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Keys To Successful Family (Part 2) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo
Topic: Keys To Successful Family (Part 2)
Hello Reader,
Peace and blessings in the precious Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. I welcome you to another interesting edition of these teaching series and I hope you were tremendously blessed in the first series? Last week, I pointed you to Jesus the ‘Living water’ who quenches any and every form of thirst in the home. Today, we shall be looking at The Realities of the Covenant Marriage.
It is important for you to understand what marriage is all about. Many people, including Christians, have a misconception about marriage. Some people think that it is just the coming together of a man and a woman to bear children while some others think it is a way to be free from loneliness.
Scripturally, marriage is a covenant, not a promise, and until you have this understanding, you may never enjoy fulfilment in your home. Marriage covenant involves two parties: God on one hand and man (and his wife) on the other. As long as you are in a marital relationship, it is important for you to know that you are in a covenant with God and with your spouse. God is the initiator of the covenant and His terms of an agreement are sealed up in His word. Malachi 2:14 says: Because the LORD hath been a witness between thee and … the wife of thy covenant.
A covenant is an agreement between two parties, with each party agreeing to do something as a prerequisite to receiving some benefit. A covenant is also for a lifetime. A promise is a verbal or written undertaking to do or not to do something, but In a covenant, you have to abide with some terms and condition and as you do these, you enjoy the benefits it contains. When you walk in terms with the covenant, God fulfils His own part of the covenant.
Success in marriage is not a function of prayers. It is basically, a function of walking in the terms of the covenant. The only place prayer is needed is for divine grace to walk in line with the demands of the covenant. Prayer can never take the place of obedience to the terms of the covenant. Therefore, instead of going from place to place seeking a solution to the problems of your home, settle down for knowledge of your covenant responsibility and stay committed to its fulfilment thereof. It is in the doing of that covenant responsibility, that your desire lies.
The marriage covenant is best described as a triangle, with God on top or at the apex, and the man and his wife at the bottom or the base, everyone playing their part independently … As unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22). God created you and made you a part of that family for a purpose and you will be accountable to Him for the fulfilment of that purpose. Husband and wife have covenant obligations to each other for which they will also be held accountable. Your responsibility to obey the terms of the covenant is not dependent on your spouse fulfilling his or her own part. As far as God is concerned, you have been given an individual responsibility and you must be accountable to Him for its fulfilment.
The failure on the part of your spouse for the non-performance of his or her responsibility is not a sufficient excuse for the non-performance of yours. For instance, as a man, you cannot say the failure of your wife to submit to your headship is the reason you cannot love her. The same goes for the woman; whether your husband loves you or not, you are under an obligation to submit to him in everything. When you fulfil your own part of the covenant, God will also fulfil His own part which is to give you peace, joy, fulfilment and every good thing you desire in your family. God is constant; His side is stable; He doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6); He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He will do whatever He says He will do. What does that mean? Whatever good you see God do for any family, He can do the very same thing for you because He is no respecter of persons. If he has to change your spouse in response to your obedience, he will do it.
The Bible says: The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will (Proverbs 21:1). The turning of your spouse’s heart is but a light thing with the Lord for with Him nothing shall be impossible. You just concentrate on pleasing Him by your obedience to His command and He will please you by the fulfilment of His part of the covenant.
When your covenant relationship with God is in place, your covenant relationship with your spouse becomes a very easy thing to observe. If you get committed to obeying the Lord, by either loving your wife or submitting to your husband, you will find out that it becomes a thing of joy for you to do. It becomes a delight to show love or submit. It is no longer mechanical but spontaneous, and all that could ever be desired in a home becomes cheaply yours.
God is a God of covenants and the benefits of the covenant are only available to those who have a covenant relationship with Him. He said in his Word: Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice Psalms 50:5. You can become a part of those in covenant with Him by praying this simple prayer with me inviting Jesus Christ into your heart as your Lord and personal Saviour: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You this day as a sinner, I repent and ask You to forgive me my sins. I accept You toady as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Lord for saving me, justifying me and making me a child of God.” Amen.
Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21). With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).
Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.
