Marriage: A Life Time Covenant [Part 4] by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Marriage: A Life Time Covenant [Part 4]

Dear Reader,

I count it a great privilege to share God’s Word with you through this medium. It is my prayer that as you apply the series of teachings that you have received this month, they shall bring a positive change in your life and marriage in Jesus’ name.

I discussed the origin of marriage with you in my first lesson. Three weeks ago, I taught you Marriage Covenant Responsibilities. Also, I told you that marriage is a miracle, last week. Today, I want you to make right the wrongs of your marriage covenant.

Some people get troubled when they read materials like this, probably because they have been living together with their partners without payment of dowry, or having a formal engagement or public Christian wedding. This is not a holy union. So, many couples have been living together for years and have even had children without a proper marriage.

Instead of feeling or living in condemnation, you need to make things right today. In case you are not legally married and you fall into this category, go right away and make things right, by paying the dowry. Go and legalize your union. You can do this, simply by going to the court for a court wedding. Then look for a minister of the gospel to bless your union.

Time never corrects an error! An error yesterday remains an error today, except it is corrected. You can make wrong right! Many people pass through a lot of difficulties in their marriages today, because of a wrong foundation in their marriage. I have seen women being driven out of their homes at the death of their husbands, because their union was “illegal”. The woman has no voice, because she has no legal backing. Wisdom is profitable to direct (Ecclesiastics 10: 10).

I remember a woman I counselled sometime ago. She had been going through a tough time in her home and was ready to call it quit. To top it up, she had no child. When I interviewed her closely, I discovered that there were a lot of loopholes in her marriage. Her dowry was not paid, and there was nothing legally binding herself and the man together as husband and wife. No court wedding, no church wedding! Both of them just started living together!

I counselled her to ensure that the dowry was paid, legal papers signed in the court of law, and their union is blessed by a minister of the gospel. The next time I saw her, she was over-joyous and full of testimonies. To the glory of God, today all is well with that marriage. To crown it all, she was also expecting a baby as at that time!

A good example of a proper marriage is recorded in Genesis. It clearly shows us how a formal wedding should be conducted. Adam did not just rise up to find Eve wandering about in another part of the garden, and he decided to take her home and they just started living together as husband and wife. The Word of God says: And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man (Genesis 2:22). Take note of the word, ‘brought her unto the man’. God was the one Who brought the woman to the man.

Since marriage is the basis for a successful family, then you need to be first married to enjoy a successful family life. If the foundation of your marriage is not built on the instructions of the Word of God, there is no way you will have a fulfilled family life. It is important therefore, you go and pay the dowry, if it has not been paid. This is scriptural.

There is another account in the scriptures of how a typical wedding and all that is required should be done. The Word of God says: And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men. And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them (Genesis 24:58-60).

A parental blessing is very important in a marriage covenant. It is something you cannot rule out. There is something about the blessings your parents pronounce on you that stick on you, until all their good wishes be established in your life. From the above scripture, Abraham’s servant did not just grab Rebekah and disappeared with her. Due procedures were properly followed and the blessings of her parent became a practical reality in her life.

Some years ago, I shared this truth at one of our women conventions. A couple who had been living together for almost 10 years without being properly married, had three children, and the lady’s parents refused to consent to their marriage. They decided to make peace and do the right thing. They had been up and down financially over the years. They invested so much and yet had very little in return. They were very zealous for the things of God, they are covenant practitioners, and yet there was nothing to show for it. They met the lady’s family, paid the dowry, went to church and had their union blessed by one of the pastors.
Soon after, great business doors opened for them. Their lives took a new turn. They began to enjoy all manner of favours, they built their own house, and even bought a Mercedes Benz car, all through the simple act of making wrong right of their union. Your own testimony will be the next!

It is also very important in your marriage covenant to acknowledge the place of a holy Christian wedding. The Word of God says: And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man (Genesis 2:22). In this verse of scripture, we see God’s practical involvement in the institution of marriage. He gave Eve out to Adam. It is therefore, unsafe for you to go into marriage without God. This will definitely attract the attacks of the devil. You shall not be a victim in Jesus’ name!

God is your Father, and only a bastard would desire to go outside his father’s house to get married. The presence of God makes all the difference in a man’s life. Don’t go about without carrying the presence of God; it is dangerous!
You also need a proper legal documentation of your union. This is a point of contact to remind God that you have fulfilled all righteousness concerning your marriage, and therefore, the enemy must not have access into your family.

You need the grace of God to make the wrong right in your marriage. You can say this prayer and be born again:

Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today as a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose on the third day. Forgive me of my sins. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today.

Congratulations! You are now born-again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, and conselling@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores:

• Marriage Covenant
• Making Marriage Work
• Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

Click Here To Read Other Messages Written By Pastor Faith Oyedepo