Study Scripture:  2 Corinthians 12:1-9

Key Verse:  “I will…boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Wielding our power is no substitute for yielding our will to God’s power.

There are so many things that come against us in life isn’t there?  Cares of the world, certain sins or strongholds that beset us, and then there’s just life on life’s terms itself.  These things I guess could be called or known as “infirmities”, and it’s good to know that I’m not the only one who has them.  It’s also good to know that there are much stronger men and women of faith who have struggles, cares of the world, and infirmities that beset them.  Paul was one such person, and he wrote two-thirds of what we read today as the New Testament.

In these things that come against us it’s not always easy to just let go and let God…is it?  In fact, if we’re honest, most of the time…most of us (myself included) try to overcome these things by our will power…rather than depending upon God…but that’s pride.  Any time that we want to do anything apart from God is pride, and what it tells me is that in my wanting to do things of my strength is that I still have a lot of pride that needs to melt away.  I need to decrease, and He needs to increase.

For this kind of surrender I think it’s always good to look at someone, like Paul, who shares that he looked at these things the same way we did.  His surrender came after the problem – “a thorn in the flesh” – had developed.  Paul prayed repeatedly for God to take it from him.  God’s response to Paul was simply:  “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

In facing our fears and struggles, it’s vital that we yield totally to God.  When we do, God can use our problems as an avenue for His power. – Dennis Fisher

I can certainly relate to Paul in the fact that there’s several times and things that I’ve sought the Lord to remove a “thorn in my flesh”.  Not long ago I wrote a message that included 1 Corinthians 10:13 which speaks that God never allows more to be put on you than you can handle…but the key to being able to handle all of this is surrendering your will, your strength, and your abilities to God for His will, His strength, and His abilities.

See, in and of myself I haven’t the power or ability to overcome certain things that God allows in my life because He knows that as long as I have those things in my life…I cannot ever get to a point where I feel like I don’t need Him.  That was the reason Paul had a “thorn in his flesh”…because of the amount of revelation he had.  The more revelation you have the easier it is to get into thinking or feeling like you’ve reached a pinnacle of success.

Paul learned to rejoice in his infirmities because he began to understand that the reason those were there was so that God’s power could be manifested in his life.  He knew the reason the thorns were there was so that he wouldn’t get into pride, and so that Paul would be in total surrender and dependence upon God.

I find that I have a hard time boasting in my infirmities, but I’m learning to accept that there just are things in my life that I’m not going to be able to overcome without being totally surrendered to God’s will.  In truth, what God needs from us (myself included)  is for all of us to get out of His way so that He can do the work in our lives He needs to do…and until we do get out of His way…the thorns that are in our flesh are going to continue poking us.

It’s the same with you.  I know that if your anything like me, you feel like you’ve got an entire thorn-bush of thorns in your flesh, and the facts are we do.  There’s so much vying for our attention today that it’s easy to find ourselves stuck in a thorn-bush, but what God is speaking to us today is that if we’ll get out of the bush…He will pick out the thorns…but we have to be willing to let Him pick them out in the order He wants to pick them from us…and also be willing to understand that there are some that He’s going to leave in us…just to remind us that when we do things our way…we end up in a thorn-bush.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” -  God!

Introduction:

I must admit that I’m glad this mini-series is over.  It’s been introspective, but it’s also given me a better perspective on why and how sexual sin is so toxic when it comes to our relationship not just with God, but with others as well.  At long last we are finished with this series, but as I’ve said before.  This isn’t an exhaustive study, and if you’ve been intrigued or interested in finding out more…I’d like to urge you to continue to study this subject on your own.  We’ve covered a lot of ground in this study, but I really hope the one thing we all take away from this is that it’s important to be careful with what gets into our hearts…because it’s what is in our hearts that produces fruit in that natural.

Main Message Text:  Matthew 5:27-30 

Today’s Text:  “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)

Today’s Message:

Isn’t it good to know that we’re not alone?  “No temptation has overtaken you such as common to man…”.  You guys already know by now that I love looking at verses like this through the scope of the Amplified Version, but before we get there I just want to say that I’m glad that every temptation that I face is common to man.  What that verse does right there, beloved is it takes away one of the biggest lies satan tells us…that we’re all alone.  But, what we find is that we’re not unique, we’re not alone, and if you’ve been isolated then you need to realize that we no longer need to be.

Today, we’re going to find freedom.  We’re going to finally seek to escape these temptations, and it’s important to also realize that if we do give in…to not get down on ourselves.  So, let’s just for the fun of it look at 1 Corinthians 10:13 in the Amplified version.

 

For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. – 1 Corinthians 10:13 (AMP)

I love what it says here.  “No temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance, and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear.”  This is where we realize that if we find ourselves involved with sexual sin that we can overcome it. 

What this is also telling us is that we don’t have to give into the things were tempted by just because they’re in front of us.  Listen, like I said in the last message.  Unless your going to shut off your television, radio, internet, and never leave your house there’s always going to be temptation available.  Just because the temptation to give in are there doesn’t mean with have to, and often times we’re really going to have to rely upon God for His help in dealing with those temptations.

Just because there’s a hot new secretary or sales man doesn’t mean you have to give in to the temptation to wonder what they would look like naked.  That slight moment that you pause to wonder what that person would look like without their clothes on is the exact moment that Jesus is referring to when He says “if you even look upon a person with lust…you’ve already committed the act in your heart.”. 

You see, beloved, everything starts in seed form, and it’s up to us to take care of what kinds of seeds we’re planting.  If we’re planting seeds of lust then we will eventually reap the physical sins of masturbation, adultery, or fornication.  But, the good news of 1 Corinthians 10:13 is that temptation is common.  The better news is that we don’t have to give into it. 

I know, a lot of us look at this verse at times, and think that there’s no way this verse was written for us.  Maybe I’m the only one who has read this, and thought to myself:  “Lord, I know that Your Word says that You will never let me be tempted and tried beyond my ability, but I sure wish that You would ease up a bit.”  Have you ever been there, or am I the only one who has?  Am I the only one who sometimes feels like God’s just piling it on?  Then again, maybe your on the other side of the spectrum like I get sometimes too.  Pride-fully thinking that I must really be strong spiritually because I’m sure being tested and tried a lot…OH…you thought I wasn’t going to deal with both sides? 

I have to deal with both sides of that spectrum because I’ve been on both sides of it, and I’m sure that most of you reading have been also.  On one hand there are times we feel like God’s piling it on, and there are times when we feel like we’re passing God’s tests with flying colors…but then we come back to sexual sin…and realize that it’s a whole different animal isn’t it?

Pre-marital sex, adultery, addictions to pornography, and the like don’t go away so easily do they?  It is one tough trial or test to deal with, but the truth remains that we do have a way of escape.  God’s always providing for us a way to NOT give into the temptations, but it’s up to us to reach out to Him to get there.  It’s up to us to recognize that our addiction to pornography cannot be overcome by our own strength.  It’s up to us to recognize that there may be a need to come clean about an extra-marital affair, and if it’s possible reconcile the marriage.  All of this is hard, but the truth is…God’s provided us a way of escape from all temptations, trials, and tests…and it’s Jesus. 

Jesus is the reason we can be victorious in all areas of life…including sexual temptations.  One of the most comforting scriptures in all the Bible ought to be Hebrews 2:18:  “For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who are being exposed to suffering].”

Yes, I am linking Jesus to sexual temptation.  How can I do such a thing?  “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15).  Jesus was in ALL points tempted like we are, but was able to overcome them. 

That means that we can too, and Jesus overcame those temptations the same way we can…by being completely reliant upon God.  Now, before you say it’s impossible for us to walk in the spirit 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.  Relax.  I’m merely pointing out that there is a way of escape, and that if Jesus can walk through His life without giving into temptation…so can we. 

Conclusion:

We’re finally finished with this topic, but I would like to urge you like I did in the introduction to study this further if it’s a topic that interests you.  We can be healed and delivered from sexual immorality.  The victory for all of our infirmities is found in our High Priest.  He is understanding of us, and has also purchased the victory with His blood.

Heavenly Father, we need You.  We cannot overcome these things without You.  I thank You that You sent Jesus, and so that He could understand what it is we go through when it comes to temptation.  I thank You that He’s been touched with every temptation that’s common to man, and common to me.  Most of all, I thank You for the victory over them purchased by His blood.  Please help those who are reading, and myself to overcome the attitude of lust.  We love You and need You and ask these things in the name of Jesus’…Amen.

Introduction:

As we begin to wrap up our mini-series on Sexual Immorality we find ourselves stopping in the book of Ecclesiastes.  This has been one of the hardest topics to write on because it causes me to look at my life, and realize how devastating Sexual Immorality has been…and still can be on my walk with God.  I’m actually living proof of how Sexual sin is toxic, and how even today it can still cause me to feel unclean before God.  I can still feel the guilt and shame, and I believe that’s one of the reasons that sexual sin is so toxic…because it stays with you, and it’s one of the hardest things to allow God to heal you of and from.

Main Message Text:  Matthew 5:27-30

Today’s Study Text:  “13 Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is mans all.14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.” – Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14

Today’s Message:

“Including every secret thing.” since we’re dealing with the fact that sexual sin begins with an attitude of lust in the heart then we are also acknowledging that the birth place of sexual sin is in secret.  It’s also one of the things that we work to hide the most.  You know the old saying:  “I don’t kiss and tell.”

Sexual stuff is hard to talk about isn’t it?  I said in the introduction of today’s message that this has been a difficult series to write about because in the flesh, the nature of the flesh I believe is a desire to hide sexual sin.  I wasn’t ever one of those men who ran around beating their chests talking about their sexual conquests like they were something to be proud of, and I certainly wasn’t one to tout it when I was being unfaithful to the person I was in a relationship with.

The secret nature of all of this is exactly why it’ s toxic to our relationship with God.  We know we can’t hide anything from Him.  He knows all there is to know about our lives from start to finish, and all points in between.

Lust is a lot like anger in the sense that if it’s left un-dealt with it can lead to the physical sins of masturbation, adultery, fornication, and even worse ones like rape and so forth.  It can become an obsession much like anger and hatred, and when it spills over in the natural that’s how you get into inappropriate sexual behaviors.  That’s how people can commit sexual crimes…because they dwell so much upon the lust in their hearts, and eventually they cannot contain themselves any longer.  So they need to find ways to act out their “sexual frustrations”.

I know we’re really dealing with adultery here, but the same issues exist whether it’s adultery or other sexual sin.  They are all birthed from the conceived lustful attitude in our hearts.  That’s why pornography is such a draw, and why it’s so destructive.  You can find just about any kind of sexual fantasy there, and even today on television you find that they allow a lot more sexual activity to be seen than they used to.  All of this has been done to desensitize people to sex, and make it okay.

Desperate Housewives is one of the most popular television shows, and it celebrates marital infidelity.  There’s shows today that are in support of homosexuality, and homosexual marriages.  There’s shows today that have men who sleep with woman after woman, and it’s considered to be comedy.  There’s a lot of filth just in prime time television these days.  Shows like Law & Order SVU is a whole detective squad devoted to tracking down sexual predators, and in shows like this even though there just television shows there’s truth to them in the sense that you can really learn what kind of serious sexual crimes and sins are taking place.  Everything from incest to sleeping with corpses are on this show.  There’s even popular news shows now done by Chris Hanson.  Catching online predators who stalk children, and are caught trying to ask for sex with minors.  It’s in our songs, it’s in magazines, it’s in advertising for just about everything from fast food to having Victoria Secret models in sexy lingerie. You hear it all the time. “Sex sells.”

ALL of this is because we have allowed a lustful attitude to be prevalent in today’s society, and then in turn instead of making it sin…they turn it into entertainment.  However, the Bible says that all that stuff is still sin.  Television producers call it entertainment, and God calls it sin…period.

With all of this stuff geared towards us I realize that it’s harder, and harder not to have some form of lust in our hearts.  I mean I suppose if you decided to completely stop watching television, listening to the radio, subscribing only to Christian magazines, and so forth it is possible to not be affected by any of this at all.  In reality, I guess that’s really what we should do because as Christians we are responsible for what we’re taking in through our ears and eyes…but the truth is we do desire some form of entertainment…which is what television, video games, music, books, and magazines are…entertainment.

So, what can we do about all of this coming against us?  How can we continue to be entertained, but not develop an uncontrollable lust that leads us to commit sexual sin, and immorality?  Solely by the grace of God.  We need to seek God more than ever, and we need to ask Him to help us to overcome these things.

Oh…and a bit of self-control goes a long way as well.  The conclusion: Fear God and keep His commandments…for this is man’s all.

Scripture Study:  Luke 12:16-21

Key Verse:  “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”” – Psalm 14:1

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. – Jim Elliot

It may seem to be contradictory when you read at how sometimes Jesus was gentle such as when you read Matthew 19:13-15, but then He turns around to seem to be derogatory towards the Pharisees.  (See Matthew 23:17-19; Luke 11:39-40).  Jesus also used the word “fool” in a parable after warning a man about coveting (see Luke 12:13-21). 

So, what made the man foolish?  He left God out of the picture.  It wasn’t because he was trying to follow the example of the ant and “store up” the harvest.  It wasn’t because he built a bigger barn, but it was that he failed to plan for eternity and store up treasures in heaven.  (Matthew 6:20).

Psalm 14:1 says:  “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”.”  It could also be said that it’s the fool who lives like there is no God.  When you look at the world today there are millions of fools.  These either live like there’s no God, or they have just simply said in their heart’s that there’s no God.  This is the very reason that I have such a hard time being accepting of people in the political arena in this country.

More and more, we see that even if the people running for public office seem to be ashamed, or even embarrassed when it comes to Jesus.  We all know what Jesus says about that.  If you’re ashamed of Me before man, I will be ashamed of you before my Father. 

What I believe the church needs are politicians who will stand up for the Word of God.  The one’s who will stop being embarrassed and ashamed of Jesus.  We need men and women of God in Washington, and state capitals throughout the country who will stand up for Christ.  Who will take a stand against things like same-sex marriage, abortion, and other things that the Bible is clearly against.  Instead of handing out condoms in schools, returning the Word of God to the classroom.  We need to stop bowing to those who are so against having God a part of our currency, our heritage, our history, and more.

Listen, I understand that everyone has a right to have their opinions, and beliefs.  I understand that those of us who love the Lord, and preach the Word of God will be persecuted for His sake. But that doesn’t negate the Word of God from being truth, and being what this nation was founded upon.  There’s always going to be groups that rise up against the church, but Jesus has said that nothing will prevail.  Greater is He that’s in us than he that’s in the world.  Those who take a stand for God will have the full support of the host of Heaven behind them.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to live my life in such a way that shows that I’m a fool.  I want all of my plans whether they are current, or in the future…I want all of my plans to include God…and I want to be sure that I’ve not just lived to be sure to store up treasures here, but also treasures in heaven.

Does your plan for the future have God in it, or would He call you a fool?

Study Scripture:  Psalm 199:97-104

Key Verse:  “ Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.” – Psalm 119:97

The more you read the Bible the more you’ll love its Author.

One of Christlike Ministries Arkansas’ favorite online resources…BibleGateway.com…looked at the view habits of some of their 8 million monthly visitors.  They found that the could just about put together a top 10 of Bible verses searched. The tenth most searched Bible verse is Matthew 28:19:  “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”, a few others inside the top 10 was Jeremiah 29:11:  “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you…”, Romans 8:28:  “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God…”, and finally the number one most searched Bible verse in 2010…John 3:16.

Today’s study scripture is in Psalm 119 which it’s a lot about the writer’s love for the Word of the Lord.  Like today’s key verse:  “Oh, how I love Your law!  It is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97.  In addition to that one there’s Psalm 119:11:  “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”, “I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.” Psalm 119:69, and “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105.

The whole point of today’s message is about reading the Bible.  The more we search the Word, the more we’ll grow in our love for it and its Author.  We all need to make more time for the Bible.  As much time as I spend I could still spend more.  The thing is, once you start reading and studying the Bible the more you want to read and study it more.  I’ve found that it’s true.  The more I search the Scriptures the more I love it, and the more I love its Author.  I also find that I learn the more about how much the Author loves me.

So, in light of today’s message I’ve got a bit of a fun homework or challenge for all of us.  I’d like to see us come up with our own Top 10 favorite Bible verses.

Introduction:

We’re just about finished with out mini-series here on Sexual Immorality as it pertains to our main series 6 Toxins That Affect Our Walk With God.  As with all of our subjects this is certainly not an exhaustive look at sexual immorality.  All the studies we do is so that you’ll be encouraged to further look into a subject that we teach on.  As we draw this series to a close I can share with you that this series has a direct relationship with the next one…which is divorce. So, let’s continue to look at what the Word of the Lord has to say about why Sexual Immorality is so toxic to our relationship with God.

Today’s Message:

Main Message Text:  Matthew 5:27-20

Today’s Study Scripture:  “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, and becometh saints.” – Ephesians 5:3

In order to understand this verse more clearly.  Let’s take a look at it in the Amplified Version, and see how we can tie this into our main series.

But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God’s consecrated people).

I’m not sure how much more I can really say about this subject, but there’s two more messages to go.  I feel like I’ve been able to adequately explain that what Jesus was dealing with more than anything in the Sermon on the Mount was the motives of our hearts.  We have said over and over that Jesus was not excusing the physical acts, but teaching us that the physical acts are a result of what’s in our hearts.

We have covered why pornography is part of this problem of sexual immorality.  In Ephesians here, Paul is exhorting us to not practice things like fornication, and so forth.  He understood the physical acts, and he also understood that the physical acts come from the fruit of what’s in our thoughts.

So, really all that’s left to say over these last couple of messages on this subject is that we really need to be careful what we’re meditating upon.  We need to take an inventory of the things that are in our minds, and hearts.  We need to make sure that we’re not dwelling on any lustful thoughts or attitudes.  We’ve seen time and again that is where sexual sin in conceived.

This series has been difficult to do because of my own personal issues with sexual sin.  I’ve had to really take these messages to heart in my life, and be sure that I’m careful.  It’s had an affect upon my relationship with God at times because like I touched on yesterday sexual sin leaves you feeling kind of dirty and shameful before God.  The awesome thing about the blood of Jesus…however…is that it was shed to not only wash the sin away, but the guilt and shame that’s associated with sin.

Always remember that when we stumble we have a High Priest who is not untouched by our temptations and infirmities.  He understands, and if we need help in overcoming these things…we can come boldly to the throne of grace in our time of need.  I’ve had to do just that time and again because I know the power and ability isn’t within me to overcome, but in the blood of Jesus.

Study Scripture: John 14:1-6

Key Verse: “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” – John 14:3

Our heavenly Father’s arms will one day catch His children

John 14 may be one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, and within this passage I believe my favorite verse is actually John 14:6 where Jesus boldly states: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me.” That verse really takes the steam out of a lot of religions, religious mindsets, and those who think that there’s more than one way to salvation. There isn’t. There is only One way, and that way is only as wide as the shoulders of Jesus.

However, for today’s message the key verse is actually verse 3. Just this verse alone ought to offer us so much comfort, and encouragement. Jesus says: “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” . Maybe I’m the only one who finds comfort in this verse, but how great it is to know that one day Jesus is going to come, and receive me to Himself.

In today’s Our Daily Bread reading the story is about a trapeze artist. Trapeze artists are sometimes the star of the show, but what most people (including myself) don’t know is that the real star of the show is the person on the other trapeze waiting to catch the artist. They are known as “catchers”.

The key to a good trapeze act is trust between the artist, and the catcher. With out-stretched arms, the flyer must trust that the catcher is ready and able to grab him. Dying is like trusting God as our catcher.

After we have flown through life, we can look forward to God reaching out to catch His followers and to pull us safely to Himself forever.” – Joe Stowell

Whenever you include death in a message it can tend to become a little depressing…especially when you consider that not everyone has the same destination. There are many, many people who leave this world that never enter into a relationship with God. Therefore, they won’t be able to have the same ability to trust God to catch, and receive them to Himself as believers do.

Death can certainly become a sobering thought, but when it comes to those of us who have placed our faith and trust in God verses like this offer us comfort. It gives me great peace to know that when I close my eyes to this world…the very next thing I’ll see is the beautiful face of my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.

Just like the trapeze artist can trust their catcher to catch them as they fly through the air those of us who have put our faith in Jesus Christ, we can trust that He is waiting to safely take us home.