REJECTING JESUS BY TEACHINGS
We Christians reject Jesus with our beliefs, church teachings, manmade doctrines, etc. Jesus' followers, the apostles, were the first followers to make up doctrines. They made up and enforced a rule that you had to be a Jew to follow Jesus until God intervened by using Peter to correct the manmade doctrine. For about 10 years, early Christians considered it a fact that you could not follow Jesus unless you were a Jew. For many hundreds of years, we have continued to make up doctrines that many consider as facts or truths. There is even a doctrine that suggests if people have believed something long enough, it must be true. Jesus is the "TRUTH" not some manmade doctrine. Jesus is very clear "IF YOU CONTINUE TO OBEY MY TEACHING … YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH. AND THE TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE". To be free of manmade doctrines we need to only follow what Jesus teaches. It may sound simple but doctrines that are considered fact may be hard to question. People may try to validate their beliefs by twisting Jesus teachings to apply to their doctrines or desires. For example unmarried couples may quote Jesus command to "LOVE ONE ANOTHER" to justify their lustful desires while ignoring that Jesus teaches against the sin of "FORNICATION". Be aware there are religious demons and spiritual warfare may be helpful. Please consider asking God in your daily prayers for help to "KNOW THE TRUTH" and be set "FREE" of manmade doctrines. 1
1. Ac 10:1-48; Jn 16:6; Jn 15:17; Mk 7:21 (NRS); Jn 8:31-32 (IC)
note: click here for bible verse and translation abbreviations
King David wrote: "Teach me to live according to Your truth, for You are my God, who saves me. I always trust in You." Ps 25:5 (GN)
Understanding the Teaching: What I share in the teaching is what I believe God wants me to share. All the direct quotes from God are highlighted in royal purple. Of course the words of Jesus are in red. Rather than follow some made up doctrine, remember that Jesus said that every thing He said (Jn 12:49) and everything He did (Jn 14:31) comes from God. All teachings and all opinions should be supported by what we learn from God or Jesus (see the scripture referred to in the footnote).
MARRIAGE WORKSHOP MOMENT
As you improve communication, you will discover that most problems can be solved by improved communication using the Speaker Listener Technique we teach in our Marriage Workshops. Occasionally there could be a problem that could use formal problem solving. The 4 steps to problem solving are: 1. Agenda Setting - decide and write down the specific concern (like, how do we keep our dishes washed) 2. Brain Storming - write down all the ideas, no evaluating, silly ok (like, hire a maid, only use paper plates, eat out all the time, take turns, etc.) 3. Agreement and compromise - a good time to use the SLT 4. Follow Up - agree to a specific time to follow up and see how the agreement worked and be specific (like if you wrote down we agree to get our son a pet, one of you could be thinking a puppy and one could be thinking a horse) Remember some problems could seem to be unsolvable. That is the time to decide how we can protect what is great about our marriage from this seemingly unsolvable problem.
The Better Half "When your partner won't support your efforts to make your marriage better" Without your spouse's support to improve your marriage, you can still pray daily for God's will to be done in each of your lives and your marriage. Jesus said, "all things are possible with God", Mk 10:27 NI). Obviously, without your spouse's cooperation you would have difficulty in problem solving. No matter how serious the problem appears to be, it is good to consider that your marriage may be more important than most problems and it is good to make an effort to protect your marriage. Remember, God said, "I hate divorce" (Mal 2:16 NI). When a spouse calls "time out", it is an opportunity for a couple to calm down before continuing the conversation at a later time (anywhere from an hour to no later than the next day) using the Speaker Listener Technique. Initially after calling time out it is an opportunity to take authority over the enemy and pray for the marriage. Example: "In the name of Jesus I command you demons to shut up and leave our marriage and not return" "Thank you God for helping our marriage be in Your will and guiding us in our relationship, in Jesus name, amen." When a spouse will not cooperate, you can still take authority over the enemy and pray for your marriage.
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