In the garden the devil went after the very thing the Lord loved, that is Eve, the human creation. Notice that the devil knew the woman was more trusting and easily deceived. He also knew that if he could deceive her, she would influence her husband.
It was God's design that the woman be the helpmate to her husband in every way, even in counseling him.
The devil knew if he could influence Eve to question God, Eve would influence Adam, her husband to also question God. I have known several women who became born again before their husband did, later to be followed by their husband.
When God made two people one in the marriage union He melded their souls together so that they would support and help one another. If the devil influenced one half of the oneness union, the other half would be likely to follow.
This is why it is so important that believers marry believers. Our love and dedication to our spouse is very strong and able to sway the decisions of the other.
The strong believer who is married to an unbeliever must remain strong even when the spouse does not follow, otherwise the non-believer will affect the walk of the believer. I have also seen cases in which the woman blindly followed the husband when he was disobedient to God, causing a turning of the whole family against the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34 "33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.…"
When we are born again our allegiance is toward God first and then our spouse. If our spouse will not walk with God we must do it anyway, no matter the pressure or ill treatment from the spouse.
Those who are believers married to unbelievers can win their spouse by their devotion and obedience to their God. Serving our husbands while remaining faithful to Christ can win the husband to the Lord.
1 Peter 3:1 "In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,"
We are to submit to our husband only when they are not asking us to disobey God.
Acts 5:29
"29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
1 Peter 4:17
"17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?"
When we stand before the Lord He will not be asking did you do everything your spouse wanted. God will be asking "Did you obey ME."
John 14:15
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
John 14:23
"Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."
Each individual will stand before the Lord alone!
No woman will be able to use their husband as an excuse as to why they disobeyed God. No man will be able to use their wife as an excuse.
Remember Ananias and Sapphirah? The wife obeyed her husband in lying to the Holy Spirit and God killed her because of it.
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