God’s Solutions for Today’s Problems #63
Welcome to God’s Solutions for Today’s Problems podcast. This is podcast #63
My name is Daniel Whyte III, president of Ordained Chaplains USA and Life coach. We don’t have to look far to see that many people in the world are dealing with a variety of problems and are in need of solutions. No matter what problem you are facing — whether it is emotional, psychological or spiritual — Jesus Christ holds the solution that you need. As we walk together in this podcast, we will address a number of topics that exist in the world and present solutions from the Bible that will help you heal and live life more abundantly. Our aim in this podcast is: (1) to introduce you to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the ultimate source of all healing; (2) to provide you with information that will help you to understand the problem; and (3) to help you by providing solutions to your problems.
Our passage from the Word of God today is 1 Corinthians 7:10-11. It reads, “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.”
Allow me to share with you some interesting points on this passage from Matthew Henry’s Commentary:
In general, he tells them that marriage, by Christ’s command, is for life; and therefore those who are married must not think of separation. The wife must not depart from the husband, nor the husband put away his wife. This I command, says the apostle; yet not I, but the Lord. Not that he commanded any thing of his own head, or upon his own authority. Whatever he commanded was the Lord’s command, dictated by His Spirit and enjoined by His authority. But his meaning is that the Lord Himself, with His own mouth, had forbidden such separations. Note, Man and wife cannot separate at pleasure, nor dissolve, when they will, their matrimonial bonds and relation. They must not separate for any other cause than what Christ allows. And therefore the apostle advises that if any woman had been separated, either by a voluntary act of her own or by an act of her husband, she should continue unmarried, and seek reconciliation with her husband, that they might cohabit again. Note, Husbands and wives should not quarrel at all, or should be quickly reconciled. They are bound to each other for life. The divine law allows of no separation. They cannot throw off the burden, and therefore should set their shoulders to it, and endeavour to make it as light to each other as they can.
Our quote for today is from A.W. Pink. He said, “Marriage is not a mere civil thing, but is partly spiritual and Divine, and therefore God alone has the power to appoint the beginning, the continuance, and the end thereof.”
The problem we are discussing today is “Divorce” (part 3) from the book, “The Guide to Biblical Counseling” by Dr. Tim Clinton and Dr. Ron Hawkins.
ASSESSMENT INTERVIEW
For Couples Contemplating Divorce
When a couple comes to counseling with divorce as an option, you are usually the last stop before a lawyer.
Rule Outs
Do either of you have reason to believe that you are in physical danger from the other?
Has there been any type of abuse (physical, verbal, or sexual) to either of you or your children? (If there has been physical or sexual abuse, the first step is to get the abused spouse and children away from the abuser and to a safe place. Counseling cannot begin until this takes place. After the abused person is safe, the couple can meet for counseling with the counselor and a representative of the church, such as an elder or pastor, present. It is a good idea if both genders are represented in the core counseling times.)
General Questions
What has prompted you to come to counseling at this time?
What do you hope the outcome of counseling will be?
Tell me about your marriage. How long have you been married?
Do you have any children?
How did you meet?
What first attracted you to each other?
How did you know this was the person you wanted to marry?
What was your first fight about?
When did the problems that bring you here today first arise?
What have you tried already to solve these problems?
Do you feel there is any hope for reconciliation?
So you both want a divorce? Why or why not?
What would it take for you to want to reconcile?
Do either of you think you have biblical grounds for divorce?
What are they?
Are you both believers?
How is your walk with the Lord?
Tell me about your background, your parents, and your siblings. What was growing up like for you?
Are there any divorces in your family or among your friends?
What do you think divorce will accomplish for you?
How do you think the divorce will affect your children?
Would you like to see what the Bible says about divorce?
“God does not hate divorced people–He hates the cruelty of divorce. Divorce does not eliminate problems; it just substitutes a new set of problems.” – Author Unknown
In our next broadcast, we will continue looking at the problem of Divorce.
—–PRAYER—–
Now, if you are listening today, and you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, allow me to show you how.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now this is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9-13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you have other questions about life’s problems for this podcast, please email us [email protected]
Until next time, my friend remember that God has a solution to all of your problems.
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