Let Him Speak

We need to watch our mouths. We need to be quiet so we can get what God has for us to get. We need to let Him speak. After all, He is the source of all knowledge. Communications is two way and through it relationship can occur. Let's make our time with Him two way so we too can develop a strong relationship with Him. ~ DickEvans.org

Relationships

Relationships

By Dick Evans, 11-29-2016

Over the past couple of weeks I have posted a number of brief writings on relationships. This is the expanded and complete writing all at once...

Ephesians 5:25-27 NKJV

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

We are the sons and daughters of God. We are His church, the bride of Christ. And He is grooming us to be a pure bride without spot of blemish for our wedding day with Him.  

Speaking of weddings and therefore marriage. It is wonderful to live in America where husbands and wives live under Biblical principles.

A marriage succeeds when these principles are followed, even when the participants are not Christians. When they treat each other with love and respect. When each realize that their happiness together is not 50-50. That each is 100% responsible for the outcome.

I can't imagine living in another area of the world where wives are treated like servants created to serve their masters...their husbands.

Genesis 2:22-24 NIV

Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

I hear some men quoting from Genesis to point out that woman was made of man and therefore man is superior. They miss verse 24 that tells us a man and a woman join in marriage and become one flesh. Together we are one. And yet we treat each other as though we were treating our self. Sure, there may be tasks in this earthly life that are more suited to one than the other because of experience or God given talents.

I used to counsel couples and thought the man should always be in charge of the finances. I had roles in my head based on how I grew up and nothing else. I found out that it is more important to discover the talents each have and encourage them to use them in building their life together. Often the wife is better at managing the finances. In some relationships the man is better at keeping an organized home. There is no list of what duties a wife must do and a man must do. It is a 100%-100% relationship. Find out what works and work it.

Television has been a poor example for us over the years. Back in the last century many shows depicted the woman as taking on all the inside work at home and slaving over the husband. He would come home from a day at work and fall into the sofa with a drink in his hand expecting to be waited on. And today's shows have the man at home raising the kids while the wife earns a living. The way I see it, neither are good examples of successful marriages.

Ephesians 5:22-33

Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Another scripture where men only read the first line or two. Wife submit to your husband... But what does submit mean? I believe it means to listen to, to have open communications with. It does not mean as a slave does to a master. So submit to Christ, but not as a slave, but as His bond servant because together we are one with Him.

Then, if the man should read it, Paul goes on to explain that men are to love their wives as Christ loves us, the church. To love their wives as their own bodies. And that he who loves his wife loves himself. And the wife must respect her husband. Marriage is about the two becoming one and this does not just happen. It takes love, yes, but also communications and a love of Christ as the center of it all.

Let us remember that in Christ we are all equal. Male and female. In heaven as well. Made to worship the Father in all we do.

So men, remember the words of Christ in Matthew 7:12: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Treat your woman as you would like her to treat you or expect her to treat you like you do her. Treat her with the love of Christ in word and in action.

Colossians 3:18-19 NIV

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

How often is a man harsh with a woman or a woman harsh with her man? In many relationships this is a daily occurrence. Words once spoken cannot be taken back and hurt for a long time. Often these harsh words cut deeply into a relationship and it takes a long time for trust to return. Without trust there is a big hole in any relationship even to the extent that the relationship can no longer continue.

How often to we seek God’s face, but because of things we have been told in the past through wrong teaching, we wonder if we can trust even Him? Yet God is trustworthy. He never lies and will never cause anything to harm us. He loves us unconditionally no matter what we do. And isn’t this how our marriages should be? We pledge to love and honor each other until death do us part. Is it time to live up to that pledge in your relationship?

1 Corinthians 7:3-5 NIV

The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Sex is a topic of everyday life in our crazy current culture. Advertising campaign are designed with the fact that “sex sells” and our television shows and movies are filled with innuendoes and even explicit scenes.

God gave us our bodies and it is alright to do what you want with them, you say. This a truth mixed with a lie from satan. Men and woman were made for each other and to take pleasure in each other physically and spiritually. We are committed to each other in a bond blessed by God, in marriage, and we are to yield to each other as the two become one flesh. It is not about the man or the woman but of the one they have become.

If each partner is focused on pleasing the other, the union is complete. If one withholds from the other it gives a door for satan to come and destroy what God has blessed. This often leads to adultery or worse. Satan can make the worst sound like the best. He is a liar and a destroyer of lives and marriage. So beware of his temptation. Love your partner in all ways.

Hebrews 13:4 NIV

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

We live in a culture, in a world, where everyone seems to listen to WIFM or the “what’s in it for me” station. They do many things for their own pleasure. They are often self centered and self righteous.

If in our marriages we only looked to please our spouse there would be less issues, especially in the marriage bed. But too many are only interested in being pleased by the other. And when that happens one person comes away unfulfilled.

And when one is unfulfilled there is a big door for satan to step through and suggest some of these websites promoting adultery. They are geared to attracting men or women whose “needs” are not being met in their marriage. Often singles are drawn in as well because they can be “fulfilled” without being concerned about a long term relationship. And everyone is doing it, you think, so why would it be wrong?

This becomes the beginning of the end of a marriage. It becomes the beginning of the end of an entire society. Sexual immorality is not of God just because it feels good. As a born again Christian you know better then to fall into that trap of satan. We may be able to excuse away that feeling we have, but in our heart we know better.

But what about grace? How does grace come into play when we knowingly sin?

Our sin is forgiven forever. Grace covers us when we sin. And yet our lives are to be holy as He is holy. How can that be if we continue to sin?

As we walk with Christ we build our relationship with Him. There is no sin in Him and when we continue to walk in sin we do not get as close as we could to Him.

Jesus is looking for a pure clean bride. As we sin we remain dirty. He still loves us. He still covers us with His blood. He still protects us. We still walk in His grace. Yet we know we want to be closer to Him. To do that we cannot continue to walk in known sin.

And sexual sin is the worst. What we look at on our computers may be hidden from the world but He knows. It is sin.

What we do behind closed doors may not be visible to others. But He knows because He is in us. He forgives our sin and yet He knows our sin.

We are already forgiven but confession of our sins is simply agreeing with God that we need to let go of the sin we are dealing with. We need to recognize the change we need to make

Lord help me to be a pure bride. Help me to not remain in the sinful positions I have allowed in my life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Humility

God wants us to eliminate all false superiority between us. Bank president and rubbish collector and school teacher and file clerk and single mother and Pastor and maintenance man; we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all equal. Our status in society has nothing to do with our relationship with Jesus. We all have an equal opportunity to have the same relationship with Him. He awaits it expectantly. It is up to us to initiate and pursue it and even that takes humility on our part. ~ DickEvans.org

Blessings of God

2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

God's blessings are all around us. His promises throughout the Bible are ours because of what Jesus did on the cross. They are yes and amen.

But why do you ask do bad things happen to me. And to others. It is not that his blessings are not there for us to grab hold of. No it is because of our sin as we walk this earthly walk.

Yes the Father does not see our sin. Satan does. And this opens up doors for him to send his demons in to disrupt our lives causing chaos and sickness.

Too often as Christians we get caught up thinking about his mercy and his grace. Yes his grace is upon us. Our sins are forgiven and remembered no more. We live under grace. His mercies are new every morning. He loves us unconditionally.

This does not give us a license to sin even though God does not see us doing so. Satan does. So the straighter walk we walk the more sinless walk we walk the closer we walk with him.

What is sin? It is anything that takes our focus away from God in our walk with Jesus. Anything that is not filled with his love as we interact with others is sin.

Although we are not bound to them for our salvation or to live under God's grace the 10 Commandments and the Old Covenant laws are good guides for living our lives free from sin.

As the apostle Paul said about living under grace we do what we know we should not even though we know what we should. And we know what we should not because we know god's word and what is right and what is wrong.

Lord help me to stop doing what I want because it feels good, because it satisfies my flesh. Help me to walk the walk you have for me, the walk Holy Spirit attempts to guide me into each day. Shield my thoughts so I can only feel what you feel and see what you see and want what you want. In Jesus name, I pray.

What's In It For Me

We live in a culture, in a world, where everyone seems to listen to WIFM or the “what’s in it for me” station. They do many things for their own pleasure. They are often self centered and self righteous. If in our marriages we only looked to please our spouse there would be less issues, especially in the marriage bed. But too many are only interested in being pleased by the other. And when that happens one person comes away unfulfilled. And when one is unfulfilled there is a big door for satan to step through and suggest some of these websites promoting adultery. This becomes the beginning of the end of a marriage. It becomes the beginning of the end of an entire society. Sexual immorality is not of God just because it feels good. As a born again Christian you know better then to fall into that trap of satan. We may be able to excuse away that feeling we have, but in our heart we know better. Jesus is looking for a pure clean bride. As we sin we remain dirty. He still loves us. He still covers us with His blood. He still protects us. We still walk in His grace. Yet we know we want to be closer to Him. To do that we cannot continue to walk in known sin. Hebrews 13:4 NIV ~ DickEvans.org

Lost Sheep

In church we have to be careful that we look to that one lost sheep instead focusing always on the many. The many may pay the bills, but that is not where God is looking. He wants us to pay attention to the needs of all and have compassion on them. If one is lost, we need to find them and care of them. Each and every one of His children is important. Each and every one deserves all His attention and ours, as He leads us. ~ DickEvans.org

One Flesh

God gave us our bodies and it is alright to do what you want with them, you say. This a truth mixed with a lie from satan. Men and woman were made for each other and to take pleasure in each other physically and spiritually. We are committed to each other in a bond blessed by God, in marriage, and we are to yield to each other as the two become one flesh. It is not about the man or the woman but of the one they have become.  1 Corinthians 7:3-5 NIV ~ DickEvans.org

Example

It is good to be excited for our new brother or sister in Christ; the new believer. What we need to be is an example to them of His love, and welcome them on His behalf. ~ DickEvans.org

Pledge

How often is a man harsh with a woman or a woman harsh with her man? In many relationships this is a daily occurrence. Words once spoken cannot be taken back and hurt for a long time. Often these harsh words cut deeply into a relationship and it takes a long time for trust to return. Without trust there is a big hole in any relationship even to the extent that the relationship can no longer continue. God loves us unconditionally no matter what we do. And isn’t this how our marriages should be? We pledge to love and honor each other until death do us part. Is it time to live up to that pledge in your relationship? Colossians 3:18-19 NIV ~ DickEvans.org

Upgrade

John 14:26 NKJV

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

We seem to be inundated with upgrades to our computer software and even cell phone apps. We use and are satisfied with what we have but they are always making it better. Often the changes come with something new for us to learn. We can't do it the old way anymore. 

As humans, we were born as version 1.0. And we live for years learning all the Ins and outs of who we are. Many of us come alongside another and together move forward doing as we have learned. Version 1.0. 

Then we receive Jesus into our life. We get an upgrade. We are born again. A new and improved version of the same physical person. Version 2.0. 

And we just can't do things the same. We have a helper living in us who teaches us all things. No longer do we have to learn who we are and how we should act. He guides us in what we say and where we go. 

But there are still pieces if that old code lurking in us. Pieces of Version 1.0 that would love to take over. They give us thoughts like "it is okay to do this or that. It is okay to use those words. It is okay to be doing what used to be fun." Version 2.0 knows better. 

We need to run from all version 1.0 ways of thinking. We need to trust in the upgrade and follow the leading of Holy Spirit. 

Submit

Another scripture where men only read the first line or two. Wife submit to your husband... But what does submit mean? I believe it means to listen to, to have open communications with. It does not mean as a slave does to a master. So submit to Christ, but not as a slave, but as His bond servant because together we are one with Him. Then, if the man should read it, Paul goes on to explain that men are to love their wives as Christ loves us, the church. To love their wives as their own bodies. And that he who loves his wife loves himself. And the wife must respect her husband. Marriage is about the two becoming one and this does not just happen. It takes love, yes, but also communications and a love of Christ as the center of it all. Ephesians 5:22-33. ~ DickEvans.org

An Example

We should be a good example of others to follow in all that we do. It is time to stop separating our church activities and the world around us. We live in the world and they should see the believer in us. We are not to have a dark side in the world and be a light only at church. No, we are to be the light for others all day, every day. ~ DickEvans.org

Marriage

We are the sons and daughters of God. We are His church, the bride of Christ. And He is grooming us to be a pure bride without spot of blemish for our wedding day with Him. Speaking of weddings and therefore marriage. It is wonderful to live in America where husbands and wives live under Biblical principles. A marriage succeeds when these principles are followed, even when the participants are not Christians. When they treat each other with love and respect. When each realize that their happiness together is not 50-50. That each is 100% responsible for the outcome. I can't imagine living in another area of the world where wives are treated like servants created to serve their masters...their husbands. (Ephesians 5:25-27 NKJV) ~ DickEvans.org

Go

In Mark 16 He tells us to go into the entire world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. That those that are saved will lay hands on the sick and see them recover. Yet many of us are sitting back enjoying the fact that we no longer have to worry about our ultimate destination; sitting back waiting for His return. He gave us a task to accomplish. We are to go about our Father's business, just as He did when He walked this earth. ~ DickEvans.org

Wisdom

Even with all the wisdom we can handle, we need another attribute. We need good judgment or discernment. If we cannot tell right from wrong or good from evil in a situation, what good is our wisdom? Each day let's ask Him for wisdom in all that we are to do that day and for the good judgment to know how to apply it. ~ DickEvans.org

The Gift

Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

When we want to do something we have not done before we usually read up on it first. We might even get a book or a tutorial on the subject. The more informed we are the better chance we have of success. So true in life, but not in Christ.

How hard many work to get to the point in their lives that they feel they can ask to be saved. But Jesus did not come and walk the earth and go to the cross for us to work. He said to His disciples when they asked what work they should do that the only work is to believe in the one the Father sent and that is Jesus.

Well OK, you say, but I have to make myself worthy before He will accept me into the Kingdom. Wrong. None are worthy, but all are called to be sons and daughter of God. All are called to be saved, to be born again. Our current condition or past deeds have nothing to do with it.

Jesus went to the cross so all could be saved; all forgiven; all healed. None are worthy. All have fallen short. But our condition does not matter. There is nothing we have to study or work into to become born again. It is a free gift. Believe in He who the Father sent, believe in Jesus as the son of God, and you are saved. You receive the gift of salvation. Your sins are forgiven and never seen again, forevermore. And you also receive the gift of His Grace forevermore; God's unmerited favor.

Father God, thank you for sending your Son Jesus to come and show us the way. Thank you for Your gift of salvation. Thank you for your gift of Grace.

The Magnet

When the chips are down and life turns around on them, people reach out. They reach out seeking a solution and when they can't find one, they are ready to reach out to God. We are all born into this world with a compass that points to Him. But the pull of evil is so strong in the world that we forget it is there. Go out into the world, into the marketplace, let His love shine out. Be that magnet that causes their compass to point to God. ~ DickEvans.org

Infiltrate

I believe we are called to infiltrate the dark places of this world; we are on a covert mission to seek out those that God is ready touch. We are to let His light shine through us, not blink Jesus on a well intentioned baseball cap. We are to be sheep among wolves. We are to walk with discernment through the enemy's camp always listening for the Father's voice. ~ DickEvans.org

Divide

Being a Christian divides us from others in the world. It can also divide us from family and friends. We cannot have one foot in our old ways, our old life, and the other foot with Him. It is one way or the other. It is both feet first. We have to be willing to give up the past to reach our future in Him. How hard this is for many. The sword cuts deep sometimes even within our own family. God must come first in all that we do. ~ DickEvans.org

Born Again

When we took that step of faith and reached out for Jesus’ hand and believed, we were saved. At that instant in time we became born again. Our sins, past, present, and future, were washed away and we started our new life in Christ with a clean slate. At that moment we were given the opportunity to begin our salvation journey. Even though we all continue to fall short, He continues to give us His grace and unconditional love. As we realize our mistakes and thank Him for His forgiveness, He continues to show us His unconditional love. ~ DickEvans.org

Stand Firm

As shaky as our legs might be, God will enable us to stand firm when His words are pouring forth from our obedient month. That is the key, being obedient to the Holy Spirit. When that happens, we touch those we are destined to touch. It has little to do with the amount of information we received in our education and has everything to do with revelation that leads us into our transformation. ~ DickEvans.org

A New Person

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and savior, we become a new person. But it is so hard to give up that old life and those old friends and the things we did together. Unlike switching jobs, we are changing from the inside out while we remain at the same job with the same people. We are not transported to a new place. No, we have to become a new person while remaining at the same place here on earth. Let's make today the day that His light shines brightly through us in our actions and words. ~ DickEvans.org

Relationship

You really can’t know someone by reading about them. You can only discover the combined opinions of man. To know someone, you have to have a relationship with them. To know Jesus you have to have a relationship with Him. Relationship is not a one time event; it is a lifelong commitment. ~ DickEvans.org

New Covenant

2 Corinthians 3:6 NLT
He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.

Our Bibles tell the story of the beginning of both the Old and New Covenants. We tend to view them as the Old and New Testaments, but as it has been revealed to me, the Old Covenant was still in force until after the Cross.

The New Covenant is not a codicil to the Old; not something added to the Old. Jesus fulfilled the Law, the old written covenant. You see the laws showed the children of God what sin was. And all the promises in the Old had conditions attached that related to those laws. It was kind of like "Be good and I will bless you with this promise."

But Jesus died on the cross as us, each and every person on the earth from the beginning of time through the end of time. He took all sin upon Himself. He fulfilled all the law, all the conditions of the promises in the Old. And all those promises are for us to walk in.

The age of law ended and thus the Old Covenant ended. The age of grace began for all mankind. The New Covenant began. No longer are we bound by law to enter into the Kingdom of God.

Like salvation, grace is a gift. The only requirement to come under the Grace of God is to believe in Jesus; to accept Him as our Lord and Savior. This wonderful good news is available for all of mankind no matter what they have been like during their human life here on earth.

Jesus gave us the command to Love one another and the commission to go into the world and preach this simple message of salvation, this good news, to all. I believe it is time to stop talking about it and go and do; time to walk the walk.

Outbursts

Outbursts of love and good deeds are not just to be a thing of the mind, but of the heart. As we become more and more Christ like, the fruit of the spirit becomes more and more prevalent in our lives. It is this joy and this love for His children that prompts us to the good deeds for others, believers or not. ~ DickEvans.org

The Walk

We must be careful not to follow in another’s footsteps just because they have taken a certain path in life and seem to have success. It is our walk with Jesus that counts more than the worldly success. If we walk the path He has for us, we will reach the end He has for us and that is true success. ~ DickEvans.org

God’s Words

Listening to the Truth, to God’s words, is more than just taking them in with our ears. It is more than being entertained or enlightened. We must live our lives according to what we have heard. His words are a prescription for us to take. As we listen and obey, we grow; we take on more of His nature doing the work He has for us to do. ~ DickEvans,org

Be Productive

We should be productive members of society, not just productive members of a church. The Great Commission directs us to go into the world, and that is not the world of believers only. No, that is the world we are to be productive in. It is through our productive lives that God will open up opportunity after opportunity for us to help others. It is up to us to ask Him to show them to us and guide us into helping them. ~ DickEvans.org

Jesus Saves

Each one of us has a ministry that God has given to us. We are all called to serve His children and to bring the world the message of the Good News of Christ. We bring the message and He will save those that He has made ready. ~ DickEvans.org

Rules

Rules are only as good as those that are obeying them. They have no affect on a person's evil thoughts and desires. They can't change the way someone thinks. They simply help a good person to not cross the line. They don't bring back those already on the other side. As we grow in our relationship with God, He changes us. As we take on more of the nature of Christ, our desires line up with His. ~ DickEvans.org