WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.540 Welcome to Pomoja Podcast, a ministry of Life 00:00:03.540 --> 00:00:06.400 of Christ International. Pomoja means together, 00:00:06.660 --> 00:00:08.880 and that's exactly what this space is about. 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:11.699 Walking together in faith, growing together through 00:00:11.699 --> 00:00:14.240 the Word, and living the life of Christ in our 00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:17.739 homes, our marriages, and our daily lives. I'm 00:00:17.739 --> 00:00:21.179 your host, Barry Mwamba, and in this season premiere, 00:00:21.640 --> 00:00:24.280 we begin our journey with a theme close to my 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:27.350 heart, marriage. I believe marriage is one of 00:00:27.350 --> 00:00:30.350 life's greatest challenges and one of the covenants 00:00:30.350 --> 00:00:33.969 the enemy fears the most. Today we begin with 00:00:33.969 --> 00:00:36.810 part one, the house in the middle of the forest. 00:00:37.090 --> 00:00:40.210 This is how our marriage began, at least from 00:00:40.210 --> 00:00:42.990 my side. My wife will share her story in one 00:00:42.990 --> 00:00:45.890 of the coming episodes, after falling deeply 00:00:45.890 --> 00:00:48.390 in love with this intelligent, beautiful Christian 00:00:48.390 --> 00:00:51.640 woman from my church who is now my wife. I went 00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:54.500 to seek my father's counsel. Rather than asking 00:00:54.500 --> 00:00:57.659 about her, he looked at me, smiled, and began 00:00:57.659 --> 00:01:01.340 to share a story. A parable I later titled, The 00:01:01.340 --> 00:01:04.840 House in the Middle of the Forest. He said, Marriage 00:01:04.840 --> 00:01:08.219 is like a beautiful house discovered deep within 00:01:08.219 --> 00:01:11.719 a vast forest. A man walking through the woods 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:15.040 stumbles upon this magnificent dwelling. Its 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:17.920 beauty draws him in. Peeking through a window, 00:01:18.140 --> 00:01:20.939 he sees a couple laughing and enjoying each other's 00:01:20.939 --> 00:01:24.180 company, a scene so captivating that he feels 00:01:24.180 --> 00:01:27.819 an irresistible urge to join them. He enters 00:01:27.819 --> 00:01:30.920 with enthusiasm, eager to know their secret, 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:34.480 how they managed to be so happy. But once inside, 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:38.459 my father continued, he discovers three strange 00:01:38.459 --> 00:01:42.129 things. First, The door only opens from the outside, 00:01:42.370 --> 00:01:45.569 meaning he cannot leave on his own terms. Second, 00:01:45.709 --> 00:01:49.269 the windows are sealed. No escape, no fresh air. 00:01:49.489 --> 00:01:53.069 And third, the house is warm. Even stuffy, he 00:01:53.069 --> 00:01:55.909 stands there bewildered, wondering how this couple 00:01:55.909 --> 00:01:59.549 can be so joyful in such a confined and uncomfortable 00:01:59.549 --> 00:02:03.230 space. Even though my father explained the story's 00:02:03.230 --> 00:02:06.230 meaning that day, it took me over 20 years to 00:02:06.230 --> 00:02:09.969 truly understand it. Discovering God's purpose 00:02:09.969 --> 00:02:13.319 is a journey that unfolds over time. and the 00:02:13.319 --> 00:02:16.159 daily process of endurance is the most challenging 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:19.500 part. It demands faith, patience, and the guidance 00:02:19.500 --> 00:02:22.659 of the Holy Spirit, because the outcome is determined 00:02:22.659 --> 00:02:25.460 by the strength of your foundation. As the psalmist 00:02:25.460 --> 00:02:28.560 said, unless the Lord builds the house, the builders 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:32.360 labor in vain. Without God's blessing and presence, 00:02:32.740 --> 00:02:36.360 all human effort is wasted. If He didn't initiate 00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:39.199 the journey with you, it's bound to fail. When 00:02:39.199 --> 00:02:42.379 your path turns rocky, when fear, pain, or or 00:02:42.379 --> 00:02:45.500 uncertainty weigh you down. That's when God steps 00:02:45.500 --> 00:02:48.659 in to carry your burden. Jesus said, come to 00:02:48.659 --> 00:02:51.520 me all you who are weary and burdened and I will 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:54.500 give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn 00:02:54.500 --> 00:02:57.840 from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and 00:02:57.840 --> 00:03:01.099 you will find rest for your souls. Even in your 00:03:01.099 --> 00:03:05.080 darkest valley, you are not alone. As Psalm 23 00:03:05.080 --> 00:03:07.900 declares, even though I walk through the valley 00:03:07.900 --> 00:03:11.180 of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. 00:03:11.319 --> 00:03:14.840 for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:18.979 they comfort me. Keep this truth close. Our plans 00:03:18.979 --> 00:03:22.219 only succeed when God is the foundation. When 00:03:22.219 --> 00:03:25.520 He is, He will make sure you reach your destination. 00:03:25.960 --> 00:03:28.759 Proverbs reminds us, commit your works to the 00:03:28.759 --> 00:03:31.439 Lord and your plans will be established. And 00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:34.900 Philippians 1 6 assures us, He who began a good 00:03:34.900 --> 00:03:37.560 work in you will carry it on to completion. If 00:03:37.560 --> 00:03:40.599 God began it, He will finish it. That's why I 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:43.900 sought God first before I pursued marriage. I 00:03:43.900 --> 00:03:47.979 prayed, I fasted, and I waited until He opened 00:03:47.979 --> 00:03:52.379 my eyes, just as Adam recognized Eve as bone 00:03:52.379 --> 00:03:56.219 of my bones and flesh of my flesh. When He opened 00:03:56.219 --> 00:03:59.939 His eyes, I recognized my wife, not by sight, 00:04:00.180 --> 00:04:03.800 but by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit gently convinced 00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:07.729 my heart that She was the one. Isaiah says, Your 00:04:07.729 --> 00:04:11.169 ears will hear a word behind you saying, this 00:04:11.169 --> 00:04:14.569 is the way, walk in it. I believe God is a good 00:04:14.569 --> 00:04:17.439 father. He gives what is right because He knows 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:20.459 us better than we know ourselves. Jesus said, 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:23.759 If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:26.300 to your children, how much more will your Father 00:04:26.300 --> 00:04:29.279 in heaven give good things to those who ask Him? 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:31.860 Not only did God place her love in my heart, 00:04:31.980 --> 00:04:34.620 He revealed that she was the best match for me 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:37.319 with strengths I didn't even know I would need 00:04:37.319 --> 00:04:41.379 until the hard times came. My pastor Lawson Whitson 00:04:41.379 --> 00:04:44.870 often says, We even need the Holy Spirit to go 00:04:44.870 --> 00:04:48.509 to Walmart. It sounds simple, but it's profound 00:04:48.509 --> 00:04:52.209 and true. The Holy Spirit is our daily companion. 00:04:52.550 --> 00:04:56.029 So when I say my wife and I are filled with the 00:04:56.029 --> 00:04:59.689 Holy Spirit, it isn't a slogan. It's a declaration 00:04:59.689 --> 00:05:03.389 of dependence, because I started with God, because 00:05:03.389 --> 00:05:06.050 I built on his foundation, because I followed 00:05:06.050 --> 00:05:08.899 his direction. When the storms came, when the 00:05:08.899 --> 00:05:11.720 winds blew, the floods rose, and the rains beat 00:05:11.720 --> 00:05:14.339 against our marriage, our house did not fall. 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:17.600 It stood, because it was built on the rock. Looking 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:20.879 back now, years later, I realize my father wasn't 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:23.860 just describing marriage. He was describing faith 00:05:23.860 --> 00:05:27.199 itself. A marriage built by God, not by hands. 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:30.779 And I can see it clearly now. It was God all 00:05:30.779 --> 00:05:38.350 along. I will not leave you as orphans. I will 00:05:38.350 --> 00:05:41.110 send you another Comforter, the Holy Spirit. 00:05:41.389 --> 00:05:44.389 And you promised, in the last days I will pour 00:05:44.389 --> 00:05:47.779 out my Spirit on all flesh. So pour out your 00:05:47.779 --> 00:05:50.639 spirit on us, Lord. Fill us with your power. 00:05:50.899 --> 00:05:53.920 Teach us to be guided by the Holy Spirit in every 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:56.779 decision we make, because one thing is certain. 00:05:57.060 --> 00:06:00.040 The blessing of the Lord enriches and adds no 00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:03.379 painful toil with it. Next time on Pomoja, we'll 00:06:03.379 --> 00:06:05.800 explore the deeper secrets of the house in the 00:06:05.800 --> 00:06:08.939 middle of the forest, where sealed windows, locked 00:06:08.939 --> 00:06:12.339 doors, and warm air reveal the true meaning of 00:06:12.339 --> 00:06:14.839 covenant and commitment. Thank you for joining 00:06:14.839 --> 00:06:18.339 Pomoja Podcast, where we live the life of Christ 00:06:18.339 --> 00:06:22.199 together. Be sure to subscribe, share, and stay 00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:25.060 connected for more weekly encouragement and stories 00:06:25.060 --> 00:06:28.879 of faith, family, and purpose. Until next time, 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:31.279 walk in grace and live in purpose.