Syosset Gospel Church

A Father's Prayer by George Swinnock:

“I pray that the Word of Christ may dwell richly in my heart and house so that my whole family will have their daily meals of this spiritual food. How can I expect that children who know not the God of their fathers should serve Him with perfect hearts? Alas! How often are their ignorant hearts full of sin...Oh, that I might so talk of the Word of God in my house, when I lie down and when I rise up, that it may be written upon the posts of my house and on my gates. Oh, that I may so often water the young plants in it that their first acquaintance may be acquaintance with God, and that from their childhood they may know the Holy Scriptures and be wise 'unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.' Though others labor to leave their children rich, let my endeavor be to leave mine godly. Lord, enable me so to teach them Your trade in their youth that they may not depart from it when they are old."

~ George Swinnock 1627-1673

“Dear unmarried Christian, one of the most dangerous choices you could ever make is to marry an unbeliever. Before you take a step down that path, consider the sobering consequences of such an unholy union:

1. You will never share true spiritual fellowship with your spouse.

2. You will not be able to read the Bible, worship, or pray together.

3. You will not walk with the Lord side by side, grow in faith together, or be united in spirit.

4. They will never love you with the love of Christ.

5. They will never truly understand the burdens of your heart, provide spiritual comfort, or have godly conversations with you.

6. Physical intimacy will eventually become a grief, for you cannot join your holy body to one who remains in darkness.

7. You will constantly feel torn between pleasing your spouse and obeying Christ.

8. You will struggle to raise children in the ways of God.

9. Your life goals will always clash: yours will be marked by eternal desires, theirs by earthly desires.

10. In times of crisis, you will not be able to trust the Lord together.

11. Your spouse will continually pull you toward the world, while you will never be able to pull them toward Christ.

12. Your spouse will not go to church with you, and may even hinder you and your children from attending.

13. Your spouse will introduce ungodly entertainment, habits, or friendships into your home, bringing strife into what should be your sanctuary.

14. As you grow in the Lord and die to self, they will remain enslaved to the flesh, with the tendency to grow worse.

15. Your ability to serve Christ freely and joyfully will be hindered.

16. Instead of your marriage being a testimony for Christ, it becomes a contradiction of His commands, weakens your witness, and reveals compromise.

17. You will always carry the burden that when they die, they will perish eternally in hell.

18 Since they do not have the Holy Spirit, they will never understand you. You will always be a mystery to them.

19 And when you cry out to God in your misery, loneliness, and regret, you will forever remember the disobedience that led you to this place.

My single friends, do not fall into the deadly trap of pursuing a relationship with an unbeliever. Never assume that you can save them by marrying them. God NEVER designed marriage to be a mission field. Disobedience will only bring sorrow and a lifetime of heartache. Trust the Lord to bring you the right man or woman in His perfect timing – someone who shares your faith and walk with Christ. It is far better to remain single than to be chained for life to one who rejects your Savior.

"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14).”

~ Wesley Norris

Verse of the Day: Psalm 121:7-8 The LORD will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

"The most vital question to ask about all who claim to be Christian is this: Have they a soul thirst for God? Do they long for this? Is there something about them that tells you that they are always waiting for His next manifestation of Himself? Is their life centred on Him? Can they say with Paul that they forget everything in the past? Do they press forward more and more that they might know Him and that the knowledge might increase, until eventually beyond death and the grave they may bask eternally in the sunshine of His face?"

~ Martyn Lloyd-Jones 1899-1981