Friday, April 30, 2010

Heavy On My Heart


The issue I am about to share with you has been weighing heavy, very heavy on my heart. This past month has been one full of personal heartbreak. I have been enlightened to the horrific news that at least 5 marriages have ended or are in turmoil. These are not marriages that have lasted only a few weeks or months....no they have been marriages that have lasted many years! For one reason or another the enemy has torn down these marriages and have destroyed families. I am so heart sick over it and mad!! No, I am ANGRY!!!!

John 10:10a plainly tells us, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:" Unfortunately, the enemy has been working overtime in the marital realm. He wants nothing better than to see homes in constant turmoil and stress. Satan pleasures in seeing husbands and wives broken apart and children left with only one parent in the home, if even that. I am not saying that these couples that I have referred to have not prayed and relied on the LORD to protect their marriage, but I am saying that Satan is doing his darnedest to destroy GOD'S children. It just sickens me to no end.

So I say this...when are we as children of GOD going to stand up and STOP letting Satan have territory in our marriages, in our family and in our homes? Please know that I am not against anyone who has divorced, I am simply stating my personal feelings.

When a husband and wife marry, we invite GOD to the ceremony. We want HIM as a part of all the happiness of that special day. But what happens after we leave the altar? We let our guards down and the enemy starts trying to work at destroying the marriage union. Yes, things may look great on the outside but the enemy and his wily band of spirits are steadily planning their attacks against marriage. It could be the tactic of mere disagreements that over time, left unchecked and resolved, grow into major issues and battles. There is the attack on the purity of the marriage. Satan can try and use his wiles to seduce one or both of the marriage partners with adultery. This can spin off into an attack on trust. The spirit of suspicion then rears it's head in the marriage. One thing can lead to another when it comes the enemy and his nasty, vile attempts to break down the family.

We know that the LORD is not in divorce and destruction of the home. How do we know this? It's simple, lets look at HIS Word and see what HE said about it. Malachi 2:16a, "'I hate divorce,' says the LORD GOD of Israel..."


Now let's look at what happened according Matthew 19:3-9 "The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery."

I Corinthians 7:10, 27a NIV "To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.", "Are you married? Do not seek a divorce."

We see clearly that divorce is NOT of GOD and that it is not HIS will or plan. So what then is GOD'S will you might ask. That can easily be found in John 10:10b "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Satan doesn't care at all about the family, in fact he would like more than anything to see it destroyed. He has been trying to make trouble in the marriage/family realm for thousands of years. He even tried to mess up a wedding but JESUS, being so into marriage and family turned what the devil meant for bad for HIS glory. Let's read it together....

John 2:1-11 "
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him."
The LORD cares so much about the family that HE performed HIS first miracle at a wedding! I think that's awesome. HE wasn't about to let this happy occasion be disrupted by anything, including a lack of beverage for the guests. Isn't that great!?! JESUS cares so much about us that HE even cares enough to make sure there's plenty to drink!! If HE cares enough about the little things that would concern a wedding party, don't you think HE cares enough about the marriage and family union itself? HE'S concerned about the big stuff & small stuff that concerns us. What a good GOD we serve!

Isaiah 59:19 "So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him." We need to stand against the schemes of the devil that would try and come against marriage and family. Praise GOD that we have the authority to boldly come before HIS throne and bind the enemy in the precious Name of JESUS and to release the Holy Spirit in our lives. Matthew 18:18 "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Mark 11:22-25 "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

Let's stand in faith, not wavering and speak to any mountains in our life and command them to dry up from the root and be cast into the sea. Don't give way to the devil in area of your marriage or family, and DO NOT DOUBT in your heart. Matthew 19:26 "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."

You might be facing a mountain right now, and in the natural it may seem like the storm clouds are brewing and the winds are blowing with hurricane force, but I want to remind you of something....Matthew 14:25-32 "And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased."

Peter was able to walk on the water as long as he kept his focus on JESUS, but once he allowed himself to look upon the winds that were fiercely blowing he began to sink. But JESUS! JESUS stretched forth HIS mighty hand and saved Peter. No matter how hard the storm winds may be blowing around you right now....whether it be 5 mph, 30mph or even 200mph...if we continue to keep our focus on JESUS and not look at winds, our faith in JESUS and HIS mighty outstretched hand will always be there to hold us up. HE will never let us fall.

Jude v.24-25 "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."


3 comments:

Mrs.B said...

It is so sad to see marriages crumble. It is so sad to see people who have been married for decades decide to divorce.

We need to teach our children the sacredness of marriage. And the joy that can come when you decide that your spouse is gonna be your best friend

Amy said...

I just heard of another couple we know that are divorcing. This makes four in the past year! It is really sad and really bothers both of us.

Phyllis Blickensderfer said...

Marriages should be made as a triangle -- with God at the apex. We cannot stress strongly enough that marriage is important, too important to ignore or walk away from. My children experienced divorce but they started out unequally yoked. I was blessed that the first place Beloved Husband and I to together was church. God was so good to us then and has supported us. It is so saddening to see divorce among family, friends and especially church members. Painful. Your scripture choices brings God's word home to our hearts.