Open Heavens 12 February 2016: Friday daily devotion

Open Heavens 12 February 2016: Friday daily devotion by Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Topic: Fulfilling God’s Purpose? III

Memorise: And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. – Genesis 2:18

Read: 1 Samuel 19:9-12 (KJV)

9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.

10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.

12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.

Bible in One Year: Mark 12:41-14:42; Job 20:20-29

MESSAGE:

Let me start by clarifying something about being alone. Being alone could be in two ways, by solitude and by loneliness. Solitude is by being alone on purpose; an international separation from people for a period, such a person can be alone by the river side or watching television without being lonely. There is a biblical basis for solitude (Exodus 33:7, 11; Luke 5:16; Luke 22:41), therefore, solitude could be a good thing. However, loneliness is usually never desired. Prolonged loneliness may sometimes lead to depression. Being alone is the very fast aspect of creation that met with God's disapproval and His harsh judgment of not being good, and 1 Corinthians 1:25 says,

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

Therefore, God's assessment of "being alone" should be taken seriously. God in His infinite wisdom decided to solve the problem of being alone by providing a "help meet for the man". A perfect companion that is suitable for him, one that will cancel out the negative effects of "being alone". Now, fulfilling the purpose of God in life in general and marriage in particular depends largely on our understanding and total submission to the manufacturer's instructions. A simple, direct, Holy Ghost inspired and time tested meaning of this passage is clear to all. Help refers broadly to aid or assistance, the word "helper" may connote subordinate, but does not necessarily imply inferiority. Hosea 13:9 refers to God as Israel's helper, also, Genesis 2:18-25, describes how God provided the suitable helper for the man.

The declaration of Adam, that Eve is the bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh is a pointer to the fact that marriage creates the closets of all human relationships and should be cherished as such. We are to note also that only Eve was created and not Several Eves or another Adam. This is the confirmation that God established heterosexual monogamy as the divine pattern for marriage at creation. However, the languages of Ephesians 5:22-25 is probably clearer on the God given roles of husbands and wives.

“22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;"

Every child of God that is determined to fulfill God's purpose must live according to the order of marriage ordained by Almighty God. Marriage is the foundation of life according to the Bible. Consequently, marital failure may as well translate to failure in life and ministry.

Prayer Point: Father, I believe in the institution of marriage according to the Bible, please help me to build a strong, happy and joyful home in the mighty name of Jesus.