Opposition

Marriage is opposed—especially a marriage centered around Christ. It took me a looooong time to see and admit this. Marriage is just supposed to happen. Right? Oh, no. The Enemy knows that marriage is powerful for the picture it is supposed to be of Christ and the Church. The Enemy is also very aware that the Lord uses marriage to perfect us individually. Victory is already ours though, as we call upon the power and grace of Jesus Christ.

During a time of prayer this past week, I felt a prompting to read Nehemiah. Leafing through the impossibly thin pages of the Word, I saw some passages from a new angle.

"The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start building, but you have no share, right, or historic claim in Jerusalem" Nehemiah 2:20

How sweet is this?! The institution of marriage, much like the walls of Jerusalem, has taken many blows and lies in disrepair. An enemy comes to mock and distract. As we tell this enemy where our hope comes from, it also serves as a reminder to us—fortifying hope. Because of the work on the cross, we are now co-heirs with Christ and Satan has no, "share, right, or historic claim," in our lives and marriages. What a powerful proclamation!

In the newest season of Survivor, there is a character who verbalizes every spiritual struggle he undergoes (these struggles center around marital faithfulness). It is really shocking to see since so much of the time we (the body of Christ) take incredible strides to hide such things from those around us! He has spent much time and effort chastising himself and focusing on the cardboard cutout of the enemy's foot-soldier rather than going directly to the One who can provide the victory. I have found myself in the same situation too often. I shadowbox at the temptation—cupping my hands around my mouth "Rahhhh...Rahhhhh...and the crowd goes wild"—defeating nothing of significance. Why not expose the enemy and remind him, "what can you do?! I have been bought at a price. You have no claim to me!"

"When our enemies realized that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall." Nehemiah 4:15

If Satan and his cronies have planned a sneak attack—skulking around in the dark—and the Lord exposes those plans as we join in unified prayer, what will the devil have left? Nada. It reminds me of playing hide and seek with youngins: "Hey! You weren't supposed to look here!"

Satan utilizes a pretty nutso strategy against marriage in Vanuatu. Ni-Vanuatu men purchase their brides by paying a specified amount to the bride's father. This particular practice is not just common, it is the standard in and out of the church. This presents all kinds of problems since women are ultimately viewed as possessions. Men feel justified in "disciplining" (beating) their wives when deemed "appropriate". Merissa and I are excited to be used in this area as we display a Godly example of marriage—because we're perfect in every way. That's...uh...that's a joke... We really do believe that we will be able to use the struggles and triumphs of our marriage as a testimony to the men and women of Vanuatu. Merissa will be used by the Spirit to bring healing and show the Father's love to women in Vanuatu. I will have influence over men in the school of ministry as I disciple them. Please lift up this area of ministry when praying for us and the people of Vanuatu.

One last thought. People joined together for the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. Please lift up a friend's marriage this week.