Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.-2 Corinthians 6:17.
I don't believe I ever finished my last 4 days of blogging which was bad of me so here is one blog to encompass those three days. Lets begin with a story that will act as a metaphor for this entire blog today.
I remember when I watched this movie called "The G.O.A.T." it was about a famous basketball player named Earl Manigault and the character was played by Don Cheadle. In this movie he was a insanely good basketball player who of course played in high school and played in some in college. He ended up messing up his career in college ball because he turned to a habit that would try to ruin his life and that would be drugs. He began using drugs alot and it began to take him into a life he never knew he could find. When he came to the realization that he needed to quit because of all that he was losing he had to kick the habit. In order to do that he had to go through withdrawl, this process would cause him to feel pain like he never felt and even made him sick to the point of vomitting. It was not a pleasant experience to say the least. When he finished going through withdrawl he went back to hanging out with friends and ran into a friend who was still using drugs and he found himself ALMOST relapsing but what stopped him is watching is best friend overdose and die right in front of him. The worst pain one could feel right? Suffice to say, Earl stayed clean for the rest of his life and started a basketball program that I believe is still up and running even until today.
Paul's scripture up above in 2nd Corinthians 6:17 is his encouraging word for the believers not be like the world, but to maintain Christian values (not compromising them) while still living in this world. I submitt to you this morning, we sometimes have to go through WITHDRAWL!! Like a drug user the body develops a dependency on the habit and at first what used to feel wrong now feels right. You are still aware that its wrong but you keep doing it. Why? Because your gaining a dependence on it and most times the habit is a way out. Again, using the metaphor of drugs the dependency is coming from constant consumption of the product, and whats its inside of you thats whats coming out. The user and the dealer may say it feels good and they rationalize. To make it practical we make excuses and blame others for our habits that we know we should not indulge in. But Jesus differently in Luke 6:45 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh" It's in your heart, when you keep indulging its no one else, that person just sparks a recognition of those things inside of you and gives them a way to move. It's easy to say "I lie so much because THEY cause me to lie", or " I hate so much because THEY make me so angry". Why is it they and not I. They should never have any control over you like that and if they THEY do then there is your dependency. I am guilty of this, calling on Jesus, trying to teach somebody about the gospel but my dependency aint on him fully. You see when it's on him I cant and wont blame someone else for my sin, I won't make an excuse for why I can't (and subsequently won't ) get right. The issue is I have become dependent and therefore comfortable with my sin. When we do that we are so dependent on the sin and others that we wait on them to move first and we "find a way out". When we know that we need not induldge these habits any more for our own growth we have to go through that withdrawl. I believe I said it on twitter last night, withdrawl from bad habits can be hard, painful, and even frustating. It can also weigh a ton on you, but it is the cross we must bear in order to see growth. You may feel alone, most times when people see you are trying to rid yourself of those habits they either try to get you to fall or they won't want to be around you as much. Sometimes you could be that person in someone elses life.(think about it). It can be days filled with lonely nights, feeling the urge to want to relapse but experience the battle your spirit man and the flesh and as the spirit of God is overcoming the flesh it will weigh on you like a ton but it all will pass away. You may even hurt inside because you feel that lonliness but for God I say lose it all for his gain in your life. However, those who truly LOVE would never let you go through this alone unless it was absolutely necessary. The point is that God wants you not to desire the attention of the habits or those people, he wants you to desire his attention. We all must walk this walk in our quest to grow stronger in him. It maybe something like over eating or fornicating, or stealing, or lusting or anything. It will benefit you all the more to "seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, and all his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you"-Matthew 6:33.
Peace to all...God Bless.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Day 4: You cant love me because I dont love me.
"Therefore (T)I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with (U)distresses, with (V)persecutions, with (W)difficulties, (X)for Christ's sake; for (Y)when I am weak, then I am strong."
I can remember when I was younger sitting in a room with friends shootin the breeze about various topics and of course since I surely was not trying to run for jesus all the conversations went to about girls or all kinds of stuff we probrably should not have been talking about. I can remember in all those conversations there was always one person who just would not join in on the conversation. Often times he was called weak or being a "punk" because he didnt feel a need to talk about those things. After a while everyone left him alone because he no longer responded to the insults any more he just kept quiet and felt no need to constantly prove himself anymore. The word esteem by definition means "respect or regard"and then the word self means you. So self-esteem is the respect or regard you have for yourself. If I truly have respect and regard for myself than I feel no need to justify you why I don't do like you do. I'm not saying I am better than you but surely I'm not worse than you either. The struggle sometimes is when everyone does it one way but because of the respect for yourself you go another way, and the ridicule you recieve because you did difference. I like what Paul does here in this scripture he affirms that his idenity is in Christ he boldly says that he is ok with weakness(human weakness), insults, distresses, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ sake, because where he is weak (in the flesh) he is strong or powerful (in Christ). Therefore, there is no need to constantly change your position or re-affirm yourself so that others will like you. Paul makes it clear persecute me or make fun of me because of how I walk, how I talk, it really does not matter I am clear that my value and identity is firmly rooted in Christ. Alot of times our identity is in so many different things that our esteem for ourselves flucuates when those things arent going well. Most popularly are relationships...when your identity is in your relationship that thing controls you and when your worried about losing that person that thought crushes you and to some extent you should feel some heartbreak but no much that you lose your sense of existence. When a person has made up in their mind that they would have someone else over you there is nothing you can do but accept that and even thank them for no longer waisting your time. The idea is that is difficulty that can occur and like Paul said just accept that and move on because in Christ you are made stronger. I am not saying that you should not love someone because that is a beautiful thing what I am saying is that if you dont love you first they never will. When you have a strong sense of identity in Christ you have no reason to worry, or re-affirm, or go crazy, you are so confident in him that created you that you know whatever happens will happen for my good. That's how Joseph was able to tell his brothers after the pit, the prison, and the palace "what you meant for my bad God meant for my good.(Genesis 50:20). When your on the job and they all wana go left but GOd says go right than GO RIGHT!! They will make fun of you, ridicule you but "Blessed are those who have been (M)persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for (N)theirs is the kingdom of heaven."- Matthew 5:10. So he/she gone cheat or break up with you than let them have it...you have no reason to fear or think you won't make it. It will be hard and there will be some pain but again it does not matter any more if your idenity in Christ, in that moment of weakness when you feel that pain he will give you that strength. If your outspoken, quiet, intelligent, keen, respectful, organized or whatever than that is who God created you to be, and the reason you keep feeling so uncomfortable all the time is because your trying to fix that so that you can fit in with everyone else. When God saved you he never took those characteristics away from you, he merely uses them for his glory, after all he put them in you. When Paul was saved his high merit and intelligence never ceased he wrote those books like an astout man of God. He merely recognized that it was for Christ, and not for him. Apolgizing for living holy is absurd, one thing about Christ, he never had to prove himself. He walked his walk and talked his talk. Don't be you for the world but BE YOU IN CHRIST!! If you dont love you than that is why everyone wont love you either. You know who you are in Christ and what he has been telling you to do. Stop apologizing for who you and be that person. You dont have to cuss, you dont have to drink(nothing wrong with drinking if your 21 and up the idea is you dont need to do it to fit in), have sex, lie, steal,cheat. But if you choose too (no way in any way fashion or form condoning it or even encouraging it) do them because you think for yourself. Alot of has have the past we have and even the present now because we were too afraid to say no. God loves you not matter what you done, but you can avoid something by having the confindence and boldness to say...NO and keep going. My friends there is a rich treasure lying inside of you that you will untap when you become loving of you are in Christ. God will lead you to this discovery when you find yourself in Christ. God bless you all and thank you for reading.
I can remember when I was younger sitting in a room with friends shootin the breeze about various topics and of course since I surely was not trying to run for jesus all the conversations went to about girls or all kinds of stuff we probrably should not have been talking about. I can remember in all those conversations there was always one person who just would not join in on the conversation. Often times he was called weak or being a "punk" because he didnt feel a need to talk about those things. After a while everyone left him alone because he no longer responded to the insults any more he just kept quiet and felt no need to constantly prove himself anymore. The word esteem by definition means "respect or regard"and then the word self means you. So self-esteem is the respect or regard you have for yourself. If I truly have respect and regard for myself than I feel no need to justify you why I don't do like you do. I'm not saying I am better than you but surely I'm not worse than you either. The struggle sometimes is when everyone does it one way but because of the respect for yourself you go another way, and the ridicule you recieve because you did difference. I like what Paul does here in this scripture he affirms that his idenity is in Christ he boldly says that he is ok with weakness(human weakness), insults, distresses, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ sake, because where he is weak (in the flesh) he is strong or powerful (in Christ). Therefore, there is no need to constantly change your position or re-affirm yourself so that others will like you. Paul makes it clear persecute me or make fun of me because of how I walk, how I talk, it really does not matter I am clear that my value and identity is firmly rooted in Christ. Alot of times our identity is in so many different things that our esteem for ourselves flucuates when those things arent going well. Most popularly are relationships...when your identity is in your relationship that thing controls you and when your worried about losing that person that thought crushes you and to some extent you should feel some heartbreak but no much that you lose your sense of existence. When a person has made up in their mind that they would have someone else over you there is nothing you can do but accept that and even thank them for no longer waisting your time. The idea is that is difficulty that can occur and like Paul said just accept that and move on because in Christ you are made stronger. I am not saying that you should not love someone because that is a beautiful thing what I am saying is that if you dont love you first they never will. When you have a strong sense of identity in Christ you have no reason to worry, or re-affirm, or go crazy, you are so confident in him that created you that you know whatever happens will happen for my good. That's how Joseph was able to tell his brothers after the pit, the prison, and the palace "what you meant for my bad God meant for my good.(Genesis 50:20). When your on the job and they all wana go left but GOd says go right than GO RIGHT!! They will make fun of you, ridicule you but "Blessed are those who have been (M)persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for (N)theirs is the kingdom of heaven."- Matthew 5:10. So he/she gone cheat or break up with you than let them have it...you have no reason to fear or think you won't make it. It will be hard and there will be some pain but again it does not matter any more if your idenity in Christ, in that moment of weakness when you feel that pain he will give you that strength. If your outspoken, quiet, intelligent, keen, respectful, organized or whatever than that is who God created you to be, and the reason you keep feeling so uncomfortable all the time is because your trying to fix that so that you can fit in with everyone else. When God saved you he never took those characteristics away from you, he merely uses them for his glory, after all he put them in you. When Paul was saved his high merit and intelligence never ceased he wrote those books like an astout man of God. He merely recognized that it was for Christ, and not for him. Apolgizing for living holy is absurd, one thing about Christ, he never had to prove himself. He walked his walk and talked his talk. Don't be you for the world but BE YOU IN CHRIST!! If you dont love you than that is why everyone wont love you either. You know who you are in Christ and what he has been telling you to do. Stop apologizing for who you and be that person. You dont have to cuss, you dont have to drink(nothing wrong with drinking if your 21 and up the idea is you dont need to do it to fit in), have sex, lie, steal,cheat. But if you choose too (no way in any way fashion or form condoning it or even encouraging it) do them because you think for yourself. Alot of has have the past we have and even the present now because we were too afraid to say no. God loves you not matter what you done, but you can avoid something by having the confindence and boldness to say...NO and keep going. My friends there is a rich treasure lying inside of you that you will untap when you become loving of you are in Christ. God will lead you to this discovery when you find yourself in Christ. God bless you all and thank you for reading.
Vengance: Whose it anyway?!
"You shall not take vengeance, (U)nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but (V)you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD."- Leviticus 19:18
Man, I surely can remember my ways...I love to go back forth with a person, if I got mad because of them I would just slice back and forth. However, one time when I kept doing it with my brothers they would just stop and say "Ok man..you got it". Of course that made me angrier so to get back at them in my foolishness I said something or did something outlandish. Why?!! I wanted to feel satisfied by hurting them to the point where they felt like I felt. This is what we do when we seek vengeance. When I attended the F.O.R.T. church I heard the pastor by the name of John Hollman say this "when we(humans) seek vengeance its pointless because our whole point is to make them feel the hurt we felt, but in order to do that you have to hurt them worse because its impossible for them to feel exactly as you felt at the moment when they hurt you so you have to hurt them worse" That right there is about as practical as it gets, when we take matters into our own hands and seek vengeance we make it worse. It's like a scab, when you pick at it it opens the wound back up and the healing process has to start over again. God takes vengeance and makes it his because he knows our hearts and he knows how to repay it so that it is completely JUST. What does that word just mean..it means its "guided by truth, reason, and fairness". When in our human mind take over that job, we are driven by anger so guess what? We dont reason correctly and we just act out of complete foolishness. In the end when the cloud has cleared someone is hurt badly and your left with the feeling of "why did I let it go that far". For some of us (yes believers) we don't even feel sorrow...we say "shoot I aint bout to let nobody get me like that..no not me". God says differently though...he says it's his and look at the end of that verse he tells you how to deal with your neighbor he says "you shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself". That right there affirms what Jesus said in Matthew 7:12 " "In everything, (A)therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for (B)this is the Law and the Prophet" When you love someone (yes even someone who has hurt you badly) you have to be overcome with LOVE and Love them as you love yourself. The issue is not about them, but its about you and God. Romans 12:20 explains this simply it says "On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Now literally you do not put burning coals on their head but what this means is that you are liberated from vengeance, you have truly let it go even to the point of helping them when they are in need. The idea with coals is like this...you ever been at home and the AC wasent working right and its started getting hot in the room you know at first you could stand but after a while that heat starts making things uncomfortable for you. You start to sweat and you desire some cool air to just come on so you can cool off. Likewise, when you resist the urge to seek that vengeance its no longer on you. God has it and now its on them, like coals on their head the heat from those coals causes a person to feel the shame and it makes it uncomfortable for them what happens next, it causes them to bend and repent and apologize. Thats why they get mad when you dont bite back at them when they bit you. They are being made uncomfortable with the fact that you acting like its no big deal. They don't realize you are just trying to be free and free indeed. When God takes it he asumes full control and knows how to repay it correctly. No matter if they say you are weak, or a punk, you know you know they are upset because they are uncomfortable with the fact that you are staying calm and not being like them. Transcending above foolishness is how we eliminate it by not giving it a place to take root. No matter what anyone says...it is better to heap those coals then get the coals heaped on you. God Bless you all and stay tuned for day 4.
Man, I surely can remember my ways...I love to go back forth with a person, if I got mad because of them I would just slice back and forth. However, one time when I kept doing it with my brothers they would just stop and say "Ok man..you got it". Of course that made me angrier so to get back at them in my foolishness I said something or did something outlandish. Why?!! I wanted to feel satisfied by hurting them to the point where they felt like I felt. This is what we do when we seek vengeance. When I attended the F.O.R.T. church I heard the pastor by the name of John Hollman say this "when we(humans) seek vengeance its pointless because our whole point is to make them feel the hurt we felt, but in order to do that you have to hurt them worse because its impossible for them to feel exactly as you felt at the moment when they hurt you so you have to hurt them worse" That right there is about as practical as it gets, when we take matters into our own hands and seek vengeance we make it worse. It's like a scab, when you pick at it it opens the wound back up and the healing process has to start over again. God takes vengeance and makes it his because he knows our hearts and he knows how to repay it so that it is completely JUST. What does that word just mean..it means its "guided by truth, reason, and fairness". When in our human mind take over that job, we are driven by anger so guess what? We dont reason correctly and we just act out of complete foolishness. In the end when the cloud has cleared someone is hurt badly and your left with the feeling of "why did I let it go that far". For some of us (yes believers) we don't even feel sorrow...we say "shoot I aint bout to let nobody get me like that..no not me". God says differently though...he says it's his and look at the end of that verse he tells you how to deal with your neighbor he says "you shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself". That right there affirms what Jesus said in Matthew 7:12 " "In everything, (A)therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for (B)this is the Law and the Prophet" When you love someone (yes even someone who has hurt you badly) you have to be overcome with LOVE and Love them as you love yourself. The issue is not about them, but its about you and God. Romans 12:20 explains this simply it says "On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Now literally you do not put burning coals on their head but what this means is that you are liberated from vengeance, you have truly let it go even to the point of helping them when they are in need. The idea with coals is like this...you ever been at home and the AC wasent working right and its started getting hot in the room you know at first you could stand but after a while that heat starts making things uncomfortable for you. You start to sweat and you desire some cool air to just come on so you can cool off. Likewise, when you resist the urge to seek that vengeance its no longer on you. God has it and now its on them, like coals on their head the heat from those coals causes a person to feel the shame and it makes it uncomfortable for them what happens next, it causes them to bend and repent and apologize. Thats why they get mad when you dont bite back at them when they bit you. They are being made uncomfortable with the fact that you acting like its no big deal. They don't realize you are just trying to be free and free indeed. When God takes it he asumes full control and knows how to repay it correctly. No matter if they say you are weak, or a punk, you know you know they are upset because they are uncomfortable with the fact that you are staying calm and not being like them. Transcending above foolishness is how we eliminate it by not giving it a place to take root. No matter what anyone says...it is better to heap those coals then get the coals heaped on you. God Bless you all and stay tuned for day 4.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Deal with it or God Will!!
Hello All,
This is day 2 of my 7 days of blogging and today we are talking about dealing with an issue before God deals with it. Today the scripture reference comes from 2 Samuel 12:1-9. Let's check it out!
"1 The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.
4 "Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him."
5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity."
7 Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 9 Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own."
If we follow this story from 1 Samuel 11 we the story of David and Bathsheeba. David looks onto this beautiful women bathing. Lets deal with this issue first. Was David supposed to be at home? The pastor at the church I used to attend brought this to our attention in 2 Samul 11:1 "In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war" Why was David (the king of isreal) at home when all the other kings have gone off to the war. Thats an issue but not the main issue here. David see's Bathsheeba and with lusting eyes he desires to have her, he sleeps with her and she becomes pregnant. The thing is David has slept with a married woman. Her husband one of the men in David's army Uriah is her husband. He has committed adultry with this women. David then goes on to send for Uriah in an effort to cover the mess up hoping Uriah will go home and sleep with his wife but Uriah does not go home instead this is what happens:
" When David was told, "Uriah did not go home," he asked him, "Haven't you just come from a distance? Why didn't you go home?"
11 Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master Joab and my lord's men are camped in the open fields. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!"-2 Samuel 11:10-11
So now to cover up the mess he tries to trick Uriah by getting him drunk so than he will go sleep with his wife and no one will know the difference. Of course Uriah is an up right man and does not go home but instead he sleeps on the mat among the master's servants. So David does the next thing he writes a letter instructing that Uriah be put on the front lines in battles and sends the letter back with Uriah. So Uriah was put on the front lines and killed. The problem is solved right? No, the bible says in 2 Samuel 11:27 "....but the thing he did displeased the Lord".
What happens when you have created a bed for yourself to lay in and gotten so comfortable in that bed that you love the way it feels and feel nothing is wrong? In that instance in your mind nothing really is wrong. David wanted Bathsheeba (another man's wife) so bad that he would kill her husband to be with her. The issue is not just lust but rather SIN knowing no end. He doesent even stop and repent because in his mind nothing is really wrong. You want it to be practical dont you? Here it is in 2010, if I have a drug problem, an anger problem, a sex problem, or any kind of problem, if I have gotten comfortable in it what really will stop me from doing it any longer? Im comfortable here and no matter who I am (my status in the church) I am not leaving. I ignore my conscience and my God for my desire. In the scripture passage at the beginning it was God who had to send Nathan to correct David. Do you know David would have kept on living like nothing was wrong if Nathan had not have been sent. When nathan came he did not come with a warning, he charged David. He made him aware of his offense and then told him of the repercussions. "This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12 You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.' "-2 Samuel 12: 11-12. It was then and only then that said "I have sinned against the Lord". The moment of repentance comes when the punishment was handed down. We often times will wait till stuff gets so bad that its un-bearable to make change, or to stop, and repent. We forget God doesent force himself on us but he is watching. And like David if you are amongst the many who accept Christ then you are held to a higher standard. When you decide to choose your way over his way. Then he lets you have it, he wont fight with you on it. Romans 1:28 tells us "Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done." You want it than you can have it. But when he sends Nathan, reality kicks in. Thats when you have to deal with what you have done. The good news today is that Christ comes to take away the guilt and shame and forgiveness is avaialble. The reality is why wait till the problem becomes more than a problem but now an issue. Once you see it beginning to manifest deal with it then. If David had not had taken that second look or a first look he would've never had this issue. Most times we don't think its a problem we rationalize it and make excuses to do it. When are feeling desperate, lonley, ashamed, strung out, careless we turn to things that we know we ought not do. The greatest trick the enemy uses against us is things like that, when feeling alone we search for a way out, the thing is that the point after sin can one of the lonliest times you feel because you know you have wronged God, and your left alone with that feeling. Worst than that you are so far from God like David you don't even feel its wrong. It takes someone like nathan having to come to show you what you did. I admonish you people whatever problem (if any) you are dealing with it. Deal with it now or God Will!! Stay tuned for day 3!
This is day 2 of my 7 days of blogging and today we are talking about dealing with an issue before God deals with it. Today the scripture reference comes from 2 Samuel 12:1-9. Let's check it out!
"1 The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.
4 "Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him."
5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity."
7 Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 9 Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own."
If we follow this story from 1 Samuel 11 we the story of David and Bathsheeba. David looks onto this beautiful women bathing. Lets deal with this issue first. Was David supposed to be at home? The pastor at the church I used to attend brought this to our attention in 2 Samul 11:1 "In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war" Why was David (the king of isreal) at home when all the other kings have gone off to the war. Thats an issue but not the main issue here. David see's Bathsheeba and with lusting eyes he desires to have her, he sleeps with her and she becomes pregnant. The thing is David has slept with a married woman. Her husband one of the men in David's army Uriah is her husband. He has committed adultry with this women. David then goes on to send for Uriah in an effort to cover the mess up hoping Uriah will go home and sleep with his wife but Uriah does not go home instead this is what happens:
" When David was told, "Uriah did not go home," he asked him, "Haven't you just come from a distance? Why didn't you go home?"
11 Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master Joab and my lord's men are camped in the open fields. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!"-2 Samuel 11:10-11
So now to cover up the mess he tries to trick Uriah by getting him drunk so than he will go sleep with his wife and no one will know the difference. Of course Uriah is an up right man and does not go home but instead he sleeps on the mat among the master's servants. So David does the next thing he writes a letter instructing that Uriah be put on the front lines in battles and sends the letter back with Uriah. So Uriah was put on the front lines and killed. The problem is solved right? No, the bible says in 2 Samuel 11:27 "....but the thing he did displeased the Lord".
What happens when you have created a bed for yourself to lay in and gotten so comfortable in that bed that you love the way it feels and feel nothing is wrong? In that instance in your mind nothing really is wrong. David wanted Bathsheeba (another man's wife) so bad that he would kill her husband to be with her. The issue is not just lust but rather SIN knowing no end. He doesent even stop and repent because in his mind nothing is really wrong. You want it to be practical dont you? Here it is in 2010, if I have a drug problem, an anger problem, a sex problem, or any kind of problem, if I have gotten comfortable in it what really will stop me from doing it any longer? Im comfortable here and no matter who I am (my status in the church) I am not leaving. I ignore my conscience and my God for my desire. In the scripture passage at the beginning it was God who had to send Nathan to correct David. Do you know David would have kept on living like nothing was wrong if Nathan had not have been sent. When nathan came he did not come with a warning, he charged David. He made him aware of his offense and then told him of the repercussions. "This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12 You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.' "-2 Samuel 12: 11-12. It was then and only then that said "I have sinned against the Lord". The moment of repentance comes when the punishment was handed down. We often times will wait till stuff gets so bad that its un-bearable to make change, or to stop, and repent. We forget God doesent force himself on us but he is watching. And like David if you are amongst the many who accept Christ then you are held to a higher standard. When you decide to choose your way over his way. Then he lets you have it, he wont fight with you on it. Romans 1:28 tells us "Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done." You want it than you can have it. But when he sends Nathan, reality kicks in. Thats when you have to deal with what you have done. The good news today is that Christ comes to take away the guilt and shame and forgiveness is avaialble. The reality is why wait till the problem becomes more than a problem but now an issue. Once you see it beginning to manifest deal with it then. If David had not had taken that second look or a first look he would've never had this issue. Most times we don't think its a problem we rationalize it and make excuses to do it. When are feeling desperate, lonley, ashamed, strung out, careless we turn to things that we know we ought not do. The greatest trick the enemy uses against us is things like that, when feeling alone we search for a way out, the thing is that the point after sin can one of the lonliest times you feel because you know you have wronged God, and your left alone with that feeling. Worst than that you are so far from God like David you don't even feel its wrong. It takes someone like nathan having to come to show you what you did. I admonish you people whatever problem (if any) you are dealing with it. Deal with it now or God Will!! Stay tuned for day 3!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Sick people need healing:I am a Disciple? Really?
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life[h] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."- Matthew 16:24-25.
You remember when you accepted Christ into your heart? Remember the person who you spoke to about it, or the process you went through to get there. I would imagine someone took time out with you to explain what it is you were getting yourself into. Normally at church that part in the service at the end of the sermon when the preacher extends a "Call to discipleship" is where that would normally take place. What about when we are not in church? I can speak for myself for the longest time I was like "I'm not the type of person to just walk up to someone and try to witness the gospel, that aint my calling"..lol. Not realizing that it was an official call we all take when we come to Christ. You saying p huh? Watch this...In the book of Mark chapter 2 around verse 13...Jesus is goes out by a Lake and large crowd comes out to him and he begins to teach them. As he is teaching them he see's Levi at the tax collectors booth and gives the call (to discipleship) to come follow him. Naturally Levi follows after him(as anyone of us would've if Jesus said it straight to you). He goes on to eat dinner with them at Levi's house and he sitting amongst as the bible says "tax collectors and sinners". Why does this matter? Like the present day; tax collectors are known for cheating the people out of their money, you know the type of person that would sell their own mother to get that money and of course "sinners" implies those who are unholy against God. The teachers who were Pharisees (according to the bible) noticed this and asked the other disciples (v.16) "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus profound response in verse 17 was/is "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." One thing about this book we know as the bible that must be never overlooked is God's full intention. These and many other illustrations are deliberately placed here by God via his servants to teach us practical lessons about this life we live. Jesus, here has illustrated the true essence of discipleship by teaching the ignorant and those who want to learn about how to bring others out of sin and into a saved life. Now, the difference with us and Jesus is that we can save no one but merely can lead others to the one who saves! His statement to those pharisees was to teach them something, you see Christ was a carpenter but what was his main purpose on this earth. To die on that cross and save humankind from hell. He knew his purpose, and he lived that purpose out. Let's make it practical for 2010 believers, you are a accountant, a lawyer, a doctor, or whatever your craft is. That is your gift, but not your purpose. The gift is a means to exercise the purpose. Prove it? Ok... Romans 8:28 " And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose." Now them aint my words, check for yourself cuz' that's what it says. Whatever you do as a believer his purpose for your life is to give him glory. That's being his disciple, now you may not be a preacher, or working in the church but if you want to make it real plain...WE ARE THE CHURCH. Oh yea? I dont believe you...Ok...here it is. 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 "12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body." The metahpor here is that we make up the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:27 "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." YOU...that is US. We all have different tasks same goal (or purpose) GOD's glory. Being a disciple does not mean that you force the gospel down anyone's throat but it does mean you are the living proof of God's power and grace and mercy and that in it of itself is the witnessing. The Love Jesus had for all men compelled him to sit at a table with a bunch of thieving tax collectors, and sinners as they eat a feast he came with the meat that will cause them to hunger no more. That LOVE lives on is the believer...he told the disciples in John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Weather we realize it or not we got people who sit next to us, call us, laugh with us, even we call family and we know they aint saved. Our goal is not to make them become saved because its their choice, but we are most definitely to live the life that when they look at us it is a compelling lifestyle that makes them ask "how did you get like that?". We dont want to witness but when God makes it available we have to act on it in his will to do his will that someone else will come to Christ. It's not a scary thing its a incredible thing...i believe it was my girlfriend who showed me something in Colossians 4 verse 6 it said "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." That salt gives it flavor, so you keep their attention. Jesus was practical in his approach he knew how to get their attention and keep it. When its right and in its place you will speak with the authority of Christ and they will listen. My friends being a disciple is a task that we can do, must do, and will do for God's glory. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for Day 2.
"WALK IT OUT"
You remember when you accepted Christ into your heart? Remember the person who you spoke to about it, or the process you went through to get there. I would imagine someone took time out with you to explain what it is you were getting yourself into. Normally at church that part in the service at the end of the sermon when the preacher extends a "Call to discipleship" is where that would normally take place. What about when we are not in church? I can speak for myself for the longest time I was like "I'm not the type of person to just walk up to someone and try to witness the gospel, that aint my calling"..lol. Not realizing that it was an official call we all take when we come to Christ. You saying p huh? Watch this...In the book of Mark chapter 2 around verse 13...Jesus is goes out by a Lake and large crowd comes out to him and he begins to teach them. As he is teaching them he see's Levi at the tax collectors booth and gives the call (to discipleship) to come follow him. Naturally Levi follows after him(as anyone of us would've if Jesus said it straight to you). He goes on to eat dinner with them at Levi's house and he sitting amongst as the bible says "tax collectors and sinners". Why does this matter? Like the present day; tax collectors are known for cheating the people out of their money, you know the type of person that would sell their own mother to get that money and of course "sinners" implies those who are unholy against God. The teachers who were Pharisees (according to the bible) noticed this and asked the other disciples (v.16) "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus profound response in verse 17 was/is "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." One thing about this book we know as the bible that must be never overlooked is God's full intention. These and many other illustrations are deliberately placed here by God via his servants to teach us practical lessons about this life we live. Jesus, here has illustrated the true essence of discipleship by teaching the ignorant and those who want to learn about how to bring others out of sin and into a saved life. Now, the difference with us and Jesus is that we can save no one but merely can lead others to the one who saves! His statement to those pharisees was to teach them something, you see Christ was a carpenter but what was his main purpose on this earth. To die on that cross and save humankind from hell. He knew his purpose, and he lived that purpose out. Let's make it practical for 2010 believers, you are a accountant, a lawyer, a doctor, or whatever your craft is. That is your gift, but not your purpose. The gift is a means to exercise the purpose. Prove it? Ok... Romans 8:28 " And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose." Now them aint my words, check for yourself cuz' that's what it says. Whatever you do as a believer his purpose for your life is to give him glory. That's being his disciple, now you may not be a preacher, or working in the church but if you want to make it real plain...WE ARE THE CHURCH. Oh yea? I dont believe you...Ok...here it is. 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 "12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body." The metahpor here is that we make up the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:27 "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." YOU...that is US. We all have different tasks same goal (or purpose) GOD's glory. Being a disciple does not mean that you force the gospel down anyone's throat but it does mean you are the living proof of God's power and grace and mercy and that in it of itself is the witnessing. The Love Jesus had for all men compelled him to sit at a table with a bunch of thieving tax collectors, and sinners as they eat a feast he came with the meat that will cause them to hunger no more. That LOVE lives on is the believer...he told the disciples in John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Weather we realize it or not we got people who sit next to us, call us, laugh with us, even we call family and we know they aint saved. Our goal is not to make them become saved because its their choice, but we are most definitely to live the life that when they look at us it is a compelling lifestyle that makes them ask "how did you get like that?". We dont want to witness but when God makes it available we have to act on it in his will to do his will that someone else will come to Christ. It's not a scary thing its a incredible thing...i believe it was my girlfriend who showed me something in Colossians 4 verse 6 it said "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." That salt gives it flavor, so you keep their attention. Jesus was practical in his approach he knew how to get their attention and keep it. When its right and in its place you will speak with the authority of Christ and they will listen. My friends being a disciple is a task that we can do, must do, and will do for God's glory. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for Day 2.
"WALK IT OUT"
Monday, July 5, 2010
Part 4: The Discipled Relationship.
The disciples were the 12 mean who followed after Christ hearing and witnessing his ministry and then after his death they took that ministry into the world in order to help save other men. The key area of interest for today's blog is that they FOLLOWED after him.
Marriage is truly a sacred institution as it is the snapshot picture of Christ becoming one with the Church. Men are to love as Christ loved the church, women are to submitt as we believers submitt to Christ. All of these things are divine and absolute, this is the way God ordained it to be. However, because this is a sacred institution it has to be entered upon the correct way. This relationship before taking vows must be a discipled relationship. As dating couples both of you individually must decide to take back your life and follow Christ. In the first 3 parts I simply provided understanding for dating, the role of the man and the role of the women, so now part 4 deals with the finished result. I submitt to all of you believer and unbeliever that dating today is tough, the world influences so much that we find ourselves as believers wanting to do after the world. Having sex, living foolishly, not valuing each other, cheating, and experiencing consequences such as std's, pre-marital pregnancy's. The thing is though God makes it clear these things we must not desire after the world. Romans 12:2 "2And do not (A)be conformed to (B)this world, but be transformed by the (C)renewing of your mind, so that you may (D)prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." What happens when we don't have discipled relationships is we lose respect for one another. Through vehicles like sex (mostly) it is so easy to lose respect and value for the person you are with. The relationship becomes about that, and as you give in to lust more and more you find yourself desiring those things all the more. When you lose respect for a person, you look at them differently and you then begin to search for a way out, or you begin not to care any more. If you truly believe however that this is someone you want to spend the rest of your life with and convinced God has given you this person, then if your not living this way I urge you to stop now. Turning back to Christ is better than falling deeper into that pit. The funny fact about this is that turning back can be the thing that brings the two of you closer together in Christ. Be careful though not to use God as a tool to beat up the other person, rather come to God together and grow together in his name. However, for some this could be the breaking factor, if one person has decided they do not want to give up certain things and the other person is giving it up for Christ than it is best you go your separate ways. The purging process is not an easy one but it is truly and blessed one because God guides you ever step of the way. If you are a relationship that is still running for God, than keep on running. Deny that flesh constantly, see each other through Christ eyes constantly. For all relationships, learn to see each other through God's eyes. Don't wait for the pastor or the church to fix this problem, when you have the power to fix it yourself. Communicate the goal to each other, and walk together. Again, my brother and his wife exemplified this as they walked hand in hand together in Christ right into a beautiful marriage. The laboring is worth the reward. Following after Christ is the key Matthew 16:24 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and (AH)take up his cross and follow Me." Pray. Persist. Perservere. If he/she is truly a gift from God then its worth working hard for, praying for, persisting with, and persevering with. God wants the best for BOTH OF YOU. He forgiven you., and look he loves to have his succesful marriage rate continually go up. But it has to be done right before the marriage. Don't wait to get married to change, change now to make the marriage better. Focus even not on the marriage, but on growing in Christ, and you'll see that marriage naturally comes. If its a heart issue ask God to turn your heart back to him, if its a belief issue accept Christ. This is not a lost cause, Christians can date and live for and value God's teachings. I need Christ even now while I am typing this...because the thing is if we allow ourselves to slip into sin continually with this person we will do more than just those acts, we are compromising our witness, our walk, and HIS way. Your salvation is never worth it. Its important to not let your fear of losing this person get in the way of of God because you should fear losing Christ more. So to the men and women walking it out, LOVE each other, live for Christ, and KEEP GOD FIRST. Remember Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and (A)all these things will be added to you." I put the bold on the word first because that needs to be the first move you make above all things. Worry not about what other relationships are doing but concern yourself with how God wants you to live in this one. Its not scarry, its not something to be afraid to talk about with each other, its something to share and care enough about each other to not hide. God bless each eye that reads this, I hope this has been a blessing to you all. Thank you to all of you who took the time to read this series as we learn to Eliminate the fiction, Understand the Facts, and Know the Difference. Thank you again...
Marriage is truly a sacred institution as it is the snapshot picture of Christ becoming one with the Church. Men are to love as Christ loved the church, women are to submitt as we believers submitt to Christ. All of these things are divine and absolute, this is the way God ordained it to be. However, because this is a sacred institution it has to be entered upon the correct way. This relationship before taking vows must be a discipled relationship. As dating couples both of you individually must decide to take back your life and follow Christ. In the first 3 parts I simply provided understanding for dating, the role of the man and the role of the women, so now part 4 deals with the finished result. I submitt to all of you believer and unbeliever that dating today is tough, the world influences so much that we find ourselves as believers wanting to do after the world. Having sex, living foolishly, not valuing each other, cheating, and experiencing consequences such as std's, pre-marital pregnancy's. The thing is though God makes it clear these things we must not desire after the world. Romans 12:2 "2And do not (A)be conformed to (B)this world, but be transformed by the (C)renewing of your mind, so that you may (D)prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." What happens when we don't have discipled relationships is we lose respect for one another. Through vehicles like sex (mostly) it is so easy to lose respect and value for the person you are with. The relationship becomes about that, and as you give in to lust more and more you find yourself desiring those things all the more. When you lose respect for a person, you look at them differently and you then begin to search for a way out, or you begin not to care any more. If you truly believe however that this is someone you want to spend the rest of your life with and convinced God has given you this person, then if your not living this way I urge you to stop now. Turning back to Christ is better than falling deeper into that pit. The funny fact about this is that turning back can be the thing that brings the two of you closer together in Christ. Be careful though not to use God as a tool to beat up the other person, rather come to God together and grow together in his name. However, for some this could be the breaking factor, if one person has decided they do not want to give up certain things and the other person is giving it up for Christ than it is best you go your separate ways. The purging process is not an easy one but it is truly and blessed one because God guides you ever step of the way. If you are a relationship that is still running for God, than keep on running. Deny that flesh constantly, see each other through Christ eyes constantly. For all relationships, learn to see each other through God's eyes. Don't wait for the pastor or the church to fix this problem, when you have the power to fix it yourself. Communicate the goal to each other, and walk together. Again, my brother and his wife exemplified this as they walked hand in hand together in Christ right into a beautiful marriage. The laboring is worth the reward. Following after Christ is the key Matthew 16:24 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and (AH)take up his cross and follow Me." Pray. Persist. Perservere. If he/she is truly a gift from God then its worth working hard for, praying for, persisting with, and persevering with. God wants the best for BOTH OF YOU. He forgiven you., and look he loves to have his succesful marriage rate continually go up. But it has to be done right before the marriage. Don't wait to get married to change, change now to make the marriage better. Focus even not on the marriage, but on growing in Christ, and you'll see that marriage naturally comes. If its a heart issue ask God to turn your heart back to him, if its a belief issue accept Christ. This is not a lost cause, Christians can date and live for and value God's teachings. I need Christ even now while I am typing this...because the thing is if we allow ourselves to slip into sin continually with this person we will do more than just those acts, we are compromising our witness, our walk, and HIS way. Your salvation is never worth it. Its important to not let your fear of losing this person get in the way of of God because you should fear losing Christ more. So to the men and women walking it out, LOVE each other, live for Christ, and KEEP GOD FIRST. Remember Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and (A)all these things will be added to you." I put the bold on the word first because that needs to be the first move you make above all things. Worry not about what other relationships are doing but concern yourself with how God wants you to live in this one. Its not scarry, its not something to be afraid to talk about with each other, its something to share and care enough about each other to not hide. God bless each eye that reads this, I hope this has been a blessing to you all. Thank you to all of you who took the time to read this series as we learn to Eliminate the fiction, Understand the Facts, and Know the Difference. Thank you again...
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Part 3 The Man vs. God's Man: Understanding The Man of God
Part 3 of Christians and dating. deals with understanding the man's side of the story within a relationship. I am no expert and I do not speak for all men but again I've heard some incredible things in these past few months and again I am compelled to share them with you all.
I remember my freshman year of college and my percussion professor was teaching us how to tune tympani. I was so fasicinated with the process you had to go through just to tune one drum, because here you have these big drums that look sooo heavy duty but yet you had to be so gentle with them in order not to damage the head on the drum, and the drum itself. They were big and heavy but yet you had to be gentle with it all the more just to take care of it.
Men...we are designed to be tough, rough, hard, strong I mean that is our design by creation but what God did with us is he made us gentle giants. I dont care how strong you are a man turns into a different person when he is with his lady, she makes him become more gentle. That person we are with them, is who we really are, we just want to be LOVED and appreciated. We dont say it but we dont push it away when its given to us. However, as men in Christ our focus has to be on God. Christ himself was a man who possesed power in his voice but was as gentle and loving with all creation. He came not to condemn the sick but to find the cure, not to bash but to build up. His character was never compromised, what he did as a man was allowed himself (in total confidence in his Lord) to be who he was and that became such a desireable trait that people flocked to him. As men we must know that our Character must be sharpened in Christ first. We must be defined by his standards and cling to his way of life not our own.
In our desire to be loved and appreciated we get lost in who the problem is, nine times out of 10 we are dealing with our own insecurities but the first person (sometimes) we choose to take that on is our women. Believe it or not promiscuity is the same for men and as it is for women. The more girls you get means nothing to you as a man, you are just sharing more of you with more of them. But what happens that day when you meet the girl of your dreams, and you have to explain to her all the things you used to do, its the worst feeling in the world to wish you had stopped then so you could save it for the one you actually Love and care for. 1 Peter 3:7 "You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with (J)someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered". I cannot be a husband to a wife, much less the head of the house if I am not confident enough with myself as a man. The woman is not the problem, it is us. We use the bedroom as a way out, to not half to deal with fears, worries, or better yet LIFE. Strength is not defined merely by how much I can pick up, but how strong I am when there is force working against me. A good friend of mine P.T. Ngwolo said it best "women trade sex for love, and men trade love for sex." I'll say I love you if it means I get some. We have to learn LOVE for what it truly is from God. God is love and when we learn that we can learn what it means to LOVE a woman. But women, its important to know a man's heart as well. A man's biggest goal is to take care of his woman, provide, nurture and when that is in deficit his pride is hurt. It does not mean women that you should yield all of your needs to him (especially if y'all are just dating) IT means understanding that and allowing him to be that man. At the same time we must know that being "the man" is not that crucial remember "pride comes before the fall". As men we are trying to understand you, and as women you are trying to understand us. Somewhere in there is common ground and agreement that calls for peace. Men, if she doesn't value you then you gotta move on. If she just tolerates you and that's it than that means she only puts up with you and that's it. (she wouldn't want you to do that to her) LOVE says this...as P.T. so eloquently put it "Love is trading the best in you for the worst in them"the goal my sisters is to not obey these books i.e. "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" or ideas that paint men as being sooo off from women. Like I said to the women yesterday we are helpers to one another. God never intended for us to be at odds with each other like we are today...we will have our differences but we are still supposed to be able to reach common ground and conquer each other with LOVE. Understand women he may be a talker, or stubborn, or unwilling to change but if you be honest so are you. We play this game like we are so vastly different when in reality we are alike in so many ways..its taking the time to understand. God gave us a major responsibility to be the head, and as men we must take that seriously. I don't care how good she look my friend, and how great the opportunity as a man it will not benefit you at all to lay with her IF SHE AINT YOUR WIFE!!!. If you LOVE him my dear, don't tempt him(plain and simple). If he as a man does not have have sense enough to act as a man of God you being the woman of God encourage him to do so. If you know he is going to give in than don't set the trap...if he tells you he wants to turn back to Christ respect that and if you want turn with him. He is not going to admit that it is his weakness but if you pay close enough attention to realize that it is. As a man be honest enough with yourself to admit it , bold enough to speak about it, and wise enough to act on it. At the core ladies, us men have a desire to be understood. Understanding is more than half the battle because now you can see where it all comes from when we get irater or start acting funny(does not make it an excuse, but you have gained understanding as to why). Now your not JUST tolerating him your accepting him for who he is. My brothers, in our quest to be understood we have to communicate that. Because Adam failed to speak up he died to sin and was seperated form God until Christ came back made it right. Sometimes as men speaking up will save a soul, it will SAVE OUR OWN SOULS. Don't wait on her to make the change, when you know you need to do better. IF you want her to trust you enough to follow your lead in marriage, than be that man when she is your girlfriend and your fiance. Be level minded, un-doubtful, and standing by your choices. James 1:7-8 says this:
"For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8being a (S)double-minded man, (T)unstable in all his ways."
That strong woman is looking for a strong-minded man who stood on his own before her. He leans on God first, and is bold enough to even tell her no when she is wrong. I know you don't want to lose her my friend but as she has to be willing to lose you if it be for Christ so should you. Anything that will cause you to stray from God is no good to you or for you. Being a man means being patient 1 Corinthians 13:4 "Love is patient..." Remember the gentle giant concept...As rough as you are God still gave you a gentle heart because day by day God is still gentle with us. Every man on earth who desires to LOVE a woman must LOVE God with all his heart, and must love himself. A woman can fix neither of those things no matter how hard she may try...her job is to be your helpmate. God does the rest...we must look at women differently and stop projecting how we look at ourselves onto them. This seems too much, but honesty can get that way sometimes but it is neccessary. You are a man of God first and foremost. Your definition is in Christ, your way of life is adapted to his way of life. We as men are forever seeking his way, the bible says in Proverbs 18:22 "He who finds a (A)wife finds a good thing
And (B)obtains favor from the LORD." When you find Christ, he leads you to the wife, and the favor comes from the Lord. I admonish myself and all of you men if you are dating someone, to change your view of her if it is not good, to learn (if you choose to) from the biblical standpoint how to LOVE her. If you are convinced(through prayer and obedience to God) that this is the one that God has given as a candidate for a wife, than you need to understand what it means to be a man of God first. It is important to know that if she has found a husband in you, that its important even more now to look to God for all things (if you haven't been already). You must know that with or without her God completes you and never put her or anything in front of him. Tomorrow is too late to begin, but right now is just as good as any other. God Bless you my brothers..and remember God didn't forget about you either...Thanks for reading and stay tuned for part 4...
I remember my freshman year of college and my percussion professor was teaching us how to tune tympani. I was so fasicinated with the process you had to go through just to tune one drum, because here you have these big drums that look sooo heavy duty but yet you had to be so gentle with them in order not to damage the head on the drum, and the drum itself. They were big and heavy but yet you had to be gentle with it all the more just to take care of it.
Men...we are designed to be tough, rough, hard, strong I mean that is our design by creation but what God did with us is he made us gentle giants. I dont care how strong you are a man turns into a different person when he is with his lady, she makes him become more gentle. That person we are with them, is who we really are, we just want to be LOVED and appreciated. We dont say it but we dont push it away when its given to us. However, as men in Christ our focus has to be on God. Christ himself was a man who possesed power in his voice but was as gentle and loving with all creation. He came not to condemn the sick but to find the cure, not to bash but to build up. His character was never compromised, what he did as a man was allowed himself (in total confidence in his Lord) to be who he was and that became such a desireable trait that people flocked to him. As men we must know that our Character must be sharpened in Christ first. We must be defined by his standards and cling to his way of life not our own.
In our desire to be loved and appreciated we get lost in who the problem is, nine times out of 10 we are dealing with our own insecurities but the first person (sometimes) we choose to take that on is our women. Believe it or not promiscuity is the same for men and as it is for women. The more girls you get means nothing to you as a man, you are just sharing more of you with more of them. But what happens that day when you meet the girl of your dreams, and you have to explain to her all the things you used to do, its the worst feeling in the world to wish you had stopped then so you could save it for the one you actually Love and care for. 1 Peter 3:7 "You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with (J)someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered". I cannot be a husband to a wife, much less the head of the house if I am not confident enough with myself as a man. The woman is not the problem, it is us. We use the bedroom as a way out, to not half to deal with fears, worries, or better yet LIFE. Strength is not defined merely by how much I can pick up, but how strong I am when there is force working against me. A good friend of mine P.T. Ngwolo said it best "women trade sex for love, and men trade love for sex." I'll say I love you if it means I get some. We have to learn LOVE for what it truly is from God. God is love and when we learn that we can learn what it means to LOVE a woman. But women, its important to know a man's heart as well. A man's biggest goal is to take care of his woman, provide, nurture and when that is in deficit his pride is hurt. It does not mean women that you should yield all of your needs to him (especially if y'all are just dating) IT means understanding that and allowing him to be that man. At the same time we must know that being "the man" is not that crucial remember "pride comes before the fall". As men we are trying to understand you, and as women you are trying to understand us. Somewhere in there is common ground and agreement that calls for peace. Men, if she doesn't value you then you gotta move on. If she just tolerates you and that's it than that means she only puts up with you and that's it. (she wouldn't want you to do that to her) LOVE says this...as P.T. so eloquently put it "Love is trading the best in you for the worst in them"the goal my sisters is to not obey these books i.e. "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" or ideas that paint men as being sooo off from women. Like I said to the women yesterday we are helpers to one another. God never intended for us to be at odds with each other like we are today...we will have our differences but we are still supposed to be able to reach common ground and conquer each other with LOVE. Understand women he may be a talker, or stubborn, or unwilling to change but if you be honest so are you. We play this game like we are so vastly different when in reality we are alike in so many ways..its taking the time to understand. God gave us a major responsibility to be the head, and as men we must take that seriously. I don't care how good she look my friend, and how great the opportunity as a man it will not benefit you at all to lay with her IF SHE AINT YOUR WIFE!!!. If you LOVE him my dear, don't tempt him(plain and simple). If he as a man does not have have sense enough to act as a man of God you being the woman of God encourage him to do so. If you know he is going to give in than don't set the trap...if he tells you he wants to turn back to Christ respect that and if you want turn with him. He is not going to admit that it is his weakness but if you pay close enough attention to realize that it is. As a man be honest enough with yourself to admit it , bold enough to speak about it, and wise enough to act on it. At the core ladies, us men have a desire to be understood. Understanding is more than half the battle because now you can see where it all comes from when we get irater or start acting funny(does not make it an excuse, but you have gained understanding as to why). Now your not JUST tolerating him your accepting him for who he is. My brothers, in our quest to be understood we have to communicate that. Because Adam failed to speak up he died to sin and was seperated form God until Christ came back made it right. Sometimes as men speaking up will save a soul, it will SAVE OUR OWN SOULS. Don't wait on her to make the change, when you know you need to do better. IF you want her to trust you enough to follow your lead in marriage, than be that man when she is your girlfriend and your fiance. Be level minded, un-doubtful, and standing by your choices. James 1:7-8 says this:
"For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8being a (S)double-minded man, (T)unstable in all his ways."
That strong woman is looking for a strong-minded man who stood on his own before her. He leans on God first, and is bold enough to even tell her no when she is wrong. I know you don't want to lose her my friend but as she has to be willing to lose you if it be for Christ so should you. Anything that will cause you to stray from God is no good to you or for you. Being a man means being patient 1 Corinthians 13:4 "Love is patient..." Remember the gentle giant concept...As rough as you are God still gave you a gentle heart because day by day God is still gentle with us. Every man on earth who desires to LOVE a woman must LOVE God with all his heart, and must love himself. A woman can fix neither of those things no matter how hard she may try...her job is to be your helpmate. God does the rest...we must look at women differently and stop projecting how we look at ourselves onto them. This seems too much, but honesty can get that way sometimes but it is neccessary. You are a man of God first and foremost. Your definition is in Christ, your way of life is adapted to his way of life. We as men are forever seeking his way, the bible says in Proverbs 18:22 "He who finds a (A)wife finds a good thing
And (B)obtains favor from the LORD." When you find Christ, he leads you to the wife, and the favor comes from the Lord. I admonish myself and all of you men if you are dating someone, to change your view of her if it is not good, to learn (if you choose to) from the biblical standpoint how to LOVE her. If you are convinced(through prayer and obedience to God) that this is the one that God has given as a candidate for a wife, than you need to understand what it means to be a man of God first. It is important to know that if she has found a husband in you, that its important even more now to look to God for all things (if you haven't been already). You must know that with or without her God completes you and never put her or anything in front of him. Tomorrow is too late to begin, but right now is just as good as any other. God Bless you my brothers..and remember God didn't forget about you either...Thanks for reading and stay tuned for part 4...
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