Day 16 Nonresistance

Day 16

Nonresistance

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.”

(Matthew 5:38-40)

Nonresistance is the 8^th pillar

A believer’s nonresistance is the 8^th pillar that holds the temple of Truth!

To be nonresistant is to be longsuffering; to be longsuffering is to be extremely patient.  Longsuffering is a fruit of the Spirit; therefore the Spirit of God must dwell in us for us to be extremely patient.  It is humanly impossible to be extremely patient, for it is human nature to respond good to those who do us good, and evil to those who do us evil.  This is how the natural man (the man of flesh) walks. But when we are born in Christ, we become a man of the Spirit and we no longer walk according to the flesh but we walk in the Spirit.  When you walk in the Spirit you will understand that:

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against  powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  (Ephesians 6:12)

When you understand that there are evil spirits behind those who do evil, you will not be angry with them anymore, but you will love them, for you will see with your spiritual eyes the real culprits who are behind evil. Then you will find it easy to forgive the people.  I tell you the truth, most of the time they do not know what they are doing. Take the religious Jews at the time of Christ as an example.  They hanged God on the cross and went to keep the Sabbath of the God they had left hanging on the cross.  Can you see how deceiving the evil spirits can be if you yield to them?  That is why the Lord Jesus said:

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”  (Luke 23:34)

That is why we must be extremely patient with everyone, just like God was and is extremely patient with us.  For, before we came to the knowledge of the truth which set us free, all of us engaged in all kinds of evil.  We were ignorant and God was extremely patient with us until we came to the knowledge of truth and cast away the works of darkness from us.  Now, my dear beloved, we are the sons and daughters of God; therefore we ought to imitate Christ who is our perfect example:

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
      Yet He opened not His mouth;
      He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
      And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
      So He opened not His mouth.”  (Isaiah 53:7)

“Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”    (1 Peter 2:23)

Beloved, the Lord Jesus is our perfect example, for we see daily in our own lives, as we offend God, that the LORD does not strike us back, but on the contrary, God still does us good according to His eternal mercies.  Amen! Even though we deserve to be punished, God chooses rather to do us good; to give us another chance to repent.  Even so my dear beloved, we ought to be patient with those who do us evil, not repaying evil with evil, but constantly doing good to those who do us evil, that we may be the children of the Most High.

Therefore my beloved, do not say,

“I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”  (Proverbs 24:29)

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.  And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.  Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”  (Luke 6:27-36)

So my dear beloved, if truly we are the children of God, let us, therefore, hear and do the Word of the LORD:

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”   (1Thessalonians 5:14-18)

In short, my dear beloved, to be nonresistant (longsuffering), is to repay good to those who do you evil when they provoke you, tempt you, speak evil of you, steal from you, or do any kind of evil  to you.  Please forgive them, for they do not know what they do.  Bear in mind who is behind them--the devil, who uses other people to frustrate us in our faith.  But if you learn to see the evil spirit behind the person and forgive the person quickly in your heart, I tell you the truth, you will frustrate the devil, and he will flee from you.  For the devil cannot endure love and peace.  Where there is love and peace, the devil flees from such places.  So if your heart is full of love for God, for yourself and others, the devil will flee from you.  Amen!

Finally my beloved:

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.  Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink.  For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

(Romans 12:14-21)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Amen!

Meditation:  “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  This is the will of God for me.

Prayer points:  LORD, please help me to be longsuffering.  Please teach me to do good always to those who do me evil.  Open my spiritual eyes, that I may see things as they really are.  For I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Commitment:  From today forward, by Your grace oh LORD, I commit myself not to retaliate nor revile back, but to commit all things and myself to You, oh LORD, who judges righteously.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Day 15 Speech to be Guarded

Day 15

Speech to be Guarded

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.  Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.  But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

(Matthew 5:33-37)

Speech to be guarded is the 7^th pillar

Believer’s speech to be guarded is the seventh pillar that holds the temple of truth!

By faith we believe that the universe was created by the Word of God.  We believe things exist because God spoke them into existence. It is evident, therefore, that there is power in the spoken word.  Now, man is created in the image of God, and God has given man power to speak.  Just like God, as we speak, we create situations around us, whether good or bad.  It depends entirely on the content of your speech.  You can either speak life or death; you can speak good or evil.  It is entirely up to you how you guard your speech.

 At a word of a man, people are put to death, people are put in prison, people are brought to poverty, people are violated, people are raped, people lose their jobs, people leave churches, people’s character are assassinated and destroyed, never again to be restored, countries are brought to ashes, men are set to war, others are enslaved.

 Yet the same mouth can also speak words that save people from death, protect people, prevent people from  going to prison, release people from jail, give people jobs, welcome people into churches, praise and encourage people,  build countries, bring peace to countries, and set people free.

As you can see, there is a lot of power in the spoken word of man! The wisest man that ever lived said:

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue…”  (Proverbs 18:21)

 “Words are preceded by actions, and actions are anticipated by words.” (Ramos Talaya)

Things do not just happen.  Before anything can happen, someone said something, whispered something, or suggested something.  Whether through verbal or physical communication, someone has to say something for anything to happen.  Words have power!

The situation we find ourselves in right now, without exception, is the result of something someone said, which then led someone to do something, leading to us being where we are at this very moment! Just think about it for a second!  Oh, the power of speech!

The world is in chaos because people cannot control their tongue.  We go around speaking what is in the mind and heart. The Lord Jesus has taught us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks:

“Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”  (Matthew 12:34-35)

How then can a man or woman speak good if Christ does not dwell in their hearts? That is why the world speaks foolishly, which is falsely called knowledge.  A doctor, for example, instructs a patient to stop smoking otherwise he will die, yet once the patient leaves the doctor’s office he lights up a cigarette and smokes: this is the wisdom of the world!

“They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”   (1 John 4:5-6)

But we, my dear beloved, we are not of the world; we are not to speak foolishly, or speak the world’s foolishness, which is falsely called knowledge.  We are the sons and daughters of the Truth.  We must speak the wisdom which comes from above, the true wisdom which is of God!  Amen!

“He who does not have control over his tongue will be a slave to his mouth.”  (Ramos Talaya)

Therefore, let us guard our speech and think before we speak, for the tongue is a very small member of the body but it can bring the body into much trouble.  Let us therefore be sober and speak evil of no man.  Let us bring our tongues into total subjection to Christ, that we may be able to think before we speak!

Think before you speak:  If that which you are about to speak will not profit anyone, will not edify, praise, exalt, build, comfort, bring peace, joy, hope, faith, show kindness, and if there is no love in it, then please be quiet.  For every word that you speak is written in a book, and it shall be brought against you in the Day of Judgment.  Therefore, if we don’t have anything good to say about a sister or brother or any one, we must be quiet and praise the LORD for His goodness over our lives, that we may live a quiet and peaceable life as we wait on the glorious appearance of our Great God Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen!

Therefore my beloved:

“Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”  (2 Timothy 1:13)

“Sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.”  (Titus 2:8)

“For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.”  (James 3:2)

Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ be ‘No,’ for whatever is more than these is from the evil one.  Don’t swear over dead people for they cannot help you.  Learn to say no.  It is okay for Christians to say:

 NO.

 I DON’T HAVE IT.

 I CAN’T MAKE IT.

 I’M NOT ABLE TO DO IT.

Do not let the tempter tempt you to lie, because when you lie you sin against God.

Finally, my dear beloved:

“He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.”  (Proverbs 17:27)

 
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”  (Colossians 4:6)

“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.” (Proverbs 21:23)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Amen!

Meditation:  Death and life are in the power of my tongue; therefore I must watch what I speak!

 Prayer points:  LORD, please set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.  For I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen!

Commitment:  I surrender my heart, mouth and lips, to You, oh LORD.  Please set a guard over my mouth that I may not sin against You with my mouth, that I may speak that which is good through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Day 14 Marriage is Sacred

Day 14

Marriage is Sacred

“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’  But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.”

(Matthew 5:31-32)

Marriage is Sacred is the 6^th pillar

Marriage, sacred and binding, is the sixth pillar that holds the temple of Truth!  

Marriage is a God-ordained and God-originated institution. From the beginning, God intended it be so, as the earth must have order.  But marriage is still a great mystery to us, for we cannot fully comprehend in our finite minds the depth of the infinite spiritual meaning of marriage:

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.  This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”  (Ephesians 5:31-32)

Marriage is not just about us; it is about God and His divine purposes.  It must be ordained by God, and originated by God.  A marriage that is not ordained and originated by God will not stand. For it is written:

 

“Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” (Psalm 127:1a)

Marriage must be built on The Rock, which is Christ.  If you build it elsewhere, you have built it on sinking sand, how then do you expect a marriage to stand on a day full of tempests?

I say then, if Christ is not the center of your marriage, it will not stand.  Only God has the power to make two people unite and become as one!  And keep them cleaved as one.  No government institution or organization, no

church, pastor, bishop, or prophet, no families, friends, and the like, none of them has the power to keep two people together.  They might seem to have the power to bring two people together, but they do not have the power to keep them together!   And that is why those who are brought together by men are just as easily torn apart by men, but those who are brought together by God, though they face trials and tribulations, the LORD is able to make them stand and He will make them stand.  He will keep them by the power of His mighty right hand.  Hallelujah!  For it is written:

“…Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

(Matthew 19:6)

 There are two kinds of marriages: the physical and the spiritual.

1)    Physical marriages (based on social responsibilities):

Physical marriages are men-ordained and men-originated.  These are our social responsibilities and we must fulfill them.  For us Africans we have:

A)   Traditional marriages:

This involves Lobola, or dowry, negotiations.  Once the families have reached an agreement, the man’s side pays what was agreed, and the woman’s side gives permission for the man to marry their daughter.  This is a traditional wedding.   And we are all encouraged to do this, even Christians, because it is biblical.  Abraham did this for Isaac; Jacob did this. And not only that, we also obey the fifth Commandment:

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”   (Exodus 20:12)

Women don’t grow up on trees, where a man can just come and grab one and go.  No!  Women are created by God and raised by families who spend time and resources on them, bringing them up in a way that a man would love the woman to be his wife.  So the Lobola is a thank you gift to the woman’s family for a job well done.  Amen!

B)    Social marriages:

This is conducted by the Home Affairs Department of the government.  Two people can wake up on any given day and decide to get married. They can do so as long they have two witnesses.  This, again, is our social responsibility, and we ought to allow this; however, as heavenly citizens residing on earth, we have a spiritual duty to consult our King and obey His ordinances.

2)    Spiritual marriages:

Spiritual marriages are ordained and originated by God.  It starts with God; it is officiated by God through His servant.   God has chosen to bring these two people together as one--male and female--and keep them cleaved as one forever.  This is done in the spiritual realm, so earthly paperwork is not really necessary, for the marriage is registered in the heavenly books.  Angels take record of every word spoken, so you better keep the vows you made to each other.  Now this command is not if you feel like it.  If you are a citizen of the Heavenly Kingdom, it is your spiritual duty to fulfill all righteousness.

If you were married before you were converted, just surrender your marriage into the hands of God and invite Christ to be the center of your marriage.  The Holy Spirit will guide you on what to do and it shall be well with your marriage.

Conclusion:

That which man has brought together, man also can pull it apart.  When a man pays Lobola, but he is not fully satisfied with his wife, he can bring her back to her family.

And when the only thing that keeps you together is a signature, that is what you have signed to keep you bound, the same can also be ‘unsigned’ to set yourself loose. This is divorce.

                                                                                                                   

Now when God gives you a spouse and you are angry with your spouse, you can take your spouse back to God--only you have to find His address first! If   you do find it, please let us know where it is.  Then you have to go into the spiritual realm, and find the knot which God used to tie you up together, and then untie this knot.  See how it is much easier to stop complaining about your spouse that the LORD has given you, and start learning to live with each other.  If you are married, cherish the one you have.  That’s it. There is no one else coming, so you better start cherishing each other, love each other, be happy and content with each other.  That’s all you’ve got!  Or you can spend the rest of your life wishing you were with someone else, which will never happen if you are God-fearing.

Husbands

Love your wives.  God is not asking you, God is commanding you to love your wife.  This is not when you feel like loving her; it is not up for discussion; it is not a suggestion; and it is definitely not negotiable.  It is a command.  You must love her, please her, make her happy, rejoice with her, praise her, honor her, understand her, guide her, and even bear with her.  She is not perfect, but neither are you.  Build her up the way you want her to be, but accept who she is first, and then work with who she is.   A woman is like a field:  you reap exactly what you sow, nothing more nothing less.  If you sow oranges you will get oranges, but if you sow lemons, you will get lemons.

Therefore, if you show her love, care, trust, praise, understanding, respect, honor, patience, and teach her with love and patience, it is guaranteed she will give these back to you.  In fact, you will get a double portion back of all that you have given to her.  And please spend time with her:

“When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken.”  (Deuteronomy 24:5)

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD.”  (Proverbs 18:22)

“Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 9:9)

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”  (Ephesians 5:25)

“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”  (1 Peter 3:7)

Husbands, if you have problems with your wife your prayers may be hindered, for God commands unity within the home.  Please keep peace with your wife so that your prayers may be answered.

Wives

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.  Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.”  (Ephesians 5:22-24)

“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands.”  (1 Peter 3:1-5)

Wives, be submissive to your own husbands.  Even if they are not Christians, please continue to submit yourselves, that by your good conduct they may be won into the faith and be saved. As we study the Scriptures, God is continually commanding us to love and submit.   These two go together.  Just as the husband is not complete without the wife and the wife is not complete without the husband, even so, you cannot submit without loving, and you cannot be loved without being submissive.

Let us therefore fulfill our ministries.  Those who must love, let them love their wives wholeheartedly.  Those who must submit, let them submit wholeheartedly, that we may live in peaceful homes, not in houses that are battlefields.  For the devil wants to break the institution of marriage, to makes us weak through sin.  The devil wants to break marriages to make the church weak.  But the LORD will not allow us to be weakened by the enemy if we remain in the fear of the LORD and continue in prayer day and night, both as families and as individuals, praying for each other.  The love of God will bind us and keep us together.  For it is written:

      “…When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.”  (Isaiah 59:19)

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
      and every tongue which rises against you in judgment
      you shall condemn.
      This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
      and their righteousness is from Me,”
      says the LORD.”  (Isaiah 57:17)

And again:

“But those who wait on the LORD
      shall renew their strength.”  (Isaiah 40:31a)

Singles

“...Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases.” (Song of Solomon  2:7)

Let your steps be ordered by God.  Do not let your heart, or the devil, deceive you.  Do not pray with desires of your heart.  The devil will answer your prayer, and you will suffer.  Do not ask God to say “yes” when you know the answer is “NO!”

Young person, if another young person has not committed his or her life wholeheartedly to Christ, this person is not good for you, whether this is the cutest guy or girl that you have ever met:  he or she is not good for you!

 For, when it comes to marriage, physical beauty is not everything.  Also, do not bring another young person to church, because you want to marry this person.  If you do marry, God bless your soul, but the truth is that most of the time it will not lead to marriage!   Just wait patiently.  God is faithful.   God will send you the one He has created especially for you, just for you; the one that will fit perfectly in your life.  You will not need to share this person with others; he or she will be just yours.

“Trust in the LORD, and do good;
         dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
  Delight yourself also in the LORD,
         and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
           Commit your way to the LORD,
         trust also in Him,
         and He shall bring it to pass.”  (Psalm 37:3-5)

Finally my beloved, marriage is an honorable thing among us who believe, but God will judge those who cheat on their spouse.

Singles, young people, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and it is not for fornication. Please, I urge you to abstain from sexual activities, and keep yourself pure.

“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”  (Hebrews 13:4)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.  Amen!

Meditation:  Marriage is a God-ordained and God-originated institution; therefore, marriage is sacred!

Prayer points (Husband):  LORD, please help me to love my wife unconditional, I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Prayer points (Wife): LORD, please help me to submit to my husband wholeheartedly, I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Prayer points (Singles/young person):  LORD, please help me to keep myself sexual pure, please give me strength and grace to abstain until I am married, I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Commitment (Husband):  I commit myself, by Your grace oh LORD, to love my wife unconditional and wholeheartedly, through Christ who strengthens me, Amen!

Commitment (Wife):  I commit myself, by Your grace oh LORD, to submit to my husband wholeheartedly and respectfully, through Christ who strengthens me, Amen!

Commitment (Singles/Young person):  I commit myself, by Your grace oh LORD, to keep myself sexually pure, to abstain and wait upon You as you lead me by Your Holy Spirit through Christ who strengthens me, Amen! 

Day 13 Inward Purity

Day 13

Inward Purity

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” 

(Matthew 5:27-30)

Inward Purity is the 5^th pillar

Inward purity is the fifth pillar that holds the temple of Truth!

Sin starts in your heart. That’s your mind.  If you expose your mind, you give the enemy an opportunity to plant evil thoughts into it, and if you do not cast those thoughts out, but continue to meditate on them, your thoughts will become words, then actions, and that becomes sin.  Temptation is not sin, but dwelling on and yielding to temptation, acting upon temptation--that is sin.

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.  But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”  (James 1:12-15)

The devil is constantly planting evil thoughts in our minds.  Our response to these thoughts determines our inward purity.  Because of our sinful nature, we easily respond to sin, and the devil knows it, he has been around for 6000 years.  He knows which temptations to use against each one of us.  Though he cannot read our minds and he doesn’t know what is in our hearts, he meticulously studies us and learns in what directions our desires are inclined.

If it is money, he will make sure there are always some ungodly deals coming your way;  if it is sex, he will make sure some sexy woman or some handsome guy is always coming  your way, dishing it out freely; if it is power,  the truth is the devil will tempt you with opportunities for power.  All temptations are according to our own desires.

“The heart is deceitful above all things,
      and desperately wicked;
      Who can know it?”  (Jeremiah 17:9)

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man…”   (Matthew 15:18-20)

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”  (Proverbs 23:7)

So guard your heart and mind.  Watch out for fleshly desires.  Abide in Christ always, as you and I are no match for devil.  Only when we are 100% in Christ can we have victory over our own desires. For without Christ, we can do nothing.  Do not trust your own strength, or your ability to fight temptation.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
      and lean not on your own understanding;
        in all your ways acknowledge Him,
      and He shall direct your paths.
        Do not be wise in your own eyes;
      Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
        It will be health to your flesh,
      and strength to your bones.”  (Proverbs 3:5-8)

 For:

“He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.”  (Proverbs 28:26)

Why?

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”  (John 15:5)

 If you want to be pure inwardly, put on the Lord Jesus Christ.  Meditate on the Word of God daily (day and night) and as the Spirit convicts you, do not grieve Him, but cooperate with Him.  He will sanctify you completely: spirit, body, and soul.

How to be pure inwardly:

A) Read and meditate in the Word of God daily (the BIBLE, not just Christian books)

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  (Joshua 1:8-9)

For it is written:

“But He answered and said, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”  (Matthew 4:4)

And again:

“Your word I have hidden in my heart,
        that I might not sin against You.

Your word is a lamp to my feet
        and a light to my path.”  (Psalm 119:11,105)

B) Pray without ceasing

“Then He spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.”  (Luke 18:1)

“Pray without ceasing.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

C) If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you

This is to watch what your eyes see--see no evil, do no evil--for by beholding, we are transformed.  Everything our eyes see is recorded in our subconscious and these lead to actions even when we are not aware of them.  So if you watch an exotic movie, you will have sexual desires and wet dreams, whether you like it or not, which could lead you to sin. The same with what you hear, as hearing has the same effect.  Let me put it plainly:  your eyes and ears are channels that lead to your heart, so whatever you see, read, or hear will be stored in your heart.  Now the Lord Jesus tells us:

“…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart^, brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”  (Matthew 12:34-35)

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man…”   (Matthew 15:18-20)

Your heart is your treasure.  Everything you see, hear and read is stored in your heart, so your mouth will reveal that of which your heart is full.  It is the same with the body.  Your body will do according to that which abounds in your heart.  So if you fill your heart everyday with junk, you will speak and do junk.

Be careful therefore what you watch, see, hear, read, and do:

·         Soapies, movies, TV shows, music videos, video games, cards, gambling--if there is evil in it cast it off from you! (Stop watching it.)

·        And the music you listen to, if it is full of cursing, violence, and foul language, cast it off from you. (Stop listening to it.)

·        And the books you read, magazines, novels--if they do not profit you, cast them off from you. (Stop reading them.)

·        And the activities that you do, if they cause you to sin, cast them off from you in the name of Jesus. Amen! (Stop doing them.)

Finally my dear beloved, many of these things above are not meant for Christians.  For you can see the name of the devil written all over it.  Have discernment and ask yourself:  if indeed the Spirit of God abides in me, will I then take the Spirit of God to watch evil with me?  God forbid!

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!  Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body^. and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  (1 Corinthians 6:15-20)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Amen!

Meditation:  My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  It must be kept pure.

Prayer points:  LORD, please sanctify me by Your Truth and deliver me from all my fleshly desires.  Lead me to live a holy life by Your grace, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen!

Commitment:  I commit myself to keeping my heart, mind, and body pure, for my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Therefore I will glorify God in my body and in my spirit, which are God’s! I ask this help of You, My Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen!