As we all
gathered here on this glorious day that the Lord has blessed you with, we are
excited
for the two
of you as you begin a new life together, as husband and wife, establishing a
new
family, and
a new ministry team for the Lord. But why did you go through all this work and
expense? Why
not just go off and live together? Why not try each other out and if you’re not
compatible
you can find someone else? Wouldn’t that be easier than all of this? But no,
you
have planned
and dreamt about this day your whole life. So why make it special or unique
from
other days?
You know our culture is in a battle over what marriage is and what makes up a
family
today. Our culture isn’t sure about commitment or vows, or permanency in
marriage.
You are here
today to declare without a doubt that God has a design for marriage,
for the
family, and for the two of you. That design is for one man and one woman to
make a
covenant
with each other and stick with that covenant for life. You are here to testify
of God’s
leading in
your life to be together with one another and to live out the picture God gives
us in
scripture of
Christ, the bridegroom laying down his life for His bride, the church. We are
going
to testify
of God’s design for marriage today by asking our family and friends here with
us a few questions.
1. Why are the friends of the bride and groom
seated on opposite sides from one another? This is a symbol of a covenant
setting. Marriage is established by God as a covenant not a contract. In the
Old Testament a covenant was established when two parties sacrificed an animal
of value and walked together between the two pieces of flesh. You sitting there
symbolize the sacrifices made in order for the bride and groom to enter into
this agreement, or covenant. A covenant is based on trust, not distrust. A
covenant is based on unlimited responsibility, not limited liability, and a
covenant cannot be broken when circumstances change while a contract can be broken
by mutual consent.
2. Why the white isle runner? This is a
symbol of walking on holy ground. A covenant is made in the presence of God and
He is the One joining you two.
3. Why do the parents get special seating?
The final responsibility for a parent is
to help their child discern the right life mate for them. Parents enter into
the wedding as a position of authority and leave in a position of counsel as a
new household is established.
4. Why did Leighton come in first? He is
declaring that he is the covenant initiator. Whoever initiates the covenant has
the greater responsibility of seeing that it is fulfilled. God initiated
covenants with Noah, Abraham, and David. Christ initiated the covenant of
salvation with us and He will fulfill it. God is responsible and faithful to
fulfill His covenants and you are called to be faithful in your wedding
covenant.
5. Why did Michael walk Kaitlyn down the aisle?
Michael is telling Kaitlyn, “I am endorsing this young man as God’s very best
for you as a husband and I am now bringing you to him. At the same time Michael
is saying to Leighton, “I am presenting to you a daughter whom Denise and I
have worked hard to train and protect as a pure bride for you.”
6. Why do we ask who gives the bride to be
married to the groom? It symbolizes not only the full blessing of the
parents but is also a transfer of responsibility to Leighton by Michael. Kaitlyn is now under Michael’s care and
protection until marriage, once married she is now under the care and
protection of her new authority, Leighton.
7. Why will Leighton make his vows first?
As the initiator he is assuming the greater responsibility to fulfilling the
purpose God has for marriage. Which include companionship, he will work at
keeping Kaitlyn as his best friend. Completeness.
God says man shouldn’t be alone. God has brought them together to complete the
weaknesses and the needs they each have. They fill what is lacking in the
other. Fruitfulness. God’s first
command was to be fruitful. The Bible says that you are blessed to have a
quiver full of children to do battle with the enemy. Protection. Leighton you are to lay down your life for Kaitlyn. Lay
down your time, your money, your affections, your goals, your priorities, and
make them yours together. Enjoyment.
God gives marriage that you may enjoy each other and life together. And the
final purpose of marriage is that you are a picture of Christ and the church. I
will come back to that in a moment.
8. Why is the couple “pronounced” husband and
wife? This pronouncement establishes as a definite time of the beginning of
the marriage. This is now a valid marriage and the beginning of a new
household.
9. Why do we introduce the new couple?
This establishes their change of names. Kaitlyn will take on Leighton’s last
name and Leighton will take on a new name of husband, Kaitlyn’s husband.
Now I want
to go back to the most important reason for us being here today and why we
don’t
treat a
wedding ceremony flippantly. You are here today giving us a beautiful picture
of the
gospel. We
are here today to proclaim not only God’s design for marriage but also the
message
this
proclaims to others. You see when weddings took place in the Bible, the
prospective groom
would travel
from his fathers house to the girls house. The father of the girl would work
out
arrangements
and a price would be paid to the father for the bride. After the payment the
marriage
covenant would be established. At this point the guy and the girl were
considered
husband and
wife even though that had been no physical union. Now the girl was declared to
be set apart
exclusively for the groom. The groom then left the girls home and returned to
his
fathers
home. There he prepared a place to bring his new bride. During this time the
girl is to
prepare
herself to get ready to leave when her bridegroom returns. When the grooms
preparations
were complete, he would travel back to the girls home, usually at night with a
torch-lit procession to get his bride. The
bride does not know exactly when he is coming so she
is prepared
to leave at any time. The groom arrives and takes his bride with him back to
his
fathers
house where they consummate their marriage.
People, this
is a picture spiritually of what God is doing for us. Jesus has a plan for each
of our
lives and
that plan is for us to be His bride. He left His Fathers house to come to
earth, our
house, and
pay a price by shedding His own blood to purchase our salvation. He then went
back
to His
Fathers house and is preparing a place for us. His desire is for us to be with
Him.
Someday, and someday soon, He is coming again
to receive those who have put their faith in
Him, His
bride, and bring them to be with Him eternally in heaven. This is why this is
important;
this is why
this is solemn and serious. We are presenting a picture of God’s very plan of
salvation
for the world. My question to you as you sit and look at this picture is to
ask, Is he
coming for you? Will you someday enjoy the
warm fellowship with Jesus in heaven as His
spiritual
bride? To enter into a covenant relationship with Him, simply admit you are a
sinner
and not
worthy on your own merits to stand before your Holy Creator and through
repentance
and placing
your faith entirely on Jesus Christ, who paid the ultimate price for us by
giving His
own life to pay for our sin, by asking Him to
forgive you and be your precious Savior and
bridegroom.
This is what Leighton & Kaitlyn stand for and what they declare to you
today. Do
you see the
picture? Will you put your trust in Christ today? You will not only make this
bride
and groom
happy but your heavenly bridegroom waits for you to come. We are excited to see
what the
Lord is going to do in and through your marriage. I pray God’s abundant
blessings
upon you. I love you both.
That was beautiful. Just beautiful.
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