Pastor Faith Oyedepo: Enjoying Honour in Marriage [Part 3]

Author: Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: Enjoying Honour in Marriage [Part 3]

Dear Reader,

It is a good day for you in Jesus’ name! Last week, I discussed with you the thing you must avoid, to truly enjoy the honour that is in marriage. This week, I want to share with you Some Hindrances to Honour in Marriage.

Stubbornness
Stubbornness is an enemy of honour and dignity. That is why husband and wife, who delight in stubborn acts, will end up being stripped of honour. Wife, know that your husband is the head of the home. You must be submissive to him. We must avoid conflicting decisions at home. Allow him to take the final decision as regards the progress of the home.

I want you to note this: Any woman who is strong-willed and unyielding, is heading for disgrace and destruction. As a Christian mother, you must not allow the spirit of stubbornness to overshadow you. Be calm and articulate; calmness is not stupidity, but the cure of stubbornness.

A sister was upset by her husband and angrily packed her things out of the home. The husband, with other good neighbours pleaded with her to return home, but due to her stubbornness she refused. She thought her husband (being a Christian) would not look for another woman. After a few months, her husband stopped pleading for her return; but she later decided to go back home. To her surprise, she met another woman. Her husband had taken another woman as a wife!

Do you see what stubbornness has caused them? Though they both were believers, yet they were robbed of a successful marriage. You shall not lose your home to stubbornness in Jesus’ name! Be flexible and calm with your spouse. Allow for mercy and compassion, and God will protect your marriage and home.

The Word of God says: …Stubbornness is as an iniquity and Idolatry (1 Sam.15:23). In this scripture, stubbornness is equated with idolatry, and idolatry is a serious sin before God. It is as grievous as the adoration of graven images.

What does it mean to be stubborn? Collins Cobuild English Dictionary answers: It means to be unwilling to change. In a nutshell, stubbornness means to be adamant, to be fixed in purpose and opinion; to refuse positive development. God hates someone who is stubborn. So, prune it away from your family life before it prunes you away from your home.

Stubbornness kills dreams. Saul’s kingdom was cut off from him, because he refused correction. If it can destroy a whole kingdom, then you need to prune it off your home before it robs you of a successful home. Imagine a man who makes up his mind to do something but refuses to be swayed by the pleading of his wife, even when her reasons are obviously in accordance with the Word of God. Watch such a man; he will end up in big trouble someday. The Word of God says: He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy (Proverbs 29:1).

Bitterness
Another enemy that can rob you of the honour that God has ordained for you in marriage, is bitterness. The Word of God says: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled (Hebrews 12:15).
Bitterness starts from very little things. Perhaps your spouse or a family member has done something to hurt you, and you refuse to forgive him or her. Every remembrance of the incident brings pain to you. Watch it! That’s a root of bitterness springing up gradually. If it is not dealt with immediately, it will ultimately trouble you. Below is a testimony of a sister who heard the Word of God and overcame the spirit of unforgiveness.

“Somebody had offended me and I had in turn vowed never to forgive him. However, as I attended the Convention and heard the devastating effect unforgiveness could have in my life, I repented of it and willingly let him (who had hurt me) go. Mysteriously, a disease I had carried about in my body for some years disappeared, and I was totally healed.”–Eliezer , F.
Bitterness actually troubles and embitters individuals. You lose your rest to bitterness. If you’re bitter against your spouse, when he or she is in the sitting room, you will want to be in the bedroom; there is usually no rest within you.

Also, bitterness makes you to fall short of the grace of God. That means, when you harbour bitterness, you are actually frustrating the grace of God in your life. What are you without His grace? The Word of God says: But by the grace of God I am what I am (1 Corinthians 15:10). So, whereas you need His grace to succeed in your family, bitterness can frustrate that grace.
Bitterness also defiles. Not only does it trouble individuals, it defiles the person. It makes one filthy before God, as He sees one as an infidel and an outcast. In the Old Testament, outcasts were not permitted to dwell among other men (Isaiah 16:3).

To overcome the sin of stubbornness and bitterness, you need the grace of God. This grace can only be available by surrendering your life to Christ. If you are ready for this, please say this prayer:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today as a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose on the third day. Forgive me of my sins. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, and conselling@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores:

Marriage Covenant
Making Marriage Work
Building A Successful Home
Success in Marriage (Co-Authored)

Click HERE to read other messages written by Pastor Faith Oyedepo