“Some of you were once like that…” (1 Corinthians 6:11)
In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Paul writes: “Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people – none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.” But then in verse 11 he adds: “Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit of our God.”
Yes, you’re tempted! Yes, there are times you fail! Yes, you used to be controlled by the evil that filled your life and overpowered your will, but YOU DON’T HAVE TO STAY THAT WAY! Give your life to your only hope of deliverance, the Lord Jesus Christ! Start professing what only the Holy Spirit can live out in and through you. Stop making excuses for what you can’t do and start believing and sharing what you’re discovering that only HE CAN do!
As a teen and into my young adult years, I was plagued by lustful thoughts. Even after I was married, I continued, in my mind, to “compare” my wife with nearly every attractive woman I saw. My mind was continually fantasizing what it would be like to be with that other woman. I begged God to deliver me. I was filled with shame and guilt, but nothing I did was ever enough to make it stop. Today, on rare occasion, I still have a lustful thought, but God, by His powerful Spirit delivered me. Do you know how He did it?
One day my (first) wife came to me and told me she wanted a divorce. She told me she was more committed to another man than she was to me. Suddenly, there was not a more beautiful woman on the planet than my wife. What changed? My focus! I finally realized what God had given me, to which I’d been blind until it was too late. Satan had me believing I was the only one who ever dealt with such evil and inappropriate thoughts. I feared if I dared to reveal my hidden secret, I would be shunned and alone.
Sin is our mortal enemy and unless and until we muster the courage to call our sinful, habitual behaviors what they are and fall at the feet of Jesus, asking for His Spirit to fill, empower, and enable us to do what in our own strength we can NEVER do, we’re fighting a losing battle. How do we do that? One way is to find another, godly man/woman (man to man/woman to woman) you can trust and confess your sin to him/her. Then together, allow the power of God’s Spirit to deliver you both. How so? Don’t think for a moment the other person isn’t also dealing with sin issues, with which you can help them.
These are perilous times, and our lives must be lived in purity, honor and worship of our living, loving King. Those in our spheres of influence must be able to see a clear difference in our lives as we’re living them for Jesus; otherwise, what are we inviting them to become? Just perpetual strugglers who can’t muster the courage to allow the powerful Spirit of God to enable them to overcome sin in their lives? Or courageous warriors, bearing the armor of God as they face and win the daily battles against sin and the devil.
The Holy Spirit is our Advocate, the One who pleads our case with our Father. He WILL give you victory, but you must let Him win the battle in your heart and mind first before He will enable you to win in your life from day to day. As a Christ-follower, that’s the only way to be free from whatever has you bound.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 