Knowing God's word so well that if it were taken from you, you would still know all the principles in it to be able to explain them to someone else even without a Bible.
When we were children we rode our bikes all over the valley, continually on them every day for years. After we grew up we may not have ridden our bikes anymore as busy adults, but when we got back on a bike after many years of being off there was no need to think about how to do it, we just get back on and take off as though it had only been a few days since we rode it last.
When we are so well versed in the principles of God through continual reading and prayer for many years we will never forget them.
There are some people who like to memorize the Bible. This can be a good thing but it is far more valuable to know in the depth of our being the principles than just the words on the surface. When we know the words without the depth of understanding we have little wisdom from that.
However, when we know the deep principles well having been enlightened by God, we might forget the words but we will never forget the principles. Even able to express the principles flawlessly in our own words but every bit the meaning God intended.
God said, "hide my word away in your heart." This did not have to do with memorization, it had to do with knowing so well His principles that forgetting the exact words would not be a threat to us, because the principles of God stand firm in any language. The words we memorize in English will not help us if we pick up a Bible written in another language. We cannot read that language so the words mean nothing. But the principles of God transcend every language, they are not in a "language" they are a heart attitude, a full measure of truth that can be known in any language.
It is far more important to understand the principles that will remain in us even if our Bibles are taken away.
Memorize if you like to, but better yet know the principles so well that there is automatic adherence to truth without having to search our brains for answers. When we know His principles in the Bible so deeply we dream in them, we will never forget them.
Anyone can memorize words, but when the words are forgotten without the understanding the meaning dissolves. If we have the meaning and understanding, even if the words are removed we know truth, it will never leave us.
Psalm 119:10-12 "…10 With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments. 11 I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You. 12 Blessed are You, O LORD; teach me Your statutes."
Seek God with all your heart and He will bring the understanding.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
In Control or Controlling?
Being the person in control does not equate to being "controlling."
When we are in control we are guiding others without micro managing them.
Those who micro manage others are actually out of control. They do not feel they can trust anyone else to be intelligent enough to handle their own area of expertise.
In fact a controller usually has the false belief that they know everything about everything. They have experts on their team but do not recognize that those experts know more than they do about their particular field of expertise.
When I hire a plumber to come to my home to fix a problem I expect him to know how to do his job. I tell him the need and walk away to leave the final decisions for the job up to the plumber.
A man is the head of the household but he is not the one who is expert over all areas of managing that household. The woman, according to Proverbs 31 was given the job of household manager by God, she is to do that job according to the principles of God. The man has no business dictating or controlling her job.
Of course the man makes suggestions and discusses the major things with his wife so that she can do her job according to the mutual desires and needs of the household.
Husbands are not to bark orders at their wife as though she is a paid employee who could be fired for insubordination. Husbands are to live with their wives in understanding and respect.
Respect is not just for the husband on the part of the wife, it is also required in God's word that the man respect the needs and abilities of the wife. Honor and respect toward the wife is a command of God.
Sadly there are those in the homeschool movement who are teaching that only the man is to be honored and respected. This is false and damaging to a marriage.
1 Peter 3:7-8 "7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tender-hearted and humble.…"
God calls all believers to be mutually submissive one to another.
Ephesians 5:21-6:4
"21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
When we are in control we are guiding others without micro managing them.
Those who micro manage others are actually out of control. They do not feel they can trust anyone else to be intelligent enough to handle their own area of expertise.
In fact a controller usually has the false belief that they know everything about everything. They have experts on their team but do not recognize that those experts know more than they do about their particular field of expertise.
When I hire a plumber to come to my home to fix a problem I expect him to know how to do his job. I tell him the need and walk away to leave the final decisions for the job up to the plumber.
A man is the head of the household but he is not the one who is expert over all areas of managing that household. The woman, according to Proverbs 31 was given the job of household manager by God, she is to do that job according to the principles of God. The man has no business dictating or controlling her job.
Of course the man makes suggestions and discusses the major things with his wife so that she can do her job according to the mutual desires and needs of the household.
Husbands are not to bark orders at their wife as though she is a paid employee who could be fired for insubordination. Husbands are to live with their wives in understanding and respect.
Respect is not just for the husband on the part of the wife, it is also required in God's word that the man respect the needs and abilities of the wife. Honor and respect toward the wife is a command of God.
Sadly there are those in the homeschool movement who are teaching that only the man is to be honored and respected. This is false and damaging to a marriage.
1 Peter 3:7-8 "7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tender-hearted and humble.…"
God calls all believers to be mutually submissive one to another.
Ephesians 5:21-6:4
"21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Legal Separation Vs Divorce?
There is no reason to divorce however there can be reasons for separation for abuse. There is a law on the book in the United States that says a couple can get a legal separation without divorce that works the same way divorce does in terms of financial support. It is a permanent separation without the possibility of remarriage. It allows for a couple to have financial support without having to live together.
Apparently this law was a result of an answer to abuse without promoting divorce and the couple can never remarry if they take this legal action. This fits with the Bible in matters of abuse or adultery when a spouse will not stop the adultery.
I have noticed that when a couple divorces their intent is to be able to remarry against God's will. Once a remarriage happens there is very little chance there will be a reconciliation. But in a situation like the "legal separation" the couple will not be able to marry anyone else, there is a better chance of reconciliation.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 "…10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. "
Apparently this law was a result of an answer to abuse without promoting divorce and the couple can never remarry if they take this legal action. This fits with the Bible in matters of abuse or adultery when a spouse will not stop the adultery.
I have noticed that when a couple divorces their intent is to be able to remarry against God's will. Once a remarriage happens there is very little chance there will be a reconciliation. But in a situation like the "legal separation" the couple will not be able to marry anyone else, there is a better chance of reconciliation.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 "…10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. "
Pray and Do What You Must
Wife or husband abuse is sin, it is against the law of man and of God, therefore it is best to alert the authorities when it happens. Defending one's self from an abuser is self defense, never feel bad if you have to do this.
Luke 22:36 “He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.”
Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
Titus 3:10
"As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,"
Romans 13:1-14
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ..."
Luke 22:36 “He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.”
Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
Titus 3:10
"As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,"
Romans 13:1-14
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ..."
The Discipline Can Save A Marriage
This is just me, but if I had a husband who beat me the first time, he would feel the brunt of my discipline through a good thrashing, learning that I cannot allow him to hurt himself or me without consequences.
I knew of a woman who was being beaten by her husband every time he came home from the bars drunk. One night she was ready for him. He came in the house skunk drunk, she beat him until he submitted, took him to the hospital and told him that he could expect this every time he came home drunk. He stopped drinking and never hit her again. Now I call that love!!!! They were able to remain married and go on to begin to build that marriage.
If a husband reacts in anger and leaves then his refusal to stop the sin is on him.
There are many ways to handle situations in which a spouse who is sinning might be able to see their evil and learn not to remain in their sin.
I knew of another woman who was being beaten by her husband after his visits to the bar. This woman was a godly woman who believed deeply in the marriage covenant and would not divorce. One night she cried out in sorrow to God to protect her this time from her husband when he arrived at home. She went to bed, when he arrived home he did not beat her, he just slipped in beside her and went to sleep. The next morning she woke up and her husband was still beside her, only this time he was dead. The Lord took his life during the night because of his wickedness toward God's daughter. This lovely lady was now a widow and freely remarried a godly man who had never been married before. She did not attempt to change her husband, nor did she divorce, she simply prayed for protection and the Lord took care of it.
Sometimes we have to take drastic action when a loved one will not stop sinning and other times all we do is pray and God protects. The same thing is true of narcissists who will not stop emotionally punching on their victims. We can remove them from our lives and allow God to work on them if we are not married to them. If we are married to a narcissist we can learn ways to live with them in peace depending on God to take care of any drastic occurrences.
In the case of the drunken husband we cannot dissolve the marriage covenant therefore the most loving thing to do is discipline that wayward husband and pray he learn a lesson from it. Sometimes God tells us to do it and others times He does it Himself.
I knew of a woman who was being beaten by her husband every time he came home from the bars drunk. One night she was ready for him. He came in the house skunk drunk, she beat him until he submitted, took him to the hospital and told him that he could expect this every time he came home drunk. He stopped drinking and never hit her again. Now I call that love!!!! They were able to remain married and go on to begin to build that marriage.
If a husband reacts in anger and leaves then his refusal to stop the sin is on him.
There are many ways to handle situations in which a spouse who is sinning might be able to see their evil and learn not to remain in their sin.
I knew of another woman who was being beaten by her husband after his visits to the bar. This woman was a godly woman who believed deeply in the marriage covenant and would not divorce. One night she cried out in sorrow to God to protect her this time from her husband when he arrived at home. She went to bed, when he arrived home he did not beat her, he just slipped in beside her and went to sleep. The next morning she woke up and her husband was still beside her, only this time he was dead. The Lord took his life during the night because of his wickedness toward God's daughter. This lovely lady was now a widow and freely remarried a godly man who had never been married before. She did not attempt to change her husband, nor did she divorce, she simply prayed for protection and the Lord took care of it.
Sometimes we have to take drastic action when a loved one will not stop sinning and other times all we do is pray and God protects. The same thing is true of narcissists who will not stop emotionally punching on their victims. We can remove them from our lives and allow God to work on them if we are not married to them. If we are married to a narcissist we can learn ways to live with them in peace depending on God to take care of any drastic occurrences.
In the case of the drunken husband we cannot dissolve the marriage covenant therefore the most loving thing to do is discipline that wayward husband and pray he learn a lesson from it. Sometimes God tells us to do it and others times He does it Himself.
The End Times Apostasy
I am convinced now that there are more pretenders in the church today than authentic believers. I base this on my own life experience and on the scripture that says it would be as "in the days of Noah", when everyone did what was right in their own eyes and no one would listen. There were only 8 people saved out of the flood!
Also there is the lack of discernment and no desire for it that is one of the clues. There is a resistance to correction, an embarrassment at the mention of the name of Christ as well as a hostility toward the truths of God.
2 Timothy 3:2-4…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…
Also there is the lack of discernment and no desire for it that is one of the clues. There is a resistance to correction, an embarrassment at the mention of the name of Christ as well as a hostility toward the truths of God.
2 Timothy 3:2-4…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…
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