COMMITMENT #6 NO OTHER MINISTRY or CHURCH Conflicts

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other.” Luke 16:13-14

One key commitment that can prevent you from being led astray is not being involved with any other ministry or church while serving with us. This also includes following them, watching videos, etc. 

Over the many years of RMI, we have seen that when women are involved in ministries or a local church that at some point the principle (you read above from Luke 16:13-14) is ultimately experienced. At some point they come to despise us because their loyalty is divided.

The most severe example of this principle (at the time) occurred when I was working with a professional editor who just happened to have been part of one of the “standers” marriage ministries prior to finding us. Together we worked for over a year on the Restore Your Marriage book, and at the time we either didn’t know how to carefully save web-based copies or possibly it was not something available at the time. So, we simply sent the one copy of RYM book back and forth by a disc—and then one day the unimaginable happened. I got an email that said she was NOT going to send it back to me, which again was our ONLY copy of the original that we had worked on for more than a year! 

The reason she gave, when I contacted her to know why, was that she was “acting on behalf of God” due to me not stating that everyone in a second marriage was in adultery. And this was due to her believing that if this weren't true then it meant that the other woman who had married her ex-husband could be forgiven by God.

Nothing I could say would convince her to release the book to us, which ended up setting our published books back more than three years. We finally were able to recover a very old version of the book to send to our printers, which is actually the version we use today.

Since this event, we have had many other instances when a woman who worked with us and who was also involved in another ministry (even just following another ministry that taught something contrary to our beliefs), was used by the enemy to take down portions of our ministry—very often taking other ministry team members with them. Each believing that they were “acting on behalf of God.”

The most recent attack from the enemy, when a group of ministers who each made this commitment ignored this principle and began watching videos from another ministry. Soon they began to hate and despise me, leading to them doing the unthinkable and ultimately destroying the hope of countless other hurting women by spreading lies, many were half-truths twisted to say just what the enemy always uses to lead to the destruction of others.

“Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes! . . . It is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:7, 6). In the Living Bible it says it this way ”Woe upon the world for all its evils. Temptation to do wrong is inevitable, but woe to the man who does the tempting...But if any of you causes one of these little ones who trusts in me to lose his faith, it would be better for you to have a rock tied to your neck and be thrown into the sea.”

“For among them are those who enter into households and captivate silly women weighed down with various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of Truth.” 2 Timothy 3:6-7

Not all ministries are dangerous however. Sometimes He may lead you to find something after asking Him to show you a topic or teaching. As an example, the ministry “Answers in Genesis” is devoted to Creation Science—something RMI does not teach but strongly believes in. Yvonne was looking for something for her son and reached out to ask me if this was well-grounded. 

Target

One very important principle is to never follow anyone, a person. We read every day how ministers fall prey to the schemes of the enemy—wiping out entire congregations or “their followers.” When you put your faith in any minister or preacher or speaker rather than on Him and in His Word, you are creating a huge target on their backs. 

Here is a recent praise report that confirmed this principle:

Beloved brides, before I read RYM, I was listening to others’ accounts of the Lord. I was led by well meaning preachers, family, and friends. That was all good. Without them speaking truth over my life, I would’ve perished even further. The problem was that I became dependent on them. I needed them to feed me the Word and feel close to the Lord and that’s not what the Lord has called me to do. I had a long distance relationship with the Lord, far and unreachable.

My heart has been heavy as I share hopeatlast.com with women who later message me saying their pastors or Christian counselors told them to do “this” or “that.” The Lord tells us to seek wisdom in His Word, not from man as man’s wisdom is foolishness to God. We are to seek Him in all things. I’ve fallen to this trap of seeking wisdom from man and the desire of my heart is for women to experience the wisdom that comes from Him.

While reading RYM, it taught me to let go of church. This was confusing to me at first. Yet, He led me to understand that if I continued to rely on a man/woman feeding me God’s Word, I was not going to grow in my relationship with Him, experience Him, or live abundantly. I let go of church and all the videos I was watching online. God speaks to us and then confirms through others. If we go to others first, we rob God of His place and we are unfaithful to Him. This isn’t disobeying those over us. SG (seek God) first, then He will confirm through His Word and those around us who know Him, as we share His Spirit.

Before coming to RMI, I used to listen to multiple preachers daily to feel fed. I didn’t study the Bible as I should’ve. When I came to RMI, the resources were my bread and butter, my food since I didn’t know how to get closer to the Lord. The resources gave me practical applications on what to do to seek Him more and more, such as reading Psalms and Proverbs every day, writing 3x5 cards, singing love songs to the Lord. At some point, I understood that all these resources had to become third in my life. First, I was to pray without ceasing. Second, store His Word in my heart and mind. Third, use the RMI resources that He led me to. I would confirm what the courses said through steps 1-2.

I’m currently seeing another ministry destroy itself through its leader. It’s so sad so many women follow the leader instead of SG for wisdom and direction. I don’t know the truth about what’s happening, so I spoke to my Beloved about it. I don’t need to know the truth. I need to know what He would have me do and be obedient. He doesn’t waste anything and I’m learning many lessons through that ministry’s situation. My heart is heavy for the thousands of women who follow that ministry and how sad and confused they are. Some of these women are not SG for wisdom and direction causing them to be confused and hurt.

My Love, thank You that You are the Source of all wisdom. Thank You that You are a reachable God who longs to be in a close relationship with me. Thank You that I can ask for Your wisdom and You give it to me as Your Word says. My Love, I lift up all the women that are lost and who rely on others to feel close to You. Lord, guide them to a close personal relationship with You. Open their eyes to see You are there with them. Help them live in the abundance of Your love and lead them to You.

Brides, I encourage You to let go-for a time-of the resources you are using to get closer to God. SG in His Word, prayer, worship, love songs, and whatever else He leads You too. You don’t need anything but a Bible to be close to Him. He longs for You. Don’t miss out by following man. Seek Him first and all else will be added. 

“pray continually,” ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” ‭‭James‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

FOLLOW HIM, No One Else! If there is one thing I try to encourage everyone is never to follow anyone—especially me! My desire is to inspire and motivate and encourage you to do what I did—which was to follow HIM, HIS Word and trust HIM alone. If you’ve ever read anything worthwhile that “I wrote” Who do you think was writing it?! Not me! I am the messenger, the big mouth. I am the piano, He is the pianist. 

Then the LORD reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put MY words in your mouth!” Jeremiah 1:9 NLT

"But God has chosen the foolish things [and people, ME] of the world to confound the wise [YOU], and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong." 1 Corinthians 1:27

Trust me, I am no different than any one of you! I am just one of many who have chosen to follow HIM, and heartbroken enough to realize He was my Heavenly Husband in order that I might find and live the abundant life. Sadly even believers don’t realize this and I’m heartbroken that in some sense I am given notoriety or a sort of celebrity status that is so off the mark.

This is why, even within the ministry, I almost always kindly and lovingly decline invitations to join social zoom meetings “with me” or record a special message “from me” because when I ask Him (which I always do) I hear this principle loud and clear “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 ESV

“He, the Groom, must take center stage; and I, [His bride], must [lovingly] step to His side.” John 3:30 Voice 

Again, not only is it dangerous for you to elevate anyone above Him, but it is dangerous for that minister, preacher, pastor, teacher, or speaker who will begin having a larger and larger target on their back.

When the enemy can’t take that person down through temptation, to get the person to fall horribly into sin, he often switches to another of his favorite schemes—using lies, which you read in Lesson #5 NO SELFISH AMBITION.

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all unto Me.” John 12:32 KJV.

Marriage Ministries

When it comes to following or watching videos or supporting other marriage ministries, there is no question that this is a conflict. The conflict is not because we are a “marriage” ministry—but because, as we all know— God simply used a marriage crisis to lead us here. His ultimate purpose was to find Him and to be loved by Him as our Heavenly Husband. Therefore, following another marriage ministry is nothing more than being unfaithful to Him—not to us!

Also important to note, in the process of increasing your friends on Facebook and other social media for your SMM, there is no doubt that you will encounter invitations and links and suggested videos to watch. This is the time you must keep your eyes on HIM and not become distracted or enticed. “He has allured you and spoken kindly to you” please don’t be unfaithful to Him, please. We hope you have allowed Him to remove all Baals “false gods from your lips and your heart” If not, if you are still pining for your earthly husband you may, in fact, be vulnerable to these sorts of temptations. “Let no one say when he is being tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust” (James 1:13–14).

If this is you, if you are pining, it would be wise to walk away from social media until you can say without any hesitation that “I am my Beloved’s and He is mine.​​” Song of Solomon 6:3

“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, bring her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her...For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, so that they will be mentioned by their names no more.” Hosea 2:14, 17

“But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there...you will call me ‘my Husband’ instead of ‘my Master.’  I will wipe the many names of Baal from your lips, and you will never mention them again.” Hosea 2:14, 16-17 NLT

COMMITMENT

Today’s commitment is asking that you commit to staying away from other ministries and being spiritually fed by churches. Should you feel you are being led, you commit to letting us before becoming involved in ANY OTHER MINISTRY or CHURCH, again, due to the potential to cause a conflict based on Luke 16:13-14. INFORMING us is easily done in your Monthly Ministry Check-in.

10d. Were you faithful to your HH by not being INVOLVED in any other Ministry or Church's teachings that would divide your heart and serving here? *

In truth, I do have a ministry I'd like you to check out for me that I believe He led me to. Can you confirm this for me? 

This will give us all an opportunity to SSG together for His wisdom and also share some amazing ministries He may lead you to glean from.

Board of Directors Pre-Approved Ministries

"Answers in Genesis" is devoted to Creation Science.