Lust Exposed...Part 2

Lust has been the downfall of many believers and the world makes it no easier. God set the standard so high, that to most it seems impossible to attain. Ephesians 5:3, “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” and to show that he meant business, in verse 5 he says that no such person has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Do you realize how much a hint is? It’s like putting a pinch of salt into a 200lb container of mashed potatoes, it seems insignificant to most but to God that’s too much! So why do we as believers struggle with lust so much? 3 Reasons:
*Understand that lust has many different forms (sex, pornography, homosexuality, impure thoughts, masturbation, etc.)

1. Acceptable. Just watching television for five minutes you’ll see that everything God says is wrong the world says its alright. Using homosexuality for example, every believer knows (or should know) that this is wrong but the world has painted it as normal and natural. People say things like they were born gay or God accepts me just as I am. (No you weren’t and God accepts you not your sin.) What used to be taboo is now accepted and embraced, even more than Christianity. I was listening to the radio this morning and there is a group home worker who took their kids to the beach and while at the beach there were different bands or music being played and there was some Christian music played in the mix. The group home worker was suspended without pay because she exposed the children to Christian music! He/she in no way tried to convert the children, they were just exposed to it! But all the music talking about sex, guns, and drugs is acceptable….
2. Accessible. It has never been easier to gain access to pornography or even sex for that matter. I was on youtube one time and typed the title of a Christian song and found the song. Then out of curiosity of how far I could go I began to click on different videos in the “suggested videos” box and before long I was at X-rated videos! There are so many free pornographic websites with no way to keep us out. It’s like putting a fat kid in a candy store and say everything is free but you can’t have any. Disaster waiting to happen! I was talking to a college student tonight and he was telling me how easy it is to find someone to have sex with, it’s scary.
3. Attractive. The world has glorified sex outside of marriage. It’s almost taboo to say, “I’m saving myself for marriage.” Looking at music, movies, even commercials they all promote lustful things and make them look soo good. It’s not hard to say no to something that isn’t attractive, but when it looks good, smells good, feels good, its not so easy.

So how do we combat this enemy……leave your response before my next post

Lust Exposed...Part 1

For personal reasons, I have been studying and gathering insight on lust and feel its time to expose the enemy. Part 1 is a small but powerful revelation I recieve last week while battling lust. (please leave your feedback)

A lot of times we feel like our lust or sexual struggles do not affect other people, especially when no one else knows about them but this is farthest from the truth. Last week God showed me just how much it can affect the one closest to me, my future wife. The affect of sexual sins are evident in generational curses but when you don’t have kids or aren’t close to having kids you can procrastinate. So God had to use something that would hit closer to home. When we give ourselves to pornography or multiple sexual partners or sexual fantasies we are hurting our spouse or future spouse. What we’re doing, whether we realize it or not, is creating a standard in our mind that our spouse will never be able to reach. By filling our minds and hearts with these images and expectations, we program ourselves to know what pleases us and as time goes on it takes more to please us. This is one of the dangers of engaging in premarital sex.

Side note: This is also a good reason why you should not be dating or courting when you are nowhere near ready to move toward marriage. I’ve talked about this in a previous blog but when we think of girlfriend/boyfriend and friendships, the only real difference is the physical aspect; the hugging, holding hands, kissing, etc. But when you’re 15 or 16 or even an adult and engaging in this level of physical activity, soon it will no longer satisfy you and you’ll want more. Why open the door when you can’t go all the way in?

But we’re actually setting unrealistic expectations that our spouse or future spouse will never be able to match up to. That scared me, to know that by what I’m giving myself to, I’m placing myself and my future wife in a position to where she will not be able to satisfy me. And it will only be my fault! Whether its multiple partners, pornography, masturbation, or sexual fantasies with every indulgence we’re raising the standard for our spouse. Lust feeds lust, meaning it’s never satisfied so it will take more to satisfy your lust or even in marriage your sex drive.

With this revelation, its blatant selfishness to continue to give oneself to such things.

Lord, your work on the cross has freed us from all sin, including lust. Help us to keep the work of the cross in view in our daily living. We repent for giving ourselves to things that do not honor you and chose this day to turn from them and pursue righteousness. Help us to walk in the knowledge of your grace and know that, “the temptations that come into our life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that we can’t stand up against it. When we are tempted, he will show us a way out so that we will not give in to it.” In Jesus name, Amen.

Preparation for Elevation

This is the first public announcement about my ordination but its not to magnify the event but the God behind it. Yes, I am being ordained as a minister and an elder on February 8. As I entered this final week of preparation the Holy Spirit spoke "service". That is what He wanted me to focus on this week and it was confirmed through an e-mail I recieved that morning. It was a testimony about a young lady who partnered with the Holy Spirit to bless a complete stranger at Food Lion. Also, that morning during my staff meeting at work, because we're a Christian organization we always have prayer and scripture at the start of the meetings. The scripture that was given was 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "give thanks in all circustances". The person giving the scripture also recited the verse before and after "pray continually" and "don't quench the Holy Spirit". The last verse about the Holy Spirit stuck with me the rest of the day. Monday night we were having our "Seed Faith Conference" at church and after service the Holy Spirit told me to say these words to a young lady in the ministry. Immediately I began to ask if this was really God or flesh and asked for confirmation. He confirmed it when he had the young lady approach me to speak and in disobedience I chose not to say what the Spirit spoke. Immediate regret sank in and that moment stayed with me the remainder of the night and into the next day.

I prayed and asked God if the door was still open for me to share that word and it was. The next day as I reflected on the previous night's events the Holy Spirit brough to rememberance the scripture that came yesterday, "don't quench the Holy Spirit". He was showing me that when I walk in disobedience I quench/stop what He desires to do. So as I went to service Tuesday night I was looking to see if she would be there and sure enough she was there. I didn't know why she needed to hear it but because the Holy Spirit spoke it I knew she needed it. So after service I caught up with her. First, I had to apologize to her for my disobedience the previous night and then shared with her what the Spirit spoke to me. As soon as the words came out of my mouth, she began to tear up and cry, telling me how much she needed to hear that.

I was floored as I hugged her again and walked away. God's grace and mercy. How many people have not gotten what they needed because I chose to be selfish and remain in my comfort zone and not speak what the Spirit said! I know how unworthy I am but for that very reason I draw closer to the Father.

As I prepare for this elevation, I can tell you my focus has not been on preaching the gospel (the charisma) but on character. I have spent more time in prayer dealing with my issues and sins then the word to speak to the people. I understand that Sunday's sermon is with purpose and not to be taken lightly but I also understand that my life will be magnified and after reading 1 Timothy, I'm more concerned about character than charisma. I've told many people, "how can anyone desire to be a minister or the title I should say?" Looking at 1 Timothy and throughout the Word where it talks about the standard and attacks and everything else. If God didn't call me, I definately would not have pursued it.