© 2023 By Jarvis J Ross @ www.jjplanter.com

All rights reserved.

By Jarvis J. Ross

Monday, September23, 2024

Here is the link to all the video shorts from this blog article:

https://www.tiktok.com/@jjondisplay?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE-Introduction

Keys to a Successful Marriage Recap Summary for Clarity

Let me begin by saying that these are not traditional concepts of marriage, and neither do they “knock” traditional marriage. I don’t expect you to agree with all the kingdom concepts due to the history of what we’ve learned, and that’s okay because varying views help to sharpen “our” views. I respect different perspectives because they are like facets of a diamond. But I hope you can see the trajectory. In simplicity, it’s about knowing that the written word is the Living Word of God, that God breathes into our spirit upon the “new birth” (John 3:1-14). “But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:4). There the Koine Greek for word is “Rhema” meaning the word that God’s Spirit breathes in us. According to the comparison of Scripture about Kingdom Concepts and Empowering Thoughts, it makes living for Christ easier. Let me correlate it with Christ’s words in Matthew 11:28-29. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

For me, as I reflect on my new birth experience, it means to enrapture the mind, soul, and body with the presence of the Lord. That becomes the driving force for DECISIONS and DIRECTIONS in life and relationships.

So Kingdom Concepts are Empowering Thoughts that help us to stay focused on the Person of the Lord, the Testator and Mediator of the New Covenant of Grace that ratifies the promise of God to us (Hebrews 9:15-17). Empowering thoughts means that what we think of the most, the thoughts we are obsessed with, we will say and do. You can compare that to Proverbs 23:7 which says “…as a man thinks, so is he…” Correlate that word with Christ’s words in Matthew 5:28 which says, “If a man looks on a woman with lusts after her in his heart he has already committed adultery with her…” It means the more he or she thinks of it, they will say something and do something about what they are thinking.

The point is that the words we say to each other and our behavior towards each other can damage the relationship. So, be careful of the choice of words and how you act towards the person you are in a relationship with. Some words and behaviors hurt so deeply that they can not be taken back. It’s like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube. Your negative hurtful words and actions will also come back in the same manner to you, called reciprocity. It will create an endless cycle that continues to grow in other relationships until the person repents.

Finally, living a clean life will keep trouble and problems out of the relationship. Troubles and problems are part of human error and our lot in life. Trouble is an uninvited guest (Read the Book of Job), but we have a remedy, confession to the Lord, repentance, and forgiveness that should be practiced.

Keys to a Successful Marriage Summary Recap of the Introduction

Part 1: What I share here is called life lessons. Let me begin by saying these kingdom concepts are not traditional concepts for marriage, and neither do they knock traditional marriage. I don't expect everyone to agree with them because I correlate them with science and maybe because of what we have learned historically. But that's okay because we can sharpen our views as we learn from each other. But I want you to see the trajectory.

Keys to a Successful Marriage Summary Recap of the Introduction

Part 2: In simplicity, it’s about knowing that the written word becomes the living word in our hearts. Matthew 4:4... Matthew 11:28-29... As I reflect on my new birth experience, it means we become enraptured in mind, soul, and body with the presence of the Lord. That becomes the driving force of our decisions and direction.

Keys to a Successful Marriage Summary Recap of Introduction

Part 3: So kingdom concepts are empowering thoughts that help us stay focused on the Person of the Lord, our Testator, Mediator, and Power of Attorney of the New Covenant Promise. It means that what we think about the most, we will speak and do. Proverbs 23:7... Matthew 5:28.

Keys to a Successful Marriage Summary Recap of Introduction

Part 4: The point is that the words we say to each other and the things we do in a marriage and relationship can damage or heal the relationship. So, be careful of what you say and do. Some words hurt so bad and go so deep that you can't take them back. It's like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube, and the same things will come back on you.

Finally, clean living can keep trouble and problems out of your life. But know this, trouble is an uninvited guest. But we have a solution: Confession before the Lord, repentance, forgiveness by God, yourself, and you forgiving others.

Keys to a Successful Marriage

Key #1a. Desire Marriage but Don’t be Desperate!

Desperation causes perspiration. That is, high anxiety that leads to impulsive behavior; and making indecisive decisions on the spur of the moment based on false perceptions of what a person thinks they need, but it’s really about what they want. There is an obvious difference between wants and needs. Needs are necessities. Is marriage a necessity? Even though a small number of people do not marry, and some, according to the Apostle Paul, refrain from marriage for the sake of freedom in ministry, marriage is the Creator’s design for the family and the family is the foundation for a civil society. Wants are more like temporal-temporary cravings for something or someone that will fade away later because it is superficial and does not come from the heart. Therefore it loses its attraction. Marriage can be like that when we base the relationship on material possessions. The reason is, materialism becomes a conflict in a relationship that can kill the relationship. So don’t base the relationship on material possessions. It’s like a gift that a child craves at Christmas only to lose their attraction for it later. Just as we can fall in love, we can fall out of love easier.

Keys to a Successful Marriage

Key #1b. Desire Marriage but Don’t be Desperate

The initiative to fulfill our desires is love for the Lord…We love Him because He first loved us.” The point is, when desiring marriage, it is important to have a spiritual connection with God for guidance. Now, loving God is more about an intimate spiritual connection than an outward strict show of religion. John 15:7 establishes the intimacy of the relationship. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

Keys to a Successful Marriage

Key #1c. Desire Marriage but Don’t be Desperate

When our will marries God’s Will we conceive God’s Promises. When that happens, God gives us the desires of our heart (what we need and want) broken down, it means “what’s best for us...” Now, the journey toward marriage begins by looking at the type of person, not the personality type you should desire. Seeking a personality type is a psychological algorithm that’s different from a spiritual connection. The desire for marriage begins with our desire for marriage in prayer from Mark 11:24, “ Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire (Need and Want) when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them...” Now remember, that kind of prayer is based on the Promises of God and aligning with His Will.

Now let me interlude here because I’m going to divert from this “life lesson” to a life lesson called “sowing and reaping” to point out how we are blessed with more than enough when we give away what we don’t want, instead of accumulating it in our attics, garages, and storages like the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21.

Desiring someone from the heart brings together your needs and wants in the sense that your wants are not tossed away. Rather, they are given away to someone who needs them most. What’s the point? God will give you more than enough when your heart desires to invest it back into the kingdom by giving it to someone who needs it.