Topic: Foundation For An Enviable Marriage (2)

Dear Reader,

You are most welcome to this weekly column!   I started a teaching last week, on the foundation for an enviable marriage.  I noted that an enviable marriage is the benefit of those who go for understanding in the Word of God.

This week, I will be speaking on Obedience, a pathway to enjoying God’s best in marriage.

God always fulfils His own side of the marriage covenant.  The man and his wife who are the second party in the marriage covenant are the variables.  They must be ready to obey the terms of the agreement as stated in God’s Word, so they can reap the rewards that go with obedience.

Disobedience to God is the beginning of a bad marriage.  The disobedience of man (and his wife) to the terms of the covenant as stated in God’s Word, is usually the cause of many marital sorrows, problems, frustration and eventual divorce.

The reason for many people’s divorce situation is their hardness of heart.  My husband says, “You need a heart to make a mark”, and if I may add, “You need a right heart to make a right mark in your family life.”  The man and his wife have to fulfil their own part of the covenant, if they must enjoy the best that marriage has to offer.

However, to enjoy fulfilment in the marriage covenant, co-operation between the husband and the wife is a major requirement.  Wherever the man does not co-operate with the woman or the woman does not co-operate with the man, fulfilment remains a dream that can never be realised.

The responsibility of the man is to govern the home and cater for the needs of his family (this includes spiritual, physical and material needs) as established in Ephesians 5:23 and 1 Timothy 5:8.  The woman’s role in the covenant is to submit to her husband as seen in Ephesians 5:22.

In essence, if the man and his wife are to enjoy an enviable marriage, then they must adhere to the terms of the marriage covenant.  Many people, even Christians, want to enjoy a good marriage but are not ready to be obedient to the terms of the covenant.

Outside of obedience, the fruit of a successful marriage cannot be obtained.  An enviable marriage and family is, therefore, the fruit of obedience.  A good and fulfilled marriage is possible, but only those that are ready to obey the terms of the agreement can have access to this unique fruit.

Obedience to God’s Word is the secured path to a glorious marriage.  Grace for obedience is released to those who are born again.  The foundation of an enviable marriage is God. Do you want to enjoy a most successful marriage?  If yes, then give your life to Christ. This entails confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.  If you are not born again and you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this prayer: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today as a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. I believe You died and rose on the third day for my sins.  I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through [email protected]; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

Topic: Pay Your Vows [Monday March 13, 2017]

Text: Psalm 116:10-19

Key Verse: “I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people” (Psalm 116:14).

Our desires strongly influence our lives. At times, we wish to have something so badly that we can go any length to obtain it. Some people in business and industry have a ruthless, cutthroat desire to succeed, and they can ruin other people’s lives and careers to reach their goals. A few even devote their lives to acquiring modern houses, priceless art, latest and rare automobiles, antiquities and other fine things to satisfy their cravings.

Today’s text reveals the psalmist’s gratitude to God for answered prayers and deliverance from the sorrows of death, the pains of hell, tears and for being alive (verses 1-9). He was so grateful that he inquired of what he would render to God for all His benefits toward him. Firstly, to show gratitude, he decided to evangelise and be more prayerful. Secondly, he recalled that he had made some vows in moments of prayers, which he was yet to pay. Vow is so important to God that He devoted a whole chapter on the subject in the Old Testament – Numbers 30.

The meaning of these verses is that we should not lightly make a vow to God to acquire something. How many promises or commitments have you wilfully or hastily made to others or have been made to you, either by a parent, or a friend, or a business associate, which have been forgotten or ignored? You may have mentally suppressed your commitment or even wilfully violated it. God does not take reneging on our promises lightly. He considers it to be sin when we fail to perform what we have promised. Not paying our vows, to God and man, is sin against God.

Thought for the day: God does not take reneging on our promises lightly.

Bible Reading in one Year: 1 Samuel 30-31

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Topic: Surprise Interview [Monday March 13, 2017]

Read: Acts 26:9–15, Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 20–22; Mark 13:21–37

The King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” Matthew 25:40 nlt

On a crowded London commuter train, an early morning rider shoved and insulted a fellow passenger who got in his way. It was the kind of unfortunate and mindless moment that usually remains unresolved. But later that day, the unexpected happened. A business manager sent a quick message to his social media friends, “Guess who just showed up for a job interview.” When his explanation appeared on the Internet, people all over the world winced and smiled. Imagine walking into a job interview only to discover that the person who greets you is the one you had shoved and sworn at earlier that day.

Saul also ran into someone he never expected to see. While raging against a group called the Way (Acts 9:1–2), he was stopped in his tracks by a blinding light. Then a voice said, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (v. 4). Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The One speaking to him replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (26:15).

Years earlier Jesus had said that how we treat the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, and the prisoner reflects our relationship to Him (Matt. 25:35–36). Who would have dreamed that when someone insults us, or when we help or hurt another, the One who loves us takes it personally?

Prayer: Father, forgive us for acting as if You were not present in our moments of need, hurt, anger, or compassion.

When we help or hurt one another, Jesus takes it personally.

Insight:

Commentator William Barclay says, “One of the extraordinary things about the great characters in the New Testament story is that they were never afraid to confess what once they had been.” In today’s passage, Paul describes how Christ had transformed his life from someone who once persecuted Christ and His followers to someone who proclaims the truth of the gospel. His former way of life no longer defined him. A personal testimony is an effective witnessing tool. A simple way of telling our story is to write down answers to three simple questions: What characterized my life before receiving Christ? What were the circumstances when I chose to receive Him? How has my life changed since I trusted Jesus for salvation?

This message was written By Mart DeHaan [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Living by Faith—It’s a Lifestyle [Monday March 13, 2017]

Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. – 2 Timothy 2:3

Times of hardness are inevitable. You need to know that. It’s true that we’ve been redeemed from the curse, and there’s nothing Satan can do to reverse that, but he is going to challenge you on it.

So don’t be surprised when things get tough. Times will come when you have to stand strictly by faith, when you’ll have to speak and act as though what God says is true even when you can’t feel it or see it happening around you. There will be times when everything looks terrible. That’s when you must endure hardness as a good soldier.

So many people hear the word of faith about healing or prosperity and they think, Hey! I’m going to try that. Then when the hard times come, they give up and cave in.

Let me warn you, living by faith is not something you try. It’s a lifestyle. You do it when it’s hard. You do it when it’s easy. You do it all the time because you’re not doing it just to get in on the benefits. You’re doing it because you know that faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6).

Things may get a little rough at times, but let me assure you, you’ll always come out on top if you endure hardness as a good soldier. If you refuse to faint and fall away, you will have the victory. The only defeated Christian is the one who quits!

Scripture Reading: Numbers 14:1-24

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

Topic: God of Order [Monday March 13, 2017]

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust . . . — Psalm 18:2

The trouble with our modern thinking is that we have a conception that God is a haphazard God with no set rules of life and salvation. Ask the astronomer if God is a haphazard God. He will tell you that every star moves with precision in its celestial path. Ask the scientist if God is a haphazard God. He will tell you that His formulas and equations are fixed, and that to ignore the laws of science would be a fool’s folly. If the laws in the material realm are so fixed and exact, is it reasonable that God could afford to be haphazard in the spiritual realm, where eternal destinies of souls are at stake? Just as God has equations and rules in the material realm, God has equations and rules in the spiritual.

Prayer for the day: Thank You, God, for Your absolute divine order. Amid confusion, it brings me hope and perfect peace.

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

Topic: Real Test of Life [Sunday March 12, 2017]

The real test of a man is when he is under pressure.

Just as the strength of metal objects are best discovered when they are subjected to all kinds of tests.

You don’t know who you really are until you are under pressure.

Pressure certainly will not leave you the way it came to you.

It will either shrink you or stretch you.

It will either break you or make you.

It will either reduce you or increase you.

You are therefore either reacting to pressure by giving way to it or you are responding to pressure by building up strength with it.

Topic: The Spirit vs the Flesh [Sunday March 12, 2017]

But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God). — Galatians 5:16

Like a horse that has been trained to keep his ear always tuned to the voice of its master, we must be willing to follow the Lord in all His leadings, not just those we feel good about or happen to agree with. We won’t always like what we hear Him tell us to do.

We must realize that in order to follow God, the flesh must be told no at times, and when that happens, the flesh suffers. There are times when we are galloping full speed ahead in one direction when suddenly the Master tells us to stop and instructs us to go in another direction. It is painful to us when we don’t get our way, but ultimately we understand that God’s ways are always best.

In the verse for today, the apostle Paul writes about the conflict between the Spirit and the flesh. If we follow the leading of the Spirit, we won’t satisfy or fulfill the desires of the flesh that lead us away from God’s best. This verse doesn’t say that the desires of the flesh will disappear; we will always have to wrestle with them. But if we choose to be led by the Spirit, we won’t fulfill fleshly desires—and the devil won’t get his way.

We will sense a war going on in us as we choose to follow God’s leading. Our flesh and God’s Spirit usually disagree and we are tempted to keep the flesh comfortable. But, we all must learn to submit to God’s Spirit and overcome fleshly desires and temptations. Determine today that you will not let your flesh lead you, but that you will be led by the Spirit of God.

God’s Word for You Today: God wants to give you His best.

Topic: He Lifts Material Burdens [Sunday 12, March 2017]

Memorise: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. – Mathew 11:28

Read: Luke 13:10-17 (KJV)

10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

Bible in One Year: Genesis 48-50 and Isaiah 58:1-12

MESSAGE:

Burdens are loads imposed on a person by the wicked forces of this world or by circumstances of life. They come under certain categories, one of these being physical burdens. Physical burdens are exemplified by the case of Naaman who had an incurable disease (2 Kings 5:1). Also, the woman with a spirit of infirmity, who could not straighten herself for years, is another case in point (Luke 13:11). No matter how much she tried, everywhere she went, she remained bent. Similarly, the man who had been at the pool of Bethesda for 38 years had a physical burden (John 5:2-9). Do you have a physical burden? Are you physically handicapped? Jesus Christ will lift your physical burdens today! You shall experience a turn around in Jesus’ Name!

Burdens could also be material in nature. The widow of Zarephath was carrying a material burden (1 Kings 17:8-16). Things used to be good for her, but her situation deteriorated to the point where she had only one meal to her credit. In addition, the heavily indebted widow of 2 kings 4:1-7 was plagued by debts left by her late husband. The creditors came calling and threatened to enslave her sons. Thank God she knew the right place to run to. She cried to the prophet, who was connected to the Burden Bearer, and the tide turned for her and her children. What about the wedding feast in John 2:1-11? They thought they had everything in place, but midway through the celebration, they ran out of wine. They called on the Burden Bearer and He supplied what was lacking.

A very wealthy man with a fleet of 14 cars once picked a quarrel with his wife, and she threatens that by the time she was done with him, he would be trekking about the street of Lagos, Nigeria. The man laughed it off, not knowing the kind of woman he had as wife. Not long after, his business began to nosedive, and things became so bad that at a point, he had only one car left with 50 kobo in his pocket. Then he reasoned with himself, “if I buy petrol with this money I will starve, and if I spend the money on food, then I would trek in fulfilment of my wife’s evil decree”. That was when he decided to run to Jesus Christ for help, and the Lord turned things around for him. By the time he was sharing this testimony, he was dedicating two new houses on the same day. What material burden are you carrying presently? If you run to Jesus, He will help you carry it. Through Him all material burdens can be lifted!

Key Point: Over the ages, Jesus Christ has borne the burden of many. If you can fully come to Him, He will readily help you to carry the load that you cannot bear.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

Topic: Outside of Yourself [Sunday March 12, 2017]

Dear brothers, I have been talking to you as though you were still just babies in the Christian life . . . — 1 Corinthians 3:1 (TLB)

Some people have received Christ but have never reached spiritual maturity. They have been in church all their lives, and yet they have never become mature Christians. They are still considered “spiritual children” and “babes in Christ.” They know little Scripture. They have little desire to pray, and bear few of the marks of a Christian in their daily living. To say, “I will resolve to do better, I will muster all my will power and revise my way of living,” is noble, but futile. A corpse could as well say, “I will-through sheer effort-rise out of this coffin and be a living man again.” You need a power outside yourself. You cannot get over the habits and chains that are binding you. You need outside help. You need Christ.

The Bible tells of a bridge of faith which reaches from the valley of despair to the high hills of glorious hope in Christ. It tells where we are, but beyond that-it tells where we may be in Christ. Now, of course, you will not be completely mature until you are in the presence of Christ, but you should be growing every day as a Christian.

Prayer for the day: Lord, work through me this day, that I might be maturing as a Christian and come to know You better, that I might know Your perfect will for me.

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

Topic: When His Voice Thunders [Saturday 11, March 2017]

Memorise: For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod. – Isaiah 30:31

Read: Psalm 29:3-9 (KJV)

3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.

4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

5 The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.

6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.

7 The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.

8 The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.

Bible in One Year: Genesis 46-47, Isaiah 57

MESSAGE:

“But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” – Matthew 8:27

Are you currently in a state of perplexity? Does it seem as if the devil has vowed to sink the boat of your life? I have good news for you: he is only joking. Why? One reason why the boat of your life cannot sink is because all the elements, wind, storm and waves working against your boat were created by God, and they must hear His voice and obey Him. The disciples could not believe their eyes when they saw the manifestation of this. Jesus spoke to the contrary wind and the waves of the sea and they obeyed him. This season, everything working contrary to your boat and sail will hear the voice of the Master and beat a retreat in Jesus’ Name.

Everything God has created treats His voice with fear and awe. According to today’s reading, this voice is so powerful and awesome that there is no one and nothing that can withstand it. When the Lord speaks, thunder and lightning follow (Isaiah 30:30). When He speaks, the world beholds the true majesty of God. When He speaks, mighty cedar trees are split in pieces. When He speaks, the hottest of fires is cooled. When He speaks, the earth shakes and the wilderness quakes. When He speaks, hidden secrets are exposed and the impossible became possible. What can resist God’s voice? Nothing in or out of this world can! Today, the Lord will speak into your situation and every force or power actively working against you will take their flight. Yes, when He speaks, everything standing in His way will have to give way. At a point in time, the Philistines gathered together to invade Israel like they had done in times past. Samuel cried to the Lord and the voice of the Lord sounded from heaven to roundly defeat them. They never invaded Israel again after this (1 Samuel 7:8-13). As God speaks into your situation today, the speed at which your oppressors will disappear will be quite amazing. Look around you today, what are those things that have refused to let you go forward? Call on the Lord to speak into your situation now and there shall be change. The Lord will speak into your life, family, work place, finances and academics today, and all your enemies shall scatter.

Prayer Point: Father, Lazarus heard Your voice and he came out of the grave. Speak into my life and let every opposing circumstances be silenced now.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.