07.20.2025 | The Divine Romance
THE DIVINE ROMANCE
Ephesians 5:31-32 (NLT): As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ, and the church are one.
Genesis 2:7 (NKJV) – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Genesis 2:18 (NKJV) – And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
Genesis 2:21-22 (NKJV) – And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
That the woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam: not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected and near his heart to be beloved. - Matthew Henry
Genesis 2:24 (NKJV) – Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Ephesians 5:32 (NLT) – This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ, and the church are one.
Jesus is our Heavenly Bridegroom, and the Church is the Bride of Christ.
Ephesians 5:25b-27 (NLT) – He gave up His life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to Himself as a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
Revelation 19:7 (NKJV) – Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.
Revelation 19:9a (NKJV) – Then he said to me, “Write, Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”
Every Christian marriage on earth is called to reflect and represent the coming marriage of Jesus our Heavenly Bridegroom and His Church, the Bride of Christ.
How do we live out this high calling of marriage?
1. WALK IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD
Ephesians 5:21 (NLT) – And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Acts 2:17-18 (NLT) – In the last days God says, “I will pour out My Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophecy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants- men and women alike- and they shall prophecy.”
Ephesians 5:21 (NKJV) – Submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Fear of the Lord – Reverential fear and awe
2. SAY YES TO THE FATHER’S HEART
The heart of the Father is to find yielded men and women who are committed to Him and committed to each other in the covenant of marriage, who are willing to sacrifice their own pleasures and pursuits for Him and be willing to reflect His Divine Romance to the world.
Ephesians 5:33 (NKJV) – Nevertheless, let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 5:25 (NKJV) – Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.
Jack Hayford – Husbands, look to the Divine Bridegroom for how to relate to your wife.
Wives – the greatest need of your husband is to be respected and honored.
Ephesians 5:22-23a (NKJV) – Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church.
Submission – the sense of voluntarily yielding in love.
Ephesians 5:22b (NKJV) – as to the Lord!
Never submitting to abuse, to sin, or to manipulation!
Jack Hayford – Wives, look to the Bride of Christ, respect your husband, respond to his leadership, be unified in purpose.
3. RECEIVE THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We need the grace of God, His empowerment to live out the high calling of marriage.
We need Him to breathe upon our hearts and our relationships.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NKJV) – Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Discussion Questions
1. How would you describe the relationship of your parents?
2. If you are single, what is your view of marriage? Is marriage a step you would one day like to take? Why or why not?
3. If you are married, what has been or is one of your greatest struggles?
4. What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?
5. How does seeing marriage through the lens of Christ and the Church impact your view of marriage?
6. What is one step you can take today to change your view of marriage if you are single, or change the way you are relating to your spouse if you are married?