SENSITIVITY TO GOD’S TIMES AND SEASONS FOR YOU.

A.    KNOWING AND PUTTING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE

Text: Matt 1:16 – 25.

Introduction: The story of Mary and Joseph shows a clear demarcation between an engaged couple and a married couple. In courtship though you both have agreed to marry, but you are NOT yet married, no matter how close the wedding date is.

A lot of people have defiled themselves before God in the name of “sèbi we are going to get married soon!”

YOU ARE NOT MARRIED UNTIL YOU ARE MARRIED

Put that difference there and you’ll be safe!

Although … in courtship you are to start preparing for marriage; preparing to be a wife does not make you a wife. Let your marriage be honourable – wait for the covenant to be cut before you throw yourself overboard! It is crucial.

HOW FAR CAN I GO WITH HIM IN COURTSHIP?

·         Introduce him to your pastor, brethren and spiritual family. Introduce him to your earthly parents, siblings and physical family after the full approval of your spiritual father. Don’t go and start living with his parents. (A lady has gotten pregnant that way before). Don’t let them put the two of you in the same room overnight.

·         You can visit him but don’t sleep over at his place. Don’t go to spend your weekends at his place.

·         Don’t move in to live with him.

·         You can attend functions together – with approval from necessary authorities – but don’t start wearing the same clothes around.

·         Don’t start packing your things into his house; forgetting undies etc.

·         You can cook for him. If he visits you, you may offer him food.

·         Remember you are still testing before trusting. Note issues that need to be addressed and take matters to the right quarters.

·         Don’t take a ring now – wait until you are wedded – you’ll wear your wedding ring all your life!

·         Don’t be a parasite, don’t over receive gifts, money, things, sponsorship for courses, siblings, parents etc. what is there is a re-think? You would have been bound already.

·         Don’t start buying for him or receiving things like undies – pants, bras etc from him. Neither should you wash such for him.

·         Don’t start discussing along sexual lines.

·         Don’t go into sexual contacts of any form at all. Reserve it for the appointed time. That’s when it’s sweetest and not damaging to your spirit as stated in 1 Cor 6:9 – 20.

·         Pray together, attend church meetings together; you can go to places together. But don’t go and lure each other into sin.

·         Be free to express what displeases you. Don’t control him, don’t be subjugated either, be free to relate but be respectful.

B.     HOW TO RECOGNIZE YOUR SEASON FOR MARRIAGE

-       You are like a flower – can be a bud and after a while opens up and becomes attractive and many want to pluck it for the beauty displayed. Don’t be plucked by wasters, strangers and exploiters.

Be harnessed for long term beautification through the Father’s plan.

-       When your physical beauty opens up, men will begin to notice you and come to you. You must have other guiding factor inside you not to follow a waster in your season.

-       You would have grown in God. You will know God, fellowship with Him and be led by His Spirit, living by His word and obeying His command.

-       You will let God’s ways not environmental or generational craze direct your life.

-       God will teach you how to relate with the opposite sex and how to handle domestic affairs.

-       In your season, you will know how to handle money, buy things etc.

-       Know how to share life with others without selling your sacred things cheap to the enemy.

-       In your season you should have become a true daughter in a spiritual house trusted with serious kingdom assignments that will channel your future years into kingdom glory manifestations.

-       Know your house, know your place, know your assignments.

-       Don’t think you are only ready when breasts and buttocks have come out. You must be wise to handle neihgbours, in-laws, colleagues, husband, children and money.

-       Be able to generate funds – be a wealth creator.

-       Also in your season – identify what will be dangerous to your future and deal with them.

·         Bad habits

·         Negative ancestral flows

·         Unwholesome relationships

·         Negative physical situations etc.

C.    WHAT TO DO IF TIME HAS PASSED OVER YOU

-       Run to God! – Joel 2:25. God is the restorer of lost years.

-       Don’t become desperate and sell yourself cheap to unworthy fellows.

-       Don’t go into sin with every Tom, Dick and Harry. That they sleep with you doesn’t mean that they’ll marry you.

-       Don’t become distracted and lose focus from God and start going for prayers from place to place.

-       Go for counseling and ministration to deal with the root cause. This can either be

v  Ancestral curse

v  Demonic attack/exchange

v  Human carelessness

v  Your own mistakes

-       Stay in church and be active. Don’t do eyeservice – be real, be plain and sincere. SOON God will get through to you.

-       Stand in faith – not be filled with worry, doubt and unbelief.

-       Anyone that shows up, bring them to see your Pastor, who is not under pressure. Don’t do any private transaction that will destroy your life.

-       Don’t go into polygamy! Don’t agree to be a 2^nd, 3^rd or 4^th wife.

-       Don’t say yes to an unbeliever. Wait for God and you will not be disappointed in Jesus name.

-       When it is not your time and they want to pluck you – stay under shelter i.e. spiritual covering.

-       Report all issues that come up between you and the opposite sex to your spiritual parents or godly, concerned, spirit filled earthly parents.

-       Hide under parental cover – spiritual and physical.

-       Keep focus on the real substance for living and not just physical shape.

Next DOD meeting is March 12^th 2011. Be there!

IT IS WELL WITH YOU IN JESUS NAME.