Fornication - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) October 18, 2024

Talking about sëx is uncomfortable but the reality is that as long as there have been human beings on this planet, sëx has existed. You should thank God for it because, without sëx, you would not be alive. That is unless you are like Jesus who was the product of immaculate conception.

Sex was mostly reserved for the confines of marriage, meaning it was an act that only a husband and wife engaged in with each other. And according to the Bible, that is how God wants it. The New Testament, which was given to the writers by the Holy Spirit, teaches that fornicators (those who have sëx before they marry) will not get to heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9). Those who have sëx with someone other than their spouse - adulterers - share the same fate.

Nowadays, however, the unmarried are encouraged to engage in sexµal acts long before marriage and to do so with multiple partners over time. Nonetheless, just because something is common does not mean that it meets the approval of the Lord or agrees with His word. And as a self-proclaimed believer, you are called to obey the word of God. Doing so displays your trust in Him and shows that you love Jesus who said in John 14:15 - If you love me, keep my commands.

For those who gave their lives to Christ but have fornicated, the Lord is gracious and will erase that sin from your life. God does not want anyone to perish in hell (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, through genuine repentance, forgiveness is received. And by not repeating the sin, forgiveness and its resulting redemption are preserved. When this happens, the promise of 1 John 1:7 is fulfilled - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. Christians are thus continuously cleansed from sin when they walk in the light through righteous living and having fellowship - relationship - with their fellow believers.

If any have not repented for fornication, consider this message an alarm set to wake you up from this 'slumber'. Hear its ring and break free from the consequences of fornication by repenting and prayerfully creating a plan to not return like a dog to its vomit as described in 2 Peter 2:22. Plus, fornicators are placed on the same level as the wicked in 1 Corinthians 6:9. God has made it clear that he despises and punishes every wicked person (Psalm 101:3).

Being locked out of heaven is not the only problem fornication creates. It leads individuals into relationships they should not be in. Those relationships result in unnecessary grief and heartbreak. These cause a person's soul to fracture. They then seek out people and things to fill the missing parts of them that were lost when they had sëx with someone else. And the cycle continues making things worse.

Do not think that masturbation or the consumption of pornographic material is any better than the act of fornication. Hebrews 13:4 - Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers (NRSV). Honoring one's marital bed begins before marriage, in my opinion. The future marriage is kept unblemished by avoiding masturbation, pornography, sex hotlines, steamy movies/music/books/content, and other things that trigger the desire to participate in immoral sexµal activity. Where these things have happened or are happening, repenting and stopping the sin are crucial. Submitting to God's help makes both possible.

The Bible teaches people to guard their hearts (Proverbs 4:23). It also warns that human bodies belong to God and should not be used for unholy things. 1 Corinthians 6:13 - ... The body, however, is not meant for sexµal immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. Furthermore, we are told in 1 Corinthians 6:18 - Flee from sexµal immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexµally, sins against their own body. Imagine how such a sin impacts the Holy Spirit living within each born-again Christian. His presence would be stifled in the face of repeated and unrepented sin because He represents the Lord who cannot abide the unholy, which is what sexµal immorality is.

God gives everyone the choice to live by His commands or not. People must choose whether to give Him what He wants or do what satan wants, which is for human beings to disregard God's ways and go to hell. May all who gave their lives to Christ make choices they won't need to repent for later. I pray they will "[f]lee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22). I pray they will steer clear of anything that seems evil and could lead to wicked behavior or thoughts, not waiting to confirm its evil nature (1 Thessalonians 5:22). I pray they will discipline their bodies and minds so they are not disqualified from the prize of eternity because of something so fleeting as immoral 'pleasures' (1 Corinthians 9:27). After all, the blessings of God await the righteous here on earth as in heaven.

The good Lord will help us all.

To learn more, please read:

1. Do you hate God?

2. Don't Be Wicked

3. Don't Envy The Wicked

God of Strategy - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) October 15, 2024

God is in the business of fulfilling His word and He will do so in the most incredible ways you couldn't imagine. My family and I recently experienced this aspect of God's character and we remain amazed at how He does things. (Fine, I'm still amazed).

A few months ago He gave some family members the same word about a situation we have faced for years. The family fasted, prayed and moved in faith. Alas, the result was the opposite of what we expected and we wondered whether we'd done something wrong.

However, God soon reminded us that His thoughts and His ways are far above ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). What we thought worked against us actually worked out for our good. It also confirmed another word the Lord gave about the situation.

Remember how He had the Israelites backtrack in the desert to make Pharaoh think they were lost (Exodus 13-14)? Well, God is still confusing the enemy today. He told us to take a step that triggered a reaction which brought the exact result we'd prayed for. That could not have happened without Him directing our steps.

And because we listened and obeyed, He kept His promise in Isaiah 54:15 - Whoever attacks you, does it without my consent; whoever fights against you will fall (GNT).​

We had no idea what we were doing. Had we taken the time to think longer than we did, we would not have followed the Lord's instruction. All we had was faith and the conviction that God would work things out for us. Initially, it seemed we'd made a mistake because things didn't go the way we'd expected. However, thanks to God's mercy, we soon realized that our leap of faith paid off.

God wants to give each of us the strategy needed for victory. That strategy might seem illogical or produce initial results that are contrary to your goals. But, if you received the word from God, then you need only wait to see His promise fulfilled.

While this message lacks many details, I pray that the lessons will stand out. First, go to God for His word about every situation. Second, when He gives that word, hold onto it for dear life. Third, recognize that you don't know how God will fulfill that word so, expect the unexpected. Fourth, when God confirms His word, praise Him and testify about His greatness.

I want to encourage everyone to stay at the feet of the Father. He will never steer you wrong. Even when the trials seem overwhelming, remember that you serve the God of Strategy, the Mighty Man of War. He will not allow the enemy to have victory over His own. And never forget that He loves you. Your miracle is on the way. Luke 8:50 - Don't be afraid; just believe...

PS: Prayers, fastings, night vigils, and tears made several appearances in the situation discussed above.

PPS: Obedience was key and it wasn't always easy.

PPPS: Regular fellowship with others was also important. Remember, we do not war alone.

To learn more about today's topic, kindly read

1. Bow Down & Worship​

2. The Well​

3. Return & Publicly Testify​

4. Let God Confuse Your Enemy​

5. You Need A Revelation​

6. Faith Advances God's Work​

Don't Envy The Wicked - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) October 11, 2024

Social media provides a window into the lives of others. It reveals how many live contrary to the word of God. It shows that they do so without any apparent consequence. The drug dealer has girls, money, and respect. The girl who leverages her looks has the finest designer goods and enjoys countless trips to exotic locations. Meanwhile, the believer who prioritized God's instructions can barely pay their bills.

It seems backward and hard to understand but the scriptures provide crucial insight. Insight to keep the believer walking in the way of the Lord and not become like the wicked - those who do not obey God.

The Bible states in Isaiah 48:22 - “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” When God says the wicked have no peace, He means it. And because Jesus said that the scriptures can neither be broken nor ignored in John 10:35, you should believe the scriptures. Thus, no matter how good things seem for those who do not observe God's instructions, the truth is they have no peace because they are wicked. Ignore the fabulous life they present. It is nothing but 'packaging' and does not reflect their reality.

Why would someone try to make others think things are rosier than they are? Again, there's a Bible verse for that. Proverbs 21:29 - The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright give thought to their ways. These individuals don't reveal the sleepless nights caused by hauntings, the medication needed to function each day, the choices made that eat at their soul, and much more. They seem to have everything but in private they confess they feel empty.

Unfortunately, so many believers have looked at the packaging and decided that the sacrifices of living for God were not worth it. They thought the time spent waiting on God for change in their lives had been a waste of time. They forgot Proverbs 24:1 - Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company. Instead, they chose the 'if you can't beat them, join them' approach and turned away from the faith.

To prevent this, God will sometimes not give a person access to the life of those who wronged them. He knows that if His child sees the packaged lie of their enemy, they will think that His promise of vengeance will never come to pass. And if that happens they will compromise and become the very person who hurt them. Then, God's promises for them will be forfeited because He has sworn not to bless the wicked. It is also why the contrary can be true. Occasionally, God will not allow a person to see the struggles of their enemy when His cup of wrath is in their hand. He does this so they won't sin by gloating and thereby miss His further blessings (Proverbs 24:17-18).

The Bible teaches in Isaiah 55:8-9 that God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not like ours. Everything He does is much higher and thus not easily comprehended by mortal beings. Therefore, let us be humble enough to believe His word that what we see is not the fullness of what that thing or person is. John 7:24 - Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly. Remember, God sees down to the most minuscule part of an individual (1 Samuel 16:7). Their outer appearance is not hidden from him. And He wants us to be the same way. After all, Genesis 1:27 tells us we were made in His image, we have the mind of Christ per 1 Corinthians 2:16 and carry a deposit of His Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22).

Stop thinking that you understand what you see with your eyes. Don't think the grass is greener on the other side. Life is much longer and more complex than you think. Your carnal mind will not get you to heaven so please do not turn away from God, His ways, and His wisdom no matter how tough things get. Do not think that people who don't submit to God have it easy - they don't. Walk humbly with your God and obey His commands because that way, you will enjoy the fullness of life and eternity with Him in heaven. God bless you.

To learn more on today's topic, please read:​

1. Contentment​

2. Don't Be Wicked​

3. Don't Turn From God​

4. Packaging​

5. Godly Contentment​

6. Don't Fake It Till You Make It