Covenant Keepers - September 2002 Newsletter

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DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE BY MARILYN CONRAD Periodically, people ask me to comment on Deuteronomy 24:1-4. This scripture continues to cause confusion to divorced people who believe God has called them to remarry each other in spite of an interim marriage by one of the partners. It will be helpful to look at the scripture in question before going any further. "When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a bill of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house, and if she goes and becomes another man's wife, and the latter husband dislikes her and writes her a bill of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies, who took her to be his wife, then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the LORD, and you shall not bring guilt upon the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance." RSV This same passage is quoted in Jeremiah Chapter 3. In Israel, at the time of the writing of this scripture, custom required spouses of those in adultery to divorce even if this was not their desire. Accordingly, in Jeremiah 3 God divorced Israel (but not Judah where this was not the custom). Many justify divorce, saying that if God could divorce Israel, that it is all right for a husband or wife to divorce his or her partner today. But God’s divorcing of Israel was not designed to cut her off permanently. Instead, it was meant to bring her to repentance and restore her to Himself. We know that Israel will one day return to Him. In Jeremiah 3:12 we read, “Return, faithless Israel, says the Lord, and I will not cause my countenance to fall and look in anger upon you, for I am merciful, says the Lord; I will not keep anger forever.” Verses 14 and 22 both say, “Return, O faithless children and sons.” Why would God invite Israel to return to Him if she was so defiled that she could not? In verse 14 God says that He is still married to Israel and Judah. “Return, O faithless children [of the twelve tribes], says the Lord, for I am Lord and Master and Husband to you….” God is a covenant keeper for the nation of Israel, for even though He was required to divorce her, He has not disavowed His covenant with her. Many today are forced into divorce by the law where they reside. They, too, have not broken covenant, but are covenant keepers despite the divorce decree. Close study of Deuteronomy 24:1-4 indicates that both parties disavowed their covenant. The man refuted his vows by instigating the divorce, and the woman disavowed her covenant through her remarriage. This scripture does not apply where the covenant has not been broken but is held by one partner standing with God. I also invite you to read Deuteronomy 24:5: When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home for one year, and shall cheer up his wife whom he has taken.” Why is the injunction in this passage not taught also and enforced by those who say the verses 1-4 prohibit us from remarrying our mates? More discussion about this issue follows in an article published in our monthly newsletter several years ago. RECOMMENDED READING: Craig Hill's Help! My Spouse Wants Out. Order this book on the Covenant Keepers Order Page.
DIVORCE & REMARRIAGE: IS GOD AGAINST WHAT I’VE BEEN PRAYING FOR? *BY GARY MAJORS* There seems to be some confusion in the body of Christ today concerning divorce and remarriage. We don’t have any trouble with divorce not being God’s best. But some would have us believe that if a man puts away his wife by divorce, and she marries another, that he should never marry the same woman again (Deuteronomy 24:1-4). I don’t want the examples I am about to expound upon to be deemed critical of any individual or to be used in defense of this position. Please be sure that before you place them before someone in a discussion, that you are led by the Holy Spirit and present them as “speaking the truth in love.” Some of the folks who tell you that remarriage to the same woman is forbidden by scripture might not advise you that eating a regular hot dog at a picnic is a sin before Almighty God, but the Old Testament is clear about eating pork (Leviticus 11:7). Certain ones who are quick to say the Bible bans remarriage may not be reluctant to take a job that requires them to work an occasional Sunday once in awhile, but the Old Testament is clear about not working on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11). We must understand that the scriptures dealing with divorce and remarriage to the same woman are found in the same Old Testament with laws against coming into camp with an open sore or after having cleaned a catfish (Leviticus 11:9-10). This is not to make light of Old Testament teaching or the Law of Moses. It is to point out that we all may be guilty of selective enforcement of laws that we want to apply to certain situations. Jesus, the One who came to fulfill the Law of Moses, said that all of the law was summed up in the commandments to keep God first in our lives and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). Jesus didn’t like divorce because God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). He said Moses allowed divorce because we have hard hearts and we don’t forgive our mates unconditionally as He forgives us. Jesus wants all of us to forgive completely because that is the way He forgave. When a Christian says that he or she can’t forgive, it almost always means that person is saying, “I refuse to forgive.” How it must hurt our Savior to hear that from those who profess to love Him. When a man puts away his wife (divorces her) for any reason, he is refusing to forgive her and he is not in covenant with God any longer about his marriage. When that man breaks the covenant, God will stand firm with the other party for that covenant. The same thing applies to a woman who divorces her husband. It would be inconsistent with the Word of God, as well as with the character of God, not to forgive and restore that marriage. The Old Testament law was given to a spiritually dry and unschooled nation of people. The Holy Spirit has been given to us, and He brings divine inspiration along with godly wisdom to our generation. We are responsible for building upon the faith of our fathers, and we are equally accountable for building upon their knowledge. Those who rely upon one passage of scripture only and who do not take the whole counsel of scripture to understand and illuminate that scripture, only see a tiny speck of the greatness of our Lord. However, we should “pray it on and not lay it on” those who do not yet see the entire picture as revealed to us by God.
CIRCUMSTANCES BY ANDREW & CAROL MUNDEN, NATIONAL DIRECTORS FOR AUSTRALIA Another year has gone by, and some of you may feel that your miracle is no closer. Perhaps you think it seems even further away. But be encouraged: “Whoever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith.” (1 John 5:4) How does your faith measure up? Are you waiting to see some improvement in your situation to convince you that God will heal your marriage? If you need such proof, then you are not walking by faith, but by sight. That is the exact opposite of what the Lord calls us to do in 2 Corinthians 5:7. Yes, it is hard to understand, but remember that “God’s ways are not our ways” and He tell us to “lean not on our own understanding.” To walk by faith we must call “what be not as though it is.” Faith pleases God and helps us to receive all His blessings. (Isaiah 55:8, Proverbs 3:5, Romans 4:17, Mark 11:23-24, Hebrews 11:6) Matthew 13:58 tells us that faith is an essential part of every miracle. This is especially true of healed marriages, which may take considerable time to occur. We must also remember that the double-minded man receives nothing (James 1:6-8). We become double-minded when we entertain negative thoughts and words (ours or others’) which open the door for doubt and fear to come and destroy our faith. So don’t dwell on your circumstances. “Hope deferred truly does make the heart sick.” (Proverbs 13:12) It is far better to nurture our faith with the Word of God. Faith really does come “by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10-17) Thus, it is not optional for you to pray God’s Word aloud over your circumstances. It is as essential as the air you breathe. Without the Word, your faith will shrivel up and die. Remember, the battleground for your marriage is in your mind. It is not the people or circumstances in your life that is the problem, but how you react to them. You can unwittingly choose to believe the lies that Satan fires into your mind
BOOKS, TAPES & VIDEOS FEATURED AT THE CONFERENCE SOME QUANTITIES LIMITED WHILE SUPPLIES LAST GO TO PRODUCTS FOR ORDERING
DIVORCE & REMARRIAGE VIDEO Taped at the Covenant Keepers 2002 “Families Are Forever” Conference, this 75-minute VHS videotape by Marriage Ministries International Directors Mike & Marilyn Phillipps gives strong, biblically-based answers to many questions that people pose on this sometimes controversial and confusing subject. Mike & Marilyn have helped thousands of people all over the world to find God’s course through this potential minefield. Order this video from Covenant Keepers on our secure order page or contact Covenant Keepers by phone, fax, or e-mail. USA $18.00 Canada $20.00 (VHS won't work overseas.) LETTERS TO JESUS Lou shares letters she wrote to Jesus when her husband was a prodigal. Tom's comments show what he experienced while Lou was praying and standing for their marriage. Learn the story of one couple's separation, divorce, and ultimate reconciliation. This book records Lou's progress from a relatively new covenant keeper to a mature stander absolutely convinced that God is faithful to His promises. Tom & Lou say, "There are so many standers that might be helped by knowing that their journey, with all they feel and experience, follows a path traveled by others before them and that their feelings of anger and bitterness, often towards God, are part of the healing process that they must go through." USA $5.75 CAN/MEX $6.50 INTL $8.25 MINI-BOOKS Some of Marilyn's best teachings are now available in these eight mini-books. Recently revised, they have a new cover design. Titles include How to Replace a Heart of Stone, Deception, Is God Working?, Should I Use Tough Love With My Mate?, Holding Up God's Standard for Marriage, Let Go!, and The Road Home: A Parable of a Stander (by Canadian National Director Gerry Hiebert). Offered for the first time is Frequently Asked Questions. MINI BOOK SETS (8 books) USA $8.00 CAN/MEX $9.75 INTL $12.00 MINI BOOKS EACH USA $1.25 CAN/MEX $2.00 INTL $2.50
	USA	CAN/MEX	INTL
Holy Spirit Baptism by Don Basham	5.00	6.75	9.25
Prayers That Avail Much (Vol. 1) by Germain Copeland	10.50	14.00	18.75
Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets	13.25	15.25	20.00
Demon Hit List by John Eckhardt	8.25	8.75	11.50
Identifying & Breaking Curses by John Eckhardt	8.25	8.75	11.50
The Power of a Praying Husband by Stormie O'Martian	11.50	13.25	18.50
The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie O'Martian	11.50	13.25	18.50
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie O'Martian	11.50	13.25	18.50
Intercessors: Discover Your Prayer Power by Tommi Femrite, Beth Alves & Karen Kaufman	12.00	15.75	20.50