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By Funmi Komolafe

Brethren, I congratulate all families that have made it to the beginning of the  month of June . Why? This is because by June 30  we would by the grace of God  conclude the first half of the year.

We are not in the month of June because we are different from several others that have gone to the great beyond.   We are in the month of June because the Lord Almighty has been gracious to us.   So, we have cause to thank God.

We only need to do a bit of reflection and we’ll see that God has been good to us.

Today, we shall be reflecting on the Spirit of Delilah. What is the spirit of Delilah and why is it so important that we must resolve to deal with  it.

First, let’s look at how the Bible describes or defines love.  Our authority is in 1st John 4 vs. 7-9 “ Beloved, let us love one another , for love is of God; and every one  that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not  knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested  the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him”.

The same Bible chapter gives a more detailed description of love in vs. 18 “ There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth   out fear: because  fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made in perfect love.”.

From these Bible quotations, it is clear to us what love is .

Now,  to the focus of our  topic today which is the spirit of Delilah. An average Christian is familiar with the story of Delilah; the  woman that Samson; a man filled with the Spirit of God married despite   the warning from his parents who based their opposition on the word of God about his destiny. Judges 14  vs. 3 &4 “ Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren , or among  all my people, that  thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistine?  And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well”.

The key issue in the life of Samson and his wife, Delilah for us today is the issue of deceit in marriage.  A situation where young people claim to be in love   but keep secrets from the potential spouse is quite explosive.

Recent events in our society point to the fact that true love as God expects of us is absent in many homes. Just as Delilah never truly loved Samson, many homes have similar experiences today.

How do you explain that a woman stabs to death a man she is married to.  A man she calls her husband.  Or  a  man that stabs and murders his wife?  For whatever reason.

Often,  these are   issues that could  be discussed and trashed out yet a spouse prefers to murder the other.  Brethren where is the love is such a home?  A home founded on true love , standing firmly on the word of God can never degenerate to the level of murder, whatever the  level of  disagreement.

But these things are happening, because couples do not truly love as God loved us yet the Holy Bible admonishes us in Ist John 3 vs. 18 “ My little children, let us not love in word , neither in tongue , but indeed and in truth”.

Brethren, examine yourself . Are you truthful to the one you claim to love?

What I am writing about today, is not only applicable to young couples.   What about you?  You have been married for a decade and because your spouse is still trusting on the Lord for children, you have   another secret home somewhere or you have   impregnated another woman somewhere  that your wife knows nothing about.

Brother, how long will you continue to live with a burden in your heart?  What if  your wife finds out and she is not submissive to God enough,  then you would have by yourself invited the spirit  of Delilah into your marriage.

What about you sister?   You claim to be waiting on the Lord in one accord with your husband but you are engaged in sexual  relationship with your boss or some other men as a means of getting pregnant.  Sister, you are digging your own grave.

Human beings usually believe they can keep secrets but can anything be kept secret from the Lord Almighty?  Stop deceiving yourself.  Whatever  you do secretly that is not of God will be exposed one day.

Why?  It’s simply because God cannot sit by and watch you   deceive your partner who is fully committed to his word.   You will be exposed and may never recover from the shame that could follow.Young couples going into marriage need to say it all to each other.

Let me  share with you the story of a couple that are now grand parents.  Before  they got married , his pretty wife had a child but this was kept secret from the man because her parents wanted her to get married.  They got married .  After  over a decade of marriage, the man got to know that the child  he had come to know as his wife’s sibling   is actually her daughter.

Hell was let loose.  The man called her all sorts of unprintable names. The man was so bitter that the marriage broke down.  Not even their children who had become adults could pacify the man.   He  began to treat her like a dog.  His love for her became hatred.  She too was frustrated but was helpless. Her once faithful husband became one  that spent nights outside his home. He  went for anyone in skirts. He saw every woman as unreliable and untrustworthy. As I write today, though, they are older now but true love has flown out the window and the  joy of a Christian home has departed from their home. Unfortunately, the man has suffered a stroke  and become unable to move around as he used to do.

A similar situation   occurred in another family . Let’s see how it was handled.

A couple  got married and began to wait on the Lord for children. Both were very serious Christians.   One night, after series of prayers, the Spirit of God spoke to the wife that she should confess her sins to her husband.

She became worried.   What is the secret?  It is simply that before she became born-again, she had series of abortion and in the process,  her reproductive organs became defective.   How could she tell her husband?

Within a short while, her husband knew she was worried but she would always tell him she was at peace.

One night, she  went to her  husband’s  bedside, knelt down and  told him she had something to tell him and asked for his forgiveness even before she told him.

The man told her to speak and she told the whole story of how many abortions she had   and that the effect could be the reason she hasn’t been able to get pregnant since they got married.

To her surprise, the man said “ is that all?”, she replied in the affirmative.   The man now told her that  with her story, he is  assured that she can be a mother and will be a mother.   The woman was dumb founded. They intensified prayers  and took the necessary medical steps, as I write today, they are parents and happily married.

What made the difference in these two families was how  fear was handled. Whereas, the first woman and her parents gave in to the spirit of fear, the other woman confronted fear with the authority  of God and overcame.

Ist Timothy 1 vs. 7 states “ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”.

The Holy Bible  also  in 1st John 3 vs. 18 teaches us how to express love. “ My little children, let us not love in word,   neither in tongue; but  in deed and in truth”. Take a decision to do away with  the spirit of Delilah and your joyful home is guaranteed. By the grace of God, the Spirit of Delilah will not enter into our hearts and our homes  in the name of Jesus.

Brethren, there cannot be love without forgiveness.  When we fail to forgive , then  we have no claim to love.

Bear in mind that God demonstrates  his love for us  despite our shortcomings.

Live a life that will keep the spirit of Delilah out of your homes.

If the Lord tarries,  by God’s grace, we’ll have the next edition of Joyful homes next week.

Have a blessed week.