Shalom, my dear brothers and sisters and dear friends. will you please take your Bibles and please follow me as we are going to continue in this message to look into 1st Corinthians chapter 7 and we are going to continue to read from verse 25 to the end of the chapter. The Apostle Paul continues to respond to the various questions that he was asked by the Corinthians in the second half of the letter that he's writing to the Corinthians and in the seventh chapter after he spoke concerning the married and gave them instruction in first Corinthians chapter 7 and the first 24 verses here beloved brothers and sisters and dear friends, Paul continues to give instruction and respond to the questions that he was asked concerning, must a believer, a maiden, a believing virgins get married?

And now in 1 Corinthians chapter 7 verses 25 to 40, Paul is responding to this question. And so notice as we are reading now for verse 25 to the end of the chapter we do read now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord yet I give my judgment as one that has obtained mercy of the lord to be faithful i suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress i say that it is good for a man so to be are thou bound unto a wife seek not to be loosed Are thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. But, and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned, and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned.

Nevertheless, such shall have trouble in the flesh, but I spare you. But this I say, brethren, the time is short. It remaineth that both they that have wives be as though they had none, and they that weep as though they weep not, and they that rejoice as though they rejoice not, and they that buy as though they possess not. And they that use this world as not abusing it, for the fashion of this world passes away. But I would have you, without carefulness, he that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But he that is married cares for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your own prophet. Not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without destruction. But, if any man think that he behaves himself uncomely towards his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, a need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not, let them marry.

Nevertheless, he that standeth steadfast in his heart, having no necessity but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. So then, he that giveth hair in marriage doeth well, but he that giveth hair not in marriage doth better. So, he continued in verse 39, The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth. But if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will only in the Lord. Verse 40 But she is happier if she so abide after my judgment.

and i think also that i have the spirit of god beloved brothers and sisters this is very interesting portion of the word of god in first corinthians 7 verses 25 to 40 in which the apostle shaul paul is responding to questions that he was asked by the corinthians who had many many questions we've mentioned earlier that in chapter 7 the apostle paul responding to the question that was asked concerning marriage let me remind you that in chapter 7 where we are in verse 1 paul said now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me apparently the corinthians wrote him a letter they had some questions and they had many questions of which some of them

was in relationship to marriage and that's why chapter 7 is dedicated specifically to this marriage situation in verse 25 when we began we also read chapter 7 25 now concerning virgins notice he used the word concerning chapter 7 verse 1 now concerning the things whereof he wrote unto me verse 25 now concerning virgins chapter 8 he is dealing with things that are offered to idols so in chapter 8 and verse 1 he says now as touching or as concerning things offer unto idols in chapter 12 and verse 1 you will notice again that the apostle Shaul Paul is responding to the question now concerning spiritual gifts in chapter 12 and verse 1 and finally in

chapter 16 and verse 1 now concerning the collection for the saints so you will see beloved brothers and sisters how systematically and how wisely Shaul Paul is responding to the questions that he was asked by the Corinthians who wrote him and brought him that letter that question that they had and one by one the apostle Shaul Paul is responding to their question well to remind you of course that in the first portion of chapter 7 verses 1 to verse 24 he have already responded to the question concerning marriage and so the apostle responded to this question about marriage in the life of the believers and just to remind you he already mentioned that the believers

who are married how they are to behave and how they are to relate to one another and we covered it in our previous message in chapter 7 verses 1 to 24 but we are moving along and we are continuing now beloved brothers and sisters and we are dealing right now with the portion that the Apostle Paul answered the believers at Corinth concerning the marriage of the virgin.

Must believing maidens get married? Should they get married or should they not get married? And so you will notice that in this portion, the apostle is responding in these four major points. In verses 25 to 31, as he's responding to this question, He's emphasizing the need to consider the present circumstances that you find yourself in your life. Verses 32 to 35, the apostle is emphasizing that the one who may consider to get married, he or she are to face the responsibility that one may have when they get married. to be honestly before God, to realize the responsibility that one have when he or she get married. Then in verses 36 to 38, Shaul Paul presents the fact that each circumstance in the life of God's people is really unique and different from one to another.

And then finally, in the last two verses verses 39 to 40 everyone that is intending to get married whether it is a maidens virgins or a young man they have to realize that marriage before the Lord is really for life and so notice that how Paul is responding to the believers at Corinth first of all verse 25 to verse 31 he began by saying in verse 25 and 26 Paul gives actually his personal judgment in light of the present trouble distress that the people of God find themselves in their own life and so he's saying in verse 25 now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord Yet I give my judgment as one has that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress or the present situation. I say that it is good for a man so to be. So you notice, Paul gives his own personal judgment in the light of his life situation. When he's speaking now concerning virgins, in other words, concerning ones who are single, who are not married, he's just speaking of himself, and he says, notice, he says in verse 25, I have no commandment of the Lord, and again, beloved brothers and sisters, to remind you That when Paul says, I have no commandment of the Lord, it doesn't mean that he has his own opinion without any guidance of the Holy Spirit.

In other words, what he's saying is that he did not receive any direct commandment from the Lord to say or to answer to this particular situation. But because he's faithful and because he's guided by the Spirit of God, he's able to give godly counsel. You remember we read in verse 40 at the end, and I think also that I have the Spirit of God. He has the Holy Spirit of God as every believer have, and he's guided by the Spirit of God. God has used Shaul Paul to be the one that received revelation from the Lord. in fact every epistle that he wrote he wrote by divine inspiration guided by the Holy Spirit of God and just like in days of old in Israel's history Peter said holy men of God speak as they were moved by the Holy Spirit and Paul says as well I have the Holy Spirit of God I'm guided by the Spirit of God and therefore I'm giving you my counsel as I am led by the Lord.

So verse 25 and verse 26 Paul gives his own personal judgment in light of the present situation when there are distresses and troubles and responsibility and conflicts and so on in the life of Paul and he remained single of course he most likely was married being part of the Sanhedrin but perhaps he became a widower and he remained single so he can devote himself to the Lord and now he's responding to the questions that the Corinthians asked concerning virgins he said I have no commandment of the Lord yet I give my judgment my understanding my thoughts as I'm guided by the spirit of God as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be

faithful verse 26 I suppose therefore that it is good for the present distress I say that it is good for a man so to be another to be single in light of the responsibility that it is involved in being married because one has responsibility to care for her husband for her family and the responsibility that involved in being married and the earthly responsibility that it is for the one that is married and so you remember that we have already emphasized that in this seventh chapter Paul a few times used this expression I give my judgment notice for example in verse 6 chapter 7 and verse 6 but I speak this by permission and not of

commandment in other word i am speaking myself i'm giving you my observation in verse 10 of this very chapter 7 paul said and unto the merit i commend yet not i but the lord let not a wife depart from a husband i commend yet not i but not as using the word but the lord he say i commend you and he said yet not i in light of what the lord have already gave the instruction earlier that a person who is already married is not to divorce his wife or vice versa the wife not to divorce her husband so he said i command in light of what the lord have already said in verse 12

of this chapter we read but to the rest speak i not the lord in other words the lord did not deal with these issues when he was here on earth so i now give this counsel in light of my understanding of the mind of god in other words we cannot just say well paul just had his own opinion and therefore i do not want to adhere to it no paul gives us a counsel and advice by divine design in order to help the marriage union to be sustained and to be a blessing for the people of God but now he's dealing specifically with the single ones with the virgins with the maidens and so in

verse 25 and verse 26 Paul gives his personal judgment in light of the present distress remain as you are if you are unmarried and you have struggles and challenges and conflict that existing here it's better because the moment you will get married there are so many more responsibilities accountabilities family children and you will have to devote yourself to the Lord and to take care of yourself but you have the responsibility to your husband and children not that he say anything against marriage not at all but he's speaking to the single he's speaking to the maidens he's speaking to the virgins as we read in verse 25 now concerning virgins concerning single one concerning unmarried individuals

and so as he continued he's emphasizing the necessity to consider the present circumstances in your life where you are at what is the situation in your personal life how things are going on around you consider that before you are going to get married if the lord lay this upon your heart recognize your present circumstances before you move ahead and get married so in verse 27 28 29 30 and 31 paul is saying if you are married remain as you are but those who are single would be spared of much trouble in the flesh in light of what that which is to come in the life of mary and so notice that verse 27 are thou

bound by a wife seek not to be loose remember this is the corinthians the corinthians were before they came to know the lord jesus the messiah they were living a life a godless life worshiping idols within the corinthians city there was much of immoralities some had more than one wife and there were some were involving in all sort of things were which was ungodly and now they became believers and they wanted to know well now that we are believers in the lord jesus the messiah what should we do if i'm married should i be unmarried so i can serve the lord more?

Should I get divorced? And if I'm single, should I get married or should I just remain as I am? And so Paul is answering their question. So he's saying to them in verse 27, are you bound unto a wife if you are married already? Well, don't seek to be loose. There's no need to be loose because you have already married. You continue to serve the Lord during this situation in your life, recognize, consider your present circumstance. He continued in verse 27. Are there lords for a wife? Seek not a wife. In other words, don't stay single. If you see that you want to serve the Lord and you don't have this burden, desire to get married, well, in order for you to realize that there is so many responsibilities in marriage, well, then if you are loose, seek not a wife.

In other words, stay single. Again, beloved brothers and sisters, the Lord is not speaking through Paul against marriage. Of course not, because marriage is honorable. It was a God-given union between man and a woman in order to produce a family, a godly seed and multiply and to establish a family and and live for the lord and and the population of the world developed through marriage and family and children so he's not speaking here against marriage but he's dealing specifically with the needs that the corinthians had and the questions that they ask now concerning virgins, concerning single, unmarried people. So, Paul being very practical, very, very practical.

Some might have the gift from the Lord to be single, to be eunuchs for the kingdom of God, and they devote themselves to serve the lord in their life while they are still in an unmarried state and god used them for his glory and for the blessing of god's people but if they don't have that gift then of course they can get married and they should get married and establish a home so in verse 27 he said are thou bound unto a wife seek not to be loose are thou loose from a wife seek not a wife another one remain single notice verse 28 but and if thou marry thou has not sinned notice that

you didn't sin by getting married and if a virgin marry she has not sinned nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh but i spare you i would spare you in other words brothers and sisters it is not a sin to get married it is of god marriage as we have already mentioned is honorable the first marriage union was established by god in the garden of delight in gan Eden it was god who put adam to sleep it was god who took his rib it was god who built isha a woman for adam it was god who brought isha eve chava to adam and it was god who performed this the first marriage union but

here shaul paul is dealing with the situation concerning those that have the question concerning singleness should we get married or should we not how and paul very practical consider your presence circumstance and deal in a godly way be wise as to your circumstances so he said in verse 28 okay if you be married thou has not seen and if a virgin marry she has not seen nevertheless here it is not as practical such shall have trouble in the flesh but I spare not what does it mean trouble in the flesh is because there is a responsibility in the marriage relationship because we are to care for one another two people two sinners by nature get

married they need to work out things with the help of the Lord you not only you no longer care for yourself you care for your husband you care for your wife you care for your children and you have to deal with many practical issues responsibility to take care of the family to provide for the family and therefore this is the trouble of life that is part of the marriage of family responsibility there's joy there's blessing there is a special blessing in marriage and family but there is also trouble needs that exist here in this world so he continues in verse 29 of 1 Corinthians chapter 7 he said but this I say brethren the time

is short it remaineth that both they that have wives be as though they had none what does he mean by that he means there is not much time here on earth of course remember that when Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians it was about 58 59 60 AD some nearly 2000 years have passed by and we still say the time is short the Lord is returning at any moment and so Paul anticipated the coming of the Lord the return of the Lord to rapture the assembly and then to have the tribulation period coming upon the face of this world the Israel's restoration and the established kingdom that would come but Paul as far as

he was concerned even in his days the time is short it remained that both they that have wives be as though they had none meaning that they continue to serve the Lord to minister not to neglect their wife not to neglect their family of course not they are responsible over their family but they are still responsible to serve the lord and be so devoted to the lord and that's why this expression the time is short it remains that both they that have wife be as though they had none in other words you have very short time here on earth serve the lord as if you were single verse 30 and they that weep as though

they weep not and they that rejoice as though they rejoice not and they that buy as though they possess not and then verse 31 and they that use this world as not abusing it for the fashion of this world passes away this world will pass away beloved brothers and sisters and then responsibility the call of God's people is to be faithful to the Lord the time is short and everyone that belong to the Lord whether they are married or unmarried if you have a wife be as if another serve the Lord they very short time the Lord is coming as if you were single yet faithfully with your wife and your family and if you

are weeping because of trial well as if you do not weep as if you continue on continue on and if you are rejoicing yes don't be occupied only with your rejoicing continue to live for the lord here on earth if you are buying and selling and you have you purchase things you have possession you know don't be occupied with your possession but continue on to serve the lord and if you are using the material things that the lord giving you here in this world don't abuse it but realize that the fashion of this world is passing away this is very interesting expression says he in the hebrew it says the fashion of this world will

pass us away in other words everything here will pass away you remember what we read in the epistle in the letter that john wrote in first john 2 15 love not the world neither the things which are in the world if any man love the world the love of the father is not in him for all that is in the world the last of the flesh the last of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the father but is of the notice that, and the world passes away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

This is amazing, beloved brothers and sisters, it is amazing to see that here everything is passing away, and therefore use your time here on earth to serve the Lord, to live for the Lord, whatever circumstance you find yourself in, and therefore consider the present circumstance in your life as if you are looking into the possibility of getting married. If you are single, concerning the virgins, verse 25, the single, the unmarried, Paul gives this instruction in verse 25 to 31, consider the present situation in your life before you are going to become married because there is responsibility there is risk responsibility the time is short and there is responsibility if one become married then beloved brothers and sisters as Paul continued to deal concerning the virgins, the single, the unmarried.

And in verse 32, 33, 34, and 35, Paul is really wanting the believers at Corinth to face responsibility in an honest way. Realize that you have responsibilities. See, every one of us that is married realize that we enter into a responsibility to care for our wife, to provide for them. The wife is to care for her husband.

to make sure that he she meets his needs and helps and being a helpmate and so in verse 32 to 35 Paul is saying remaining unmarried enables the single individual to serve the Lord without destruction and be totally devoted to the Lord notice this is so interesting in these verses 32 to 35 but i would have you without carefulness in other words i would give you the counsel that it'd be so much better for you if you will have no care and concern with respect to your marriage relationship if you are single you don't have to be responsible to your spouse to your husband to your wife to the family so it will make it

easier for you to serve the lord in the various areas that the lord has set you to serve him he can tell you in verse 32 he that is unmarried cares for the things that belongs to the lord how he may please the lord so a single person is really he care or she care for the things that belong to the Lord totally but the moment they are married they of course they would care for the things of the Lord because the Mary that called is well to do but there is the challenges there is the needs to meet there is the responsibility and therefore he says if you remain unmarried you care for the

things that belong to the lord how he may please the lord not as while he began with the word virgin or maiden or as in the greek is perthenos in hebrew betulot in a feminine but he is also speaking to the unmarried men male men as well and so notice I would have you without carefulness he that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord how he may please the Lord but verse 33 he that is married cares for the things that are of the world how he may please his wife you notice that there is responsibility to please the wife to meet her need to establish a home it's not an

easy thing it is a privilege that comes along with responsibility so a man who become married he has to spend more time how he may please his wife and vice versa a maiden who is married how she is to please her husband.

So in verse 34 and 35, Shaul Paul continues and he says, There is different also between a wife and a virgin or a maiden. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy or set apart. The word holy here in verse 34, simply mean Kedosha in Hebrew, set apart, hallowed, devoting herself to the Lord totally. How she remained holy, because that word holy here is Hagios in the Greek, Kedosha in the Hebrew, and it simply means Lekadesh, means to set apart yourself for God. It's not that she stopped to be a sinner, None of us stop to be sinners by nature, but we are setting, devoting ourselves for the Lord.

So, the unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy, both in body and in spirit. But she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. You notice the distinction that Paul is making here to remind us of both the married and the unmarried are called to be holy, set apart for God. But when a person is married, there is the natural responsibility that is given in the marriage life here upon the face of this earth, which we all must realize this and therefore before one go into a marriage relationship a person must face their responsibilities in an honest way if i will be married a single one have to recognize i will have to devote myself to my husband or to my wife to please them to meet their need to serve them to assist them and to be there for them and together of course to serve the lord but if one is single he or she can devote totally their life for the lord this is the question that the corinthians ask now sadly of course many who are single today even believers fail to devote their life for the lord and of course we have been privileged my wife and i have been privileged to meet a few single individuals that both a brother and a sister that devoted totally their life for the Lord, serving the Lord wherever they are.

They made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of God. What an amazing example they have been in our life. And so he continued verse 35, and this I speak for your own prophet, not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is calmly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without destruction. In other words, don't be distracted by so many responsibilities. I don't speak this for nothing. I'm saying this to you as an advice as counsel it is for your own prophet corinthian single maiden single man single woman i'm telling this to you for your own benefit but you have to realize to consider your present situation where you are and to face the fact and you will have responsibility the moment that you become married and so beloved brothers and sisters what really Paul is saying in verses 32 to 35 he's saying remaining unmarried enable the single person to serve the Lord without being distracted by all sort of things and responsibility of life and if they will do so they will be totally devoted to the Lord Yeshua the Messiah and to God's people in service here upon the face of this earth.

So you notice how Shaul Paul is moving from one step to another one. First of all, verses 25 to 31, consider your present circumstance. Secondly from verse 32 to 35 face the responsibility honestly, don't have all kind of vague ideas be honest and face what is going to come into your life when you are getting married because you will have to face responsibility and it will be challenging yet a blessing from heaven now as we continue on and Paul continue in verse 36 37 and 38 he is presenting the fact that every single person is in a different situation of life. Some are young, some are old. Some are male, some are female.

Some are living in one country, others in another country. Some have home situation that is one way, another one have home situation that is another. So every situation is unique. And therefore, when we are making a decision, when one make a decision in his or her life to get married, their situation may not be the same as another person's situation, another single person in another country or from another culture and so on, or another status in life. And therefore, each situation is unique. Verse 36, but if any man think that he behaves himself uncomely towards his virgin, in other words, Now he's speaking to a parent with a young maiden, and if he thinks that he behaves himself uncommonly towards his daughter, if she passes the flower of her age, another, if she's getting already older and older and older, and hasn't gotten married yet, and needs so require, let him do what he will, his sinners not, let them marry.

In other words, if he's daughter, you know, a person, a father and a mother have a son or a daughter. In the context of verse 36, it is a virgin daughter. And so what to do? She's getting up in age. She hasn't been married as yet. What shall we do? Should I encourage her to remain single? Or should I, someone asks for her, and should I just allow her, give her in marriage to the one from the Lord? that had required her hand. So notice that Paul is so wise, beloved brothers and sisters. He gives the liberty to the Corinthian believers and to all of us, the liberty to make godly choices, recognizing that each situation is different, is unique.

We are not all in the same situation. So, verse 36, if any man think that he behave himself uncomely towards his virgin, his Parthenos, his young daughter, says, if she passed a flower of her age, she's getting older and older and older, and time to get married if you are going to get married. Well, if you need really so, if it comes to pass in such a way, let him do what he will, he sinners not let them marry. Nevertheless, verse 37, he that standeth steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

In other words, a person might decide that he is strong or his daughter is able to remain unmarried, to serve the Lord, to live for the Lord well. He is doing well. So Paul is giving liberty for one to be married or to remain single, but realize that there are responsibility in marriage relationship.

continue in verse 38 and then the choice is not between good and bad but the choice is between good and better if it is necessary the single may marry but the choice is not between good and bad but the choice is between good and even better and so in verse 38 we read so then he that giveth hair in marriage doeth well but he that giveth hair not in marriage doeth better now why again again beloved brothers and sisters remember this that the apostle Shaul Paul does not speak here against being and becoming married not at all but he's answering the questions that the Corinthians requested from him what to do in fact some wanted

even to become unmarried in order that they will serve the Lord give more of the time to the Lord and so Shaul Paul had to explain to them no if you are married remain married you cannot just break your home relationship because you want to serve the Lord remain where you are and serve the Lord together with your wife even though you have responsibility one to another here on earth to establish a home to have a family to meet the needs of the family your wife your husband and the children so Paul does not speak against marriage here but he's speaking for the ones that are single and desire to live for the lord and

if it's better to be single because it is giving the believer additional time strength energy to serve the lord providing he or she will serve the lord being single and so it is a choice between good and even better it's not between good and bad it's not bad to be married and it's not good to be unmarried no as God provides for us in our life whether we are married it is good whether we are single it is good if we are in the will of the Lord that's the point that we learn here from first Corinthians chapter 7 so now finally beloved brothers and sisters as Paul concluding the subject of getting married or

remaining single dealing with specifically verse 25 concerning the single ones concerning the virgins concerning the unmarried could be an unmarried people that were married before and their spouses left them or their spouses died they are widows or widowers so in the last portion of this scripture in verses 39 and 40 Shaul Paul in the last two verses of 1st Corinthians chapter 7 verse 39 and 40 he's specifically dealing with those that are widows in other words their husband pass away and they remain single so what to do and so notice he's speaking to them and so he wanted all to realize and to remember that when one becomes married marriage is for life marriage is

for life God hates divorce and to realize that if you decide even if you become a widower or widow and you decide to get remarried Or if you are a maiden and you decide to get married, realize that if you are getting married, married is for life.

Let me just remind you that in Malachi, Malachi chapter 2 and verse 16, the Lord God said to our forefathers, the people of Israel, he said, For the Lord thy God, the God of Israel, say that he hates putting away. he hates putting away the hebrew word for putting away is shallach he sanay shallach god hate when one send his wife away and so marriage is for life and sadly the divorce rate even among professing believers today, this present day of the church age, is rising so much sadly because we fail to realize that marriage is for life. And so the last verses, we read verse 39 and verse 40, the wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth.

But if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will. But notice, only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide, in other words, abides as widow, after my judgment. And I think also that I have the Spirit of the Lord. And so they that their husband pass away, they are free to marry her. if their husband passed away but to marry only in the Lord why because what happened when you married with one who is not in the Lord who is not a believer in the Lord Jesus the Messiah the Lord Yeshua the Messiah well what happened is that there is danger of having in no time the relationship will be hurt because one want to go want to live for the Lord the others don't and that's why we learn throughout the history in Israel's history and also in church history how the Lord do not want the people of God to be married with those who do not believe in him because it is an unequal yoke.

There is a danger. It's not that God is against someone who is not a believer. God wants them to become believers. He wants to bless them. He wants them to come to know the Lord. He wants them to be saved and to be redeemed and to be forgiven. He wants all men. God is not willing that any should perish.

But what happens is when you marry not in the Lord, it is a potential problem 2nd Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 14 be ye not unequal walk together with unbelievers for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion has light with darkness and what concord has Mashiach Christ Christos with Blyal and what part has he that believe with an infidel or unbeliever and what agreement has the temple of God with idols for ye are the temple of the living God as God had said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people of course the apostle Shaul Paul quoting that which has

a reference to the people of israel and he's reminding himself and pointing to the corinthians to what god had required from the people of israel before the church was formed in israel's history god gave these warnings to the people of israel long time ago and he told Israel in Deuteronomy chapter 7 God said to his people chapter 7 verse 1 when the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it and has cast out many nations before thee the Hittites the Gilgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou.

And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee, thou shall smite them and utterly destroy them, and shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them. Why? Why? Neither shall thou make marriage with them, Thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son, for they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other God. So will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you and destroy thee suddenly. So here, in chapter Deuteronomy 7, verses 1 to 4, God gave this warning to the people of Israel, and the same warning is given here, beloved brothers and sisters, to the believers at Corinth, where we do read in our 7th chapter, in 1 Corinthians chapter 7, that God wanted the believers to only marry in the Lord.

The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband is alive, he liveth. But if her husband be dead, she become a widow, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will, but, notice, only in the Lord. This is extremely interesting, beloved brothers and sisters, only in the Lord. Why? Because when a person is in the Lord, it will help the believers to have established a family that is honoring the Lord. And how sad it is, because many have been losing the enjoyment of married life when they married with those who do not believe in Yeshua, in Jesus the Messiah. And therefore, what the Messiah, what Christ here with Bilial, what part has he that believers with the ones that do not believe?

second corinthians chapter 6 and verses 14 15 and 16 and so what a lesson it is how wise the apostle paul was by giving these instructions to the brothers and sisters at corinth and so we conclude the seventh chapter in verse 40 though paul's personal judgment is that such a one will be happier to remain single which is also to avoid problems in other words he does say to them that he doesn't demand it but he's just giving them the guidance from the spirit of god and so at the end of this seventh chapter shaul paul conclude but she is happier this is the widow or a single person, if she so abide, remain widow, and serve the Lord.

But he said, he said, after my judgment, he said, this is only my judgment, but she may get married in the Lord, if this is the desire of her heart. And then he concluded in verse 40, and I think also that I have the Spirit of God. In other words, when he said, I think also, he said, I have the counsel, the guidance from the Spirit of God. And therefore, whatever I wrote to you, Corinthians, I'm writing to you as a godly counsel. And the rest is for you to take the responsibility and act upon it. So, beloved brothers and sisters, in 1 Corinthians 7, verses 25 to 40, the apostle Shaul gave instruction, he provided instruction concerning those who are single, those who are unmarried, those maidens, those virgins.

And he gave these principles to go by before one is going to decide to get married. Number one, verse 25 to 31, consider your present circumstance in life before you take the step in becoming married. Then verse 32 to 35, every person must face the fact that there is responsibility in getting married. honestly evaluate before you are going to get married be responsible recognize face the responsibility honestly thirdly in verse 36 37 38 every situation differ in the life of God's people every person live in a different place different family different culture different status in life different desires different circumstances life and therefore every situation is unique and finally in verses 39 to 40 remember that if you decide to become married whether you are maiden a young girl or whether you are a widow or widower you make sure that you realize that marriage is for life.

And so, beloved brothers and sisters, how wonderful advice that we receive from the word of the Lord and how ought to be thankful. Are we ought to be thankful to God for providing for us these instructions in the word of God. May the Lord bless his word and may the Lord encourage everyone to continue to follow after him. Well, we concluded 1 Corinthians chapter 7 in the will of the Lord we'll continue in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 God bless you until the next time we say Shalom Shalom