What does God have to say about - Divorce?

First, let me say that in this matter, and in any other matter, God is neither a respecter of persons, nor of the laws of a land. Just because it is legal does not mean it is right. He respects his word and his word only.

Now to the topic. GOD HATES DIVORCE. Even in the old testament, where he gave the Israelites permission to do so in the book of deuteronomy, he speaks in the same old testament, in the book of  Malachi.

Mal 2:16  "For I hate divorce," says the LORD, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with wrong," says the LORD of hosts. "So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously."

So there we have it. Jesus Christ even mentioned in Matthew that the only way God will accept a man divorcing a woman ( or vice versa)  was on the grounds of marital unfaithfulness.

Mat 5:31  "It was said, 'WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE';

Mat 5:32  but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (ASV)

Now don’t get too happy. Look at verse 32. There's a catch… After the divorce, you can NEVER marry again. Because then if you do, God sees you as an adulterer. He didn’t say, '… but whosoever marries a divorced woman…', but  '...and whosoever marries a divorced woman…'. Therefore, regardless of why you divorced, even if it was on grounds of unfaithfulness, you cant marry again, else you have become an aldulterer in God's eyes. This applies to Men too, and just in case you think you have dodged the commandment, see what God has to say about men that divorce their wives, and also divorce.

Mal 2:14  You cry out, "Why doesn't the LORD accept my worship?" I'll tell you why! Because the LORD witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows.

Mal 2:15  Didn't the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are His. And what does He want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.

Mal 2:16  "For I hate divorce!" says the LORD, the God of Israel. "To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty, " says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife."  (NLT)

Mat 19:7  "Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?" they asked.

Mat 19:8  Jesus replied, "Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended.

Mat 19:9  And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful. [And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.]" (NLT)

1Co 7:10  But for those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband.

1Co 7:11  But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife.  (NLT)

God placed things in such a way that divorce should be avoided. If the problems are not too bad ( not that betrayal of trust isnt bad enough, but I was speaking about venereal diseases in particular, or extramarital pregnancies), reconcile.  It will be hard to re-establish trust, and there may be repercussions, but as God's children, we are expected to forgive.. It isnt going to be easy, because as I said, unfaithfullness is one of the worst forms of betrayal, but if the person is TRULY REPENTANT, the love of Christ will be able to restore the breach, and make both people love each other again in a way they never believed was possible. It may never be forgotten, but the Love of Christ will bring, bind and keep both together in love.

Even if there were pregnancies or  diseases, you may have to abstain from sexual relations FOREVER. (please think on that before you do anything, no matter how pretty the person may seem) else, you will have to keep living in sin.

I have heard of some rare butdevastating cases where the man was truly repentant, but had infected the wife with AIDS ( please be carefull, if you truly love your spouse, to live a pure life, and avoid trouble. God wants to avoid such things for us, so he tells us to flee youthfull lusts.-He knows the repercussions will be too much for us to handle.)

2Ti 2:22  Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

However, anything outside marital unfaithfulness does not even give you an excuse to divorce, and is a solid NO! Whether you like him or her, whether you  don’t like him or her, whether you are too different, or too alike. NO WAY!! No excuse will stand in the face of God. I say, even if a pastor, no matter how anointed, tells you it is right, IT IS STILL WRONG!. God has said it is wrong, and it is his word that he will use to judge the world, not the word of your pastor.

Study the Word of God for yourself, and God will show you his perfect will for your life, and you will stand.  However, now you know the truth, and you have no excuse. Whatever you do now, you cant claim you did not know, and if you now sin, it will be held to you as sin. However, God will help you stand even as you await his coming in Jesus name. 

AMEN!!! Have a blessed day.

For Book Lovers- an excerpt from Perretti's "Veritas Project": Is truth really a matter of opinion?

With his finely toned muscles straining and sweat on his brow, young Elias swung the iron door shut and dropped the bolt into place as the rest of his family scrambled about the lab in search of anything they could use to barricade the door.

The beast was coming down the hallway. They could feel the pounding of his footsteps shaking the floor.

Elias's sister Lisa brought a chair. As she brushed her long blond hair from her face, Elias could see that fear filled her eyes. Even so, she was still beautiful. Elias took the chair and braced it against the door. "Thanks."

She answered, "I'm not doing this for you."

"So you're still angry?"

"This is all your fault! You should have selected a better brain!"

Elias was offended. "I selected the best brain money can buy. It's highly intelligent, highly rational! That beast can solve the most complicated equations in mere seconds!"

"But it doesn't care about people!"

"Who cares? Besides, I'm not interested in your notions of should. I did what I thought was right."

"But you were wrong."

"In your opinion!"

Just then, their parents came with a large table, and all four of them leaned the table on end against the door.

BOOM! BOOM! The sudden pounding told them where the monster was at: just outside the door, trying to smash it open.

Norton, the father, marveled. "What intelligence! What power! We've created a magnificent new creature!"

Susan, the mother, looked at him in horror and anger. "A magnificent new creature? Norton, we've created something evil and now there's no controlling it!"

He sneered at her even as they braced their backs against the door to keep it shut. "Evil? Come now, my darling! Since when have you adopted such old, antiquated notions? Good and Evil are only an invention of our society, a

matter of opinion."

"But that thing wants to kill us!"

"Well..."

"And that's evil!"

He thought it over even as the door thudded against his back with each impact of the beast's angry fists. "Well, I can't say it's evil, but I'm not comfortable about it."

"Neither am I," said Lisa, helping to hold the door shut.

"Perhaps we should have given the beast a, a conscience."

They all looked at her as if she were mad.

"Based on what? Feelings?" Elias shouted.

"Self-interest?" Norton fumed.

"Oh, he has that!" Susan sneered.

"Well, morals then."

"Morals?" Elias scoffed.

"Whose morals?" Susan snorted. "We went through all that, remember? We couldn't decide."

"We had no right to decide!" Norton objected. "We can't impose morality on

something we created. We can't impose right and wrong on anything! There is no truth! What a monste believes is true, is true for him."

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The door and the barricade were weakening.

"So here we are," said Susan.

"No," said Lisa, backing away from the door. "Here you are. You made the creature, you can live with it or die with it. I'm getting out of here!" She ran for the stairway on the other side of the lab, the stairway that would lead to the outside, and freedom.

"Hey," Elias yelled angrily, "you were involved in this project just as much as we were!"

"In your opinion!" she called back.

"But you aligned all the joints and synchronized the cardio-vascular system! You, you even sewed his outfit!"

"That was then. This is now!" 

With that, she ran up the stairs, through the outside door, and away, leaving them behind.

CRACK! GROAN! The door was coming apart.

"I, I just can't stand it any longer!" Susan cried, moving away from the door.

"Susan!" Norton shouted desperately. "Susan, don't go! Stand with me! Help me!"

She kept backing away, shaking her head. "No, Norton, no. There are too many things more important to me. Our house. Our money. The Gladiola Society. I was going to have my eyes lasered. I can't miss all that!"

"But I need you!"

"Oh, Norton, you're resilient, you'll recover, you'll see! I just

need to find my own path - such as, out of here."

"But, but you can't do that!"

She looked at him quizzically. "I can't? Who are you to tell me

I can't?"

"If this monster gets loose, he'll terrorize all mankind!"

"I suppose you see something wrong with that?"

Norton had to think about it. "Well... I can't say there's anything wrong with it but I'd feel uncomfortable about it."

"Well, those are your feelings." She headed for the stairs.

CRUNCH! The table barricade was bending like weak cardboard. The door

was breaking open.

"Susan!" Norton screamed.

As Susan ran up the stairs, leaving them behind, Elias admitted, "She has to

do what's right for her." He stepped away from the door. "And so do I."

"Not you, too!" Norton exclaimed.

Elias was backing away quickly as pieces of plaster and fragments of door frame began to fall around him. "It's been fun, Dad, working on a family project together, creating a whole new breed of man. But I think Lisa may have had a point. We gave our guy incredible strength and terrific brainpower, but you know, a sense of right and wrong would've been a good idea even if there is no such thing."

"Son! Don't leave me here alone to face this monster!"

"Well Dad, I would stay, really, but it's starting to get uncomfortable. I'm

not happy here anymore."

"Son!"

"Besides, who's to say there's really a monster crashing in here? Maybe that's

just a matter of opinion, too."

A rivet bounced off Norton's head as he marveled at such a thought. "Opinion? You call this a matter of opinion?"

"Can't call it a matter of truth, now can I?" Elias headed for the stairs. "Looks like a nice day outside. Of course, that's only a matter of opinion."

"Son, have you no honor?"

Elias stopped to think about that. "Well, I really don't like running out on you like this, but I can't say it's wrong." And with that, he was up the stairs and gone.

Norton knew it was useless to resist. He dashed away from the door and turn

ed to see the iron door flex, warp, and give way with a crash.

The monster, towering and mighty, entered the room, looking about for helpless human flesh to devour. The huge red eyes immediately focused on Nor ton, who was shaking with fear, but resolute. The thing took one step forward.

"Stop!" Norton yelled. "I command you to stop!"

The monster raised an eyebrow. "Are you talking to me?"

"Yes!" Norton replied. "I am your master! You have to do as I say."

The monster was obviously amused. "This is a joke, right? Me, do as you sa y? Take a look, buddy. I'm stronger than you. I'm bigger than you. End of discussion."

The monster, drooling hungrily, moved forward....

The Misconception of Worship

There is a misconception concerning the worship of God, and I send this message to my christian brethren, especially to those in the catholic church, because their practises worry me the most. It can also be noticed in various pentecostal churches, and It is somethignthat seems to be a craze.

Back in the days, God instructed the Israelites, that when they get to the land he had promised them, they should take care when it comes to the worship practices of the heathens, or non worshippers of God. That no matter how interesting the worship practices may look, they should never be employed in his own worship. He drew out his own way that he should be worshipped. But some of them thought that God didn’t know any better, that surely he would be enamored by the lavish and beautiful way that the practices were being done. One such case is the case of the death of Uzzah. When the ark was coming back to Israel, they decided to carry it on a cart instead of on the shoulders of the priest. God was angry and struck Uzziah dead when He caused the ark to stumble, and uzziah tried to steady it. (1 Chron 13, 2 Sam 6) Some preachers say it was because Uzzah was not qualified to touch the ark, but if you remember, Uzzah was a priest, a son of Amminadab, of the priesthood of Israel. (2 Sam 6:3). Also, look at the words of David (Read the entire chapter.)

1 Chron 15:13- For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.

There is a due of serving God. We are always saying that God is the same and he never changes. Well, he has still not changed on this topic. We cannot assume to try and please God with the very things that displease him.

Bowing down to statues of Mary or saints or even Jesus-

Exo 20:4  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Exo 20:5  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Lev_26:1  Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.

Deu 4:15  Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:

Deu 4:16  Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Deu_4:23  Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.

Rom_1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.  (and much more…)

Basically copying any form of worship that has no origins in the Word of God. Lighting of candles, washing in streams, worshipping humans(at some points, they don’t know where to draw the line between worship and honor) in order to get God's favor, , and other "new" forms of worship that is entering the church lately. For those of you who think I'm being too harsh or judgemental, please understand my life is at stake here. God is a God of absolutes. Anything that is not absolutely right is absolutely wrong. And we don’t want to wing it here. Either we obey God's precepts, or we do not. Paul said as let by the Spirit

Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Act 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

And I intend on doing so. As Christians, we should be careful the practices we adopt. It either pleases God or it does not. If he hates it, there is no amount of dressing that we can do to make it please him, even if we say we are doing it to honor him. Live a life that pleases God, and by His grace, he will keep you in him until the day of his coming. Amen.

ANOREXIA

People suffer from spiritual anorexia. They take a look at themselves in the spiritual mirror, and feel they have 'arrived', or are even too good. They no longer compare themselves to who God wants them to be, but to their own perception of how they feel they should look like. And so they begin to starve. Not noticably in the first few days, but after a while, it could become almost fatal. The sad thing however about a person with anorexia is that whenever they look at themselves in the mirror, they feel okay, or sometimes even too fat. The only way they can see what is wrong is comparing themselves with somebody else. With a standard.
The Bible says, take heed where you stand, lest you fall. If you do not compare yourself with the standards of God's word, very often(I mean VERY often), you will begin to lose spiritual weight badly. And on that day, when the scale is brought forth and you are weighed, God forbid that you be found wanting.

Just a Handfull....

I was studying the bible recently with my family members, and we stumbled across something quite frightening. During the time of Noah, when God was angry with the world and wanted to destroy it, out of everyone on the planet, the only person that pleased him was Noah. (Gen 6)
Also, when he rescued the Israelites out of Egypt, out of the more than half a million people that came out in a generation, only two made it to the promised land- Joshua and Caleb.  (1 Corinthians 10)
Also, when Elijah wanted God to kill him, and he told God that in the entire country of Israel, he felt he was the only one who still served God, and God replied that he had kept for himself a remnant of about 7000 people in an entire generation. (1 Kings 19, especially vs 18)
In the book of Ezekiel, when God wanted to destroy the people of Israel for sinning against him, he told Ezekiel to divide the hairs in his hand (which represented toe population of Israel) into three places, and from one of these places remove just a few strands. Then he made Ezekiel destroy the three divisions minus the strands he had separated, then destroy a few more from the strands he had separated out. (Ezekiel 5)
Now, the Bible says that these things are written for our examples. The end of all things approaches, and as we have seen, God never goes for the majority. Watch yourself as a Christian. If your 'Christianity" is one which is majorly accepted, then you have most likely got it wrong. If people have not started seeing you as a mad man yet, you have not started. The bible says that one should take heed where  he stands, else you will fall (1 Cor 10:12) . Never base how good your Christian life is on the opinion of the general populace, even if it is the general church. In the end, the general church will not judge you, but God will.
If you have noticed, even the sermons being preached in the general church nowadays is mostly heresy or lies, and we are either too ignorant or too afraid to speak out against it.
God has given us the means and the courage to do what is right, but base your right living on his word and his word alone, and not on what the majority says, because according to the words of Jesus Christ himself, "Many will be called, but only a handful will be chosen...

Choose Life....

Everybody thinks they know the creation story. God created man in his image and set him in the garden of Eden. He gave him a choice to eat of the trees in the garden but not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Man took the wrong choice, and has been suffering the consequences ever since.
But what really happened was more serious than that.
Man was made in the image of God and with the Spirit of God and given a choice to seal his nature forever. Either he ate from the tree of life and sealed his nature in God, with the spirit of God dwelling in him, or take of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and take on the spirit of the Devil. So when man made his choice, he replaced the spirit of God in him with that of Satan, and God in order not to allow man's decision to be irreversible (thereby sealing his decision and sealing him in death forever, making him a God hater and a creator of God haters who could never die.), prevented him from eating the tree of life. In a bid to restore man, God sent Jesus Christ to take the full punishment for Death and Sin, for everything that had been affected- Man, Earth, plants, everything created. And in doing so, he brought us back to that decision point. He says, "I have brought you back here, and you have seen the consequences of Sin. Now I set once again before you Life and Death. And this time, your decision is final."
       You have only this life to choose, and once you die, your irreversible choice is made. When I tell you that the wrath of God is coming on those who abide in sin, some may think i am joking. God is love, and his love was shown in full extent when he sacrificed his son to bring us back to the point that we can choose again. But his love only goes that far. As a just God, when you submit the answers to the exam you have been allowed to write on this earth, his love demands he marks you wrong where you have been wrong, especially as he has already told us the right answer- choose Life, that you may live.
I implore you, choose life that you may live, because there is no middle ground. There is no grey, and even if there was, may I remind you that grey is a shade of black, and not white. God demands white and white alone. May his Spirit guide you in your decision, because the time to submission draws nearer.

IT tinz...... na zooo

It's school over, ad I am going home. The sad part is that I am going on IT (Thank GOD!!!) but that means I dont get to see my friends for about 8 months...

Anyway,  the question on my mind, that should also be on the mind of my fellow It students (or those working or in any area of influence), is that, what is my life going to show? Will I be one of those students who will be used to boast, or used for bad examples?
And more than that, what will God say about your lifestyle? Remember that after everything, he's the Boss we gon stand before and give acc of our lives.
Also, for those of u who were at the departure service in school
(stabbers, show yourselves...)
Pastor Ojeme said that if we can decide to do what is right, God will bless us. And that is true, as I have had the privilege to experience some of these things.
So, as we go on IT, apart from me sending you my acc no so u can donate to my life, which is almost as imporant as what I am going to say next (lol), live right. Dont let anyone be confused whether u are God's child or not. Stand strong even when u may stand alone, and I promise you that God will show forth himself in your life this season in Jesus name...
Shalom and be blessed