It's where Murders are Solved Love is Kindled Monsters Lurk Dragons are Hatched.
Chapter One
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Chapter 1
You’ve Embraced Christ –
Now What?
My remarriage in 1982 was closure to a lonely period of singleness after being divorced for five years. My new husband was intelligent, caring and romantic, good looking, had a good long-term career, and kept a clean, well organized apartment… That was enough for me!
In the spring of 1989 my neighbor had repeatedly asked me to church and I had repeatedly refused. I didn’t need church thank you very much, and I politely made numerous excuses. She, however, didn’t give up. I eventually gave in and said, “yes”, “only for my son’s sake,” I reminded her. Well, GOD had other plans !
I was radically saved that first Sunday morning. I had asked many questions in my Sunday school class, and during the invitation, I walked the aisle with my bible study teacher. I remember feeling emotionally worn out that afternoon. I took my son to the park as my husband was working that weekend, and I reflected on all that had transpired. Little did I know God would begin a work in me that would take me on a spiritual journey I didn’t expect.
Day after day, week after week, month after month I grew closer to God, hungered for God and began serving Him from my heart. I took my 2 ½ year old son every time I attended church. My husband would nod his head in approval and wave as we left each week for church.
The spiritual skirmish had begun. Don’t underestimate the enemy. I did not fully understand spiritual warfare and would learn about that as time progressed. I began to grow in my understanding of God’s Word and how Satan opposes a couple’s holy union. I would learn about “putting on the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10-19). I would learn that “standing firm” was mandatory - - not an option. My spiritual clothing was necessary for survival as “half of a saved couple”. God desires for you to become “one flesh” – at the altar and in the spirit realm. Satan can’t bear the thought of it. This is where your perseverance plays a huge part.
The enemy will mercilessly bombard you with thoughts, feelings, emotions and physical disdain for your mate. You must take every thought captive (II Corinthians 10:5) and stop looking at your mate as the enemy. Don’t let his actions and words provoke you into disobedience.
Paul writes in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for building up, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Matthew 18:9 states, “and if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you.” So it goes with your tongue. Stop committing spiritual murder against your mate ! Bite it off and cast it away! Don’t sin by grieving God as you curse the very person God wills to join you to, as ONE !
Remember that “the battle is the Lord’s” (I Samuel 17:47) and earnestly give the salvation of your mate to God in prayer. Early on in your conversion it seems easier to be hopeful concerning your husband’s salvation. You will need an added measure of faith as the years go by.
In Romans 4:18 Paul refers to Abraham by saying, “who, contrary to hope, in hope believed.”This is the type of faith you will need for your husband’s salvation.
God is your spiritual husband while your mate is not yet the priest of your home. Your obedience and submission to Him are essential as God knows our shortcomings and weaknesses; yet He uses them to perfect us in waiting. Perseverance is one thing you will need with a “holy dig in your heels” attitude and a “stubbornness in the Lord” towards the salvation of your mate. Salvation is a personal thing. I had responded to The Lord’s call, and my husband had his own choice to make.
Seek and Find
1. Ephesians 6:10 speaks of being “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” How does Paul’s exhortation compare with what God spoke to Joshua in Joshua 1:9?
2. Ephesians 6:11-12 says to “…put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” What does verse 12 say about our enemy? Where does the enemy reside? What does Paul say in II Timothy 2:26 about our state of mind
and our venerability?
3. In I Samuel 17:37-39 David was blessed and released by King Saul to go fight the giant
Goliath. David clothed himself with Saul’s armor, helmet, and coat of mail. What happens when we try to go out “to battle” with natural armor as opposed to our God-given armor? What made the difference in David’s approach to his battle with Goliath (vs. 45-47)? What does Paul say about our armor in II Corinthians 6:7?
4. A good soldier keeps his armor in top condition and checks his weapons frequently
for flaws, weaknesses and defects. Ephesians 6:13 says to “take up the whole armor of
God…” Read Ephesians 6:14-17 and name each piece of armor and identify its function. Which pieces are defensive in nature, and which ones are offensive? Can we be fully protected if we’re missing one piece? Why
or why not? According to Hebrews 4:12, what does Paul say about our most important weapon?
5. II Corinthians 10:3-5 teaches that our warfare is spiritual in nature. Natural (or worldly) methods and weapons are not effective. How does this correlate to what Paul addresses in Ephesians 6:12: Remember, your mate is not the enemy. How is your obedience to Christ as your “spiritual Commander” effective against the devil’s tactics? What is the outcome when we follow God’s way?
6. What is “faith in action”? In James 2:14,
James makes the point that we can say we have faith. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. How does Hebrews 11:1 compare with Romans 8:24-25? What is James’ main point in James 2:17-24? Do you think our part is to help God, or let Him use us to bring Him glory?
How has God spoken to you in your study of Chapter 1?
Name some practical steps you can take as you journey with God in your marriage.
Write a prayer to God about waiting & perseverance.
You’ve Embraced Christ –
Now What?
My remarriage in 1982 was closure to a lonely period of singleness after being divorced for five years. My new husband was intelligent, caring and romantic, good looking, had a good long-term career, and kept a clean, well organized apartment… That was enough for me!
In the spring of 1989 my neighbor had repeatedly asked me to church and I had repeatedly refused. I didn’t need church thank you very much, and I politely made numerous excuses. She, however, didn’t give up. I eventually gave in and said, “yes”, “only for my son’s sake,” I reminded her. Well, GOD had other plans !
I was radically saved that first Sunday morning. I had asked many questions in my Sunday school class, and during the invitation, I walked the aisle with my bible study teacher. I remember feeling emotionally worn out that afternoon. I took my son to the park as my husband was working that weekend, and I reflected on all that had transpired. Little did I know God would begin a work in me that would take me on a spiritual journey I didn’t expect.
Day after day, week after week, month after month I grew closer to God, hungered for God and began serving Him from my heart. I took my 2 ½ year old son every time I attended church. My husband would nod his head in approval and wave as we left each week for church.
The spiritual skirmish had begun. Don’t underestimate the enemy. I did not fully understand spiritual warfare and would learn about that as time progressed. I began to grow in my understanding of God’s Word and how Satan opposes a couple’s holy union. I would learn about “putting on the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10-19). I would learn that “standing firm” was mandatory - - not an option. My spiritual clothing was necessary for survival as “half of a saved couple”. God desires for you to become “one flesh” – at the altar and in the spirit realm. Satan can’t bear the thought of it. This is where your perseverance plays a huge part.
The enemy will mercilessly bombard you with thoughts, feelings, emotions and physical disdain for your mate. You must take every thought captive (II Corinthians 10:5) and stop looking at your mate as the enemy. Don’t let his actions and words provoke you into disobedience.
Paul writes in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for building up, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Matthew 18:9 states, “and if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you.” So it goes with your tongue. Stop committing spiritual murder against your mate ! Bite it off and cast it away! Don’t sin by grieving God as you curse the very person God wills to join you to, as ONE !
Remember that “the battle is the Lord’s” (I Samuel 17:47) and earnestly give the salvation of your mate to God in prayer. Early on in your conversion it seems easier to be hopeful concerning your husband’s salvation. You will need an added measure of faith as the years go by.
In Romans 4:18 Paul refers to Abraham by saying, “who, contrary to hope, in hope believed.”This is the type of faith you will need for your husband’s salvation.
God is your spiritual husband while your mate is not yet the priest of your home. Your obedience and submission to Him are essential as God knows our shortcomings and weaknesses; yet He uses them to perfect us in waiting. Perseverance is one thing you will need with a “holy dig in your heels” attitude and a “stubbornness in the Lord” towards the salvation of your mate. Salvation is a personal thing. I had responded to The Lord’s call, and my husband had his own choice to make.
Seek and Find
1. Ephesians 6:10 speaks of being “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” How does Paul’s exhortation compare with what God spoke to Joshua in Joshua 1:9?
2. Ephesians 6:11-12 says to “…put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” What does verse 12 say about our enemy? Where does the enemy reside? What does Paul say in II Timothy 2:26 about our state of mind
and our venerability?
3. In I Samuel 17:37-39 David was blessed and released by King Saul to go fight the giant
Goliath. David clothed himself with Saul’s armor, helmet, and coat of mail. What happens when we try to go out “to battle” with natural armor as opposed to our God-given armor? What made the difference in David’s approach to his battle with Goliath (vs. 45-47)? What does Paul say about our armor in II Corinthians 6:7?
4. A good soldier keeps his armor in top condition and checks his weapons frequently
for flaws, weaknesses and defects. Ephesians 6:13 says to “take up the whole armor of
God…” Read Ephesians 6:14-17 and name each piece of armor and identify its function. Which pieces are defensive in nature, and which ones are offensive? Can we be fully protected if we’re missing one piece? Why
or why not? According to Hebrews 4:12, what does Paul say about our most important weapon?
5. II Corinthians 10:3-5 teaches that our warfare is spiritual in nature. Natural (or worldly) methods and weapons are not effective. How does this correlate to what Paul addresses in Ephesians 6:12: Remember, your mate is not the enemy. How is your obedience to Christ as your “spiritual Commander” effective against the devil’s tactics? What is the outcome when we follow God’s way?
6. What is “faith in action”? In James 2:14,
James makes the point that we can say we have faith. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. How does Hebrews 11:1 compare with Romans 8:24-25? What is James’ main point in James 2:17-24? Do you think our part is to help God, or let Him use us to bring Him glory?
How has God spoken to you in your study of Chapter 1?
Name some practical steps you can take as you journey with God in your marriage.
Write a prayer to God about waiting & perseverance.
Copyrighted by Deborah McCarragher © 2009. All rights reserved.
Self Published by Alabaster Box Publishing Inc. - ISBN: 978-0-615-30357-4
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