We are truly saddened to hear about the broken marriage and the strongholds that have taken root. Let's bring this situation before the Lord in prayer and seek His guidance and deliverance. As we pray and explore this situation, we will address any issues that may not align with biblical principles.
Firstly, it's crucial to understand that God's design for marriage is a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman, as outlined in the Bible. In Matthew 19:4-6 WEB, Jesus said, "Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?' So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, do not let man tear apart." Therefore, we will pray for godly spouses and marriages that honor God, and we will encourage individuals to pursue relationships that align with biblical principles.
In this situation, the person asking for prayer may not be the husband or wife. There could be several things that have caused this marriage to break. The person asking for our prayer and counseling stated that a 'stronger hold' and 'doesn't obey' are reasons for this marital discord. We will address these in our prayer and provide some biblical teaching that may help.
Let's discuss the issue of obedience. If taken in the context of a married couple, then there should be mutual submission by both parties. Ephesians 5:21 WEB says, "subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ." If taken in the context of an unmarried couple, then the Bible doesn't support this kind of relationship outside of marriage. If taken in the context of a family relationship, then Ephesians 6:1 WEB says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." Regardless of the context, the Bible teaches that we should all obey God.
Now let's discuss the 'stronger hold' part of the request. It could be an emotional hold or possibly even a physical hold. It could be an overbearing spouse, or an overbearing parent. Sexual immorality could also be the 'stronger hold.' This could be fornication or adultery. We must put on the whole armor of God and take up the shield of faith to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16 WEB. We must take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 WEB. It could also be a hold of a sin of some type such as lust, pornography, gambling, depression, or an addiction. This must be broken by repentance and turning away from the sin and turning to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and deliverance. The demons must be cast out in Jesus' name. Luke 10:17 WEB says, "The seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name.'"
Now let's discuss the 'dirty friendship.' This could be a friendship that is leading to sexual immorality, or a friendship that is leading one away from God, or a friendship that is leading to illegal activities, crime, or other temptations. In this case, the 'dirty friendship' must be ended immediately. If the friendship is leading to sexual immorality, then the person must be told to stop the behavior immediately. If the person is married or unmarried, they must abstain from sexual immorality. It may be fornication or adultery. 1 Corinthians 6:18 WEB says, "Flee sexual immorality! 'Every sin that a man does is outside the body,' but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body." God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers, for it is written, "Do not be deceived. Neither the adulterers, nor the male prostitutes, nor the homosexuals, nor the thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 WEB.
If the friendship is leading away from God, then this must stop immediately. James 4:4 WEB says, "You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
Finally, we must remember that it is only by the name of Jesus that we have access to God. Also, there is no other name by which we can be saved.
Acts 4:12
WEB
"There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!"
John 14:6 WEB
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
Now let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in the name of Jesus Christ, lifting up this broken marriage and the strongholds that have taken root. We pray for deliverance and restoration, that Your will may be done in this situation.
Lord, we pray for the husband and wife in this marriage. We pray that You will soften their hearts and draw them closer to You. We pray that You will help them to obey Your word and to submit to one another in love and respect. We pray that You will help them to put on the whole armor of God and to take up the shield of faith to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. We pray that You will help them to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Lord, we pray for deliverance from any strongholds that have taken root in this marriage. We pray that You will help the husband and wife to repent of any sin that has taken hold in their lives and to turn to You for forgiveness and deliverance. We pray that You will help them to cast out any demons that have taken hold in their lives in the name of Jesus.
Lord, we pray for the 'dirty friendship' that has taken root in this marriage. We pray that You will help the husband and wife to end this friendship immediately and to flee from sexual immorality. We pray that You will help them to abstain from sexual immorality and to be faithful to one another.
Lord, we pray for the person who submitted this prayer request. We pray that You will help them to understand that it is only by the name of Jesus that we have access to God. We pray that You will help them to understand that there is no other name by which we can be saved.
Lord, we pray for Your will to be done in this situation. We pray that You will help the husband and wife to seek You first and to trust in You. We pray that You will help them to forgive one another and to restore their marriage.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
In conclusion, we encourage the person who submitted this prayer request to seek God's will for their life and to trust in Him. We encourage them to pray for their spouse and to seek God's guidance and deliverance. We encourage them to obey God's word and to submit to one another in love and respect. We encourage them to flee from sexual immorality and to be faithful to one another. We encourage them to end any 'dirty friendship' that has taken root in their marriage and to seek God's will for their life. We encourage them to put on the whole armor of God and to take up the shield of faith to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. We encourage them to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. We encourage them to repent of any sin that has taken hold in their lives and to turn to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and deliverance. We encourage them to cast out any demons that have taken hold in their lives in the name of Jesus. We encourage them to understand that it is only by the name of Jesus that we have access to God. We encourage them to understand that there is no other name by which we can be saved.