Відео

Amen!

Awesome Sermon!

God bless you Ramin! Thank you! 🙏🏾

So very proud of you Jared.

To the extent that singleness is a gift, it is a cross-shaped gift. The truth is that unwanted, pro-longed singleness is a serious, painful, and exhausting trial that few, save those who live it, truly understand. To endure it, one must always keep their gaze on Christ. I always think of how Peter walked on water so long as his eyes were firmly set on Christ. The moment he took his gaze off Christ, he began to sink. Likewise, the moment we take our eyes off Christ is the moment we begin to sink into the depths of sadness, loneliness, bitterness, envy, sinfulness due to sexual frustration, and anger. Always we must keep our eyes fixed on Christ and draw closer to Him. It is a common misconception, not to mention an overblown cliche, that "the free time of singleness" allows for a person to have "undivided devotion to the Lord," as if dropping kids off at school or taking walks with your spouse means you are a less devoted Christian. Well, regardless of that, I cannot think of more invasive, unending, unrelenting, and painful distractions than sexual frustration without respite or loneliness without comfort. Frankly, the "distractions" of marriage pale in comparison. This misconception is born from a lack of experience seeing as it is most often asserted by those who were either married early in their lives or those who have not yet experienced the trial of truly pro-longed singleness. And on that point, it would not be hyperbolic to suggest that 99% of pastors, Christian UA-camrs, and people engaged in mission work are ... you guessed it .... married. Indeed, most of them are married quite early. It is rare indeed to see any pastor actually take Paul up on his advice. In fact, the pastor in this video actually recounts a "comical story" of how his girlfriend was considering the applicability of 1st Corinthians 7 in their own lives and how, in answering her concerns, he wanted to remain true to the Scriptures but also not "end his relationship" with the woman he would later marry. So evidently the beauty and value and purpose of singleness (along with its loneliness, celibacy, and lack of family) seemed to be a rather daunting specter when it hit close to home and threatened to make him single at 19-20 years old. Imagine how he would feel at 38 years old. Aside from that, it is precisely because the vast majority of brothers and sisters in Christ are married that it would therefore seem that "free time" and "undivided devotion" is not as important to serving the kingdom as we think. Does that make any sense to anyone? Pastors, in particular, are chosen by God for a unique and central role in His church. They minister to the flock of believers and guide them in their understanding of and growing in the truth of the Word. The stronger the pastor, the stronger the church; the weaker the pastor, the weaker the church. If anyone should be wholly devoted to God's work without the "cares or burdens" of a spouse, it should be pastors, according to this thinking. But we all know that is rarely if ever the case, as this video unfailingly demonstrates once again as we listen to yet another pastor who has been blessed with a wife at a young age. Why is that? No one ever tells a pastor he'd be better off single .... they only say it to older singles who are struggling with their singleness. I have even heard pastors tell young men who are training to become pastors that they should seek out a spouse so that, in having a God-blessed and God-ordained marriage within which sexual intimacy is both possible and cherished, the desires of the flesh can be properly directed. Go figure. This point is never really mentioned in sermons on singleness, despite it being found in 1st Corinthians 7. Indeed, for all the preaching on singleness that surrounds 1st Corinthians 7, the first few verses of that chapter are rarely, if ever, addressed. Paul literally tells married people to NOT deprive one another of sexual intimacy because in doing so the resulting sexual frustration would possibly lead towards temptation and sin. If Paul, who champions singleness, is saying such a thing to married people who can actually experience blessed sexuality, where does that leave the perpetually single people? It leaves them in a rather difficult, painful, and frustrating position, simply put. That being said, I would say that there is truth in the idea that singleness can and should bring a person closer to Christ, but not in the way inexperienced people think there is. The "free time of singleness" does not drive a person closer to Christ; the pain of singleness does. Years upon years without the blessing, joy, and comfort of a loving, God-ordained spouse with whom to share affection, love, trials, friendship, and sexual intimacy amounts to an afflicted existence, in all seriousness. Yes, Christ is all we need. Yes, God is sovereign. Yes, God uses afflictions to teach, guide, and mature us. Recognizing these truths, however, does not alleviate the pain of prolonged, unwanted singleness, even if it does place that pain in the proper, spiritual context. Neither is it reflective of "wrong heart posture" to feel the weight and pain of such trials so long as it serves to drive us into the arms of Christ rather than away from Him. Can singleness be a "gift?" Certainly it can. It is a gift for others and for the kingdom of God with regards to whatever work the Lord would have a person do in their singleness. And certainly, we must obediently walk whatever path the Lord calls us to walk. Yet as is often the case when serving God in obedience, there is pain. Even the gracious, merciful, loving, and amazing gift of salvation came at the price of sacrifice and suffering in the form of Christ on the cross. So the "gift" of singleness can be a blessing, yes. But it will also result in lonely nights, no family of your own, the lack of the affection and companionship of a spouse, and also the seemingly endless and maddeningly frustrating battle for sexual purity for which there is no release and expression that is not categorically sinful. I say this not in a negative way, because I do believe we must be content and find joy in whatever circumstance the Lord places us. But as the years go on, the "gift" of singleness becomes a trial and battle of an entirely different nature and intensity, rest assured. Do not mistake me. I am not questioning God. I have no doubt that God is good and sovereign and desires what is best for His children. But C.S. Lewis said it best when he wrote, "we are not necessarily doubting that God will do what is best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be." And for anyone dealing with truly prolonged, unwanted singleness/celibacy, it is like picking up a bloody cross and following Christ. But He did, after all, say that true discipleship would be like that.

0:16 awesome-girls24.online

Congratulations, what a beautiful wedding. I'm so happy for you both and love you so much. I hope to see you sometime soon. Much Love - Ann

hi ms ortega cant wait to go to middle school

So nice had to watch it twice.

Loved the testimony🙌🏻

Start of Service Time Stamp is 14:01 Start of Sermon Time Stamp is 30:55

Time Stamp for actual start of prayer meeting (after greetings) is 6:15