I do extend to you a warm welcome to this midweek meeting tonight. May the Lord richly bless you. And again, those of you joining online, may the Lord richly bless you as well. Just before we begin this coming Lord's Day, I shall be away in Cardiff preaching. In my place, the Reverend Malcolm Watts from Salisbury will be leading the worship and preaching the word of God. So that's this coming Lord's Day and at 5.30 it's the communion service and the Reverend Malcolm Ox will lead that communion service as well. Well let's begin then by attending to Psalm 128 of the Psalter. Psalm 128. Blessed is each one that fears the Lord and walketh in his ways. For of thy labour thou shalt eat. and happy be your ways, thy life shall as a fruitful vine by thy house sides be found, thy children like to olive plants about thy table round. 128 in the Psalter, the tune is made, blessed is each one that fears the Lord. Blest is each one that fears the Lord, and walketh in His ways. For of thy labour thou shalt eat, and happily be always. Thy white chalice of fruitful life by thine outsides be found. Thy children, one is too long in heart, and that thy table round. Behold the man that is the Lord, Thou'st blessings shall be. The Lord shall once again give his blessing unto thee. Thou shalt Jerusalem behold, whilst thou on earth doth dwell. Thou shalt thy children's children see, and peace on Israel. If you would turn with me again to the first epistle of Peter, the third chapter, and we'll read verses one through to verse seven. Let us hear God's word. Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives, while they behold your chaste conversation covered with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel. But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time, the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands. even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. Amen. May the Lord bless the reading of his precious words. Well, before we return to verse 7, let's come to the Lord in prayer. O gracious God, we do thank thee for the opportunity to come again in the middle of the week around thy word. O Lord, thou hast given thy word. We pray tonight that thou would give us an understanding heart as we consider these things again O Lord, may the Holy Spirit take the word and apply it with him. We thank thee for our beloved Saviour, and we would pause and consider him afresh, and we would consider the blessings that flow from Calvary, the blessings that we know of now and the blessings that we shall yet know of. O, what a precious Saviour we have, and as we will be led to consider Christ again tonight, O may our hearts be lifted up to heaven, may we consider Him. We thank Thee through Him there is that forgiveness, fatherly forgiveness. We pray that Thou would forgive us this day's sins. O Lord, heavenly Father, we sincerely make that our prayer, for we are sinners, we fail Thee. But Lord, we know we can come again to Thee in that humble way for Thou art a most merciful God. Bless us tonight. We would remember those unable to be with us, be with them as well this evening hour. All those listening online, may they know thy blessing as they hear thy word. And as we think of ourselves here, we're reminded that there are others meeting this evening. Bless all the midweek meetings up and down the land, many tonight and some on tomorrow. Bless, we pray. So hear us now in our prayers. Help us, Lord, Give us an understanding heart. Hear us for Christ's sake. Amen. Now let's return to verse seven of the third chapter. Likewise ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge. And it's just those words I'd like us to consider tonight. Dwell with them according to knowledge. Next week, the Lord willing, we'll conclude looking at verse 7, and as we do so, we'll look again at dwelling together, and this time, trust. But that's so important. A couple have this trust as they dwell together. But tonight, I'd like us to note those words particularly, according to knowledge. According to knowledge. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge. The congregation, we read in Genesis 2 verse 18, the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a helpmate for him. Adam was perfect. However, he was not without need. There was the need of water. There was the need of food. And it's plain that he needed a wife. So the Lord made for him a helpmate. that is, in every way suitable for him. And if you just read on in Genesis 2 and verse 21, And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept. And he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh, and said thereof, And the rib which the Lord God had taken from man made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh, she should be called woman, because she was taken out of man. A perfect match, and they were brought together, and they dwelt in perfect harmony. That's really hard to grasp, isn't it? They were perfect. What perfection Adam knew, what perfection Eve knew. Sadly, that was soon to change. but just consider that Adam and Eve were brought together and they enjoyed such marital bliss and fellowship one with another but also with the Lord and that's to be emphasized isn't it? They knew fellowship one with another but also the Lord. Now we read in verse 24 of Genesis 2 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh. A coming together, a cleaving unto his wife, they shall be one flesh. And if you recall, the word cleaving speaks of to cling to a dear, to abide fast, to follow close, to be joined, to stick, to take. It speaks of closeness, doesn't it? there was to be this closeness. And as we consider that next week, the Lord willing, as we conclude this series, we'll consider trust, because that's so important, is it not? So there was a dwelling together, and so there is to be in marriage today, physically, emotionally, and it ought to be spiritually. Now that's not always the case for so many, isn't it? but it ought to be spiritual. And just pause, consider the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were brought together, and they were there for each other emotionally, physically, but also spiritually. They knew fellowship with the Lord. Now it's an honorable state. We read in Hebrews 13 verse 4, marriage is honorable and all, and the bed undefiled, but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Honourable is marriage, instituted of the Lord, and of great blessing. The word honourable speaks of to be valuable, esteemed, beloved, dear, precious, had in reputation. And we'll consider next week trust, because marriage is to be had in reputation. So it's honourable, two coming together, the estate of marriage, they can know great blessing and it is a precious union. Now just consider they're coming together. At the minute they came together and they knew each other and they would learn from each other. And if you consider the married couple, there's a coming together and there's a getting to know one another. And just notice verse 7, likewise ye husbands dwell with them according to knowledge. There's this knowledge which is known and increases in a special way for those who are married. Well it's these words tonight, according to knowledge. And I'd just like us to briefly, for a few moments, consider this. According to knowledge. Now the word particularly is for the husbands. Likewise ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge. So we who are husbands, we're to particularly consider this. But this doesn't exclude the wife, does it? She's not ignorant. No, of course not. So there will be a knowledge in view of her husband as well. According to knowledge, let's just briefly open this up, I have seven brief points. They're not going to be long points, I'm conscious of the time, but seven points as we consider these words, according to knowledge. Likewise, he husbands dwell with them according to knowledge. First of all, according to the knowledge of God's words. according to the knowledge of God's word. The Lord gave the word. We read that in Psalm 68. He has spoken. I turn with me to 2 Timothy the 3rd chapter and verse 15. Robert verse 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. The Lord gave And it's trustable. It's for our good. We're informed in the way in which we are to live our lives. The good we're to do and the sin we are to avoid. That's important, isn't it? Whether we be married or whether we be single. What else we consider these words tonight according to knowledge in view of the Word of God and the husband but then also the wife considering this is what I must do as a believer the Christian couple this is the good I'm to do in my life which is not only a benefit for me but also a benefit for my spouse according to knowledge that is the Word of God Micah 6 verse 8, He hath showed thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. And so consider the husband. He knows he is to do justly in his life, and that's a benefit as he considers his wife. To love mercy, to walk humbly with thy God. Walking humbly with our God is not only good for us, but good for our spouse. Living in accordance to God's Word is a blessing to our spouse. Saying no to sin is a blessing to our spouse, but also growing in grace, putting on the new man as the Word of God declares. Holy living is a blessing to the Christian, and is a blessing to one's spouse. Remember those words from Peter, we considered them a few months ago. Be ye holy, for I am holy, 1 Peter 1, verse 16. And just notice verse 15, but as he which accord you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. Our whole life, the mode of life, holiness, So your personal holiness, your walk with the Lord, which we see is to be of great importance in the Word of God, is a blessing to one's spouse. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge. Turn to the Word of God as a whole. Be reading the Word of God. This is what the Lord would have me do. And I'm to be living my life as a whole in light of the Word and this in turn will be a blessing. Now just note verse one, and this is illustrated here. We're thinking of the unbelieving husband who is blessed by a believing wife. The wife has come to faith since they were married. Just notice verse one. Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, that if any obey not the word, they also may, without the word, be won by the conversation of the wives, while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear." The ungodly husband, he's not looking at the word of God, but his wife is. And she's seeking to live in accordance to it. The knowledge she has, she's seeking to put it into practice. And that's a blessing. And there have been those who have been converted and the Lord refused to test me, the holy living of the wife. According to knowledge, in light of the Word of God, let's just open this up very briefly, consider how the Word of God teaches us to worship, and so worshiping couples can learn a blessing. The husband is to consider, when I am to worship the Lord, I'm therefore to dwell together with my wife, and I'm to worship the Lord with her. Praying together, the Lord teaches us to pray. Just notice verse seven, likewise ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge. And notice the end of the verse, that your prayers be not hindered. The husband considers, or the wife considers. We're to pray. So we're to dwell together according to the knowledge of this. According to the knowledge of the world. Let's consider secondly, dwelling together according to the knowledge of the duties belonging to each. dwelling together according to the knowledge of the duties belonging to each. Now just considering the preparation for marriage, the Christian man and the Christian woman will consider the duties of marriage, soon to be married, and so they turn to the Word of God and they read over the Word and they pray about it, those duties. Then the day comes, and they make their promises, their vows in the presence of the Lord. A marriage life begins. Do they forget their duties then? No. They dwell together according to the knowledge of the duties. And it's good, isn't it, to read over the duties. We have it in Ephesians 5. We'll just briefly turn there, Ephesians 5, verse 21, submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore, if the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it. The two particular duties But if you recall last week, there are the mutual duties and we named five of them. Help, love, submission, prayer, care. It's all in the Word of God. So dwelling together according to knowledge, the mutual duties. I'm to help, I'm to love, I'm to submit. Mutual submission as we see in Ephesians 5 verse 21. I'm to pray, I'm to have such a care. dwelling together according to knowledge. The mutual duties, and there's more than five, but then consider the particular duties, love and submission. What do we read? Likewise he husbands dwell with them according to knowledge. And as you think of the husband there, the husband has the knowledge of his duty in the wed. I'm to so love my wife, as Christ loved the church. Thirdly, dwelling together according to the knowledge of each other's constitution. Dwelling together according to the knowledge of each other's constitution. Consider strengths and weaknesses. And just briefly note verse seven, Likewise he husbands well with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel. According to knowledge. And the husband and the wife, they know the strengths and the weaknesses of each other. Let's just open this up practically. It may be the spouse is better at giving thanks to the Lord. Ah, my spouse more readily and quickly gives thanks to the Lord. He may be the other one, he's able to trust and trust the promises more. We have them precious promises, don't we? promises that the Lord will bless, the Lord will strengthen and it may be that your spouse is known to you as getting hold of those promises and trusting in them. It may be the husband says to his wife, help me to pray because he knows his wife just has that way about praying, just simply coming before the Lord. You see, it's dwelling together according to knowledge. Here's a practical one. The spouse, your spouse may be better at finances. Not everyone is good at maths, nor is required to be so. So maybe I know my wife, or I know my husband is better at the finances. She is dwelling together according to knowledge, strengths and weaknesses. Just underline again verse 7, giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, being mindful, having this respect, this honour. It may be one struggles with depression or anxiety and the other is aware of that. They know the struggles. It's dwelling according to knowledge. Not dismissing, but understanding. Strengths and weaknesses. And that's so important, isn't it? When the two come together, they begin really to get to know each other. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And they begin to understand more of the struggles. It's dwelling together according to knowledge. We grow in knowledge and we're able more to pray for our wife or for our husband. Or we fall to strengths and weaknesses, but then consider likes and dislikes. Dwell in accordance to knowledge. And that's so important, isn't it? To get to know each other. To know the likes and the dislikes. My wife knows I like shepherd's pie. She's known that right from the beginning of our marriage. I know my wife likes to walk by the seaside and in the hills. It may be you know your spouse has a particular verse or verses that mean so much to them, and so you read them often. You remind your spouse of them. That's dwelling according to knowledge. You know that that particular verse is a help to them. particularly an affliction, and so you remind them of it. You read it or you send a message with it contained in. Well, let's move on, fourth thing. Dwelling together according to the knowledge of the mutual blessing of companionship. We know the blessing of companionship. Adam knew the blessing of companionship with Eve, and he dwelt in accordance to knowledge. And that's important, isn't it? Just go back to Genesis 2 verse 18. And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a help meet for him. Therefore, shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they twain shall be one flesh. To cleave, to keep fast. It speaks of permanence. That is, it should be. but also that he would be there for her companionship. Adam was not alone. Eve was there for Adam, and Adam would be there for me. And that's how it's to be, isn't it? And the husband is to dwell in accordance to the knowledge of the blessing of companionship, the blessing of that friendship, that companionship, of being there, and the wife vice versa. likewise ye husbands dwell with them according to knowledge giving honor unto the wife respect she's my companion considering the lord has brought together there's to be time spent together and that's so important companionship the lord has given me this wife the wife may say the lord has given me this husband that I might dwell with him. To know the blessing of companionship. You husbands, the Lord has given you a gift. And you wives, the Lord has given you a gift. The gift of a spouse and the gift of companionship. dwelling together. And you may be your reason. This is what the Lord has provided for me. And this is what the Lord so desires, that I would be a good companion. Dwelling together according to knowledge. I have a companion. A companion in life. A companion to know physically, intimately, emotionally, and spiritually. A companion to talk with. That's a blessing, isn't it? dwelling according to the knowledge of this, one to talk with, to pray with, to laugh with, to cry with, a companion in sorrow as well as a companion in joy. Dwelling together according to the knowledge of this, I have one to shed tears with, I have one to rejoice with. Aware of this, Aware of the wife and her struggles, aware of the husband and his struggles. I remember a number of years ago, I just sat down with Sharon on the sofa one Friday evening and we just wept together for over half an hour. Something had happened and we just were plunged into sorrow and we wept together. Well, that's a blessing, isn't it? Turn with me to Romans 12 verse 15, weep with them That's a general principle, but it's a principle in marriage, isn't it? And it's the blessing of companionship. Some difficulties come, and you can just come together, and you can weep together, but also to rejoice. The blessing of having a companion to rejoice with, to laugh together, that's the blessing of companionship, isn't it? Listen again to Romans 12 verse 15. Rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep. Yes, again, that's a principle for all the people of God, but we can bring it down to the marriage and the blessing of companionship, rejoicing together, laughing together. It's good to laugh. Well, let's move on. Fifthly, dwell together according to the knowledge of Christ and the gospel. dwell together according to the knowledge of Christ and the gospel. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge." And what a blessing the Christian couple have. They have the knowledge of Christ and that helps them in their marriage. Let me just illustrate this first of all, Ephesians 5 verse 24. The husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church and is the saviour of the body. You see this leading to consider Christ. Husbands, love your wife as Christ. Dwell together according to knowledge, the knowledge of Christ. You think of the duty of the husband. The husband is to love in view of Christ's love. And as we think of marriage, dwelling together, there is to be this knowledge of Christ. We can think of the wife submitting as unto the Lord, Ephesians 5 verse 22, considering the Lord. Dwelling together according to knowledge. And what a blessing to have a wife who loves Jesus. And then for the wife to have a husband who loves Jesus. Now maybe as we follow through this chapter, two have come together, they weren't loving the Lord, but then one is converted in this place. It's the wife, isn't it? She's to stay. And her prayer is by her quiet, humble, godly living, the Lord would use it to the conversion of our husband. We need to pray for those who find themselves in such situation. They pray on their own. They read the Bible of their own, because their spouse is not a believer. But consider the dwelling together according to the knowledge of Christ. That's how it ought to be. Oh, that every marriage in this country would know the blessing of knowing Jesus. What a blessing to know the Lord Jesus Christ. To have your affections arising to heaven. It's a blessing amongst the Lord's people, isn't it? To talk of the Lord, the native faith of the Lord. Speak often, one to another. Bring it down to the marriage. Talking together of Jesus. Make sure you regularly do that. Talk together about Jesus. Let your affections mutually arise to heaven. Dwell with them according to knowledge. The husband, oh, what a savior I have. I want to be more like him as I live with my wife. Talk often of Calvary. Think often of the precious blood of Jesus and dwell together in the light of it. What a blessing has come through Calvary. And we who are married, what a blessing has come to us because of Calvary. The Lord is pleased. When you seek to be a blessing to your wife, the Lord is pleased because you have faith in Jesus. We're so blessed through Christ. Dwell according to the knowledge of Christ and the gospel. And I tell you in view of this, marriage can get better in view of Jesus. It's the forgiveness of sin. And then consider, just focus on the gospel. It's the best news you have heard, and you can talk to your spouse about it. You can rejoice together over it. In view of the gospel, dwell with your spouse. What a blessing the Christian can know. In view of Jesus, I can so live my life. I can so walk with my spouse. Consider Jesus. your saviour and friend. What a blessing to have Christ at the centre of the marriage. Think of Adam and Eve. They were brought together in fellowship, but also with the Lord. What a blessing to talk together and walk with Jesus, both the husband and both the wife. Looking to him by faith. It's a great blessing, isn't it, to get down on your knees and just pray. Remember those words, thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. What a blessing to pray with your wife or to pray with your husband and thank the Lord for Jesus. To look to him by faith, he's precious isn't he? And to you who believe he is precious. The husband counts Christ precious. The wife counts Christ precious. And they dwell together in view of their precious radiance. Just turn with me to Ephesians 5 verse 2. We have this exhortation, which is general, but we can bring it back down to dwelling together in view of knowledge. And walk in love as Christ also have loved us and have given himself for us and offering the sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. Walk in love, considering Christ. Remember the husband, love your wife as Christ loved the church. The knowledge of the love of Christ will help the husband to dwell with his wife, and then the wife considering all Christ has done, and seeking to walk in love. What a blessing, a husband and wife seeking to walk in the footsteps of Christ. All marriage can get better as the husband and the wife seek to follow Christ the Lord. The knowledge of Jesus can bless our marriages again and again. You think of the blessing you have known in view of Calvary in your life as a believer, and then in view of your marriage, those of you who are married. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. We used to sing that often in Sunday school. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Let the husband turn his eyes upon Jesus and dwell with his wife, and the wife do likewise. Oh, to be taken up with Christ and dwell with your spouse. One of those that fills my soul is Jesus. Every day and every hour, Jesus and his free salvation, Jesus and his mighty power. The husband taken up with Jesus and dwelling with his wife, the wife taken up with Jesus. There may be strengths and weaknesses. One of them may struggle to focus on Jesus, but the blessing of their spouse who is taken up with Christ can encourage them and help them. to focus more on their beloved Savior. Consider Him, and that will excite the graces within and help you to dwell together graciously, kindly, mercifully, and helpfully. Because does not our beloved Friend deal with us graciously, kindly, mercifully, and helpfully? I would also close, sixthly, Dwell together according to the knowledge of the last family. Dwell together according to the knowledge of the last family. Those of you who are married here tonight, can you remember your wedding vows? Till death do us part. And we thought of that on our wedding day. Dwell together according to the knowledge of the last family. Till death do us part, now we know it's not always the case, is it? And we feel for those who have been treated terribly in marriage, and their marriages have come to a conclusion, and they know the sorrow and the heartbreak is maybe an unfaithful husband or an unfaithful wife. But considering as a whole, till death do us part, death will conclude the marriage. Well as we think of this, one is to dwell together in accordance to the knowledge of the last valley. Just a practical thing here, one may consider one day death will come, oh that I live this day in such a way that I might be such a blessing to my wife or to my husband. Dwelling together according to the knowledge of this, Pray, Lord, if I'm the one that remains, make me a blessing to the other in the valley. To have a wife or a husband in the valley could be of great help. To come alongside them, to support them emotionally and lovingly, but also in a spiritual way, to help them by pointing them to Jesus. The knowledge of the valley, a difficult valley. Maybe the husband comes alongside his wife then, who's struggling in the valley. The Lord's there for you. All is well for your soul. One day the valley will be before us. A marriage will soon be open. or to dwell in the knowledge. It can be hard for the one who is watching their loved one die, but also the one who is dying as well. But dwelling together, seeking to be a blessing, if at all possible. I remember the final two weeks of my mum's life. My father found it understandably hard. Mum was in pain and struggling bodily. Many tears were shed by my father, and there was quietness and numbness, but he sought to be a support to his wife. He dwelt with her according to knowledge that the valley soon would be over. I remember sitting in the hostel with my mum and dad, and it was evident their love they had for each other. Dad would read with the mum, and I used to go down every night to do lab crimes. My father sought to be a help to my mother in the valley, dwelling according to the knowledge that the valley is coming and he must be a support there. What about my mum? I say she was the greatest support to my dad in the valley. She would often talk of Calvary. I remember one occasion she suddenly said, I'm overwhelmed by the precious blood of Jesus. And she wanted to comfort my father, but also me. She was at peace. The Lord gave her that strength. Dwell together in the knowledge of the valley. It's a difficult valley. My grandparents, they held hands the day before my grandfather died, as I read the scriptures. And as I spoke of their saviour, they wept together, but then they smiled together, and my granny took hold of my grandfather's hand a little more. They were dwelling together in the valley. My granny sought to comfort my grandfather, but my grandfather also sought to comfort my grandda. They were dwelling together, and the knowledge of the valley was difficult. It was hard, but they also knew that there was someone else there. And so they pointed each other to the friend that will not desert you in the valley. One day you will have to say goodbye. I hope that's a long way off. It won't be easy, but Jesus will hold your hand. And in the knowledge of this, if you're the one who watches your loved one die, remind them that Jesus is holding their hand. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge. Remember, the valley will come. Pray for grace. And in the valley, remember the valley is difficult, but there's one alongside. What a blessing to have a loved one in the valley. And suddenly and finally, dwelling together according to the knowledge of eternity. dwelling together according to the knowledge of eternity. Now just note this in verse 7. It's at the end of the verse. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. There's dwelling together, there's knowledge, and there's the knowledge of life. What do we read there? as being heirs together of the grace of life, life now, but also life then, dwelling together according to the knowledge of eternity. And that's a blessing for the Christian couple. It is till death do us part. One day I will not be married, but I will see the one I'm married to forever because of Jesus. Death will conclude the marriage. The believer goes to heaven. The believing spouse that remains has the hope of heaven. And because of Jesus, of seeing the one they so loved that has gone before, we will recognize one another in heaven. How do we know that? We'll just read through the transfiguration. Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. Moses was recognized. Elijah was recognized. Talking with Jesus, we will recognize one another in heaven. We will be so amazed. We'll be amazed at the likeness to Christ. And we'll be amazed at perfection. We can't really take it in, can we? One day our souls are going to be perfect. We'll be amazed. We'll recognize one another. and you will recognize your spouse who was your spouse here upon earth. If my wife goes first, when I enter heaven and see Jesus, I will recognize others and I will recognize Sharon who was my wife. It's dwelling together in view of eternity, the knowledge of eternity and what a blessing to be the Lord. You consider the one you are married to tonight. One day you will not be married to them, but you will have love in your heart for them for all eternity. Forever with the Lord. Marriage will conclude, but love will endure for all eternity. You think it's a mutual duty, isn't it, love? But when duties are passed, love will shine and endure forever. We're going to love one another, we who love the Lord here tonight, forever and ever. So therefore, consider your spouse you love, who loves the Lord. You're going to love them forever, even though you will not be married to them in heaven and in the heavenly world. Forever with the Lord. Just think of it. You spend time praying. You spend time reading. But a godly couple can have this great hope, though their marriage one day will conclude, they're going to be worshipping Jesus forever. Oh, for more of heaven in marriage here upon earth, as a foretaste of heaven, forever with the Lord. I've said this before, but it's a helpful illustration. My grandmother, at the graveside of my grandfather, grandfather's grave on the other side of the forest in copy form, broke the silence. Everybody was quiet after the words of interment and the coffin, my grandfather's coffin was laid in the grave. She broke the silence and said this to the amazement of many who were there. She looked down at her husband's coffin and said, I will see you in the morning. She knew that death had concluded, but she knew she was going to see now her brother in Christ in heaven and on that great day. Though the marriage had concluded, their relationship with Christ would last forever. My grandma and grandad are not married, but I tell you this tonight, they're rejoicing. in the presence of Jesus. We dwell together here upon earth in marriage according to the knowledge of eternity. And what a blessing to have a Christian partner, a Christian spouse, to weep together but also to rejoice in view of Jesus, in view of heaven, in view of eternity. Now in closing, one more word here in detail. Just note these words in verse seven. Dwell with them according. Just that word, according. I just want to close with this word, according. There's something very helpful from the Greek here. Dwell with them according. We fall to knowledge, we consider these things, but the word according is translated from the Greek as after, against, by, And here it comes, daily. Isn't that powerful? Daily. And the same Greek word is used in the Lord's Prayer, which is used here. Luke 11 verse 3, give us day, here comes the Greek word, give us day by day our daily bread. Are we not taught to pray every day, give us this day our daily bread? How we need the Lord every day. that Greek word there in Luke 11 verse 3 is here. Likewise ye husbands dwell with them or daily in knowledge. And I leave you with this. You who are married here tonight or it may be someone here may be thinking of marriage in the future as you think of according to knowledge daily the Lord would have you go to the cross Daily the Lord would have you think of your precious saviour, daily your hearts lifted to heaven as you live together in the holiest state of marriage. Likewise your husbands dwell with them according or daily to the knowledge. And what a blessing to talk to your spouse each day. to share together in view of him, each day to think of heaven, each day to consider we're going to be forever with the Lord. One day he will not be my spouse, but we're going to rejoice in Jesus. We're going to say, worthy is the Lamb, forever and ever. According to knowledge each day, I've learned so much in preparing this sermon that I haven't really thought before. Each day, may the Lord help us to have a greater knowledge of his word, a greater understanding of our spouses, and a greater love for Jesus. May he help us for his name's sake. Amen. Well, let's turn to our second psalm. Psalm 103, verses 1 to 5, and we're going to sing to the tune Dunslap Creek. O thou my soul, bless God the Lord, and all that in me is, be stirred up in his holy name to magnify and bless. Psalm 103, verses 1 to 5, and the tune is Dunslap Creek. All Thou, my soul, bless, God the Lord, and all that in me is, is the bread of His holy Name. to magnify and bless. Bless, O my soul, the Lord thy God, and love forgetfully. O His gracious benefits He hath bestowed on me. O mine iniquity to doubt, Most graciously forgive. In thy dears' ears send a golden page. Thou art dear than he really. Who doth redeem thy life that thou to death mayst not go down? Who he will marry kindest thou? and tend their mercies round. Who with the abundance of good things doth satisfy thy vow, So that in mercy he does make tribute in my youth.