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.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 18:15 (KJV). Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Human relationships are often laden with conflicts   which has the potential to injure the relationship or severe it OUTRIGHT. God’s word shows us how to address such differences among fellow Christians. The scripture says if your brother shall trespass or act in a way that offends you, go to him and express your grievances to him or her. The scripture emphasized, meet with him alone. Simple problems could get complicate when others are brought in at the very early stages. Don’t complain to a third person, this advice is also extended to married couples as well. There are some couples who are quick to go to their parents about issues with their spouses. The word says talk over matters first with your partner alone.

The next instruction concerning addressing this conflict is, if the second party refuses to agree with you then call a third party, who would be a witness to whatever transpires. As a word of advice this third party should be an impartial person who would not take sides or inflame passions in a partial way. He is mainly a witness and may only comment in a very objective way. Every partial position would disqualify this person from contributing.

WHEN the offending party refuses to let go the MATTER, the church must be informed. The leadership of the church would be asked to also witness the proceedings. At this time, it can be two or three of the leadership of the church. The church according to the Lord is any number above one (Matt 18:20).  If the offending party decides to resign his position and allow matters to go, then peace has been realized. If he should hold on to his grounds and would not allow matters to die in the presence of the church, even after the church has asked him or her to resign his or her position, then the church would consider him or her as a publican, or an unbeliever (Matt 18:17). They can pray in the name of the Lord declaring he or she is not part of the church, and an unbeliever.  The Lord says, he is always in the midst of such a meeting, and considers the request of those brethren granted, even in heaven. (Matt 18:18,19)

CONFESSION

I do not hold on to grudges, but always ready to let go matters. I endeavor always to keep the unity of the Spirit (brethren) in the bond of peace.

FURTHER STUDIES

Ephesians 4:3 (KJV) “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

 James 3:17 (KJV). “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 18:10 (KJV). “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”

Every Christian is called to the work of winning souls and preserving them. The Lord said the following, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”— John 15:16 (KJV) The Lord added that in this is my father glorified that ye bear much FRUITS, so shall ye be my disciple. (John 15:8) Any Christian who has not come to terms with this task of winning souls and seeking for their establishment is a baby Christian.

The Lord says we must not despise any of these little ones. Seek for their establishment in the faith. There are some churches that give no special attention to children or the child department. The Lord said these have angels standing before the father, who jubilate greatly at the conversion of the little ones. In verse 12 the Lord establishes that every soul is very important, and non must be left to perish. Learn how to communicate the gospel to them at their level. Ask the Spirit to assist you in reaching out to them. In some aspects of Africa, poverty has driven a number of the little children to the streets. Find a means to support them and show them the love of Christ. Ps Chris Oyakhilome PhD DD said’ every child is your child’.

The above idea also suggests that various Christian bodies must have programs to win the very little ones. Many outreach programs of churches leave out the very small ones. I have been to crusades that when only children raised their hands to accept Christ, with no adults responding, these children are told you are not the ones we wanted. A soul is a soul, and so the little ones must not be despised. If attended to, they would one day grow to be the very adults that some of us are today.

CONFESSION

I soul is a soul, whether a child or an adult. I do not despise anyone, but attend to all with every seriousness as required.

FURTHER STUDIES

Mark 10:14 (KJV).  “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”

 Matthew 18:12 (KJV).  “How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?”