Tue
Nov
3rd
2009
0

Freedom from Condemnation

Here is an amazing passage of scripture about freedom from condemnation as we think about people we know who are trapped in a prison of secrecy.

 Romans 8:1-11

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.


Tue
Nov
3rd
2009
0

Sex (Part 3) Have you asked those you love?

It is very likely that you or someone you love is involved in trying to experience God’s gift of sex outside of God’s context. One of the ways this is happening in our society is through pornography.

Pornography is a counterfeit of the real thing and it starts off so subtle. It can be on television, movies, soap operas, magazines, and now all over the Internet. The statistics are overwhelming. Perhaps, you have heard it said before that porn makes more money than the NBA, NFL, and Major League baseball combined. That is true. Most people think it does not impact them. “Not my kids.” I read this week that the average age for exposure to porn is 11 years old. We also like to think this is not a problem in the church. That simply is not true.

  • An August 7, 2006 stat says: 50% of all Christian men and 20% of all Christian women are addictedto pornography. 60% of the women who answered the survey admitted to having significant struggles with lust; 40% admitted to being involved in sexual sin in the past year; and 20% of the church-going female participants struggle with looking at pornography on an ongoing basis. From the results of a ChristiaNet poll reported by Marketwire.com (emphasis added)

Those are Christians and that is addiction. 5 out of 10 men and 2 out of 10 women in the church are addicted to porn. Some of those people are people you care about. They are trapped in a life of secrecy. If you love them, will you ask them this simple question: “Have you intentionally viewed pornographic material in the last 12 months?” Just the fact that you asked shows them you care. It also provides them with an opportunity to be freed from their prison of secrecy. What if they answer yes? Point them to Jesus who will give them forgiveness and freedom. Ask them if there is anything you can personally do to help free them from this bondage. Set them up with some accountability (that means someone who understands what they are going through and will walk with them through the process of breaking free from this addiction). In some cases you are the best person to walk with them through this. In some cases you will not be.


Mon
Nov
2nd
2009
0

Sex (Part 2) God’s gift, God’s context

God has given us this gift of sex to enjoy in the proper context. A love relationship between a husband and a wife. The problem is our society tells us we can have this gift out of God’s context.

When we take this gift out of context it looks like the real thing, but the results are not the same. The best case scenario is we have a mess, the worst case scenario is serious destruction.

It is like a fire. A fire in the proper context is a beautiful thing. If we have a fire in the fireplace at our house it can be very enjoyable. If we take that same fire out of the fireplace and put it in the middle of our living room floor, it looks the same at first. It seems great, at first. However, when it is finished we have a mess, or more likely destruction.

We have some incredibly powerful things in this life to enjoy in their proper context. When we take God’s gifts out of context, and misuse them they can create incredible damage.

Sexual sin has created some tremendous damage in peoples lives. Just think what the damage can be apart from broken marriages, and disease and all of the emotional scars and baggage at the very least: When we fail to confess we are then trapped in a life of secrecy. Everything we do filters through this secret we have. We are trapped in a prison of secrecy. When we confess there is freedom. If you have sinned against your spouse, future spouse, your Savior, will you confess? If not why not? Are you afraid? Afraid of how they may respond?

1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

If you are trapped, it is time to be free. It does not matter what you have done, where you have been. God loves you and will forgive your sin. Will you confess your sin to Him right now?


Sun
Nov
1st
2009
0

Sex

Well at least the title made you read this far. Sex, sex, sex, it is everywhere in our society. Wherever you go there is sex. On television, on billboards, at the mall, at schools, everywhere you go there is sex. Everywhere you go the message is the same; “Do it, do it, do it.” There is one refuge though. There is one place where we don’t talk about it…church. If the church does talk about it, you know what they will say, “Don’t do it! Don’t even think about it!”

The problem is that is not what the Bible teaches. We are actually commanded to do it…and get this to enjoy it!

Proverbs 5:15-19

15 Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. 16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? 17 Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. 18 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 A loving doe, a graceful deer– may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.

Did you notice God says to be captivated by? Her love. You can enjoy her breasts, but God’s context for this enjoyment is in a loving exclusive marriage relationship between a man and a woman. In the proper context God commands us to have sex, and to enjoy sex.