POWER IN PRAISES
Have you been fasting and praying continuously for an answer to come and yet you are still waiting? Well let me tell you something powerful. Try praising God for that matter or situation, please don't get me wrong, fasting and praying are biblical and so I cannot condemn it, but know also that praising God is just as powerful as fasting and praying.

Recently in the crusader grand as we were praising God a sister that was possessed started manifesting. I did not need to command the devil to come out of her. I just continued praising and thanking God and the devil (demon) came out of the sister, Listen to me, there is a glorious power in praising God. When you start giving God crazy praises, God will begin to do crazy things for you. He commanded that every thing that hath breathe to praise the Lord, praise ye the Lord. (Ps. 150:6).

Don't tell me you can't praise God. Don't ask the question that the devil makes people to ask, which is "what has God done for me"? The bibl did not say we praise him for what he has done but rather if you have breath. You have no choice but to praise him because you have breathe in you. And hear me, you that is reading this word now, you have breathe or else you would not be able to read this column. So why don't you give God a praise right now. In fact I dare to challenge you right now to just lift your hands up and praise him for the air you breathe freely.

I heard of a testimony of a sister who had no food at home. She and her children were hungry and no one came to their rescue. And so, they gathered themselves together, took some water thak God for making it possible for them to have water to drink. They drank the water and went to bed. In the morning, someone came and blessed them with N4000. you see your praising God can make God to surprise you when you least expect it. Lets look at what happened in the bible in 2 Chron. 20. Nations came together to fight the children of God. First the enemies were more than the children of God. Secondly they were armed to do battle. Thirdly Jehoshaphat and his people were not prepared for the battle. However, instead of raising an army and looking for allies to join him, he opted to fast and pray to seek God's direction. I am sure that king Jehoshaphat had least expected the answer he got from God. God told him to appoint praise singers only, for the battle is the Lord's And in vs 21, the bible says "and when he had consulted with the people, he appointed. Signers unto the Lord and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and say, praise the Lord, for his mercy endureth for ever", As the people started praising God, without lifting up a physical weapon, the enemies that came against. Jehoshaphat and his people started to fight themselves until they killed one another.

Now can you imagine, that by applying the powerful spiritual weapon of praise as directed by God, not only did the enemies kill themselves, but the goods that they carried with them became blessing to the people of god. In fact, it took three whole days to gather the spoils of war. Hear me, no matter what is happening in your life, if you want God to manifest, then start to praise him from the depth of your heart. Not only will you enemies fall, you will eat from the fatness of earth.

TOPIC: JOURNEY INTO MARRIAGE
TEXT: ECC. 4:9-12
JOURNEY INTO MARRIAGE
For easy understanding, lets look at the following sub-titles:
1. What is Marriage?
2. Reasons for Marriage
3. Some Vital Issues About Marriage

1. WHAT IS MARRIAGE?
Marriage is many things to many people. To some it is a necessary evil to live with, other believe that marriage is a mere social contract to be run and guided by traditions and superstitious beliefs. To other still, marriage is almost seen as forum for child bearing and rearing. In African culture. Marriage is almost see as a formalized "slave trade" she can be kick out at anytime and easily replaced at will. In the western world, marriage is like a business " for better we stay, for worse we leave" you walk out of marriage if and when it is not profitable and that is why the divorce is high there.
Marriage is neither African nor western

WHAT IS MARRIAGE THEN?
1. It is gift from God to humanity
2. It is a covenant Relationship between a man and a woman
3. It is a wedlock
4. It is a ministry
5. It is a Mystery

WHAT IS MARRIAGE?
M - Maturity
A - Accept
R - Re-organize
R - Receive
I - instruction
A - Affection
G - Gentleness
E - Endurance

Marriage is not the culture of any country. It is not the prerogative of any society. It is not a man's idea, marriage is not the brain-child of any group of people neither is it the joint-vision of any team. Marriage is Gods idea.

REASONS FOR MARRIAGE
People get married for many reasons but we must understand that depth determines heights. And to a large extent the success of any thing in life is majority determined by the understanding of the purpose of that thing. This can be applicable to marriage.
1. I am getting old
2. Family pressure
3. House keeping
4. Grand children factor
5. Material possession
6. Beauty
7. Traps
8. Passion

Now lets look at proper reasons for marriage in accordance with the scriptures.
1. Partnership - Gen.2: 18
2. Power - Eccl. 4:11-12, Deut 32:30
3. Purity - 1 Cor. 7:1-2
4. Procreation - Gen 1:28
5. Pleasure - Pro 5:15-16, Eccl.4:9-11
6. Promotion - Heb 13:4
7. Progress - Eccl.4: 9
8. Protection - Eccl. 4:12

SOME VITAL ISSUES ABOUT MARRIAGE
There are very important issues to deliberate upon as far as this subject of marriage is concern so as to guarantee a solid and sure foundation for our marriage.

Here are some vital Issues
1. When should I marry?
2. How will I know the right person to marry?
3. Should I accept - my parents choice for marriage?
4. Is age an issue in marriage?
5. What should I look for in a partner?
6. Can I marry someone who has a marital problem before?
7. If I discover that my partner had a wife husband before and now we are married what do I do?
8. Is it compulsory that I marry at all?

CONCLUSION
Marriage is a journey and if that journey will be successful than we must fully understand what it is all about.

e-mill revkevinfire@yahoo.com