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Before You Date Someone


'
...Spur one another on toward love and good
deeds.' Hebrews 10:24 NIV
Here’s some advice for making your dating
experiences something you can feel good about
afterwards:
(1) Be spiritually prepared . Talk to
God while you’re getting ready. Time spent
before the mirror is important, but time spent
with God is all–important. This is never more so
than when you’re looking for someone to spend
the rest of your life with.
(2) Talk openly about
sex before it becomes an issue. Physical intimacy
is a wonderful thing, but the Bible confines it to
marriage where two people are committed to one
another. So think protectively—and proactively.
Genuine love doesn’t say, ‘If you loved me, you
would…’ It says, ‘I love you too much to take
advantage of you, or cause you pain, or ask you
to do something you feel is wrong and that you’ll
feel bad about tomorrow.’
(3) Limit the time you
are alone ; it can easily lead to things you’ll regret
later. When your friends start saying they never
see you anymore, chances are you’re becoming
too exclusive, and setting yourself up to fail.
Don’t always date as a couple; spend time in the
company of others too.
(4) Do it right this time . If
you’ve been permissive in past relationships,
don’t be discouraged. ‘ If we confess our sins, He
is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins …’ ( 1
John 1:9 NIV ) That means you can start again
with a clean slate. The strongest relationships
always put God at the centre. They strive to
demonstrate the kind of love Paul describes in
First Corinthians chapter thirteen. Make a point
of reading it today!

SoulFood: Lev 24:17-22 , Deut 15:7-11 , Matt

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BRING THEM TO Jesus

‘…If two of you agree…it will be done...’ Matthew 18:19 NKJV

They came to Him, bringing a paralytic, who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic…‘arise, take up your bed…’’ (Mark 2: 3-11 NKJV). We learn from this man’s story that some people are incapable of getting to Jesus on their own; their condition makes it impossible. Notice three important things here: 1) It took four people with faith to do it. Spiritual synergy works miracles, so look for some prayer partners to stand with you. Jesus said, …‘If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.’ 2) They refused to let the crowd stop them. The crowd had its own agenda. Some were curious, some were critical, and some were sincere seekers. In order to bring your loved one to Jesus, you’ll have to overcome anything and anybody who stands in your way. 3) They ‘raised the roof’. Stand on God’s promises, lift your voice in prayer, ‘raise the roof’ if you have to, but don’t give up. Jesus didn’t disappoint them, and He won’t disappoint you either. It’s hard to pick up the weight of another person, but if you hold up your end of the deal God will hold up His. Don’t give in to weariness or discouragement. Don’t stop until you get them to Jesus.

Hosea 11-14, Matthew 26: 57-75, Psalm 13, Proverbs 8:14-16

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BRING THEM TO Jesus

‘…If two of you agree…it will be done...’ Matthew 18:19 NKJV

They came to Him, bringing a paralytic, who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic…‘arise, take up your bed…’’ (Mark 2: 3-11 NKJV). We learn from this man’s story that some people are incapable of getting to Jesus on their own; their condition makes it impossible. Notice three important things here: 1) It took four people with faith to do it. Spiritual synergy works miracles, so look for some prayer partners to stand with you. Jesus said, …‘If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.’ 2) They refused to let the crowd stop them. The crowd had its own agenda. Some were curious, some were critical, and some were sincere seekers. In order to bring your loved one to Jesus, you’ll have to overcome anything and anybody who stands in your way. 3) They ‘raised the roof’. Stand on God’s promises, lift your voice in prayer, ‘raise the roof’ if you have to, but don’t give up. Jesus didn’t disappoint them, and He won’t disappoint you either. It’s hard to pick up the weight of another person, but if you hold up your end of the deal God will hold up His. Don’t give in to weariness or discouragement. Don’t stop until you get them to Jesus.

Hosea 11-14, Matthew 26: 57-75, Psalm 13, Proverbs 8:14-16

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Learn to ‘Wait’ On God

‘…Those who wait upon God get fresh strength...’

Isaiah 40:31

The prophet Isaiah tells us God ‘…energises those who get tired, gives fresh strength to drop-outs. For even young people tire…folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind’ (vv. 29-31 TM). When an eagle is on the ground it’s vulnerable to attack by predators like snakes and wolves. On terra firma its surroundings are a fixed reality the eagle can’t change. So what does it do? It rises above them! From the air, everything looks different. The eagle’s altitude transforms its attitude—and that can happen for you too. ‘…Those who wait upon God get fresh strength...’ Here are two illustrations of what it means to wait upon God: 1) Like a wide-winged eagle waiting for a thermal current to carry it heavenward, you must stay in God’s presence with your heart attuned to Him. Do you have duties and demands? Yes, but none as important as this. Why? Because you understand that if you don’t get into God’s presence and stay there until He refreshes and restores you, you won’t make it. 2) Like an attentive waiter at a fine restaurant, whose only aim is to please, you wait on God, sensitive to His voice and surrendered to His will. Have the pressures of life left you drained? Watching television may entertain you for a while, but it won’t restore what life takes out of you. Only God can do that, so learn to ‘wait’ on God.

 Deuteronomy 13-15, Mark 12:28-44

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Learn to ‘Wait’ On God

‘…Those who wait upon God get fresh strength...’

Isaiah 40:31

The prophet Isaiah tells us God ‘…energises those who get tired, gives fresh strength to drop-outs. For even young people tire…folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind’ (vv. 29-31 TM). When an eagle is on the ground it’s vulnerable to attack by predators like snakes and wolves. On terra firma its surroundings are a fixed reality the eagle can’t change. So what does it do? It rises above them! From the air, everything looks different. The eagle’s altitude transforms its attitude—and that can happen for you too. ‘…Those who wait upon God get fresh strength...’ Here are two illustrations of what it means to wait upon God: 1) Like a wide-winged eagle waiting for a thermal current to carry it heavenward, you must stay in God’s presence with your heart attuned to Him. Do you have duties and demands? Yes, but none as important as this. Why? Because you understand that if you don’t get into God’s presence and stay there until He refreshes and restores you, you won’t make it. 2) Like an attentive waiter at a fine restaurant, whose only aim is to please, you wait on God, sensitive to His voice and surrendered to His will. Have the pressures of life left you drained? Watching television may entertain you for a while, but it won’t restore what life takes out of you. Only God can do that, so learn to ‘wait’ on God.

 Deuteronomy 13-15, Mark 12:28-44

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The Holy Spirit (1)

‘I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind...'

John 14:27


Life comes with surprises. Some of them you welcome, and some of them you don’t. One summer you take a trip to the beach, next summer the beach is covered with oil. One month your stocks are soaring and your investments are growing, then suddenly it all comes crashing down. And the ‘brains’ you thought were running the system sit at a congressional hearing and say, ‘We just never anticipated this.’ And in those rare seasons when you think the world has settled down, watch out! A malignant cell shows up in a colon, or a tornado rips through a neighbourhood flattening a house. So what are you going to do? When Jesus told His disciples He was leaving them, they were in panic mode, so He said to them, ‘…When the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. I’m leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid’ (vv. 26-27 NLT). You need to recognise the presence of the Holy Spirit who lives within you, and build a relationship with Him. He’s not an ‘it’ or a ‘thing’ or an ethereal spirit that’s beyond your reach. He is Christ’s ‘representative’. He’s willing to teach you what you don’t know, and to remind you of the things you so easily forget. And best of all, He will give you ‘peace of mind and heart’ regardless of what life throws at you.

 Deuteronomy 16-18, Mark 13:1-20

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The Holy Spirit (2)

‘…He will give you another Counsellor.'

John 14:16

In the Bible, Solomon lists twenty-eight different seasons in life. Here they are: ‘A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to stop searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace’ (Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 NLT). God determines each of your life’s seasons. The Psalmist said, ‘My times are in Your hand…’ (Psalms 31:15 AMP). So what should you do when you enter a new season of life? Reach for the Holy Spirit’s help because He’s a ‘Counsellor’. Jesus told His disciples, ‘I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever.’ When you need an advisor because you’re not sure what to do or which way to go, the Holy Spirit is available to guide you. That means you must be sensitive when He highlights a particular Scripture you’re reading, or plants a persistent thought or idea in your mind that won’t go away, or speaks to you through a friend. You’re not alone, unless you want to be. Just consult the ‘Counsellor’ within you.

 Deuteronomy 19-21, Mark 13:21-37.

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The Holy Spirit (3)

‘…The Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything...’

John 14:26

As a departing teacher might introduce the pupils to his or her replacement, so Jesus introduces us to the Holy Spirit. And what a ringing endorsement He gives Him! He calls the Holy Spirit His ‘representative’. The Holy Spirit within you comes in the name of Christ, with equal authority and identical power. How comforting it is to know that, when you’re entering a new season of life in which so many things will be different. This verse is translated in different ways. In The Message, the word ‘counsellor’ means ‘friend’. In the New King James Bible, He’s called ‘Helper’. In the Amplified Bible, He’s referred to as ‘Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener’.  In the original Greek, the Holy Spirit is referred to as ‘parakletos’, a compound of two words: para, which means ‘alongside of’, and kletos, which means ‘one who’s designated to you’. The Holy Spirit has been assigned to come alongside you. He is the presence of Jesus with and in you. Can you see how the disciples needed this encouragement? It’s Thursday night before the crucifixion. By sunrise they will all have abandoned Him. Within twenty-four hours He will be hanging on the cross and their world will seem like it’s been turned upside down. But Jesus wants them to know: ‘You’ll never face the future without My help.’ And neither will you. Wherever the journey leads, He will be there by your side. The songwriter said, ‘And He walks with me, and He talks with me. And He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.’

Deuteronomy 22-24, Mark 14:1-26

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THE HOLY SPIRIT (4)

‘These little troubles are getting us ready...’ 2 Corinthians 4:17 CEV

Everything Jesus did for His followers, the Holy Spirit does for you. Jesus taught; the Holy Spirit teaches us. Jesus healed; the Holy Spirit heals us. Jesus comforted; the Holy Spirit comforts us. Jesus sends us into new seasons, and He sends His Counsellor with us. You journey in the company of the Holy Spirit Who …‘will teach you everything and remind you of everything I have told you’ (John 14:26 NLT). When change comes, embrace it, don’t resist it. Change is not only a part of life, it’s a necessary part of God’s strategy for your life. To use us to change the world, He alters our assignments. Gideon, the farmer, became a general. Mary, the peasant girl, became the mother of Christ. Paul, the rabbi, became a world evangelist. God changed Joseph from a baby brother into an Egyptian prince. He changed David from a shepherd to a king. Peter wanted to fish the Sea of Galilee; Christ called him to lead the first church. God gives us our assignments. But what about painful changes that are hard to understand? It’s like your time in the womb: you are being developed for a greater time outside the womb. Inside the womb you had the ultimate comfort and security. But only outside the womb could you fulfil God’s purpose for your life. Your life in this world is simply to prepare you for your life in the next one. That’s why Paul wrote, ‘These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing.’ Eternal glory—you can hardly imagine it!

Jeremiah 7-9, Matthew 27:27-32, Psalm 38: 1-12, Proverbs 8: 22-23

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JOSEPH’S STORY, AND YOURS

‘…God intended it…to accomplish…the saving of many lives.’ Genesis 50:20 NIV

Here’s Joseph’s story in a nutshell: his brothers put him in a pit, his boss put him in a prison, but God put him on a throne. And here’s what we learn: 1) Your dream may work out differently from what you thought. As a boy Joseph dreamed of being in a position of power. But God had something better in mind: namely, the saving of a nation. What God has in mind for you will often exceed all your expectations, bless others, and promote His kingdom on the earth. 2) When it feels like you’re losing, you’re learning. When you experience unfair treatment and hardship, complaining doesn’t do any good. Plus, you’re not growing while you are grumbling! In every experience there’s a lesson, so glean it and move forward. When life knocks you down—just make sure it knocks you to your knees. 3) Seek divine promotion instead of self-promotion. Every time Joseph tried to promote himself it worked against him. Look what happened when he asked the royal cupbearer, who was his prison-mate, to recommend him to Pharaoh: ‘The chief cupbearer…did not remember Joseph…’ (Genesis 40:23 NIV). Joseph learned the hard way that success comes from God, and that we must give Him the credit for it. Indeed, the only advancement that counts is the kind that comes from Him. So pray: ‘Lord, help me to see these difficulties as stepping stones to maturity. Give me patience to wait for the kind of promotion that comes from You. Help me to remember that I’m blessed for a reason—to bless others.’

Genesis 22:1-18, Matthew 27: 33-56, Psalm 22, Isaiah