God, Marriage and Your Partner

Most of the time I have a clear idea of what the conclusion would be like and also how my submission will be directed when ever I give expositions on any topic. This is one of the few occasions when I do not know how I am going to construct even the next line. This topic, of which I am no expert on, be it academically or socially since as I am putting down my thought I am single and still struggling between a rock and a hard place with no degree in counseling and marriage issues. What coursed me to write on this topic would be spelled out in the succession therefore you have to make your conclusion, bear with if any of my points below my seen and sound outlandish at first glance. Since my main source of reference is from the boss Himself i.e. the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Pray the Lord open your eyes to the truths within.

 

I was engaged in a conversation with a mate who was giving me a eta a eta textual sermon on this verse: Ecclesiastes 12:1a KJV Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not. He told me of what the days of evil meant and how young people should stand and gain grounds in the Lords work especially in their young years and stop using these times to seek after relationships with fellow humans and materials of life, what can I say to agree or disagree with him is another matter which is the reason why I am writing this short easy on the topic, many people have consider marriage and their patterns a the number one stumbling block in the walk of life especially to Christians, the truthfulness about this is we all at one point or another will be faced with the question “Who do you Love more?” and a simple Yes or No will be have to be your answer while both will be correct or wrong subjectively, the absolute answer will require Divine providence.

 

Reasons why people get marriage are diverse and one will always not have a magic wand answers or incantations which will conjure a fairy tale end to marriage. Why I call it a venture, is that from the little that I have experienced and seen it seems people have succeed from this whiles others have at a miserable loss even to the loss of their lives.

 

Was there a Divine plan of the institution of marriage since it uses all the faculties of our, begin, to produce a desired or an undesired result, has this institution been living to its divine destiny or are we now seeing the back roads of this institution?

 

Gods’ Intended Ideal of Marriage.

 

The word ideal could also mean perfect, what was the perfect will of God for marriages in the world as a whole before the Christian came into existence, some say it was for procreation, this a very wrong way or very faulty way of express the majesty of Gods’ divine intuition which precedes all others by looking at it this way it creates a recipe for mediocrity, but in the words of God himself “Genesis 1:26 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” God is going to created Adam (Man) in his image, note here that the word Elohiym (God) which denotes a plural meaning tells us that Adam was also created having also a plurality of begins within himself that is both male and female features was one, (not in the sense of sexuality but rather of a the trinity itself been placed in a flesh while the Spirit will become in him a eternal fountain springing up to life, Adams existence was more than just a resemblance but replica of flawless distinction.

 

Adam was to become the Godhead of all that possession of the Most High (Elyown) which had flesh and all things dwelling on earth, to proclaimed and nurture it to fullness of growth, likewise Adam (man) to command the tress and all non living things to the sound of his voice, first to give God’s creation a name Genesis 2:19b And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. Adam (man) has been given a significant role in the creation process. Still the sixth day was not over, the creation process had not yet ended, and the Lord God (Jehovah) after giving explicit instruction to Adam (man) now look and saw the great chasm that loneliness would have caused him through eternity for after the sixth day, creation would come to it absolute end and procreation will take over.

 

Woman was to be the last of Gods creation, though she was last; she came directly from the sides of Adam (man) a position which signifies equality and versatility. She became a creative partner, the lessons is gathered for every young man form the words of a wise woman in Proverbs 31 who preserved the original plan for women not as subordinates

 

1. The worth she brings removes lack from her husband.(Provider)
2. She was to revive of mans loneliness.(Companion)
3. She was formed to bring pleasant gifts.(Beauty)
4. Her value is equal to his husband.(equity)
5. Compassionate and Loving. (Lover)
6. Beauty beholds her inside out. (Attitude)
7. Her words removes wrath (Comforter)
8. Her counsel is greater Solomon’s wisdom. (Counselor)
9. Her works speaks for itself.(Diplomat)

 

Adams (man) poem tells it us to see not only with out eyes but through the eye deep into the heart:

 

This is now bone of my bones,

 

And flesh of my flesh:

 

She shall be called Woman,

 

Because she was taken out of Man.

 

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother,

 

And shall cleave unto his wife:

 

And they shall be one flesh.

 

By this man was to realize that in marriage family loyalties are changed and priorities are will established, with cleaving both the man and woman have become an inseparable unit. The word leave (azab) brings not along a geographical relocation but also in thoughts i.e the postures of the Mind and affectations of the heart. A man now has to become his own head and decide and care for his family without direct external pressures. Before the wedding ceremony God had already provided Adam with a “Theological anthropology for ancient Israel (we today) (Albert H. Baylis)”

 

The creation of humans Included a living space (the garden), The means to live (the fruit of the garden), The occupational work (cultivate and preserve), Community (man and woman)

 

This must be mans standard issue to establish a union and if anyone is not ready he must never venture to enter into any marriage.

 

After all this there was the grand wedding ceremony officiated by God with the heavenly choir in attendance singing joyous songs like:

 

Love divine all loves excelling

 

Joy of heaven to earth come down

 

Fix in us thy humble dwelling

 

All thy faithful mercies crown

 

Jesu: Thu art all compassion

 

Pure unbounded love thou art

 

Visit us with thy salvation

 

Enter every trembling heart

 

Finish then Thy new creation

 

Pure and stopless let us be

 

Let us see thy great salvation

 

Perfectly restored in thee

 

Changed from glory to glory

 

Till in heaven we take our place

 

Till we canst our crowns before thee

 

Lost in wonder love and praise.

 

The relationship which is birth in an Ideal marriage has major points which are:Relationship with God

 

Everything created on the earth was brought forth by God and if any one thinks his strength, knowledge, and wealth will carry him or her for even two years in marriage the he has made the biggest mistake ever anyone can do. Here also I speak not of legalism as some may think that for my marriage to work I must read the bible, read marriage books and live by he principles spells out here hither, very soon failure will bring so show it head, after following all this your husband or wife still seems unchanged. Even thought bible reading, spiritual retreats are all powerful tools to enhance your marriage when our effort is driven by our own human intellect through these activities then we are bound to fall.

 

The right approach is a 100% God through Christ as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 NIV 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: the relationship any marriage can have is the one which Christ work of Grace has taken control and his redemptive power has brought it out of the chains of sin and darkness. A regenerated marriage is the one which God sovereign, his sovereignty brings order into the marriage. When I say 100% God, Christ and Grace I have not exclude worship and fellowship. We must also play out part with equal effort i.e. 100% that which Christ works in us. Play your role as the husband, plan your roll as the wife, stop looking at who did not and look upon who has done (Christ) one may ask what is man’s or woman’s role

 

The roles are spelt out simply in the words of John Henry Sammis hymn’s chorus:

 

Trust and obey, for there is no other way

 

To be happy in Jesus

 

But to trust and obey

 

Trust, placing our whole in God the author and finisher of our faith, through this we make Christ work in us prefect, therefore when problems come we stand strong upon Christ promise not waving to the left or the right. To Obey as the song goes trust and obey, when trust grows we now find it effortless to obey because we are assured of God’s deliverance from this situation, Yah, the problem may have lasted for years and the things are getting worse by the day, our obedience to God must shine through and not forbid him to enter. This my be a life long process it may have even taken the span of your whole marriage, the learning process is slow and effective the ideal image is insight please do not give up now.

 

Relationship of Order in Marriage

 

Married couples are not to live spontaneous lives only seeking what the moment will bring; a well planned life of the married couples will seek to establish a prioritized life for both physical and spiritual upbringing of ones offspring and self. During this period, especially the early parts of your marriage which is the transitional periods for both husband and wife you will become aware if the truth fact that now time is not been spent for yourself but more gets into your spouse and children so first on your priority list is God, like in the above if God loses the headship of the marriage disaster will rear its ugly head very soon.

 

How often do you talk to God in your marriage 1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV says “Pray without ceasing.” The more you speak to God the less advice you receive from humans the more God shows you more about your spouse since he knows the inner thoughts of all human minds. The desire of every spouse must be to seek the word of God like babies desire for milk. Know that in the early stages of your marriage when you are nourished with the word of God “Kwashiorkor” will not factor the growth of Love in the marriage and when it has been affected it only God who holds the remedy. Personal devotions must be first even before family devotions because in personal time with God, will He teach you the secret fears and desires of your partner and transform you into the person who brings out the best in her or his home and partner. “Your quite time is a time you draw apart with God. It is a special time for you to talk over with him the events of the day, your growth in Him, your concerns and your blessings. A quiet time is not a time to prepare your sermons or Sunday School lesson. Neither is a time to browse through the church activities for the week or write to your pastor about the upcoming Women’s Fellowship meeting. It’s set aside to deepen relationships with God (Linda Dillow, Creative Counterpart, Nelson publish. 1977)”

 

Proverbs 12:4 NLT A worthy wife is a crown for her husband, but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones. This saying of Solomon goes for both partners yes a worth husband is a crown, but we are have another kind a disgraceful, The Living Bible (TLB) translates it as “the other kind”. There are two kinds of partners the and which ever you may choose to be dependent on the amount of wisdom you apply in your relationship to your partner. When was the last time you spent time your partner or say I Love you to your wife, when was the last time you took her on a date like the time she was your beloved did some thing special for him or her to crown his or her efforts in the marriage, to the woman say when did he come home to meet you doing something which he did not expect, to the man when did you go out of your way to do something beautiful for here, remember the little thing do count in every relationship. Make your spouse know that he or she comes first in all things or is she the last person to know. Spend quality time; let him or her know that you are his number one supporter even when sometimes he may be wrong. As the saying goes a soft answer turns away wrath. Be the partner not the competitor.

 

Unity is the way in training children and building a home, the way we keep order in our marriage by bringing to our children words of knowledge and wisdom as in the words of God in Isaiah 28:9-10NKJV

 

” Whom will he teach knowledge?

 

And whom will he make to understand the message?

 

Those just weaned from milk?

 

Those just drawn from the breasts?

 

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,

 

Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.”

 

Growth of children takes time and it takes the building up of knowledge in them which will show how successful the marriage will become, many a time when we find a wayward child it comes from the fact that the parents have not apply knowledge in the upbringing of them those sometimes our efforts seems like it not working but as it is said precept upon precept. Beware for with a child today may be the day you teach him a lesson which he will carry through his life. Little by little our children will be modeled into the image God as God modeled us to be.

 

Relationship to Character

 

In every marriage each partner brings a different kind character which you may not have encountered in your home, this is based on the environment which he was brought up from, kind of parents, siblings and culture, this will reveal to you all sorts of attitudes towards work about your spouse you may hate, some you love, though we have four main character traits i.e. sanguine, choleric, melancholy and phlegmatic which one is your spouse. Counseling will suggest ways to handle each person and his character traits which I am not equipped to do, yet best thing you can look out for is a character which closely relates to Christ Love for the church as Paul says in Ephesians 5:21-31 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This characters will over any deficiency in our marriages I list them as it appears in the verses above: Submission Love Holiness (not ceremonial but through Christ)Unselfishness Supportive

 

These characters in a marriage will over come flaws in our character traits no matter how sanguine or phlegmatic he or she may be with this the ideal of a constructive marriage is evident.

 

Relationship to Sin

 

This entire arrangement stated above comes under satanic attack, “for we are not ignorant of his devices”. Four major schemes dose he use like in the wilderness with out Lord Jesus and in the garden with Adam and Eve:

 

Satan attempts to have us view God Standards as unreasonable.

 

Why should I submit to my husband? Why should I be faithful? He makes us look at the limitations of our situation and accuses God to us. Placing doubt on God’s goodness so we will not reflect upon his power and his sovereignty. The purpose is to make Him insignificant and His restriction unimportant so it will bring human rebellion so we will find his hands in our marriage.

 

We are like a traveler who walked for days seeking for water to drink, then when we get to an old water pump he pumped and pumped but no water came out from the pump. Then seeing a water bottle beside the pipe we pick it up and just at the moment he wanted to drink. There is an instruction on the bottle, “Please Don’t Drink This Water” thinking only of our thirst he did not heed to the instructions he drank all the water in the bottle. He was now satisfied, but there was a problem the pump is not the end of his journey and he had empty water bottles which he had used up during his journey in the dessert. Now after he had his fill he decided to sit for sometime and continue his journey. We now look at the bottle careful and find more instructions to his surprise it reads.Please don’t drink the water in this bottle.Take this bottle open the top of the pump.Pour all the water into the hole Now begin to pump and soon the water will come.Please water drinking please fill the bottle and leave it for the next traveler

 

Thank you

 

What are going to do now?

 

Satan Question what God has said

 

When even we begin to question God’s works in our marriage and start seeing the success we have as the works of our hands then, we must be aware that we have opened a door for which sin will enter into our relationship. We will make way for unwanted paths or things in our marriage that will not bring the Lords purpose into our marriage. Sometimes we forget that it’s God who gives us the strength to attain these success and when we begin to fail in our humanistic works we begin to seek for help from demonic ways. So we question our husband’s faithfulness, we question our wives truthfulness. Wives are now putting Love potions in husbands food, husbands are walking with fear of their wives in their hearts. We now replace God with our own efforts and introduce the devils into the headship of our marriage.

 

We think we will not reap what we sow

 

When we put love into our marriages and our efforts which is based upon genuine reliance on God, we think we will not reap the fruits of out efforts, especially when years of hard work has been put into the marriage and the husband or the wife is not change, when the Love we expect his not returned, this makes us think that we have lost, and God is not looking unto our efforts so we decide to sow our efforts in other places but we realize that what ever we sow we will reap then to some it becomes too late to others they are ashamed of what they done and never return. Let’s remain patient in long suffering and the Lord will show himself in our marriages.

 

Dissatisfaction

 

Women want more voice in marriage; men want more freedom in marriage. Some go the extent of seeking time out from marriage in other to explore and seek satisfaction from other avenues; men disregard their role to Love with a self-sacrificing urgency while women refuse to submit with disrespect. One thinks the other is demanding more than he or she deserves. We will go drinking water from cisterns in the public places saying stolen water is sweet. We want satisfactions which is delusional and has made our marriages look like the mirage of an oasis in the dessert, while we are the water thirsty travel who dose not reach this oasis and is nearing us death just to find out it’s more miles ahead. There is only one place of satisfaction and it in the Lord and any other thing is a waste of time.

 

Humility

The words increase so I may decrease have been used countless times by many preachers while on the pulpit, it sounds humbling but in the long run they are rather increased while God is decreased. The word Humility has a transcendental meaning which goes beyond the simple command of submission. To submit dose not make you humble like Paul who was submitted to the Law Moses but was not humble to the word of God, he did not view the coming King to bear the marks of showing Love to his enemies because he thought he was coming into the world with an army to crush Israel’s enemies not a carpenter boy who was crucified on a cross. In the fruits of the spirits (see Gal 5 vs. 22-23) we hear of the word called meekness which is in the Greek “Praotes” meaning:  gentleness, mildness, meekness. Anyone who is filled with the Holy Spirit by a sure sign has humility.

The humility dose not mean humiliation, weakness, timidity or even a walk over  it goes above the human understanding and establishes a Spiritual ruler ship for the person who has Humility (Matthew 5:5   5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth).  Humility is a qualitative property of the Spirit filled man i.e.( James 3:13KJV Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom). The quintessential quality of humility is shown in the person of Christ (Philippians 2:6-8KJV  6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross).  The word humbled himself in the Greek is “tapeinoo” which is a metaphor for been assigned a lower rank or place i.e. even though he was The King, God look upon him as human whose heart was continually evil.

1.       Not like the Pharisees (See Mat 23 vs. 1-12)

The Pharisees who were the Theologians of Christ era were the keepers of the Law of Moses the two hundred and more which they required the people to observe. They knew the Law by mind but their hearts were not subjected to it. When ever we are subjected to the Law we are first and foremost required to perform them, the problem with performing it is that we will come to the realization that you are willfully disobedient to all which it commands you. No one on earth can follow the law strictly an example is the story of the Good Samaritan (See Luk. 10 vs. 30-37) where the priest passes the body of the dying Samaritan by the interpretation of the Law of Moses he was not wrong why (Leviticus 21:10-11 KJV  10 And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;  11 Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;). The man worse of all was a Samaritan i.e. defile of all the people in Israel why should he disobey God by even touching him. So here are the Pharisees asking them to keep the law but are making themselves above the law because they have been able to abide by every commandment it requires in the outwardly but inward are as vile as the Harlot.

Humility dose not come out to show off but comes out to serve, it will disregard any title and refuse the high seats because he is not equal to those round him. It requires less from his brother and gives more to him. He will not condemn the efforts of the weak but rather instruct him to strength. His strength and power is not for himself so his action precedes his words. Common placed his mind is not affected the pressures of his surroundings but will affect his surroundings with his presence.

2.      Humility the First step to Apologetics

2 Timothy 2:24-26 KJV  4 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,  25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

1 Peter 3:15 KJV  5 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Apologetics comes from the Greek word “apologia” which means a verbal defense. Apologetics is the words we share in our everyday evangelism within our community in our offices and other places. Countless of times when you are involved in the form of evangelism with a friend from other religious views it is important to become aware of how you deliver your message because a soft answer drives away wrath. The people we encounter have convictions which are deeply rooted in their conscience even thought you know that his views are wrong and will ultimately lead him to death we cannot justify the words we preach to him if se show signs of pride, my brothers and sisters we have loss that person even before we deliver your massage.

Countless of times people who have forsaken Christ’s salvation have not answered the question of life’s core problems they will seek to find answers to life peripheral ones example is a Muslim who will deny that Jesus is the Son of God because to them in the judgment day Allah will considered your right and wrongs and decide where you should go.  Islam has no forgiveness therefore the word humility is not willful action but a command forced upon you, respect they have, reverence they have but humility i.e. the word Tad’a which is one of the meanings of humility states “Before thee sent messengers to many nations, and We afflicted the nations with suffering and adversity, that they call Allah in humility. When the suffering reached them from Us, why then did they not call Allah in humility? On the contrary, their hearts became hardened and satan made their sinful acts seem alluring to them (Al-Anaam 6:42-43)”. Groups like “Boko Haram (Western Education is Forbidden)”  in the northern part of Nigeria whose name is “Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad which means “People Committed to Propagation of the Prophet’s Teaching and Jihad”, have no tolerance for others views. Their main purpose is influenced by the Qur’an’s phase which says “Anyone who is not governed by what Allah has revealed is among the transgressors” to them there is nothing like Apologetics but rather violence.

Out of humility comes tolerance, forbearance, longsuffering and enduring. Martyrs who died in the proclamation of Christ never called for revolts or revolution but in their society they served forgoing all which was good and pressing on towards the everlasting crown. Many times we seem to think that our profession of Faith in Christ is to elevate us beyond or society like someone mention by what he calls “virtual escape”, we cannot escape this world rather through humility the world will come unto us. If anyone wants to make his new found salvation known to the world the first thing which must be evident is humility. Those of us who do apologetics must have the Supreme character of Christ which is non conformance to the society i.e. when you become a leader you must be served rather when you become a leader you must serve. Answers to question about Christ are vast and we cannot tackle all without the in filling of the Holy Spirit to bring his nature so we can make impart upon our generation. I pray that we are filled with the Holy Spirit to increase and become truly impacted with humility.

3.      Salvation is From Humility.

Matthew 5:3-11 KJV  3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.  5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.  6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.  7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.  8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.  9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.  10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

The poor in Spirit will mourn till they become meek, in their meekness they will hunger and thirst for righteousness so they can be merciful, pure in heart and peacemakers, nations will persecute them for the sake of righteousness and speak falsely against them but their reward is the kingdom of heaven they shall be comforted then they shall obtain mercy, see God and become God’s children. The words of the beatitudes are the characters Christ possess in all of us so we can receive a reward in heaven. Many people say this: we will receive crowns of glory in heaven but all I (Henry A. Addy) want is to be called is the son of God no greater reward is above this. I have in Christ been made co-heirs i.e. it’s not as if Christ will inherit something which later he will share with me, it is Christ and I (Henry A. Addy) who will now inherit the kingdom God together.

The work of Salvation in Christ is in fact that which start from the point of spiritual poverty i.e. “ptochos: reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms, destitute of wealth, influence, position, honour, lowly, afflicted, destitute of the Christian virtues and eternal riches, helpless, powerless to accomplish an end”   this is a sense where you get to the point of having nothing to loss like the four leprosy men in the city Samaria (see 2 kings 7) during the besiege of  the city when they said “if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.” They have come to the cross roads of nothingness where there is only one hope and its in Christ, that is how salvation starts then it enters into the point call mourning where there is a turning point. In our mourning do we actually come out from the cold and make confessions of our sins seeing the death in which it brought us and seeking to find the only and true way in Christ. The point of meekness is where you are totally under the ruler ship of Christ and will submit to his every command and because you do not forget where you were carried from and brought to you stand out like a light lit on a mountain top shinning even bright to all who seek it and come to realization of it’s power and majesty. If we want to receive it we must become poor laying side all that we know and have acquired, shout out to Lord so hat he can help us come to a point. Seek to be servants as our master was so shall we be through out all the generations of Faith seeks and salvation finders.

4.      Humility is for the Sanctified

Ezekiel 36:23-28 KJV   23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.  24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.  25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.  26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.  27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.  28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

To be sanctified requires the person to have a new heart, one which comes from the spirit that God has provided for his people. You we can never be a people whose purpose is against the fathers will and call yourself a son, inasmuch were under his power and we desire to be Holy as He His Holy not the form of godliness we see only on Sunday in our Churches but a way of life which is constantly seeking to see the face of God in all that we do all that we are.

To be sanctified before the Lord means that we should become like him in deed and thought, like Paul it requires us to have the “the mind of Christ” this mind removes deity and makes it a man takes away immortality and makes it mortal. The mind of Christ is on which is constantly been make humble be his own will not forced or it been done to show someone who we are but rather it’s a state of begin coming from us like springs of water welling up to righteousness. The way a sanctified man live is one of humility i.e. to his sanctimonious  nature all around will see a humble man whose holiness dose come not out of an effort of his own it’s the pure unaltered  work of the Holy Spirit through Christ which is an acceptable sacrifice to God. If what to attain humility you must be sanctified in the word of the God, place your heart in his hands for bruised reed he will not break a smoking wick he will not throw out.

On thing Christ hates is an outward service what we call in literal translation from twi a “dogs humility” i.e. listens to his master as long as he will provide him with all food. As long as our prosperity will be provided for in God we will obey when there is a little testing we fail woefully because the lessons has not been learnt. Lesson learnt along the walk of righteousness is to teach us to be humble so that we will know that man shall not live by bread along but by every word that comes out of God’s mouth. The lesser I become the more God becomes is not truth, God is great and all powerful and we are little, helpless begins is also not truth because statements like these comes from the attitude of a “yes, yes no dey spoil work” servant but a true statement is this: (Psalm 8:4-6 KJV  4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?  5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.  6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:) sinner is almost comparable to the sons of God even the sinful man has this nature, we who are saved have I higher begin (John 1:12 KJV 12 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:) humility is not that we are small and God is great but rather greater his he that is me that he that is in the world.

5.       Humility brings Conviction

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16  13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.  14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:  15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

The words I preach is not of my own words but are the words give to me by God through the Holy Spirit and if anyone reads or listens these words my the Holy Spirit impute into you a nature which is willing to become humble transforming you in all aspects of your life making you a pinnacle of excellence in this world telling the whole world of Gods wonderful work in all of us.

In conclusion I lead you the quintessential man whose example has transformed generation not only because his example is what we look but rather in him we can become reconciled to God, we can have power over while are as lowly as the Latin meaning of the word humility  which is ground. This person his Christ in his words (Matthew 11:28-30  28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.)

Amen.

Homology of the Church

Richard Owen in 1843 define homology as “the same organ in different animals under every variety of form and function” i.e. Organs in two species are homologous if the same structure was present in their last ancestor an example organs as disparate as the wing of bats, the seals flippers a cats limbs and human arm have common underlying anatomy which was present in their last ancestor and so therefore are homologous as forelimbs. This is the biological definition of homology[1].

This article will looks at the etymological understanding of the word and it’s important to the organic meaning of the church and most importantly the Christian faith.

Homology is derived from the Greek word homologos where homo mean agreeing, equivalent and logos means word or relation, combing the words I arrive at a more simplistic meaning which is the equivalent word or relation of the ekklesia (church).

The canons of the scriptures all have an underlining relationship which is derived from a common ancestor who is Christ, both old and new testament are the affirmation of Christ’s kingship as the sovereign God, thus the declaration by Simeon “³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.[2]”  and Anna “spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem[3].” Jesus Christ is the homological connection between all Christians, worldwide. Doctrines does not make a church, liturgical ceremonies is not the foundation of the church neither is the Pentecostal or charismatic existentialism the sign of a church’s strong spiritual ability or presence.

Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

 

In Matthew 7 vs. 21 Jesus Christ gives an analogy of those who are truly His followers by indicating that they are those who build their house upon the rock. A wise church is the one whose has built its foundation upon the rock. This rock was never Peter, he was a building or church like how you and I are today. The rock on which the church is built is “Jesus Christ the son of the living God[4]“. Paul puts it in a simple tone “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.[5]”

We can build a church upon philosophies, myth and on any other thing, it will look grand and massive, it may be awe inspiring but as David said “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.[6]” without Christ there will be no refuge, either the church becomes a place where sin is taken lightly and materialism is increased therefore salvation is missing or legalism is so much that members live hypocritical lives in other to save face with each other.

Sadly modern day church is facing this great challenge where men are made demi-gods of the almighty, i.e. You have accepted that you worship God but your bishop, pastor, prophet or whoever is in authority his now the most powerful entity whom all actions are done in accordance to their commands, so you have all the terminologies, the one liners and the gimmicks. Revivals are as rampant as day and night, when I have a financial trouble there is a revival for that, when I need to travel abroad there is a revival for that, when I need a husband there is a revival for that, when I need the anointing there is a revival for that.

These revivals mainly focus on men who come to download what is in their spirit to the members, so you have become a puppet (gigo- garbage in garbage out), when will you do your own downloading. Today the foundation is not important only the body. Christ warns us about this type of foundation which breaks under pressure and lose its beauty. When the foundation is Christ the church becomes as Isaiah puts it:

“² Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. ³ Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.⁴ The mind of the rash will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear. ⁵ No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected.[7]

When the Church is in Christ wisdom and righteousness reigns, Love and mercy is abundantly received, joy and peace lives among all men and the words power is now evident in the lives of all those who yield to its instructions, trials and tribulations will arise, the wicked will scheme and plan and yet they not succeed this is the power of the foundation found in Christ.

Peters divine revelation of which Jesus is the homological bases for all faith in God and without Christ every other god is a dead god. The Christ is definitely the same today yesterday and forever.

Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

 

The ideal of salvation is based upon the concept where a person or group of people are under a rulership or an authority where they have been put under bondage, tyranny and they constantly live in fear of death, imprisonment, and hardship. These people have no hope of freeing themselves from this bondage because there is no place for them to turn.

Now in the wake of hopelessness these people are waken one day with an option, this option is this there is a new king and master in another land whose people are living in hope and prosperity. Naturally everyone would like to go to this free happy land flowing with milk and honey, but this journey is impossible because the tyranny king would kill you before you get there.

How can this journey be possible? Unless the new king enters into the old country and conquers the old king. Consequently like every good king who cares about every person as his own creation comes into the old land to conquer the king but he comes in a disguise of a commoner who lives in the old land. He then begins to teach the citizens of the old Country the truth about freedom, peace and prosperity on the other land which they the people in the old nation are seeking, but there were the publicans who were common citizens but have been given power by the old king to lord over their own people with the same tyrannical rule he uses, they recognize this king and decides to kill him. The new king gets wind of their plot to assassinate him so he gives those who believe in him as the king of the new land a sign of his coming back into old country as a conquering king to kill all those who rule with the king.

The new king leaves the old land, after his departure this fellow begin to give diverging views about is doctrines of freedom, peace, love and prosperity, the fellow who did this was paid by the old king to mislead the people who believe in the new country and are faithfully willing to die for this new king. This paid man gather large following who were misled by their new leader, by telling them to see the new king as a means to an end, an end of power and prosperity which is provide by the old king in the old country.

In the old country those who are willing to follow the new king will fetish faith and hope believe that there is no way to be save from the rule of the old king without accepting and living according to the ways of the new king which he taught his followers. How did the current citizens of the old country come to believe that the conquering king, who’s coming to destroy the old country, once came into the old country? The new king’s first followers chronicled all his words in the annals of the coming king. This book has existed for thousands of years yet the old king paid people to say this book was a work of delusional men, who had not reasonable proof for their believe in the new king.

When the new king comes to destroy and build a new land the only thing that can save those in the old country if you accepted him and believed in him and only him as the coming king because in the time of war those who believed him will still support and follow him even when he has not reached the old country but is coming from the borders and the old kings legions seem to overwhelm the new king army.

Brothers and Sisters there is a siege coming and those who will be saved from the sword of judgment of the new king are those who believe on the name of Jesus Christ for he his the only way, truth and light. Therefore the church of Christ has only one king and he his Jesus Christ, for he is the only rock upon which all denominations are build and if you lose sight of his sole ownership of the church and believe that some holy spirit fill man of God be can save you then you are greatly mistaken, the church belongs to Christ and he alone owns the copy rights to salvation, reconciliation and healing with God.

My final thoughts are these the only rock on which you should base your faith in upon Jesus Christ the conquering King and master of the universe, he owns the rights to your redemption from sin and his the only one who can save you from the coming judgment and hell.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

10:36 GMT

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[1] www.wikipedia.com/homology date 14th March, 2013

[2] Luk. 2 vs. 32

[3] Luk 2 vs. 38

[4] Mat. 16 vs 16

[5] 1 Cor 3:11

[6] Psalm 18:2

[7] Isaiah 32:2-5