“What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Mark 10:9 KJV

“What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Mark 10:9 KJV

     Mere men and women should not separate what God has joined together and disobedience to God’s Word requires correction, just like disobedience to one’s earthly parents requires punishment. Because men and women today are not honoring the fact that God has joined them together, families are being broken, children are being left fatherless, hearts are being broken, and people are selfishly following their own “needs” instead of God.

    Are you the victim of a divorced family? Do you want to be the victimizer of another? Hopefully not! Dear friend, we must acknowledge what God has done: joining marriages for life. May we obey lest we reap the lasting consequences of our hastily sown seed of divorce in this country.

Think about this today:

Before a man and woman marry, one important block to lay in their relationship is the fact that they will never separate the bond that God created between them.

They say this in their vows, but won’t live it without true commitment, that is, true love (1 Cor. 13).

Start Praying Now

Start Praying Now

Hey guys, how many of you want to be married?

Hey girls, how many of you want to be married?

    Alright, most of you probably want to get married one day. Are your reasons Biblical or LUSTFUL, though? The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, will tell you if you’re honest with yourself.

     Pray for that ONE. Right now, set aside some time and pray for her or him. Pray for God to give him or her strength, to equip them, to empower them, to embolden them, to loose the TRUTH of God’s Word within them, to develop character in them, for them to have a thriving and dependent relationship with Jesus; for them to live stewardship right now (i.e. tithing, financial wisdom, and wisdom with their time, resources and talents - for God) and you complete the list.

       Invite God’s hand into the life of your future spouse—they need CHRIST and so do YOU. Give Christ Charge in their life today! Pray that special helpmeet or servant leader into the throne room of God right now. You may not know them, but prayer spans the miles and years.

“….The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

James 5:16 KJV

The Three Big Decisions of Your life

The Three Big Decisions of Your life

The way I see it, there are three major decisions/events in a person’s life.

            #1 Accepting Christ’s free gift of salvation is the most important event in your life coupled with maintaining a vibrant relationship with Him through communion with the Holy Spirit.

             #2 The calling that God has placed on you. Everyone has a calling (2 Peter 1:10). Your calling can be to serve in ministry, your career, a hobby, serving at your church, simply listening to people, and the list goes on. The possibilities are huge and fathomless because God makes us unique people that can use our talents in specific, yet personal ways. God has a specific thing—or things!—that He wants you to do in your lifetime. Have you sought Him for what that or those things are? Why or why not?

              #3 The greatest decision that you will ever make in the natural world is who you marry. You will be bonded to this person for the rest of your earthly lives; you will need to follow God’s leading together in your marriage; and the fruit of your marriage may be a family. Are you going to marry the right one? How will you know? Call upon God through prayer. Does God want you to marry the specific man or woman you are interested in? The Bible talks about asking and receiving: if you need wisdom, then ask God for wisdom (James 1:5). Isn’t wisdom required to make the decision of who you will marry? Then why not ask God? God will speak! If you seek Him, you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). Ask Him, you may be surprised what He reveals. If you truly hear His Words, they will line up with the Bible.

The LOVE Command of the Song of Solomon

The LOVE Command of the Song of Solomon

    Dear reader, the Song of Solomon says several times “. . . Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases (Song of Solomon 8:4 NKJV).” What does this “arousing” or “awakening” of love mean? Let’s start by looking at the definition of arouse.

Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language defines arouse as:

To excite into action, that which is at rest ; to stir, or put in motion or exertion, that which is languid ; as, to arouse one from sleep ; to arouse dormant faculties.

   LOVE is often associated with feelings or physical actions, like a kiss or sex in our 21^st century culture, but God’s WORD describes LOVE as something else. Read first Corinthians 13.      

     First Corinthians 13 describes love as patient and kind. In light of these two attributes, do you really love someone? Or are you just lusting after them? Lust is wanting and love is waiting. Let’s be wise, there is no need to “…stir up nor awaken love until it pleases (Song of Solomon 8:4 NKJV).” Those unmarried, let’s wait until God directs us to arouse/awaken “romantic love” in marriage. We will experience God’s blessing on a relationship only when we are obedient, but how can we expect to have God’s blessings without obeying His rules on real love? LET’S WAIT. Adults, what experiences do you have of arousing/awakening “romantic love” before God gave the ok? Your experience is what the younger generation desperately needs to hear! Please share it; because we need to know the pain that comes with ignoring God’s righteous way. Let’s return to the Scriptures, stop lusting and start truly loving.

Personal Question:

V  Are you “arousing” the physical side of a relationship that is supposed to come only in marriage in any way?

Remembering That God Has “Arranged” Marriages

Remembering That God Has “Arranged” Marriages

Read Genesis 24.

        This chapter tells of the incredible story of Isaac and Rebekah being brought together by God. My words do not do this story justice so I won’t try to retell it, but I will say that this story is just amazing! God worked in this passage, He literally arranged their marriage!  Think about this because I believe that God is still in the business of bringing people together in unique ways.

V  Why do you think that so many Christians struggle with willingly letting God “arrange” their marriages in a special way and just giving Him control instead of worrying and fretting, trying to find “the One” and “make it happen” on their own?

Culture’s Twisted View on Marriage

Culture’s Twisted View on Marriage

Prior to reading this thought, please read Matthew 19:1-12.

    Marriage is an institution that was established and is initiated by God. Today, however, the media, the culture, the government, and even some churches treat marriage as an unimportant institution.

     Why does the younger generation of America have crumbling marriages, broken families, devastated hearts, and a rule twisting spirit?  One of the answers lies in the viewpoint that many have toward marriage. On many TV stations, on any given day of the week, programs are featuring two people happily fornicating or a “needed” divorce is taking place.

     The devil understands all too well the folly of allowing children to grow up with a view that says that fornication is ok; so he uses his demons, the World, and the media to do so. The fragmented foundation that the devil sows into people’s lives obscures the proper view that Christ wants to instill in us about sex, male roles, female roles, and marriage relationships. Could this be the reason why sexually transmitted diseases are appearing to rise? And why so many families break up and so many children have to “brave the waters” of everyday life without a mother or a father to lovingly comfort them?

      I will conclude with the following verses, but you don’t have to end this thought. You can still dwell on the topics mentioned and pray.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” ~ Romans 12:1-2 KJV

“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” ~ Matthew 19:4-6 KJV

 

Finding a Wife

Finding a Wife

          Young men need to know that God has already picked out the right wife for them. That is, if He has chosen to have them marry one day. Later on down the road you will meet her . . . or maybe you have already met her. Be careful not to get caught up in the “lust of the moment” and ‘date’ just any girl. Be careful with confusing lust for love. Most of the time “guys” want to date a girl for a lustful reason like how she looks. Likewise, many young women date a man because of his looks or accomplishments, not his character. Love, true love, is described in the Bible as patient and kind: it never wants (lusts); however, your fleshly nature does so you will have to seek the Lord to walk in true love.

Read 1 Corinthians 13 and muse on its meaning.

Perhaps the best way for a boy to prepare for a godly wife is to prepare himself to be a Godly man, which includes making intercessions for her before they meet and acquiring an understanding from god’s word of what God will require of him as a husband, otherwise how will he treat his future wife correctly?

 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” Ephesians 5:25-26 KJV

“House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.”  Proverbs 19:14 KJV

A godly Wife

A godly Wife

  Read Proverbs 31 before going on.

        A godly wife is a blessing directly from the throne of God: she is a helpmeet, a confidant, a true lover and a friend. She’s with you in the hard times and she’s there with you in the good—truly in sickness and health. Many claim that the charm or beauty of their wife is what attracted them, but is this a Scripturally grounded claim?

“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30 NKJV

Character triumphs over looks

          Throughout the ages many men have been “attracted” to women because of their charm, “beauty,” and or riches; but Scripture teaches us that all these will fade. You might have a “hot” or charming wife, but what really lasts is a wife who has a godly character. In truth, a godly wife will help a man through the good and bad times. Men, we need the specific helpmeet that God has for us like Eve was for Adam. Remember that being a Christian of character is what matters the most in choosing a wife, not what she looks like.

The Three Big Decisions of Your life

The Three Big Decisions of Your life

The way I see it, there are three major decisions/events in a person’s life.

#1 Accepting Christ’s free gift of salvation is the most important event in your life coupled with maintaining a vibrant relationship with Him through communion with the Holy Spirit.

#2 The calling that God has placed on you. Everyone has a calling (2 Peter 1:10). Your calling can be to serve in ministry, your career, a hobby, serving at your church, simply listening to people, and the list goes on. The possibilities are huge and fathomless because God makes us unique people that can use our talents in specific, yet personal ways. God has a specific thing—or things!—that He wants you to do in your lifetime. Have you sought Him for what that or those things are? Why or why not?

#3 The greatest decision that you will ever make in the natural world is who you marry. You will be bonded to this person for the rest of your earthly lives; you will need to follow God’s leading together in your marriage; and the fruit of your marriage may be a family. Are you going to marry the right one? How will you know? Call upon God through prayer. Does God want you to marry the specific man or woman you are interested in? The Bible talks about asking and receiving: if you need wisdom, then ask God for wisdom (James 1:5). Isn’t wisdom required to make the decision of who you will marry? Then why not ask God? God will speak! If you seek Him, you will find Him. Ask Him, you may be surprised what He reveals. If you truly hear His Words, they will line up with the Bible.

Know, Court, Marry

Know, Court, Marry

       For more information on these three items (know, court, marry) read Passion and Purity or Quest for Love by Elizabeth Elliot. They are awesome books!

Know: Getting to know the opposite sex. When I say getting to know I mean just talking, hanging out—in groups, spending time with other families, ect…  I do not mean sex and lust. You can have clean, meaningful friendships with those of the opposite sex without dating them or pursuing temptation.

Court: A period of time in which you move toward engagement and marriage after having consulted your parents and other mature Christians, but, most importantly, you have already received the approval of the Lord through prayer and seeking His will. 

Marriage: Uniting for as long as you both shall live.

Interested in somebody, but don’t know if you should say something?

#1 Go to God in prayer asking for direction and His will to be done.

Perquisite:  If you are a Christian you can only pursue a “relationship” with another Christian. The Lord has warned us not to be unequally yoked (2 Cor. 6:14-18).

#2 Go to your parents and other mature Christian counselors (older people than you), and talk to them about the person you are interested in. Ask them to partner with you in prayer and keep in touch. In short, have some accountability.

#3 Go to her Dad and ask for permission to court his daughter with the intention of marriage. Young men, I encourage you to do this before you say anything to the girl. There are many reasons why I say this, but the primary one is that her father deserves your respect. He, hopefully, is and has been the primary man in her life, and out of respect you should ask him about his little girl. If you don’t agree with me, then I ask you to put yourself in his position: how would you feel if your daughter is “going-out” with a young man that you know nothing about? That should be enough to send chills up and down your spine.

      Courting is not a synonym of dating. Dating is usually based on lust. Here’s why: a guy sees a girl that is “hot” and so he asks her out. His thoughts are nowhere near pure and his intention possibly worse. This is not God-honoring and it certainly is not honoring to the young woman. The purpose of courting is to get to know each other and find out if God wants the two of you to marry and when you know that it is, to take wise, Spirit-lead steps to preparation for your marriage.

     For the girls out there saying, “But what about a girl that is interested in a particular guy, should she go to his Dad?” The answer is no. Girls, you should not do the asking or pursue the young man. He is supposed to be the leader in the home and, if you marry him, he is to be the head of the household. If you pursue him, it would be easy for you two to get your roles mixed up from the very beginning. A woman leading her household is not operating in her God-given role, if her husband is still alive (Eph. 5:22-33).

#4 Talk to HER or HIM. Be careful and remember that your goal is to honor what God wants for each of you. Maybe God has already revealed to you that you would marry that person, but this doesn’t mean that you skip the courtship stage. Courtship does not have a time limit attached to it; but you should strive to keep God as the focus. Don’t just spend time alone together. Spend time during your courtship with each other’s families, serving at church, etc.… Don’t just stay alone together! Only spending time alone puts you in the center of the devil’s physical fun zone mentality. I would even submit that you do not spend time alone, period, before marriage. Scripture warns us to flee sexual temptation; not walk into situations where we know there could be some temptation and just resist. Therefore, I purpose, avoiding the temptation altogether—to flee like Joseph!—by going places with friends and family together instead. After all, when you marry, you will need to know each other’s family, so why not start spending time with all of them from the very beginning?

      The courtship model is much closer to what occurred in ancient Israel and colonial America than our current “progressive” search for finding a mate; and quite frankly, I think they understood this process to marriage a lot better.

      We have looked at a lot today and we have done so very briefly. Above all else, please seek the Lord’s will! Whether you completely agree with me or not, what is one principle that you know is Scriptural and that you can put into action that you saw today? Put it into action.

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:29-31 KJV

 

 

Resource: Dating or Courtship: Which is Biblical

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marriage’s True Design

Marriage’s True Design—

Yes there is the physical act of sex, but Souls are United as well (mind, will, emotions)

     God designed marriage so that the two should become one. Now, I believe that this has two connotations. The first is that marriage involves physical union. The man and the woman literally become one flesh physically in secret. However, this leads into the second for when physical intimacy occurs, the mind, will, and emotions (the souls) of two individuals become connected too. Some describe this as soul ties, but regardless of what you call it, when two people engage in physical intimacy outside of marriage for temporary pleasure, there is devastation. So many emotions rush through the person. They may feel robbed, used, or depressed, but some things are across the board: a person’s mind, their will to go on, and their emotions are discouraged and depressed when sexual intimacy has been partaken of outside of marriage.

        God has told us that fornication is so important of an error (not just to Him, but to our well-being) that if fornication is committed, the two must get married; unless, the father of the woman will not allow it. This is still God’s plan today for Jesus did not destroy the Law, but raise it even higher to the Spirit of the Law and fulfilling it by living a perfect life.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24 (KJV)

 

Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Hebrews 13:4 (KJV)

 

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (KJV)

 

Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. 14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 6:13-20 (KJV)

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man..

Mark 7:20-23 (KJV)

 

The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. 10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. 11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. Matthew 19:3-12 (KJV), emphasis added

 

Note: Based on verses 11-12, Jesus makes it clear that some are never to be married but to be single their entire lives. However, a special grace “all men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given” must be given to those who are to remain single. Therefore, God’s normal pattern is for men and women to marry.

 

And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. Exodus 22:16-17 (KJV)

 

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:11-14 (KJV)

 

Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-23 (KJV)

 

The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. 18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. 20 The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever. Psalms 145:17-21 (KJV)

 

    If the two marry as they should because of adultery, they should not live with their parents, for God’s Word clearly says that the two are to leave their father and mother. Sadly in America today, this command is being blatantly disregarded by Christians who allow their fornicating children to bring a “partner” into the home or allow them to live together “until they are ready to get married.” If they have had sex, they are “ready” to get married. Finances are something that is important and that will likely be a tight area as a result of their sin of not waiting, but waiting longer once to marry after fornication has been committed is not justified anywhere in the Bible. Both the man and woman are accountable to God for their actions.

Thought 353: Faithfulness to God and Spouse from Ryan's devotional book Thoughts

 

 

Thought 353

Faithfulness to God and Spouse

    Often mankind struggles with being faithful. Israel many times walked away from God. Yet, God is the ultimate role model of faithfulness, because He never leaves us or forsakes us. Just as God demonstrates heavenly loyalty, commitment, and love through His faithfulness, earthly marital faithfulness illustrates them.

    Today “relationships” are often built largely upon feeling. Some “Christians” will only stay ‘true’ to the Lord when they feel all bubbly inside. Likewise, many marriages are built on an attitude that is all for divorce. When dating was previously played as a game—simply switching relationships as fast as you can tie your shoes—one (hopefully unknowingly) lines himself up for a future divorce, because his marriage relationship is based only on a feeling that he has and as soon as a little unwanted heat starts to rise, he takes to his heels wanting out and after awhile, begins looking for another “romantic feeling.” Feelings are great, don’t get me wrong, but it is the faithfulness of Christ that should be lived out through you, because He faithfully lives in His children. Faithfulness demonstrates true love (1 Corinthians 13), not emotional mountaintops.

I pray that today, God convicts you if there is any indication of unfaithfulness to your spouse or your relationship with God; and that from your conviction, you would repent and be transformed into a faithful follower of Christ and marriage partner.

 

Thought 310: God Instituted from Ryan's devotional book series Thougths

Thought 310

God Instituted

  God institutes marriages. Why do so many fail then? The answer is pretty simple: mankind’s pride. Many divorces are over small matters or just because “we’re not ‘in love’ anymore.” Ending a marriage on ANY grounds other than marital unfaithfulness (aka adultery) is wrong.

Matthew 5:31-32 KJV:

³¹ It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

³² But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

 

 Even when marriages are formed without God’s direct blessing, He still does not want them to end (God hates divorce Malachi 2:16); but rather He wants them to be re-committed to Him so that He might bless and redeem their marriage. If you have married out of the will of God, the solution is not to get divorced. Stick with that person and set the example of Christ through your life. Even if you both commit your marriage to the Lord at one point, you still may have some consequences for your previous wrong. God’s heart is to heal a marriage, but He has given each member of the marriage a free will to choose what they choose. Thus, your choices have consequences, either blessings or curses (punishments, marks of the past, damaged name).

Why has the United States stood so strong and tall for so long as a pillar of freedom? It is not because of American initiative. It is not because of pride and patriotism. The reason why America has stood so long is rather simple as well. The Scripture tells us that we cannot lay any other foundation than Christ, because no other will stand the eternal test of the Lord’s fire (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). America succeeded as a nation because the very foundation of the first colonies and the resulting states and provinces was grounded on the foundation of Jesus Christ. The Lord blessed them! Americans have invented so many things and have become so well educated and talented, not because of the Protestant Work Ethic, but because the foundation of Christ was laid in their colleges and schools. The educational system was in the hands of the mothers and fathers of the pupils and they committed their children to education so that their children could read the Bible for themselves.

  God institutes things, but in order for marriages to succeed one of two things must happen, either the man and woman will lay aside their differences and work on the problems in their own strength for the greater good or the foundation of Christ shall laid and the result shall be the blessing (and renewal).

It is pride which is killing the educational world, our country, our people, and certainly our marriages.