in the heavenly beauty of a Christ-centred union.

Now unto Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of HIS glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory dominion, majesty and power both now and forever. Jude 24   Amen   Amen!