| Author | Message | ||
| Jackob Registered user Username: Jackob Post Number: 160 Registered: 7-2005  |
I just recovered from a conversation with my wife about the Sabath. She said that she sticks with the 10 commandments because they are the unchanging law of God. Even if I pointed that biblically speaking the Decalogue is called the Old Covenant and the Old Covenant is obsolete. I realize now that it's a "Mission impossible" for me to share the sabbath issue with my wife, because, even if she listens, she has a way to dismiss the entire biblical proof. No matter what the Bible said, she revert back to the idea that the 10 commandments are eternal, I asked for biblical proof, but she just repeated herself. I had concluded that I need to start a prayer ministry for her, that it's necessary to lean more on prayer than I had done until now. Realizing that I'm a baby in Christ, I need to know how to specifically pray for those situations, for our relatives. I need to know what to ask God in a particular way, as Colleen said, praying from the Bible. Please, share those biblical texts which you consider fitted for these situations. I mean, what to ask God for? To remove the veil from their eyes? To give them repentance? To convict them of their sin of trusting in their righteousness? All of it? I want to start a prayer ministry for my wife, and realize that in 2 minutes my prayer is over, because I don't know how to carry spiritual battles in prayer, how to be a prayer warrior. I invite everyone to share their motivations, their prayers, their experience as pryaer warriors, how they learn to pray with power and boldness. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3704 Registered: 12-2003  |
Oh, Jackob, you have realized such an important and HUGE part of being a Christ-follower. Here are some of the ways I pray for my family/friends... I pray: óthat God will soften their hearts and help them to be willing and able to recognize the truth. óthat they will come to really know Jesus as their Savior. óI pray that God will heal their hearts. óI pray Ephesians 1:17, that God will give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that they may know Him better and also 1:18-19. óI pray Ephesians 3:16-19 for them óI deliberately thank God for what He is doing in them that I can't see óI pray that God will help me to love them for Him. I pray for them whenever God brings them and their situation to my mind; I ask Him to help me know what and how to pray. Praying for you and your wife, Jackob Colleen | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1502 Registered: 3-2005 |
Jackob, Colleen has given some excellent suggestions. I would also have to say that the very best witness that a spouse can be, is to be the best husband or wife possible. Discussing theology rarely works between husband and wife. If you continue to show the best love possible to your wife, she will want to know what you have discovered. God will honor that love, and as you pray as suggested by Colleen, God will open her spiritual eyes. You and your family are in my prayers, Jackob. Stan | ||
| Bobj Registered user Username: Bobj Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2006 |
Jacob For those whom I care for the most, I simply pray that God will not give them peace unless it is from Him. Decades of living with no peace finally combined with what I knew was true, simply, that if I was ever going to have peace in this life I would have to leave the church that I loved. Jesus has given me peace, and even though I waited almost 10 years from the time I knew I was no longer an SDA theologically until I left the church (I don't like to make quick decisions!) Jesus withheld his peace until I took that step publically. I don't know why I waited, or why He waited, but I can tell you that in my case the process took a long time. If your wife is honest with her conscience and is truly listening to God's Spirit, I think it is only a matter of time. But, as you say, only Jesus can lift the veil, and discussing theology with her may not help. My hiking partner (who knew I was not at peace even though I was trained as an SDA minister) is a loving Baptist Christian who tried repeatedly to help straighten out my tangled, old covenant theology over the years, but I was simply blind until Jesus allowed me to see the results (in the lives of SDAs who were close to me) of not responding to his Spirit. I'm so glad for God's patience with me during those years, and perhaps you will need a great deal of patience with your wife, too. I'll be praying for you both. Kindly, Bob | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 203 Registered: 6-2005 |
Jacob, My favorite subject! I used to be so distracted and blanked out when I prayed. Here's what has tranformed my prayer life. First and most important, Ask the Holy Spririt to TEACH you to pray. John 14:26 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 1 John 2:27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. John 16-8-11,13.... Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. Romans 8:26-27. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Books on prayer are sometimes helpful. But nothing compared to the teaching of the Holy Spirit. Look up Intercession, or intercessory prayer in a topical concordance. Especially the subject of intercessory prayer examples. Pray as the prophets did! My CBS bible study lesson guide had us write down a list of everything that Jesus HAD ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED and/or WAS PRAYING FOR in His Last prayers from John chapter 17. I did that, and pray as Jesus did. Pray that she has the mind of Christ. Call on the power of the resurrected Christ, which is available to us if we ask and believe. Ask for your faith to increase as you pray. Pray that she know the fullness of Gods love for her, as well as the other wonderful things others have posted. I will pray. Lori | ||
| Tealeaves Registered user Username: Tealeaves Post Number: 303 Registered: 5-2004 |
Jackob, I know that sometimes a spouse is the hardest person to witness to with words. I married an SDA, and it took him about 7 years before he came fully away from SDAism. We used to argue about it, and never got anywhere. The only thing that got him looking elsewhere was seeing faith, hearing of GOd's unconditional love. It took someone else, another former adventist friend, to study the New Covenant with him and really explian the idea of the New and old Covenants. But if she is interested in the idea of the New and Old Covenant, then you may want to go back to the very beginning. THere aren't just 2 major covenants in the Bible. There is the Abrahamic Covenant, Mosaic Covenant, etc... as well as the Covenant of Christ which ends all others. Most SDAs seem to think that the 10 commandments started in the Garden of Eden. But there is biblical and extra-biblical proof that the Sabbath was in fact not always observed before the Mosaic covenant with the Jews. And proof that the New Testament Christians did not always observe the Sabbath either. -- that information is the bedrock of starting to understand where the Mosaic Covenant began and ended. But you are right, prayer is the only thing that can break through the EGW-lenses and let her see the light. I will be praying for you both. -tanya- | ||
| Michelled Registered user Username: Michelled Post Number: 8 Registered: 3-2006 |
As I experience the same thing, I ask God to teach me to love my husband even when I am persecuted. He continually tells me to forgive the offender, love him, be patient, and just trust Him. Argueing about the Sabbath being a day has gotten me no where. I will listen to my husband tell me 'God showed me' proof that it is a day all the time now with out argueing in responce. You see, he believes he is the spiritual leader of our home and since I have come to error, he must be watchful over me and our 4 children, for he is scared my salvation is at stake. I told Him it was great God was speaking and he is listening. I also say that I would read that test differently, but that is O.K. I still love him! Now, only time will tell Gods perfect plan. God knows my pain and suffering with my husband, but I will stand faithful and wait patiently on the Lord. For I have exhausted all that I can do on my own! May God bless you and yours. I think each of us must pray for the ones we love, but continue to ask God to lead us where He wants us to go. Earnestly deisiring to hear His voice. We can not let anyone be a block in our personal walk with Jesus Christ. They are having their own walk. God is doing a work in them, and as we pray, we must trust our God who has us where He wants us as long as we obey! Pray that the delusion or stuper will be removed over her, that the full truth will set her free! Those that believe will be led out of darkness into the light. But remember we each are having our own personal jouney with our Savior! We of carnal minds must not question Gods perfect plan, we can ask and walk according to the new light He has given us, which will show love and the fruits of the Spirit. This I hope even for myself will be witness to my husband. Other than letting it go, or giving it up completely to the Lord, I have ran out any other ideas to convince my husband. This is a battle God must take when we are so weak He is all we have left. I am sending a prayer up for you right now, and ask that anyone willing will pray for my husband also. That he will come into the truth, and the truth will set us free!!! Thank you, Sincerely Michelle |
