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There is a somewhat strange parable in Luke 11. It comes in the middle of some teaching that Jesus is doing in answer to the disciple's request: Lord, teach us to pray.
What immediately follows their request is a sample prayer that we now call the Lord's Prayer. In our church we have a time of community prayer every Sunday when we praise God for answers to prayer, and bring our requests to Him as a church. We always conclude that time with the Lord's Prayer. It's a great example of prayer, one of many in the Bible, and we can all learn from applying the principles that Jesus teaches us through it.
But right after this model prayer Jesus tells us a parable about a man who is visited by a friend, has nothing to set before him, and who then goes to another friend at midnight to ask for three loaves of bread. I don't know about you, but in my way of thinking, and based on what I've been taught about prayer, this parable seems a little odd.
Since Jesus is teaching about prayer, and if we represent the man who gets visited and doesn't have any bread, in other words the one who has a need, then who is represented by the other friend? In other words whom do we go to in prayer when we have a need?
As our pastor likes to remind us, the answer that is almost always right in Sunday school and church is: God. God is the one that we go to and in this parable the man who answers from behind his door and tells his needy friend to go away represents God Himself.
Now I don't know what you've been taught about prayer, but I don't remember anyone ever telling me that I will go to God with my need and He will say, "I'm in bed, don't bother me, go away." And I have a hard time imagining that God would do that, but that is exactly what Jesus is teaching the disciples.
I suppose that I could look for symbolic meaning in all of this and wonder if the problem was that the man waited too long to go to his friend. After all, Jesus didn't say that the visitor came at midnight; all He said was that it was midnight when the man went to his friend. Was it possible that the man created the difficulty, this resistance from God, because he put off going until he had tried everything else first? That's hard to say.
But what we do know is that the man goes with a need and gets resistance rather than the assistance he was looking for.
James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Maybe James was thinking about this parable when he said that many kinds of trials, perhaps even some resistance from God Himself would test our faith. And he even goes further and tells us that we should consider it all joy, which makes no sense to me. After all, when was the last time that I rejoiced when I received more problems rather than answers to my prayers?
The only way we can look at these trials and rejoice in them is if we understand that we need perseverance. As long as our faith can't handle resistance, our faith will always fail.
Jesus taught, and James repeats it here, that we need to have perseverance. If our faith can't withstand trials and disappointments, if we allow ourselves to get discouraged and give up, then we have little chance of receiving anything from God. If our faith wavers based on the circumstances we see in front of us, and isn't built on the solid rock of God's word and promises, then we will almost always be disappointed.
The problem that I've found is that I tend to blame God. I keep asking Him why He doesn't answer my prayers, and the answer I keep getting back from Him is: "Why won't you believe? Don't you know that all things are possible for the person who believes?"
God's goal is to bring us through our trials and help us develop the perseverance to overcome any resistance that we might encounter. The resistance will begin to expose the doubts and fears that we have which will allow us to confront and overcome the lies that are causing them. God understands that the perfecting of our faith is more important than getting the answers to our prayers.
It's not that God won't answer our prayers, because He has promised that He will. The truth is that God wants our faith to stand up under any difficulty, in spite of any trial, and in the face of overwhelming problems. He knows that if we will let perseverance finish its work, if we will continue to rejoice in the trials because we understand what He is doing, we will perfect our faith and we will then never lack anything again.
The only question we need to ask ourselves is: Are we willing to let perseverance finish its work? If we do, the rewards are exceedingly abundantly beyond anything we could ask or imagine. Then we will finally experience the promise of Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd, I do not lack."
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PART 6 THE SPIRITUALITY PUZZLE
Salvation by Repentance and Faith: What Is the Baptism of the Spirit, and What Are the Bundle of Benefits Received at Salvation?
The churches that proclaim this salvation message would also, with extreme joy, tell those who’ve become converted that their salvation has brought many benefits into their lives. What are these?
John 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
1 John 3:24b …And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
The first benefit is the receiving of another member of the Trinity called the Holy Spirit, the indwelling Holy Spirit, which some would describe as being Baptized with the Spirit. Many churches don’t teach on this at all and yet emphasize another baptism--that being of water instead. Some of those who do teach on the Baptism of the Spirit tie it together with an endowment of the Spirit called the gift of tongues or prayer tongues which they proclaim provides evidence as to whether the unbeliever was truly saved.
I’m not going to talk about the gift of tongues or prayer tongues here; however, if you want to find out more about their relationship to the Baptism of the Spirit, I’ve done a thorough study on this subject in one of my books entitled, Do We Know Why We Believe What We Believe? – Volume 1, which you can find on Amazon.
Let’s begin by asking the following question.
What is the scriptural basis for claiming that the receiving of the Holy Spirit is the same as being Baptized with the Holy Spirit?
THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Suggested Reading: Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:2, 4-5; Acts 10:43-44; Acts 11:15-17
Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Acts 1:2, 4-5 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
The Baptism of the Spirit refers to the receiving of the indwelling Spirit, which was foretold by John the Baptist and of which Jesus reminded His apostles to wait for this promise at Jerusalem in the upper room. The Baptism of such would and did occur very soon after on the day of Pentecost.
For further confirmation, please go to the book of Acts.
Acts 10:43-44
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
This receiving of the indwelling Spirit was also mentioned when the Apostle Peter entered the house of a Gentile named Cornelius, who was accompanied by his kinsman. As Peter was preaching the salvation message of Christ, the Spirit fell upon those who heard the word. The words fell on means to take possession of.
Let’s stay in the book of Acts.
Acts 11:15-17
And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
This idea that the Spirit had fallen on those who heard the word in Cornelius’ house was reiterated in these verses and conveyed to the Jewish Christians by the Apostle Peter when he returned to Jerusalem from Caesarea. Scriptures tell us that the Spirit fell on them, as the apostles at the beginning, i.e., at Pentecost52 and that they were baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Did you know that there are other benefits that take place in a believer’s life at the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Let’s find out what these are.
THE OTHER BENEFITS (SPIRITUAL REALITIES) OF THE BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT
Did you know that after the Holy Spirit comes to indwell new believers, there are over twenty things that take place in each of their lives, which I’ll call spiritual realities and by the way, are permanent? I’ll mention quite a few of them to make it clear what this baptism provides.
The Baptism (indwelling) of the Spirit:
Provides the unity of the Spirit
Ephesians 4:3-5 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
The Holy Spirit provides unity among the members of the body of Christ wherein each member should be endeavoring (to try their best; to intensely labor) to keep. This unity has its root in the peace of God, which is one of the spiritual qualities of the Spirit. The unity of the Spirit is kept when each Christian learns how to operate in the fruit of the Spirit.
Baptizes us into one body
1 Corinthians 12:7, 11-13 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
At salvation, the Holy Spirit gives each believer at least one gift (spiritual endowment) severally (individually) as He chooses (as he sees to be right and best53). Each gift shall manifest the work and nature of the Spirit’s operation on the mind, which gives each person some proof of the Spirit’s presence in order to promote harmony in the church.54 And by the agency of the one (same) Spirit we’re all baptized (joined; united) into one body (the body of Christ, the church), whereby all have been suited, each to his appropriate place.55
Provides equal privilege and opportunity
Galatians 3:26-28 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
There are no national, class, or gender distinctions in Christ. All are equally accepted through the Lord Jesus Christ. Another way to say this is that we’re all on the same [level] and entitled to the same privileges in your Christian profession.56
Provides placement into Christ
Galatians 3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
When whosoever will, repents and believes in Christ, they receive the indwelling Spirit, who baptizes them into spiritual union and communion with57 Christ.
Baptizes us into Jesus Christ
Romans 6:1-4 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
The Apostle Paul was instructing the Christians at Rome concerning sin and grace. He asked them if they should continue to sin habitually, so that grace (the divine influence upon the [heart] and its reflection in the life58) shall abound (increase). In other words, should believers sin all the more so that they could experience more grace?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Paul’s answer was no. He told them that they were all dead to sin; the spiritual reality of such took place at a point in time, at salvation, when they were separated from sin’s power.
3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
They were baptized (an actual identification) into Jesus Christ (into close union with a person, coming to belong to Him, so as to be in a sense identified with him59) by the Holy Spirit, and along with this they were baptized into His death (in them was understood a death to sin, corresponding to His actual death,60 having become separated from its power) and likewise as He was raised up from the dead by the glory (power) of the Father (in them was understood that they too, were raised from the dead by the quickening of the Spirit) so that they would be able to habitually walk (live) in newness of life (in an entirely new way). Some would call this retroactive positional truth which links the time when we’re saved to the time when Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead. We take a point of time and superimpose it on another point in time.
Wow! So, what do you think about the results of the inward spiritual realities that have been provided for us at salvation by means of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? As such, this gospel is in effect stating that these spiritual realities aren’t provided for us by any other means, i.e., such as water baptism.
With what has been said, we’re ready to try and answer this question. What is the purpose of water baptism? But before we do, I’d like to leave you with some more of the spiritual realities that have taken place in our lives at salvation through the indwelling Holy Spirit. I don’t think most believers are aware of what these are. Are you? All I can say is, enjoy reading about the rest of them.
Quickened by the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
This means that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we’ve been spiritually resurrected, or another way of saying this is that we’ve been made spiritually alive with Christ.
Received a human spirit
1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The human spirit is a spiritual apparatus that is given to the new believer for them to store spiritual knowledge. From there, spiritual knowledge goes to the heart, thereby building rooms in our souls.
Are given eternal life
John 10:9-10 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
This can be otherwise called the zoe life and can be referred to as an abundance of ever-flowing streams or spiritual refreshment for oneself by means of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Crucified with Christ
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
The old man refers to the sinful and corrupt nature that has been crucified with Christ on the cross through our identification with Him. The body, which has belonged to or has been ruled by the power of sin, may now cease to be an instrument of it and is no longer subject to its control.
Been made heirs of God through Christ
Galatians 4:6-7 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
We’re no longer to be treated as servants, being bound by the oppression of the Law, but as sons - members of God’s family. And because we’re sons, we’re also heirs as those who: possess God himself, partake of His nature, and possess every blessing to which we’re entitled.
Seated together with Christ in heavenly places
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus
God the Father has raised us up from spiritual death to spiritual life — from death to sin to a life of righteousness, being made alive and raised spiritually with Christ. He has caused our spiritual position to be in heavenly places in Christ who is seated at the right hand of the Father as our Head and Representative. We’re admitted to exalted honors in virtue of our connection with Him. Even [now,] our life and thoughts are raised to the heavenlies where He reigns.61
Are God’s handiwork
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them
We’re God the Father’s workmanship (denotes a work of art or masterpiece; spiritual handiwork), being made a new spiritual creature in which there’s a moral and spiritual renewal for good works, which God hath before ordained (prepared beforehand). This is a path of good deeds that He’ll perform in and through us as we choose to walk by faith.
Are redeemed and forgiven
Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins
In Christ, through our belief in Him, we’re in a permanent and continuous state of redemption (setting us free; to no longer be prisoners; on release on the payment of a ransom), and along with this we’ve received the forgiveness (the taking away of sins; these have been lost from God’s mind) of sins.
Consider what an amazing thing this is telling us. The words we have in Greek are classified as being in the present active indicative. Active means that the subject, we, those saved, are the agents of the action, i.e., of repentance and belief. Indicative is the mood or the way in which the action of the verb is conceived with reference to reality, which in this case is a statement of fact. Because of Christ, we have redemption. Finally, the word present refers to the tense or what kind of action is being expressed by the verb. This refers to continuous action in the present, meaning that we, believers, will be continually released from the payment of a ransom for our sins. Nothing can inhibit this. Not what we think, do, or say. Hallelujah!
Are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God
Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God
Whether Jew or Gentile, we’re members of the same family of God and are entitled to the same privileges and regarded by Him as His children.
Are complete in Him
Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power
This completeness includes the furnishing of men with all that is required for their present (i.e., to be richly furnished with the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit) salvation.62
Are known by the Lord
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
We’re marked by God so as to be recognized by Him as His, and this mark also serves as a perpetual reminder to them that they’re not their own.63 The mark or impression serves to identify what is sealed, together with its owner, and to specify its purpose or function.
Are reconciled to God the Father
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son,
This reconciliation refers to a changed relationship between God and a lost world. The means of reconciliation is Jesus Christ. He was given as a propitiation for our sins, which removed the rebellious and sinful man’s enmity toward God, thus satisfying His justice.
2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation
Jesus has made it consistent for God to pardon. He has made atonement so that God can be just while He justifies the sinner, who repents and believes in His Son. And on the part of man, He (Jesus), by the agency of His Spirit, overcomes the unwillingness of the sinner to be reconciled, humbles his pride, shows him his sin, changes his heart, subdues his enmity against God, and secures, in fact, a harmony of feeling and purpose between God and man, so that they shall be reconciled forever.64
Are translated into the kingdom of His Son
Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son
God, the Father, has rescued us from the dominion (the spiritual power by which mankind is held) of darkness and placed us in the kingdom of his dear Son.
Are sanctified
Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
The will of God, which was for the sanctification of men, was accomplished through Jesus’ atonement for sins on the cross. When we repent and believe in Him, we’re placed in a sanctified state, meaning that we’re in a permanent and continuous state of salvation65 into which we’re brought and in which we live.
I can’t say enough how beautiful and unique it is what this verse is conveying to us. The words we are in Greek are in what is classified as a perfect passive participle. Passive is a tense that means that we, believers, at the time we repented and believed received sanctification or the status of being saved. Perfect is a tense referring to an action completed in the past with present results. In the past, we were sanctified, and currently, in the present, we continue in this state of sanctification. And the participle denotes the purpose as to why someone is doing something or why something is being done. Why is sanctification the state we’re in? It’s because of Christ being an atonement for sin once and for all.
With that said, remember, being saved is final and not based on what we do or don’t do. WOWZA!
Have become an adopted son
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
God, in His foreknowledge, knew beforehand who would freely believe in his Son for salvation, and it’s on this basis that they’re selected (chosen). God implements a plan in time called predestination for whosoever will receive Him, with mankind (the elect) choosing to respond in their free will to His initiation for salvation.
God responds to a believing sinner, regenerates him, and by means of this makes him His child [the Greek word transliterated (change the letters from the Greek spelling into similar characters of the alphabet of English), His teknon, a born one]. Then He takes this child and places him in a legal position as an adult (adopted) son (Greek word, huios).66
The apostle here uses, as an illustration, the Roman practice of legally adopting a child, and thus not only bequeathing [him] the material possessions of the one [adopting] but also giving him his civil status.67
Are ambassadors for Christ
2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
We’ve been brought into a permanent and continual state of ambassadorship (persons who represented someone else and who carried a message from the person whom they represented68), and in which we live.
Before we read this too fast and don’t really reflect on it; the words we are in Greek are classified as a present active indicative. To put it simply, way because we responded to the gospel, it’s a statement of fact that we’re positionally ambassadors for Christ. Positionally means this is how God sees us no matter whether our experience reveals otherwise. WOW!
Are made righteous
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
God the Father has made Christ be a sin offering (the sin of the world, past, present, and future was placed on Him meaning that He bore the punishment due to them in his body) for all mankind (in place of us), the purpose of which was so that those who believed in Him would be made the righteousness of God in Him. Another way of saying this is, as Christ who was perfectly innocent, by a voluntary substitution, is treated As IF He were guilty, so we who believed in Him being guilty and who deserve to be punished, are treated, through his vicarious sufferings, as if they were perfectly innocent.69
And this righteousness shouldn’t to be taken as a quality or habit received by us but in the sense of that which is approved by or acceptable to God. On the grounds of Christ’s righteousness (acceptability) to God the Father, so have we become righteous (acceptable) by faith to God the Father.
Are declared righteous
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God and are no longer threatened by His wrath through Jesus Christ.
Are sealed
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, He is the seal (the stamp of ownership) indicating to God who is His. He is God’s seal (mark of ownership), indicating that the transaction whereby the Son of God paid the penalty of human sin at the Cross is a finished transaction and that God owns us as His property by right of purchase70 until the day of redemption. This seal can also refer to a down payment in the sense of having tasted the Spirit, [we’ve] begun to taste the life of the future world that God had promised71 us. And as for the day of redemption, some say that it refers to the rapture of the church when we’ll meet the Lord in the clouds of the air, at which time, we’ll receive not only a glorified body but also eternal rewards regarding our works.
Are given access to God the Father
Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
We (both Christian Jews and Gentiles) have access by the ministry of the Holy Spirit into God the Father’s presence by means of prayer and worship, confident that [He’ll] receive and answer us72 because we’re properly qualified.
Amazing! As one of my Christian friends would say, “Wowza!” I thoroughly enjoyed that. As I was reading about each of these spiritual realities, what came to my mind was how much more there is to understand concerning this salvation message than just repentance and belief. And yet there’s a lot more to learn if you want to know all that Scripture will reveal to us that makes up this perspective. Just think, we’re learning about doctrines that perhaps we’ve never taken a thorough look at before.
The next aspect of this salvation message that we’ll look at is in respect to answering the following question. What causes a believer to have fellowship, i.e., be a partaker of God’s nature? Please turn the page, and we’ll find out what this is all about.
Endnotes
52Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament Pc Study Bible version 5, 2005. BIBLESOFT. WEB. 8 March 2022
˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.
53Barnes.
54Barnes.
55Barnes.
56Barnes.
57Vincent.
58New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc; 31 November 2018
˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.
59The Pulpit.
60The Pulpit.
61Barnes.
62Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon.
63UBS New Testament.
64Barnes.
65Weust.
66Weust.
67Weust.
68UBS New Testament.
69Calvin.
70Weust.
71IVP.
72UBS New Testament.
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New Covenant Ministries - Ministerios NuevoPacto - Harbor Church, Block Island
Sunday & Thursday Worship - Domingo & Jueves 7:00PM
My name is James Rondinone. I am a husband, father, and spiritual leader.
I grew up in Massachusetts and began my own spiritual journey early on in life.
I attended Bible college, having completed a two-year Christian Leadership Course of Study and graduated as valedictorian (Summa Cum Laude).
Studying and teaching the Word of God has been a passion of mine for over 20 years.
17
You Are Beloved
I think you’d agree with me when I say that most people want to be loved. When we look for the right one, somehow, we have specific criteria that we look for: good looks, tall or short, rich, athletic, similar hobbies, fat or skinny, adventurous, free spirit, like-minded, funny, member of the same faith or political affiliation, etc. And if somehow the relationship becomes fulfilling, the couple decides to either live together or get married.
Along the way, situations will come up. Some are financial; others might involve physical, verbal, and/or emotional abuse, not being faithful, alcohol or drug issues, not being honest, declining physical health, not wanting to have children, sexual indifference, lack of communication, etc. Unfortunately, for many, separation or divorce is the result. We live in a world where love is desired, and yet when it wanes, it’s most often why so many people no longer remain together for one reason or another.
Here are some interesting statistics on divorce.
The current divorce rate in the US is 2.3 persons per 1,000 people. Overall, the rate of divorces in America is falling. Divorces amongst people aged 50+ years are rising. Fewer couples choose to marry than pre-1990. The most common causes of divorce are conflict, arguing, irretrievable breakdown in the relationship, lack of commitment, infidelity, and lack of physical intimacy.122
So, what is it that might help to keep the marriage union together? I found an interesting article on this topic. Let’s take a few minutes and see what it has to say.
HOW TO GET LOST IN GOD’S LOVE AND SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE
Every person on earth has a deep desire to be loved. And as wonderful as love in marriage is, it will never be a fulfilling love unless we first saturate ourselves in the unfailing love of God.
“Lord, fix my husband. Fix us!” As quickly as the prayer was on my lips, I felt God ask, Do you believe I can do what [you’re] asking Me to do?
I did not.
My husband, Bob, and I had reached a place of deep pain. Busyness. Sinfulness. Selfishness. I was angry with Bob. The circumstances don’t really matter. They’re probably a lot like the circumstances in your marriage from time to time. But convinced I [couldn’t] love him well until he loved me better, I dug myself into a prayer routine that proved futile.
I was, in fact, looking for love in the wrong place. As wonderful as love in marriage is, it will never be a fulfilling love unless we first saturate ourselves in the unfailing love of God.
Before you accuse me of sounding cliché, I’ve learned this on the hot pavement of life, and I’d like to offer four practical tips that have helped me to live it out.
ADMIT THAT WHAT YOU NEED MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS WORLD IS TO BE WELL LOVED.
Because love is a basic need of humanity, every person has a deep desire to be loved. During a difficult season of feeling unloved in my marriage, God led me to Proverbs 19:22 (NIV): “What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.”
The Bible uses the phrase “unfailing love” more than [thirty] times, and not one of them refers to any source other than God himself. He alone holds the answer to our deep craving for love. This means that your husband or wife will never be able to fulfill this need unless you first find satisfaction in God’s love.
LET YOUR SPOUSE OFF THE HOOK.
The greatest symptom that my need for love was misdirected was that I was praying for God to change my husband — without having the humility to ask God how He wanted to change me. [It’s] never wrong to pray for God to make your husband or wife more like Him. However, when your prayers are void of your own need, that might indicate you’re trying to have your needs met through a person’s love rather than through God’s. When I realized this in my own life, I simply asked God to make me hungry for His love.
It takes a lot of courage to admit that your marriage might not be exactly what you want because [you’re] not exactly what you need to be. Be brave. Put yourself under God’s care to be changed.
WRITE A LIST OF THINGS YOUR SPOUSE DOES TO EXPRESS HIS OR HER LOVE FOR YOU.
Do this as an act of thanksgiving to God. My counselor assigned this task to me and, although I took it on reluctantly, it had a dramatic impact on my heart. I am, in fact, a very loved woman. I have a husband who never fails to ask for forgiveness, prays with me each night at bedtime, willingly enters into counseling when we need it, manages our money well, begs me to sneak away with him from time to time, and tolerates my weaknesses as much as I tolerate his. It’s easy to lose sight of all this when we’re hurting each other, and [it’s] so important to refocus our thinking to be grateful. As I did this, it became an act of loving my husband through God’s love in me.
INVEST IN THE FRIENDSHIP OF YOUR SPOUSE.
This world’s paradigm of love can often put a lot of emphasis on sex, [romance,] and passion in marriage. If those things aren’t on full boil, we tend to think our relationship lacks love. But God’s Word defines marital love more in terms of friendship and commitment than sex and romance. Take a night to play a board game or enjoy a hike together on a Sunday afternoon. If you can meet your spouse for lunch, consider canceling an appointment with a personal trainer or even a friend.
I’ve long embraced the biblical story of the woman at the well (John 4). She tried man after man but never felt that her thirst for love had been quenched. She was desperate and love-sick. Then, when Jesus showed up, He offered her the love she really needed. But she said, “You have nothing to draw water with, and the well is [deep.”]
How like us! How like me. You don’t have to be a woman who has had many husbands to be parched with a thirst for love. You just have to be a woman [who’s] trying to get something from her husband that only God can give. I know. [I’ve] been there many times, just waiting for God to show up. And when He does, I’m prone to tell him, “But God, I’m in so deep, and you don’t have a bucket!”
It doesn’t matter how deep the problem; the solution is still God’s love. And He has buckets and buckets of love to fix your marriage. And to fix your heart.123
Since the fall of Adam and Eve, relationships have been fractured. Each of us has a sin nature that contains passions or tendencies that evidence, in some instances, more good human traits than bad or worse human traits than good. The causes are varied, such as the fallen nature, genetics, family upbringing, peer group affiliations, etc.
Along with this, there have been countless books on how to save a relationship. It’s unfortunate that when a marriage deteriorates, we tend to look at our partner differently. No longer as the one who’s our teammate, our best friend, our confidant but as an enemy. How much child support are they requesting? How much of what we own together will they want? Who will have custody of the children? And what will the visitation rights be?
But when we become a child of God, a verse from the book of Colossians tells us how He continually chooses to treat us no matter how we’ve chosen to treat Him.
Colossians 3:12
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Did you know that at salvation, God calls you, the elect, beloved? Let’s begin by clarifying what it means for you to be called God’s elect. God has chosen you, the elect, to salvation as those who would believe [in] his Son.124 Why did God single you out in eternity past? He didn’t choose you because He chose some to heaven and others to hell. You were chosen because He knew beforehand that when the gospel was presented to you in your time on earth, you’d decide to respond to it.
Another misperception as to why God selects certain ones is as some might say is because of their excellent works. Clarification concerning this misconception is found in the following verse from the book of Ephesians.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
And because of your unmerited response, i.e., not of works to the gospel of grace, God declares you holy (you’re standing in grace as someone set apart from the world unto the Lord),125 and beloved (dearly loved; this is God’s love, … a love that denies self for the benefit of the object loved).126
The word beloved is a verb that, in Koine Greek, is in the form of a perfect passive participle.
With this designation, we could rewrite this verse and state it this way. When you responded to God the Father’s invitation of salvation, you, the elect, at this point in time, became profoundly loved and the reality of God loving you personally continues with the present result that [you are the object] of His love.127
And as you learn about the spiritual qualities of God’s love and apply them to yourself, you’ll begin to express these self-less qualities for the benefit of your believing or unbelieving husband or wife, friends, enemies, associates at work, fellow believers, unbelievers, those that have hurt you, etc. Whether they receive this love doesn’t change the love of God that’s emanating from your life. And no matter what the ultimate result is of these relationships, you’ll evidence to them what the Bible says is of great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Godliness with contentment is an inner sufficiency that keeps us at peace in spite of outward circumstances.128
Have you ever bought something and said something like, it’s perfect? In my younger years, there was something that I had the same sentiment about. What was it and what’s the spiritual blessing associated with it? Please continue on, and we’ll soon find out.
Endnotes
122“What are the current statistics on divorce?” 20 November 2022
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123Dannah Gresh. “HOW TO GET LOST IN GOD’S LOVE AND SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE” FOCUS ON THE FAMILY 19 November 2022
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124The Pulpit Commentary.
125The Bible Exposition Commentary/New Testament.
126Weust’s Word Studies.
127Weust’s Word Studies.
128The Bible Exposition Commentary.
My name is James Rondinone. I am a husband, father, and spiritual leader.
I grew up in Massachusetts and began my own spiritual journey early on in life.
I attended Bible college, having completed a two-year Christian Leadership Course of Study and graduated as valedictorian (Summa Cum Laude).
Studying and teaching the Word of God has been a passion of mine for over 20 years.
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The homosexual way of life has pervaded all aspect of society in just about every country in the world; it is so widely accepted – especially here in the United States, that it appears to be almost taboo for anyone to openly speak out against homosexuality – as such is likely to be met with hostile opposition. But does God approve of homosexuality, and can a person continue to engage in homosexual activities and be a truly converted Christian at the same time?
There are millions of homosexuals who profess to believe in God – while other actually profess to be Christians or followers of Jesus Christ; there are also ordained church leaders – such as priests and Pastors who have publicly admitted they are homosexuals. The Acceptance of homosexuals into recognized churches and church ministries is worldwide in scope, and it just continues to grow – as people are unashamed of their same sex way of life that many seem to have no qualm in placing the homosexual flag or colors in their place of residence; it seems they want the world to know that they are homosexuals; they have truly come out of the closet.
There is a scripture in Jeremiah 6:15 – which is applicable to our time; it says, “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush …” In general, people carry out all kinds of wrong doings in our society today – who seemingly exhibit no shame or even remorse for the things they do; and this is an overall condition in our nation today, and not just in the homosexual way of life.
God says we are Not to Lean on our Own Understanding.
On the matter of homosexuality, people have a tendency to apply human reasoning to justify or condone homosexuality; For example, some will reason that there is nothing wrong when two people of the same sex chose to express their love toward each other - through the act of a sexual relationship. I can recall a homosexual minister justifying homosexuality by expressing that since God is love, this therefore makes it right for people to be in a loving homosexual relationship- because it is the expression of love; and of course, there are other forms of reasoning people use to try and justify homosexuality. However, we must keep in mind that though people may have their own personal beliefs or thoughts about homosexuality and the justification for it, God says we must not lean upon our own human reasoning; Notice proverbs 3:5,7: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding; Be not wise in thine own eyes …”
Human reasoning and beliefs can get us on the wrong path of life- as emotion can get in the way – blinding us to the truth; and so, we must rely not on our own thoughts and reasoning but on what God our creator says, because God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways …” (Isaiah 55:8). To know truth, we must rely on what God says; rely on what HE tells us in his word – because his word is "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (II Timothy 3: 16).
Notice it is God’s word that correct us humans; it corrects and instructs us in the way of righteousness – making it possible to judge righteous judgement – even as the Jesus said (John 7:24); and on this matter of homosexuality, we must rely on what God says about homosexuality – for it is the standard by which we can righteously and justly judge a matter to be either right or wrong - because we of ourselves are prone to making wrong judgement. I can tell you that the man who relies on human reasoning – doing what he thinks is right - may be committing a lot of sin.
Concerning the determination of what sin is, I would also like to point out that God does not allow you or me to decide what sin is, but HE alone decides what sin is and then allows us to decide only whether or not we will obey him – by not doing that which HE determines to be wrong or sinful; this is very important to understand, and I suppose most people do not understand this – especially when they are so bent on wanting to justify their own way; their own sinful ways.
The Old Testament Speaks of Homosexuality
So, what does God say about homosexuality? Notice Leviticus 18:13: “If a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination …” If you do a simple look up of this word LIE – using a Concordance, you will find that this word (LIE) comes from a Hebrew word which mean to lie down for sexual connection. This means there is no doubt that God is speaking of a homosexual relation – which HE condemns as that which is abominable in his sight.
Also, who has not heard how God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of it sins – which include the sin of homosexuality. We can zero in on Genesis 19 – where the men of Sodom surrounded the house of Lot (verse 4) and called for the strangers or men that were in the house with Lot – to come out so they may “know them” (verse 5). The men of Sodom wanted to have homosexual relation with the men, this was why Lot went outside and pleaded with the men – saying to them, “… do not so wickedly” (verse 7).
Lot knew the men wanted to engage in homosexual activity with the men and pleaded with them to not do this evil thing; this was why Lot resorted to offering up his three daughters to try appease the wrongful desires of the men but they were more interested in having sex with the men; and so, they refused having women for sex -as they followed their homosexual drive or lust.
It is also interesting to point out that the men of Sodom said that they wanted to KNOW the men; This word “know” can have more than one application, but it is tied to the very same word used in the sexual sense in Genesis 4:1 – where it says, “Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived …” Adam “KNEW” Eve in sex and the men of Sodom also wanted to do the same with the men when they said, “that we may know them” – meaning the men of Sodom did not want to “KNOW” the men in a cordial or friendly manner, but wanted to KNOW them by way of having sex with them. Genesis 13:13 makes known “the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.”
I know there are those who may admit that homosexuality in this case was only wrong because the men of Sodom wanted to rape the men that were in the house with Lot, but that is flawed human reasoning – because God has revealed that the act of homosexuality is wrong – even if it is consensual.
The account of what happened in Sodom was recorded for our instruction: "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes,” God, as the context shows, "condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample [example] unto those that after should live ungodly" (2 Peter 2:6). God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah as an example; and if such served as an example for people to learn, see and fear, what then do you think is going to happen to other nations -especially to the United States and Britain – who continues to allow the acceptance of homosexuality to become an acceptable way of life in every facet of society – impacting the life of our own innocent little children – who are being taught and influenced to believe in a way of life that is contrary to what our creator says? Do you think God is not going to respond to this? I tell you HE is going to respond in a way this world is not prepared for. In Isaiah 13:11 God says, “And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease …” God is going to bring to nothing the wrong and sinful ways of this world and I tell you or day of reckoning is at hand – as we are to enter deeply troubling times -as God is going to severely punish the United States for its sin; and we are already a nation in trouble and do not seem to realize it; our troubles are going to intensify right before our very eyes.
True Union is Between a man and woman in Marriage
In speaking of true marriage, Jesus said, "Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said: For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?" (Matthew 19:4-5).
Marriage is between a man and a woman, not between two men or two women. Sex belongs in marriage, as the Bible plainly reveals, and should be between a man and his wife and not between people of the same sex.
But also notice that Jesus went on to say: “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder” (Matt. 19:6). The word asunder means to separate – which carries the meaning of putting a room of separation between the man and the woman; and this is why Jesus pointed out that God never intended for men and women to divorce and break up the marriage. But also, in another sense, the homosexual relationship seeks to put asunder the marriage union of man and woman when it brings same sex marriage into to picture because it seeks to corrupt and set aside the fact that marriage is between man and woman only.
God is a God of order and perfection - for and when HE made the man, God then stated it was not good for the man to be alone - and then he created the woman to be a helper to the man -where she would stand by his side in a loving husband and wife relationship. it was God who blessed the man and woman in this holy union to love each other and to produce children. God gave the human pair the command to be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 1:28). Same sex union cannot produce children as the homosexual way of life is based on human vanity; it is a way of life that produces only a carnal and lustful pleasure that is barren, empty and is incapable of producing children – which is a blessing from God. Psalm 127:3 makes known that “children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” Can the fruit of the womb produce a child in a homosexual relation? No, it cannot; it produces no descendants, no grandchildren; nothing for those in same sex relation to look back on and to enjoy the children and grandchildren that can only come out of man and woman relationship. The homosexuals have deprived themselves of experiencing this joy of having children - as they will never be there to witness the birth of a son or daughter; they will never experience the wonder of holding their own newborn in their hands and to know they have given life to someone who came out of their own body. Perhaps in their later years, some of these homosexuals may have regretted not having a child of their own; they may have regretted having lived such a fruitless or barren life. Homosexuals have their Pride month in which they glorify the homosexual way of life, but honestly, where is the pride in a life that is so barren, fruitless, and contrary to the law of God - who ordains that marriage is to be between a man and woman only?
In truth, the homosexual relationship is a corruption of the marriage which God intended to be between man and woman; and this is why you will find NO place in the Bible where God has blessed the union of same sex marriage; it is just nowhere to be found in the Bible; and if it not in the Bible, it should certainly raise a red flag to people who claim homosexuality is approved by God.
Homosexuality Spoken of in the New Testament
1 Corinthians 6:9: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.”
The word effeminate comes from Greek word which refers to a catamite; a catamite in ancient Greece and Rome was a boy around the age of puberty who was in an intimate relation with an older male – meaning a homosexual relationship. The apostle Paul also spoke of these as “abusers of themselves with mankind.” The word abuser is referring to those who engages in sexual activities that is the opposite of the way it is done between a man and a woman. If you read this passage of the Bible from the New American Standard Bible, it plainly uses the word “homosexual;” It says, “… neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals.”
God will Forgive the Homosexual upon Genuine Repentance.
All have sinned and God is willing to forgive those who have sinned - as God is "merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin" (Exodus 34:6-7). The humiliated woman taken in the very act of adultery - a sinful heterosexual act - was forgiven by Jesus. He told her never to do it again (John 8:3-11).
Some of the people Paul was writing to in the Corinthian Church, had once been homosexuals themselves; Paul said: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus ….” 1 Cor. 6:11). Those people repented; they changed – forsaking their formers selves to live a holy and new way of life. Thus, it is only by repenting and forsaking the homosexual way of life can a person be a true Christian – as a person CANNOT be a Christian and a homosexual at the same time. Jesus said we cannot serve two masters because if we try to do so, we will hate one and love the other (Matt. 6:24); and I have no doubt that those who wish to try and find justification for their homosexual way of life, are likely resent what has been written here and will try to argue against it, but it is really God’s truth they will be arguing against – because God truth is known to be “sharper than any two edged sword, … and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12); God’s truth does make people uncomfortable – especially when they are opposed to it; they do not like to hear it and this is why the Bible says the human “carnal mind is enmity against God …” (Romans 8:7).
To be a true Christians means we have to forsake our own ways - meaning our own way of thinking. God says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts …” Isaiah 55:7). I have long come to realize it is so much harder for people to admit they are wrong than to see the truth and embrace it - as it is in human nature to be resistant to the truth – wanting to fighting against it – being unwilling to yield to what God says – all because they do not want to forsake their ways or their belief in doing the things God said is wrong. It was the same way with Mother Eve in the garden of Eden: she lusted after the forbidden fruit – wanting to go her own way – despite the fact God warned her of the end result of disobedience, but she did not believe God and instead, allowed lust and personal self- desire to take of that which was forbidden to cloud her mind and judgement; and this is what lusting after the wrong things can do; it can blind us to the truth. In speaking of lust, Romans 1:27 uses the word lust to describe the attraction involved in the homosexual relationship – saying: “And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly …” So, here again God speak out against homosexual union as that which is unseemly – meaning a behavior that is not proper or appropriate. Could it be any clearer that homosexuality is not condoned by God and that a person CANNOT be a homosexual and a Christian at the same time?
Homosexuals Should not be Hated
Because the matter of homosexuality can be sensitive matter, it is possible that someone reading this article may choose to falsely accuse me of stirring up hatred toward homosexuals, but such reasoning is not in line with the truth, because God does NOT condone hatred towards other people; He does NOT hate homosexual people and neither do I; What God hates is the wrong and sinful ways of people and not the people themselves – for God loves humanity and sent his Son to die for all people – because all have sinned; the scripture says, “For God so loved the world …” (John 3:16). This love of God includes the homosexuals, and so, I wish to emphasize that this is not written to condemn homosexuals but simply to point out what the Bible says on the subject, and it shows that a person cannot be a true Christian while engaging in homosexual activities. Of course, the problem is that people do not want to obey God and so, they will try to reason around the truth in order to try and find some form of justification for believing homosexuality is acceptable to God, but God has warned about leaning upon our own human understanding or belief, and that we have to be willing to forsake our own stubborn ways – because as previously stated, God says, … my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways …” (Isaiah 55:8).
God punished people for living the wrong way, and this nation – the United States - having been blessed by God to become the single greatest nation to have ever existed on the earth, is going to be punished for its many sins – of which homosexuality is one of them, and our time of reckoning is at hand – because the United States is spoken of in prophecy as a nation that is going to fall, and we are living in that time where the fulfillment of those prophecies are going to rise up and confront our people like some gargantuan monster in a horror movie that strikes terror and fear; the only thing is that this is reality and not some horror movie.
Anyone desiring to know and understand where America is spoken of in prophecy and what is to befall our people, you can read the book titled – America in Prophecy; the information or link to the book is listed below. I do try to always mention this book not because I am expressing any kind of greed for money because no man can place a price on God’s truth, but the book does give the reader a deep understanding of Bible prophecy and of who or what nation God is talking about and what is to literally befall the United States in our time – for without the understanding of where the United States, Germany, Britain, China, and Russia is in spoken of or identified in the Bible, you are not going to be able to understand the prophecies that are to come to pass and how each nation is going to be impacted and the effect it is going to have on your life and those of your family.
I also want to add that the book is placed on Amazon – where the publisher determines the price of the book – as I have no control over that – and it is also the means by which I am able to make the book available to anyone who may be interested in reading it. And as I have said before, if I had the means to just make the book freely available to people I would do so, because I write these things with the understanding that God expects us to love and care for people; to be concerned for their welfare and happiness without seeking to get anything in return, but to simply pass on the truth of God’s word to them; and what better way than to use and appreciate the opportunity that this medium - Article Biz, in part, gives to make that possible; Jesus said, “… freely ye have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8). But HE also said, “… the workman is worthy of his meat” (Verse 10). I also write with the understanding that knowledge not put to use is of no value – meaning God does not expect a person to hide his truth but to freely express it so those who may be willing to see it and possibly benefit from it; and so, the significance of the book is that it identifies the United States in prophecy and tells what is to befall this nation – as countless millions of lives are going to be severely impacted; mega death and destruction is coming, and those willing to believe what God says is coming should be made aware of it – as we are living in a time when things are just going to suddenly change for the worst and grow to unbearable level of distress and troubles – the likes of which this world has never seen.
If interested, feel free to go https://www.amazon.com/America-Prophecy-Israel-people-consider-ebook/dp/B0C4M8R77J
I am an old man who has, long ago, came to the realization that this professing Christian world – with all its Mega Churches and various denominations do not proclaim the true teaching of the Bible - as they fail to correctly teach many vitally important doctrinal truths of the Bible.
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