Pieter&mara Lee

WEDDING: Pieter and Mara-lee As the bride stands at the entrance signal for the DJ to play wedding march. Let’s stand! Bride enters. Father removes vale and kisses bride. Well finally the day has arrived. Pieter the bible says (Prov18:22) that “He who finds a wife finds a good thing.” You have found a beautiful lady. Mara-lee, you are looking stunning. I just want to welcome all the family and friends here today. Today is a day of celebration and it is a privilege to share in Pieter and Mara-lee’s joy. If the people are not seated ask them to be seated. Let’s commit this day to the Lord. Pieter and Mara-lee, you are not just standing in front of the altar, but on the doorstep of a new and exiting chapter of your lives. You know the marriage union is widely recognized by people all over the world, and so we are standing here today to do just that, to see Pieter and Mara-lee making a covenant with God. If we limit marriage to the interrelationship between husband and wife we are doing God great injustice. Friends and family, natural marriage is a picture of our spiritual relationship with Jesus, who is the lover of our soul. He is our bridegroom. God has such high regard for marriage that he uses it as an example to explain the love that he has for us…

The bride of Christ. And who is the bride? All who have a living relationship with Jesus. I remind you that the whole idea of marriage is God’s idea, and God intended marriage to be a tremendous blessing to us! And I want to read to you what the bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:9 “Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, for the results can be much better. ( i.o.w. dishes…) 10 If one falls, the other pulls him up; but if a man falls when he is alone, he's in trouble. 11 Also, on a cold night, two under the same blanket gain warmth from each other, but how can one be warm alone? (Living) We all know that’s true!

Love is a choice, and you have chosen each other. Because of this, the two of you are standing here before us today… You know, There was the dad who’s son was about to get married. The dad took his son on a long drive to execute his fatherly responsibilities wanting to make sure that his son was entering into the relationship with understanding. So in a logical manner he tried his best to discourage his son from getting married: Son you want to get married, but now you are as free as a bird! You can come and go as you want; your pay check is yours my son. But when you get married you will give account my boy, and your pay check will be spent on cosmetics, hair products and the like and then baby stuff, prams, and formula…My boy you are going into slavery. Man get out while the going is good. The father’s final assault came from scripture and he quoted the piece in 1 Cor 7: 28 where Paul writes: “But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this” In summary his dad looked at him and said my son in view of the negative realities of marriage why would any man in his right mind want to get married…

His son thought for a moment and said: Dad I love her! I love her… The son continued: “If marriage is bondage, then I choose the bondage of marriage over the bondage of singleness!” By this stage the dad realized that his son was serious about this marriage. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Let me pick up again on the illustration of us being the bride of Christ or us being in union with Christ. Why is this concept so important? The answer is simple. Marriage is the only institution which offers any permanency. No education. No experience in your job. No business. None of your material possessions offer permanency. All these can be gone in a flash, caused by some disaster, theft or retrenchment. You can be working at a company for many years but if the company suddenly closes its doors you will be with out a job. Only marriage offers permanency, ‘until death us do part’. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Only marriage brings a sense of completion. And this we can pick up from the very first marriage Adam and Eve. You see we read in Genesis how God created Adam and then realized that something was missing. He realized that man was not complete. Only after Eve was created was man completed. This book is so amazing. If you look at the Hebrew word for bride it is ‘kallah’ this very word also means to finish, to complete. The truth is that the woman was created from the man and for the man because without her he was incomplete.

Thinking back on Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden…Just imagine the lovely time they must have had together. Eve was all Adam could ever have wished for or desired. And they were in this beautiful Garden where they had all they needed to eat. All their desires were satisfied. They had dominion over the garden freedom of movement. They communed with God in this Garden and lacked in nothing. But there was one thing that we need to mention. The tree of knowledge of good and evil. They could not eat of this tree that was in the middle of this beautiful garden. If they would eat of this tree God said that they would surely die. I’m sure you have also thought about why God did not just leave the forbidden tree out of the garden-then there would be no temptation for Adam and Eve. But you see God’s ways and thoughts are not ours. He knew that if he did not include the tree man would have no choice. Man without choice is no man at all. Without choice man is like a robot programmed to specific instructions. Pieter what would it be like to have a robot made up to your specifications of the ideal woman. Her personality designed, to respond just as you would like her too. I think you would agree that this would be a foolish exercise. You know why? Love is not love if it can be programmed. Love cannot be legislated, manipulated or litigated. Love can only be received when it is willingly given. ----------------------------------------------------------------------The value or worth of an object or person is usually determined by the price people are willing to pay

for it. Just imagine the price Jesus had to pay. He chose to die on a cross because of love for His bride. Jesus chose to die because of His Love for us. There is no greater force in this world than the power of love For God so loved the world that the gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16) Today you have made a choice to live together till death you do part. In your love for each other you also will have to die. It may not be a physical death but you will have to die to some of your own needs and desires. Can I encourage you; be a blessing to one another! Make up your mind that you are going to be the best husband that Mara-lee could possibly wish for! You need to say; How can I bless her? What is it that she enjoys? What is it that she needs? When you do that, you’ll be amazed to see just how special and rewarding your marriage will become. One of the greatest challenges that we face in life, is the temptation to live selfishly. And we so easily slip into that trap! But God has not made us to live selfish lives, but rather to be great GIVERS, and to be a BLESSING, especially to our partners. When you’re tempted to get upset and frustrated, ask yourself; What am I focusing on? What am I thinking? Where is the emphasis? Nine out of ten times you’ll find that the emphasis is on yourself; On my problems,

On my frustrations, My preferences….. Being all caught up with oneself is a recipe for discouragement and disaster! **God has made us to be givers, and you’ll never be truly fulfilled, until you learn the secret of giving!

In conclusion, remember these points: • You are getting a fresh start. Let me explain from the word: 2 Cor 5:17 (in the Message): Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons. • Stay close to God! Ps 37:4 delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. •

Remember the word says: Love never FAILS

•

Remember this: Think big, but let the little things make you happy!

---------------------------------------------------------------------May He, as the word says “go before you and make your paths straight” They say that Christianity is not a solo effort-and nor is marriage. Pieter, you and Mara-lee together with GOD will make a powerful team. May God’s blessing be upon your lives and upon your marriage. We will now do the vows.

Marriage Vows Addressing the man: Do you, Pieter Van Wyk declare that, as far as you know, there is no lawful impediment to your proposed marriage with Mara-lee Botes here present and that you call all here present to witness you take Mara-lee Botes as your lawful wife? The MAN will answer: “I do” Addressing the woman: Do you, Mara-lee Botes declare that, as far as you know, there is no lawful impediment to your proposed marriage with Pieter Van Wyk here present and that you call all here present to witness you take Pieter Van Wyk as your lawful husband? The WOMAN will answer: “I do” Dear friends, we are gathered together here in the presence of God as witnesses of the solemn marriage vows between Pieter Van Wyk and Mara-lee Botes. The whole idea of marriage comes from God and it is a beautiful picture of the relationship which exists between Christ and His church – His bride on earth. God, who really loves us and is totally unselfish, designed the marriage relationship to bring tremendous joy, happiness and fulfilment to us all. But this only happens when we build our marriage according to the plans which He has worked out. Speaking to the persons to be married the minister will say: Pieter and Mara-lee I remind you that the foundation for a strong and happy marriage is love, loyalty and deep respect. We remind you as well that no other human ties are more tender and no other vows are more sacred than those you are now to make. If you earnestly and sincerely keep these promises which you are about

to make, and if you steadfastly build your relationship according to His master plans, then your marriage will be a wonderful success and blessing to both of you. (Addressing the man) Pieter will you take Mara-lee to be your wife, to live together according to the instructions in God’s word? Will you promise to love her, comfort her, honour and keep her in times of health and in sickness and forsaking all other women. Will you promise to be totally committed to her as long as you both shall live? (The man will answer I will.) (Addressing the woman) Mara-lee will you take Pieter to be your husband, to live together according to the instructions in God’s word? Will you promise to love him, comfort him, honour and keep him in times of health and in sickness and forsaking all other men? Will you promise to be totally committed to him as long as you both shall live? (The woman will answer I will.) (Then the minister will ask) Who gives this woman to be married to this man? (The father of the woman or whoever gives her in marriage shall answer.) I DO. (Addressing the man) Pieter in the presence of God and all these witnesses, will you now make your vows to Mara-lee by saying after me:From this moment I Pieter give myself to you Mara-lee to be your husband. I promise to love you unselfishly and to always take good care of you as God has commanded me to do. I also promise to treat you with respect as a daughter of God and to appreciate you as God’s gift to enrich my life.

(Have ring ready) I Pieter give you this ring to be a constant reminder to both of us of my total commitment to you throughout our lives. Man to place ring on woman’s finger (Addressing the woman) Mara-lee in the presence of God and all these witnesses, will you now make your vows to Pieter by saying after me:From this moment I Mara-lee give myself to you Pieter to be your wife. I promise to love you unselfishly and to always remain in submission to you as God requires me to do. I also promise to always treat you with the respect that a son of God deserves and to appreciate you as God’s gift to enrich my life. (Have ring ready) I Mara-lee now give you this ring to be a constant reminder to both of us of my total commitment to you throughout our lives. (Addressing them both) You could have been legally married before a magistrate but by seeking the ministry of the church, you have expressed your conviction that marriage is more than a legal contract but rather a bond of union that is sealed in heaven. Together with you we believe that God has witnessed and sealed this covenant that you both made with each other today. Now we would like to pray for you to ask God to give you all the strength and wisdom to remain totally committed to each other and to really bless your marriage. LET US PRAY: (Then the minister will ask the man and woman to join their right hands and placing his hand on top of theirs shall say:For as much as Pieter and Mara-lee have consented together in holy wedlock and have witnessed the same before God and this company and thereto have pledge their faith to the other and have

declared the same by joining hands and giving of rings, I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together let no man put asunder. Amen.