THE RACE TO HEAVEN - YOU MAY BE IN DANGER!
BORN TO BURN! and the most recent
I NEED YOUR SOUL - Satan
It continues the series focused on Satan's ploy to ensnare the whole world with sin and pit us against our creator - The Almighty God on the last day!
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| ...enchanting bliss of Marriage |
Today, we will be looking at a God-inspired institution which the Devil just like so many others has infiltrated, polluted and disrupted - MARRIAGE. I was perusing the book of Malachi 2:11-16 when I came across a section of verses that struck me as 'God's ORIGINAL plan and purpose for marriage'. Please take your time to read the following verses, even if that is all you gain from this piece.
11. Judah has been faithless and dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah [that is, Jewish men] has profaned the holy sanctuary of the Lord which He loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god [having divorced his Jewish wife].
12. The Lord will cast out of the tents of Jacob to the last man those who do this [evil thing], the master and the servant [or the pupil] alike, even him who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts.
13. And this you do with double guilt; you cover the altar of the Lord with tears [shed by your unoffending wives, divorced by you that you might take heathen wives], and with [your own] weeping and crying out because the Lord does not regard your offering any more or accept it with favor at your hand.
14. Yet you ask, Why does He reject it? Because the Lord was witness [to the covenant made at your marriage] between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously and to whom you were faithless. Yet she is your companion and the wife of your covenant [made by your marriage vows].
15. And did not God make [you and your wife] one [flesh]? Did not One make you and preserve your spirit alive? And why [did God make you two] one? Because He sought a godly offspring [from your union]. Therefore take heed to yourselves, and let no one deal treacherously and be faithless to the wife of his youth.
16. For the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I hate divorce and marital separation and him who covers his garment [his wife] with violence. Therefore keep a watch upon your spirit [that it may be controlled by My Spirit], that you deal not treacherously and faithlessly [with your marriage mate].
(AMP)Three key issues concerning marriage were discussed in the verses above - 'Your Choice of Marriage Partner', 'Attitude to Marriage Partner', 'Marital Separation and Divorce'.
1. CHOICE OF PARTNER Very many times, people have asked me "bros, how do I know she is the one for me?" or "how do I know he is the one?" I am probably in the least position to answer a question like this, seeing I am not married myself but I have something a mighty number of people who are married and well vast in the marriage experience don't have - the Word of God. In my life's journey, I have learned one thing and it is this - whatever is written in this wonderful book called the Bible is TRUE! It is 'Yea and Amen'. Coming back to base, when you have reached the age of independence, probably bagged up some few degrees and certificates, the mind of your family will immediately tune into the frequency of MARRIAGE. Be you a boy or a girl, there is a stage you get to, your own parents will make you feel UN-AT-HOME in your own house. So many people have it easy in that they have probably had sweethearts for long. For some others, their search may just begin. As a child of God, I always give one answer to people who ask me 'how to know their life partner' - ASK GOD! Let God's choice be your choice. In all honesty, I want you to understand something. God is the ALMIGHTY! He is Omnipresent. This means He is everywhere at the same time including the present, past and future - He is already there! This should be a succour for we children of God but because the Devil has so infiltrated the World, even the church of God, some are blind to their great fortune. When choosing a life partner, know one thing - that person will MAKE or BREAK you! It is not an issue of 'can'. It is a WILL issue and it is only a matter of time before either one starts to manifest. Everyone of you reading this blog can relate to a story where the spouse of a person leads them to their great downfall; sometimes even, DEATH! GOD FORBID! We must not allow pleasures and facades of life to sway us into the arms of a wrong partner. Proverbs 5:3-5 states -
For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.This applies to the ladies too! There are men out there whose feet lead not just to hell, but to the lake of fire itself!
Please dear reader, ensure you commit your life partner into the hands of the Lord. When you marry God's choice for your life, all things will be 'bright and beautiful'. There will be challenges but the One who brought you both together will help you overcome together - in LOVE. Do not let beauty, riches, fame, power, or any other materiality determine your choice of marriage partner. God's choice most times may seem foolish, impossible, unthinkable or even unattractive but I beg you - GO WITH IT! If you are all for temporary happiness, where the first 5 years of the marriage are sweet and romantic but the remaining 95 years are terrible, horrifying and terrifying, you're welcome to go with the world, but if you need true love (both Spiritual and Physical), happiness and most importantly total peace of mind, I will tell you to pray and ask God to guide you to that one man or woman He had destined for you from the beginning.
Now you may ask, "how do I know God is speaking about this person?" Thing is this - it depends on your level of Faith and Gift of the Holy Spirit within you. God speaks to different people in different ways. He may speak to you through a dream, a vision, ministration or even sometimes you may hear His voice clearly approving or refusing a person for you. Sometimes you will experience this inner peace when you are with that person. I want you to know your spirit is real and powerful. Usually when something is not God's choice for you, you will have this unease concerning it. There will be doubts, unending questions, even sometimes your heart may start physically palpitating when you are around such person. That's a cue! Run while you can. No matter how far you have gone in that relationship know that a broken relationship is better than a broken marriage. This is why we need to really put the issue of our life partner into the hands of God! Sometimes also, God may speak through someone to you. Say your Pastor, a Godly friend, relative or colleague! But I have to tell you; be weary of people coming to tell you that God said you should marry this person or that person! Always pray for a PERSONAL CONVICTION! If God could speak to them, he will surely speak to you!
As we can see from verses 11-14 of the above scriptures, the Israelites of the primeval times were encouraged to marry between themselves. If you read critically you will understand why. There are two reasons -
1. To have a Godly family and bare Godly children
2. God will always intervene in a marriage ordained by Him
We are in a new dispensation wherein you cannot be coerced into marrying from a particular tribe or race or ethnicity, especially since the Gospel is now everywhere but it is most advisable to marry a fellow child of God! When time comes for you to settle down, make sure you are convinced beyond ALL reasonable doubts, that your partner is -
1. GODLY and
2. GOD's CHOICE
Only then will you experience the enchanting BLISS of marriage.
The remaining issues will be discussed in the next two chapters so STAY TUNED!
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