Marriage for life or not?

Matthew 5:32 “But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”

I would like to start this article by making a profound statement. There are biblical grounds for a right divorce and a biblical right to remarry after divorce. I know that there are some very righteous men who disagree with me but they must re-think and study their bible. Beloved if there is one thing every Minister and Pastor wants to, it be is right, and another thing we want to be is doctrinally correct. I say this, show me a man that is not wrong on something and I will show you a man that is wrong. Beloved we are not infallible! Not one of us. Sometimes we flare up our righteous tail feathers and condemn others only to find out we are not perfect.

I was told by a Brother in Christ last week that there is no biblical reason for a couple to divorce and re-marry however when I led him to this Matt. 5:32 he said that only single people can be charged with “fornication”, which I must ask where is proof of that? I have searched the Greek over and it is not even mentioned. I am a firm believer that there are some men in churches and in the Ministry that believe things simply because they were taught by other men and have failed to study thing’s out. My friend kept wanting to go to Matthew 19:9 “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” Like it over rode Matthew 5:32 but doesn’t the two scriptures basically make the very same statement? That fornication is grounds for a divorce? While fornication has a broad term it is also very narrow in that it limits biblical reasons for a divorce.

My friend went on to say when we are married we promise God that we will remain together until death and for this I agreed, however if we do not know what tomorrow is going to bring in life should we be making promises to God? Can you make a promise to God that you will be in church next Sunday? Can you make a promise to God that you will be at work on Monday? NO! We cannot, however we promise before God that we will remain married to one person for the rest of our lives when we cannot promise God that we will be at church next Sunday. James 4:14 “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” And also in Matthew 5:33 – 37 the Lord warns us not to swear at all. Beloved conditions and times change and I believe for us to promise God to remain married for the next 50 – 70 years is wrong. I have reached the conclusion that I am going to re-think the marriage vows I put in wedding ceremonies. I have concluded that for me to force two people to make a promise to God knowing that there is a great chance they will break that vow is sin on my part. I know we consider marriage vows to be sacred and a bond to hold a marriage together and I do agree that when a man and a woman bond in marriage it should be entered into with a promise between two people. Beloved there are no marriage vows written in the Holy Scripture and therefore all of these promises are man made. The Lord does tell us to Matthew 19:6 “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” However my question is; what do we know for sure what God hath joined together? If two people want to get married how do we know God joined them together? Maybe it was a mistake on their part and God wanted them to be joined together with someone else later in life. Should these two people live the rest of their days joined to person of adultery or worse incest?

I am not making light of marriage, I believe when two people join together in marriage it should be a life long relationship, however to swear that before God may be a mistake. And to say that there are no grounds for divorce is also a mistake.

Thanksgiving

Psalms 26:7 “That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.”

Beloved we are approaching the most wonderful Holiday of the year. Thanksgiving is a time to thank God for His glorious gift and gifts to us. I know everyday is Thanksgiving but here we have a day, one single day that we call a day of giving thanks. Beloved as sad as it is to say I believe this may be the only time of the year some even think of giving thanks. I believe in this sad world we live in today two very important things escape peoples minds, going to church, and thanking God for everything. How sad of a world people have built for themselves. Some have made church a place to glorify themselves instead of God and others are so caught up in self satisfaction that they fail to thank God for what ever happens in everyday life whether good or bad. Here is the proof; how many of you were dissatisfied with the outcome of the November National elections have thanked God for the outcome? Beloved it is not who won or lost but rather that the will of God has been accomplished. Do you know why the Angels in heaven rejoice when a sinner comes to believe that Jesus Christ is their Saviour and is saved? It is because it is to the glory of God, He is the One who performed the miracle that delivered the sinned, this is why they rejoice, they rejoice just as we always will when we are at home in heaven every time God works a miracle. This is why we give daily thanks to God for our salvation, our family, our home, our church, and for the happenings of everyday life, because whether good or bad, whether we agree with it or not God has blessed us with another day that He has had total control of it and all of the days developments were by the GRACE of God. This is exactly why we give thanks to God for the outcome of the elections whether the outcome pleased us or not. Beloved God has a plan and that plan is this world is heading for a great tribulation period and God is simply allowing the world to set herself up for this time of great destruction. We do not know God’s step by step plan however we do know He is in control and His plan is being carried out, but beloved we do know a lot about the final results and this gives us reason and encouragement to praise God for every event and its outcome.

The Lord told us in Psalms 26:7 “That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving” the word “publish” means to shout with a loud voice the wondrous works of God. Beloved if you are saved you have reason to shout from on high the grace of God everyday without miss. And if you truly believe that God is in charge of all things then you have reason to bless your own hearts by shouting praise be to God in everything. Our history is filled with believers that were killed by the thousands that died praising the Lord’s blessed name and for the opportunity to die for His name. And here we are some 1200 years later crying and failing to thank God because we are living in bad economic times. Beloved money is nothing, Satan simply uses it to sway our minds from God and His glory, please do not allow him to do this to you. Beloved there is one who will have the economic solution for our horrible financial dilemma and he is called the Anti-Christ. He is on the way beloved and for this we need to thank God for because this means Jesus is soon to return. Let ignorance run through this greedy world and just praise God and keep looking up “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28
AMEN!!

So beloved thank God not only Thursday but everyday and for everything whether good or bad it does not matter. Please do not allow things of evil from Satan and worldly things to cause you to fail in this area. And Thursday spend the day in thanksgiving shouting the marvelous works of God. Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” 1 Timothy 4:4 “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:”