Christian Marriage Principles

 

Christian Marriage Principles

 

Satan’s desire is to destroy the Christian family in order to ruin our testimony, as well as render us useless for God’s work. That is why it is important for our marriages to be grounded in Christ, for if Christ is the foundation, then when the storms of life come, our marriages will remain strong and unshakable. It is also important to remain clothed with the armor of Christ to be able to stand against the evil one in these dark times. Our society is trying to redefine marriage by legalizing gay marriage, but God is the author of the marriage covenant and he has determined that it is between a man and a woman. It is sad that in our public schools today, gay marriage is being endorsed, as well as encouraged, I believe that this is a sure sign of the end of the age.

Choosing the spouse that we will spend our life with is the most important decision that we will ever make, only our relationship with the Lord is of more importance. That is why we should seek the Lord with fasting and prayer concerning whom we choose. It is also very important to thoroughly get to know the person before making that lifetime commitment. I have known young people who were in such a hurry to get married that they hardly knew their spouse and then suffered the consequences. It is a good idea for most people to get pre-marriage counseling from their Pastor or another Christian counselor before walking down that aisle. Spiritual, as well as emotional maturity is very important to a stable marriage. Women want a man to be confident, strong, as well as be a spiritual and physical leader, and men want a woman to be nurturing, loving, supportive, and Christ centered.

A Christian should be loyal to their spouse in every way and should never flirt with the opposite sex. I have witnessed many married people flirt with others in the workplace and it is very disturbing. Many of these people were professing Christians and one was even a pastor in his fifties. We live in a very promiscuous society where people are bound by lust, and believe that there is grace for everything. Many believe that it is okay for a married person to have friends of the opposite sex but this is seldom innocent. I have witnessed these friendships between professing Christians of the opposite sex and it always led to an emotional bonding, and the men always developed feelings for the woman. Your spouse is the person that you should be emotionally bonded to, not Joe or Sally in the workplace. Fraternization is the first step toward adultery.

Our so-called progressive society has blurred the roles of men and women. A man is called by God to be the leader of the family and his wife is called to be submissive to him, but our society calls these old fashioned values archaic. I don’t believe that a husband should be abusive or a dictator to his wife, but should love her as his own body and be willing to give his life for her, Ephesians 5:22-25.  A spouse should put the needs of their mate before their own, as well as be tender hearted towards them. If biblical principles are applied to a marriage there will be harmony. Wives should honor their husbands and allow them to be the leader of the household and never be condescending or controlling. And children should respect their parents and not try to rule over them. A big reason for the dysfunctionality of the family today is due to what people view on television, as well as the internet. The liberal culture is shaping the lives of our children, and many men are addicted to pornography because of this technology.

Another big problem today is that families don’t spend quality time together. Our lives are busy and quite often both parents work and our children are being raised by babysitters, as well as television. Most jobs today require a person to be married to them instead of their spouse. If possible, a mother should stay home and raise her own children and the father should take a job where he has the time to spend with his family. Most kids today seldom see their fathers and this is not God’s plan for the family. Work is honorable but a paycheck cannot replace a parent. Sometimes it is better to live in a smaller house and drive a cheaper car in order to have more time with your family. Below is a list of scriptures on marriage.

 1 Cor 7: 1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. 7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

1 Cor 7: 10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

Ephesians 5:22  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 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. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

           

The Afterlife

The Afterlife

 

There are two prevailing views of the afterlife. One is called soul sleep, it teaches that the soul/spirit of a person goes into temporary extinction after the death of the body until the resurrection, the other teaches that the soul/spirit goes immediately to Paradise or Hell. Both views, are considered to be orthodox within Christianity. I believe that the Bible clearly teaches that the soul/spirit of a person survives the death of the body and we will examine what the Bible teaches. 

First, I would like to share two visions that I have had of Paradise. After spending some time in prayer, I fell asleep and I found myself standing in the most beautiful garden I have ever seen. The grass was very lush green and full of all types of flowers, and everything glowed with a white celestial light. There were also many trees, of all varieties and I saw butterflies, as well as heard birds singing. The colors were more vivid than anything that I have ever seen on earth. There was a bright blue sky overhead and I heard angels singing above me, but could not see them. I could hear the gentle, soft, strumming of harps, and the angels were singing, “holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come”. I then woke up from this experience wishing that I could remain in this place forever. I understood in the vision that this was the abode of the departed spirits, awaiting their resurrection. 

The second vision that I have had of Paradise occurred around a year later. Both visions, were given me due to the death of family members. The second vision also occurred while I was asleep. I dreamed that I was standing on a cliff overlooking a beautiful sea that was smooth as glass in appearance. There was a very comforting warm breeze blowing on me from this sea. The sky was glowing with many colors similar to a sunset, but without a sun, because God gives the light upon his celestial kingdom. I saw people dressed in white robes conversing with one another, in what appeared to be an amphitheater next to the sea. I recognized some of the people to be departed family members. Everyone appeared to be in their twenties, as well as perfect in appearance. These night visions confirmed to me what many others have shared with me over the years. I have had six co- workers share with me their near death experiences at varies different jobs that I have worked, also my late mother had many visions of the afterlife. 

I do not believe in eternal torment, because God is not a monster, he will not torture a person for all eternity. I believe that Hell (Sheol, Hades), is the prison where unsaved souls are kept until judgment day. I believe that this prison may have different sections or levels of punishment. I have talked to different people who experienced Hell during a near death experience, and they all described Hell as a very cold, dark pit. Although the apocryphal books are not canon, they show us that the Old Testament Jews very much believed that the soul of a person went to Sheol at death, to either Paradise or prison to await their resurrection. 

  The Bible teaches that after the thousand year reign of Christ on earth, Hell will give up it’s dead for the great white throne judgment. Every man will be judged according to his works, and everyone who’s name is not written in the Lamb’s book of life will be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. It says that both Hell, as well as the unsaved will experience this second death. I believe that this destruction of Hell, as well as the unsaved souls is extinction, not eternal torment. The words forever or eternal in the original Greek language of the New Testament, is better translated as a final decree or an irrevocable judgment. In other words, when you read eternal fire or being tormented forever, it is referring to a judge lowering his gavel and decreeing his final judgment, not literally burning forever. The Bible mentions smoke ascending forever and ever in the description of the destruction of Babylon, but we know that Babylon is not still burning, this is indicating a final judgment or eternal decree. In Jude, we read of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, as described as suffering the vengeance of eternal fire, but we know that these cities are not still burning today. Jude 1:7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Once again, eternal fire means an irrevocable decree. The Bible mentions the destruction of the unsaved souls many times within both the old, as well as the new testament, and this will occur at the great white throne judgment.  Ezekiel 18: 4 “Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die. Matt 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

 

I would now like to give scriptural evidence against the soul sleep doctrine. The Apostle Paul said that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  2 Cor 5:6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.  7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.  8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.  10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Paul also said that he was hard pressed whether to remain in the flesh, or to depart and be with Christ. Philippians 1:22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.  23 For  I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.  24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. These scriptures prove that Paul believed that the soul of the Christian went immediately to Christ at death. Paul also mentions a man who was caught up into Paradise in the third heaven. 2 Cor 12: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.  3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—  4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ said to the thief on his right hand, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise”. Luke 23: 39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?  41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”  42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” The Lord also gave us the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Lazarus died, and was carried by the Angels to Abraham’s bosom (Paradise). The rich man also died, and was tormented in a flame in Hell. Abraham and the rich man carried on a conversation and Abraham said to him, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent. But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’” This passage is clearly speaking of conscious souls having dialogue in Sheol. Abraham even mentions that some will not be persuaded even though one rise from the dead. Yet some Christians claim this passage is speaking of after the resurrection, but anyone who reads this literally knows otherwise.   

Luke 16: 19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.  20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,  21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.  23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’  25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.  26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house,  28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’  29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’  30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’  31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”  

When Christ died, he descended into Sheol and preached the gospel to the souls in prison who were disobedient during the time of Noah. These unsaved souls died during the flood of Noah but were given the chance of salvation after death.  1 Peter 3: 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

1 Peter 4: 6 For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

These scriptures prove that the soul/spirit survives the death of the body and goes directly to Paradise or prison to await the resurrection of the body. God Bless!

 

              

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit

 

In order to live an overcoming Christian life in these dark times it is essential that we be filled with God’s Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, he is the portion of God’s Spirit that indwells us, as well as ministers to us. It is God’s will that we all experience the fullness of God and that is only possible by receiving his Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is not automatic with salvation, it is a second act of grace that must be sought after with prayer accompanied by faith. The experience known as the baptism in the Holy Spirit or being filled with the Holy Ghost, is where the Holy Spirit actually comes to indwell a person, as well as immerse them in power. Many teach that when you are born again you receive the Holy Spirit, but this is not the case. Acts chapter eight gives us the example of the Samaritans who had accepted Christ as their Savior, as well as were baptized, but they had not yet received God’s Spirit. Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,  15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.  16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

 There are examples within Scripture where the Spirit is given through the laying on of hands, but this is not the only way. One cannot put God in a box, this means that God does things his way and not according to man’s doctrines. Although there are many examples of the Spirit being given through the laying on of hands, the Apostles were filled with the Spirit in the house where they were seeking God. My parents both received the Spirit while praying on their knees in their bedroom. At that time they had never heard of tongues or Pentecostals, they both felt a wind enter the bedroom and my Dad spoke in unknown tongues and my Mom interpreted. They were whole-heartedly seeking God and asking him for all that he had for them. My parents were later in the prophetic ministry for over thirty years and they witnessed many miracles done by God’s Spirit. The old time Pentecostals understood that you must seek after, as well as tarry for the Holy Spirit. This means that you don’t give up if you don’t immediately receive the baptism. A person must repent of their sins and become a clean vessel for the Spirit to enter. Sinful bondages, as well as un-forgiveness may block a person from being filled.

 If you are baptized in the Holy Spirit you will most certainly know it, for you will either feel God’s Spirit upon you, or you will experience one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit. Most people speak in unknown tongues when they are filled with the Spirit, but not always. The evidence of the baptism in the Spirit is one or more of the gifts of the Spirit at work in your life. 1 Cor chapter twelve lists the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit.  1 Cor 12: 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.  6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.  7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:  8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,  9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same[b] Spirit,  10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

The gift of speaking in unknown tongues comes in two forms. There is a prayer language that benefits the believer only, and there is the giving of a message in tongues to an assembly that must be interpreted. Here are scriptures concerning the prayer language. 1 Cor 14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands  him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 1 Cor 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

  The apostle Paul teaches that gifts of the Spirit must be done in an orderly manner. 1 Cor 14: 26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.  27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.  28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.  29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.  30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.  31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.  32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.  33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

We are living in the end times and there is a great apostasy (falling away from the truth) occurring within the churches. That is why it is crucial that believers use discernment concerning the manifestation of spiritual experiences. There are many counterfeit revivals occurring with demonic signs and wonders that are deceiving many believers. Within these false revivals people are barking like dogs while crawling on the floor, mooing like cows and roaring like lions. Many are experiencing drunkenness to the point that they are being pulled over by the police after leaving a revival. Some people are even falling out on the floor in restaurants laughing hysterically. God is not the author of confusion or lawlessness, Satan is. Drunkenness, uncontrollable laughter, making animal sounds, sticking to the floor, heads shaking back and forth, are examples of the demonic manifestations occurring. Revivalist Todd Bently was having an affair with a woman during his Lakeland revival. He later divorced his wife and married this woman. This is an example of the immoral behavior going on by many so-called revivalists.

 These same manifestations occur within Kundalini Hinduism, as well as other forms of occultism. David Wilkerson has some good videos exposing the demonic within Christianity. Back in 2013 I posted some videos on this on my Facebook page. Many Christians are afraid of supernatural experiences because of the demonic manifestations, but we need to allow God’s true gifts to be in operation within the church. It is not good to quench God’s Spirit or to be afraid of it. For God does give visions, dreams, work miracles, heal the sick etc. We need to pray over experiences and use sound judgment. The reason for this unholy spirit that has invaded the church is loose living, as well as unsound doctrine. The preaching of holiness has been replaced by the lukewarm grace for everything doctrine.

Here are some more scriptures on the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

 Acts 2:1   When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord[a] in one place.  2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.   4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  

Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.  15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.  16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams.

18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days;

And they shall prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in heaven above

And signs in the earth beneath:

Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,

And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.