Finding Rebekah (Genesis 24)

Asking to receive and seeking to find can be intertwined.

Seeking
Genesis 24:10-11
10 Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master’s camels loaded with all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. 11 He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.

Asking
Genesis 24:12-14
12 Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” 

Being Alert and Watching
Genesis 24:15-16
15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16 The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. 

Seeking ("being thirsty" lol)
Genesis 24:17
The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”

Watching/Waiting

Genesis 24:18-21
18 “Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him to drink. 19 After she had given him to drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. 21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.

Seeking
Genesis 24:22-23
22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels. 23 Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”

Watching/Waiting
Genesis 24:24-25
24 She answered him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor.” 25 And she added, “We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night.”

Praising God for the opened door
Genesis 24:26-27
26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, 27 saying, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord ***has led me*** on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”

Conclusion
Seeking to find is not contrary to asking to receive, but rather is complementary. It is done in the context of a prayer with the faith that one will be led the right way. The seeking must be done in faith. It must be guided by one's faith and cannot involve anything that is outside of God's will (sin/disobedience).

Matthew 7:7-11
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.



Topics related to this post: prayer, faith, patience, perseverance, finding spouse, finding wife, finding husband, relationships, Christian, dating, matchmaking, marriage.

 

See also:
How To Pray

 

 

 

 

 

Cryptic note: Adam goes to sleep (Genesis 2:21) 🙂🤣😇 #toomuchwork

Masturbation and God's Will

One must seek God personally about masturbation. The following thoughts about masturbation are shared from the perspective of an unmarried man.

One thing is sure: it can't be something that controls a person in any manner. An addiction to masturbation exposes it as an idol in a person's life. It has a place in the person's heart that should only belong to God. In some circumstances, masturbation can exist as a 'savior' in a person's circumstances. The person's attachment to masturbation is as such certainly sinful.

Remember also that self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:23), and that the Bible speaks a great deal about putting to death the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24, Colossians 3:5, Romans 13:14). While I do not regard the act of masturbation as a "work of the flesh" to be added to the list in Galatians 5:19-21, God has made me understand that being in bondage to this behavior, being addicted to it and dependent on it for something that it provides, contradicts walking in the freedom that is in Christ. 

One's body must be kept in full submission to the Holy Spirit and consecrated to God (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 9:27; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4). It does not belong to any passions of one's flesh that will lead to death if they are not put to death (Romans 8:12-13; Galatians 6:7-8).

Also, considering that most people cannot conceive masturbation without the stimulation of sexual imagery, it follows that those who sin in their thoughts through what they are watching or imagining while they masturbate cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Such must draw near to God and cleanse their hands and purify their hearts (James 4:8). Even if they do not have what could be called an addiction, such would still be under the power of sin (John 8:34) working through the law of sin and death (Romans 7:23 vs Romans 8:2) rather than under the power of God.

Romans 8:5-6
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Being under God's care and guidance, there is no need for an unmarried person to be driven by fear and engaging in sexual activity with anyone for the sake of proving sexual compatibility or assuring oneself of one's sexual performance. These are worldly concerns, not the concerns of a child of God with a renewed mind (Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 2:16b; Colossians 3:1-2). And of course, taking pleasure in unrighteousness through any form of sexual immorality is not a fruit of the Spirit but a work of the flesh that disqualifies a person from inheriting the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-23). And those sins begin in the heart (Mark 7:21-23).

The discipline of keeping one's flesh in subjection cannot be ignored by any follower of Jesus who is a new creation who has been fully empowered through Him who strengthens him/her to do just that. It’s actually a life and death matter to not heed the instructions from the Bible to crucify the flesh.

Romans 12:1-2
1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

If one desires the greatest intimacy with God, and a secure walk on the difficult way to eternal life (Matthew 7:13-14, Luke 13:23-24, 1 Peter 4:18), that person must heed the instructions of the Bible and pay attention to walk according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and not be controlled by any cravings of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). May all this be understood before positions are taken for everybody on whether the act of masturbation itself is a sin or not.

Romans 14:23b
... Anything that is not done in faith is sin.

God supplies by his grace all the power we need to live for Him (Titus 2:11-14, Romans 6:1-2, 12-15, 1 Peter 4:1-3, 2 Peter 1:2-11). So, his leading is not about suppressing one's natural sexual desires, which are vital in the context of marriage, but his grace is indeed amazing (video) in how it allows to live for Him!

For instance, God's grace allows to:
-resist the urge to release sexual tension through masturbation (and pray as needed for God to allow a strong sexual desire to naturally subside, even quickly)
-regard sexual deprivation as a non-issue, especially as an unmarried person, until the time appointed by God for lawful sexual union with one's spouse if one has been called to marriage
-say 'No' to sin, sexual or otherwise
-turn down enticements to lust after random people's bodies and entertain sinful sexual fantasies in one's mind
-consecrate one's mind and body to one's future spouse in honor of God's promise of such spouse (e.g 1 Corinthians 7:4 observed by faith).

Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.

Lastly, those who regard masturbation as a solution and turn to it in a less than ideal situation, either as a single or a married person (e.g. prolonged singleness, physical separation from a spouse, illness of a spouse, etc.), may they be willing to submit to God, depend on Him and hope in his lovingkindness (Psalms 147:11, 145:19, Psalm 27:13-14) rather than to take matters into their own hands and not fully involve Him in every detail of their lives. 

"Cast your burdens on the Lord" (Psalm 55:22; Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:6-7; Psalm 34:17).

James 5:13a
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. 

Luke 1:37
For with God nothing shall be impossible.

John 11:40
Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see God's glory?" 

Hebrews 11:6
Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Matthew 7:7-11
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Be in prayer about any situation you want to change. 

Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.


See also:
Self-denial and taking up one's cross to follow Jesus (Mark 8:34) / Crucify the Flesh (video playlist)

Suffer The Cross To Overcome Addictions

Struggling with Lust? (Message for Men)

Freedom From Sin

A Radical Way to Learn to Fully Trust God - video

Standing In Position To Receive By Faith (guidance for prayer)

 

Leveling of Adulterous and Same-Sex Attraction

There is an attraction a man can have towards a woman who is another man's wife. That can lead him to covet his neighbor's wife (Exodus 20:17) or "lust after her", which is also (already) the sin of adultery as Jesus pointed it out (Matthew 5:28). That coveting or lusting after that woman is an evil desire leading to sin being committed in the heart already. The attraction, even though "fatal", is not the sin. It comes out of a corrupt heart, and when it is accepted as "good" in a process of calling evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20), and then is united with a desire for that woman who is another man's wife, that is an evil desire that gives birth to sin that itself brings forth death (James 1:13-15).

Same-sex attraction works the same way. It is potentially fatal in its outcome but it is not in itself a sin. It's the expression of a corrupt heart. When that attraction is accepted as "good" in a process of calling evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20) and then is united with a desire to be ultimately joined sexually with a person of the same sex, that is an evil desire that violates "let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband" (1 Corinthians 7:2b), which establishes marriage as the acceptable context for sexual relationships. That is because if husband is male, which he is, wife has to be female, which she is. There is no pairing of the same sex in the commandment. So, the transgression of the commandment gives birth to sin that brings forth death (James 1:13-15).

The corruption of the heart is what Jesus addresses in offering salvation to the world. It's a path for a person's soul to be restored (Psalm 23:3), for one to have that healing of the soul that the Gospel promises through Jesus' call to sinners to repent (Luke 5:31-32; Isaiah 53:5). Salvation is about escaping the corruption and power of sin that enslaves and destroys:

2 Peter 1:2-4
2  Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3  seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue; 4  by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.

The grace of God that brings salvation is power to walk in the will of God (Titus 2:11-14), loving God and neighbor out of a pure heart (1 Timothy 1:5; James 4:8). Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6). Love does not harm a neighbor (Romans 13:10). Thus there would be no love when one would be involved in consensual sin with his or her neighbor (fellow man or woman). Love is what Jesus calls us to.

So, anything proceeding out of a corrupt heart (out of darkness) and that is not love can only be falsely so called. Anything that puts or keeps a person and his/her partner on the broad path to destruction (Matthew 7:13) is not love. The simple truth and bad news that the wages of sin is death must be acknowledged. Then the Good News from God can bring salvation to those who repent and put their faith in Jesus, that is, who faithfully follow Him as the light of the world (John 8:12).

Anyone who believes in God must also believe that He is powerful enough to enable a person who is 100% willing to do his will to be liberated (saved) to do just that and not be hindered in any way by contrary and conflicting desires. That's how faith works to bring supernatural transformation by the grace of God. He gives a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26). It only takes the agreement of a heart that is ready to obey Him (love Him, serve Him, do his will, live for Him). That's the basis of the relationship one enters into with God, beginning with being reconciled to Him (2 Corinthians 5:20, Romans 5:6-11) on the basis of the forgiveness of past sins when one repents.

Matthew 12:33
Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.

James 1:21-22

21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls [that's repentance]. 22 But be doers of the word [that's faith, which implies obedience], and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

John 14:15
If you love me, keep my commandments.

Galatians 5:19-26
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, worldy jealousies, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23  Meekness, wilful restrain: against such there is no law. 24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Titus 2:11-14
11  For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12  instructing us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13  looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14  who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.

Hebrews 5:9

And having been made perfect, He [Jesus] became the author of 👉 eternal salvation to all those who obey Him [...].

 

Celibacy Scriptures

In the context of the Christian faith (the practice of abiding in the teachings of Jesus), celibacy for the unmarried is not a lifestyle choice that such opt in to or try. The choice that is above all for a Christian is to follow Jesus. Everything else is put in order by that one choice. There is not so much a window, when that choice in made sincerely and wholeheartedly, to consider alternative sexual lifestyles.* The grace of God that brings salvation teaches believers to remain celibate while unmarried and they are empowered by the Spirit of self-control that they have received to live for God and no longer for themselves and their desires.

Scriptures in action (#James 1:22#)

The following scriptures give reasons why unmarried Christians and celibacy go together. There should never be a need to wonder about that in the body of Christ if God's solid foundation stands (2 Timothy 2:19). These scriptures are reminders of the path that followers of Jesus have been called to walk in. Sexual relationships that God blesses are between a husband (a man) and his wife (a woman), and servants of God who are not married will find strength to remain in God's ways in these and other scriptures, prayer, and abiding in Jesus (John 15:4-5). Praise be to God for the empowering of his grace!  


Titus 2:1-14
11  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; 14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own, zealous of good works.

James 1:13-16
13  Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14  But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15  Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. 16  Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

1 Peter 4:1-3
1  Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; 2  that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for human desires, but for the will of God. 3  For enough time in the past has been spent doing the will of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.

1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father's love is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not the Father's, but is the world's. 17 The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God's will remains forever.

Galatians 5:19-25
19  Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 20  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 21  envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24  Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 25  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Ephesians 4:17-24
17  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto licentiousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20  But you have not so learned Christ; 21  If so be that you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22  That you put off concerning the former way of life the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24  And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Romans 6:1-11
1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2  May it never be. We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer? 3  Or do you not know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4  We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. 5  For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection; 6  knowing this, that our old self was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin. 7  For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8  But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him; 9  knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him. 10  For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God. 11  In the same way, consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:8-13
8  Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10  If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11  But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 12  So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13  For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Romans 12:1-2
1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2  And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Matthew 5:29-30
29  If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 30  If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20  
18  Flee sexual immorality. “Every sin that a person does is outside the body,” but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own, 20  for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.   

Colossians 3:1-17

1 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2  Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. 3  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4  When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory. 5  Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6  For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. 7  You also once walked in those, when you lived in them; 8  but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. 9  Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, 10  and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, 11  where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all. 12  Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; 13  bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. 14  Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. 15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. 16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord. 17  Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
1  Finally then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to live and to please God, even as you are living, that you excel more and more. 2  For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3  For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, 4  that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5  not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who do not know God; 6  that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified. 7  For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification 8  Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.




*Following Jesus assumes understanding what sin is and understanding that salvation is salvation from sin, which has been secured by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The act of fornication is sexual immorality and it is sin. In contrast, faithfulness in following Jesus (being a Christian) establishes a path of righteousness and sanctification whereby a believer is continuously transformed to reflect Jesus' character and walk. He has walked on the earth as a human in the same weaknesses we experience in our flesh in order to be an example for us in all (Hebrews 4:15-16).