I like what David Jeremiah has to say about sin in general and that is that the devil uses the same tactics over and over and over.
He attacks the eyes, the flesh and the pride
example if one looks at pornography, they will eventually desire it, and finally justify all the reasons they deserve to do what they intend to to.
If we look at food that we know we should not eat, we will begin to crave it and finally decide that we either deserve it, or a little won't hurt.
So make a conscious effort to protect your eyes, your flesh and your pride from the enemy by recognizing his tactics when he throws temptation your way.
Great point, chemical dependency within that culture is also significantly higher than other cultural groups, as is suicide. There is nothing happy, light or carefree about such a choice.
And just as twisted is the idea or thought of submitting in obedience unto the authority of an all Knowing God is like a sentence to a dreary life of lack luster boredom or depressive sadness. Satan likes to twist such things because to submit unto the authority of an all loving God is truly our only Hope for Happiness and Peace.
Illusions are fora season, the Joy of the Lord will Reign Forever.
I am not saying that our God does not change hearts, for he absolutely does, but it is in His time, not ours, and we have to be willing to do our part and submit in obedience unto His authority.
Satan gives us trial to destroy us. God allows us to go through those trials that we might be broken that He can use us by restoring us into a better version of who we are.
God doesn't hate the Sinner, He hate the Sin, and He loves us, not because of the vile creatures we are, but because of the glorious creatures He intended for us to be and He knows He can restore us to be far better than His original design.
Maybe I am wrong, but I dare to bet when we get to Heaven, each an every one of us will be astounded by just how wrong we are about so very many things. That might be why we have a thousand years before us on that day......lots and lots and lots of homework.
Sometimes I think people confuse generational curses with "God made me this way", but I thoroughly agree with you, God does not give us things that are in direct opposition to His Ways. He does however allow demons to run their courses for a season and we are a direct result of what it is like to be tainted by sin. It originated in the Garden of Eden, but those same lies and same attacks still work on us. Demons attack through our eyes, our flesh and our pride.
"See the fruit, it is PLEASING TO THE EYES and TASTES GOOD and you with SURELY NOT DIE, and you can BE LIKE GOD".....the eyes, the flesh, the pride.
"You can do what you want, look at it, it is enticing, you want it so much and it is not like you are going to burst into flame or anything, besides, you are in control of your own destiny, aren't you?"
Same old ring, over and over and over. Same old lines and they work again and again and again.
It amazes me how many people think they can change the mind of an unchanging God. like when they get there, they can plead their case and God will say "Okay, gee, never thought of it like that before."
Somebody does have to change. My bet is it's us and not HIM, cuz one of us is perfect and it's not us. So would it not make sense to strive to be just a little more like HIM as we progress in our walk toward Him?
Immorality is immorality whether it is homosexual or heterosexual. God doesn't hate homosexuals, He hates immorality.
Hate the sin, love the sinner.
I think it is wrong that churches are embracing people that practice immorality of all genders, and somehow believe it is taboo to address it on any level. I think they would just rather pretend it is not happening at all, and by not telling people that God hates immorality, they somehow silently condone the immoral practice.
When churches ordain openly practicing individuals of immorality, it does send a message that it is okay to practice something God clearly tells us is wrong. Today the world accepts a gay preacher, but how would the congregation feel if their preacher was living with someone in a committed relationship that they were not married to? Further still how would the congregation feel if the preacher and significant other were seen waiting in the abortion clinic for their appointment?
I think some homosexuals are "born that way", yet I also think that others are also born with a drive toward children. Should we say that one is okay over the other?
All of our sins are wicked, it is the choice to practice them or abstain from them that is the real issue that is forever left unaddressed. That is the true difference between a real Christian and a plastic coated one that wants to wear the label when it is convenient. To abstain from our most primal urges is difficult. Feeling from immorality is not easy whether a person is attracted to the same sex or the opposite sex.
God can change any heart, but it doesn't always mean that He will. We must all endure our trials as we grow in strength with Him. We all have our crosses to bear whether it is sexual or chemical, monetary or prideful.
Satan always launches his attack through the eyes, the flesh or the pride. I think it helps to try to remember this as we strive to flee from temptation.
And the thing I love best is that God always meets us right where we are, knowing we are imperfect and stands ready to accept us with open arms if we embrace His Son; His Most Perfect Gift to us that we might someday be made perfect in Him. We are saved under Grace, but I think it is what we choose to do with this Gift we receive that brings us closer to God, through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Tarasye here, back from probably well over a year. Was in a relationship with someone I thought would be the love of my life, but apparently not. But I am okay and living under "Thy Will Be Done, Lord" because I serve a Faithful God who loves me more than I could ever fathom and I trust He has a plan that is best for me.
Look forward to meeting lots of Great People as I did last time I was here.
My advice to others on things like this is something I learned from dealing with some pretty rotten people myself.
If you cannot forgive someone for what they have done, then at least forgive them for not knowing any better, for not knowing what they are doing to their very soul.
If you can forgive them for what they do not know, in time you will find you can forgive them practically anything.
We can forgive a dog for being a dog, its in his nature. We can forgive a child for they do not have the maturity to know better. So to forgive a person who does not practice Christian behavior is simply forgiving them for not recognizing the damage they are doing to themselves, whether they are Christian or not..
And then I remember to Praise God for allowing my eyes to see what their eyes cannot. Remember too that their actions are the actions that slayed our Lord on the Cross, and He forgave them, so we should as well. And He forgave us too, for we also have had times where we have behaved badly and hurt others. Those were times when we as well nailed our Lord to the Cross.
If He is able to forgive them, and He is able to forgive us, then we too must find a way to forgive one another, so if you cannot forgive the actions of another, at least be forgiving of what they cannot see is the damage they inflict upon themselves by their own actions.
Forgiving does not mean you have to like them or that you have to trust them or want to be around them. It simply means you release your own bitterness toward them, so that the Lord might take the matter into His Divine Hands. The bitterness we carry for another person bothers us, but it in no way impacts the person we carry that axe for. Do we contend for a moment that our feeling about them are something that bothers them and keeps them awake at night? Who is losing sleep over this bitterness, them or only us?
It is important to forgive other not so much for them as it is for our own well being for if we knew how very little they contemplated anything that crossed our minds, it would probably make us even angrier, but to what avail?
Drop the axe and let the Lord pick it up for you. Pray for your enemies and the Lord will either change them or condemn them. The really amazing part is that for as vile as the worst among us might be, the Lord actually LOVES them more than the people we love most in our life, even if that individual has heinously murdered masses. For it is written that it is His desire that none would perish, but that all would have eternal life.
What is really sad is that we are unable to see ourselves the way the Lord sees us, the way that God designed us to be, for sin has changed and corrupted many of us beyond recognition to the point that the Lord might someday say, "I don't know you".
Enemies often teach us hard lessons that others cannot, and that often brings us closer to God. Really hard to say that we should thank God for our enemies,but frankly, look how many of us would not have found our way to the Lord without going down some of those very difficult paths.
As we come to forgive our enemies, the Lord usually brings us through the fire and beyond them into another place where we will encounter new challenges.
So Thank the Lord for the obstacles, for without them, we would never need God.
Bless you my Sister. I am truly surprised how unconcerned even those in the flock of Faith are about this issue and other issues closely related that are going on today as this nation is quickly being sold softly into conforming against the Faith and Principals this Nation was built upon.
It is important to protect our rights as free Christian people, for I truly believe it will not be long at all and much of this will change into something we do not recognize as the America we know and love.
Things we so take for granted like voting, the right to own arms, and to protect our families and property from illegal searches and seizure.
I would not at all be surprised to see the day where professed non Christians will be able to break into your home and execute you and your family, take your property and assume your land, and there will be nothing you can do about it, if you survive it. Nor will those around you say a word for fear of being next.
I think when the planes flew into the WTC, our days of innocence ended, yet I think we refuse to believe it and keep looking back instead of looking forward. If we refuse to recognize the enemy, it will make him no less our enemy.
After WTC bombing, we for the first time became concerned about international terrorism. Now we are becoming concerned about home grown terrorists. How long before it is unacceptable to be a Christian because being a Christian will insight terrorist to act against places Christians frequent, work or recreate?
We should all be praying for the leaders the Lord has placed where they are at for this season, that His Guidance be their Beacon of Decision in our Leadership of this Land built on Christian Principles.
