Winning in Marriage Part Two

Fresh Manna© by Pastor Tim Burt
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/

Romans 13:1 “… For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”

I’m sure that you, like me, have read many inspirational stories over your years. The children of this generation are told stories all the time inspiring them to believe that “you can do anything if you put your mind to it.” I like that people are inspired. It’s better than them being told “You are good for nothing and you won’t amount to anything.” Many people in past generations could tell you stories that this is what was imparted to them when they were young. Positive and encouraging words spoken over others are Biblical principles that God has given us. Yet to think we can do anything that is significant in His eyes without His guidance and direction and help is futile thinking.

Any power within us is only the power of God. Before you give your life to Jesus Christ, God’s Word makes it clear that you are stuck in Satan’s grip and power. No one wants to hear that. You might think, “How could that be possible? I’m not under Satan’s power.” I remember thinking that when someone was sharing Jesus with me before I gave my life to Him.

If you want to see a world that is under Satan’s power but does not recognize it, go watch the movie-documentary “Super Size Me.” You will see that the majority of our society is overweight if not obese. If you were to look into stats on the amount of money gambled and lost, the amount of money spent on alcohol and recreational drugs and the addictions and the problems and deaths they’ve caused, if you will look into the amount of money spent on cigarettes and the health issues and deaths they have caused, if you will look into the amount of money it takes police to catch, prosecute, and jail or imprison criminals, or the amount of money spent on our military to defend our country from enemies, you will find that we squander, waste, and spend the majority of the world’s wealth – literally trillions on evil or the protection from it. Surely this world is under Satan’s grip and his power. People don’t have the power do to do anything they want. They don’t even have the power to stop evil thinking and actions in their lives without the power of Jesus.

God’s Word makes it clear that when we receive Jesus into our hearts as Lord and Savior – we change kingdoms and are rescued from Satan’s power and brought under and given God’s power. Col. 1:13 says, “God who has delivered us from Satan’s power – the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son Jesus..” Acts 1:8 then says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…”
To most people the thought of power is more of a fantasy, or a game, but not something they really give all that much thought to. God wanted us to not only know of His power but to experience it at the most base level of our lives – His power in us and His power working through us. Forget what you think driven taught by television when you think of power. Think of it as the supernatural and inward strength of God working within you to actually live Godly and upright in thought and actions in a world of corruption and evil. Think of it as the power bringing you courage and boldness to stand up for your faith in God and what you believe. Think of it as the supernatural power of God working behind the scenes to work through your prayers and to guide your steps and life. Then understand that this power even increases in our lives through our prayers through a husband and wife aware of and unified over it by faith.

When Renee and I met and planned on marrying, we knew we were equally yoked and the right person for each other. We couldn’t admit that we were young, stubborn, and in many ways immature. We often felt powerless to make the changes necessary to have a healthy marriage. It would have been easy to cave in and quit as we got weary from fighting and learning to get along. But, there was the promise of His power that would work within us if we would follow the basic mandates of His Word necessary for building a healthy marriage. We had to lay our immaturity and our emotional discouragement aside and acknowledge God’s power to help us change that resided within us. We then had to learn and apply principles that would release the power of two in agreement in God. We had to trust that obeying His word was greater than our failures and immaturity and that His power within us would give us the strength to walk it out.

The first principle God’s Word mandated that we had to walk in is forgiveness. I will describe that and the other principles next week.

For today, know. “… For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” IF you are a believer, God has made His power available to you. If you walk in that power then this promise will be available to you. If you walk in agreement with another believer standing in faith, you will see increased power. 2 Peter 1:4 says, “And by that same mighty power, God has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in His divine nature.” More next week

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/