Love ❤️ thy Neighbor: Remedy for Marital Unfaithfulness (Part 2)

By Pastor and Mrs Chifamba

A HAPPY HOME IS A BARRICADE TO MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS

Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭

“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, Than great treasure with trouble. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.”

Our homes must be made a Bethel, our hearts a shrine. Wherever the love of God is cherished in the soul, there will be peace, there will be light and joy.

Jesus wants to see happy marriages, happy firesides. – {The Faith I Live By p. 255.7}

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭9‬:‭9‬ ‭

“Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.”

Genesis‬ ‭26‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ‭RSV‬‬

“When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out of a window and saw Isaac fondling Rebekah his wife. So Abimelech called Isaac, and said, “Behold, she is your wife; how then could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac said to him, “Because I thought, ‘Lest I die because of her.’ ” Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, “Whoever touches this man or his wife shall be put to death.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.”

1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

DON’T LINGER NEAR TEMPTATION FLEE

Matthew 6:13

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Proverbs 5:3-5

For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: 4But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. 5Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

Proverbs‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭

“Remove your way far from her, And do not go near the door of her house, Lest you give your honor to others, And your years to the cruel one;”

Read Genesis‬ ‭39‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭

Genesis‬ ‭39‬:‭10‬-‭13‬

“So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her. But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside,”

2 Timothy 2:22

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬ ‭

“Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.”

PRAY AND ASK JESUS TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING

Micah 7:7-8

Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. 8¶Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.

Jude 1:24-25

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

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Love ❤️ thy Neighbor: Remedy for Marital Unfaithfulness (Part 1)

By Pastor and Mrs Chifamba

LET NONE DESPAIR OF THEIR SINFUL TENDENCIES. WE CAN LIVE RIGHTEOUS AND FAITHFUL LIVES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD‼️

Roman 7:24

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Matthew 1:21

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

John 1:12

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name

Philippians 2:13-14

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world

THE WORD OF GOD CAN IMMUNIZE YOU FROM INFIDELITY

Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭

“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”

Build a wall of scriptures around you, and you will see that the world cannot break it down. Commit the Scriptures to memory, and then throw right back upon Satan when he comes with his temptations, “It is written.” This is the way that our Lord met the temptations of Satan, and resisted them.

Hang in memory’s hall the precious words of Christ. They are to be valued far above silver or gold. – {Last Day Events p. 67}

Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

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‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭2-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”

Psalm 51:5-7

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

The converting power of God can transform inherited and cultivated tendencies; for the religion of Jesus is uplifting. “Born again” means a transformation, a new birth in Christ Jesus. – {Adventist Home p. 206.1}

Romans 8:4

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Ezekiel 36:26-27

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Malachi‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“You cry out, “Why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows. Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.””

GOD RING-FENCED MARRIAGE WITH TWO COMMANDMENTS IN THE MORAL LAW

Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭14‬ ‭

“You shall not commit adultery.”

Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭17‬ ‭

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.””

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BE CONTENT WITH YOUR WIFE

Job‬ ‭31‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭

“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman. For what is our lot from God above, our heritage from the Almighty on high? Is it not ruin for the wicked, disaster for those who do wrong? Does he not see my ways and count my every step?”

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Matthew 5:27-28

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Proverbs 6:21-29

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: 24To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 25Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. 26For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. 27Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? 29So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭15‬-‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

… The man who allows his wife to occupy the second place in his affections is dishonoring himself and his God. This thing is one of the signs of the last days. But surely you do not desire to fulfill this sign. – {Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce p. 200.5}

Proverbs 5:18-21

Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. 19Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. 20And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? 21For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

CHRIST IS FAITHFUL TO THE CHURCH SO MUST HUSBANDS BE TO THEIR WIVES

Ephesians 5:25

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it

Lamentations 3:22-23

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

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Love ❤️ thy Neighbor: Divine Limits to the Wife’s Submission

By Pastor and Mrs Chifamba

Ephesians 5:22-23

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

BEING THE HEAD OF THE WIFE IS NOT AN ARBITRARY RIGHT BUT A RESPONSIBILITY TO LOVINGLY ❤️ TAKE CARE OF HER

Colossians 3:19

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬ ‭

“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”

1 Timothy 5:8

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

THE WIFE’S SUBMISSION IS NOT AN OPEN CHECK‼️ THERE ARE DIVINE LIMITS TO THE WIFE’S SUBMISSION, WHEN YOUR HUSBAND ASKS YOU TO DO THINGS CONTRARY TO THE WORD OF GOD HE HAS CROSSED THE LINE OF HIS DIVINELY DELEGATED AUTHORITY‼️

Colossians 3:18

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

There is One who stands higher than the husband to the wife; it is her Redeemer, and her submission to her husband is to be rendered as God has directed—“as it is fit in the Lord.” – {Adventist Home p.116.1}

When husbands require the complete subjection of their wives, declaring that women have no voice or will in the family, but must render entire submission, they place their wives in a position contrary to the Scripture. In interpreting the Scripture in this way, they do violence to the design of the marriage institution. – {Adventist Home p.116.2}

NO POWER ON EARTH SHOULD SEPARATE A SPOUSE FROM HIS OR HER ALLEGIANCE TO GOD‼️

Ephesians 5:1-2

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Acts 4:18-19

And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

Acts 5:29

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭37‬

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”

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Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭35‬-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:7-8

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Love ❤️ thy Neighbor: The Wife’s Voluntary Submission (Part 2)

By Pastor and Mrs Chifamba

Ephesians 5:33

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

THE WIFE’S VOLUNTARY SUBMISSION TO HER HUSBAND IS LIKENED TO THE CHURCH’S LOVING SUBMISSION TO CHRIST

1 John 4:19

We love him, because he first loved us.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”

Ephesians 5:21-31

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife,…

The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God’s government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. – {Desire of Ages p. 22.1}

Song of Solomon 2:4

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

Song of Solomon 6:3

I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.

THE HUSBAND WHO RUTHLESSLY DEMANDS SUBMISSION HAVE LOST HIS FIRST LOVE ❤️ WHERE GENUINE LOVE IS PRESENT THE WIFE’S VOLUNTARY SUBMISSION WILL BE AUTOMATIC

Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭

“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”

‭‭ Continue the early attentions. In every way encourage each other in fighting the battles of life. Study to advance the happiness of each other. Let there be mutual love, mutual forbearance. Then marriage, instead of being the end of love, will be as it were the very beginning of love. The warmth of true friendship, the love that binds heart to heart, is a foretaste of the joys of heaven. [5] – {AH 106.1}

1 John‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

Supreme love for God and unselfish love for one another—this is the best gift that our heavenly Father can bestow. This love is not an impulse, but a divine principle, a permanent power. The unconsecrated heart cannot originate or produce it. Only in the heart where Jesus reigns is it found. “We love Him, because He first loved us.” In the heart renewed by divine grace, love is the ruling principle of action. It modifies the character, governs the impulses, controls the passions, and ennobles the affections. This love, cherished in the soul, sweetens the life and sheds a refining influence on all around. – {Acts of the Apostles p. 551.2}

LET AS PRAY FOR HEAVEN’S BEST GIFT OF LOVE TO BE MANIFESTED IN OUR HOMES

In the married life men and women sometimes act like undisciplined, perverse children. The husband wants his way, and the wife wants her way, and neither is willing to yield. Such a condition of things can bring only the greatest unhappiness. Both husband and wife should be willing to yield his or her way or opinion. There is no possibility of happiness while they both persists in doing as they please. – {Adventist Home p. 118.3}

Read 1Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭8‬ ‭

1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭13‬ ‭

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

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Love ❤️ thy Neighbor: The Wife’s Voluntary Submission (Part 1)

By Pastor and Mrs Chifamba

Ephesians 5:33

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

A LOVING WIFE RESPECTS HER HUSBAND IN OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD

1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭

“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.”

THIS SUBMISSION IS NOT FORCED NOR DEMANDED IT SPRINGS FROM LOVE

Compelling power is found only under Satan’s government. The Lord’s principles are not of this order. His authority rests upon goodness, mercy, and love; and the presentation of these principles is the means to be used. God’s government is moral, and truth and love are to be the prevailing power. – {Desire of Ages p. 759.1}

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children”

A VIRTUOUS WOMAN DOES GOOD AND NOT EVIL TO HER HUSBAND

Proverbs 31:10-12

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

1 Peter 3:9

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Romans 12:21

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Galatians 6:11-10

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

GOD WILL ALWAYS REWARD GOOD WORKS EVEN IF OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS MIGHT NOT APPRECIATE

2 Chronicles 15:7

Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

Hebrews 6:10

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Love ❤️ thy Neighbor: Husbands Love your Wives

By Pastor and Mrs Chifamba

YOUR CLOSEST NEIGHBOR IS YOUR SPOUSE ‼️

Ecclesiastes 9:9

Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

Though difficulties, perplexities, and discouragements may arise, let neither husband nor wife harbor the thought that their union is a mistake or a disappointment. Determine to be all that it is possible to be to each other. Continue the early attentions. In every way encourage each other in fighting the battles of life. Study to advance the happiness of each other. . . . Then marriage, instead of being the end of love, will be as it were the very beginning of love. {Ministry of Healing p. 360}

DO NOT NURSE GRUDGES AND BITTERNESS IN THE HOME

Ephesians 4:26-27

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27Neither give place to the devil.

Colossians 3:19

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Ephesians 4:31-32

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

James‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭18‬ ‭

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

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Ephesians 5:24-28

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

THE BLESSED HOUR OF PRAYER AND ALL FASTING WILL BE OF NO BENEFIT IF YOU DON’T TREAT YOUR WIFE WELL

1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬ ‭

“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”

Isaiah 58:4

Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

Matthew 5:23-24

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Proverbs‬ ‭28‬:‭9‬ ‭

“One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.”

1 John 3:22

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

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