One of the most frustrating things to witness in marriage restoration ministry is when the devil starts whispering lies to standers and they become confused. For instance, they might begin to wonder if God wants their spouse to find someone who can make them happy, because they weren’t the spouse they could have been, or even should have been. Or their spouse appears to be happy and prosperous, so they wonder if God really minds what they’re doing. Or their spouse is so angry, cold, distant and indifferent, they believe it’s impossible for them to ever love them again. Or as time goes on and they can’t see any manifestation of God’s power at work on their behalf, they become discouraged and doubtful. The list goes on and on, but the problem with anything and everything based on circumstances and situations, human emotions and understanding, is that they TOTALLY ignore the truth and power of God’s Word! And if we’re going to stand for the restoration of our marriages, the ONLY thing we have to stand on is the TRUTH of God’s Word, because if God’s Word is not true, NOTHING we believe about God or Jesus is true. It’s either ALL true, or none of it’s true. That’s why our belief in the inherent truth and reliability of God’s Word, the Bible, as the infallible and inspired Word of God, is the foundation for FAM Ministries, and the ONLY foundation strong enough to withstand the forces of hell and the rest of the world as we stand for the restoration of our marriages.

That means we have to evaluate everything we see and all that we hear from Satan, our spouses, and well meaning family and friends, according to the Word of God. But the GOOD news for us is that the things we hear and see from the other side RARELY, if ever, line up with the written Word of God, which naturally generates opposing sides, with opposite ideas, opinions, standards and values. But despite society’s willingness to accept that there are no absolutes and that everything is relative, with God ALL things ARE absolute; either matters of good or evil, righteousness or sin, obedience or disobedience, the way to heaven or hell, the truth or lies, and matters of life or death and blessings or curses. And John 14:6 says Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. And 2 Peter 2:1-2 warns: But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. Then “Matthew 7:13-14 even says Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. So based on the above verses, we shouldn’t be too surprised that taking an unpopular stand for the restoration of our marriages can be a pretty lonely and isolated experience, because most people believe in taking the “easy” way, and that when something is hard to do, it’s not worth the time or trouble. But according to Psalm 119:105, God’s Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path, and in Matthew 4:4, Jesus reminded us that we don’t live on bread alone but by EVERY word that comes from the mouth of God..

So once we realize that our stand for the restoration of our marriage is in accordance with biblical teaching, then we have to rely on God’s AWESOME promise in Romans 8:28-31 (NJKV), which says And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? And this is a point often overlooked as we stand for our marriages, because IF God is on our side, HE IS NOT ON THE SIDE OF OUR SPOUSES and the adultery being committed against us! He can’t be on both sides; one side is right and one side is wrong. If God hates divorce and considers adultery an abomination, which we know He does, then He HAS to be on the side standing against both. And one side will have His protection, provision and blessing and the other won’t, unless they turn from their wicked ways, because Deuteronomy 11:25-28 says No man will be able to stand against you. The LORD your God, as he promised you, will put the terror and fear of you on the whole land, wherever you go. See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse-the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known. And Deuteronomy 30:1-6 says When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the LORD your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the LORD your God will gather you and bring you back. He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. And then Malachi 2:2 says >If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me.

As I was contemplating some of the situations involving some of our members yesterday, the Lord brought some things to my attention that I hadn’t considered before, but now that I do, it’s amazing to recognize how faithfully we are seeing the truth of the above passages of scripture coming to pass in the lives of our members and their spouses. First, the members who have truly let their spouses go and clearly put their relationship with the Lord first, and are consistently the most active in the ministry, are among the ones who are currently experiencing the most progress in the restoration of their marriages. And while the Lord seems to be blessing them right and left, life for their spouses seems to be going from bad to worse. It’s also interesting to note that the prodigal spouses that heard from the Lord and responded without much delay did not experience the same kind of financial and emotional devastation the ones who continue to resist seem to be experiencing. Even though it’s definitely something we shouldn’t do, it’s difficult to resist telling the spouses who are so miserable and yet so convinced that there’s nothing wrong with what they’re doing, to read the above passages of scripture and then look at who the Lord is blessing and who He’s not blessing! And the sad thing is that the longer they refuse to turn from the disobedience in their lives, the worse things are likely to get. But what blessings await them when they finally turn from their sin and return to their families! It’s amazing to see how accurately ALL of our testimonies and praise reports bear out the truth of God’s Word from the above passages of scripture, which should be a great source of comfort and encouragement to us, because they confirm the following verses, which we ALL love so much, among many others. Just remember, God IS on your side; He HATES divorce and adultery, so He’s NOT on the side of anyone seeking a divorce or involved in adultery. And we CAN stand on the truth and power of His Word, because He WILL bring it to pass! So be blessed and encouraged

Isaiah 55:8-11
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Isaiah 46:11
From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.

Proverbs 16:1
To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.

Psalm 37:4-6
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 20:24
A man’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?

Jeremiah 10:23
I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.

Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.

Posted Monday, March 26th, 2007 at 11:57 pm in Seeds Of Faith.