Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1-2) The only place where apostle, prophet, pastor, and teacher can effectively meet and cooperate together is in the Spirit (Ephesians 4:4-6), not in the long arm of the flesh. Those who are yet single in ministry who would be married, consider these things while contemplating that the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17). Hallelujah! Do not accept bondage simply because it has become familiar and therefore comfortable to the flesh, saints. It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1 NASB) anointedwritenow Of marriage and unification in the church, the root (to betroth), from which the Talmudic abstract (betrothal) is derived, must be taken in this sense; i.e., to contract an actual though incomplete marriage. In two of the passages in which it occurs the betrothed woman is directly designated as wife (II Sam. iii. 14, my wife whom I have betrothed (erasti), and Deut. xxii. 24, where the betrothed is designated as the wife of his neighbor). ~ Jewish Encyclopedia, 1906 jewishencyclopedia/articles/3229-betrothal Consider now that the Word of God, the perfect law (Psalm 19:7-10) of liberty (James 1:25, 2:12) within which Jehovahs peace rests, rules, and abides, may readily be conceptualized as fencing, a boundary within which that great Shepherd of the sheep (Hebrews 13:20-21) gently surrounds the apple of His eye, His beloved, you and I, with love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 1 John 4:8-16). simstem.blogspot One of the boundaries most obscured by modern culture is the guarding of our individual hearts (Proverbs 4:23) during the process of courtship, engagement, betrothal, or any state of union preceding the marriage covenant. Unlawful early soul-ties do nothing to glorify the Lord and, most often, such emotional entanglements lead only to desperate longing, unrest, suspicion, covetousness, doubt, and worse. These are a far cry from the fruit of the spirit found in Galatians 5:22. Selah. Particularly in long-distance relationships, allowing feelings and emotions to supplant God and obscure the centrality of Christ in any relationship will surely frustrate the grace of God and His blessing in the yet unrealized purpose and potential of that relationship. Oh, how we tend, naturally, to limit the God of the miraculous whose benevolence is an infinite continuum of possibility. Lord, help us in the name of Jesus! Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. (Psalm 61:1) https://soundcloud/brian-l-hunter/fire-in-the-soul-jan10-2013 That phase leading up to the fulfilment of the promise (Proverbs 18:22) is one for which some, weakened by excesses of soulish, sensual-longing, find it too difficult or even impossible to wait. That seemingly long period, fourteen years, between Jacobs first sight of Rachel and their wedding night holds no significance for some. The ordained betrothal period is not a time for sowing unto the flesh (Galatians 6:8-10) with unchaperoned liaisons whether they be face to face, online, or by telephone. There will be time enough for whispering sweet-nothings and the complete unveiling of hearts once the Lord declares you man and wife. Listen up! Until then, though fun is not unlawful and you have every right to do as you will, only a consecrated life will prove eternally profitable (1 Corinthians 6:12, 10:23). Instead of conversations only of individual circumstances or frustrations of the day, why not encourage one another with talk of whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, and whatsoever things, apart for one anothers person, are lovely (Philippians 4:8)? How can a faithless conversation about our feelings compare to the good report (Isaiah 53:1, John 12:38) and the good news of the Lord God Almighty (Isaiah 61:1, Mark 16:15, Luke 4:18)? The unmarried man is out of order if he heaps the burden of feelings about his circumstances or work upon his bride to be. Concentrate rather on the Christ you have in common, the Savior who has brought you together in order to glorify His name. Hallelujah! Communion! Do not get ahead of the Lord on the journey to imagined marital bliss. Be patient, Grasshopper! You are not yet married and it is therefore out of order for you to live, speak, and act with another as though you have already been pronounced man and wife at the altar of the Lord. Let honesty and obedience rival desire in the depths of your soul. Examine yourself daily (2 Corinthians 13:5-10). Those who cannot submit to the ways of the Lord during betrothal, those who do not consider His ways beautifully holy beyond compare, cannot and will not submit to the authority God has established in the marriage covenant. Neither will such headstrong ministers submit to God-ordained authority in His church. Though His ways may not always be comforting to our flesh, His ways are nevertheless the only source of everlasting joy (Isaiah 51:11) for us since we have been created by none other than the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh. (Numbers 27:16). Hallelujah!
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 04:16:11 +0000