Marriage, just like our born again experience with Christ, was meant to be a relationship, not a contract.
If our marriage relationship is to reflect the relationship between Christ and the church, then we know that it has been sealed by Christ.
Ephesians 4:16 "from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."
Matthew 19:5-6
"5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
"Cleave" means to adhere firmly and closely, loyalty, unwavering devotion. To leave all others to cling as glue to the intended love. Not only in our marriage should this be the case, but also in our walk with Christ.
Ephesians 1:13-14
"13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."
When we were in Israel, I remember the sheep and goats of a shepherd we met. I wanted to pet the animals, the Jewish man saw this but the sheep were paying no attention to me at all when I called them.
When the Jewish man spoke a couple of words in Hebrew the goats came running immediately to his side, where I could pet them. The goats and sheep did not recognize my voice, but knew his immediately. They clung to him with amazing devotion.
I loved this real life picture of God's principle of the born again believers knowing the voice of the Savior. It also made me think that marriage is a picture of the relationship that should be between Christ and believers.
When we violate the marriage, by adultery or divorce, then we wound the witness to unbelievers of Christ's love for us, and the permanency of our relationship with Him.
John 10:27-30 "Matthew 19:5-6
"5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
When we are married we become one with our spouse, just as we become one with Christ when we become born again. There is a spiritual union in both matters. A union that cannot be severed by man, and God will not sever it because God never breaks a promise to us.
As He expects us to keep our promise to Him and our spouse.
2 Peter 1:3-4
"3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
You see now that marriage and our born again relationship with Christ are permanent!
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Husbands and Wives Love One Another
There are those who are teaching men in churches that their wives are nothing more than their property to be bossed about and to serve them. This could not be farther from the truth.
1 Peter 5:3 "nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock."
A man who is a true leader, instructs, and is an example of what he instructs, but he does not force or manipulate with meanness and anger.
Any man who requires absolute obedience from his wife is not understanding the Biblical mandate for the woman to be the help meet.
A wife is a coach and mentor to her husband. The husband is to heed her warnings and instructions. Any man who refuses to listen to his wife is a narcissist and walks in arrogance.
A godly man never treats his wife with this kind of disrespect. God told the husband to treat the wife as the weaker vessel. That term "weaker vessel" brings the connotation of a delicate China cup to be cherished and protected.
The husband's greatest concern should be not for his own desires but for the nurturing and protection of those whom he leads.
Selfish manipulation and a demanding spirit is no where to be found in the Word. The men that do this are sure to frustrate their wives and end up scratching their heads when the wife pulls away and even runs away.
When we are treated with respect and honor, then we are able to revere the husband.
When a husband treats a wife like she is a possession or a child, he creates rebellion in her, breaking her spirit and her heart. If anyone did that to him then he would rebel too.
We do not treat people like our personal slaves to do our bidding. We treat everyone with honor even in our leading.
1 Peter 3:7 "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered."
Let's remember that leadership is by its very nature actually serving.
One who will not serve, neglecting his own things for the sake of others, is not worthy to be a leader.
The woman has been given charge over the house hold. God gave that position to her, not her husband. Her husband is to honor the mandates of the wife in the household, even to taking off his shoes if that is one of her rules.
Proverbs 1:8 "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:"
Mothers and Fathers both teach and train the children. When the mother makes a rule, it is up to the Father to uphold that in the sight of the children. When the Father makes a rule then it is up to the Mother to uphold that also, unless either one is doing something against God's will, then there must be discussion and refusal to disobey God over the submission to the spouse.
Acts 5:29 "But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men."
A man is to lead his wife in righteousness. If he does not then the woman must choose righteousness in spite of her husband. If a woman will not follow the lead of her husband in righteousness, then the husband must pray and continue on with God no matter what his wife does.
1 Peter 5:3 "nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock."
A man who is a true leader, instructs, and is an example of what he instructs, but he does not force or manipulate with meanness and anger.
Any man who requires absolute obedience from his wife is not understanding the Biblical mandate for the woman to be the help meet.
A wife is a coach and mentor to her husband. The husband is to heed her warnings and instructions. Any man who refuses to listen to his wife is a narcissist and walks in arrogance.
A godly man never treats his wife with this kind of disrespect. God told the husband to treat the wife as the weaker vessel. That term "weaker vessel" brings the connotation of a delicate China cup to be cherished and protected.
The husband's greatest concern should be not for his own desires but for the nurturing and protection of those whom he leads.
Selfish manipulation and a demanding spirit is no where to be found in the Word. The men that do this are sure to frustrate their wives and end up scratching their heads when the wife pulls away and even runs away.
When we are treated with respect and honor, then we are able to revere the husband.
When a husband treats a wife like she is a possession or a child, he creates rebellion in her, breaking her spirit and her heart. If anyone did that to him then he would rebel too.
We do not treat people like our personal slaves to do our bidding. We treat everyone with honor even in our leading.
1 Peter 3:7 "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered."
Let's remember that leadership is by its very nature actually serving.
One who will not serve, neglecting his own things for the sake of others, is not worthy to be a leader.
The woman has been given charge over the house hold. God gave that position to her, not her husband. Her husband is to honor the mandates of the wife in the household, even to taking off his shoes if that is one of her rules.
Proverbs 1:8 "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:"
Mothers and Fathers both teach and train the children. When the mother makes a rule, it is up to the Father to uphold that in the sight of the children. When the Father makes a rule then it is up to the Mother to uphold that also, unless either one is doing something against God's will, then there must be discussion and refusal to disobey God over the submission to the spouse.
Acts 5:29 "But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men."
A man is to lead his wife in righteousness. If he does not then the woman must choose righteousness in spite of her husband. If a woman will not follow the lead of her husband in righteousness, then the husband must pray and continue on with God no matter what his wife does.
Instructions Not A Mantra
Christ gave us instructions in how to pray. The instructions are not the mantra to repeat, but steps to observe in prayer.
Luke 11:2-4
"2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.”
Luke 11:2-4
"2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.”
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Prosperity Lies
I don't know
about any of you but I become weary at the health wealth and prosperity gospel
that some are spreading. There is no
scriptural basis for it. Many have
become discouraged thinking they have done something wrong because they don't
live in wealth, they are sick often and all their relatives hate them.
There are
those who say they don't believe the false gospel of prosperity, but live as
though they must prove God is blessing them through feverish efforts to acquire
wealth. They even deny their illnesses
to pretend they are healthy when they need a doctor.
Next time
someone attempts to convince you that God does not want you to be poor, sick,
or persecuted, repeat these words to them.
Hebrews 11:35
"Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not
accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
Hbr 11:36
Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and
imprisonment.
Hbr 11:37
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, [fn] were slain with the
sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute,
afflicted, tormented--
Hbr 11:38 of
whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, [in]
dens and caves of the earth.
Hbr 11:39 And
all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the
promise,
Hbr 11:40 God
having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect
apart from "
Many people
are being persecuted, beheaded and hung on crosses today in Egypt
Matthew 6:19
""Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and
rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;"
Mat 6:20 "but lay up for yourselves treasures
in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break
in and steal."
Mat 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also."
2 Corinthians
11:23 "Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I [am] more: in
labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in
deaths often.
2Cr 11:24
From the Jews five times I received forty [stripes] minus one.
2Cr 11:25 Three
times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked;
a night and a day I have been in the deep;
2Cr 11:26
[in] journeys often, [in] perils of waters, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils
of [my own] countrymen, [in] perils of the Gentiles, [in] perils in the city,
[in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false
brethren;
2Cr 11:27 in
weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings
often, in cold and nakedness--
2Cr 11:28
besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the
churches.
2Cr 11:29 Who
is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn [with
indignation]?
2Cr 11:30 If
I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
2Cr 11:31 The
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I
am not lying.
2Cr 11:32 In Damascus
2Cr 11:33 but
I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his
hands"
about a
minute ago • Like
Luke 21:14
""Therefore settle [it] in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on
what you will answer;
Luk 21:15
"for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will
not be able to contradict or resist.
Luk 21:16
"You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends;
and they will put [some] of you to death.
Luk 21:17
"And you will be hated by all for My name's sake"
Hmmm!!! Christ was our example and He did not escape
poverty and persecution, what would make us think we would. Joel Osteen spits in the face of God when he
writes a book entitled, "Your Best Life Now." This may be the best life now for those who
are refusing Christ and ultimately will end up in a firey hell. But for the believer, nothing on this earth
should take us captive, not wealth, not health nor the love of all the people
that surround us. Our best life is to
come when we go before the Savior and hear His Words, "Well done good and
faithful servant."
We as
believers yearn for our heavenly home and our husband that dwells in us now and
will one day take us home.
Diligence Brings Blessing
Proverbs 20:4
"4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing."
It is a sin to be lazy, we must ask God to make us diligent, that our witness not be maligned in the eyes of those who are watching.
Those who are lazy in their job, will also be lazy in their spiritual life. Laziness is a mentality, that is not compartmentalized to a particular area, it is a spiritual soul problem.
Proverbs 13:4
"4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
But the soul of the diligent is made fat."
Proverbs 10:4
"4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich."
Galatians 6:9
"9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."
2 Peter 3:14
"14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,"
Ecclesiastes 9:10
"10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going."
Colossians 3:23
"23 Whatever you do, do your work [a]heartily, as for the Lord [b]rather than for men,"
Romans 6:12
"12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,"
We forget that laziness is sin, we also forget sometimes that working hard, accomplishing a task is much more fulfilling than entertainment. God has placed in our being a need and desire to accomplish physical tasks. We are fulfilled by them, they satisfy.
Psalm 128:2 "When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, You will be happy and it will be well with you."
When pleasure is pursued, then there is never enough, only more pleasure continually will give temporary happiness.
When we sit down from our labors and look back at the accomplishment, only then can we feel at rest, we delight in our work.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
"18 Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.
19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.
20 For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart."
"4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing."
It is a sin to be lazy, we must ask God to make us diligent, that our witness not be maligned in the eyes of those who are watching.
Those who are lazy in their job, will also be lazy in their spiritual life. Laziness is a mentality, that is not compartmentalized to a particular area, it is a spiritual soul problem.
Proverbs 13:4
"4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
But the soul of the diligent is made fat."
Proverbs 10:4
"4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich."
Galatians 6:9
"9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."
2 Peter 3:14
"14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,"
Ecclesiastes 9:10
"10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going."
Colossians 3:23
"23 Whatever you do, do your work [a]heartily, as for the Lord [b]rather than for men,"
Romans 6:12
"12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,"
We forget that laziness is sin, we also forget sometimes that working hard, accomplishing a task is much more fulfilling than entertainment. God has placed in our being a need and desire to accomplish physical tasks. We are fulfilled by them, they satisfy.
Psalm 128:2 "When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, You will be happy and it will be well with you."
When pleasure is pursued, then there is never enough, only more pleasure continually will give temporary happiness.
When we sit down from our labors and look back at the accomplishment, only then can we feel at rest, we delight in our work.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
"18 Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.
19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.
20 For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart."
Laziness Dishonors God!
Proverbs 19:24-25
"24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary;
Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge."
"24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary;
Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge."
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Superficial Forgiveness
http://web001.rbc.org/pdf/discovery-series/avoiding-the-dangers-of-superficial-forgiveness.pdf
In order to see this, please copy and paste it to the address line.
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