Genesis 2:18 NLT: Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him."

Genesis 2:22-25 NLT: 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. 23 "At last!" the man exclaimed. "This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called 'woman,' because she was taken from man." 24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. 25 Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.

Four lessons we can learn from the original marriage:

1. Great marriages maintain the JOY of DISCOVERY.

• Adam said, "At last!"
  • Adam was single for a while and knew only God and work.
  • God wanted to find Adam a "suitable helpmate." In Hebrew, the word translates as "one that would stand before him."
• We must keep an attitude of discovery.
  • "I don't know everything about you, but I am excited about learning it all."
  • I will make time to be with you.
  • I will be all yours when I am with you.
  • I will ask questions to get to know you.

2. Great marriages understand the POWER of DECLARATION.

• Adam said, "This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh!"
• Words have great power in our marriages.
  • The tone of our words
  • The quality of our words
  • The frequency of our words
• "Bone from my bone" - declaration of sameness
• "Flesh from my flesh" - declaration of affection
• "You are woman" - declaration of identity
• "You were taken out of man" - declaration of equality

3. Great marriages guard the IMPORTANCE of DISTINCTION.

• "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife" (Genesis 2:24 NASB).
• A man or woman who will not LEAVE will never be able to CLEAVE.
  • All relationships change once you get married.
  • Your old lifestyle must change.
  • Your old friendships must change.
  • Your old family priorities must change.
• If marriages refuse to separate from old lives, there will always be confusion.

4. Great marriages know the DANGER of DEFILEMENT.

• "The man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame."
• Hebrews 13:4 ESV: Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
• Proverbs 5:15-18 NLT: 15 Drink water from your own well-share your love only with your wife. 16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone? 17 You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers. 18 Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
• Pure marriage will reward you with trust, innocence, and confidence.
• Defiled marriage will penalize you with a loss of interest, a divided love, a sense of shame and guilt.

Marriage is a reflection of Christ and His church.

• We must always be awestruck DISCOVERING Christ.
• We must DECLARE our love and oneness with Him.
• We must be DISTINCT from the world.
• We must guard ourselves from the DEFILEMENT of the world.