KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 19:26 (KJV). “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

Please read Matt 19:16-26

In this passage a rich young man came to the Lord Jesus and enquired, “what good thing must I do to enter into life.?” The Lord asked him to go and do the commandments and he would be saved. The man answered, he has been obeying these laws since, childhood. The Lord said to him, Go and sell all that you have and come and follow me and you would be saved. At this instant he was very sad, because he had a lot of riches and was not prepared to leave it. The Lord added how difficult it is for the rich to be saved.

The disciples knowing the implication of this, then commented, who then can be saved? Let’s consider the Lord’s answer. “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”— Matthew 19:26 (KJV)The Lord said rightly that salvation of a man does not lie in the ability of man, but a provision of God. It is impossible on the ability of a man to save himself by his efforts at obeying the laws of God.

The Lord Jesus speaking to Nicodemus in John chapter three revealed God’s solution to the salvation question. “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.”— John 3:16 (KJV).  In this verse that which the Lord Jesus said was impossible to the disciples in the book of Matthew is made known in the gospel of John. In the book of Ephesians, it reveals in Ephesians 2 that:

⁸” For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Salvation is by believing in Jesus to be saved

In the encounter of the Lord with the rich young man, he came with the idea of doing good works to be saved, and the Lord seeking to correct that wrong concept, took him through certain instructions that would bring him to a place of seeing that, it was impossible on the part of a man to save himself by good works. We are not saved by our good works but by believing in our Lord Jesus.

CONFESSION

Thank you, heavenly Father, for your provision for our salvation. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and savour. He lives in me, making me live a victorious life to His glory.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 1:11 (KJV).”He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

  John 3:3 (KJV). “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 19:14 (ASV). “But Jesus said, Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven.”

AS the Lord taught the people, some of the adults brought their children to Jesus so He would bless them. The disciples of Jesus attempted to stop them. The Lord quickly asked them not to hinder the little ones from coming to him. He added that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like children.

The above statement means if you could have the heart of a little child, you would have access into the kingdom of heaven. What makes children candidates for HEAVEN?

1.Children believe without asking questions. According to the scriptures, man by wisdom cannot know God. 1 Corinth 1:21. The man who believes, God’s word, without asking questions is highly rated before God.

2. As children accepts their parents, the man who will have access into the kingdom, must, repent of his or her sins and believe on Jesus as his Lord and savour.

3. Children would not go to the one they do not know. The man or woman who would have access into heaven would not accept any other way, but the way of holiness.

4.Children keep no offence. People who are candidates of heaven, do not keep hurts and offences in their hearts. They quickly forgive, even before the offender requests for forgiveness.

5.Children never love to leave the presence of their parents. The child of God who would be a candidate of heaven is an addict of the presence of God. He is addicted to seeking God’s face in prayer and the word, as well as joining other believers to worship and listen to the Lord speak through His servants.

6 Every little child believes his father and mother are the best and are ready to tell his friends about the achievement of his parents. The man for heaven tells a lot about the saving power of the lord. He witnesses to God’s ability to save men

IF you would repent and be as a little child, then you have a big access to heaven.

CONFESSION

Heavenly Father I accept every revelation about yourself and our Lord Jesus. I repent from every sinful way, and surrender my life to the Lordship of Jesus.

FURTHER STUDIES

  Matthew 11:25. “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”

  Matthew 18:3 (KJV) “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 19:9 (ASV). “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.”

From our key scripture the Lord says ‘whosoever’ shall put away his wife except for fornication and shall marry another commits adultery. The word adultery means sex with a married person. It also means an act of breaking the marriage union. These statements are very serious. The Lord says the one who divorces except for fornication and marries another commits adultery. The word is a present continuous one. So long as he is living that way, he is committing adultery.  It does not matter the title one may bear, if he breaks this word, he becomes an adulterer.

May I ask, where would such a man or woman end up in eternity? The Lord dearly acknowledges the marital union as extremely important and does not in any way trivializes it at all. In these times the world as a whole play down on the sanctity of marriage. All these is an assault of the devil on that Holy union of marriage. Acts of fornication is so much trivialized and many people do not treat it as something that must be avoided with all the seriousness it deserves. The Lord said, this act of fornication is a main act that makes marriage legally dissolved.

In the event of fornication, the offended party is free to divorce and get married again. If he or she decides to forgive the offending party, and stay in the marital union, that is most honorable and well accepted before God. Forgiveness is a blessed act that couples would always have to demonstrate to each other, looking at the great devastating effect of divorce to the marital union. The pain of betrayal in an act of Fornication is quite grave and devastating, yet may we consider how much God has forgiven us, despite our rebellion and betrayal in various forms. God never forsook us, but was  always favorably opened up to us. Consider this, and forgive your spouse who might have fallen into Fornication.

Fornication may hurt you, but a divorce will scatter you, choose forgiveness

THOUGHT:  FORNICATION IS DANGEROUS, DO NOT TRIVIALIZE IT. AVOID IT.

FURTHER STUDIES

Colossians 3:12-13 (ASV). Put on therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 19:6 (KJV). “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

The Lord says what he has joined together, let no one put asunder. God says He hates divorce or putting away. “For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore, take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.”  — Malachi 2:16 (KJV)Why does God says he hates divorce.?

DIVORCE always leaves the parties involved very scattered. No two papers glued together can be uniformly SEPERATED. There ‘would be patches of one left on the other. The same happens in a marital breakup. The husband or wife loses part of their being after a divorce. They are never complete after a divorce.

One of the reasons for God’ s children entering marriage, is that, they might raise Godly children. Malachi 2:15. Divorce almost always defeats the desire of God for couples to come together and raise godly seeds. Divorce therefore lives the care of the children to one parent or even to no one. The supervision over the child or children reduces making the child to learn and practice all kinds of ungodly lifestyles. Many wrong characters in our society and on our streets come from divorced homes.

Most marriages that end on the rocks are carried there by selfishness. Dear wife or husband, you entered into marriage, not to destroy it. Why are you now destroying it with, your self-seeking attitudes? God has a judgment for all those who cause the destruction of the marriage.

IF your home is heading towards a breakup then consider the following solutions

1. Stop putting any blame on your spouse, but rather ask yourself, what has been my role in bringing our marriage to this point?

2. Humble yourself and decide to accept whatever God’s word instructs you to do.

Now, is there any actions or attitudes your spouse complains about or even does not know, that you may have to change?

Is there anything(error) you have to forgive.?

Please pray and do them.

If you would take these steps, you would save your home.

THOUGHT:  SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE TODAY

FURTHER STUDIES

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 (BBE).  Love is never tired of waiting; love is kind; love has no envy; love has no high opinion of itself, love has no pride; Love’s ways are ever fair, it takes no thought for itself; it is not quickly made angry, it takes no account of evil; It takes no pleasure in wrongdoing, but has joy in what is true;

 Ephesians 4:32 (BBE). “And be kind to one another, full of pity, having forgiveness for one another, even as God in Christ had forgiveness for you.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 19:6 (KJV). “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

The Lord Jesus iterates again that when two people are joined in a marriage the two of them become one flesh. This is a marriage concept that was established by the wisdom of God and must be accepted by every couple, if they wish to have a successful marriage.

Becoming one flesh has a number of implications. The following are some of the implications.

1.It implies they must have one mind. It is true love for each other that makes this possible.  As two separate individuals, there would certainly be divergent views on lots of issues, but love will easily help the two to agree on a common view. Having one mind also means they must not be telling lies to each other. Marriage is built on trust, and lies easily destroys the trust

2. THE next implication of one flesh is that, none of the couples claims anything belongs to him or her irrespective of who bought it. Every contribution is a cooperate one. Husband or wife does not claim, I pay all the bills, and bought this or that, rather, it should be, we bought this or that. Everything is in the name of the two.

3. The third implication of one flesh is that, none of the two should engage in sexual activity with a third person. It is confusion. Any such act means engaging the other partner in an illicit act. He or she is always part of you. It is fornication and destroys the one flesh relationship between wife and husband.

4.The fourth implication for being one flesh is that husband would not assault the wife, neither would the wife also assault the husband. How can a man take a club and hit his own head with it? Give the best of treatment to each other, for you are one.

THOUGHT

Marriage is a miracle union, designed by GOD and must be handled according to God’s terms for the peace, comfort and longevity of it.

FURTHER STUDIES

 Genesis 2:25 (KJV). “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were 25 ashamed.”

Ephesians 5:28 (KJV). “So, ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 19:5 (KJV). “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?”

In the key scripture the Lord started by saying, for this ‘cause.’ For what cause was the Lord talking about? For the cause of the two becoming one flesh, the man must leave parents and cleave to his wife. Parents are normally the closest and strongest attachment that many have. The Lord considers the institution of marriage as very important. If one has to leave parents, then he must leave every other thing that would stand in between the two. Marriage becomes the bedrock of every society. Marriage needs to be approached with the highest submission to God’s best standards.

After leaving, the man must cleave to his wife. The idea of getting cleaved is like getting glued to something. Many marriages do not have the cleaving aspect. Why is this so? If one has not truly left all other issues and attachments, he or she cannot properly cleave. The Lord is saying by these things, that is, the essence of leaving and cleaving makes your husband or wife the most important person in each of the parties’ life. Most of the challenges and difficulties in most homes come as a result of a failure to properly leave and cleave.

There are some wives who receive instructions from their mother in-law about what to cook for their husband. In these days of communications, the mobile phone has become either the first or second husband, or the first or second wife. There is so much attachment to the mobile phone, such that there is no leaving or cleaving in that respect proud and selfish Ideas, must be forsaken, to lovingly cleave to your spouse. Note: So long as this principle of leaving and cleaving is not in place, that marriage has not truly started yet, or it could be described as a vehicle on a rough road yet to get unto the smooth road. Marriages with unresolved issues or matters that have not been put aside also makes the principle of leaving and cleaving, non-existent. Dear couples, to have a smooth road marriage and not a rocky, potholed marriage, then leave everything that stands as a threat to the marriage and cleave to your partner.

CONFESSION

In submission to God and love for my partner, I have left everything that must be left, and have cleaved to my partner.

FURTHER STUDIES

Ephesians 5:33 (KJV). Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

 Ephesians 5:21 (KJV). “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 19:4 (KJV). “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,”

The Pharisees came to Jesus tempting Him about whether it was right to divorce one’s wife at any cause? The Lord answered that in the beginning He created them male and female. This first statement of our Lord, was loaded with so much meanings which may not be seen on face value. Why did he refer to the beginning? The beginning reveals what he has for the future. Every building is determined by the foundation.

 God’s view for marriage from the beginning was his perfect will for all time (Note also that God may permit certain things, yet that would not be His perfect will concerning that thing) . An example was, when He allowed Samuel to choose Saul to be king over Israel. Secondly, it was not God ‘s will to allow Balaam to follow Balak, yet He allowed it. (Numbers 22:12,20)

He said in the beginning He made them male and female. The following thought could be deduced from the Lord’s statement:

1.In the beginning God had no mind for a man marrying two or three. He made them one man one woman to become one flesh. A man marrying two women cannot become one flesh.

2. He did not have any idea of a man marrying another man, or a woman marrying another woman. In the beginning it was one man and one woman becoming one flesh.

3.Divorce for any cause (except for fornication) was not in His agenda from the beginning. They joined together to become one flesh, not two people living together. “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they two shall be one flesh?”— Matthew 19:5 (KJV)

4.In the beginning it was not God’s view that a man breaks that one flesh with another woman, as in a concubine, or a woman breaks that one flesh as in a boy friend.

IF these things were God’s original intent for the union of a man and woman, why the polygamy, concubine. As for male and male marriage or female and female marriages, it has NEVER been accepted in the scriptures. It remains an abomination.

The Lord allowed all these because of the hardness of men’s hearts. “He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered(allowed) you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.” — Matthew 19:8 (KJV)

PRAYER

Father I pray for all humanity, to fear you enough to accept your original intent for all families.

FURTHER STUDIES

Genesis 2:24 (KJV). “Therefore, shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

 Matthew 19:6 (KJV). “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 18:35 (KJV).  “So likewise, shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.”

Please Read Matt 18:23-36

The above story is one that the Lord Jesus told. The story is about the man who was forgiven all his debt, which was very. much, yet when he met another man, who owed him something little, he could not forgive him, but threw him into jail. The Lord said, the king gave this wicked man to the tormentors. The Lord is reminding us that, there is none who has offended us that we can’t forgive. No one can owe us more than we owed the lord. Our debts demanded our death and eternal damnation in hell fire. Our debt was eternal slavery to Satan and his demons, yet Jesus paid the price to set us free.

There may be someone reading this piece of material, and fuming with rage over what someone has done to him. There are even some who have vowed never to forgive some people for what they have done to them. Dear one no matter how grave one might have erred against you; it can never be compared to how much we owed the Lord. If that person is pleading for pardon, don’t be too rigid and difficult, forgive him or her. Even if he has not asked for pardon, do not hold the offence, let it go.

The Lord says, you have been forgiven much. If you fail to forgive those or the one whose offence is far lesser than what you owe the Lord, then you may be handed over to the tormentors. Anyone who fails to forgive is under the power of these tormentors.

A lady had a grudge against her husband. She was so bitter that, somehow, she started bloating up. Her whole body became very big. A pastor visited her and told her, God says you must forgive and you would be free from all these torments. She hesitated for some time, yet she ultimately gave in and forgave the husband. She instantly started shrinking up to her normal size.  The tormentors took over her, but had to leave, the moment she forgave. Why suffers this way.? Leave that offence and be free.

CONFESSION

I was supposed to die yet he died for me, I owed the debt, but he paid it all, why would I keep the debt of those who owe me.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 6: (KJV). “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive year trespasses.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 18:21 (KJV). “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”

Apostle Peter asked the Lord Jesus, how often should I forgive my brother who sins or commits an error against me? Peter suggested, till seven times.? The number seven means complete or perfect. The Lord should have just agreed with him and said yes, but the Lord said, rather forgive him seventy times seven times. This means a limitless time. He must forgive limitlessly. Why did the master speak this way? Will this not give the offending party the right to keep trespassing against his neighbour?

 The truth is that true love always overcomes wickedness. Love is not just an act, it is a power that weakens the power of wickedness. The strong impact of Christianity in the world, for all these years is because Jesus demonstrated the greatest act of love, which has continually broken the evil power of sin or wickedness. John 15:13.

Forgiveness is first and foremost a deliverance and preserver of the man who has been offended. For a limitless life of peace and sound mind, one must carry no grudge or offence against anybody. Never be deceived to feel justified to hold a grudge against anyone. Bitterness is poison to your soul, and body as

well. Please just consider the following scripture.

“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”- Hebrews 12:15 (KJV). From this verse we see that, unforgiveness leads you out of the grace of God. Bitterness which proceeds from unforgiveness would trouble you as well.

1 It will give devils access into your life Eph 4:27

2 Unforgiveness may allow certain diseases to easily afflict you

3 IT would hinder answers to your prayers (Mark 11: 25)

4 Unforgiveness can cause the destruction of certain good relationships.

 It is in the light of these that the Lord says forgive limitlessly.

CONFESSION

I always forgive in advance, as the scripture says, for Christ’s sake God has already forgiven me.

FURTHER STUDIES

  Ephesians 4:32 (KJV). “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Ephesians 4:31 (KJV). “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”

John 15:13 (KJV). “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

KEY SCRIPTURES: Matthew 18:20 (KJV). “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

The church of God which means, ‘the called-out ones’ is the physical representation of the body of Christ. The Lord is always in His body, to work through it, AND He is with His body, to protect and defend it. He says when we meet in His name, He is always with us. Many of us wished the Lord was physically present with us, yet that would not make any difference if we would not acknowledge His presence in whatever form, it may be. When a person has a complete assurance of the presence of the master in any gathering of the saints, we would likewise see and encounter a full manifestation of his presence

Many Christians miss the visitations of the Lord because of carnality. They say, if it is a meeting of cell group members, then it is an ordinary meeting, but if it is a popular evangelist coming to church, then Jesus would be in that meeting. These attitudes limit the power and Spirit of God so much. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. The people in His home town related to him as the local boy they knew, and so He could do nothing spectacular among them. “And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.”— Mark 6:5 (KJV). The Lord wished to bless them yet they were not ready.

HOW do we approach all gatherings of the brethren?

1.PRAY before joining every gathering of the saints

2.Tell the Lord, you know He would be mightily present in the meeting, and you expect Him to do, one, two, or three things in your life. Be specific.

3.In the moment of worship, sincerely adore the Lord, knowing He is present and deserves all the worship

4.Never see the speaker as just Mr. A, pastor B, or whoever. See the Lord Jesus speaking through the speaker to you.

5.Believe every prayer, prophetic pronouncement as already established.

6.Pray and tell the Lord about those requests, knowing He has answered them.

7. Be very thankful and JOYFUL about your encounter with the Lord in that meeting.

CONFESSION

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your presence in every gathering of the saints. Thank you for your power that heals, saves and answers all our prayers. I am always blessed in the gathering of the saints.

FURTHER STUDIES

 Hebrews 13:8 (KJV). “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”

Hebrews 13:5 (KJV). Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.