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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2008 0:36:54 GMT -7
www.worldinvisible.com/avlib/mlf/mlf_sermons/Can-Marriage-Work-No.-84-mp3.htmlWow. I accidentally (actually, I think God was behind it) came across this while following a link on testing spirits, and God slapped me upside the head with it. I've been struggling lately with really loving my wife. What it really means. What it really looks like. Not a love like the fantasy hollywood movie love, but an unconditional love like we as husbands are commanded in Ephesian 5:25 - just as Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for her. I'm so far off God's mark for love, it's pretty sad. And the truth of it all, is I still really love myself way too much. And the beauty of it all, is that I still can't change any of that. It has to be God that changes me. Just like with lust. There's nothing we can really do to stop. It has to be God that changes us. It's so simple, but so hard to grasp. The message of the cross; what Jesus did for us; what the Father gave up really is the answer for everything. CB!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2008 13:01:28 GMT -7
CB
No, but we must choose and we must show effort.
God is the Power and the Glory, but our will is aligned with His when we choose to do His Will and make an effort in that direction. The Power is added to us. The opposite is true also. When we choose the darkness, dark power is added to us and propels us on. God's Power can propel us on, but we must really make a choice and evidence that choice by our efforts in the correct direction.
This is the striving to enter in that we are commanded to do. Not really our own power, but neither complete inaction.
Be inspired by the Holy Spirit in all things righteous!
WV
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2008 23:58:43 GMT -7
I'm not saying to be inactive or to sluff off the responsibility. I'm saying that just like in my case of pornography and masturbation, God had to change me. I wasn't strong enough in my own power to change myself. And believe me, I tried.
It was also very damaging to my wife. And it's been a long, hard road to recovery. I've been trying to restore the relationship; to show her love on her level. But the honest truth - I can't restore the relationship. My human love isn't good enough. My human love isn't strong enough. My human love is still very selfish and misses the 1 Corinthians 13 mark in a lot of areas. That's why it need to be replaced with God's love. Only His love is strong enough to love my wife the way Christ loves the church.
And that's what God is slowly showing me. Apart from Him, apart from Jesus, apart from the saving grace of the cross, I really am nothing. In fact, Paul says that we can give everything we have to the poor and die a martyr's death, but if we do all that without God's love we haven't gained a thing. We can have the mustard seed faith that Jesus described; faith that moves mountains, but we are still nothing if we don't have God's love.
CB!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2008 13:14:06 GMT -7
Yes, without God's Love it is all impossible.
But even with His Love present, if we choose not to obey it, then we are left outside of the incredible grace that Love offers. Obedience does require action on our part and we are told to obey God. We are actually referred to as "children of disobedience" when we do those things which are not right.
I'm not disagreeing with you. We are as absolute nothingness, and yet, much is required of us and expected of us by God. God does have requirements that we must meet along the way. Sometimes the way to actually meet them is not by striving but by allowing God to show us that we really don't want to meet the requirements and need to repent of our wrong desires.
This happened with me recently over some resentment issue. I found myself actually arguing with God, insisting that I had the right to be resentful and thought it was unfair that I have to submit to someone who might be wrong in their expections. But you can imagine where this conversation went! Anyway, God opened my eyes to see that I was really refusing to serve Him in this area and didn't want to either. This was very convicting and I had to ask Him for the heart and grace to do it. But then as the situation arose again and again, each time I was required to obey and not give in to that old man. To crucify it as we are told to do again and again.
As you said, it is not possible in our own strength. But it is also not possible in God's strength if we refuse or take no action. God commands and we must obey His Word. This makes us partakers of the regeneration.
My wife and I had a hard time for awhile. But we now enjoy the most wonderful relationship by the Grace of God. In fact, I could only describe it as a gift of Love, for it truly is. My wife would agree entirely, God has given us so much love for each other and He is right there in the midst of it. What a wonder He is to restore what the cankerworm, the palmerworm, and the locust hath eaten! I pray that you and your wife will walk through this together, pressing on into the Love of God. Never give up!
WV
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