Jesus’s Joy in Marriage

 

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor. (Ephesians 5:25–27)

The reason there is so much misery in marriage is not that husbands and wives seek their own pleasure, but that they do not seek it in the pleasure of their spouses. The biblical mandate to husbands and wives is to seek your own joy in the joy of your spouse.

There is scarcely a more hedonistic passage in the Bible than the one on marriage in Ephesians 5:25–30. Husbands are told to love their wives the way Christ loved the church.

How did he love the church? Verse 25 says he “gave himself up for her.” But why? Verse 26 says, “that he might sanctify” and cleanse her. But why did he want to do that? Verse 27 answers, “that he might present the church to himself in splendor!”

Ah! There it is! “For the joy that was set before him [he] endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). What joy? The joy of marriage to his bride, the church. The joy of presenting the church to himself in blood-bought splendor.

Jesus does not intend to have a dirty and unholy wife. Therefore, he was willing to die to sanctify and cleanse his betrothed so he could present to himself a wife “in splendor.” He gained the desire of his heart by giving himself up in suffering for the good of his bride.

Then Paul applies this to husbands in verses 28–30: “In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.”

Jesus had said to husbands and wives — and everyone else — “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). Marriage is an extraordinary place of application. It is not merely “as” you love yourself. But you are loving yourself. When you love the person with whom God has made you one flesh, you are loving yourself. That is, your greatest joy is found in seeking the greatest joy of your spouse.

The Purpose of Prosperity

 

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (Ephesians 4:28)

There are three levels of how to live with material things: (1) you can steal to get them; (2) or you can work to get them; (3) or you can work to get in order to give.

Too many professing Christians live on level two. We glorify work over against stealing and mooching, and feel we have acted virtuously if we have spurned stealing and mooching, and given ourselves to an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. That’s not a bad thing. Work is better than stealing and mooching. But that’s not what the apostle calls us to.

Almost all the forces of our culture urge us to live on level two: work to get. But the Bible pushes us relentlessly to level three: work to get to give. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Why does God bless us with abundance? So we can have enough to live on, and then use the rest for all manner of good works that alleviate spiritual and physical misery — temporal and eternal suffering. Enough for us; abundance for others.

The issue is not how much a person makes. Big industry and big salaries are a fact of our times, and they are not necessarily evil. The evil is in being deceived into thinking that a large salary must be accompanied by a lavish lifestyle.

God has made us to be conduits of his grace. The danger is in thinking the conduit should be lined with gold. It shouldn’t. Copper will do. Copper can carry unbelievable riches to others. And in the very process of that giving we enjoy the greatest blessing (Acts 20:35).

PRAYER IS THE MASTER KEY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY OCTOBER 17, 2022.

SUBJECT : PRAYER IS THE MASTER KEY!

Memory verse: "And the Lord said, I have surely seen the oppressions of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows." (Exodus 3 vs 7.)

READ: James 5 vs 13 - 18:

5:13: Is anyone among you suffering? let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? let him sing psalms.

5:14: Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

5:15: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

5:16: Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

5:17: Elijah was a man with nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.

5:18: And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

INTIMATION:

Prayer is the master key we use to free ourselves from the bondage of all form of afflictions of the enemy, and for the restoration of our beauty in Christ. It’s the kingdom’s force of deliverance from afflictions, and restoration of our glorious destiny. The prayer key is the master key that opens all doors. It is the desire of the Father that His children approach Him in prayer. 

Prayer is the natural response of those who recognize their need for the help of God in their lives. It is earnestly entreating God in sincerity of your intention. It is the greatest privilege, and ministry available to all Christians. Indeed, everyone who seeks to take his or her place in the kingdom of God should seek or learn how to pray effectively. Because prayer is, in itself, our fellowship with the Father, He awaits us to come to Him in prayer, and consequently welcomes us in fellowship with Him.

Affliction is described as great suffering that produces sorrow. Afflictions are not our heritage; we are created in His image and after His likeness, to reflect the glory of God, and prayer is what it takes to enforce our manifestations. It’s only in prayer we hand over our battles to God with whom nothing is impossible with or difficult for (Mark 10 vs 27; Jeremiah 32 vs 17 & 27). He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the wise Judge, who is aware of our conducts and knows all things. He is our Redeemer, who has great power, and the Owner of the world and all its fullness. Therefore, who else can you go to?

It’s for this reason Jesus said, “...Men ought always to pray and not to faint” (Luke 18 vs 1). To be constantly on the guard, we should persistently hand over every of our concern to God in prayer. And taking a cue from Jesus, the apostle Paul also instructs us to “pray without ceasing” (First Thessalonians 5 vs 17).

Now, look at our memory verse, "Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray." Not, "let him cry...," or, "let him watch..." That means anyone that is battered, tormented or depressed, is expected to pray for deliverance. If you want to see that yoke on your life broken, you must pray. If you want the forces beclouding your destiny to be shattered you must go to the Lord in prayer. It is the kingdom force recommended for our deliverance.

Some people see prayer as a last resort to be tried when all else fails. This approach is backward. Prayer should come first. God wants His children to be completely dependent on Him, and not wearied about how often we come to Him in prayer. Because God’s power is infinitely greater than ours, it only makes sense to rely on it, especially when God encourages us to do so. Prayer has remained the key to an excellent way to maintain a constant grace of God in our lives, and have our priorities right throughout each day. A disciplined prayer life entails going to God in prayers often, preferably three times a day; morning, afternoon and night. The Psalmist in Psalm 55 vs 17 says:-"Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice." 

In our memory verse, God said He had the cries in prayer of the children of Israel who had been in bondage in Egypt for 430 years. God sent them help after He heard their cries in prayer. So until you cry out against that affliction in your life, it remains. God only responds to your voice in prayer, to put a stop to the assault of the devil in your life. Apart from destroying afflictions, prayer puts you on the line for divine visitations, and turns your captivity around, just as it did for the children of Israel. Therefore, the time is now to rise up against that situation—joblessness, barrenness, lack or want, and so on. Go to God in prayers, remind Him of His promises in His Word that exempt you from such afflictions, and you will be set free! Nothing can stop a person of prayer!

Sing this beautiful song that summarizes the power of prayer:-

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry 

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what a peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear -

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in Prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should not be discouraged;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful.

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness -

Take it to the lord in Prayer!

Are we weak and heavy-laden?

Cumbered with load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge - 

Take it to the Lord in prayer,

Do your friends despise, forsake you?

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

In His arms He'll take and shield you,

You will find a solace there!

The power of prayer is not in the number of prayers that are made for a particular request. The power is not in repetitious phrases or words in prayer. The power of prayer is based on the righteous living of the individual who makes the prayer of faith. The righteous demeanor of our lives, therefore, is the foundation upon which prayers are answered. This is true because God always works on behalf of His obedient children. 

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of prayer, and supplication in obedience of faith to You, that I may dwell in Your presence always through prayer, and obtain my victory over all circumstances that confront me in life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

TOMORROW BELONG TO GOD BY TD JAKES

 

GET YOUR INSPIRING BOOKS BY MIKE C BONIFACE

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WHEN YOU PRAY FOR OTHERS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2022.

SUBJECT: WHEN YOU PRAY FOR OTHERS!

Memory verse: "So I sought for a man among them, who should make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”  (Ezekiel 22 vs 30.)

READ: Psalm 106 vs 23:

Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them. 

INTIMATION: 

Intercessory prayer is a never-ending opportunity to join God in His work, while at the same time, you have a chance to be transformed both in heart and circumstance. Not just a few are called to pray for others; we are all called to pray unceasingly for all of God's people. Are you wondering if praying for others makes a difference? Here are eight amazing things that happen when you pray for others: 

1. When we pray, we participate in God's work.

There are many people in our lives who need prayer. At times their needs are clear. Other times we may not know what to pray. Either way, when we pray for others, we join God in His work in their lives. 

If you are not sure what to pray, follow the exhortation of Apostle Paul to Timothy in First Timothy 2 vs 1 - 4: “Therefore I exhort first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercession and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Being obedient in praying for others clears the way for God's work and will to be done.

2. When we pray for others we emulate Jesus.

In the book of Luke, we find Jesus praying often. He goes to His Father in prayer as His ministry begins. As we can see in Scripture, Jesus prayed His disciples and about everything. By bringing petitions of prayer on behalf of others, we imitate our Savior. Jesus said to Peter, “And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail, and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22 vs 31 - 32.)

3. When we pray for others, we share in their  burdens. In Philippians 2 vs 3 - 4, the apostle Paul reminds us to put others above self, and to consider the needs of others more important than our own. Our nature is to do the opposite. Our first thought is to pray that our burdens be lifted or erased altogether. It is humility that allows us to pray for others earnestly. And by offering prayers for the relief of others and sharing their burdens, our burdens seem lighter. 

4. By praying for others, we join the ministry of reconciliation. The apostle Paul said that God reconciled the believers with Himself through Jesus Christ, and has gives them the ministry of reconciliation, or working to help others know Jesus, embrace salvation, and God's love. (First Corinthians 5 vs 18). Our first tool is prayer. Praying for others puts us in the middle of God's work to bring everyone to Himself. By praying for others, we are ministers in the work of salvation, opening the gospel to those in our prayers. God wants everyone to be saved, and we are invited to be part of the work. (First Timothy 2 vs 3 - 4.)

5. When we pray for others, we learn to trust God. If we depend on our strength and abilities, we cannot accomplish God's will. Only through surrendering to God is He able to work through us to accomplish His desires in our prayers for others. When we offer intercessory prayers, pleading with God on behalf of loved ones and friends, we are trusting in His ability to answer, and He does. We are giving up our capabilities to answer and depending on God to keep His promise to answer our prayers.

6. When we pray for others, we are also changed. Prayer is not a matter of changing things externally, but one of working miracles in a person's inner nature. While we pray for others, we plead with God to intercede in their lives, perhaps to bring healing or strength in difficult times. But we are also opening our hearts for change. When we pray for others, we connect to the One who has the power to transform the hearts of others and bring change to their circumstances. At the same time, it amends our hearts.

7. Praying for others glorifies God. When we practice intercessory prayer, we glorify the only One who can answer prayers. Our prayers display trust in God, our belief in Christ, and when prayers are answered, we praise Him for his faithfulness. Our prayers glorify God. Praying is not just a conversation. Prayer is praise for the work God will do through our prayers.

8. God answers when we pray for others.

As Christians, our prayers do not bounce off the ceiling or dissipate like fog. God hears when we pray for others, and He answers. The answer may not come quickly, nor may the reply be what we expected. Or, because God is gracious, we receive much more than we asked. Either way, God answers our prayers when we pray for others. Our prayers are powerful, and our loving God wants us to know through His answer to our plea that He has the power and authority to answer whatever we ask in accordance with His Will.

Prayer should not be regarded as a duty which must be performed, but rather as a privilege to be enjoyed, a rare delight that is always revealing some new beauty.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the excellent spirit of prayer and supplication with thanksgiving in all things, and giving myself to praying for others, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Fear and Hope in God’s Jealousy

 

The Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Exodus 34:14)

God is infinitely jealous for the honor of his name, and responds with terrible wrath against those whose hearts should belong to him but go after other things, like a spouse running after another lover.

For example, in Ezekiel 16:38–40 he says to faithless Israel,

“I will judge you as women who commit adultery and shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy. And I will give you into their hands, and they shall throw down your vaulted chamber. . . . They shall strip you of your clothes and take your beautiful jewels and leave you naked and bare. They shall bring up a crowd against you, and they shall stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords.”

I urge you to listen to this warning. The jealousy of God for your undivided love and devotion will always have the last say. Whatever lures your affections away from God with deceptive attraction will come back to strip you bare and cut you in pieces.

It is a horrifying thing to use your God-given life to commit adultery against the Almighty.

But for those of you who have been truly united to Christ and who keep your vows to forsake all others and cleave only to him and live for his honor — for you the jealousy of God is a great comfort and a great hope.

Since God is infinitely jealous for the honor of his name, anything and anybody who threatens the good of his faithful wife will be opposed with divine omnipotence. That’s good news for the faithful wife — the faithful people of God.

God’s jealousy is a great threat to those who play the harlot and sell their heart to the world and make a cuckold out of God (James 4:3–4). But his jealousy is a great comfort to those who keep their covenant vows and become strangers and exiles in the world.