Singleness of Heart VS Superhero Syndrome

At last night's meeting, one of our attendees asked me if I could post last night's Bible study notes, so here they are. This is the basic outline of what I shared with the Christian Singles On The GO group last night!
God bless,
Pastor Curtis
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Christian Singles On The GO
Assistant Pastor Curtis Alexander
Sun Aug 30 2015 PM SERVICE
"Singleness - Not Just A Relationship Status!"

Singleness- it is NOT JUST A MARITAL STATUS! Singleness is a term referring to the condition of your Heart:
Acts 2:46 GNV
And they continued daily with one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread at home, did eat their meat together with gladness and singleness of heart,

"Singleness" according to the BlueLetterBible .org is: "simplicity, smoothness, singleness" G858. The Greek word is "Afelotes".

"Heart" in BLB is Kardia G2588
I.the heart
A.that organ in the animal body which is the centre of the circulation of the blood, and hence was regarded as the seat of physical life
B.denotes the centre of all physical and spiritual life
i.the vigour and sense of physical life
ii.the centre and seat of spiritual life
a.the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours
b.of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence
c.of the will and character
d.of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions
C.of the middle or central or inmost part of anything, even though inanimate

Is your will, your desire, your mind and your affections and purpose SINGULAR, or DIVIDED?

Ephesians 6:5 GNV
Servants, be obedient unto them that are your masters, according to the flesh, with fear and trembling in singleness of your hearts, as unto Christ,

Singleness in this passage is a different Greek word: "Haplotes" G572

I.singleness, simplicity, sincerity, mental honesty
A.the virtue of one who is free from pretence and hypocrisy
II.not self seeking, openness of heart manifesting itself by generousity

Colossians 3:22
¶ Servants, be obedient unto them that are your masters according to the flesh, in all things, not with eye service as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.


---------SUPERHERO SYNDROME-----------

Christians sometimes fall for the following myth, which I call "Superhero Syndrome". This is the opposite to singleness of heart.
This is the false idea that one can live two lives, one is morally upright and righteous, the other life is "average" and blends in with the world.
One with this syndrome always covers their true identity with a mask of heroism and actually behaves quite differently outside of their
church or Christian circles. They believe they can blend in with the world as long as they aren't in church, or with Christians.

THE TRUTH is:
You only have one identity, and it is not based on your marital status or your ability to date or not date. It is based on Christ and His sacrifice for you.
Are we able to live a single-minded life, rather than a double life? Are we willing to submit ourselves to God and  practice righteousness, even in private? Are we willing to remove private sin, even if it temporarily creates inconvenience? Are we willing to distance ourselves from calling haters of God our "friends"?

KEY TEXT:
James 1:5-8 ESV
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Paul, a single (unmarried) man and an evangelist and Apostle exemplified this Singleness of Heart. He did not suffer from "SUPERHERO SYNDROME". He was able to say the following when he was being tried before Roman authorities:
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Acts 25:6-12 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

6 ¶ Now when he had tarried among them no more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day sat in the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.

7 And when he was come, the Jews which were come from Jerusalem, stood about him and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, whereof they could make no plain proof,

8 Forasmuch as he answered, that he had neither offended anything against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor against Caesar.

9 Yet Festus willing to get favor of the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews I have done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.

11 For if I have done wrong, or committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things, whereof they accuse me, no man, to pleasure them, can deliver me to them: I appeal unto Caesar.

12 Then when Festus had spoken with the Council, he answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
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Three things Paul was upstanding in, to demonstrate his singleness of heart (honesty, lack of pretense), not just with the church, but also in his private life and his life as a citizen:
1) He did not offend in the "law of the Jews" which is really Mosaic Law. Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses. We are in Christ, therefore we are not in violation of the Law any longer.

2) He did not offend against "the temple" (meaning the physical building in Jerusalem.) Christ made US the temple! In Biblical terms, in Paul's own writings, the temple NOW refers to the Body of Christ (both on earth and in heaven), and also to the physical body of each believer. What kind of lifestyle are we living with our body? Is it pleasing God?

3) He did not offend against Caesar. For us this refers to government in general and their various institutions. It refers to being a peaceful, law-abiding citizen.
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1) Christ fulfilled the Law, we are under grace. But do not abuse such grace.
John 1:17 GNV
 For the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:13-15 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
13 Neither give ye your members, as weapons of unrighteousness unto sin: but give yourselves unto God, as they that are alive from the dead, and give your members as weapons of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the Law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the Law, but under grace? God forbid.
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2) We are the temple of the Holy Spirit of God, so we need to act in our bodies as honourable saints and even in private. This is singleness of heart. That is why we must not work hard at putting on a "good show" at Sunday service, but rather, we must be honest with God and ask Him to remove any pretense and hypocrisy and the double mind from our private and civic life.
Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote this: 1 Cor 6:19-20
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3) We behave like good citizens in normal affairs of life. We cannot see this as "secular" because God gave all governments their authority. He gives and takes away, but it is His prerogative.
Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote all of his epistles, including this portion: Romans 13:1-8
These three areas help us to see that Paul lived his WHOLE life with a singular focus on holiness and being joined to Christ. He did not see his life in compartments, such as "secular" or "sacred". To Paul, all he did was sacred, and he saw sedition (words against public order, rebellion), carousing, drunkenness, and rioting as examples of wickedness.

Let us live our lives with SINGLENESS OF HEART!

MORE VERSES TO DO WITH SINGLENESS OF HEART.

Several different English words are used in the Geneva Bible when translating the word "Haplotes" G572. Those words include "simplicity", liberality", "liberal", "bountifulness". And in each case, it is the same Greek word meaning "mental honesty, without pretense, without hypocisy, openness of heart, generosity".

 Rom 12:8
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; G572 he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

 2Co 1:12
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity G572 and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

 2Co 8:2
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. G572

 2Co 9:11
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, G572 which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

 2Co 9:13
Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal G572 distribution unto them, and unto all men;

 2Co 11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity G572 that is in Christ.

 Eph 6:5
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness G572 of your heart, as unto Christ;

 Col 3:22
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness G572 of heart, fearing God:

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Divorce and Remarriage: Is It a Sin?

Is ALL Divorce a sin? And is ALL remarriage a sin?

Let's explore the Word of God.

Jeremiah 3:8 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

8 Judah saw that I sent unfaithful Israel away because of her adultery and that I gave Israel her DIVORCE papers. But treacherous Judah, her sister, wasn’t afraid. She also acted like a prostitute.

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Isaiah 50:1 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

50 This is what the Lord says:

Where are your mother’s divorce papers?

Did I give her any to get rid of her?

To which of my creditors did I sell you?

You were sold because of your sins.

I GOT RID your mother because of your rebellion.

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In this next passage, the Lord reveals His plans to remarry unfaithful Israel who is no longer His people, and no longer His wife. The remarriage was to be through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

Hosea 2:19-20 GW

19 “Israel, I will make you my wife forever.

I will be honest and faithful to you.

I will show you my love and compassion.

20 I will be true to you, my wife.

Then you will know the Lord 

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Here we see a revelation of Jesus Christ's (God's) new Bride in remarriage.

 

Revelation 21:9-14 GW

⁹ One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the last seven plagues came to me and said, “Come! I will show you the bride, the wife of the lamb.”

10 He carried me by his power away to a large, high mountain. He showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. 11 It had the glory of God. Its light was like a valuable gem, like gray quartz, as clear as crystal. 12 It had a large, high wall with 12 gates. Twelve angels were at the gates. The names of the 12 tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 The wall of the city had 12 foundations. The 12 names of the 12 apostles of the lamb were written on them.  

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Note in the above passage that This is a HEAVENLY Jerusalem, not the earthly one.

 

1 Corinthians 7:15 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

15 But if the unbelieving partners leave, let them go. Under these circumstances a Christian man or Christian woman is not bound by a marriage vow. God has called you to live in peace.

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Acording to Blue Letter Bible: "unbelieving" in 1 Cor 7:15 is "apistos" in Greek

I.unfaithful, faithless, (not to be trusted, perfidious)

II.incredible

A.of things

III.unbelieving, incredulous

A.without trust (in God)

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1 Corinthians 7:27-28a GW

27 Do you have a wife? Don’t seek a divorce. Are you divorced from your wife? Don’t look for another one. 28a But if you do get married, you have not sinned.

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In the Blue Letter Bible the FIRST word used for "divorce" in 1 Cor 7:27-28 is "Loosis":

1. a loosing, setting free
2. of a prisoner
3. of the bond of marriage, divorce

1. release, ransoming, deliverance
   

   1. of liquidating a debt
2. means or power of releasing or loosing

 

According to Blue Letter Bible, the second word used for "divorce" in 1 Cor 7:27-28 is the word "Lyo"

I.to loose any person (or thing) tied or fastened

A.bandages of the feet, the shoes,

B.of a husband and wife joined together by the bond of matrimony

C.of a single man, whether he has ALREADY had a wife or has not yet married

II.to loose one bound, i.e. to unbind, release from bonds, set free

A.of one bound up (swathed in bandages)

B.bound with chains (a prisoner), discharge from prison, let go

III.to loosen, undo, dissolve, anything bound, tied, or compacted together

A.an assembly, i.e. to dismiss, break up

B.laws, as having a binding force, are likened to bonds

C.to annul, subvert

D.to do away with, to deprive of authority, whether by precept or act

E.to declare unlawful

F.to loose what is compacted or built together, to break up, demolish, destroy

G.to dissolve something coherent into parts, to destroy

H.metaph., to overthrow, to do away with

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So it appears from what Paul is saying, that a Christian can indeed remarry if they have been abandoned in their first marriage. But he discourages remarriage unless one has really set their heart on it. He discourages it, but does not disallow it. He only cautions divorced people not to remarry because if they do, they will have more trouble in the flesh, and he wants to make it as easy as possible for them to serve Jesus. From a ministry perspective, this can make sense. But from a heart perspective, some people really wish to be remarried. So Paul allows it.

 

Jesus was speaking to hypocritical Pharisees when he said the following:

Matthew 19:9 GW

I can guarantee that whoever divorces his wife for any reason other than her unfaithfulness is committing adultery if he marries another woman.”

 

The Pharisees, along with Herod and others, were abusing the Mosaic provision of divorce to get rid of wives on a whim. Jesus corrected them from such abuse of divorce. Jesus reminded them that God's original design for man and woman was in the Garden of Eden. One husband and one wife, united together as one flesh, and not to be separated. Jesus never abolished Moses' provision for divorce, only clarified what it is for: unfaithfulness and abandonment (according to Paul).

It exists because of marital unfaithfulness/fornication (sexual perversions), and also because of abandonment. 

 

Matthew 19:7-9 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

⁷ The Pharisees asked him, “Why, then, did Moses order a man to give his wife a written notice to divorce her?”

⁸ Jesus answered them, “Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because you’re heartless. It was never this way in the beginning. ⁹ I can guarantee that whoever divorces his wife for any reason other than her unfaithfulness is committing adultery if he marries another woman.”

 

 

We also know that if the spouse dies, the surviving spouse can remarry. That is in 1 Corinthians 7:39.

 

So the Lord remarried the Bride, the New Jerusalem (the Israelites who came to Christ) and grafted the Gentiles into that tree through faith. And Biblical divorce appears to be a provision in itself, not a sin. Divorce is a provision BECAUSE of sin. Some married people are unfaithful, unbelieving, unbelievable. The Lord does not sin yet He divorced natural Israel for her unfaithfulness. Then He died for her sins, and rose from the dead to take back any into the New Bride, the heavenly New Jerusalem. Any Israelites or Gentiles who come through Christ get to be a part of the New Jerusalem, the WIFE of Jesus the Lamb. This is the second -yet final and eternal- marriage.

 

So according to Moses, Jesus, and Paul, divorce is a negative yet sometimes necessary provision because of fornication/unfaithfulness and hardness of heart in one partner.

But like all provisions in the Bible, mankind can also sin by abusing such provisions. It is never to be taken or used lightly. We must always seek the council of the Lord and His Word first before considering divorce at all. The first option in a troubled marriage should be prayer and counselling. Reconciliation should be considered first if it is possible.

But if your spouse is a non believer, incredible/unbelievable, and they abandon you, or they cheat on you, or violate your vows, you are not required to keep those vows. Legal divorce is sometimes the sad provision we must take in order to continue on with Jesus. Nothing should come between you and Jesus. 

One final Bible verse which I already quoted last time, but it applies here too. Jesus makes it clear how important following Him is. Not even marriage should stop you. Jesus will reward those who forsake their loved ones and spouses for the Gospel's sake:

 

Matthew 19:29 Geneva Version (See also the King James Version)

29 And whosoever shall FORSAKE houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or WIFE, or children, or lands, for my Name’s sake, he shall receive an hundredfold more, and shall inherit everlasting life.

 

I discuss the meaning of the word "forsake" in my in my last blog entry here.

Basically, the scope of this word includes divorce. It means to "let go" or to "allow" or to "divorce". Sometimes we need to let go of unfaithful people, unfaithful spouses. If you gave it all you got, and the spouse still will not return to you, then you are in good company. Jesus was also abandoned in the garden. The LORD God in the old testament was forsaken, cheated on, abandoned. The Lord had to divorce Israel. And now, through His death, and resurrection, Jesus can take a remnant back.... ALL who will call on the name of Jesus as Saviour and Lord and Messiah! All can call on Him, but not all will. That is why it will be a remnant in the second wife, the Heavenly Jerusalem.

 

Not even marriage and divorce concern Jesus as much as discipleship concerns Him. NOTHING should come between you and Jesus. If your spouse is non-believing, let them stay with you. Don't send them away. But if they want a divorce and they abandon you, then divorce is your only Biblical option. And after the divorce is complete, you CAN remarry in the Lord. Paul allowed it in 1 Corinthians 7. He favoured singleness as a personal preference, but upheld marriage and remarriage also. Most people will benefit from the gift of marriage. Some thrive more in the gift of singleness. (1 Cor. 7:7). So if you are legally divorced from an unfaithful spouse who cheated or abandoned you, take time to heal. Take time to recover and grieve the loss. Divorce is loss and takes time to recover from. The Holy Spirit can heal you. Over time, and with plenty of healing, ask the Lord to slowly reintroduce you into a new relationship, if you desire one. You are free to remarry.
 

Stay true to Jesus as His disciple and be faithful to Him! HE will REWARD you for your faith and faithfulness in all areas, even if you had to get divorced in order to stay true to Jesus and His call.

 

The REAL sin is those disobey God's leading and direction. (See Adam, who put his wife above God). I might remind you that Adam is responsible for bringing sin on all of us, because he did not put God above his marriage. He should have listen to God, but he failed to. This is why he sinned and caused all mankind to be sinful after him. This is why Jesus, the Last Adam came as a single/unmarried man... to live a perfect sinless life, and to offer that perfect life as a sin-offering to the Father on our behalf. God is SO GOOD!

 

I am looking forward to receiving a hundred times MORE from Jesus, and life everlasting! Are you?

 

 

Blessings!

 Pastor Curtis
www.facebook.com/christiansinglesonthego

 

Salvation is Free, Discipleship is Costly

Matthew 19:28-30 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say to you, that when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his Majesty, ye which followed me in the regeneration, shall sit also upon twelve thrones, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And whosoever shall forsake houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my Name’s sake, he shall receive an hundredfold more, and shall inherit everlasting life.
30 But many that are first, shall be last, and the last shall be first.
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Discipleship is a lifestyle dedicated to following Jesus. Discipleship is something you live out, AFTER you are saved, born again by His grace. Once saved, you are automatically called to be a disciple. But discipleship cannot be carried out without salvation. You must be saved first. And that is a work Jesus accomplished on the cross. You do not work to be saved, you simply confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised Him from the dead. (Rom 10:9)

As disciples, everything from our spirit to our minds to our bodies to our actions and words to our location becomes subject to the teachings and calling of Christ. This requires you to develop a real relationship with the Lord, the Holy Spirit. He will guide you every day. His Word and His Spirit will guide you. There is perfect harmony between the Scriptures and the Spirit.

That word "forsake" is used here in the context of the cost of discipleship. In the original Greek text, it is defined on BlueLetterBible.org as:

I.to send away
A.to bid going away or depart
i.of a husband divorcing his wife
B.to send forth, yield up, to expire
C.to let go, let alone, let be
i.to disregard
ii.to leave, not to discuss now, (a topic)
a.of teachers, writers and speakers
iii.to omit, neglect
D.to let go, give up a debt, forgive, to remit
E.to give up, keep no longer
II.to permit, allow, not to hinder, to give up a thing to a person
III.to leave, go way from one
A.in order to go to another place
B.to depart from any one
C.to depart from one and leave him to himself so that all mutual claims are abandoned
D.to desert wrongfully
E.to go away leaving something behind
F.to leave one by not taking him as a companion
G.to leave on dying, leave behind one
H.to leave so that what is left may remain, leave remaining
I.abandon, leave destitute
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 If anyone or anything is coming between you and Jesus and what He has called you to do, then as a disciple, we are to "forsake" or to "let go" of that person or thing. This is the sobering cost of discipleship.

See 1 Corinthians 7:17 Geneva Bible

¹⁷ But as God hath distributeth to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk: and so ordain I in all Churches.

 

Notice it is not as your parents call you or as your wife or husband calls you or as your children call you. It is not even as your pastor or priest calls you. It is as the Lord calls you. Every disciple has a general calling, to preach the Gospel. Yet, as we read 1 Corinthians 12 and the book of Acts, we learn that within that broad universal calling, are specific details. There is holy diversity in the administration and placement of people and gifts within the Body of Christ, the Church. Those details are going to vary from disciple to disciple. This makes each disciple's mission both universal and also unique, diverse. Each calling is focused on the Gospel, and it's power. But each calling also makes a geographic impact.

Jesus placed some of us in certain parts of the country, to serve there. Others, He has called to serve over seas. We each have a specific calling, with geographic details, ordained by the Lord Himself. This is what Paul the Apostle taught. Even Paul himself was given a geographic calling within the universal calling (Mat. 28:18-20).
His geographic calling varied from time to time. But it was always specific.

Acts 16:9-10 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

⁹ Where a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come into Macedonia, and help us.

¹⁰ And after he had seen the vision, immediately we prepared to go into Macedonia, being assured that the Lord had called us to preach the Gospel unto them. 

So here we see that Paul was following the Lord's Calling. It was both Universal (Preach the Gospel) and also specific with geographic details (Macedonia).

 

Look at Phillip. He was given the universal calling, and within that, he was given geographic details for his calling.

Acts 8:26 Geneva Bible

Then the Angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the South unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is waste.

 

Now that we understand what Jesus expects, and we understand how He calls us, we can go back to our main text, which was about forsaking loved ones for the sake of Jesus' Name.

 

Mat. 19:29

29 And whosoever shall forsake houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my Name’s sake, he shall receive an hundredfold more, and shall inherit everlasting life.

To be clear: We are not to simply give up on loved ones or marriages on a whim, or walk away from our family responsibilities. No. That is not a proper understanding of this verse. This verse is specifically talking about prioritizing Christ's calling as FIRST in your life.

It might mean you have to leave home and family to follow Christ in the mission field. It might mean that you have been disowned by your family because you converted from their religion to Christianity. It might mean that you were abandoned for the sake of Christ.

 Regarding that last example: if you can live in harmony with your spouse while effectively serving Christ as a disciple, then do it. There is no room for you to throw out such a relationship. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 7 to live with our spouse even if they are an unbeliever.

But if that spouse is threatening to leave you because of your discipleship, and nothing can be done to convince them to stay, then you must let them go.

If your son or your wife or your parents abandon you for His Name's Sake, because you follow Jesus in word and in deed, you WILL be rewarded for your faithfulness! Stay true to Jesus. Honour your family the best you can. Show your family as much love as God showed you.

 But never let people manipulate or commandeer the direction of your life and calling. Only Jesus is LORD for the true Christian disciple. You have both the universal call, and also a geographic, specific call. Scripture is teeming with examples of this. Stay true to the life Jesus has called you to live, and to the Gospel! You can know the universal call through Scripture. You can know your specific calling by relating to the Holy Spirit each day, as a born again child of God. He will guide you with His voice, He will reveal passages of Scripture that He wants you to relate to, and He will place you in a local church as He pleases. He will lead you faithfully as you seek Him.

Compare Mat 19:28-30 to this verse about non-believing or non-credible spouses leaving their Christian spouse:
1 Cor. 7:15
15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart: a brother or a sister is not in subjection in such things: but God hath called us in peace.

If you are like me, then you have been abandoned by an "unbelieving" spouse because of your walk with Christ. That spouse has confessed that they see God as the enemy. He or she may have promised in their public marriage vows to walk with you in discipleship and ministry at the start, but they broke that holy vow. They have, instead, walked out, and now you are alone.

According to Matthew 19:29, Jesus will reward you for letting that unbelieving (Greek literally means: "not credible") spouse go for His name's sake. Your divorce, in this context, becomes a testimony of your discipleship.
As sad and tragic as divorce is, it is actually more tragic for you to abandon your obedience to Jesus in order keep your marriage.
It is a difficult decision, believe me. It is the same one that Adam had to make. He had to choose between obeying God (thus keeping his garden ministry in Eden), or obeying his wife, who had disobeyed God by eating the fruit off the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. His choice was to follow his disbelieving wife, and he lost everything as a result. No more tending the garden of Eden. That ministry, that service to God was gone for good. Even moreso, death was brought into existence because of Adam's sin, and Adam and Eve were permanently severed from the Lord. Thank God we have the Lamb, Jesus Christ who now makes it possible come alive again, and reunite with God!

This in no way is to undervalue the holy institution of God's marriage covenant between a man and a woman. But God's view is also bigger than a temporal covenant. Marriage ends at the grave. But the reward for disciples goes beyond the grave, into eternity!

If you disobey the calling of Christ (both the universal and the specific calling), to follow a non-believing spouse (in an effort to keep them from leaving you), this is not true discipleship.

Don't try and win the approval of your non-believing friends and family by denying Jesus. You are called to walk the very costly path of a disciple of Christ. The message, the details, and the location of your calling will NOT be popular with those who are worldly-minded. This often includes family members.

This is the Gospel. Salvation is free, but Discipleship is costly.
IN Christ you CAN finish this walk with Jesus til death, and get the reward!!
Jesus promises to give 100 times more to those who follow Him, and forsake (let go of) loved ones who abandon them.

And He also promises life everlasting to those who will follow Jesus to the end. That is amazing! This reward will NEVER fade, and NEVER get old. It will last forever! The price we pay today, is nothing compared to the eternal weight of glory waiting for us at the finish line! 

Press on and be blessed! He is with you in this!!

Pastor Curtis
Wed Aug 5 2015 8:20pm EST