Often we hear about how God has made one just for you - that there is only one person in the world created just for you, etc, and that we are to wait on the Lord for this one person to come into our life. Sometimes this is referred to as one's soulmate and it obviates real choice.
I disagree strongly with such thinking. There is no one person, there are millions of people of various degree that are potential mates for all of us and it has to do with our willingness to love them and their willingness to reciprocate. There is no perfect mate - this is a myth.
Biblically speaking, I find only two cases of there being a "One." Eve, who was created expressly out of Adam's rib for Adam alone and Rebekah who was directed by God for Isaac. In the second case, this may simply be a matter of direction by God and answer to prayer, rather than a "one".
Perhaps if there was no Fall, we all would have received our Eves the same way as Adam but in a fallen and corrupt world, we have no choice but to choose.
BROTHER KDHNY, I AGREE THAT MARRIAGE HAS MAINLY BEEN CREATED FOR AND IS OF COURSE A PERMITED ACT DUE TO THE SIN OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, AS SAID EARLIER, EVERYONES DESTINY IS DIFFRENT AND EVERYONES GOD DESIRED DESTINY WAS PLANNED LONG AGO, WE WOULD EITHER FIND THIS PREDESTINED DESTINY OR CREATE OUR OWN DUE TO THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
JUST AS I SAID EARLIER, I STILL STONGLY BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS PREDESTINED A MATE FOR US. DEPENDING ON THE CHOICES WE MAKE IN LIFE, WE WILL EITHER FIND THAT MATE OR CHOOSE ANOTHER, OR NOT CHOOSE ONE AT ALL.
I DO HOWEVER UNDERSATND WHY PAUL MADE THOSE COMMENTS, KNOWING THE IMPLICATION AND THE LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY AND SO ON, THAT MARRIAGE INVOLVES AND AS YOU SAID, MARRIAGE, DESPITE BEING PERMITED BY GOD, IS AN INCREDIBLE DISTRACTION, JUST AS ALMOST EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS AN INCREDIBLE DISTRACTION FROM FULL AND UNRIVALLED DEDICATION TO GOD. AS A SERVANT OF GOD, I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT IT WAS ONLY RIGHT THAT PAUL GAVE SUCH ADVICE, HE DID NOT HOWEVER SAY THAT GOD DOES NOT PERMIT IT, NEITHER DID HE SAY THAT GOD HAS PREDESTINED A MATE.
TILL THIS DATE, THERE IS NO PRECISE LOCATION IN SCRIPTURE, THAT EXPLAINS THAT GOD HAS PREPARED A SPECIFIC MATE, HOWEVER, I STILL STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT GOD KNOWS AND HAS PREPARED WHATS BEST, ITS JUST FOR US TO SEEK HIM CONSTANTLY, LEADING TO US, EVENTUALLY FINDING IT. AS I SAID EARLIER, WE CAN SEE THAT THE LORD MADE CLEAR AND DISTINCTIVE PLANS FOR JEREMIAH, SON OF HILKIAH. JEREMIAH 1:4-5 SAYS, The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations�.
I DONT AGREE WITH YOU IN SAYING THAT �the perfect plan for all of us is to be unmarried so the moment we say to ourselves - no I really need a wife - then we are already out of God's perfect plan�, AFTERALL, FROM DAY ONE, �God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."(GENESIS 1:28). THESE WERE THE WORDS GIVEN TO ADAM AND EVE. IF THE PLAN WAS FOR US �to be unmarried�, THE WORLD SHOULD ONLY HAVE CONSISTED OF THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY OF ADAM AND EVE, WHO WERE GIVING AUTHORITY TO �Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground�.
THEREFORE, ACCORDING TO YOUR COMMENTS, YOU AND I SHOULD NOT BE ON CDFF HAVING A RIGHTEOUS AND COURTEOUS GO, AT EACHOTHER, LOL:ROFL:, ON THE OTHER HAND, OUR EXISTENCE, IS ONLY BY DECADES OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY, BASED ON WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, SINCE SEX IS ONLY PERMITTED IN MARRIAGE. HOWEVER, GOD TOLD ADAM AND EVE TO �Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it�, GLADLY, THEY DID THIS, THAT IS WHY YOU AND I ARE WHEREVER WE ARE TODAY. WOULD YOU BE HERE IF ADAM AND EVE WERE NOT FRUITFUL AND DID NOT INCREASE IN NUMBER, SO HOW CAN THE PLAN BE FOR US TO BE UNMARRIED? I DO AGREE THAT THERE IS NO CLEAR INDICATION THAT ADAM AND EVE WERE MARRIED, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THEY WERE GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO MULTIPLY.
HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN WHY EVE WAS CREATED BRETHREN? WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WOMEN WERE CREATED AS MANS HELPER, WE HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT SEXUAL IMMORALITY IS A SIN, SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE, AS YOU KNOW, IS ALSO A SIN. SO IF THE PLAN WAS FOR US TO BE UNMARRIED, WHAT YOUR INDIRECTLY SAYING IS THAT THEIR IS NO ESSENCE IN EVES CREATION , IN ADDITION, WHAT YOUR INDIRECTLY SAYING IS THAT SEXUAL IMMORALITY IS A PERMITED ACT BECAUSE, THROUGH THIS SIN, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY FOR THE WORLD TO BE FRUITFUL AND INCREASE IN NUMBER, OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE.
THE PLAN FOR US, WAS DEFINATELY TO BE MARRIED ONLY BY OUR OWN CHOICE, THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT GOD HAS NOT PREDESTINED SOMEONE FOR US, IT IS THROUGH THE CHOICE WE MAKE THAT WE FIND THAT PERSON. PAUL WAS ONLY WARNING US OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF MARRIAGE AND NEVER ONCE SAID THAT MARRIAGE WAS NOT THE PLAN. ALTHOUGH THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY THAT IF WE DO NOT HAVE A WIFE THEN WE WOULD BE LESS ABLE THAN A MAN WHO DOES HAVE A WIFE/HELPER, HOWEVER, IF GOD DECIDED NOT TO CREATE EVE/HELPER, HOW WOULD THE WORLD MULTIPLY AND BE FRUITFUL, AS HE WANTED IT TO BE?
IN ADDITION, WHAT YOUR SAYING, IS THAT, NONE OF US, ARE PART OF HIS PERFECT PLAN, BECAUSE, IF THE PLAN WAS FOR US �TO BE UNMARRIED�, THEN SEXUAL IMMORALITY , BASED ON HOW YOU PUT IT, IS PERMITTED. I HAVE NOT COME ACROSS ANY PLACE IN THE BIBLE THAT GOD SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT WE ARE NOT TO BE MARRIED AND OR THAT MARRIED PEOPLE ARE LESS THAN AND WILL BE MADE LESS IN HIS KINGDOM THAN THE UNMARRIED. IF YOU FIND SUCH, GIVE ME A SHOUT.
YOU ALSO CLAIMED THAT, �Any possible believer woman that is single and attractive to you is a potential mate�. AGAIN, I DISAGREE WITH THIS WHOLEHEARTEDLY. IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN YOU AND I SHOULD BE KILLING ANIMALS AS WE SPEAK, IN ORDER TO REPENT FOR OUR SINS. IN OTHER WORDS, IF JOSEPH (THE EARTHLY FATHER OF JESUS), TOOK �Any possible believer woman that was single and attractive to be a potential mate�, HOW WOULD JESUS BE BORN, CRUCIFIED AND RESURRECTED. ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME THAT THE BIRTH OF JESUS WAS NOT PREDESTINED? I DONT THINK I HAVE TO SHOW YOU THE SEVERAL LOCATIONS WHICH YOU HAVE PROBABLY COME ACROSS IN THE BIBLE THAT DESCRIBE THE COMING OF THE SON OF GOD, DO I? ARE YOU ALSO, IMPLYING THAT JOSEPH AND MARY WERE �robots, living out a computer program�?
DESPITE THE FACT THAT GOD HAS MADE PLANS FOR US, IF WE DECIDE NOT TO FOLLOW THEM, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE WOULD BE OUT OF GODS PERFECT PLAN. EVERY ONE IS IN HIS PLAN IF THEY FOLLOW HIS COMMANDMENTS AND MARRIAGE IS NOT A COMMANDMENT, NEITHER IS IT A SIN. I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ALL ENTITLED TO HIS GRACE AND PROTECTION, WHETHER WE MARRY OR NOT. AS LONG AS WE CONTNUALLY SEEK AND BELIEVE IN HIM.
IN ADDITION, THE WORD OF THE LORD SAYS IN PROVERBS 18:22, THAT �he who finds a wife, findeth a good thing and obtains favour from the lord�. IF YOU GO TO GOOGLE AND TYPE THE WORDS, define:find, YOU WOULD SEE THAT THE WORD FIND, AS IN TO FIND OUR MATE THAT GOD HAS PREDESTINED, MEANS, TO COME UPON AFTER SEARCHING AND OR, TO FIND BY ACCIDENT, WHEREAS THE WORD SELECT, AS IN, TO SELECT OUR OWN MATE WITHOUT DIVINE INSTRUCTION FROM GOD, IS DEFINED AS, TO PICK OUT AND OR TO CHOOSE FROM A NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVES. YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE IS A CLEAR DISTINCTION IN THE TWO WORDS, WHICH IS WHY A MAN THAT FINDS A WIFE, FINDS A GOOD THING, SOMETHING THAT IS UNUSUAL TO WHAT HE WOULD EXPECT TO FIND THAN IF HE WAS TO SELECT IT BY HIS OWN CHOICE. IT DOES NOT SAY, A MAN THAT FINDS A WIFE, SELECTS A GOOD THING, BECAUSE SELECTING, AS SAID EARLIER, IS THE SAME AS PICKING OUT AND OR CHOOSING WHAT YOU PERSONALLY FEEL IS BEST FOR YOU AND BY PICKING IT OUT, YOU SEE WHAT YOU ARE PICKING, BUT IN FINDING A WIFE, A GOOD THING, YOU HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO FIND, PRIOR TO FINDING IT AND YOU DONT SEE IT, SO CANT PICK IT. THIS IS THE REASON WHY, FAITH, IN PURSUIT OF FINDING AND NOT SELECTING OUR OWN MATE, IS OF EXTREME IMPORTNACE.
IN ADDITION, IF �the perfect plan for all of us is to be unmarried�, WHY THEN ARE WE TOLD THAT, IN FINDING A WIFE, WE FIND A GOOD THING AND WHY DO WE OBTAIN FAVOUR IN DOING SO, IF, AS YOU PUT IT, �we are already out of God's perfect plan�, FOR DECIDING TO MARRY.
IN CONCLUSION, JUST AS JOSEPH AND MARY, PRIOR TO THE BIRTH OF JESUS, WERE PRESENTED WITH CHOICES AND FOUND THE BEST ONE, WE ARE ALSO PRESENTED WITH CHOICES AND ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND THE BEST, NOT WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE OUR BEST, BUT THAT WHICH GOD CONSIDERS TO BE WHATS BEST FOR US. THANK GOD THAT JOSEPH AND MARY FOUND THE RIGHT CHOICE, FOUND WHAT GOD PREDESTINED TO BE BEST FOR THEM AND WHAT GOD PREDESTINED TO EVENTUALLY BE BEST FOR THE WORLD(JESUS). IT IS UP FOR US TO SEEK HIM CONTINUOUSLY IN ORDER TO SEE WHAT GOD SEE�S, AS THE BEST PLAN FOR AND THE BEST CHOICES FOR OUR LIFE.
A girl told me that God showed her i was the one... yeah she's married to someone else.
God does not say he will show you the one you are going to marry. Scripture says its' good to marry but its better not to marry.
The point is...the best choice is not to marry but if you are burning with passion, go ahead and get marrried but marry a Christian.
This is one of the great unscriptural lies that i hear. The idea of courtship and that God will reveal to you the person he has set aside for you is completely against what Paul says.
You do have exceptions with Adam and Eve and Mary and Joseph but the general rule is that marriage is a choice. Who you marry is a choice, and if you choose to get married, marry a believer.
Obviously God knows, who you will marry and obviously God knows who would be best for you, However, he never says he will tell you that piece of information.
Like i said, i have been burned by this doctrine personally. I dont know what God revealed to her or not and im not responsible for it but implying that im not following God's will by not marrying her when scripture tells me specifcally that it is a choice really bothered me and ultimately it was not my choice to break up but hers. If God didn't say anything to her, the she has lied but if God did, then SHE has not followed God's calling in her life.
REMEMBER, WHAT PAUL SAID, WAS A WARNING OF THE DIFFICULTIES THAT ONE COULD FACE IN MARRIAGE, NEVER DID HE SAY THAT MARRIAGE WAS NOT THE PLAN.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE COMMENTS I MADE, ARE HOW I PERSONALLY SEE THINGS. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AUTHORITY TO, AS SAID IN MATTHEW 7:7, �Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.�
IF I WISH TO SEEK GODS FACE FOR THE MATE HE DESIGNED FOR ME, THEN THAT IS MY PROBLEM AND VIA MATTHEW 7:7, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO SO.
I DONT THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT, AS KDHNY SAID, THAT SUCH BELIEFS ARE NONSENSE BECAUSE MATTHEW 7:7, WHICH STRONGLY RELATES TO MY BELIEF AND TO EVERY WISH AND DESIRE, IS NOT NONSENSE, IS IT? NEITHER IS MATTHEW 6:33, NONSENSE.
I AGREE THAT IT IS NOT PRECISELY WRITTEN IN SCRIPTURE, BUT NEITHER IS IT A SIN FOR ME TO SEEK WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE MY PREDESTINED MATE. I ALSO AGREE THAT, FOCUSING TO MUCH ON THIS SEARCH OR NO SEARCH, CAN BE DAMAGING, THAT IS WHY WE ARE TOLD TO SEEK GODS KINGDOM FIRST AND ALL HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL OTHER THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO US.(MATTHEW 6:33)
MY SEARCH FOR A MATE, IS MOST DEFINATELY NOT MY FOCAL POINT, AND IS MOST DEFINATELY SECOND IN TERMS OF WHAT I AM SEEKING, THAT IS FOR SURE.
AS GOD SAID BRETHREN, EVE WAS CREATED AS A HELPER, IF I WANT TO FIND MY PREDESTINED HELPER, THEN LEAVE ME BE, LOL.
NEVER DID I SAY OR IMPLY THAT ANYONE IS NOT FOLLOWING GODS WILL, AS WE ALL AGREE, WE ALL HAVE CHOICES, WE ALL HAVE THE FREEDOM TO MAKE THE CHOICES WE WANT TO. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT GOD DOES NOT WANT WHAT HE CONSIDERS TO BE THE BEST FOR US THOUGH, BECAUSE HE CLEARLY DOES.
I DID STATE THAT I DONT AGREE WITH KDHNY, BUT I DID NOT ONCE SAY THAT HE OR ANYONE ELSE IS NOT FOLLOWING GODS WILL. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN THE POWER TO JUDGE, WHICH IS WHY, LOOKING BACK AT MY POSTS, I WAS EXTREMELY CAREFUL TO NOT JUDGE AND TO NOT STATE THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING GODS WILL.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE BIBLE COMMANDS US CLEARLY TO NOT MURDER, RIGHT? GOD FORBID, BUT SAY A CLOSE FRIEND OF YOURS, COMMITS MURDER AND ASKS FOR YOUR OPINION ON HIS OFFENCE. I DOUBT THAT YOU WILL TELL HIM THAT YOU AGREE WITH WHAT HE HAS DONE, RIGHT? OF COURSE YOU WILL DISAGREE, BUT AS TOLD IN THE BIBLE, IT IS NOT OUR PLACE TO JUDGE AND OR TO SAY THAT A PERSON IS NOT FOLLOWING GODS WILL. IF WE PROUNOUNCE JUDGEMENT ON SOMEONE ELSE, WE WILL BE JUDGED IN THE SAME MANNER (MATTHEW 7:1-2).
IT WILL BE VERY EASY TO SAY TO THE MURDERER THAT HE IS NOT FOLLOWING GODS WILL, IF THE MURDERER IS TOLD THAT, THEN THE PERSON THAT TELLS HIM THIS, AS SAID, WILL BE JUDGED IN THE SAME MANNER. THE REASON THAT HE WILL BE JUDGED IN THE SAME MANNER, IS DUE TO HIS OWN IMPERFECTION. MATTHE 7:3-5 SAYS, �Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.�
WE HAVE ALL SINNED AND CONTINUE TO DO SO, WHICH IS WHY I REALLY WENT OUT OF MY WAY TO DEMONSTRATE THE FACT THAT I AM NOT JUDGING OR STATING THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING GODS WILL. I HAVE ALOT OF SAWDUST IN MY OWN EYE AND IT IS HARD WORK TRYING TO GET THAT OUT, WHY WILL I THEN TRY TO REMOVE MY BROTHERS SAWDUST OR WHAT MAY APPEAR TO BE, WHEN SPIRITUAL VISION IS ALREADY HARD TO COME BY AND TO MAINTAIN.
I AM SORRY IF IT LOOKED LIKE I STATED THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING GODS WILL BUT PLEASE READ MY PREVIOUS COMMENTS AGAIN, TRUST ME, I REALLY MADE SURE TO NOT JUDGE OR CLAIM THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING GODS WILL.
I THINK YOU SHOULD BE ASKING BROTHER KDHNY, WHERE THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE PLAN WAS FOR US TO BE UNMARRIED AND THAT THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO DO SO, ARE OUT OF HIS PERFECT PLAN?
IN MAKING SUCH A COMMENT, KDHNY IS PROBABLY FREE OF SAWDUST (MATTHE 7:3-5), OR WHAT DO YOU THINK?
HOW GREAT WOULD IT BE TO BE COMPLETELY FREE OF SAWDUST (SIN).
AND BROTHER FURY, JUST BECAUSE A GIRL TOLD YOU THAT GOD TOLD HER THAT THE TWO OF YOU WERE TO BE TOGETHER, UNFORTUNATELY, IT DID NOT HAPPEN AS YOU SAID, BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE SAME SHALL HAPPEN TO EVERY ONE ELSE THAT BELIEVES THIS AND THAT HAS RECIEVED FROM GOD. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TO,� Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves�.(MATTHEW 7:15)
I AM NOT SAYING THAT THE GIRL WAS A FALSE PROPHET OR THAT WHAT SHE HEARD FROM GOD WAS FALSE BUT THE FACT IS THAT, NOT EVERYONE THAT SHOUTS THE NAME OF THE LORD, ACTUALLY KNOWS AND HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION, IF YOU HAD GOT MARRIED WITH THE GIRL THAT YOU CLAIM, RECIEVED DIVINE INTERVENTION FROM GOD REGARDING YOUR PROPOSED MARRIAGE AND IF MARRIAGE LIFE BETWEEN YOU AND HERE HAD BEEN GOING SO SMOOTHLY, WOULD YOU HAVE MADE THE COMMENT THAT YOU MADE? BE HONEST BRETHREN.
ANYWHO, I ALWAYS TRY TO SPEAK TWICE, AFTERWHICH, I DROP IT.
THIS DISCUSSION WAS GREAT THOUGH, AS I HAVE ALWAYS SAID, I ENJOY HEARING OTHERS VIEWS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE, WHICH IS WHY I SERIOUSLY THANK THE LORD FOR DIRECTING ME TO CDFF.
A girl told me that God showed her i was the one... yeah she's married to someone else.
mine here
obviously she was a false prophet.. it didnt happen as she said it would. so that dont put you out of HIS will for you.. dont feel like that about yourself..
dear folks, we shouldnt try to deflate peoples belief and faith that GOD will bring them the perfect one for them..
we have the promise in prayer that we can have our prayers answered if we walk in HIS ways , and believe,and ask in JESUS name.. we can have the desires of our hearts..
matthew 21: 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
1 john 5:14-15 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
john 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
john 16:23-24 23 "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
john 14:13-14 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
so as you can see its very important to believe and walk in HIS ways.. when you seek out prayer for things.
i also believe that if GOD has a particular plan for you to do HIS will.. i believe that HE can and will make it come to pass.
and im reminded also how abrahams servant asked the LORD to show him the woman for issaiac to marry at the well by her askin to or waterin his camels and giving him some water i believe it was.. thas a specific time where we know for a fact GOD showed the man who HE wanted him to marry.. im thinkin bout ruth and boaz also.. i believe there was a divine intervention there as well. as ruth could of had any of the younger rich men.. but yet she chose boaz.. i wonder if they both fell in love at that very first meeting.. or did GOD just put em together.. i believe the latter.. and as fury said joesph and mary.. well we know GOD intervened in that so joesph would stick with mary.. and as fury also stated we know eve was made for adam..
now where i have trouble with is the original question is there only one perfect person for you.. hmmmm
i dont know.. maybe GOD just goes by the qualities they must have for you and it can be a number of perfect ones for you to choose from.. or it could just be that one and only.. i just aint sure. i dont care if its more than one that could be or if its just the one long as i find her hehe...so keep the faith youll find them.. believe ,believe,believe..
A lot of scripture quoting...not very good application of it.
This is similar to the predestination debate.
Obviously an all knowing God, would know if we are going to get married, who we are going to marry and who would be the best choice to get married too.
He knew all this before time began. However, just because he know everything doesn't mean he makes the choice for us nor does he reveal everything we want to know.
You guys quote seeking first the kingdom of God. That's precisely the point! Seek God's glory first.
I hate to point this out to those looking for God's choice but marriage is a WANT. In the garden of Eden, everything was cool and there would be no sense in not taking a mate.
But now in the times of fallen man where there are ministries to be served and gospel needing to be spread, that's not the best choice.
As i pointed out before, there's nothing wrong with getting married. It is to be a blessing. If i may use cattlespeak. (Aint no harm in gettin hitched if you start to lovin' somebody so long as they're saved)
I understand God is completely Sovereign and brings people into our lives one of which could be a good mate. But scripture clearly points out that marriage is a choice and gives the stipulation that you should marry a believer if you do choose to get married but if you choose not to marry, you've done what is best.
If God really wants you to marry, he can give you the desire. But i would question anyone who feels they got divine intervention on this issue mainly because, evil spirits also have influence. Satans minions can decieve and mislead and so such leading must be tested and not taken at face value.
As i pointed out there are exceptions when God clearly puts people together. I wouldn't count Ruth and Boaz because i see that as God giving them what they desire and blessing both rather than God calling them to be together. If Ruth would have chosen not get married, she would not have sinned.
God's sovereignty is know but his direct will is not always known. Case in point, Christ was to come from the line of David but in that line was Solomon (wisest dude on Earth). And yet if king David would have done what he was supposed too, He would have never messed around with someone elses wife.
Point being, do what you know God wants you to do. You can't disobey God if you are following scripture. Stick to serving the Lord and if you find a Christian that you want to marry, go ahead and get married but don't feel like you gotta find the One God has for you because he doesn't say he's going to make that decision for you.
I'll try to address your question kristiankidd in that, i don't know what God told her or didn't tell her. If God was giving her direction or whether it was to be prophecy or whatever, it wasn't given to me. I would say God allowed it to happen obviously and it would have been a blessing to me however, I wouldn't know what God said until i was dead and in the presence of the Lord.
I would say that if someone believes that God revealed that piece of information, it is to be kept to yourself and tested. Never to be told to the possible mate because that is simply using God's name as leverage. Make your choice based on scriptural wisdom and know that if you choose not to get married, you are following scripture.
If it truely was from God, it would be foolish to ignore it. But i have heard many so many say that they felt that God showed them the One and the marriage ended up in divorce.
God will give you what you ask in his name. ACCORDING TO HIS WILL..
You can keep asking and asking and God may never tell you who to marry or whether to get married and you have let your whole life be consumed with finding One when the reality is, God's probably shaking his head and saying, you have plenty of good options dummy, pick the one you like.
1 corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
1 corinthians 7:6-7 6 But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. 7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
as we can see in verses 6 and 7 that it is stated that it is a concession and not a commandment that he wishes all were as he is... not married.. celibate.. but yet each person has his own gift from GOD. to some the gift is to be single.. to others who want, their gift is their wife.. so one cannot say that one cant fulfill the will of GOD if HE in fact has given you the gift of marriage.. and youre not able to accept bein celibate ...
as has been spoken here that we have our own free will.. and yes that can get us in trouble at times.. but remember the men in the bible also had the same will we got.. but yet wasnt GOD able to use them to fulfill HIS will... yes HE did and yet the men made some bad decisions at times.. but the HOLY SPIRIT did indeed help guide them to do HIS WILL..
so if we are no different from how the men in the bible were, how can we say for a fact that GOD cant put whom HE wants to together? ya cant..
Fury...I don't see anyone disagreeing with you. Everyone so far has said that there is no one person that you HAVE to be with.
You: "Obviously an all knowing God, would know if we are going to get married, who we are going to marry and who would be the best choice to get married too. He knew all this before time began. However, just because he know everything doesn't mean he makes the choice for us nor does he reveal everything we want to know."
Thats what I was saying:
"I agree that there is no predestined marriage partner...I think there is one that God knows would be the best for me....so in that sense I think there is that perfect person for everyone. But it's still our choice, and we still make mistakes...but if we can know God's will and follow it closely enough, I think He would show them to us..."
I have to add "IF He wants us to get married"...even though I thought that was just assumed in this topic...
Thats what kristiankidd was saying:
"NEVER DID I SAY OR IMPLY THAT ANYONE IS NOT FOLLOWING GODS WILL, AS WE ALL AGREE, WE ALL HAVE CHOICES, WE ALL HAVE THE FREEDOM TO MAKE THE CHOICES WE WANT TO. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT GOD DOES NOT WANT WHAT HE CONSIDERS TO BE THE BEST FOR US THOUGH, BECAUSE HE CLEARLY DOES."
I think that's what cattle was saying: "as has been spoken here that we have our own free will.. and yes that can get us in trouble at times.. but remember the men in the bible also had the same will we got.. but yet wasnt GOD able to use them to fulfill HIS will... yes HE did and yet the men made some bad decisions at times.. but the HOLY SPIRIT did indeed help guide them to do HIS WILL."
We're all saying we have choice...and I think we're all saying that God knows what is best. And I think we're all saying that no matter what...if we follow God's will He will give us what is best. Marriage...no marriage...either way. But He won't force us...we have to choose what is right or good....and it is possible for us to mess up, but even if we mess up, God can still work with us. And if God really does send someone the perfect match...I don't think it'd be the other person telling them "oh, yeah...I'm the one God sent to you". I'm pretty sure God would make it clear Himself.
I think kdnyh11 nailed this one,because of what paul said,its pretty clear that he does not have some predestined perfect match for us,however that does not stop us from using our best wisdom to try and find someone,within the peramiters that god sets!I mean,if you dont want to be in misery,dont marry a woman who is prone to nag,christian or not!on second thought,if you dont want the nagging woman,stay single LOL,(just kidding)
There have been a lot of sub-topics within the main topic and I love how that shows how the Word of God is like an union; you get started and you find out there is just soooo many layers�
The Word is sooooo rich�.
I do not believe that there is just one person created for me; in fact I know from life God has not just created one love and if it�s gone or I missed it �. well then� sorry about my luck�.
My first love, who I would have said he�s the one and only and I will never love again, moved to heaven after he was shot in a robbery gone bad. I can�t wait to see him again but I was wrong in my thinking. I did fall just as deeply in love again and God brought me my second great love. He loved me too but unfortunately he �loved� anther women at the same time�lol and sin took him from me�..
Yes, one could argue that maybe they weren�t the one God created for me but I do not see it that way. I don�t believe that it was God�s will for my ex-husband to leave for another woman, however, no matter how confused I may get, this I know Jesus is not sitting on his throne saying�. Oh girl I didn�t see that on coming� I don�t know what I�m going to do now�. His will is still coming to pass in all of us� Isaiah 53:10 says� and the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His had. In fact, repeatedly the Bible declares that His will, will prosper in His hand�. I�ve had to take a few too many trips around the mountain� but His will still prospers (is prospering) in my life�
Furthermore, the Bible says that the rain falls on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45)�. Life happens to everybody� but Jesus conquered sin and death�. My personal sin and the effects of others sin� The fact of the matter is these things drove me to the relationship I have today with my Jesus, Alex is kicking it with the �great cloud of witnesses in the sky� (the death ratio is 1:1� the Bible says there unto every man a day in which he shall die� it�s doesn�t say which day or what age � just a day)�. and Bob is growing in God�s great grace and precious mercy� being brought from glory to glory just like I am.
They have been fighting for centuries over free-will vs. predestination. And the Bible declares both. The Word of God is always �Yes and Amen� and it does not contradict itself. So, my personal opinion is there is a balance somewhere between the two schools and the truth is I don�t know where that balance is. What I do know is Samuel said that he would not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for the people of Israel in spite of their rebellion (I Samuel 14:23). And prayer changes things � period � just look at the book of Acts�
The bottom line for me is� When the desires� of my heart don�t line up with His will for me, He has always amazingly, strategically removed them from me or He at least changes them. And I trust that He either does have someone else for me or He will change the desire of my heart and He will (and has) enabled me to live without a romantic relationship. Lastly, there isn�t any doubt in my mind that if God has �picked� someone out for me or me for someone else that He is smart enough to fill us both in on it� it just doesn�t line up Jesus saying � his the one Mindy� now good luck� go bat your eyes at him and do what you can to try to make it happen because I�m just telling you about it and not him�.
"so one cannot say that one cant fulfill the will of GOD if HE in fact has given you the gift of marriage.. and youre not able to accept bein "
The gift here is the gift of desire or lack thereof...Not to be confused with a spiritual gift.
Read on and put this into context. verse 8 and 9,
now to the unmarried and the widows i say: it is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Paul is not talking about being called to marry or called to be single either way. He is simply pointing out that it is good to stay unmarried but if you can't control yourself, go ahead and get married.
verses 36-38 make the point.
if anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if she is getting along in years and hefels he ought to marry, he should do as HE wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind no to marry the virgin- this man also does the right thing. So then he who marries the virgin does right but he who does not marry her does even better.
No where in here does it mention God's calling for marriage or singleness but rather it is best if you are under no compulsion to get married and are under control of your own that you remain unmarried.
Yes God is sovereign i think if he wants you to be with someone, he can make that happen. He can give us desires or take away our desires as he so chooses however, i don't think that should be mistaken as God making the choice for us and should be tested as i have mentioned before. There are other spirits at work besides the Holy Spirit.
