Monday, March 26, 2012

TO THE SINGLE AND THE MARRIED - PRAYFULLY MEDITATING 1 CORINTHIANS 7


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TO STOP COMMITING SEXUAL IMMORALITY, GET MARRIED INSTEAD
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LORD, You point out when sexual immorality is going on, these people should get married instead. If anyone is engaged and has strong passions and wants to get married, they should, this is not sinning.
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TROUBLES IN LIFE FOR THOSE WHO WILL MARRY
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The Apostle Paul alerted that those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and time is short. The married man and woman are concerned about the affairs of this world--how each can please their spouse, and their interests are divided.
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TO THE ONE THAT WANTS TO GET MARRIED
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He who marries the virgin does right.
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HUSBAND AND WIFE
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The husband and wife should fulfill their marital duty to each other. Neither has authority over their own body, but yields to their spouse. There should be no depriving of one another, except by mutual consent and for a time, so that the couple may devote themselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt them for lack of self-control.
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TO THE CHRISTIAN SPOUSE THAT HAS AN UNBELIEVING SPOUSE
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The Apostle Paul recommended if a Christian has a spouse who is not a believer, the Christian spouse willing to live with the unbelieving spouse must not seek a divorce. For the unbelieving spouse has been sanctified through the Christian spouse and their children are holy.
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SEPARATION OR STAYING TOGETHER
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The unbelieving spouse may get saved through the Christian spouse. But if the unbelieving spouse leaves, the Christian spouse should let them leave. The Christian spouse is not bound in such circumstances; God, You have called us to live in peace.
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MARRIED FOR LIFE - MARRY ONLY IN THE LORD
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LORD, You give this command, that a wife must not separate from her husband, and if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband, and a husband must not divorce his wife. A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives, but if he dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. In the Apostle Paul’s judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is.
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TO THE UNMARRIED
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LORD, You said by the Apostle Paul that this is not a command because everyone has their own gift.
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It’s good to stay unmarried, as the Apostle Paul was, but again, if there is no control, it’s better to marry than to burn with passion. But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin, this man also does the right thing, and does better than if he married her.
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An unmarried Christian is concerned about the Lord’s affairs--how he can please the Lord. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs. Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.
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KEEPING THE SAME STATUS
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LORD, the Apostle Paul’s judgment that is trustworthy, thought it good for a virgin to remain in the present status. Or, if the status is being pledged to a woman, not seek to be released. Or if free from this commitment, not to look for a wife. But to marry is not a sin.
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DO NOT LIVE FOR THIS WORLD
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Those that have wives should live as if they didn’t.
Those who mourn, as if they didn’t.
Those who are happy, as they weren’t.
Those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep.
Those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them.
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For this world in its present form is passing away. This is not to restrict us, but that we may live in a right way with undivided devotion to You, LORD.
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LIVE AS A BELIEVER REGARDLESS OF STATUS
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LORD, You said each person should live as a believer in whatever situation they were in when You called them to do the assignment You gave. If one is already circumcised or uncircumcised when You called, he should stay like that because to keep Your commands is what counts. Everyone You’ve called is Christ’s servant, yet a freed person, regardless of their status. You bought us with a price not to become slaves of human beings and we are responsible to You.
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(From 1 Corinthians 7)
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PRAYER
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LORD, this is a look at one chapter of the Bible, and there is much more in the subject concerning marriage, sexual immorality, adultery, and divorce. We want to look at Your whole counsel. Many of us were married, single, or divorced, or remarried when You called us. We know You forgave us all of our past sins and our lives changed because we became new creatures in Christ, old things passed, all things become new and of You, God, who has reconciled us to Yourself by Jesus Christ, and have given us the ministry of reconciliation.
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Father, we pray that people who look at 1 Corinthians 7 will take a good look at what they’re doing before they decide to marry, or to flirt with temptations that lead them further and further away from You into a very dangerous zone, and commit the act of fornication or adultery. We know You will forgive them if they repent, but this can cause a lot of hurt and consequences to the parties involved, including their own children. We pray Your Holy Spirit will convict those that take marriage lightly or no longer respect it as a sacred covenant. The culture we live in of promiscuity has calloused many a conscience. But we are praying for every need represented in this prayer ministry for the restoration of broken marriages and broken husbands and wives. Hosanna to the King of kings and Lord of lords! We thank You, and pray in Jesus name, amen.
 
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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Please pray my wife Nicole repent and turn to God.