WELCOME! SINGLES MINISTRY

Look at the lyrics of this song Ikaw lamang ang pangakong mahalin Sa sumpang sa yo'y magpakailan pa man Yakapin mo bawat sandali Ang buhay kong sumpang sa yo lamang alay At mapapawi ang takot sa 'kin Pangakong walang hanggan

Look at the lyrics of this song Ikaw ang siyang pag-ibig ko Asahan mo ang katapatan ko Kahit ang puso ko'y nalulumbay Mananatiling ikaw pa rin

Look at the lyrics of this song (Translation) Only you do I promise to love In this promise that is forever… Embrace me every moment My whole life I vow to be yours alone And all my fears will melt away In this promise that is forever…

Those are NOT lyrics for singles in love; but words for a song written by a priest for his ordination (as a single), making him exclusive for God

THE PROMISE A Study on the Disciple’s Personal Vow Teaching Class, Taipei 2011 By Rolan Monje

Remember your vow to God when you became Christian 1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Remember your vow to God 1Pe 3:21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge [NASB: appeal] of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Two important words when God makes a promise Old Testament Hebrew words shaba` ‘to take an oath/to swear’ berith ‘ ‘covenant’

Shaba` Shaba` = to swear/solemnly promise Most striking and most common use of the verb is in relating God's sworn commitment to man. Used for God's covenant commitment to Abraham and his descendants Used for God's sacred word, sworn to his people.

God is serious about promises Ge 22:15-17 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham …and said, “I swear [shaba ` ] by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you…

Berith - ‘cut an agreement’ Cutting animals was common practice in the Ancient Near East.

The act of dividing the animals and walking through the parts was apparently an ancient form of contractual agreement (cf. Jer 34:18).

Cutting a covenant An animal was cut/sliced and both parties would pass between the parts, signifying, “May I become like this animal if I don’t fulfill my promise…”

God did “berith” with Abraham So the LORD said to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram…Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other… When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant [berit] with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land… Gen 15:9,10,17-18

God did “berith” with Abraham Using symbols, God “passed between” the pieces, showing the seriousness of his promise. Can you imagine going through the pieces?

When God makes a promise 1 Great seriousness 2 Great exclusiveness

1 Great seriousness God commits wholeheartedly God is emphatic about how he will ‘make it happen’ Would we imitate God in the way he makes promises?

2 Great exclusiveness Promises are not just made to anyone Special affinity – “You will be my people and I will be your God” (Ex 19) Desire of God is to have a people devoted, dedicated, and exclusive to him! Would we share God’s heart in his exclusiveness?

Great exclusiveness Spiritual foundation Practical concerns

2 Cor 6.14ff 2Co 6:14-18 Do not be yoked together [KJV: unequally yoked] with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial ? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people… “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

2Co 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

A closer look at 2 Cor Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial ? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

Paul borrows from the Old Testament! Look at Dt 22:10-11 Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together. Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.

Specific example in Corinth 1Co 7:39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.

“How not to fall for a non-Christian guy” Beware of a mismatch Know that marriage is not the ultimate source of happiness and companionship Ask yourself, “What is my standard of a man?” Remember that women are to be pursued Understand that the infatuation stage will end Honor your vow to God

Specific example in Corinth 1Co 7:39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.

Great exclusiveness Spiritual foundation Practical concerns

As we dig deeper into the Bible we learn more about God’s heart!

When God makes a promise 1 Great seriousness 2 Great exclusiveness

PAUSE FOR Q & A

What about the Men’s Ministry?

D. Murrow, from the book “Why Men Hate Going to Church” The modern church is having trouble reaching men…Women comprise more than 60 percent of the typical adult congregation on any given Sunday. There are quite a few single women but hardly any single men in church today. Everyday it gets harder for single Christian women to find men for romance or marriage.

Consider what God has done God gave his word/visions primarily to men The Kings and Prophets were men The main movers in Acts were men He sent Jesus Christ as a man

What we can do individually Pray for the men’s ministry and the men leadership Believe in the men’s ministry Pray for and reach out to single men

Two important words when God makes a promise Old Testament Hebrew words shaba` ‘to take an oath/to swear’ berit ‘ ‘covenant’

When God makes a promise 1 Great seriousness 2 Great exclusiveness

Let us take the heart of God when He makes promises!

A Study on the Disciple’s Personal Vow Rolan Monje, BD, DMin Thanks for listening! THE PROMISE