COURTSHIP SHOULD BE DONE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

HOLINESS REVIVAL MOVEMENT WORLDWIDE

DAILY DEVOTIONAL BY: PASTOR PAUL RIKA
INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide

TOPIC:
COURTSHIP SHOULD BE DONE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

Date:
Friday, December 4

Text:
Revelation 3:10-11

"10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

Key verse:
Matthew 26:41
"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Courtship fellowship and discussion should be done in a secure place to avoid temptations that could provoke unclean behaviors. Recommended places include the house of a mature believer, the church building or any appropriate place suggested by the leadership. Supervisory eye is required on them from time to time. Many church altars have been defiled by the wedding ceremony of immoral people.

Some intending couples in courtship have even done abortion. They might have done the abortion just a week before coming for the wedding for the church to join them. The minister has been deceived and misused before God. Such is a foolish game before the Lord. The minister is blessing people who are defiled before God. They have committed immorality and have defiled themselves because they were not properly supervised during courtship.

Courtship being a very delicate period, the discussions must be done in an open place. People may not be there to hear them, but they are exposed enough such that Satan himself will not know what to do to tempt them. But if they are in a secluded place, anything may happen. Let courtship be supervised by a mature Christian to ensure that we wed holy people in the church. The holiness that God is giving to us should not be defiled, for God’s eye is too pure to behold iniquity. He will never be part of such a wedding.

Escorts are needed for long journeys by intending couples. All long journeys and visitations to relations should have the escort of a brother or a sister for spiritual security. You know, there are some traditions that say the man has to bring the lady to uncles and relatives: one is in Abuja; another one is in Lagos; another in Calabar; another is in Maidugri.

So they keep moving round the country and if they are moving alone, they will not go and come back pure. It is not possible. Is the intended journey mandatory? The marriage committee should look into this type of custom and if it is essential a mature brother or sister should accompany them for spiritual security. It should be someone that will not give room to carelessness between them.

Thought for the day:
Do not give room to tempting situations during courtship.

Song for the day:
Yield not to temptation

Bible reading for the day:
​Daniel 3-4; 1 John 3