“…as the church submits to Christ.”- Ephesians 5:
In continuing on our request to find what Biblical marriage is all about, we were left to wrestle with the question that applies to every Christian on the face of this earth, how much will you submit your life to Jesus Christ?
The answer that can only please God is 100%.
Not 20%
Not 65%,
Not even 99%.
God Wants All of Us
“love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your should and with ALL your strength and with ALL your mind.”- Luke 10:27 (sense a pattern here?)
Anything else is sub-par, against God, mediocre, and watered-down Christianity.
But why must we submit to Christ? And how does this pertain to women in regards to their husband? As we continue down this road, these questions will be answered. As for now, let’s focus on why Christ is worthy of our submission and adoration.
Get Low
To submit is originally a military term coming from the Greek word hypotasso- meaning to arrange under, subordinate, to subject one’s self, obey.
In military, submission to authority is a vital training exercise that is routinely drilled into the young cadets as they train for war. Without this discipline, there is chaos. When they battle is raging, emotions are flaring, and thoughts are scattered, the submission of those young cadets to a leader that is experienced and removed from the fray is something that has overcome many foes
The question arises, “Does Christ deserve the radical submission that He calls the church to?”
Let’s look at some characteristics of Jesus Christ:
Who is Christ?
1. He is God
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”- John 1:1
“they shall call his name Immanuel (which means God with us)”- Matthew 1:23
“He is the true God and eternal life.”- 1 John 5:20
2. He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the great “I AM”, He is God in the flesh. There is no one like Him.
“On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of Lords.” – Revelation 19:16
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”- Revelation 22:13
3. He is the Faithful Groom.
“if we are faithless, he remains faithful-for he cannot deny himself.”- 2 Tim. 2:13
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself…”- John 14::4
“For the husband is the head of the wife and Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.”
4. He is the Rescuer of the Lost, the Great Overcomer.
“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
“But take heart; I have overcome the world.”- John 16:33
“Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”- 1 John 5:5
5. He is the Creator of All Things, Including Us.
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things were created through him and for him.”- Colossians 1:16
6. He is our Only Hope.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”- Hebrews 10:23
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
The Point:
Jesus is worthy of all of our adoration and praise. Can a mere human attain any of the things listed above? Of course not.
This is the Jesus we submit and give our lives to, not the sissy Jesus that is portrayed in so many movies and places today.
Ladies, here me on this, you can not properly submit to your husband until you have properly submitted to Jesus Christ. The Gospel has the power to transform marriages, strengthen them, and make them work. Without the Gospel at the core, and submission to Christ, a marriage will fail. This failure does not always come in the form of a divorce. A failed marriage consists of one that does not give God the glory He deserves.
It is my prayer that in my marriage, as well as marriages across the world, that we would all submit to our spiritual head, Jesus Christ, and glorify His name!
In Christ,
Phillip
Friday, June 29, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
A Godly Wife pt. 1
This is a post from Phillip, taken from his personal blog
It has been about 8 months since my last update..
Epic Fail.
Not much has happened these past 8 months...wait,that is not entirely correct.
That girl I talked about, Casey Sharp, well we are no longer dating.
We're married.
If anything, that is enough change and newness to warrant a blog post. We were engaged over Thanksgiving and we were married on March 10th in Lewiston, ID. Marriage is a wonderful, refining, exciting, difficult, and enlightening adventure that I am privileged to be on ,and you can be sure that there will be numerous blog posts in the future of lessons learned, refining moments, and hilarious stories. I am so blessed to call such a beautiful Godly woman my wife.
The blog posts for the next couple of days will focus on some Biblical truths I am learning about marriage, taken from Ephesians 5.
1.Marriage glorifies God because it points us to the Gospel.
"Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands."
A couple of clarifications:
It has been about 8 months since my last update..
Epic Fail.
Not much has happened these past 8 months...wait,that is not entirely correct.
That girl I talked about, Casey Sharp, well we are no longer dating.
We're married.
If anything, that is enough change and newness to warrant a blog post. We were engaged over Thanksgiving and we were married on March 10th in Lewiston, ID. Marriage is a wonderful, refining, exciting, difficult, and enlightening adventure that I am privileged to be on ,and you can be sure that there will be numerous blog posts in the future of lessons learned, refining moments, and hilarious stories. I am so blessed to call such a beautiful Godly woman my wife.
The blog posts for the next couple of days will focus on some Biblical truths I am learning about marriage, taken from Ephesians 5.
Marriage, in it's original design, is meant for one main thing.
To Glorify God
- the wife is compared to the church
- the church submits to Jesus Christ, who is the culmination and lifeblood of the Gospel.
- a woman's relationship with her husband is to be a direct response from her response to Christ.
- Biblical marriage is not politically correct. Neither is the Gospel.
- Homosexual marriage cannot hold to the tenants of God's design and intent for marriage,because the Scripture clearly demonstrates two different sexes in a marriage relationship (husband and wife)
- I don't write the mail, I just deliver it.
-The question to wrestle with today:
- How much of your life do you submit to Christ and how does it impact you?
As, I think on this, I see the need to figure out who this Jesus is that we must all submit to. We will look at those characteristics of Christ in the next blog.
**************************************************************************
**************************************************************************
Goodness. I started this blog with no idea of what I was going to say, let alone with no intent to start a mini-series.
However, Biblical marriage is under attack, and there is a great need to understand marriage in light of the Gospel, especially with the age group I interact with
Teaching on marriage is not just constrained to married couples who are having difficulties, newlyweds, r premarital counseling. If you are single or dating, having a Biblical view of marriage right now is essential to having a Godly marriage in the future.
As a BCM, we are praying about starting a young married's Bible study, so I am hopeful that this miniseries will feed into that!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Seeing God's Faithfulness
Have many of you heard the saying, "Living on love"? Well, as we near 3 months of marriage, I am finding that we are indeed living on love and the unfailing faithfulness of God.
I will be the first to say that I have not been responsible when it comes to my finances, Phillip is much better at this than I am. In the last few months, we have been cutting it close, there were times when we didn't quite know how we were going to make it. But our God always provides, amen? We had a wonderful family give us groceries that carried us through the month, others who just blessed us with an invitation over to their house for a meal. Phillip has been able to make some money by working on some landscaping which seems to help us make ends meet.
But there is always something. An unexpected bill, a wedding to go to, travel, something broken, or needing replaced, or a big speeding ticket. I am thankful to have such a gracious husband, and a God that always provides for our needs.
I tend to worry so much, I see the numbers, the math, the negative numbers. I worry. Phillip reminds me that God is not bound my numbers, budgets, unexpected expenses, or my "what-ifs". God always provides, now it seems as though it is a game of expectation. Now I am excited to see how God gets me out of this mess I have made, for His glorious name, extending grace and mercy to me.
It seems that in this season my husband has so much more faith than I do. He is faithful to remind me of the promise of God in all things, and encourages me to smile and trust God.
Here is my promise that I have been holding onto:
The Grants
I will be the first to say that I have not been responsible when it comes to my finances, Phillip is much better at this than I am. In the last few months, we have been cutting it close, there were times when we didn't quite know how we were going to make it. But our God always provides, amen? We had a wonderful family give us groceries that carried us through the month, others who just blessed us with an invitation over to their house for a meal. Phillip has been able to make some money by working on some landscaping which seems to help us make ends meet.
But there is always something. An unexpected bill, a wedding to go to, travel, something broken, or needing replaced, or a big speeding ticket. I am thankful to have such a gracious husband, and a God that always provides for our needs.
I tend to worry so much, I see the numbers, the math, the negative numbers. I worry. Phillip reminds me that God is not bound my numbers, budgets, unexpected expenses, or my "what-ifs". God always provides, now it seems as though it is a game of expectation. Now I am excited to see how God gets me out of this mess I have made, for His glorious name, extending grace and mercy to me.
It seems that in this season my husband has so much more faith than I do. He is faithful to remind me of the promise of God in all things, and encourages me to smile and trust God.
Here is my promise that I have been holding onto:
~For His Glory, and Our Good~"What shall we say to these things? If God is for us who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him, freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus us He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who intercedes for us"Romans 8:31-34
The Grants
Saturday, March 31, 2012
We're Hitched!
Next to April 23, 2004 (the day I was saved), March 10, 2012 was the best day of my life. On that day, I entered into a lifetime commitment of marriage to Phillip Grant. Everything was perfect and just as I always imagined it. I was wearing white, a valuable symbol of the commitment I made to keep myself pure in all aspects, until the day of my wedding. Many family and freinds traveled across the country to witness this extrtaordinary event. We are blessed beyond measure by the outpouring of love that has been shown to us by so many!
Here is a sneak peak at our wedding photos! :) http://www.sarakbyrne.com/casey-phillip-lewiston-idaho-wedding/
Look for another post from us about what we are learning about Christ through marriage!
~For His Glory~
Casey Grant
Here is a sneak peak at our wedding photos! :) http://www.sarakbyrne.com/casey-phillip-lewiston-idaho-wedding/
Look for another post from us about what we are learning about Christ through marriage!
~For His Glory~
Casey Grant
Monday, February 13, 2012
The Story Behind the Title Part 2
In the weeks that followed our last conversation, we came to the same conclusion. We didn't know what God wanted, and Phillip still needed more time. So we kept waiting and praying, but my heart was being drawn closer to Phillip and I feared that if I let it continue, my heart would be very broken. On Thursday, April 7, 2011 I decided that I was going to take a big step back from my friendship with Phillip. After two hours of praying, processing and crying I decided I would not see Phillip outside of our regular ministry events, no more "hanging out", no more texting, no more phone calls. Instead that night, Phillip finally made up his mind and decided to pursue my heart, in a committed dating relationship! (For the whole story on that event please click here)
This is supposed to be the part where, we fall madly in love and leave all doubt and fear behind, and live happily ever after....
We did fall in love, but our trials were far from over. Phillip was working for an organization as a semester missionary, and according to his contract he could NOT date anyone. He contacted his supervisor and tried to get permission. He was denied.
At this point, my faith faltered. I didn't know what to do, was this a shut door? Thankfully, Phillip talked to his direct supervisor, who was a local pastor who knew us both well. He gave his permission for us to date, but again, many challenges would arise in the coming months. There were doubts, fears, insecurities and miscommunication, some that were normal and others that seemed completely unique and extreme. However, through every tear-filled night and every day of questioning God's will, Phillip and I knew one thing remained: God's will was going to be done no matter what, and we had to trust Him.
Don't get me wrong, we've had some fantastic adventures, and memories. And when Phillip proposed to me it was perfect! But these high mountaintops were at the end of some very deep valleys.
If we are being honest, we know exactly where would be if our will was accomplished in this relationship, we would not be together. It has been hard, very hard, but God has received so much glory! Many of you have followed our story, and can see how God has worked powerfully in our relationship; God didn't bring us together primarily for our "happiness" but He brought us together because it gives Him the MOST glory! God put me with Phillip because it refines us to the likeness of Christ, and because it is for our GOOD.
Many times, we act like young children, and we tell God what we want and expect Him to give us this "ideal/perfect" partner for life, as if we deserve that. But God in His grace and mercy, give us--not all the things we want--but gives us what we need and what is good for us! Almost every child, when left to their own will, would eat sugar all day long, and if you are a good parent who wants the best for your child, you will not let them eat sugar all day! You know that they need fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, etc. How much more, will our Heavenly Father give us the GOOD things that we need!
It is our goal, that in our marriage God would be glorified in all we do, no matter what season we find ourselves in.
~Standing on His Promises~
Casey
***25 days***
This is supposed to be the part where, we fall madly in love and leave all doubt and fear behind, and live happily ever after....
We did fall in love, but our trials were far from over. Phillip was working for an organization as a semester missionary, and according to his contract he could NOT date anyone. He contacted his supervisor and tried to get permission. He was denied.
At this point, my faith faltered. I didn't know what to do, was this a shut door? Thankfully, Phillip talked to his direct supervisor, who was a local pastor who knew us both well. He gave his permission for us to date, but again, many challenges would arise in the coming months. There were doubts, fears, insecurities and miscommunication, some that were normal and others that seemed completely unique and extreme. However, through every tear-filled night and every day of questioning God's will, Phillip and I knew one thing remained: God's will was going to be done no matter what, and we had to trust Him.
Don't get me wrong, we've had some fantastic adventures, and memories. And when Phillip proposed to me it was perfect! But these high mountaintops were at the end of some very deep valleys.
If we are being honest, we know exactly where would be if our will was accomplished in this relationship, we would not be together. It has been hard, very hard, but God has received so much glory! Many of you have followed our story, and can see how God has worked powerfully in our relationship; God didn't bring us together primarily for our "happiness" but He brought us together because it gives Him the MOST glory! God put me with Phillip because it refines us to the likeness of Christ, and because it is for our GOOD.
Many times, we act like young children, and we tell God what we want and expect Him to give us this "ideal/perfect" partner for life, as if we deserve that. But God in His grace and mercy, give us--not all the things we want--but gives us what we need and what is good for us! Almost every child, when left to their own will, would eat sugar all day long, and if you are a good parent who wants the best for your child, you will not let them eat sugar all day! You know that they need fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, etc. How much more, will our Heavenly Father give us the GOOD things that we need!
It is our goal, that in our marriage God would be glorified in all we do, no matter what season we find ourselves in.
~Standing on His Promises~
Casey
***25 days***
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Story Behind the Title Part 1
"For His Glory and Our Good"
This title to some may seem poetically profound, to me it is a reflective truth gained from many months of prayer and surrender.
For those of you who haven't heard much of our story, the following background information may surprise you, and for those of you who know our story well, you will remember the many conversations you have had with us about this very lesson.
When I met Phillip in January, I was waiting on the Lord to deliver on a promise He made me the previous April. The promise? "I want you to prepare yourself to be in a relationship a year from now". This promise was in no way from my own heart, as I was reluctant to move back to the Northwest and was disheartened that there were no single, godly men that I would be compatible with, and besides-I had been single my whole life! Despite these huge doubts I waited to see if that was really God's promise for me.
Fast forward eight months to January 20th, 2011 when I met Phillip Grant. My roommate Rachelle was convinced that he was perfect for me, and I was less than thrilled to be"set up" without a man's knowledge or my consent. However, as I took a step of faith, despite much fear, I began to get to know Phillip and quickly got involved with his ministry. In the weeks, and months that followed, I prayed more intently and specifically than ever before. The Lord asked me to trust Him, and to be Phillip's friend, which I did ever so cautiously and all the while pondering in my heart if this man could be the fulfillment of God's promise.
Those months were filled with pain of risk, and not knowing what to expect. I initiated two "define the relationship" conversations with Phillip out of a desire to know where we stood (with much trembling of voice and hands, and sometimes tears; each conversation went better than I expected, but yielded few answers to my many questions. So many times I wanted to run away from this "thing" that was happening between us. I just wanted Phillip to make a decision about our relationship, I didn't care what the decision was, as long as I just knew where we stood. My heart was starting go beyond just feelings of friendship and getting my heart broken terrified me.
However, I knew that the Lord was in control, He wasn't shutting any doors, I had prayed over and over again, "Lord if this is not Your will, if this is not the man that I am going to marry, please shut the door. I want Your will more than my own". I quickly found that these were some of the most painful prayers I had ever spoken, requiring the deepest level of trust and surrender that I had ever experienced. Little did I know, that this was just the beginning of the "birthing pains" that I would experience in our growing love.
(to be continued....)
~Casey~
This title to some may seem poetically profound, to me it is a reflective truth gained from many months of prayer and surrender.
For those of you who haven't heard much of our story, the following background information may surprise you, and for those of you who know our story well, you will remember the many conversations you have had with us about this very lesson.
When I met Phillip in January, I was waiting on the Lord to deliver on a promise He made me the previous April. The promise? "I want you to prepare yourself to be in a relationship a year from now". This promise was in no way from my own heart, as I was reluctant to move back to the Northwest and was disheartened that there were no single, godly men that I would be compatible with, and besides-I had been single my whole life! Despite these huge doubts I waited to see if that was really God's promise for me.
Fast forward eight months to January 20th, 2011 when I met Phillip Grant. My roommate Rachelle was convinced that he was perfect for me, and I was less than thrilled to be"set up" without a man's knowledge or my consent. However, as I took a step of faith, despite much fear, I began to get to know Phillip and quickly got involved with his ministry. In the weeks, and months that followed, I prayed more intently and specifically than ever before. The Lord asked me to trust Him, and to be Phillip's friend, which I did ever so cautiously and all the while pondering in my heart if this man could be the fulfillment of God's promise.
Those months were filled with pain of risk, and not knowing what to expect. I initiated two "define the relationship" conversations with Phillip out of a desire to know where we stood (with much trembling of voice and hands, and sometimes tears; each conversation went better than I expected, but yielded few answers to my many questions. So many times I wanted to run away from this "thing" that was happening between us. I just wanted Phillip to make a decision about our relationship, I didn't care what the decision was, as long as I just knew where we stood. My heart was starting go beyond just feelings of friendship and getting my heart broken terrified me.
However, I knew that the Lord was in control, He wasn't shutting any doors, I had prayed over and over again, "Lord if this is not Your will, if this is not the man that I am going to marry, please shut the door. I want Your will more than my own". I quickly found that these were some of the most painful prayers I had ever spoken, requiring the deepest level of trust and surrender that I had ever experienced. Little did I know, that this was just the beginning of the "birthing pains" that I would experience in our growing love.
(to be continued....)
~Casey~
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
This is just the beginning....
Hello all!
This is the first post of the Grant family blog! This excites my heart on so many different levels. In just 31 days, I will finally become Mrs. Grant! It is our desire to use this blog to share what God is doing in our lives, and to encourage you by what He is teaching us.
Most of the posts leading up to the wedding will probably be a prequel, catching you up on the story that God is writing. Phillip and I will both author this blog, however I have a feeling that I will be more consistent in writing, we will see.
We look forward to sharing our stories with you. This blog is titled "For His Glory and our good" because this has been one thing we have learned in the last year together. That God does everything first and foremost for His glory, and secondly for our good. Even in hard things, we trust that it will give glory to God and that God being our perfectly good heavenly Father, gives us things for our ultimate good.
So here's to the start of a new, exciting, and wonderful adventure!
~Standing Firm on His Promises~
Casey
This is the first post of the Grant family blog! This excites my heart on so many different levels. In just 31 days, I will finally become Mrs. Grant! It is our desire to use this blog to share what God is doing in our lives, and to encourage you by what He is teaching us.
Most of the posts leading up to the wedding will probably be a prequel, catching you up on the story that God is writing. Phillip and I will both author this blog, however I have a feeling that I will be more consistent in writing, we will see.
We look forward to sharing our stories with you. This blog is titled "For His Glory and our good" because this has been one thing we have learned in the last year together. That God does everything first and foremost for His glory, and secondly for our good. Even in hard things, we trust that it will give glory to God and that God being our perfectly good heavenly Father, gives us things for our ultimate good.
So here's to the start of a new, exciting, and wonderful adventure!
~Standing Firm on His Promises~
Casey
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)