"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).
My friends, if God has commanded you to intercede on behalf of your spouse, why would you want to disobey by giving up. Why do we feel afraid of the consequences of going the whole way in doing this for the Lord? Why do you constantly threaten about giving up? Why do we constantly threaten that we will start dating? Why do we shrink from accepting responsibilities? Why do we constantly listen to negative people? Why do we rather believe man than God? Why do we not believe God and go all the way? Is it because we are afraid of being left stranded by God? I am encouraging you to depend upon the adequacy of God. (Romans 8:32. ) Trust God and be obedient.
Our flesh wants to disobey, our flesh wants to give up, our flesh wants to be rebellious and to worry and fret about the future. Our flesh wants to date and have intimacy; Yes, I said intimacy, because I have been receiving numerous emails from Standers who are constantly having a burning desire for intimacy. (My friends, that is a craving of the flesh). Unlike our Spirit, the Spirit wants to wait and persevere. Let us not let our flesh win this battle. The flesh wareth against the Spirit. Let us put our flesh under subjection and wait on God for the healing and restoration of our family.
We are afraid to go all the way in accepting the authority of God, because of our secret uncertainty as to His adequacy to look after us if we do. If we cannot trust God to do this, then the name of the game we are playing is unbelief, and Paul's "He will give us all things" stands as an everlasting rebuke to us. Paul is telling us that there is no ultimate loss or irreparable impoverishment to be feared.
The meaning of "He will give us all things" can be put thus: one day we shall see that nothing--literally nothing--which could have increased our eternal happiness has been denied us, and that nothing--literally nothing--that could have reduced our happiness has been left with us. What higher assurance do we want than that?
Do we fear that God lacks strength or wisdom for fulfilling His declared purpose? But it is He who has made the worlds, and rules them, and ordains all that takes place, from the careers of Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar to the fall of a sparrow. Or do we fear that He is infirm of purpose, and that as good men with good intentions sometimes let down their friends, so our God may fail to carry out His good intentions toward us?
But Paul states it as a fact that . . . "in everything God works for good with those who love Him": and who are we to suppose that we will be the first exception, the first person to find God wavering and failing to keep His word? Do you not see how you dishonor God by such fears? Or do you doubt His constancy, suspecting that He has "emerged" or "developed" or "died" in the interim between Bible times and our own . . . , and that now He is no longer quite the God with whom the saints of Scriptures had to do? But "I the Lord do not change," and "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever" (Malachi 3;6; Hebrews 13:8).
Have you been holding back from praying for your spouse, do you still harbor unforgiveness? If the Lord has called you to intercede for your spouse while they continue in a life of sin, why would you disobey this call? My friends, hold back no longer. Your God is faithful to you, and adequate for you. You will never need more than He can supply, and what He supplies, both materially and spiritually, will always be enough for the present. "No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly" (Ps. 84:11). "God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Cor. 10:13). "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:8). Think of these things!--and let your thoughts drive out your inhibitions in serving your God and be obedient.
"My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen" (Philippians 4:19-20).
Be encouraged my friends.
Pastor Doreen
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