I dont want to hold you up!! No one can spend all day in here lol
And I think you idea for the thread sounds wonderful! I tried to message you but it wouldn't let me. Have a blessed day!
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And I think you idea for the thread sounds wonderful! I tried to message you but it wouldn't let me. Have a blessed day!
the number one thing that helps those to overcome the addiction that doesn't happen once they have an encounter with Christ.
Please read Luke 8 and Matthew 13:18-23 The sower Parable.
Hearing the word of God the Holy Spirit creates a godly sorrow for one to see his need for Christ. The devil goes to work to steal the word from the heart, less they believe and are saved. Those who make a commitment to Christ.
let's talk about those who are coming to the lord for the first time in light of what Jesus said in MATTHEW 13:18-23
Everyone God calls He called them to leave what they knew or were doing.
he called Abram, to leave the "called-out ones " must obey the calling
They are to separate themselves from the world God's people are told not to be like the world and to Sepreate themselves.
While you are doing these two thing you must Seek God and draw near to HIM.
New Believers and those who are addicted make the very bad mistake of going back to those same people who they themselves are still bound. If the devil did not steal the word from their hearts the pleasure of the addiction most certainly can., and does.
This is why we see those who make a confession but they have not to surrender therefore they have no deliverance from what they asked God to do before man yet in the heart they plan to do what they always did.
For Salvation to happen one must repent, surrender, and receive, then separate draw near to God and be disciples.
If this is not happening you will find those who are professing Christians that are not seeing victory over addiction because they don't want it or they have not removed themselves from the attraction.
Salvation can happen at the moment one believes but the changed mind is over a lifetime.
P
pablocito
Guest
I am not married but divorced so I really should not be saying anything.
But I find the entire discussion flawed, as it is not representative of Christian thought.
Christians do not operate on emotions and feelings but rather on obedience to the word of God.
End of Story.
Everyone has their own opinion. But I wonder if Jesus would have the same thought or be more about helping and forgiveness. Trying to get people help and stirring them toward God and not judging because who are we to judge?
It is a sin for a man to look at a woman in order to covet her. That is adultery in the heart. In this particular passage, there is intention, because he looks 'in order to' (Greek pros) lust after her.
Looking at a beautiful woman just to enjoy her God-created beauty???? I do not think it is a good idea for most men to do that. They could be coveting without realizing it, or justifying it to themselves.
I have a cousin who is an artist who, when he was in high school, was talking about the high dollar per hour figure he could make posing nude in an art class. In his thinking, posing nude for art was okay. I did not agree. Nowadays, I would think about this from the perspective that the Old Testament had some laws related to not uncovering nakedness. There was to be a ramp and not stairs on altars so nakedness would not be uncovered. An Old Testament scholar told me that exposed thighs were considered nakedness.
Looking at a beautiful woman just to enjoy her God-created beauty???? I do not think it is a good idea for most men to do that. They could be coveting without realizing it, or justifying it to themselves.
I have a cousin who is an artist who, when he was in high school, was talking about the high dollar per hour figure he could make posing nude in an art class. In his thinking, posing nude for art was okay. I did not agree. Nowadays, I would think about this from the perspective that the Old Testament had some laws related to not uncovering nakedness. There was to be a ramp and not stairs on altars so nakedness would not be uncovered. An Old Testament scholar told me that exposed thighs were considered nakedness.
I did not want to continue writing a book but to continue,
Those in sexual addiction like porn need to remove the source and have accountability.
my wife has access to my phone and web accounts she can see what I am looking at. If I watch movies she can see what movies I am watching and what I am surfing on the net.
my friends most of them not all are those who have been married for many years and are or have married only once. AS I said most of my friends not ALL.
I have friends who were married more than once and those who came out of addictions and those who are currently battling one.
The point is to have those close to you who are victorious over your addiction you have.
Don't have those who are weak and unable to win your main people in your circle of influence.
K
kaylagrl
Guest
Start the thread brother, I'll make sure anyone who tries to derail will be ignored and the topic will be brought back by me. I think this is a very important topic and can be useful to both men and women and youth. I think we've struck on something here. And I for one want to continue the convo. I have two young nephews coming up and I want to be able to help them when they turn to me.
if that was only true. They are supposed to be obedient to the word of god but many are not. And you being divorced doesn't disqualify you from providing godly counsel or opinions.
Am I missing something because I thought the thread was very good and appropriate?
K
kaylagrl
Guest
Don't worry, he's here quite often. Let's see if we can get him to start the thread. Hope you stick around a while.
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pablocito
Guest
I agree with you that no one should be judged or accused by any human because God is the only Judge.
Jesus forgave the woman who was caught in adultery and many, many others.
He attached a warning to his forgiveness of them, He said - Go and sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.
remember today those who say do not Judge means don't point out what the bible says in sin. To say what the Bible call sin , sin is not judgment it is discernment.
K
kaylagrl
Guest
No he's talking about starting a thread based off this topic, not the same topic. He said he was afraid the subject would be derailed and I was saying I would back him and make sure that wouldn't happen.
K
kaylagrl
Guest
As someone else mentioned the woman in adultery, Jesus said go and sin no more. He didn't dwell on her sin, He forgave her, cleansed her sin, warned her not to fall into it again. Everyone of us is human and I think that is how we need to approach people. I'm flawed, I struggle and I need God's help to overcome.
K
kaylagrl
Guest
If you read my post of stats I think we need to understand that this is an issue inside the church. People are struggling with this. Men and women, both. No, of course it's not Christian thought but it is a real struggle. It may not be your struggle but people do have this struggle. Alcohol is not a struggle for me. I've never had a drop in my life, never will. I have never wanted, been tempted to drink. Yet my uncle died a hopeless alcoholic. Be compassionate enough to say " that isn't my struggle, but I will pray for you in your struggle, I'll be there for you."
Your right Kaylagrl it's not just a man thing. I was trying to find similar UK figures for Christians but haven't found any yet but I'm sure there are.
I don't have any easy answers except we have forgotten our first love... Christ! We have forgotten Holiness, and the need to be self disciplined (1 Pet 1:15-18; Heb 12:14; 2 Tim 1:7). That being said addictions may plague us for our whole lives, we are all pilgrims on the way. I was a smoker and it took me years to stop I was still smoking as a christian. Even now when I walk past someone smoking my brain goes into overdrive....just one puff my brain tells me. The key here is to actively refrain, I go to prayer and recite scripture in my mind.
Addiction of any sort can be overcome, its not easy but can be done. You need to keep yourself in God's word not just reading but praying over it, meditating on it and applying it to your life. And the part that no one likes is the bitter pill of self denial. That is physically and emotionally restraining yourself from the addiction, with prayer and concern for Holiness it will get easier to do. Also encouragement and prayer from your spouse or church members.
For new Christians, it may be just be baby steps in growing in Holiness - to be more more like our first love. But each step is a step into greater joy.. We need to flex the muscle of self control, making prayer a priority, learning scripture and learning more and more about our saviour to love him more and more.. And sometimes just to stop and sit still in His love.
We have to remember addiction is a sin issue. Behavior has to be modified, and the heart transformed. Thankfully through the truth of the gospel message we can overcome our addictions(for those have them).
Anyhow, I think the church as a whole has dumped Holiness, and now we are as a corporate body are reaping the rewards.
I understand its more in depth than that but I'm not a good communicator and I don't think too many want to read my ramblings.
Okay, then, let's take a closer look at the 19 instances of the word "lust", in the Bible. Because if you honestly look at what scripture and the old Greek/Hebrew is saying, you'll notice that the word doesn't mean the same thing every single time it's used.
In the Old Testament we have:
Exodus 15:9 and Psalm 78:18
the word lust here is nepesh, which means breathing and is derived from the word nâphash, which means to breathe.
In Psalm 78:30 the word lust is Ta’ăvâh and means: longing, delight, satisfaction
In Psalm 81:12 the word lust is Sheriyrûwth, which means: twisted
Proverbs 6:25 is châmad which, again, means to delight in
New Testament:
Matthew 5:28 and James 4:2 the word in Greek is ĕpithumĕō and it means: to set the heart upon, long for
Romans 1:27 the word lust is ōrĕxis and means: excitement of the mind, longing after
We have ĕpithumia which means: a longing in these verses:
Romans 7:7
Galations 5:16
James 1:14
James 1:15
2 Peter 1:4
2 Peter 2:10
1 John 2:16 (twice used)
1 John 2:17
And interestingly enough, the word lust, or pathŏs in
1 Thessalonians 4:5
actually means suffering!
Oh, and the Strong's doesn't list a Greek definition for the word lust in 1 Corinthians 10:6.
The Bible does show lust in the context of marriage. Have you not read the Song of Solomon? It is full of love-making, longing, and desire. The very definition of lust! I'm curious, do you think sex is supposed to be a clinical act, with no emotion involved? I mean, if a husband and wife don't crave each other then they probably won't be engaging in the gift that Yahweh gave. Which THEN puts them in a position of sin (1 Corinthians 7:5).
At any rate, in the context of marriage, it is perfectly normal and right to desire the body of one's spouse. To "long for" my husband is not a perversion.
I did not interject or twist scripture to make it what I want it to be. Grab a Strong's Concordance (there's a free one online if you don't have a physical copy) and dig into the verses I've shared. Check out what the original languages meant when they referred to lust. It (usually) just means longing. And depending on the context of the scripture, that longing can be negative or positive.
Look up the other verses that use the same Greek or Hebrew words and you'll see that the Greek words ARE used in other situations that have nothing to do with sex. For example, châmad (lust) being used to describe a whoring woman AND used to describe the "goodly" (lust) clothes that Rebekah put on Jacob.
Jesus was divine, God in the flesh. Our goal is to try and be sinless, even if it is not possible here. But if you believe you're without sin, you're deceived. I find those who are able to, comfortably, only preach on hellfire are in the most danger.
That is true the word "Lust" has different meanings, however, it is not the word by it's self but the full context of the passage test and verse where it used.
as you used the Hebrew word nep̄eš = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
Found in exodus 15:9
The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
If we apply Nepes here as it is that which breathes you must ask does it fit the contextually? Because the text is speaking of war aginst the enemy of Moses and Gods people so when Moses says:
" my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them."
Does LUST here mean breathe? NOw the word Nepes also can be used as soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
Moses is saying HE has a strong desire to kill his enemy. That desire surely can be the same Lust one could have for HIS wife now it is?
SO to say I "Nepes" my wife would not be a good thing would it? Or you breathe in your wife?
Context The only way you can lust for a person is to be done in the flesh contextually. Therefore the bible is clear Lust of the flesh is never a good thing and it doesn't say as long as it is your wife or husband.