IT BY VIDEO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET OVER THIS AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TOGETHER, BUT WE HAVE A GREAT SPEAKER TODAY. HE IS PASTOR POXES. WE OUGHT TO BE STANDING TALL FOR JESUS, AMEN. HE'S GOING TO BE STANDING TALL FOR JESUS TODAY. HE AND I HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON. JONATHAN, JP, JERRY PREVO, I GO BY JP TOO SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT IN COMMON. A SHORT WELCOME. I'M ALL DRESSED UP FOR VARIOUS REASONS. THEY TOLD ME I OUGHT TO DRESS UP TODAY, AND SO I DRESSED UP TODAY A LITTLE BIT. IT'S HARD FOR A GUY SOMETIMES TO LOOK GOOD AND DRESS UP, BUT I TRY. ALL RIGHT, WELL, ARE YOU READY TO HAVE SOME MORE WORSHIP MUSIC? LET'S GIVE THEM A BIG HAND AS THEY COME OUT. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. >> MAN, LET'S PRAY TOGETHER. WHETHER YOU'RE WATCHING WITH A LAPTOP OPEN, JUST BEFORE WE MOVE PAST THIS MOMENT, THINK ABOUT THE SEASON OF YOUR LIFE, WHERE YOU WOULD JUSTIFY THAT SEASON AS A SEASON OF BROKENNESS. THINK ABOUT A MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE WHERE MAYBE SIN THAT YOU CAUSED, YOU COMMITTED, BROKE SOMETHING TRAUMATICALLY IN YOUR HEART. OR MAYBE IT WASN'T YOU, SAID SOMETHING AGAINST YOU AND YOU WERE BROKEN DOWN. MAYBE IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF SIN, IT WAS ORIGINAL SIN. IT WAS THE FACT THAT WE LIVE IN A BROKEN WE SHOULD AND WE LOOK BACK AND SAY THAT WAS A SEASON WHERE I SAT BY MY MOM AND SHE PASSED AWAY. I WENT BESIDE HER BED, AND I PRAYED FOR HEALING AND I JUST WATCHED HER BODY BREAK DOWN. I DON'T KNOW, THINK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT BROKEN MOMENTS IN THEIR LIFE. IF YOU'RE IN THIS LIFE, CAN YOU WAVE AT ME IF YOU WOULD IDENTIFY THIS SEASON OF BROKENNESS RIGHT NOW. IF THAT'S YOU RIGHT NOW COME WITH THE HOPE THAT LIFE HAS MOUNTAINTOPS AND VALLEYS, LIFE HAS PSALM 22 AND PSALM 23S. LIFE AND JOY AND SORROW. THERE IS BROKENNESS AND THEN THERE'S WHOLENESS. THAT IS THE EPB AND FLOW WHERE WE ARE. LET'S COME BEFORE THE LORD AND SAY ONCE I WAS BROKEN, BUT I WATCHED HOW YOU PULLED MY HEART TOGETHER. I WATCHED HOW, GOD, YOU LEFT ME IN THAT MOMENT, BUT STEPPED FURTHER WITH ME INTO THAT MOMENT. COME ON, LET'S SING THIS. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE. IT REALLY IS SUFFICIENT, LORD. THANK YOU, GOD, THAT WE DESERVE YOUR WRATHFUL LEFT, YOU GIVE US YOUR RIGHTEOUS HAND. WE DESERVE THE BACK OF YOUR HAND, BUT YOU OPEN YOUR POMP TO US AND YOU TOLD US. THERE'S NOTHING BETTER IN THIS WORLD KNOW TO KNOW THAT YOU HOLD US NOT BECAUSE WE DESERVE TO BE HELD, YOU HOLD US BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST LOVING AND PATIENT AND KIND AND MERCIFUL. YOU CELEBRATE THAT, WE CELEBRATE THAT ABOUT YOU. AS WE SIT UNDER YOUR TEACHING, GOD, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD USE YOUR SERVANT TO OPEN YOUR WORD, TO TELL US THINGS, GOD, FROM YOU, THAT WE CAN APPLY TO OUR LIFE AND ACT OF WORSHIP. WE JUST WANT TO HONOR YOU TODAY, GOD. WE'RE AVAILABLE TO YOU, GOD, WE PRAY THIS IN YOUR NAME. AMEN. AS WE HAVE A SEAT CAN WE THANK THE WORSHIP COLLECTIVE. SO ANOINTED. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I HOPE YOU'RE DOING WELL. IT WILL BE A CRAZY WEEK FOR US AS WE ARE GEARING DOWN FOR ROUND 4 OF SNOW COMING OUR WAY. I WANT TO STILL YOU -- TELL YOU THAT STEVEN KURT US -- CONSIDERED ITSELF CHAPMAN WERE COMING TOGETHER TO BE WITH US FRIDAY ON CONVOCATION AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RESCHEDULE BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER. WE'RE EXPECTING TO BASICALLY TOMORROW GET SHUT DOWN A LITTLE BIT. BY THE TIME FRIDAY ROLLS AROUND, WE DIDN'T WANT THEM TO COME IN AND THEN BE STUCK BECAUSE OF THE FLIGHTS AND EVERYTHING, SO WE'LL HAVE THEM IN THE NEXT FEW REEKS. WE'RE JUST KIND OF MOVING THINGS AROUND. THEY STILL WILL BE WITH US. BUT WE DID HAVE A PRERECORDED CONVO FROM ANOTHER GUEST THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SHOW FRIDAY, SO I THINK YOU'LL BE ABLE TO USE THAT IN YOUR LIFE IN A TREMENDOUS WAY. OUR 6 O'CLOCK TONIGHT AND 8 O'CLOCK TONIGHT ARE ALREADY PACKED. IF YOU HAVE A TICKET, SHOW UP, BE A PART OF THIS. JONATHAN IS GOING TO PREACH FOR US. HE'S PICKING UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF ON WEEK THREE, A PLAYLIST, HE'S PREACHING OUT OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS TONIGHT OPINION SO WILL JOHN TYLER, JOHN STATEN. ALL OF THE GUESTS WILL JOIN WITH ME IN THIS PLAYLIST THAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR. THE 8 O'CLOCK WILL BE STREAMED AND YOU CAN JOIN US BY WATCHING, THOSE OF YOU WHO DID NOT GET A TICKET FOR THOSE TWO GATHERINGS. OUR GUEST TODAY IS NO STRANGER TO OUR UNJERSEY. HE'S BEEN FOR US TO PREACH FOR US IN THE PAST, WHICH IS ALWAYS A HIGHLIGHT, BUT REALLY THROUGH THE PORCH, WHICH IS A MASSIVE BIBLE STUDY THE WORLD PEAKS ON THAT HE WAS A PRIMARY TEACHER AT. HE'S ALSO A PASTOR IN A BIG CHURCH AT A BIG COLLEGE TOWN, WACO, HARRIS CREEK. JONATHAN IS A GOOD BROTHER. I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW HIM THE LAST FEW YEARS. A LOT OF TIMES I'LL CALL HIM FOR ADVICE. HE'S GOT A BRAND NOW BOOK THAT IS COMING OUT IN A FEW WEEKS. WE WANT TO SUPPORT THAT. WHEN IT'S AVAILABLE IN THE BOOKSTORE WE'LL SEND SOMETHING ON INSTAGRAM AND LET YOU KNOW. GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT HIS BRAND-NEW BOOK. I ASKED HIM TO PREACH WITH US AND I ASKED HIM TO BE WITH US TONIGHT AT CAMPUS COMMUNITY. COME ON, CAN WE PUT OUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR JONATHAN POKLUDA, EVERYBODY. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU, GUYS. PASTOR DAVID CALLS, IT'S A YES. ALL ELSE WAITS. THAT IS ONE OF THE RULES IN MY LIFE. I THINK HE GAVE ME A GOOD FIVE-DAYS NOTICE. IF ANYBODY ELSE WOULD HAVE CALLED IT WOULD BE A NO. BUT IT'S A YES. IT'S NOT BECAUSE I LOVE HIM, IT'S BECAUSE OF SELFNESS. THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES WHERE YOU GO TO GIVE AND THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES WHERE YOU GO TO AND YOU RECEIVE. EVEN JUST WHAT HAPPENED RIGHT THERE, THAT HOLY MOMENT WITH REALLY GIFTED MUSICIANS SINGING ABOUT THE GRACE OF GOD, I SIT THERE. I'M KIND OF SHOOK, IF I'M HONEST. TO BE COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT WITH YOU. GOD, YOU ARE SO GOOD. THERE'S JUST SOMETHING -- YOU GUYS ARE WEIRD, THIS PLACE IS WEIRD. THIS IS A WEIRD PLACE. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT WALKING AROUND AND JUST CONTINUING TO PUMP UP -- BUMP UP AGAINST PEOPLE WHO ARE EXCITED ABOUT JESUS. THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. I'D LOVE TO SIT HERE AND TELL YOU -- THAT HEAPS EVERYWHERE I GO, BUT IT DOESN'T. IT'S A UNIQUE WORK OF GOD IN THIS PLACE. YOU GUYS, YOU HAVE AN AMAZING LEADER IN PASTOR DAVID. I SENSE THAT YOU KNOW THAT, BUT IF ANYBODY IS SKEPTICAL, IF ANYBODY IS SKEPTICAL, THE BROTHER IS THE REAL DEAL AND THAT'S A PRIVILEGE. NONE OF THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY MESSAGE, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY ABOUT MY BROTHER, SO DON'T ASSISTANT MY TIMER NOW. ASK YOUR ROOMS TO JOIN YOU. I STRUGGLE TO WATCH THINGS ONLINE. THERE'S SO MANY OTHER DISTRACTIONS, SO MANY OTHER THINGS GOING ON. I SENSE GOD WANTS TO DO A WORK HERE. SO FATHER WOULD YOU DO A WORK HERE? I KNOW WE'VE PRAYED AND ASK YOU THIS. I PRAY THAT YOUR SPIRIT WOULD BE -- I KNOW YOU'RE HERE, BUT THAT WOULD BE HERE WORKING IN THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE, THAT YOU WOULD CRACK HARD HEARTS OPEN, YOU'D REMOVE DISTRACTIONS AND YOU'D SHOW US SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL ABOUT JESUS IN THE WORD OF GOD, IT'S IN HIS NAME, AMEN. I WANT TO TAKE YOU BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY CLASS. I'M IN HIGH SCHOOL. I STRUGGLED IN SCHOOL. SCHOOL IS NOT MY THING. I DO NOT DO WELL. I DESPERATELY NEED A GOOD GRADE IN BIOLOGY TO PASS. THE TEACHER SAID THERE IS A PROJECT THAT WILL COUNT FOR A FOURTH OF YOUR GRADE. THIS PROJECT I NEED TO MAKE A GOOD GRADE ON AND WHAT SHE STARTS DOING IS SHE STARTS PARTNERING US UP. I NOTICE SHE STARTS PARTNERING BOYS WITH GIRLS, GUYS WITH GIRLS. I'M SITTING THERE, I'VE GOT THIS AMAZING CRUSH ON THIS GIRL IN MY BIOLOGY CLASS. SHE'S THE REASON I'M FAILING BECAUSE THE WHOLE TIME TEACHER IS TALKED I'M JUST LIKE OH MY GOODNESS. WE'LL CALL HER GG HADI. THAT IS HER NAME. THAT IS NOT HER REAL NAME, BY THE WAY. I CHANGED IT SO YOU WOULDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHO SHE IS. I'M IN LOVE WITH HER PRETTY MUCH. THE TEACHER IS PARTNERING US UP. I'M LIKE PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, GOD, IF YOU'RE THERE AND YOU HEAR ME, PUT ME WITH GG, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, GOD, PLEASE. I DON'T EVEN HAVE A FAITH, BUT I'M PRAYING. THE TEACHER GOES JONATHAN AND GG AND SHE DOES. AND WE'RE PARTNERED UP. I JUST TAKE A MOMENT RIGHT THERE IN MY DESK IN BIOLOGY TO PRAY. FATHER, THANK YOU. YOUR GRACE THAT IS SHOWN UPON ME TODAY. THANK YOU. YOU'VE HARDER MY CRIES, LORD, FROM THE PIT AND THANK YOU FOR THIS. SO THEN SHE ROLLS OUT THE PROJECT. I HADN'T EVEN CONSIDERED THE PROJECT. Y TURNS OUT WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO IS DISSECT A FROG, ALL RIGHT. NOW HERE IS THE PROBLEM. I DESPERATELY NEEDED AN A BUT GG WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FROG. SHE WAS LIKE, I'M NOT GETTING NEAR THAT THING. NO, I NEED YOU TO BE GOOD AT THIS. I DON'T NEED TO GET ANY FROG JUICE ON MY HANDS. I'M LIKE, NO, WE CAN WASH OUR HANDS. ALL MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED, I HAVE HAD THIS PARTNER THAT I HAD PRAYED FOR, BUT I HADN'T CONSIDERED THE ASSIGNMENT. I HADN'T CONSIDERED WHAT WE'D BE DOING. IT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE I SPEND SO MUCH OF MY TIME WITH SINGLE PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM WANT TO BE MARRIED, BUT THEY NEVER CONSIDER WHAT THE ASSIGNMENT IS. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THEIR PERSON, THEIR PARTNER, SOMEONE TO SPEND THE REST OF THEIR LIFE WITH TO DO THIS THING AND THEY NEVER CONSIDER WHAT THE THING IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE IN LIFE THAT WE DO THIS WITH. LIKE WE WOULD GO OUT AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING, YOU WOULD KNOW, OKAY, WHAT IS IT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING AND DO THEY HAVE THE CHARACTER QUALITIES. LIKE IN A JOB INTERVIEW YOU WOULD NEVER HIRE SOMEBODY FOR A JOB BASED ON HOW YOU FEEL LIKE THEM BECAUSE YOU LIKE BEING AROUND THEM AND THEY HAVE ALL THE BUTTERFLIES. DO WE HAVE THE SKILLS TO DO THE JOB. THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSIGNMENT, THE MOST IMPORTANT TEST FOR BELIEVERS IS THIS IDEA OF MARRIAGE. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT. WE'RE GOING TO GET MARRIED AND WE DON'T CONSIDER WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. SO TODAY I'M GOING TO TALK TO A PREDOMINANTLY SINGLE CROWD ABOUT MARRIAGE. LISTEN, IF YOU'RE HERE AND YOU'RE CALLED TO SINGLENESS AND YOU DON'T WANT MARRIAGE, THAT IS A HIGH CALLING. ON BEHALF OF THE CHURCH I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU AND SAY WE HAVE MISSED IT THAT MARRIAGE IS GOOD AND SINGNESS IS GOOD. JESUS SAID PEOPLE WHO CAN BE SINGLE FOR THE SAKE OF THE KINGDOM IN MATTHEW 19, SINGLENESS IS A CALLING. MY HUNDRED OF IS MOST OF YOU STATISTICALLY SPEAKING WILL BE GET MARRIED AND MOST OF YOU WILL MARRY POORLY. EVEN IN THE CHURCH YOU HAVE A DIVORCE RATE OF ABOUT 50%. THEN YOU HAVE THIS OTHER STATISTIC OF PEOPLE WHO STAY TOGETHER, BUT ARE UNHAPPY. SO MOST MARRIAGES FAIL. IT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T CONSIDER THE ASSIGNMENTS OR EXPECTATIONS AT ALL. IF YOU LEAN IN AS AS I OPEN THE ETERNAL TRUTHS FROM GOD, YOU WILL LEAVE HERE, YOU WILL CLOSE YOUR LAPTOP IN A MOMENT, TURN OFF YOUR TVs AND BE BETTER PREPARED FOR ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSIGNMENTS OF YOUR LIFE. I JUST WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT IT IS: I WANT TO DEFINE MARRIAGE AS THE SCRIPTURE DEFINES IT SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING. LISTEN, WE HAVE MORE HELP IN DATING. WE HAVE DATING APPS, WE GOT DATING SITES, WE GOT PERSONALITY TESTS, COMPATIBILITY TESTS, WE HAVE PROFESSIONAL MATCH MAKERS. BUT PEOPLE WHO DESIRE MARRIAGE ARE GETTING MARRIED LATER, THEY'RE GETTING MARRIED LESS, AND MARRIAGES AREN'T LASTING. WHY? OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE OFF. I'LL SHOW YOU SOME STATS. IN 1967, OUT OF PEOPLE IN THEIR 20s THAT WERE MARRIED COMPARED WITH JUST TWO OUT OF TODAY. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THE AVERAGE PERSON SPENDING MORE TIME SINGLE THAN MARRIED. 50% OF MARRIAGES END IN DIVORCE. I DO NOT KNOW WHERE YOU'RE ON THE IN THAT PROCESS. I MET MY WIFE IN COLLEGE. THAT'S WHY I THINK THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE MESSAGE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU START TO BE THINKING LONG TERM AROUND RELATIONSHIPS, BUT HERE IS WHAT I KNOW. A VERY SIMPLE TRUTH. YOU CANNOT DISPUTE THIS. ARE YOU READY? YOU WILL NOT FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IF IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AND MOST SINGLE PEOPLE I MEET WITH, I SAY HOW WILL YOU KNOW WHEN YOU FOUND THE PERSON YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE -- YOUR LIFE WITH. THIS IS WHAT THEY TELL ME. I GUESS YOU JUST KNOW WHEN YOU KNOW. IF THEY WERE HONEST, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO MAKES THEM FEEL A CERTAIN WAY. MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'VE NEVER FELT BEFORE, HAPPIER THAN I'VE EVER BEEN. YOU DON'T REALIZE FOR MOST PEOPLE HAPPINESS IS FLEETING. YOU NEVER GO TO THE GROCERY STORE LOOKED FOR SOMETHING THINKING I'M WALKING DOWN THE AISLE, I GUESS I WILL FEEL WHEN I FIND IT. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. IF IT'S A PARTICULAR BRAND AND FLAVOR. YOU KNOW. WHY DO WE HANDLE THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSIGNMENT OR ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSIGNMENTS OF OUR LIFE DIFFERENT THAN THAT. I'M GOING TO BE IN EPHESIANS, CHAPTER 5 IF YOU WANT TO BE THERE. IT'S A CHAPTER ON MARRIAGE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE ASSIGNMENT, THIS TEST THAT WE MUST PASS. AS I MOVE THROUGH THE SERIES I WANT TO SET YOUR EXPECTATIONS ON WHAT MARRIAGE IS THAT YOU'D EXPECT TO SACRIFICE AND SUBMIT, EXPECT TO BE SANCTIFIED THROUGH SERVICE, AND EXPECT THAT IT IS TRULY AND IN REALITY ALL ABOUT YOUR SAVIOR. IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU. APOSTLE PAUL WRITES TO THE CHURCH, HE SAID: SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER OUT OF REVERENCE FOR CHRIST. THAT IS HUGE. THERE IS THIS MUTUAL SUBMISSION, HUSBAND AND WIFE. UNDERLINE THAT. THIS IS BIG. IN A MINUTE SOME OF YOU LADIES ARE GOING TO FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO WALK TO THE BATHROOM, SNEAK OUT, CLOSE YOUR LAPTOP. HANG IN WITH ME FOR A SECOND. THEN HE SAID, WIFE SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO YOUR OWN HUSBAND: IF YOU UNDERLINED THE WORD SUBMIT THERE, YOU UNITED STATES LINED IT FIVE TIMES. IT SHOWS UP OVER AND OVER. SOME OF YOU LADIES ARE THAT IS AN OLD IDEA, OUT DONATED, THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO 2020 ANYMORE. PROBABLY WHAT HAPPENED IS THE HOLY SPIRIT TOOK HIS HANDS OFF THE WHEEL AND PAUL WENT ROGUE STARTING TO WRITE SOMETHING. PETERRER SAYS WIVES SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO YOUR HUSBAND. COLOSSIANS SAID SOMETHING SIMILAR. LET ME CLARIFY SOME THINGS. IT DOES NOT SUBMIT TO A MAN. IT'S NOT WHAT IT SAYS. IT DOES NOT SAY SUBMIT TO SIN. SO IF A MAN IS ASKING YOU TO SIN, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU SUBMIT TO HIM AND YOU YOU THINK THIS IS A HIGH CALLING. I'M GOING TO ADMIT, THIS NEXT VERSE IS MAYBE HARDER. HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES JUST AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR HER. IF THE FIRST WORD IS SUBMIT, IS IT HUSTLES -- IF WE WERE GOING TO PUT A WORD IN THERE WHAT WOULD WE SAY? SACRIFICE. THAT IS A GOOD WORD. SO WE SEE THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT MARRIAGE, THERE'S SUBMISSION AND SACRIFICE. SACRIFICING AND SUBMISSION. WHAT THE WORLD SAYS IS YOU NEED TO FIND YOUR PERSON, YOU NEED TO FIND THE ONE, LOOK FOUR YOUR SOULMATE, LIKE A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK. YOU'LL KNOW WHEN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT WILL BE GREAT. THERE IS NO COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN TWO SINNERS. THE MANDATE OF MARRIAGE IS ACTUALLY FROM THE SCRIPTURES ACTUALLY SACRIFICE AND SUBMISSION. SO I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENT. PAUL IS NODDING HIS HEAD AT THE METAPHOR MARRIAGE HERE, THAT IT IS MORE ABOUT JESUS THAT WE EVER IMAGINED. IN THE TRINITY WE BEGIN TO SEE GLIMPSES OF THE MARRIAGE SET IN A DIFFERENT WAY, ROLES IN MARRIAGE ARE A GLIMPSE, A FORE SHADOWING FOR CREATOR, GOD. THAT MAY BE NEW FOR SOME OF YOU. THAT MAY BE THE FIRST TIME YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT, BUT THIS IDEA OF MARRIAGE IS POINTING US TO GOD. REALLY THE EXPECTATION OF YOU IS NOT TO FIND SOMEONE WHO COMPLETES YOU, BUT TO GIVE 100% AND EXPECT NOTHING IN RETURN. THAT IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE. BUT YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S NEVER BEEN A DIVORCE BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE THAT WERE DOING THAT, IT'S NEVER HAPPENED IN THE HISTORY OF HISTORY. LET ME SAY IT A DIFFERENT WAY. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A DIVORCE -- PEOPLE WHO PLACE JESUS IN THEIR LIFE FIRST, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A DIVORCE. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE JESUS THING WAY, WAY WAY, CORRECT IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET MARRIED, THAT THAT IS LIKED LOOKED SOLID IN THEIR HEART. YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS, HOW DID THEY SUBMIT. A BOY OR GIRL, A GUY OR GIRL, HOW DO THEY SUBMIT TO AUTHORITY. DOES THE GUY SUBMIT TO AUTHORITY? IS HE UNDERSTANDS AUTHORITY? DOES HE LISTEN TO LEADERS OVER HIM? OR IS HE LIKE, NO, MAN, I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. THEY CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO AWARE AND HOW TO BE BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO BE A MISERABLE HUSBAND. THERE IS THIS WEIRD THING IN CULTURE TODAY WHERE IT'S COOL TO BE SEW A SEEDY. -- SASSY. BE AS SASSY AS YOU WANT BECAUSE THAT IS MISERABLE IN MARRIAGE. MONICA IS 5'3". I'M 6'7". THAT IS WEIRD. I'M WEIRD. I I LOVE GUNS, MOTORCYCLES, AND USC. SHE DOESN'T LIKE ANY OF THOSE THINGS. AND YET WE SPEND THE RESOLUTION OF OUR LIVES TOGETHER BECAUSE WE SAID I DO BEFORE GOD IN A COULD HAVEMENT. ARE THERE GUYS MORE COMPATIBLE WITH MONICA THAN ME? THERE'S LIKE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GUYS. WILL SHE BE HAPPY GREAT PLEASURE WITH SOMEBODY ELSE? SHE COULD BE HAPPIER WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE. WHOA. LIKE, NO, WE HAVE AN AMAZING MARRIAGE, THE BEST MARRIAGE OF ANYONE I KNOW. THAT'S BECAUSE WE WORK AT IT. WE'RE COMMITTED. WE'RE MISSING TO EACH OTHER AND MAKING SACRIFICES TOGETHER, RIGHT? THAT'S DIFFERENT. I CAN DO ANYTHING FOR A MOMENT. THIS IS DATING. WHEN I MET MONICA, I WAS IN COLLEGE, I TOLD YOU. IT RIPPED MY HEART OUT AND PUT IT ON A PLATTER. I WAS SMITTEN. OVERWHELMED. BUT SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND. BUT THAT'S OKAY, BECAUSE I HAD HER NUMBER. [ LAUGHTER ] >> SO I JUST STARTED BLOWING HER UP. I WOULD LEAVE WHO'S VOICEMAILS, I WOULD SING TO HER. I KNOW THAT IS CRAZY, BUT I WOULD LEAVE THESE VOICEMAILS OF ME SINGING. I WOULD SING ♪ I WAS HANGING WITH THE FELLOW ♪ I SAW YOU WITH MY BOYFRIEND ♪ I MADE YOU JEALOUS. I WAS HOPING I WOULD NEVER SEE YOU WITH HIM. I KNOW THE -- COME ON, GIRL, I WANT YOU BACK. [ LAUGHTER ] >> WOULD YOU CALL ME LATER? NO, NO, IT'S JONATHAN, YEAH, CALL ME LATER. OKAY. DATE GAME. DATE GAME. I LEARNED SHE HAD THIS BOYFRIEND BEAU THAT'S OKAY. SHE LIKED VANILLA WHITE CHOCOLATE MOOSE WITH HEATING BAR TOPPING AND SHE WORKED HEART TIME, DO YOU WANT IT, OR YOU WORK HERE, I WAS JUST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WAS SO EASY TO MAKE SACRIFICES FOR HER, BUT IT WASN'T SELF-LESS. IT WAS SELFISH. I WANTED TO. ALL OF THOSE SACRIFICES WERE ABOUT ME, MY EMOTIONS. BUT THEN WHEN WE GOT IN A MARRIAGE AND I DIDN'T HAVE ALL THESE FEELS ANYMORE, I DON'T WANT TO SACRIFICE ANYMORE. I DON'T WANT TO SUBMIT TO ANYTHING ANYMORE. I WANT TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO WHEN I WANT TO DO IT. THAT IS WHY MOST OF THE WORLD IS UNHAPPY IN MARRIAGE. THE COMMITMENT KICKS IN AND YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE TO BE SELF-LESS TOWARDS SOMEONE. VERSE 26. TO MAKE HER HOLY. WHAT IS A WORD FOR "TO MAKE HOLY"? I HEARD IT. SANCTIFY CASE. SO TO BE SANCTIFIED PRESENTING TO HER AS A RADIANT CHURCH, BUT HOLY AND BLAMELESS. IN THE SAME WAY HUSBAND, IN THE SAME WAY, IN THE SAME WAY HUSTLES OUGHT TO LOVE THEIR OWN LIVES IN THEIR BODIES. NO ONE EVER HATED THEIR OWN BODY, BUT THEY FEED AND CARE FOR THEIR BODY JUST AS CHRIST DOES THE CHURCH FOR WE ARE MEMBERS OF HIS BODY. VERSE 26 IS CLEANSING BY THE WASHING, IT'S NOT TALKING ABOUT BAPTISM, IT'S TALKING ABOUT HOW THE WORD WASHES US AND PURIFIES. YOU CAN ASK DO THEY GET IT IN WORLD, ARE THEY STUDENTS OF GOD'S WORD, ARE THEY REGULARLY READING GOD'S WORD. ARE YOU? ARE YOU MARRIAGE MATERIAL? WHAT THE WORLD SAYS IS TO LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER, HAVE YOUR OWN PLAY PARTNER, OR LIVE IN HANDYMAN, GIRLS THINK OF MARRIAGE AS ONE LONG CONVERSATION, LIKE, HEY, TELL ME ABOUT MY DAY UNTIL JESUS COMES BACK. GUYS THINK OF MARRIAGE AS LIKE THIS ONE GIANT SEX CAPADE, IT'S GOING TO BE WILD AND YOU'RE GOING TO CLEAN MY ROOM, THAT IS HOW THEY THINK OF IT, BUT THE MISSION OF MARRIAGE IS SANCTIFICATION OF SERVICE, SCRIPTURE SAYS. SANCTIFICATION WE SAID MEANS TO BECOME HOLY. SANCTIFICATION REALLY MEANS CHANGE. BRO KNOW MARS GOES I LOVE YOU. ♪ JUST THE WAY YOU ARE ♪ I WANT YOU TO ACCEPT ME FOR ME, LIKE JUST THE WAY NUMBER. THAT IS BEAUTIFUL. BUT MARRIAGE MEANS CHANGE. BECAUSE GOD IS COMING IN OUR LIVES AND CONTINUING TO CONFORM US TO THE IMAGE AND THE CHARACTER OF HIS SON. THAT MEANS HE'S SHAPING US TO BE LIKE HIM. SO YOU SHOULDN'T SEEK TO CHANGE THEM, BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW IF THEY HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AND YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT, THEY WILL BE CHANGED. THIS WAS HUGE IN MY MARRIAGE BECAUSE OUT OF SELF-LESS, I WAS TRYING TO SHAPE MONICA WHO I WANTED HER TO BE AND SHE WAS TRYING TO CHANGE ME AND WE'RE VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, INCOMPATIBLE APART FROM CHRIST. ONE DAY THE HOLY SPIRIT IN MY QUITE TIME HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THAT HE'S CHANGING HER TO BE LIKE JESUS, AND I CAN TRUST HER, SO WHEN SHE BRINGS ME SOMETHING, SAYS SOMETHING, SHE'S THE VOICE OF WISDOM IN MY LIFE. I DON'T HAVE TO ARGUE WITH YOU, I SAY GOD, IS THAT YOU. LET ME PRAY WITH YOU, LET LET ME TEST THAT. WE DON'T HAVE TO -- WE CAN SLOW DOWN, GOD, ARE YOU TELLING ME TOGETHER, ARE YOU SPEAKING TO ME THROUGH HER, AND I CAN LOVE AND RESPECT HER AND LISTEN: IT SAID I'M TO LOVE HER AS MY OWN BODY, 28. LOVE HER AS MY OWN BODY. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? HOW DO I CARE FOR MY BODY? WHEN I'M HUNGRY, WHAT DO I DO? I EAT P.M. ANYTIME I'M HUNGRY I'M GOING TO EAT. I'M COLD, GIVE ME A COAT, I'M GOING TO CARE FOR MY OWN BODY, BUT I'M GOING TO LOVE HER AS MY OWN BODY. HERE IS THE DEAL. I LOVE TO SLEEP, I TAKE IT VERY SERIOUS. I GOT TO GET THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF SLEEP. I BUY THE RIGHT MATTRESS, GOT ONE OF THOSE FOAM MATTRESSES, MEMORY FOAM, STUFF THEY TAKE TO NASA. YOU INVEST IN A MATTRESS. WE HAVE THIS D UVA, IT'S LIKE A BLANKET WITHIN A BLANKET, WITH FEATHERS. I LIKE IT COLD. THAT IS WHEN I SLEEP WELL. I LIKE IT COLD. SO I GOT THE TEMPERATURE TURNED DOWN, GET A SNUGLY IN BED. LIKE I'M OUT, RIGHT, AND I HEAR THIS, HEY, BABE. HEY, BABE, YOU SLEEPING? NOT ANYMORE. WHAT IS UP? I'M COLD. [ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT'S INTERESTING. HI, COLD. I'M SLEEPING. WHAT DO I DO? IF I'M TO LOVE HER AS MY OWN BODY, WHEN SHE SAYS SHE'S COLD, I GET MY BUTT OUT OF THAT HEAD AND MARCH OVER TO THE THERMOSTAT AND TURN IT UP BECAUSE I'M GOING TO CARE FOR HER AS I WOULD CARE FOR MYSELF FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. THIS IS MY LOT. TO ANTICIPATE HER NEEDS AND TO MEET HER NEEDS. THAT IS WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR WHEN I STOOD BEFORE THIS GUY IN A SUIT AND BEFORE A HOLY MIGHTY GOD AND THIS WOMAN IN A WHITE DRESS SAYING BETTER OR WORSE. RICHER OR POORER. SICKNESS AND HEALTH. UNTIL DEATH DO US PART. I WILL LOVE YOU EVEN AS I LOVE MYSELF. IF YOU DON'T LIKE TO S. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE MARRIAGE. AND YOU DON'T WANT TO CHANGE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE MARRIAGE. VERSE 31, FOR THIS REASON A MAN WILL LEAVE HIS MOTHER AND THE TWO WILL BECOME ONE FLESH. I'M TALKING ABOUT CHRIST AND THE CHURCH. HOWEVER, EACH ONE OF YOU ALSO MUST LOVE HIS WIFE AS HE LOVES HIMSELF AND THE WIFE MUST RESPECT HER HUSBAND. THIS COMES FROM GENESIS TWO FOR THIS REASON. [ READING. [. [ THERE IS A BONDING THAT WOULD TELL US HAPPENS IN THE ACT OF INTERCOURSE, THAT OUR BRAIN CREATES 16 ANSWERS, THAT IS LIKE A BRAIN MUSCLE. THAT IS WHY IMPORTANTING ON FEE IS AN ADDICTION. PROMISE MISCUE TEE IS DANGEROUS. SEX EXISTS FOR TWO PURPOSES. ONE, PRO CREATION. GOD MADE THE PARTS, PUT THEM WHERE THEY ARE, PUT THEM WHERE THEY ARE TO BRING FORCED LIFE. IT ALSO EXISTS, THE SECOND REASON, TO BOND A HUSBAND TO HIS WIFE. THIS LITERALLY HAPPENS, SCIENTIFICALLY SPEAKING. I LOVE WHAT TIM CHESTER SAID ABOUT THIS. YOU CAN NO MORE TRY OUT SEX THAN YOU CAN TRY OUT BIRTH. THE VERY ACT OF SEX PRODUCES A NEW REALITY THAT CANNOT BE UNDONE. SOME OF YOU, I KNOW THAT CREATES A SENSE OF HOPELESSNESS KNEW. I MADE LOTS OF SEXUAL POOR CHOICES. PORNOGRAPHY, SEXUAL ADDICTION MARKED MY LIFE BEFORE MARRIAGE AND I FOUND HEALING THROUGH THE GRACE OF JESUS. IT IS WORK. JESUS DID THE WORK FOR THE GRACE, BUT THEN I WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO FIND HEALING FROM THE THINGS I HAVE DONE. THERE IS HEALING AVAILABLE TO YOU. I'VE EXPERIENCED FREEDOM FIRST AND FOREMOST, BUT I WANT TO PURSUE IT. BUT WHAT YOU SEE HERE, YOU SEE TWO THINGS, THIS IDEA OF LOVE AND RESPECT, GENERALLY SPEAKING, DON'T MAKE TOO MUCH OF IT, BUT GENERALLY WOMEN WANT TO FEEL LOVED VERY MUCH AND MEN WANT TO FEEL RESPECTED. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. THE SCRIPTURE IS HELPFUL. WHAT YOU VIBRANCY THIS WHOLE TEXT IS MARRIAGE ISN'T ABOUT YOU. YOU SEE HUSBAND, WIFE, CHRIST, CHURCH, HUSBAND, WIFE, CHRIST, YOU SEE HUSBAND, WIFE, CHRIST, CHURCH, HUSBAND, WIFE, CHRIST, YOU SEE HUSBAND, WIFE, CHRIST, CHURCH, HUSBAND, WIFE, CHRIST, THE MISERY OF MARRIAGE IS IT SHOWCASES THE SAVIOR. IT'S NOT THIS ADD ON TO YOUR LIFE, THAT YOU'RE ADDING ACCESS CEASE, LIKE SUNGLASSES AND A CAR, YOU'RE IN THIS ROLE THAT YOU'RE THE STAR IN THE MOVIE AND YOU WOULD THINK WHO WOULD LOOK GOOD BESIDE ME. THAT IS NOT WHAT MARRIAGE IS. THE CAMEO IS ALL ABOUT JESUS. YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO PARTNER WITH IN MAKING HIM FAMOUS. BUILDING MINISTRY. IF YOU WERE SATAN, RIGHT, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH MARRIAGE? YOU'D ATTACK IT POLL YOU WOULD FEED PEOPLE'S PREFERENCES. YOU WOULD MAKE IT ALL ABOUT WHAT SOMEBODY WANTS. YOU WOULD REPLACE SELFNESS WITH SELFLESSNESS. YOU WOULD MAKE THE WEDDING ALL ABOUT THE CAKE AND THE COLORS AND THE BRIDES MAIDS AND THE DRESS AND THE PARTY AND THEN YOU'D HAVE THE MARRIAGE FAIL. JOHN PIPER SAID MARRIAGE IS TEMPORARY AND IT WILL FINAL GIVE WAY TO THE RELATIONSHIP WHICH WAS POINTING TO ALL ALONG CHRIST IN THE CHURCH THE WAY A PICTURE IS NO LONGER NEEDED WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE NOISE TO FACE. WHEN I'M WITH MONICA IT'S NOT LIKE I LEAVE THE KITCHEN TABLE, GO TO THE BATHROOM AND LOOK AT A PICK -- BEDROOM AND LOOK AT A PICTURE OF HER. I'M GONE THIS WEEK. I'LL SCROLL THROUGH MY PHONE AND LOOK AT PECK TERSE OF HER BECAUSE I MISS HER OR I CALL HER BECAUSE I MISS HER. MARRIAGE IS A PICTURE, IT'S LIKE LOOKING AT A PICTURE. MARRIAGE TEACHERS US ABOUT SACRIFICE, SUBMISSION, IT SHOWCASES THE SAVIOR, BUT SINGLENESS TEACHERS ABOUT WITH THE SUPREMACY AND SUFFICIENCY OF JESUS, THAT HE'S ENOUGH. SO WE CAN LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT GOD AND SINGLENESS UNIQUELY AND MARRIAGE. ONE IS NOT LESSER THAN THE OTHER, BOTH ARE GOOD. WHAT IF MARRIAGE LIKE MOST OF LIFE IS ABOUT SOMETHING MUCH MORE THAN OURSELVES, MUCH MORE THAN IT SEEMS. WHAT IF WE GOT IT WRONG, THESE THINGS WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO EVER SINCE WE SAW OUR FIRST DISNEY MOVIE. WHAT IF IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS AND WE MISSED THAT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY. WHAT IF THE ASSIGNMENT IS DIFFERENT. MY WIFE AND I MET NON-BELIEVERS AND BECAME CHRISTIANS DURING DATING. REALLY THAT MEANT PULLING THE BRAKE A SEX AND ALL THE PHYSICAL STUFF. IT WAS REALLY HARD, DIFFICULT, SO I PROPOSED. I'M LIKE WE SHOULD GET MARRIED. AND WE WERE. WE WERE BELIEVERS, WE WERE NOW BELIEVERS, AND WE WERE GOING THROUGH PREMARITAL COUNSELING. WE WERE PROCESSING AN ARGUMENT BECAUSE WE FOUGHT A LOT. HE SAID YOU GUYS ARE PURSUING EACH OTHER SO PASSIONATELY. YOUR RELATIONSHIP HAS MANIC HIGHS AND LOWS. YOU REALLY WANT A DRAMATIC RELATIONSHIP, IT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT, BUT THAT IS WHAT YOU PROGRAMMED YOUR HEART FOR. HE SAID YOU HAVE TO STOP PURSUING EACH OTHER. THEN YOU MISS EACH OTHER. HE DREW THESE TWO PEOPLE AND ARROWS. I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE A SLIDE WITH IT. IF NOT, NO BIG DEAL. THERE IT IS. SO WE DREW THESE TWO STICK FIGURES. AS YOU PURSUE EACH OTHER YOU MISS EACH OTHER. YOU NEED TO PURSUE JESUS TOGETHER. AS YOU DO THAT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE YOU'RE GOING TO GROW CLOSER AND CLOSER. I THINK WE HAVE A PICTURE OF A TROY ANGLE AND A CROSS. I SAT THERE AND LISTENED TO THIS AND I THOUGHT THIS IS THE STUPID ITSELF THING I EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE. THANKS, PASTOR, MAN, DID YOU LEARN THAT IN SEMINARY? YOU'RE GOING TO CROSS SOME ARROWS AND WE'RE GOING TO DRAW CLOSER AND CLOSER. IT CHANGED OUR LIVES, THAT MOMENT THAT I DIDN'T EVEN RESPECT, CHANGED EVERYTHING. BECAUSE AS WE LOOK AT OUR MARRIAGE AS WE PURSUE CHRIST TOGETHER, WE GROW CLOSER AND CLOSER TOGETHER. SO THE MANDATES OF MARRIAGE ARE SACRIFICE AND SUBMISSION. THE MISSION OF MARRIAGE IS SANCTIFICATION THROUGH SERVICE AND THE MYSTERY OF MARRIAGE IS IT SHOWCASES THE SAVIOR. IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS. DO WE SING AFTER THIS? I SHOULD ASK. NO. I KNOW WE CAN, BUT DO WE? WE WEREN'T PLANNING ON IT. OKAY, PERFECT, PERFECT. THAT'S GOOD, THAT'S GOOD TO WORK THOSE THINGS OUTS. AND SO IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS. THANK ABOUT THAT. IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS. LET ME MAKE SENSE OF SOME SCRIPTURES. IN THE TIME OF JESUS, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS A BOY, A YOUNG MAN WOULD LIVE WITH HIS FATHER, A HEBREW BOY WOULD LIVE WITH HIS FATHER. WHEN IT CAME OF AGE TO GET MARRIED HE WOULD LEAVE HIS FATHER'S HOUSE AND HE WOULD GO IN SEARCH OF A WOMAN AND GOLD TO A FOREIGN LAND MOST OFTEN. YOU WOULD GO SEARCHING FOR HER SOMEWHERE ELSE. YOU WOULD LOAD UP, GET THE FOOD AND IT WAS A HUNT. YOU WOULD GO TRYING TO FIND THIS WOMAN YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WITH. YOU WOULD ASK PEOPLE ABOUT HER CHARACTER, YOU WOULD INTERVIEW OTHERS. WHEN YOU FOUND HER, YOUR DAD WOULD PAY A PRICE FOR HER CALLED A DOWRY. HE WOULD PURCHASE HER, BUT NOT HER, BUT THE RIGHT TO MARY MARRY HER. YOU WOULD DRINK WINE FROM THE CAME CUP AND EUROPEAN GAUGED. AT THAT POINT YOU BELONGED TO EACH OTHER. IT WAS LIKE A SOFT MARRIAGE. THEN WHAT HE WOULD DO IS HE WOULD LEAVE HER, HE WOULD GO BACK HOME AND HE WOULD BEGIN TO BUILD A HOUSE ON HIS DAD'S HOUSE CALLED THE BRIDAL CHAMBER BECAUSE THAT HOUSE WAS ONE DAY GOING TO BE HIS, SO HE WOULD BUILD A ROOM FOR THEM TO LIVE IN, SO HE WOULD DO THAT, BUT SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHEN HE WAS COMING BACK. A TIME FRAME AND AN HOUR SHE WOULD KNOW SHE WASN'T AWARE OF THAT HE WOULD COME BACK FOR HER, BUT SHE'S MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR THE WEDDING. SHE BEGINS TO MAKE THE DRESS, GATHERS THE WEDDING PARTY, THIS IS WHERE WE GOT THAT TRADITION. THEY WOULD DO SOMEONE, IT WASN'T LIKE FIGLEAF AND LOOK PRETTY. YOU WOULD HELP HER MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR THE MARRIAGE. HE WOULD SEND WORD AHEAD OF HIM WITH TRUMPETS, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO TEXTING OR CELL PHONE. YOU'D HAVE TO SEND WORD AHEAD. HEY, YOUR GROOM IS COMING FOR YOU, HE'S COMING FOR YOU AND THAT WOULD SPREAD FROM CITY TO CITY, TOWN TO TOWN. HAD, SO SHE WOULD JUST BE SITTING THERE AND ONE DAY SHE WOULD HEAR SOMEONE CRY OUT THE WINDOW, YOUR GROOM IS COMING FOR YOU AND SHE WOULD BEGIN TO LOOK FOR HIM, WAITING FOR HIM TO COME BACK AND THEN HE WOULD AND HE WOULD TAKE HER AND HE WOULD GO INTO THAT BRIDAL CHAMBER AND THEY WOULD BE IN THERE FOR SEVEN DAYS, MAKING LOVE, WHILE THERE WOULD A PARTY OUTSIDE. EVERYBODY IS WAITING OUTSIDE FOR THEM. #AWKWARD. HE WOULD PRESENT HER TO HIS FAMILY PURE AND RADIANCE, LIKE THE CHURCH. SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WE THINK. THOMAS SAID JESUS, WHERE ARE YOU GOING. HE SAID MY FATHER'S HOUSE HAS MANY ROOMS. IF IT WERE NOT SO WOULD I HAVE TOLD YOU THAT I WAS GOING TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU AND I WILL COME BACK TO TAKE YOU TO BE WITH ME, THAT YOU ALSO MAY BE WHERE I AM. YOU KNOW THE WAY TO THE PLACE I AM GOING. JESUS CAME FROM ANOTHER LAND, HE CAME HERE IN SEARCH OF HIS BRIDE. HE PAID A PROVIDES FOR HER, THE FATHER PAID A PRICE FOR FATHER. HIS BLOOD POURED OUT. THEY DRANK FROM THE SAME CUP. WE WOULD GO THERE INTO HEAVEN AND WE'RE MARRIED TO HIM. NOBODY GETS TO HEAVEN AND SAID GOD, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, WHY DID YOU KEEP ME SINGLE DOWN THERE. COME HERE, YOU CAN BE MARRIED TO THE BRIDE GROOM FOR THE REST, FOR THE REST, FOR THE REST, FOR THE REST. WHAT IF MARRIAGE IS DIFFERENT THAN WE THINK IT IS? IF MARRIAGE IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE WORLD SEES, THEN DATING HAS TO BE DIFFERENT, TOO. MAKE SURE YOU CAN FIND SOMEONE FOR THE ASSIGNMENT THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN EVERYBODY ELSE THINKS. LET'S PRAY. PURIFY OUR HEARTS AS WE LOOK DEEPLY INTO YOUR WORD. WOULD YOU HELP US TO KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE FOR US. WOULD YOU TEACH US AND PREPARE US FOR THIS AMAZING MISSION, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE FOR US. IF IT'S SINGLENESS, I PRAY WE BE SINGLE FOR THE STATE OF THE KINGDOM. IF IT'S MARRIAGE, I PRAY THAT AMONGST ANYONE IN EAR SHOT OF THIS, ANYBODY AT HOME AND ANYBODY HERE, THAT WOULD NOT BE A SINGLE DIVORCE THAT MARKS THEM, THAT ANYONE WHO DESIRES MARRIAGE WOULD FIND SOMEONE WHOSE HEART YOU HAVE. THAT'S A BOLD PRAYER. I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT. THERE WOULD NOT BE ONE THAT EVERY MARRIAGE COMES FROM THIS PLACE, FROM ANYBODY THAT HEARS THIS, FROM THIS UNIVERSITY, THAT IT WOULD BE HEALTHY AND GOD HONORING AND IT WOULD SHOWCASE THE SAVIOR. IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AMEN. >> AMEN. CAN WE THANK PASTOR JONATHAN? [ APPLAUSE ] >> IT'S A GREAT, GREAT WORD. OBVIOUSLY AFTER JUST HEARING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ALL THIS GOD HAT PUT ON HIS HEART TOWARD MARRIAGE AND REALLY THE CUFF VENT THAT GOD HAS, I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO GO AND SUPPORT HIS BOOKS. HE IS THE AUTHOR OF MULTIPLE BOOKS THAT WE HAVE ON CAMPUS. HIS NEW BOOK, "OUT DONATED," WILL BE COMING OUT MARCH 2. WE'LL HAVE THAT IN THE BOOKSTORE FOR YOU. I PROMISE YOU, IT WILL BE A BOOK THAT WILL BECOME ONE OF YOUR LIFETIME FAVORITES. ALL OF HIS BOOKS ARE LIFETIME TEACHING. HE'LL WITH WITH US -- BE WITH US TONIGHT AT 8 O'CLOCK. WE'LL YOU AND SIX AND EIGHT. WE LOVE YOU. GO WITH THE LORD.
