JASON
Christian Ex-Gay Ministry
vimeo.com: www.whodoesithurt.com: Temptation
Temptation from Matthew Fradd on Vimeo.
Was tun bei Versuchungen?
1 Korinther 10:13
Siehe auch: Epheser 6:10-20, Jakobus 1:2-8, Jakobus 1:12-15, Jakobus 5:7-11, Römer 5:3-4
Bete und preise den Herrn! Die Kraft des Gebetes wird von vielen immer noch unterschätzt! Sage Gott, dass du alleine hilflos bist und übergib Ihm die Kontrolle! Und GLAUBE daran, dass er dich heilen kann! Die meisten Menschen scheitern und fallen, weil sie nicht wirklich an die Heilung glauben - daran, dass Jesus durch seinen Tod den Sieg bereits errungen und die Macht der Sünde gebrochen hat!
Wenn die Versuchung an die Türe klopft, öffne nicht selbst, sondern lasse Gott öffnen - ER hat die Kontrolle! (Ordnet euch also Gott unter, leistet dem Teufel Widerstand; dann wird er vor euch fliehen. Jakobus 4:7.
Im Epheserbrief (6:10-20) lesen wir über die geistliche Waffenrüstung. Was hilft uns im Kampf gegen die Versuchung?
- Wahrheit
- Gerechtigkeit
- Bereitschaft, für das Evangelium des Friedens einzutreten
- Glaube
- Heil
- Wort Gottes
- Beten im Geist und mit Beharrlichkeit
Ferner:
- der Heilige Geist
- die Gemeinde
Achtung: Satan schlägt meist dann zu, wenn wir am schwächsten sind (siehe Jesu' Versuchung in der Wüste nach 40 Tage Fastens)!
- damit wir wachsen
- damit Gottes Herz zufrieden ist (dadurch, dass unser Glaube auf die Probe gestellt wird, können wir zeigen, wie echt und aufrichtig er wirklich ist. Ein derart getesteter Glaube preist Seinen Namen).
- damit Satan zum Schweigen gebracht wird
- damit wir anderen Menschen helfen können
Siehe auch:
"When temptation comes up, tell the devil, "Good-bye, I am a son of God!"
Doug M. - co-founder of Homosexuals Anonymous
Ablenkungstechniken:
Reality Check
Der Reality Check wurde von Joe Dallas entwickelt ("The Game Plan" - unbedingt kaufen!!!). Er ist eine Ablenkungstechnik, die ihr wirklich täglich anwenden solltet.
Wenn man sexuelle Verfehlungen begeht (Porno, Sex außerhalb der Ehe, Masturbation usw.) muss man zwangsweise die wichtigsten Aspekte in seinem Leben unterdrücken bzw. blockieren. Sonst könnte man kaum die Sünde genießen! Es ist verständlicherweise schwierig, zu Internetpornos zu masturbieren, wenn man gleichzeitig an Frau und Kinder denkt! So funkitoniert's:
Wenn die Versuchung hochkommt, mache folgendes:
Sage diese drei Sachen laut vor dich her:
1. Deinen Namen.
2. Die Namen der Menschen, die dir am wichtigsten sind.
3. Deine Pflichten und Verantwortung im Leben (Beruf, religiöses Leben, Familie, Berufung...).
Dann wirst du kaum mehr Lust haben, dich sexuell zu betätigen.
1. Du checkst deine Umgebung (etwa wenn du in einen Raum kommst).
2. Du siehst jemanden oder etwas, der oder das dich sexuell erregt.
3. Du riskierst, die Kontrolle zu verlieren, da du "angeturnt" bist.
4. Du blickst auf eine "sichere" Person oder ein "sicheres" Objekt - also jemand oder etwas, der oder das dich nicht erregt.
5. Du atmest tief durch (wichtig!) und sagst einen der folgenden Bibelverse auf, die du bitte auswendig lernst:
Hiob 31:1; Jesajah 26:3; Römer 12:1; Jakobus 1:15; Lukas 2:49)
6. Du erlangst wieder Kontrolle über die Situation.
Hierbei ist es extrem wichtig, dass du das täglich mehrere Male übst und die Bibelverse auswendig lernst.
Dies Techniken sind praxiserprobt und erfolgreich. Sie können dich im Ernstfall retten. Nimm sie also nicht auf die leichte Schulter, sondern befolge sie!!
Praktische Tips
Hier zwei Tips von Teilnehmern unserer Selbsthilfegruppen:
1) Schreibe alles auf, wofür du dankbar sein solltest! Lies diese Liste regelmäßig durch!
2) Lege ein Tagebuch (oder einen Block im Internet) an. So kannst du nachverfolgen, was dazu geführt hat, dass du gefallen bist (sollte es denn soweit kommen) und außerdem kannst du so deinen Therapieerfolg kontrollieren. Außerdem ist es einfach interessant, zu lesen, was man früher gedacht und gefühlt hat!
Tips von Joe Dallas, um die sexuelle Reinheit aufrechtzuerhalten:
1. Werde realistisch.
Du musst dir im Klaren darüber sein, dass sexuelle Versuchung in unserer Kultur heutzutage leider unvermeidlich ist. Du wirst täglich von erotischen Bildern bombadiert. Auch die Tatsache, dass du Christ bist, schützt dich nicht vor Versuchung. Jeder kann fallen. Johannes sagt im 1. Johannes 1:8: "Wenn wir sagen, dass wir keine Sünde haben, führen wir uns selbst in die Irre und die Wahrheit ist nicht in uns."
2. Mache ernst.
Wenn du sexueller Lust nachgibst, tanzt du am Abgrund. Jede sexuelle Fantsie, die du dir erlaubst, jeder unangemessene Flirt, jeder "zweite Blick", den du dir gestattest, birgt in sich die Saat von AIDS, Ehebruch, einem gebrochenen Herzen, einem zerbrochenen Leben. Unternimm JETZT etwas - solange du noch kannst. Erinnere dich an Jakobus 1:15: "Wenn die Begierde dann schwanger geworden ist, bringt sie die Sünde zur Welt; ist die Sünde reif geworden, bringt sie den Tod hervor."
3. Bereite dich vor.
Wenn du weißt, morgen kommt ein schlimmer Sturm, wirst du Vorkehrungen treffen. Wenn dir wirklich klar ist, wie alltäglich und gleichzeitig todernst sexuelle Versuchung ist, wirst du einen Plan entwickeln, um ihr begegnen zu lernen. Sogar Paulus gab im 1. Korinther 9:27 zu: "vielmehr züchtige und unterwerfe ich meinen Leib, damit ich nicht anderen predige und selbst verworfen werde." Kannst du es dir leisten, dies nicht zu tun?
4. Nimm Verbindung zu anderen auf.
Sexuelle Sünde wächst und gedeiht in der Dunkelheit. Durch das Geheimhalten verstärkt sich ihr Griff, mit dem sie dich festhält. So peinlich und beschämend es auch sein mag, seine Sünden jemanden einzugestehen, so klar sollte dir eines sein: du kannst deine Sünden nicht selbst überwinden. In Jakobus 5:16 lesen wir: "Darum bekennt einander eure Sünden und betet füreinander, damit ihr geheiligt werdet. Viel vermag das inständige Gebet eines Gerechten." Finde einen vertrauenswürdigen christlichen Freund, dem du dich anvertrauen kannst. Mache ihn zu deinem Therapiepartner und nehme NIE an, du brauchst keine Rechenschaft mehr.
5. Werde brutal.
Es sollte eigentlich ein 11. Gebot geben, das sagt: "Du sollst dich nicht selbst belügen". Wenn es dir ernst damit ist, sexuell rein zu leben, solltest du dich nicht nur von allem fern halten, was dich in Gefahr bringen könnte (Fantasien, Pornos, Affairen, Prostitution...), sondern auch von jedem Menschen, der oder die dich dazu verführen könnte. Manchmal kann eine bestimmte Aktivität (ein Kinobesuch, eine bestimmte Art von Musik oder Bars) für andere zwar in Ordnung sein, aber nicht für dich. Sei absolut brutal, was deinen Lebensstil betrifft: alles, was dich in Gefahr bringen könnte, muss über Bord geworfen werden. Im 1. Korinther 6:12 sagt Paulus: "Alles ist mir erlaubt» - aber nicht alles nützt mir. Alles ist mir erlaubt, aber nichts soll Macht haben über mich."
6. Suche dir Hilfe.
Sexuelle Sünden sind oft Zeichen von tieferen emotionalen Bedüfnissen, die man auf die falsche Art und Weise zu befriedigen sucht. Diese Sünden zu beichten ist der erste Schritt, Der nächst ist es, die Bedürfnisse oder inneren Konflikte auszumachen, die zu dem Verhalten geführt haben. Dafür bedarf es oft der Hilfe eines christlichen Seelsorgers oder Therapeuten. Du brauchst mehr als nur eine Antwort wie "Bete und komme darüber hinweg!". König David z.B., dem sexuelle Sünden nun wahrlich nicht unbekannt waren, hat Rat bei Samuel gesucht: "David floh also und brachte sich in Sicherheit. Er kam zu Samuel nach Rama und erzählte ihm alles, was Saul ihm angetan hatte. Dann ging er zusammen mit Samuel ins Prophetenhaus und beide blieben dort." 1 Samuel 19:18. Wenn du dir professionelle Hilfe suchst, wenn es um Steuern, die Karriere oder medizinische Fragen geht, warum solltest du das nicht auch tun, wenn es sich um deine sexuelle Reinheit dreht?
7. Gewöhne dich daran.
Das Problem der sexuellen Versuchung läuft dir nicht davon. Es war schon immer da und es wird immer da sein. Gewöhne dich also daran, dass dieses Problem dein ganzes Leben exisiteren wird und nur ein Teil des Heiligungsprozesses ist, den alle Christen durchlaufen. In Philipper 3 12-13 sagt Paulus: "Nicht dass ich es schon erreicht hätte oder dass ich schon vollendet wäre. Aber ich strebe danach, es zu ergreifen, weil auch ich von Christus Jesus ergriffen worden bin. Brüder, ich bilde mir nicht ein, dass ich es schon ergriffen hätte. Eines aber tue ich: Ich vergesse, was hinter mir liegt, und strecke mich nach dem aus, was vor mir ist." Lerne also, weiter zu kämpfen - versuche nicht, perfekt zu sein.
8. Suche dir Liebe.
Du hast bisher Liebe an den falschen Orten gesucht. Deine sexuellen Verfehlungen waren ein jämmerlicher Ersatz für dieses elementare Bedürfnis. Du kannst die Sünde büßen, aber nicht das Bedürfnis, das dazu geführt hat. Suche dir also Liebe: von Familienangehörigen, Freunden, christlichen Brüdern und Schwestern usw. Ein Mensch, der wirklich liebt und wirklich geliebt wird, kommt weniger leicht in Versuchung, an den falschen Orten nach etwas zu suchen, das er dort nie finden wird. Jesaja fragte in 55:2: "Warum bezahlt ihr mit Geld, was euch nicht nährt, und mit dem Lohn eurer Mühen, was euch nicht satt macht? Hört auf mich, dann bekommt ihr das Beste zu essen und könnt euch laben an fetten Speisen." Versuche, Bindungen zu anderen aufzubauen und dabei authentisch zu sein.
9. Nimm die Gnade Gottes an.
Nicht der sündenfreie Mensch hält bis zum Ende durch, sondern der, der es gelernt hat, wieder aufzustehen, wenn er fällt. Wenn dir dein Kampf endlos erscheint, erinnere dich daran, dass du dich auf eine Richtung hin verpflichtet hast - und nicht zur Perfektion. Du fällst vielleicht auf dem Weg. Das ist keine Entschuldigung, sondern eine realistische Betrachtung der heutigen Welt. Der Erfolg oder Misserfolg eines Menschen entscheidet sich bei der Frage, ob er fähig ist, sich wieder hochzuziehen, wenn er gefallen ist, seine Sünden zu beichten und weiter den Weg zu gehen, für den er sich verpflichtet hat. Paulus schreibt in Philipper 3:14: "Das Ziel vor Augen, jage ich nach dem Siegespreis: der himmlischen Berufung, die Gott uns in Christus Jesus schenkt."
10. Lebe!
Was sind deine Leidenschaften? Was ist deine Berufung? Wie klar sind deine Ziele? Hast du überhaupt Spaß im Leben? Wenn du all das nicht hast, bist du extrem anfälig dafür, sexuell zu fallen. Das Leben ist mehr, als nur sexuell rein zu bleiben - so wichtig das auch ist. Du musst lernen, wer du bist und warum du da bist, was deine Leidenschaften und deine Berufung sind, wo deine Prioritäten liegen und wo es bei dir im Leben lang geht. Wenn du all das noch nicht weißt, hast du jetzt genug zu Überlegen.
Sexuelle Reinheit um ihrer selbst willen ist etwas Gutes - sexuelle Reinheit aufgrund einer höheren Berufung ist aber besser. Halte dich also von der Sünde fern. Wende dich einem leidenschaftlichen, zielorientierten und bedeutsamen Leben zu. Das ist im wahrsten Sinne Buße.
Sie nahm dir den Respekt vor dir selbst und gab dir ein Schuldgefühl, sie nahm deine Ehre und gab dir Schande, sie nahm deine Aufrichtigkeit und gab dir ein Doppelleben, deine Sanftheit und machte einen wütenden Menschen aus dir. Sie hat dich dahin gebracht, Gott, deine Frau und Kinder, deine Freunde und alle, die dir vertrauten, zu betrügen. Sie versprach dir Linderung und gab dir nur Schmerz; sie versprach Liebe und gab nur Lust und Einsamkeit.
Erinnere dich aber auch, dass Gott Gutes aus all dem Unheil hervorbringen kann. Sonst frisst dich die Sorge auf und gibt der Versuchung neue Nahrung. Der emotionale Schmerz, den du verspürt hast, war eine Warnung Gottes, dass du auf dem falschen Weg warst.
Douglas McIntyre, co-founder of Homosexuals Anonymous
Satans Macht wurde am Kreuz gebrochen!
„Oberflächliche Ansichten des Wirken von Christus produzieren oberflächliche Leben.“ (D. Martin Lloyd-Jones, The Cross).
Links:
Advance Preparation - before we are tempted
What can I do - suggestions to prepare in advance
During Temptation - suggestions
AT THE CROSS What do you see when you look at the cross? here's What you should see. his head pierced with the thorns Of every issue that would ever afflict your mind. His Hands were nailed through for every vile thing your Hands were ever used to do. His feet were nailed to The tree for every illicit, immoral place that you ever Walked. When He cried,'MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?"(Mark 15:34), He was Feeling the hell that separation from God would have Bought us eternally. But, when he finally cried, "IT IS FINISHED." He was writing "PAID IN FULL" across every Unpaid dept that your sins had accumulated. The bottom line is this---if you had been the only person Who had ever lived, it would have taken every drop of His Blood to redeem you. So the question is: "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?"
Versuchung und Vergebung
Versuchung wird es immer geben. Es muss sie sogar geben. Auch christlicher Sicht trennt Versuchung die Spreu vom Weizen. Was wir dagegen tun können? Es gibt Waffen, die jede Versuchung meistern helfen: Das Wort Gottes und das inständige Gebet. Die "Rüstung", um in den Kampf zu ziehen - und zu gewinnen!
Als Christen dürfen wir auch auf Vergebung hoffen. Sogar wir, die wir viel und häufig gesündigt haben, dürfen Vergebung erfahren. Und wie Jesus uns bereits gesagt hat: wem viel vergeben wurde, der liebt Jesus auch umso mehr.
Wir sollten diese Vergebeung also auch annehmen und uns selbst vergeben. Und im Gegenzug denen, die uns verletzt haben.
Dass wir mit unseren christlichen Prinzipien nicht immer auf Verständnis und Gegenliebe stoßen werden, hat uns Jesus ebenfalls klar gemacht - kurz bevor er ans Kreuz geschlagen wurde.
Wenn die Menschen schon damals so gehandelt haben, als das Holz noch grün war, wie werden sie erst handeln, wenn das Holz trocken ist...
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können wir Gott preisen, dass Er den Hilflosen hilft!
Wenn wir uns gottlos fühlen...
...können wir Gott preisen, dass er die Sünder liebt!
Wenn wir Angst haben...
...können wir Gott preisen, dass er Gutes aus all dem Unheil hervorbringt!
Wenn wir in Versuchung sind...
...können wir Gott preisen, dass er die Macht der Homosexualität gebrochen hat!
...Wenn wir uns verwirrt fühlen, was unsere sexuelle Identität betrifft,
...können wir Gott preisen, dass er uns heterosexuell erschaffen und erlöst hat!
Links:
Keys to Overcoming Temptation
Links:
Links:
Temptation?
Advance Preparation - before we are tempted
What can I do - suggestions to prepare in advance
During Temptation - suggestions
How Do I Begin?
Quit Checklist
Daily Checklist
Reminders
Prayer Requests
"We are not only responsible for our sin, but also powerless to keep from sinning."
Dr. Henry Cloud, Dr. John Townsend ("How People Grow")
M.
For more useful information, click here. (Homosexuals Anonymous site)
vimeo.com: www.whodoesithurt.com: Desire
Desire from Matthew Fradd on Vimeo.
Temptation
Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Gen. 1:3 Then God said, Let there be light; and there was light.
And, so the long story of our existence begins.
And throughout, to the end we see life and we see decay.
We see many beginnings, and many endings.
As from death, must come life, and as from life, must come death
For the seed falls to the ground as dead.
But from this death springs forth new life.
In the Book of Revelations we see the consummation of the ages. If we but concentrated on the beginning and middle of the book, all would appear disheartening, discouraging, no hope.
But!!!!!!!!!!!
That is not the end !
The final two chapters show us that there is more. Life on earth does not eternally end. All our hopes do not come to a tragic end. We are offered life eternally. We attend the marriage supper of the Lamb. The bringing together of His people and of Christ, the sustainer, creator of life whom in the beginning said; "Let there be Light!" Gen. 1:1 Rev. 19:17
"Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away." Rev. 21:1
" And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, There shall be no more pain, for former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, " Behold, I will make all things new."
Rev. Rev. 21:4
As I raked the leaves today, I was reminded of death. For every year trees shed their dying leaves. Yet as in every year, that is not the end. Every spring the new rain brings forth new life. Every spring leaves are born again. Green returns after trees have burst forth with new buds. As with from life comes death, as with death comes life.
This is the story of creation and of life, and of our life while we await His Coming. Every year we see the cycle of life and death, of death and life.
From the beginning was life. God Said, Let there Be! And there was! And it was so ! But from life sprang death, bred of sin. And so is the beginning to the end, to life anew again.
In-between sprang forth words, words called evolution. This word sprang from life. But Evolution is just another word for Revolution. For Revolution is but the transgression of the Law. Revolution is but our turning away from God.
For without revolution there is God, standing in our midst. With revolution, there He stands, His back turned away. Though the Son did never transgress against the Father His back He did turn upon the Son.
What is Evolution? From the humanistic point of view, evolution could be described as a life form evolving into a slightly different life form. Or perhaps this definition may also fit. A life form changing it's life form and shape to adapt to change in it's environment. For example, evolutionists say that a Giraffe grew it's long neck from a shorter neck because the trees from which it gathered it's food from grew taller. But, this is in direct contradiction to the Word of God in Gen. which describes creation of the different animals each, their own kind, not evolving from one to another.
Now why do I bring up this topic? Because the theories of evolution are charted forth to take away from creation. That is to say, that if evolution is true, then the original cause of creation as we Christians accept it, does not exist. That is to say that God does not exist. And if God does not exist, or ever did, then neither did Jesus Christ who claimed He is God. And thus also, if God does not exist, scripture itself is a fake and not true. So we could then say that Evolution is a Rejection of God. To deny Christ is a sin. 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 John 2:22-23; Jude 4
Evolution is nothing new, just another form of sin dressed in another package. And what is the the wages of sin? Death. Rom. 6:23 So now I come around to death again. From life to death. Those whom were created in God's image (Gen 1:26; 2:7) turned their backs on God, denying Him and worshipped rather than the Creator, created things. Rom 1:21-25
From the beginning sin entered as we know with the original sin, the first rebellion against God from Satan when he said "I will.......ascend into heaven...will exalt my throne above the stars of God...will sit on the mount of the congregation..ascend above the heights of the clouds ....I will be like the most High. Isaiah 14:13-14
Pride was the first sin..he (Satan) puffed himself up and was jealous, wishing to dethrone God.
Remember that Satan was originally created as a good angel - but because of pride and rebellion he was thrown out of heaven. Christians also must beware not to follow his example by walking in pride or rebellion against God's Word or God's leadership, lest they fall into the same condemnation as the devil (1 Timothy 3:6).
Having been rejected by God and thrown out of heaven, Satan is full of hatred, bitterness and hostility towards God. Unable to directly overthrow God by force, Satan wishes to attack God's children and if possible cause them to fall. Satan is working also to further pervert and trample on the image of God which remains in man from the time of creation. Satan wants to cause God pain through destroying his prize creation - people - and by leading them to do evil against God. Jesus said, "The thief comes not but for to steal, to kill and to destroy.
Where-as Satan wants to bring about death, Jesus wants to bring you life. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly ? (John 10:10). So Satan is working to steal from people, to kill them and to destroy both people's eternal souls and also all the good heritage of godly people.
How does Satan operate? His main weapon is deception. Operating through his vast armies of evil spirits, he is influencing people with all kinds of untrue things which keep them in bondage to evil until the light of the gospel breaks through. Satan is today using all kinds of philosophies, lies, religion and idolatry to keep people's eyes blinded to the gospel and resistant to the message of God as long as possible.
Satan is working hard to deceive Christians also, by opposing the central truths of God's Word which would have power to destroy his influence. It is Satan who is opposing Bible study, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, baptism in water, salvation by grace through faith and not by works and tradition. It is Satan who is doing all he can to make new believers separate themselves from fellowship and involvement in Biblical churches. It is Satan who is opposing free praise and worship in the churches. It is Satan who is opposing the message of faith and and the message of repentance. It is Satan who is opposing revival, evangelism and the call to prayer and fasting.
Satan is also doing what he can to keep Christians from learning the truths about deliverance from demons so he can keep them in bondage. Through all these means of deception, he works to keep Christians from doing the will of God and therefore from being effective.
Satan is also working through fear, discouragement, accusation and strife. These are only just some of his devices. We need wisdom and power from God to overcome them, and a steadfast refusal to compromise with sin. God is calling us to walk in love, in the Word, and by the Spirit of God. Then we can overcome Satan's devices and frustrate his purposes.
So where does one go from this life of death in this crazy mixed up world? Firstly you must stop giving ground to the devil . (And Demons, Satan'sfollowers)
Paul told the believers in Ephesus: "Neither give place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27). This implies that it is possible for a Christian to give
place to the devil. There is strong biblical evidence that a Christian doing this, will later need deliverance from evil spirits, because they have by their own choices given ground to Satan.
Although the spirit of a born again Christian is regenerated, recreated and not possessable by evil spirits, the salvation of the soul is a process which is not automatic and requires firstly persistent faith in God, and secondly, knowledge of the truth. It is clear that evil spirits do have access to our minds to inject thoughts of all kinds from time to time. We must be watchful so that we do not accept these thoughts so as to let the evil one build strongholds in our mind that are not pleasing to God. There is a battle for the mind of every Christian. In order to keep demons out of our minds, we must fill our minds with something else. We must be full of the Holy Spirit and full of the Word.
Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John 8:32). It is time for all believers everywhere to know the truth and through the truth get free of the indwelling power of sin in their lives. It is not time for religious excuses such as the Jews of Jesus day made, such as: We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves to anyone. How can you say, You will be made free.? (John 8:33) We need to be made free indeed by Jesus, not theologically free or free because we have a doctrine that tells us we are free, while our own lives lack the promised peace, love joy and power of God. We cannot blame all our problems on the devil and demons however. Many times it is simply a lack of application of the cross of Christ to the Adamic nature at work within us. As new men in Christ, we must take authority over the Adamic nature as well as any demons in order to get the victory over sin and self. The apostle Paul in many places in the New Testament speaks of the flesh as being something at work in Christians that is striving against the leading of the Spirit of God.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these things are contrary to one another, so that you may not do the things that you wish. (Galatians 5:16,17)
Paul uses the Greek word "sarx" which means literally flesh or meat. Some Bible translations translate this as the sinful nature. When Paul speaks of the flesh he is usually not talking about our physical bodies, but something at work in our physical bodies which is working in opposition to the will of God. It is the old Adamic nature inherited through the fall. It has desires which run contrary to those of the Holy Spirit and indeed to our new regenerated spirits. It thinks and desires in accordance with the values of the world system that we knew and followed before we became disciples of Christ. Some of its works are listed in Galatians 5:19-21. The works of the flesh are not only unlawful physical indulgences but are also soulish and spiritual in nature. For example, hatred, contentions, heresies are listed as works of the flesh. A lot of the programming that governs our behaviour and responses comes into the category of the flesh also. There can be demons associated with these things but by the Spirit we can have the total victory
Gods solution for the flesh is crucifixion. Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24). This Scripture teaches us that we are the ones who must crucify the flesh. This is done by the Spirit - For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit YOU put to death the deeds of the body you will live. (Romans 8:13). Realize that it is we ourselves who, wanting to follow Jesus, must deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him (Luke 9:23). We must reckon ourselves dead indeed to sin (Romans 6:11), discipline ourselves say no to ourselves and not avoid the pains that come to those who consistently seek to do the will of God in all things. Although we cannot cast out our own flesh, we can however crucify it.
On the other hand, self-discipline and reckoning oneself dead to sin and alive to God, for all its importance, may not be the total solution for our sanctification. There are demons that can be at work in Christians, fixing themselves as it were in the flesh and fortifying the flesh. These demons, unlike the flesh can't be crucified. We can't kill demons either. They must be cast out. A general rule is: if despite self-discipline and meditation on the Word a spiritual problem of some sort fails to be resolved, it is almost certainly a case requiring deliverance from evil spirits. Many times sincere Christians are using a lot of energy suppressing tendencies that are due to demons which could be cast out and should be cast out. It is possible for Christians to have one or more demons. Multitudes of sincere Christians baptized in the Holy Spirit can and do testify to this reality today. Therefore if despite all measures taken to deny self and crucify the flesh the victory is not received, certain steps should be taken to get free of evil spirits. (This is not my intention today to get into demon possession and the casting out there-of, but it also should be noted that it is a possibility that demon possession can be the cause for some who are having problems.)
The Bible says, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously" (James 4:5).
We should realize that the Holy Spirit is very jealous for us and certainly wants to get all the demons out of us. So we can have strong hope in God and faith that He wants to help us. We must never fall into despair concerning God's willingness or power to help us. We are getting free to make room for the Holy Spirit to bring the kingdom of God more fully into our lives.
It is the knowledge of the truth which makes you free (John 8:32). Therefore meditate on the portions of the Word of God relevant to your problem, and ask the Holy Spirit to quicken them to you.
. Have faith in the grace of God. But He gives more grace. It is by the Spirit of God, by grace, that we are going to be delivered from evil spirits (Matthew 12:28). We need to trust and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in all this.
. Humility. Therefore he says, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6). God's power flows to deliver us when we humble ourselves. In relation to deliverance, this humilty implies the following:
a. Be willing to be honest about it and admit your need for help. A proud person will not do this.
b. Admit that you need to change. Drop the rebellious attitude and get a teachable spirit.
c. Be willing to let God's Spirit minister deliverance to you in any way He chooses, even if you feel that it might make you look silly. Don't decide beforehand what you will and wont permit to happen to you. You might just hold the demon in if you do that and God may hold back working on you.
Know the Truth
Jesus said, If you abide in my Word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the knowledge of the truth shall set you free.
(John 8:31,32)
Satan wants us ignorant concerning what he is doing in our lives. When we know the truth that knowledge is the key to our deliverance. Through knowledge, the righteous shall be delivered (Proverbs 11:9). The more relevant knowledge you have in your heart and mind, the greater and fuller can be your deliverance.
We need knowledge concerning two things - Gods Word and ourselves - our own condition. The two are related.
We must know the truth about ourselves. Not just what we are in Christ, but also about our heart condition, our words, deeds and behavior. We must be willing to face up to it and acknowledge it. This takes humility. We need to call things by their right names.
Knowing the truth includes knowing what God means by sin. The moral law of God as revealed in the Bible gives us his knowledge. For example, idolatry (loving or valuing something or someone more than God the Creator), unbelief pride, fear of man, complaining, slander, sex outside of marriage and occult activities are all sin and must be repented of.
Secondly, we must know the truth of Gods Word. Indeed, consistent meditation on God's Word is vital for breakthrough. Understanding, confessing, declaring and proclaiming what the Word says relating to your life is a vital key to overcoming Satan in every kind of conflict.
We can know Jesus as the overcoming victor in our life through the revelation of Him in God's Word. This releases faith for a victorious life.
5. Submit to God. (James 4:7). We are not in the place to receive deliverance if we will not submit to God and His Word. Submission to God means voluntarily doing all we know God is requiring. For thorough deliverance this will include
a. Confession of all known sin. (1 John 1:9)
b. Repentance from all known sin. (Luke 13:3)
c. Forgiving all those who have hurt us or we feel inclined to complain
against. (Colossians 3:13; Matthew 18:35; Mark 11:25).
d. Making restitution or confession to others for past wrongs.
e. Trusting God completely for salvation and deliverance through the blood
of Jesus alone.
f. Calling on the name of the Lord. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered. (Romans 10:13).
5. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7). Having fulfilled all the previous steps it is necessary to resist the devil. This word resist used here is not a passive resistance, but an active resistance. It implies:
a. Renouncing all contact with Satan. Renouncing all things which have opened the door for Satan such as personal sins and the sins of parents, objects or symbols associated with Satans work, sources of uncleanness such as pornographic pictures or occultic books (Acts 19:19).
b. Listening to God and His Word. Refusing to listen to the devil and the voice of demons.
c. Commanding the demons to get out, using the authority that you have in the name of Jesus. (Mark 11:23; Mark 16:18). Expect them to leave on the basis that they no longer have any legal right to remain and that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4).
d. Expel them (Mark 16:18). Jesus said those who believe would expel demons. Expelling involves an act of the will and a breathing out. The word for spirit is the same as the word for breath in both Hebrew and Greek. Often you will feel the spirits coming up as you breath out. Different manifestations such as coughing or vomiting are possible at this point - but are not essential to deliverance. What is important is to be sure you get them out and that you keep them out.
6. Maintain your Deliverance by Drawing Near to God at all times. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8). In practical terms this means:
a. Develop a lifestyle of praise and worship, for God dwells in the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). Rejoice always. (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
b. Pray always (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Keep seeking God through prayer. Develop communion with the Holy Spirit more and more. Through a life of prayer you can be full of the Holy Spirit as God requires - and then you will not be empty so as to leave openings in your life for evil spirits (Ephesians 5:18).
c. Give thanks to God always (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Thank God for your deliverance. Thanksgiving puts us on an upward path, strengthens our faith and solidifies our healing (Luke 17:14-19).
d. Hear the word of God and do it (Luke 11:28). It is significant that this instruction follows directly after Jesus teaching on the way evil spirits seek to return after they are cast out. Matthew 12:43- 45 reveals that the man's problem here was that he was empty. That is why we must get filled with the Word and the Spirit to maintain total deliverance. This is what God wants for our lives.
7. Let love be your goal and motivation in all things. (1 Corinthians 16:14; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 Corinthians 14:1) The purpose of God is that we walk in love. We must keep our minds on God's love and how we can love others, and not get on an endless hunt for unknowns God's main purpose is to build us up in love. This is something positive for us to do and seek. Doing the positive will of God will enable us to avoid the negative traps of Satan. We must always keep Jesus in mind and seek to use our knowledge of deliverance to serve others and as a tool to help them both enjoy God more fully and also to fulfill God's destiny for their lives. May God bless you as you put these principles into practice in your own life and in the lives of those to whom God leads you to minister deliverance in the mighty name of Jesus Christ!
(Some of this material is not my own)
andre
Was sagt die Bibel?
1 Mose 3,1-5
1 Mose 22,1-12
Hiob 1,6-12
Daniel 12,10
Jakobus 1,13-15
Wie kann ich mich davor schützen?
1 Mose 4,7
5 Mose 12,30
Lukas 4,1-13
Matthäus 4,1-11
Matthäus 5,27-30
Matthäus 6,13
Lukas 11,4
Galater 5,16
Hilft Gott in Versuchung?
1 Korinther 10,13
Hebräer 2,18
2 Petrus 2,9
1 Johannes 5,18
Offenbarung 3,10
Versuchungen...
Menschen wie Joe Dallas oder Tim Wilkins geben deshalb unumwunden zu, dass sie unter bestimmten Umständen immer noch von Männern sexuell gereizt werden oder eventuell sogar fallen könnten. Heißt das nun, all das Gerede über "Heilung" wäre Unsinn?
Keineswegs! Versuchung wird es immer geben. Selbst Jesus wurde versucht. Als Christinnen und Christen sind wir uns dessen durchaus bewusst. Uns ist aber auch klar, dass die Macht der Sünde durch Jesus am Kreuz gebrochen wurde. Wir sind frei! Die Bibel warnt uns aber auch davor, unseren "Schutzschild" herunter zu lassen. Wir müssen immer auf der Hut sein - und das betrifft alle Christen. Ein fester Glaube, tägliches Bibellesen und Gebet sowie ein strukturiertes Leben in der Nachfolge Jesu Christi und in Gemeinschaft mit anderen Christen gibt uns die Kraft und den festen Boden, den wir brauchen, um nicht zu fallen - oder - sollte es doch geschehen - wieder die Kraft und den Glauben zu finden, aufzustehen.
Jesus hat uns nie gesagt, es würde leicht werden. Er hat nur gesagt, es wäre all die Mühe wert.
Er hat uns aufgefordert, uns selbst zu verleugnen, unser Kreuz auf uns zu nehmen und ihm nach zu folgen. Damit macht man sich heutzutage nicht unbedingt beliebt. Schnell gilt man als altmodisch, rückständig oder radikal. Als Christinnen und Christen aber wissen wir: es ist all die Mühe wert.
Der Frosch im heissen Wasser
Mit dem Suendigen ist es wie mit einem Frosch in heissem Wasser: wirft man ihn einfach so in heisses Wasser hinein, springt er wieder heraus. Wenn man ihn aber in angenehm warmes Wasser setzt und langsam die Temparatur erhoeht, wird er gekocht, ohne dass er es ueberhaupt merkt. Genauso ist es mit der Versuchung zur Suende: wenn wir uns immer wieder jeden Unsinn im Fernsehen ansehen, wenn wir nicht auf das achten, was wir sagen und wie wir es sagen, wenn wir auch bei der Auswahl unserer Freunde und Freizeitbeschaeftigungen nicht unser Ziel und unseren Glauben im Auge haben, stumpfen wir immer mehr ab, wenn es darum geht, Suende zu erkennen und zu vermeiden. Wir brauchen nur einmal die heutige Gesellschaft ansehen: vieles von dem, was uns heute ueberall in den Medien und im Alltag begegnet, waere vor nicht allzu langer Zeit undenkbar gewesen! Offenbar sind wir schon so an das „heisse Wasser" gewohnt, dass wir eher die Bibel neu schreiben („gemaess der heutigen Wissenschaft uminterpretieren") und eine 2.000-jaehrige Kirchengeschichte ueber den Haufen werfen, um das Rad neu zu erfinden – wir heute sind ja so viel schlauer als all die Menschen, die vor uns gelebt haben sowie intelligenter als der Schoepfer des Universums! Hierbei gibt es nur ein Problem: Jesus kommt wieder – zu einer Zeit, wo es keiner annimmt. Und die Begleitumstaende Seiner Ankunft werden uns nicht gefallen...
Article By André B.
Tower. Now, if it was unsafe to stand on they would certainly have it roped off with something solid so that it would be impossible for anyone to stand on top of it. Everyone who goes up there knows it is safe to stand on. But few actually will. Why? Because although they know it is safe, they really do not really trust it.
Unfortunately many Christians are like that to. We say that we believe what God tells us, but we do not in actual fact really trust Him.
Here is another antidote of trust. Everyone knows of Niagara Falls in Ontario Canada. It is a very famous tourist destination, known as the honeymoon capital of the world.. Tourists come from all over the world to see it. There was a tight rope walker who was well known for walking and carrying all kinds of objects across the cable that traverses the falls. He would carry objects in a wheel barrel, on his shoulders etc. When he asked others if they think he could carry someone safely across the cable in the wheel barrel, everyone would say "certainly." But none would let him do it to them.
How much do we trust God? Do we trust Him in every situation, or only in
Some? Can we trust Him with our lives? Would we trust Him even if He took
Our life or the life of someone we love?
Trust can be defined as:" a firm belief in another's honesty, ability or integrity. "
Will do, no matter what. Trust means that doubt about another person never even enters your mind.
How do we develop a deep trust in God? How do we get to the place where Job was where he could say, "Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him?" Job 13:15. He had a relationship with God. A real relationship. Not just one day a week, but 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He drew close to God.
It is hard to trust God at times. I am as guilty as most everyone else at one time or another in not trusting Him. We tend to not trust Him when things go bad. But when things are going great we praise and trust Him whole hearted. Yes, you are right. We must learn to trust Him. And that is achieved by developing a deep personnel relationship with Him.
How do you do that? How do you develop a true deep relationship with anybody? By spending lots of one on one quality time with them. You do that by learning their likes and dislikes, by having fun times with them, by listening to them, by being there at all times when they call upon you, in good times or bad. This we all do when we spend quality time with Him in prayer, meditation, scripture memorization, in just being quiet and listening to His Still Quiet Voice, reading His word and studying it.
Let us all, start anew, to trust Him, and spend lots of quality one on one time with Him. Nothing is more important in this life than God. Nothing, no person, no sport, no job, nothing is more important than God.
Crucified
I've been meaning to share this with you for some time now but I
figured that I've already said so much, I didn't want to overload you.
This is something that totally transformed my life and have made my
walk with the Lord so much better. Eversince I was taught this truth,
I have gained new insight and victory into areas I found problematic
in my life.
As you may have noticed, I'm not perticualry keen on focusing
exclusively on homosexuality. Such an approach I believe gives the
impression that we're one dimentional (which we are not!) and it also
alienates us from the rest of believers. I shall therefore present
this teaching not just in an effort to help you understand your
struggles with homosexuality better, but that you may also understand
other areas of your self better.
Colosians 3:2-3 saya: " Set your mind on the things above, not in the
things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden
with the Messiah in God."
I don't know about you, but I never really understood this passage of
Scripture and all the others that also speaks of believers dying very
well. I understood the atonement of Yeshua on the Cross for our sins
and ressurection well, but I never understood when apostle Paul
refered to himself as being dead, especially when he says he's been
crucified with Christ. Being very analytical person by nature, I
attempted many times to solve this mystery on my own, but without
much success. So I waited on God to shed some light on the subject.
Was I blown out of my socks when I was explained the meaning of this
concept. Dr. Ed Murphy, in his book, Handbook for Spiritual Warfare,
explains this glorious truth so beautifully. For the first time I
realized what Scripture meant when it says believers died.
So who died? The Old man. "But if the old man is dead," you
ask,"Howcome I still have sinful desires of all sorts?"
Here comes the best part. When you expereinced new birth, the old you
(in my case the old Adam) was supernaturally crucified with Christ on
the cross. If you think I'm exaggerating, read Romans6:5-8.
" For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the
body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be
slaves to sin- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin."
This is the beauty of the gospel. Old Bill, old Corey, old Antonio,
old Edmund, old Bertrand, old Mike, old Robert, old Johann, old Adam,
etc., have all been crucified. They no longer exist. They're all
dead. The homosexual man that you once were , was killed and done
away with the minute you accepted Him as your Saviour, when you first
believed. Even if you backslidded, the old self was not resurected.
(I shall explain this later as we go along.) That's not all,
Scripture tells that when this old man was destroyed, `you received a
new man or new nature `was given to you. Scripture says that you are
now born of God. (1 John 5:18-19).
"But I still have so much sinful desires!" you say. "My flesh is very
much still alive. My battles with pornography, homosexuality is still
very much alive and real. Does it now then mean that I have not been
crucified with Christ and therefore not born again?" Absolutely not.
If you trust in Jesus as your Saviour, you are born again. "But
howcome my the sinful desires of my flesh is yet still alive?"
If you read Romans6:5-8 again, you'll see the Bible talks about your
old self that was crucified and not your physical flesh. (Rom. 7:14-
23) The two are totally different from aone another.Your flesh on the
other hand is still very much alive. The old self is that Adamic
cursed wicked part of you that could do nothing else but sin. The way
I see it, this old self was personified just as the new man is
personified, just as the flesh is personifiied (Gal.5:19-21). It
therefore wasn't a force or some impersonal energy but a person with
will, desires and mind. It's difficult to understand but nevertheless
fascinating.
Neil T Anderson explains our new state of affairs so wisely:
" The flesh is the tendency within each person to operate independant
of God and to center his interest on himself. An unsaved person
functions totally in the flesh (Romans 8:7-8), worshipping and
serving the creature more than the Creator (Rom. 1:25) When you are
born again, your old self died and your new self came to life...{but}
during the years you spent separated from God, your worldly
experiences thorougly programmed your brain with thought patterns,
memory traces, responces and habits which are alien to God. Soeven
though your OLD SKIPPER* is gone, your flesh remains in opposition to
God as a preprogrammed propensity from sin, which is living
independant of God" Bondage Braker (Eugene, Ore.: Harvest House, 199)
pg 79-80 *-capital letters MINE
When one reads this you begin to understand why unsaved people can do
nothing but sin. They have a corrupted "person" that is riding on the
back of the flesh- that is also unredeemable. However, we who have
received a new nature,through new birth, who desire the things of the
Spirit, no longer have an excuse to continue in sin. That is why 1
John 3:9 says:
"No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed
remains in Him; he cannot go on sinning because he has been born of
God."
We were once utter slaves to sin, but now we've been giving a new
man that can do and choose the things of God. Our old selves
couldn't.
Do you see the implications? We no longer have to battle with the
old man. He's dead. We still however have to battle with our flesh,
that is totally corrupt. Furthermore, our brains must also be given
new software becuase it still runs on old evil software. This is
where sanctification comes in. Please listen to me. I don't care what
any body says, sanctification is not an easy process! I get so fed up
when I hear well known 'Christian' speakers tell people that they can
change their lives instantly. They give you a formulas and principles
(that usually involves money) and gaurantee that you will be healed,
you will be blessed, you will receive a break through.
Thirty years ago Lloyed Jones in his book the Christian Warfare,
wrote the following:
"Another great characteristic of the cults is that they offer you a
cure, the blessing all at once. It is the short cut method always;
that is why it wins adherents...the cults do not talk about 'growth
in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord'; they do not talk about
work out your salvation with fear and trembling'; and there is no
mortification of the body and of the flesh. It is immediate arrival
at perfection; and all you have to do is to keep you there. All
problems have gone, there is no struggle left, there is no difficulty
to solve; it has all been done and done at once. Short cuts!"
I mention this because I know false expectations lead to
discouragement and discouragement ultimately, if not dealt with
correctly,will lead to backslidding. It is my prayer that none of you
will ever backslide into your old lives. That is why I want you to
know that your road to freedom will be difficult and will involve
actve fighting, struggling and resisting on your part. Better know
what you're up against than to be caught off guard. I urge you not
listen to the fools who promise you quick rememdies through useless
formulas and vain Christain pop psychology. Forgive me if I sound
harsh but when I see so many people being led astray by mere
salesmanship, my blood begins to boil.
Eventhough our walk may not an easy walk, it is a blessed walk
nevertheless. From my own experience, I can truly say that it's been
worth the while. It's been extremely difficult at times but also
glorious! Christ has really given us life and life in abundance. He
has also given us the tools to fight for our inheritance. Where we
once didn't have a chance against homosexuality in our former states
(before salvation), we now can supernaturally voluntary choose the
things of the Spirit through our new man/nature.
If Satan has been condemming you about your recent failures by
telling you that you arn't really a Christian because of your weak
state, listen to this. If you thought you're still the same old
perverted little homosexual you were before you got saved, listen to
this. If you still despise yourself for the things you allowed
yourself to do, listen to this wonderful timeless advice:
This is the finest tonic for any weak Christian....Remind yourself of
the truth about yourself as a Christian, that you are already saved,
that you ahve already died with Christ, that you are 'in Christ',
that you will never be more saved spiritually than you are now. If
you are a Christian at all, you are 'in Christ', you have been
crucified with Him. Thus to be crucified is is not something you ahve
to do, 'having believed'. Romans tell us what has happened to us, not
what should happen to us. 'You have been'- it is in the aorist
tense. 'Knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with
Christ' once and for ever. emind yourself of that . Remind yourself
that, as you died with Christ, you ahve also risen with Him, that you
are seated with Him in the heavenly places, and that the devil is
therefore attacking you in order to shake your confidence in your
complete security in Christ." Dr. D.M Lloyed-Jones
Don't ever call yourself a homosexual again. Paul says" And such were
some of you.." begin to realize that you have been given a new nature
that genuinely wants to do the things of the Spirit. Your old self is
dead. Eventhough you may still do things that may be homosexual in
nature, you can and never will be the sinner and homosexual you used
to be. Relapses is merely a sign of a need of sanctification
(removing old programs that your old skipper installed) and not
salvation. If you are also truly born again, you will eventually
repent of a certain sin. Why? Because you've been given the ability
to repent through the Spirit that now lives in you that empowers you.
We really have no excuses not to live holy lives.
My God open the understanding of our hearts and continue to lead to
freedom from all bondages.
Grace to you all
A.
Thoughts to Ponder...
God to take away my habit.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary
I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No.
Patience is a byproduct of tribulations;
it isn't granted, it is learned.
I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No.
I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.
I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares
and brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No.
You must grow on your own! ,
but I will prune you to make you fruitful.
I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No.
I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.
I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.
Same-Sex Attractions (SSA)
How about this: try not to see ssa only as something bad.
Yes, we are different and each one of us has his own past - but that is not necessarily a bad thing. It shaped us into the men we are now. Ssa means a lot more than just sexual behavior. We are different - that's for sure - but we also have different qualities and gifts. The Lord has given us something special that we can also use to honor and praise Him.
There is temptation in every man's life - but there is also the potential for something good.
We might have had a distorted view from ourselves (our identity) and from God in the past, but we are here to work on that and use what's left for the glory of the Lord.
Take care,
Robert
Temptation
By Tim Wilkins (Permission granted to reprint; cite www.CrossMinistry.org)
Lesson #1
An affluent, aristocratic lady desired to employ a chauffer to drive her Rolls Royce. She advertised for the position in numerous venues and her ad generated many applicants. After reviewing resumes, she narrowed her search to four candidates.
The 73 year old matriarch had the four men summoned to her palatial home and directed their attention to her driveway and the brick wall that stood beside it.
She asked the men, "If you were my chauffer, how close do you think you could come to that brick wall without scratching my Rolls Royce?”
The first man boasted “I can drive within a foot of that wall and not damage your Rolls.”
The second man said “I can drive within six inches of that wall and not damage your Rolls.”
The third candidate, not to be outdone, replied “I can drive within three inches of the wall and not damage your Rolls.”
The fourth man, conspicuously quiet and seemingly wise beyond his years, looked at the potential employer and answered “Ma’am, I do not know how close I could come to that wall without damaging your Rolls, but if I was your chauffer, I would steer as far away from that brick wall as possible so as not to damage your car.”
Guess who got the job?
When it comes to temptation, we often think from the wrong perspective- “how close can I get without getting burned?” Adam and Eve should have steered away from that forbidden tree and so should we.
Lesson #2
Alan Redpath told the story of a prominent South African businessman who purchased a Rolls Royce. He bought the vehicle and liked it so much he later asked the dealer how much horsepower it had. (As a rule the car manufacturer never disclosed this information- even to the car dealership)
But because the buyer was a well-known businessman, the dealer sent a message to the Rolls Royce plant in Derby, England - setting out the exact specifications of the engine and asking them to reply with the exact horsepower.
The reply came back "The horsepower of the Rolls Royce is…. Adequate.”
Similarly, the Christian need never worry how powerful his God is – nor should the person who ponders becoming a believer. The answer is simple. “God is ….Adequate.”
