There are those moments when the eyes are red, and the tears flow endlessly and you just couldn’t be consoled enough.
For the singles, it could be those times of rejection, when the one you love walks away or you are the one who needed to walk away. Either way, the walking away is not always a pleasant experience.
It could be those times you suddenly feel betrayed when you discover that the one you have been loving with all your life is loving another!
It could be those time when you feel neglected and it seems nobody is looking you way.
For the married, it could be those times when all your expectations have been disappointed and what you see in marriage is far from what you think it should be.
It could be those times when you feel misunderstood and your spouse isn’t lifting a finger to understand your feelings.
It could be those times when you are so deeply hurt that it reaches to the bone and marrows, when the one you love most has broken your trust, caught red handed frolicking with the opposite sex.
Or it could just be any of the days when there are no stars and the moody mushy thing envelopes you and you don’t want to talk to anybody including GOD.
It could be times of going through mid life crisis, when all the cruises are gone and all left are crashes.
In any of those sad unhappy times, what do you do?
Sing. Rejoice. Dance. Jubilate!
What?
Isa 54:1 (KJV) Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.
That is what you do. Do opposite of what your flesh wants. And then, in an incredible turn of events, you will see God’s intervention and justice system in that situation and you will have victory and rejoice at the last.
Do not grumble. Do not get bitter. Do not fight back.
Leave all the fights to God.
Rom 12:19 (MSG) Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”
And when you do this, get ready to rejoice, because there is a REJOICING after the rejoicing.
Overcoming Wicked Spirits That Manipulate and Deceive
Valentine’s is tomorrow! This wicked spirit will be in operation! Beware
What do I mean?
Yesterday, I established that the spirit realm is filled with good and bad spirits.
We are not supposed to yield to these bad spirits that are wicked. We are supposed to yield to the Spirit of God!
There are wicked spirits that operate through manipulation and deception.
How can one identify these spirits? How can one protect themselves from such influences?
Do you remember the story of Samson and Delilah?
Jdg 16:4 (KJV) And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
Loving this particular woman was the beginning of Samson’s nemesis.
The lords of the Philistines have tried several means to snuff out the life of Samson but to no avail. They were frustrated each time. They resorted to using Delilah.
Delilah obliged having been promised some large chunk of money!
Three times, Samson deceived Delilah and in those three times, he saw clearly that Delilah was after his life!
But he still became a victim?
How?
There was the operation of wicked spirits employing manipulation and deception.
Jdg 16:15 (AMPC+) And she said to him, How can you say, I love you, when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times and have not told me in what your great strength lies.
How many times have you heard this statement?
And you say you love me? That was what Delilah used and Samson fell for it. This same statement will fly around a lot on Valentine’s Day! Please don’t fall for it! Don’t lose your virginity if you still have one! And even if you are not one, don’t sleep around on that day!
The goal of this manipulative and deceiving spirit is constant harassment till you yield.
Jdg 16:16 (AMPC+) And when she pressed him day after day with her words and urged him, he was vexed to death.
Samson fell asleep on her lap!
A lot of destinies have fallen asleep, and hibernated under the influence of these wicked spirits!
You will not be caught sleeping when you should be awake in Jesus’ name!
Jdg 16:21 (MSG) The Philistines grabbed him, gouged out his eyes, and took him down to Gaza. They shackled him in irons and put him to the work of grinding in the prison.
They eventually caught him and the first thing was to take out his eyes! That is the goal of this wicked spirit, to make you stop reading and studying God’s word!
Your eyes will not be taken out!
We judge every wicked spirit operating through manipulation and deception in Jesus’ name!
What are those things singles should look for? What are those things couples should pray for in their spouses? Let’s take a look this morning
1. The Fear of God: The Non-Negotiable Foundation
The foremost quality to seek in a life partner, non-negotiable and beyond compromise, is the fear of God. Beyond mere physical attributes, the fear of God stands tall. While beauty and attractiveness may fade, a partner with the fear of God brings enduring blessings. For those already married without observing these qualities, prayer can be a powerful tool to usher these virtues into your spouse’s life.
Embracing the Fear of God
The fear of God is the reason your spouse will not cheat on you! It is not because your spouse is a “Christian” it is because they have the fear of God. Look for the fear of God! Pray the fear of God into your spouse!
Personal faithfulness and steadfastness in relationships emanate from the fear of God. This foundational quality, exemplified by figures like Joseph, can prevent succumbing to temptations. Choosing a partner with a genuine, lasting fear of God ensures a steadfast and faithful union.
2. Integrity and Sincerity: Guiding Principles in Marriage
Second on the list is the indispensable duo of integrity and sincerity. Proverbs 11:3 states that the integrity of the upright guides them.
Embrace the belief that sincere and upright individuals exist; renew your mindset through God’s word. Dismissing all humanity based on one negative experience can hinder attracting the positive qualities you seek.
Guided by Integrity
Integrity is a guiding light in relationships, preventing the destructive consequences of deceit and transgressions. Seek a partner whose integrity aligns with the principles that guide a successful marriage.
Nothing is as frustrating as having a lying spouse. Trust is broken, suspicions are birthed, and trepidation is initiated to the extent that it affects the health of the spouse on the receiving end of these lying tantrums.
Be insincere! Be a person of integrity for the sake of yourself, your family, your children, and your God!
Good morning! I will conclude on this topic tomorrow!
Character flaws are not death sentences but defects that we should be willing to change. Change doesn’t come easy. However, to grow we all need to change. The only constant thing is change. No one is born with the perfect set of characters, we all learn and cultivate them.
Many character flaws are destructive in relationships and marriage. It is essential to talk about them because once we are in love, we may not realize or pay attention to the signs that character flaws are present in your fiance or fiancee.
Here are four character flaws
1. Pride
Once married you and your spouse are joined together as one and you don’t want to be destroyed along with your spouse. Pride goes before a fall. You will notice pride when your partner has an over-inflated ego, doesn’t listen to correction, thinks he knows it all, and feels they are always the boss. Humility is a virtue and it can be learned. Satan was proud and that was why he was cast down. So if you notice even the slightest trace of pride begin to do something about it. Often the person with the flaw may be ignorant of it.
Job 36:9 (MSG) God tells them where they’ve gone wrong, shows them how their pride has caused their trouble.
2. Insincerity
This is a character flaw that may have been learned from childhood as a coping mechanism. Some use it as a defense mechanism. It is not being truthful. The Bible recommends that our Yea be Yea and our Nay be Nay. When your partner has problems with being sincere you need to pay attention to this character flaw.
3. Laziness
A lazy person is the devil’s workshop. One of the virtues one should look for in a partner is hard work. Not just working hard but also working smart. If you learn to work hard, you will learn to cultivate your garden and grow your barren land turning it into a green pasture. There is dignity in labor while a lazy partner will always find fault with his tools. Fulfilling our destiny requires some level of tenacity and hard work. If you notice your partner is lazy, please pay attention to this character flaw.
Pro 15:19 (MSG) The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers; the diligent walk down a smooth road.
4. Greed
This is another character flaw that will eventually lead to destruction. Yes, one should have the drive to want more in life, but greed happens when there is an insatiable and burning desire for more material things. This is what we call the mundane things. Anyone chasing the mundane things cannot be a God chaser and a chaser of His kingdom. A greedy person will chase shadows at the expense of the real things. A greedy person will neglect his family all in the name of making more money.
Pay close attention to these character defects to avoid stories that touch the heart.
How should a person love their fiancee or spouse? That is what I will be looking at this morning. Love is an action word and if there are no actions to show you love her, you don’t love her in the real sense. Just like respect is a big deal for the guys and it is God’s order that their fiancee and wife respect them out of honor to God and not necessarily because he deserves it.
The same way, God expects and requires that every man loves his own fiancee.
One of the marks of maturity is when a man has the ability to overlook the weakness of his fiancee and despite all, still love her unconditionally.
Eph 5:25 (MSG)
Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church–a love marked by giving, not getting.
As husbands-to-be, you are to model Christ. Your leadership role is that of a servant leader. Your headship over her is not an authoritarian rule but one marked with sacrificial love.
One that is patient and kind. One that is meant to nurture and bring out the best in her.
Loving your fiancee begins from the time of your courtship and not when you are married. You start walking by the principle of genuine, God kind of love. This love definitely does not include sleeping with her or dishonoring her body. Any guy who sleeps with a lady before marrying her has shown the highest level of dishonor for the lady. That definitely is not love.
I do not condemn any body because most of these things were done in ignorance. But repentance is needed especially now that you know. Not engaging in pre-maritals is the honor you give to God that the marriage institution is ordained by God.
You are to love her like your own body because she actually is. You begin to learn to treat your fiancee as you would treat yourself. Treat her with dignity, don’t shout on her. Don’t shut her up. Don’t ignore her or her opinions. Don’t compare her to other ladies, don’t put attention on her weak areas.
Learn to celebrate her, appreciate her and hold her in high esteem.
Loving her is every man’s God given assignment. Don’t fail in this assignment.
