Another Awesome Message Of Encouragement & Wisdom From Bob Steinkamp!
Everyone standing for marriage restoration is fortunate to have the blessing and benefit of the ministry the Lord has called Bob and Charlyne Steinkamp to, which is Rejoice Marriage Ministries. But, as I’m sure Bod would agree, no matter what kind of encouragement and wise counsel they provide, it won’t do any of us a bit of good unless we take it to heart and put it into practice. So let’s be sure of the Lord’s blessings as we stand for the restoration of our marriages, by being doers of the word, as James 1:25 tells us, But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. The following is another awesome message from Bob in today’s Charlyne Cares.
On Tuesdays Bob shares from the prodigal’s perspective, after being
remarried to Charlyne for 19 years. Today he writes about a strain
of flu that threatens many standers each year in the fall.
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ANOTHER EPIDEMIC -
We are nearing that time of year when health officials will start to
warn about the dangers of the upcoming flu seasons. People will
scamper to stand in line for their 2006 flu shot.
There is another worldwide epidemic that we don’t hear much about.
It is striking the people we love and care about, namely men and
women who are standing with God for the restoration of their
marriages.
At a time when prodigals spouses are coming home to God, and home to
praying spouses in record numbers, we are also hearing daily about
standers who have been infected with the “D Strain” and are on the
verge of giving up praying and standing with God for (1) the
salvation of a prodigal mate, and then (2) restoration of their
marriage. Thankfully, few people had been harmed by this dreaded
disease, but the early effects of Satan’s warfare are evident
everywhere.
The Enemy is attacking with the “D Strain” of sin. The symptoms are:
DOUBT- “Did God really tell me to stand, or was it something I
dreamed up?”
DESPAIR - “This is hopeless.”
DIVISION - Standers start majoring in the minor issues, instead of on
the Word and Jesus. Soon their focus is on the issue, and not on
their stand with God.
DEFEAT - If Satan can’t defeat you, he will defeat someone whose
defeat will defeat you. (The might be poor English, but good in
thought.)
DISTRUST - “Can (or will) God really do what He has promised me?”
DISTRACTION - Looking at your own (or someone else’s) circumstances
instead of focusing on God.
DISPUTE - Attempting to fight the battles yourself, instead of
allowing God to work.
DISENCHANTMENT - “My spouse is not changing so why should I try?”
(What’s happening on the other side of your mountain where you
can’t see?)
DECEIT - “No one knows about my secret sin.” (But God knows and it is
killing your stand for a healed marriage.)
DEVOURING - “I will write back and give them a piece of my mind!”
DEMANDS - “If God doesn’t do something soon, I am giving up.”
DATING - “This person is only a friend, and I am so lonesome. I can
handle going out and still stand.”
DIVORCE - “My divorce is final, so there is no hope for my marriage.”
Tony Evans once said, “It does not matter what the records down at
city hall say. The records in Heaven say that you are married!”
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The good news is that God has provided a vaccine to protect you
against each and every element of the “D Strain.” We beg you to
please look these up, learn them, memorize them. Post them on your
mirror, so that when the enemy sprays your home, you will be
protected by God’s Word:
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DOUBT - “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go,
throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but
believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.”
Mark 11:23
DESPAIR - “And provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them
a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of
mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair.” Isaiah 61:3
DIVISION - “So that there should be no division in the body, but that
its parts should its parts should have equal concern for each other.”
I Corinthians 12:25
DEFEAT - “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13
DISTRUST - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on
your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and, he will
make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
DISTRACTION - “But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that
had to be made….”Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are
worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.
Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from
her.” Luke 10:40,41-42
DISPUTE - “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the
matter before a dispute breaks out.” Proverbs 17:14
DISCOURAGEMENT - “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this
vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles
20:15
DECEIT - “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect
gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly
lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:16-17
DEVOURING - “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch
out or you will be destroyed by each other.” Galatians 5:15
DEMANDS - “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper
time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
DATING - “…For this reason a man will leave his father and mother
and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So
they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined
together, let man not separate.” Matthew 19:5-6
DIVORCE - “Has not the Lord, made them one? In Flesh and spirit they
are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So
guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife
of your youth. “I hate divorce.” says the Lord God of Israel….”
Malachi 2:15-16
If you have decided to give up on standing, who will pray for your
prodigal? Do you not care about their eternal destiny? What about the
generational curse of divorce that is in your family, and that YOU
have an opportunity to stop? Have you not grown strong enough in the
Lord to withstand the attacks from satan? They are predictable when
you are doing Kingdom work.
If you will allow God to vaccinate you today with His Word, you will
be protected against the Enemy’s attacks tomorrow.
Let’s fight this flu, in Jesus’ Name,
Bob Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.®
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, FL 33061 USA
How To Stand
Rejoice Ministries Online Bookstore -
Stop Divorce
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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quoted by permission and are from
the Holy Bible; New International Version® Copyright© 1973, 1978,
1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan
Publishing House. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked
(AMP) are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958,
1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by
permission.
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Copyright© 2006 Rejoice Marriage Ministries Inc®.
Pompano Beach, Florida
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