SINGLES – How To Detect A Problem in Your Relationship
Continued from yesterday…
3. Only God knows who will make heaven. We are all deceiving ourselves
No! We are not all deceiving ourselves.
You see, this type of attitude reduces a person to a mediocre Christian. No energy or passion for God. He is not committed to his local assembly, he is disconnected from the vine as it were.
Anybody who is not enthusiastic about serving God will always have issues in his or her spiritual life.
4. I don’t like speaking in tongues. I’m not for that balderdash.
Well speaking in tongues is not balderdash!
Speaking in tongues is the supernatural utterance that God has given us to forge ahead in life, stay in touch with Him, and ensure our victory always.
When anybody makes the above statement, it is an indication of serious and deeper issues that will show up later.
5. The Bible never says we should not drink. We only should not get drunk
This person will surely drink and even indulge in other excesses. He or she already told you ahead of time!
When any of the above statement is being made, don’t turn a deaf ear to them. Pay attention to them, seek counsel and pray again and again.
It is better to remain single until the right person shows up than to desperately rush into marriage with the wrong person.
I pray for you this morning, you will not miss it in Jesus name
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I have the wisdom of God to detect problems
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, show me what may not be obvious
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Jer 33:3 (KJV)Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
The quality of meekness is one state of the heart that should not be compromised. Marry a teachable woman. You need a lady that is submissive.
Submission is not subservience or servitude. It is just a cooperation to allow your husband have the final say.
As a lady, never marry a man you detest or that you cannot defer to.
In talking to women, Apostle Peter listed some qualities every woman should have and every man should look for.
When they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your [a]reverence [for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him—to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband]. 1 Pet.3:2
Now, listen very carefully. You will not always find a perfect woman! You have to allow her to grow. You have to be patient.
If you are looking for that Mrs. Perfect, I have news for you, she does not exist!
4. Look for a woman you love and your heart blesses!
Marriage is by choice and not by force, so it is important you look for a lady you truly love and your heart blesses. Don’t marry out of pressure or suggestion.
When you marry a woman you truly love, when there are crisis or challenges, the first statement from you won’t be, “I want a divorce,” rather it would be “how can I salvage this situation?” Why? Because you love her!
The scripture likened marriage to Jesus Christ and the church. If Jesus Christ is like the husband, and the church is like the wife, the question is “has the church, the wife of Jesus Christ been perfect?”
The answer is No! How is Jesus Christ coping? How come Jesus has not divorced the church? The church is truly in a messy state and the body of Christ seemed divided and yet the scripture made a shocking statement that all husbands must learn from.
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27 KJV)
How will Jesus achieve this for God’s sake? You see, because I am supposed to take a cue from Him since I am a husband or husband-to-be like Jesus Christ is the husband of the church.
Message Translation even made it more incredible.
Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor––since they’re already “one” in marriage (Ephesians 5:26-28 Message)
I must look for a woman I truly love and I am comfortable that everything I do or say is designed to evoke her beauty and bring the best out of her!
Verse 27 tells us how Jesus Christ would achieve this.
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27 KJV)
May God grant you more understanding.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am deliberate in my approach to find love
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY O Lord, turn things around in my favour
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor––since they’re already “one” in marriage Eph 5:28 MSG
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Start preparing for your marriage now.
“Thank you, sister Angel. I love my boyfriend and he loves me. When we are married, we will go to church.”
“Who told you that you will get married to him?”
“I know! He told me we will.”
“And who told you that you are the only one he is promising?” Angie said.
“Yes, I may not be the only one, but I am the first on his list”
“List? Nancy, why go through this humiliation?
“Which one is humiliation there now? Is there any man out there that can be faithful?”
“You always get what you expect! I will be married to a man who not only loves me but also loves the Lord,”
“Such men are all dead, I beg!”
“No, they are still alive.”
“You are simply inexperienced. You don’t know guys. I currently have three boyfriends and my back is covered. If one fails, I will latch unto another.”
“Your back is not covered.” You are toying with your life and destiny.”
“There you go again, pastoress.”
“But candidly, it is not like God doesn’t want you to have a boyfriend, but He wants everything done His own way.”
“What’s His own way?”
“No sex.”
“That is not possible”
“It is possible. I am an example.” Angie said.
“So, I will not test wetin I go buy for market? Nancy said shaking her head.
“How many times have you been sexually involved with your boyfriend?
“Which of them?
“See your life?”
“I can’t count o… Am I supposed to be recording that? I be secretary?”
“Ok, let’s just say twenty times… So you have been testing? For how long will you test in the market? Will you ever get home? Is the market not your home now?”
“Leave that one, I dey enjoy am, plus lots of bucks.”
To be continued tomorrow…
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I choose to do it in God’s way.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Ask for the Grace to stay faithful in a perverse world
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Hebrews 13:4 KJV
5. Getting married because a pastor or parent said so
Yes, pastors and parents can advise and give a go-ahead. But you also have to be convinced by yourself. Your parent or pastor will not live in the marriage with you. Marry because there is peace, purpose, attraction, and compatibility. Hear God for yourself.
6. Getting married to someone you cannot submit to
Wives are called to ultimately submit to their own husbands. However, submission in marriage is also mutual. Never marry someone you are not ready or willing to submit to.
7. Getting married when you are not ready to love as Christ loves the church
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered. Kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals, kindly go HERE
Christ is the perfect example of love; the God kind of love that is without selfish motive. If you cannot love sacrificially, don’t marry that person.
8. Getting married just because you are from the same tribe or have things in common
You are not marrying because of your tribe or home town. You are marrying that person because you want to fulfill purpose and destiny together.
9. Getting married because people advised or counsel you to do so
People’s advice and counsel can very well be wrong and misleading. Only God leads well and right. God will not ask the people, He will ask you. Be answerable for your own destiny. Don’t marry solely out of people’s advice.
10. Getting married because of the present alone
Don’t marry a person because of his/her present situation alone. Have deep consideration for his/her future too. Is he rich now but on his way to being poor because he lacks the power to sustain and multiply wealth? That is one of the pertinent questions to ask.
Have a great day!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I will marry rightly.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord, lead me to the right person for me.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Isaiah 30:21 [KJV] And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Pastor Poju Oyemade on The Shepherd, The Wolf, The Sheep and The Hireling – The Four Characters That “Play” In The Church Space.
Jesus speaking about the shepherd also tells us about these four principal characters who make up the dynamics of a Church or really any business organization. He said it this way
Joh 10:11-13 (KJV) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. [12] But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. [13] The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
The Good Shepherd
We have the good shepherd whose role is the care giver to the sheep. His business is to make sure the sheep are adequately provided for conveying his responsibilities first and foremost through the words he speaks to them. He feeds them with words of knowledge and understanding and places them in folds for their protection.
His character trait is that he will defend the sheep with his life and reputation. He doesn’t flee at the sight of battle but will rise up to the challenge no matter what the wolf throws at him.
Jer 3:15-16 (KJV) And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. [16] And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land…
The Hireling
The next character is the hireling.
This is a person who gets involved for commercial reasons. He is not really dangerous to the sheep because he is not after them, he seeks not to break the church, in fact, he wants the church doing well but his motives are financial, period.
He is in it for what material gains can come to him. He has no concept of the vision of that place, he will not lay down his life for anyone and his “brand” is more important to him than the future of the kingdom of God. In making decisions money is his bottom line and not the will of God for the people.
The only problem you may have with him is to put your trust in him thinking he will ride with you through thick and thin.
Once he sees a threat and he thinks things may get rough here he jumps ship and looks for the next sheepfold where money can be made in peace.
Misplaced trust in a hireling may lead one to getting heart broken but outside that he is no real threat to the Church. In a business he works for money and will show no understanding of the vision that will make him go an extra mile for the client or customer out of love.
To Be Continued…
For Singles’ Devotionals GO HERE. For Couples’ Devotional Go HERE. For Video Devotionals Go HERE
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