Christian Marriage Swapping

"Ready, set..."
The hundreds of people crammed into the church who had gathered to witness this public event were dancing, shouting, and cheering joy and excitement. The couples participating were up front surrounded by friends and cameras. The choirs were singing, the music was pounding...

Then the bishop raised his hands to quite the chaos.... and shouted "Go!"

All eyes watched the spectacle as the wives started taking whatever they wanted. The cheers got louder and louder as they stripped the men of their goods. Hands flying everywhere! I had never seen such a event but there I was in the church in Kenya  in a town with no lights or running water and getting caught up in it all this madness.

It was Biblical.
It was beautiful.
It was hysterical,
 and it was not what I had expected.

Five couples had just committed to live their lives together. This was not a case of celebrated polygamy. Moments earlier these ten people had danced into the church with their wedding parties shouting and praising God. Choirs sang, paper flew, worship ascended, and Holiness came down.

They were not swapping partners, but they were giving up their lives to their spouses.

The Bishop  had just explained to the now married couples that they now  belonged to other. Everything they had was now the others property and could be taken freely. When had handed them their wedding licenses he jokingly referred to them as "ownership papers".  When he shouted "go" the wives started rummaging through their husbands pockets taking phones, wallets, watches, keys, whatever. It was so funny! Go, go" he shouted, take it, It's all yours!
then it was the husband's turn and they took purses, tissues, glasses, lipsticks... it was hysterical!

As I watched this the Holy Spirit spoke to me;
"this is what happens when you marry me. All I have is yours, and in turn, all you have,  is mine"

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor.

 
No good thing does he withhold
    from those who walk uprightly.

                                                                    Psalm 84:11

God gives freely to those who have pledged their lives to him. We have no need to pick his pockets, we only have to ask! He gives us good things out of his storehouse. 

“Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. 

This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. 

If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? I

f he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? 

As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. 

You’re at least decent to your own children. 

So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?"

                                                          Matthew 7:11
 

We, the gathered church, are his Bride.
The Bride Groom stands with open hands, not closed fists. The gifts of the Spirit are ours for the asking!
 
Why then church do we live such destitute, powerless lives?

Today, join in the marriage swap Kenyan Style! Ask for the good gifts and he will give them too you!
...but don't forget, he gets to pillage us too!

But here is the deal. All he wants is the things that keep us from joy. He takes our pain and gives us his healing. He takes our sorrow and gives us his joy. He takes our death and gives us his life.

"This is God’s Word on the subject: 

“...I'll take care of you as I promised and bring you back home.

 I know what I’m doing. 

I have it all planned out—

plans to take care of you, not abandon you, 

plans to give you the future you hope for."

                                                                                                         Jeremiah 24:11 

Have you accepted from God what he has freely offered? He freely gave his life up for you. Will you claim your dowry? Do not delay! The Wedding Feast has begun! Are you withholding from Him? He will not take from closed fists. Open your hands and empty them so that He might give you more than you can imagine.

It is Biblical.
It is beautiful.
It is hysterical,
 and it is more than can be  expected.

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” 

And let the one who hears say, “Come.”

 And let the one who is thirsty come; 

let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

                                                               Revelation 22:17