Tuesday, April 9, 2019

CAN YOU DIVORCE GOD?



DIVORCE

THROUGH APOSTASY.

 “…You have fallen away from God’s GRACE…” (Galatians 5:4 NLT). “... IN LATTER TIMES “SOME” SHALL [CHOOSE OR DECIDE TO] ...DEPART FROM the [CHRISTIAN] ... FAITH !!!!...” (1 Timothy 4:1-3 KJV). “...Take heed, BRETHREN, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God...” (Hebrews 3:12 KJV). “...If ye continue in the faith ... and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel ...” (Colossians 1:22-23 KJV).

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         When a divorce happens it means a marriage has been terminated. It also means the legal duties and responsibilities of each spouse have been canceled and the vows, under the rule of law, are no longer binding.

In order to obtain a divorce, the married couple, must go through a legal process, according to their state or country, which will require the involvement of a court to decide on issues such as distribution of properties, child support, alimony, sharing of debt, and the splitting of material possessions.

The reason for divorce, varies, but could entail anything from incompatibility to infidelity. In the instant of divorce either both parties want the divorce, or one party wants the divorce and the other concedes to the other parties wishes.

The bottom line is that a DIVORCE is the dissolution of a marriage and it requires a LEGAL PROCESS to END it.

When APOSTASY happens it means the covenant relationship with God has been terminated. “... You “WERE” SEALED ...WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.…” (Ephesians 1 NLT).

THE WORD SAYS: “…It’s YOUR SINS that have cut you off from God. …” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT). God says, “…I change NOT” (Malachi 3:6 KJV).

“…MY WORD … that goeth forth out of my mouth: it SHALL NOT return unto me void, but it SHALL ACCOMPLISH that which I please, and it SHALL PROSPER in the thing whereto I sent it…” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV). “…It’s YOUR SINS that have cut you off from God. …” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT).

God says, I “…am WATCHING over my word to PERFORM it…” (Jeremiah 1:12 NASB). Therefore, “... the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,....” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB).

BECAUSE OF WHAT THE WORD SAYS: “... the word of God ...piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,....” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB).“…you have been cut off from Christ! …” (Galatians 5:4 NLT).

It also means the spiritual duties and responsibilities of a man or woman, toward God, the Holy Spirit, have been rejected and the beliefs, based upon his holy law, are forsaken and abandoned. “… [YOU]… FORGOT all about ME,” says the Lord…” (Hosea 2:13 NLT). “…They ABANDONED the Lordthey turned their backs on him….” (2 Chronicles 29:6 NLT). “...people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching....” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT).“... They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear...” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT). “...They will reject the truth and chase after myths...” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT).

“...some will turn away from the true faith;...” (Hebrews 4:1-2 NLT).

“...they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons...” (Hebrews 4:1-2 NLT).

“...These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead...” (Hebrews 4:1-2 NLT).

 “…We will continue to live as WE WANT TO, stubbornly following our own evil desires…” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).

 “…My people would not listen to me. They KEPT DOING WHATEVER THEY WANTED, following the stubborn desires of their [OWN] evil hearts” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).

In order to achieve APOSTASY, the man or woman, goes through a spiritual process of renouncing and disassociating him or herself from God, the Holy Spirt. “... a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths...” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT).

“...Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead...” (Hebrews 4:1-2 NLT).

...the people replied, “…We will continue to live as WE WANT TO, stubbornly following our own evil desires…” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).

 “…my people would not listen to me. They KEPT DOING WHATEVER THEY WANTED, following the stubborn desires of their [OWN] evil hearts” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).

The man or woman has willfully CHOSEN to fall away from the covenant relationship with God and return to a life without HIM. “...For if, after they (those who were in a covenant relationship with God) have escaped ... they (those  who were in a covenant relationship with God) are AGAIN entangled in them (their former sinful lifestyles practices) ... it would be better for them (those who were in a covenant relationship with God) not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from (by choice) the holy commandment ... It has happened to them (those who were in a covenant relationship with God) according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire...” (2 Peter 2:20-23 NASB).  “... EVERYONE (NO EXCEPTIONS) who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness ... the one who practices sin is of the devil ... No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of GOD...” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB). “…what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ (the Word of TRUTH) with Belial (the DEVIL or Father of LIES)? Or what part hath he that believeth (depends upon God) with an infidel (one who doesn’t depend upon God)?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15 KJV).

 “…My people would not listen to me. They KEPT DOING WHATEVER THEY WANTED, following the stubborn desires of their [OWN] evil hearts” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).

 “…It’s YOUR SINS that have cut you off from God. …” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT). “......piercing ... asunder ...soul and spirit,....” (Hebrews 4:12 NASB).“…you have been cut off from Christ! …” (Galatians 5:4 NLT).

They have also CHOSEN to abandon previously held beliefs and have decided to defy or rebel against the practice of those same beliefs.“...dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God...” (Hebrews 3:12-13 NLT).

“...God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it...” (Hebrews 4:1 NLT).

The reason for APOSTASY, varies, but could entail anything from a desire to continue to practice a sinful lifestyle to spiritual infidelity. “... They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear...” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT). “...They will reject the truth and chase after myths...” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT). “…For years on end my people have FORGOTten ME” (Jeremiah 2:32 NLT).  “…They ABANDONED the Lord to serve Baal (other objects of faith)…” (Judges 2:13 NLT). “…Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually ABANDONED ME and followed other gods (other objects of faith)…” (1 Samuel 8:8 NLT). “…For my people have ABANDONED ME and offered sacrifices to pagan gods (other objects of faith)…” (2 Kings 22:17 NLT).

In the instant of spiritual APOSTASY against God, the Holy Spirit, only one party wants to forsake or abandon the covenant relationship. God, the Holy Spirit concedes to the other party’s CHOICE. "… I hate divorce (APOSTASY)," says the LORD, the God of Israel..." (Malachi 2:16 NASB). “…[Yet]...GOD GAVE THEM OVER to a reprobate mind to do those things which are convenient...being filled with all unrighteousness...” (Romans 1:28 KJV). “…, …We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires…” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT). “… my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned away and ABANDONED me….” (JEREMIAH 5:23 NLT). “…They kept doing whatever they wanted” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).

The believer can willfully CHOOSE to depart from God, the Holy Spirit, but God, the Holy Spirit, doesn’t depart from the believer. : “…I am with you always, to the very end…"(Matthew 28:20 NIV). God will “…Never leave nor forsake you…” (Hebrews 13:5 KJV).  “…Behold, I am with … [you] and will keep … [you] whithersoever [you]… goest…I will not leave [you] ..." (Genesis 28:15 ASV).

However, God, the Holy Spirit, concedes, to your CHOICE to leave or depart from HIM. “...The Lord said, My [Holy]...Spirit shall not always strive with man…” (Genesis 6:3 KJV). “…They DID NOT like to retain God in their knowledge (MINDS), GOD GAVE THEM OVER to a reprobate mind (wicked, unrepentant mind)” (Romans 1:28 KJV). “...God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them...” (Romans 1:24 NASB). “...God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper...” (Romans 1:28 NASB). “....I gave them over to worthless decrees and regulations that would not lead to life...” (Ezekiel 20:25 NLT).“...It has happened to them according to the true proverb, A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire...” (2 Peter 2:20-23 NASB).

“… I will remove thy candlestick out of his place…” (Revelation 2:5 KJV).“… the dividing asunder of soul and spirit…” (Hebrews 4:12 KJV).“…you have been cut off from Christ! …” (Galatians 5:4 NLT).“…You have fallen away from God’s GRACE…” (Galatians 5:4 NLT).

The bible presents the scenario, in regard to, human relationships, which says if you are married to someone who is NOT believing STAY committed to them.  However,  “...if the unbelieving one leaves, let him (her) leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?” (1 Corinthians 7:15-16 NASB).

Similarly, God, the Holy Spirit, concedes to the man or woman’s willful CHOICE to depart from him, yet he REMAINS faithful to his covenant promises to them. “…If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT).

God, the Holy Spirit’s, LOVE also remains UNCONDITIONALLY. “…[Nothing]…will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”(Romans 8:31-39 NASB).

God, the Holy Spirit, will NEVER let his covenant partner perish or let anyone SNATCH them out of his hands as long as THEY CHOOSE to abide in him. “...I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me...” (John 10:28 NLT).

However, they are to choose to “...Remain in me, and I will remain in you...” (John 15:4). “...Abide in me and I in you...” (John 15:4 KJV). “…Choose you this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV). …If a man (woman) abide NOT in me, ‘he (she) is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned…” (John 15:6 KJV).

God’s FAITHFUL and LOVING role in the covenant relationship with the believer is UNCONDITIONAL, but the believer’s ROLE is “NOT.” “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV).  ...[My Word to you].... is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV). However, “…Choose you (through human will) this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV).

Every vow and promise God makes, to the believer, is SOLID. “…MY WORD … that goeth forth out of my mouth: it SHALL NOT return unto me void, but it SHALL ACCOMPLISH that which I please, and it SHALL PROSPER in the thing whereto I sent it…” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV). God says, I “…am WATCHING over my word to PERFORM it…” (Jeremiah 1:12 NASB). He has granted to [his people]… His precious and magnificent promises…” (2 Peter 1:4 NASB). “…As many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yesalsoAmen” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NASB). “…Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made … failed; all came to pass…” (Joshua 21:45 NASB).

 BUT, because of HUMAN WILL, the believer’s vows and promises to God are NOT SOLID. “... You, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight (THE NEXT VERSE REQUIRES HUMAN WILL OR HUMAN CHOICE) “If” ye (CHOOSE TO) continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister...” (Colossians 1:21-23 KJV). “... Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters (BELIEVERS)...” (Hebrews 3:12 NLT). “...Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, (THE NEXT VERSE REQUIRES HUMAN WILL OR HUMAN CHOICE) if” we (CHOOSE TO) hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end...” (Hebrews 3:12-14 KJV). .“...HE (SHE) THAT “SHALL” ENDURE (THROUGH HUMAN WILL OR HUMAN CHOICE) UNTO THE END SHALL BE SAVED...” (Matthew 24:13 KJV).

The bottom line is that  APOSTASY causes the dissolution of the covenant relationship and it requires a man or woman to willfully CHOOSE to FORSAKE or ABANDON the relationship in order to END it.“…If you love me, you will (CHOOSE TO.) keep my commandments” (John 14:15). However, “…My people would not listen to me. They kept (CHOOSING TO DO) ...whatever they wanted” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). … The people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to (CHOOSE TO) live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT). “…Thus saith the Lord; ‘Cursed be the MAN (or woman) ... whose HEART (WILLFULLY) departeth from the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:5 KJV) Thus, “…They (MY PEOPLE) broke [THEIR] ... covenant [WITH ME BY CHOICE], though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord…” (Jeremiah 31:32 NASB).

“… to ... those who were once enlightened— AND THEN TURN AWAY…” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT). “… repent and DO the first works (CHOOSING to ABIDE with God, the Holy Spirit)…” (Revelation 2:5 KJV).

 “…Choose you (through human will) this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV).

“... REPENT AND RETURN, “SO” that your sins may be wiped away…” (Acts 3:19 NASB). “ ... Return ... to the Lord ... [your] ... God... [AND HE] ... will heal [your] ... apostasy ....” (Hosea 14:1-4 NLT). “…EXCEPT YE REPENT, ye shall all likewise PERISH…” (Luke 13:3 KJV).  

DR. PENSACOLA H. JEFFERSON

PASTORAL COUNSELOR

YADA COUNSELING MINISTRY

DIVORCING GOD: YOUR CHOICE

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