A Tale of Two Women

A Tale of Two Women

Revelation 14: ⁸ A second angel followed the first one, saying, “She has fallen! Great Babylon has fallen! She made all peoples drink her wine—the strong wine of her immoral lust!”

 

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Being sheltered from sex made me want it more! Me and my friends talked about it, but soon the urge to actually do it bubbled over. Purity was thrown out the window as I joined in with “everyone else.”

 

• Purity was considered an old concept by most people.
• After having sex, I wanted more and more of it.
• After a while, the line of morality moved further and further away and soon I did not question if something were “right” or “wrong.”

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw a second angel who had a message that GOD made immorality fall. This announcement was the second important thing to GOD that HE did not want people to overlook.

 

My Observations:

• GOD made humans sexual beings.
• GOD defined what holy sex looked like.
• Humans redefined what sex should be and fell as if drunk.

 

Marital sex between a man and a woman seems like a taboo subject. I mean, it caused divisions, arguments and rage to those who want to do what they want to do. BUT GOD has provided a definition that seems harsh, but is not.

 

HE speaks from a protective perspective and always has our best interest in mind. When HE declares something as the right way, I should heed it. I am glad HE cares for us all to guide us through HIS standards.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer emphasize and how large was the problem?
• Does it sound out of date to define sex “morally?”
• Will you consider GOD as a solution versus HIM being a problem today?

Control Lessons

Control Lessons

1 Thessalonians 4: ³ It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵ not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; ⁶ and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. ⁷ For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. ⁸ Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

 

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Stumbling onto a magazine filled with nudity, something inside me caught fire. “This is great!” I thought to myself. I told a friend what I saw and he got excited! His parents had a subscription channel, way back in the day, that sent a somewhat scrambled signal, but you could still make out the distorted images. It was “R” rated and we celebrated the brief moments of nudity.

 

• I did not want to control myself.
• Something inside me wanted to see the real thing.
• When I saw the real thing, I wanted to see and do more and more.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy gave some difficult news to a group of people who may have been exposed to sex in ways that were not pleasing to the LORD. They do not condemn the people, rather urge the to “learn to control” themselves. This control would help in GOD’s calling.

 

My Observations

• GOD’s calling on my life includes self-control.
• The LORD is the one who sees what I do in secret.
• GOD gave me the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me and wants me to feed HIM with things that are pleasing to HIM.

 

Self-control is a learned skill. I mean, when I really, really like something that is not good for me, I need specific ways to reduce or avoid that thing. Whether it be food, drugs or sex, addictions can be difficult to stop. BUT GOD provides help.

 

HE does not want me to fail, rather HE provides ways to help me live a life that is pure and holy for HIM. HE guides me away from harmful things that cause insatiable desires and focuses my attention on HIM. I am glad GOD is the one who provides a way.

 

Challenge

• What is the will of GOD the writers spoke of?
• Have you ever gotten into a crowd that said “It is okay” to do what you are doing, yet something inside you says it is not?
• Will you ask GOD for self-control so HE can guide you to live a life that is pleasing and purposeful from HIM today?

So They Say

So They Say

1 Corinthians 10: ²³ “We are allowed to do anything,” so they say. That is true, but not everything is good. “We are allowed to do anything”—but not everything is helpful. ²⁴ None of you should be looking out for your own interests, but for the interests of others.

 

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“It’s alright to drink” people convinced me as they cited numerous reasons. I cautiously bought in. One night on a business trip, we went out drinking, We drank 18 pitchers of beer between 3 people. I was driving and somehow we made it back to the hotel in one piece.

 

Many messages were at the front desk for us. The 9-1-1 emergency system that we programmed was down and we had to go into work immediately. I was not in a good position to work or drive and I was putting people in danger.

 

• There have been many times when I allowed myself to do anything.
• There have been many times when I bought into things without knowing limits.
• There have been many times when I did not assess if “this” thing was good for me or not.

 

Paul seems to be addressing “fitting in.” “They say” implies there was an argument placed in front of those who were trying to live a life for CHRIST, but did not know how. He agrees, “We are allowed to do anything – but not everything is helpful.”

 

• GOD says to me “I have forgiven you for all your sins.”
• GOD says to me “I have remove your sin from you as far as the east is from the west.”
• GOD says to me “I will wipe away your tears.”

 

JESUS gives me some amazing promises I can truly rely on with no catch. I mean, HE doesn’t say “I forgive you”, then blasts me with “But you didn’t follow the rules that one time on Tuesday at 12:34 PM.” HE truly forgives me. HE then gives me the HOLY SPIRIT, who cannot stand any sin I do, and places HIM inside me to comfort me, instead of judging me.

 

Now, I have a choice. I can feed the HOLY SPIRIT inside me, or I can feed the lust inside me. Both are there and are fighting with each other. I can also choose to limit myself or maybe even do without. The HOLY SPIRIT also says to me “forgive” when my flesh wants to hold onto past hurts. I am not good at limits or forgiveness, BUT GOD shows me the way, little by little.

 

• Do you feel free to do anything, but may be doing some harmful things?
• Do you know you are forgiven, yet are blatantly still doing some habits that may not be pleasing to GOD?
• Will you run every thought past GOD so the HOLY SPIRIT will guide you in your actions so the interests of others can be for HIM today?

Body Parts

Body Parts

1 Corinthians 6: ¹⁵ You know that your bodies are parts of the body of Christ. Shall I take a part of Christ's body and make it part of the body of a prostitute? Impossible! ¹⁶ Or perhaps you don't know that the man who joins his body to a prostitute becomes physically one with her? The scripture says quite plainly, “The two will become one body.” ¹⁷ But he who joins himself to the Lord becomes spiritually one with him.

 

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“Look at that ‘insert body part’ on her” we said in an ogling fashion. Our focus was on the physical appearance. This lit the fire inside me to stop searching for GOD inside each person and settle for fulfilling my lusts.

 

• There have been times when I settled for looking at body parts.
• There have been times when I treated GOD’s children as common “things” to be used by me.
• There have been times when I wanted to misuse a part of CHRIST’s body for “my” own purposes.

 

Paul explains that my body is part of CHRIST’s body. In other words, the total number of people who believe in JESUS make up a single “body” under CHRIST. We are “spiritually one” with HIM. Paul also appeals to everyone to rethink how our physical bodies are to be used as a sacrifice to serve JESUS.

 

• GOD wants me to search for HIS SPIRIT in each person.
• GOD wants me to see beyond the physical and remain spiritually connected to HIM.
• GOD wants me to treat HIS body as holy.

 

Downplaying how GOD sees sex does not make my sentence any lighter. Sin is still sin. If I think in a way that is not repentant, then maybe I need to rethink my relationship with JESUS. Am I just mouthing the words or living them?

 

GOD is very serious about bringing all people back to HIM so they can be saved. When I ogle over one, I may be part of the problem and cause others to fall away from HIM. The hidden or overt lust will be seen by onlookers. I am grateful GOD does provide grace and opens my eyes to HIS children.

 

• Are you ogling over someone’s body parts?
• Do you mistreat the body of CHRIST and think there will be no repercussion?
• Will you seek GOD’s kingdom first and look for the need for salvation in “that” person instead of fulfilling your lusts today?

Power Revoked

Power Revoked

1 Corinthians 5: Now, it is actually being said that there is sexual immorality among you so terrible that not even the heathen would be guilty of it. I am told that a man is sleeping with his stepmother! ² How, then, can you be proud? On the contrary, you should be filled with sadness, and the man who has done such a thing should be expelled from your fellowship. ^3-4 And even though I am far away from you in body, still I am there with you in spirit; and as though I were there with you, I have in the name of our Lord Jesus already passed judgment on the man who has done this terrible thing. As you meet together, and I meet with you in my spirit, by the power of our Lord Jesus present with us, ⁵ you are to hand this man over to Satan for his body to be destroyed, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.

 

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Looking at porn at an early age set the stage for a struggle. Magazines were the internet of the time and I only got one, but that was enough. After the magazine became boring, I wanted the real thing. Isn’t sex before marriage old thinking I tried to justify.

 

• Many times I tried to justify my lusts as being human.
• Many times I tried to justify fulfilling my sexual desires outside of how GOD intended.
• Many times I tried to justify my sexual acts as being normal versus immoral.

 

Paul switched from compliments to a serious situation, namely sexual immorality. He gives one specific example and some instructions of how to handle the people involved. He suggests the man to be handed over to the power of Satan, keeping the man in his lusts, destroying his body. But what he was saying applies to everyone.

 

• GOD wants me to focus on sex as HE intended.
• GOD wants me to not be proud that I have fallen outside of HIS structure for sex.
• GOD wants me to know there are not degrees to sin.

 

Sin is sin. I mean, someone may think my sin is lightweight and GOD sees what I have done as devastating. Remember Adam? It only took one “innocent” bite of fruit to make all humans guilty of sin. That is how serious GOD takes sin.

 

Fortunately, JESUS provides salvation for my sins. But what about living? The man Paul spoke about still had a chance to have eternal life, but his power on earth may be ravaged with unexplained problem after problem. The man was doomed to live a non-victorious life. I am grateful JESUS forgives me and I seek “Well done” from GOD.

 

• Are you caught up in justifying how you perform sex?
• Do you think there are degrees of right and wrong when it comes to sex?
• Will you ask GOD to help you little by little so HE can guide you to where HE wants you to be regarding sex?

Just Walk Away

 

Just Walk Away

Romans 6: What shall we say, then? Should we continue to live in sin so that God's grace will increase? ² Certainly not! We have died to sin—how then can we go on living in it? ³ For surely you know that when we were baptized into union with Christ Jesus, we were baptized into union with his death. ⁴ By our baptism, then, we were buried with him and shared his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from death by the glorious power of the Father, so also we might live a new life.

 

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“Okay Lord, I will follow YOUR ways” I said. I finally meant it this time. After a long time, my life had changed. I was seeing people as I had never seen them before. I saw the hurt and those in need.

 

My life was making a difference. But a “friend” popped up and asked if I wanted to “hit the clubs?” He needed a “wingman” so he could find some to have sex with a willing lady. I did miss the lifestyle. “Maybe this one time.” I thought. It made me want to stop following GOD’s ways.

 

• There have been many times when I wanted to “take a break” from GOD.
• There have been many times when I wanted to “go on vacation” from GOD.
• There have been many times when I wanted to “do a little sin” because a little won’t hurt me, right? Wrong!

 

Paul explains a dilemma that believers in CHRIST face. If I am saved from “all” my sins, then should I keep sinning? Paul explains that we have died to our sins when we believe in CHRIST. Paul then explains that our baptism was a display to show we agree with JESUS’ death and resurrection.

 

• GOD wants me to put “that” sin to death little by little.
• GOD wants me to stop doing “that” sin right now.
• GOD wants me to remove “that” sin as an option.

 

Choosing to follow GOD publicly seems easy, but for those who sin like me, it is a hard choice. I mean, telling everyone I belong to JESUS, but secretly looking at porn didn’t cut it with GOD. I had to put it to death. HE sees “all” sin, small and large. GOD wants me to put the sin to death by focusing in on HIS glorious power. I am glad JESUS gave me a new life of purpose.

 

• Are you struggling with giving up a particular sin?
• Are you focusing on the sin too much?
• Will you forgive yourself by knowing JESUS has forgiven you so you can focus on the purpose HE has for you?
• Will you ask GOD to help you just walk away from certain people who drag you back into the old life today?

Not So Bad Zone

 

Not So Bad Zone

Romans 1: ²⁴ And so God has given those people over to do the filthy things their hearts desire, and they do shameful things with each other. ²⁵ They exchange the truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever! Amen.

 

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I was a bit nervous after bringing home the porn. I spent hours in the bathroom staring at its contents, “playing” with myself and did not get “caught.” After a while that was not enough. I had to have the real thing.

 

I was nervous again but did it anyway. I convinced someone to join me in sex. Afterwards, I looked around and the heavens did not open to burn me up. “Maybe I’m not so bad after all” I said to myself, continuing in my indulgence.

 

• There have been many times when I compared my sin to what other people were doing.
• There been many times when I thought I did not receive any consequence to the actions I knew were wrong.
• There been many times when I brought other people into my filthy world and soon that was not enough.

 

Paul writes something very disturbing. He mentions what GOD dictated to him. GOD has given people over to do as they please and fulfil whatever their evil hears desire. After the shameful act, then the lie appears. “That was not so bad.”

 

• GOD wants me to open my eyes to my sin.
• GOD wants me to stay away from the lie of “not so bad.”
• GOD wants me to confess my filthy heart to HIM daily, never thinking I am “not so bad.”

 

Each time I think I am “not so bad” I commit a “smaller” act of sin that takes my mind further away from thinking of GOD. After a while, I question my salvation because I get to a place where I am not acknowledging GOD at all. BUT GOD shows me grace.

 

HE watched me in the middle of my sin and decided to die for me instead of zapping me with some excruciatingly painful sentence. HE gave me another chance and wants me to do the same to others. I am glad GOD forgave me of all my sins.

 

• Are you addicted to porn?
• Do you or did you crave a sexual relationship outside of marriage as GOD defines it?
• Will you open your eyes to GOD’s grace and stop comparing your sin to other people so you can confess your sins to GOD and HE will be faithful and just to forgive you today?

Mistakes Used Powerfully

Mistakes Used Powerfully

Acts 3: ¹¹ Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. ¹² So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. ¹⁴ But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵ and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. ¹⁶ And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

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In a hurry, I stopped by the cleaners to pick up my clothes. No one was around so I left the car running. Unfortunately, habit kicked in and I locked the car as I got out. When I returned to the car I could not get in. I had to call the police. Afterwards, I warned people to turn off their car even at short stops.

• When I learn from my mistakes, I warn others.
• When I have felt the sting of a mistake I tell other people so they won’t do it.
• When I make a mistake that is costly, I plea with people trying to convince them not to fall into the same trap I did.

The crowd was amazed that Peter healed the man who was lame. They rushed at him and probably started worshiping him. Peter warned them of their behavior. He told them of their denial of JESUS and reminded them of their choice to keep a murderer alive. Peter also had denied JESUS, but was blessed with restoration. He could now tell them the power comes from JESUS.

• JESUS wants me to be open with my sins so others will feel free to admit theirs.
• JESUS wants me to tell other people that I have made mistakes so they will not be bound by theirs.
• JESUS wants me to be brave enough to admit sin publicly so the sin no longer has power over me or whoever hears it.

Saying I have made mistakes is often not easy. I mean who wants to say. “I have lusted” or “I have enjoyed porn” or “I have stolen” or “I have lied?” Most people would not if they were trying to keep up a façade. BUT GOD wants me to admit to all of that and more.

These sins no longer have power over me only because JESUS said “I forgive you of all your sins” to me. HE released me from the consequence of sin and I am filled with joy, I want to tell other people about my mistakes so they will do the same and be forgiven. I admit I have made a lot of mistakes that JESUS cleaned up.

• Are you hiding your mistakes?
• Are you nervous that other people will find out your deepest darkest secrets?
• Will you start small and build up to, what you consider, big sins, admitting them to others so they can see you are forgiven by JESUS today?

Stumbling

Matthew 18: ⁶ “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. ⁷ Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! ⁸ If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. ⁹ And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

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Sexual purity was the last thing on my mind when I was hanging out at the clubs. Admiration turned into action as I sought after short term fulfillment. The problem was the next day. Riddled with guilt and shame I did not feel like I had followed CHRIST and I’m sure I could not talk to my lustful companion about HIM.

• There were times I have been controlled by lust.
• There have been times when I said, “I deserve a little sin.”
• There were times I caused people to stumble.

Dragging someone into my mess is a real problem to GOD. Not only am I harming me, I am harming someone else. GOD wanted my behavior to change.

• GOD said to me “I want your mind, body and soul.”
• GOD said to me “I want you to keep the temple I have given you pure and clean.”
• GOD said to me “Watch carefully what you put in your heart.”

The passage doesn’t just talk about sexual purity. It speaks about character. If I am stealing, lying, cheating, complaining or threatening, I may have caused myself and others to stumble in their faith. GOD wants me to speak and act with HIS motives so others can be drawn to HIM.

• Are you building people up or tearing them down?
• Are you fulfilling your lusts and causing yourself and others to stumble?
• Can you stop focusing on yourself for a moment and focus on others long enough to tell them about JESUS?

Ease off on my measure of others

Ephesians 5: ³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

⁵ For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater —has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

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“Oh no, they won’t let me in heaven” I thought to myself as I read this passage.  I mean I have experienced all that was written here. I wanted to rewrite the Bible and take the words “even a hint” out. What this is saying is I can’t get full of myself and look down on what someone else is doing.

Television, magazines and billboards promote sex, greed and lust that I easily fall into. Who can save me from GOD’s wrath?

 

• Sensuality is a weapon against me to lure me away from focusing on GOD.
• Greed is a weapon that enables me to fear losing money causing me to doubt GOD’s power.
• Obscene, foolish talk and coarse joking helps me fit in but wastes my time when I could be focused on growing myself or someone else.

It seems hopeless doesn’t it?  I mean isn’t everyone a little lustful or greedy or envious? Not everyone! JESUS volunteered to become a human and was tempted in every way. HE lived years and years without committing a sin and people who attended church regularly murdered HIM because HE told them about their lust and greed and they didn’t listen.

• GOD wants me to work at being pure because the SON forgave me for my impurity.
• GOD wants me to work on being generous because the SON forgave me for my greed.
• GOD wants me to work on being an encourager because the SON forgave me for my foul, coarse joking.

Instead of comparing myself to others I must read what GOD says about me.  HE doesn’t expect me to be perfect nor do I have to die for the sins of mankind, but the more I can focus on following what GOD wants me to, the more HE will reward me.

• Are you caught up in sexual immorality?
• Do you desire more stuff?
• Are you nervous about losing you stuff?
• Are you trying to fit in with the wrong group?
• Won’t you give up some of these things little by little and focus on GOD?

Wrong way signs

Romans 13: ¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. ¹⁴ Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

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Everyone was drinking and I held my ground “not” to do the same. It felt good for a while but after the seventeenth meeting under the same conditions I felt I should loosen up.  I mean everyone is doing it and I wanted a promotion. No, I didn’t dive into drinking but I jumped in on the drunken conversations.

With sober mind I listened to the flirtatious words and silly sophomoric jokes about body parts. “Hmm” I thought to myself. “Who would know?” as I joined in.

• There is nothing I can hide from GOD.
• Sometimes I treat GOD as a being who doesn’t see what I do.
• Many times I ignore the fact that GOD wants me to maintain self-control and I go the “wrong way.”

Knowing what GOD wants was something I tried to avoid because then I could do what I wanted without consequence. It’s called “plausible denial.” BUT GOD wants so much more from me.  HE wants me to learn of HIS ways so I can act like HIM in the “night” just like I do in the “day.”

What I mean is can you imagine me talking about body parts and flirting in front of my wife, kids, parents or in church? Well I can’t. So why do it when no one who would actually care isn’t around?

• GOD forgives me for lust but somehow a blessing is blocked here on Earth.
• GOD throws my sin away from me as far as the east is from the west but somehow the consequence of my actions still linger.
• GOD saved me eternally by dying for my sins but somehow my sins get in the way of HIS full use of me here on Earth.

Feeding my lusts, acting jealous, desiring more and more of stuff and less and less of GOD doesn’t take me away from GOD but somehow my usefulness diminishes.  Yes I will see heaven but that is no longer a goal to shoot for.  In order to be used fully of GOD, HE wants me to be open, honest and true to HIS ways. HE wants me to go the “right way.”

• What lifestyle are you living?
• Are you trying to do things your way instead of following GOD’s way?
• What are you hiding?
• Can you turn your life over to HIM little by little?

Get off the sex boat

Romans 1: ²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

 ²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. ²⁷ In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

 ²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

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Alcohol, teenage years and dorm rooms are not a good mix for sexual purity. I can attest to this because I fell in the grips of this specific sin. Amongst the guys it seemed like some sort of contest or a conquest of women and the institution was no help as they passed out bags of contraceptives. I guess sexual purity wasn’t so important, right? Wrong!

• To GOD sex is pure to Satan sex is wild.
• To GOD sex is reserved for marriage between a man and women to Satan it’s “anything goes.”
• To GOD sex is special to Satan sex is common.

I tried to justify my actions by having a “girlfriend.” I mean maybe I was going to marry this one or that one but that doesn’t quite cut it when it comes to following GOD. HE wants me to have pure thoughts, deeds and actions which include controlling sexuality.

• When I follow GOD’s plan sex is special between me and my wife.
• When I follow GOD’s plan sex is a gift not a sensual pleasure.
• When I follow GOD’s plan sex is not considered filthy and HE will keep me focused on HIS will.

GOD will allow my mind to become as depraved as I want it to be which is quite surprising. The more I disobey HIM, the more HE will “help” me disobey HIM. After a while I would find myself in a place where my witness was no longer real or accepted. There is something special about sex to GOD and Satan knows it. Maybe that’s why sex is Satan’s biggest assault on GOD’s people.

• Are you following GOD’s “sexual” plan for you?
• Are you deep into sensuality and sexuality and feel you cannot change your lifestyle?
• Do you think pornography or a gay lifestyle or adultery or even “flirting” is alright with GOD?
• GOD is forgiving to anyone for any sin, won’t you give your sexuality over to HIM?

Character

Acts 24: ¹⁶ So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

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We were all walking back from a special program that my school had recommended me for.  I was taking High School math in eighth grade. Everyone was proud of me and it made me work harder. On this day we stopped by a local department store to look around. We wandered to the back of the store and lo and behold there were “naked” magazines back there!

I quickly ripped the cover off of one and took a fishing magazine cover and placed it over the pornographic magazine. I wonder how proud my parents and teachers would have been at that moment!

• I can look good in front of humans, but do I look good in front of GOD?
• I can make people believe I am “good” but what does GOD say about my character?
• I can pretend I am walking the straight and narrow but how many times has GOD seen me fall off the path?

Sin and a clear conscience can never go hand in hand. I noticed a very important word Paul uses in this very short scripture namely the word “and.” His conscience was clear before GOD “and” humans. In other words if you read his text messages or burst in on his conversations or read his Facebook page you would see him doing the same thing, living for GOD.

• GOD sees the times I sin “and” HE sees when I live for HIM.
• GOD knows the times I force serving HIM “and” the times when I am sincere.
• GOD looks at my mistakes “and” HE values my character.

There is nothing I can hide from GOD! HE knows every action and every thought. The only way I can bear HIS fruit is to admit my sins to HIM “and” turn away from them little by little. HE wants me to have character in other words HE wants me to act the same when no one is around looking at me.

• Are you acting with character?
• Are you stuck on the cycle of blatantly sinning and asking for forgiveness?
• Are you hiding your sin and waiting on someone to confront you?
• Won’t you claim victory over your problems by admitting your sins to GOD?
• Do you realize that sin has no power over you if you admit and begin to turn away from them?

I was tempted… No it was just me!

1 John 2: ¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. ¹⁶ For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

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Aw man! “Do I have to talk about lust today” I thought to myself. I mean I have a good excuse for my lusts so I’m quite justified in my actions right? Wrong! Yes as a child I stumbled onto pornography and in college women approached me and after college I made enough money to buy nice things and want more and when I was wrong I didn’t need to admit it because I’m always right! Whew!

It’s not my fault these things popped in front of me. You know who I blame, Satan. Yeah, he tempted me into looking at women and ogling over them. He was the one who put all these nice things in front of me so I would crave the best. He made me like power and control right? Uh, maybe it wasn’t him.

• I was born with the lust of the flesh which is a visual sexual lust.
• I was born with the lust of the eyes which is a material lust.
• I was born with the pride of life which is a power and control lust.

My sin is “my sin.” I can try to blame Satan for tempting me, but believe it or not, I always have a choice. I can try to blame my parents and I can try to blame society, but when it comes down to it, I have the choice to follow GOD’s ways or “my” ways.

The “world” offers many sensual pleasures that go against GOD.

• When I love what the world offers, I quickly forget GOD’s rules.
• When I love what the world offers, I try to ignore learning about GOD.
• When I love what the world offers, I don’t want to hear about consequences so I can continue in my lust.
• When I love what the world offers, I try to justify my sin and blame it on someone or something else.

Lust is a nasty sticky gooey gross sin that seems to permeate my soul. I know John wrote this passage, but Paul said it best. “When I want to do good, I sin and do the things I don’t want to do.” Who can save me from this sin? JESUS!

JESUS saved me from my lusts and gave me a purpose and a focus. Yes my lusts flare up now and then because I’m selfish, but now I know a center I can always return to and be forgiven.

• What are your lusts?
• Are you prideful with your words, in other words do your conversations have “me” and “my” in them most of the time?
• Do you desire the next gadget, better clothes, nicer car, bigger home or more money?
• Are your thoughts sexually pure or are you ogling over a person or pornography?