on April 6, 2011
Galatians 5:16-25 – So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Sexual freedom in our culture has come to mean the unrepressed expression of any and all sexual desires. This culture is most annoyed with the moral code of Scriptures and those faith practicioners who condemn their licentiousness. It is a movement bent on the destruction of moral absolutes and laws that restrict certain sexual behaviors and, one that has no comprehension of the bondage that goes with such living. It does not recognize slavery that shackles souls to the desires of the flesh and its lusts. It only sees moral laws in society as an infringement on sexual freedom.
The Spirit of God leads us into a life of freedom that supercedes all laws. The sinful nature leads us into the bondage and depravity of immoral addictions and practices that are destructive to our souls, bodies, minds and our most precious relationships. The moral Law of God plainly declares these practices and lifestyles to be unholy and sinful. This Law of God reflects the Spirit of God who does not lead us with prohibitions that limit our joy, but rather He leads and guides us into truths that enrich and ennoble our lives and deliver us from depravity. The sinful nature conflicts with both the Law and the Spirit and is absolutely contrary toward the instruction of the Spirit. The sinful nature seduces its followers to believe that sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, drunkenness, orgies and the like are exciting, enriching and ennobling, and you should be free to follow the desires of your flesh. The Law and Spirit of God both declare this to be a deception and proclaim the opposite to be true!
If you are led by the Spirit of God, you will be one who loves purely, lives joyfully, exudes peace, demonstrates kindness and patience, overflows in goodness, is trustworthy and faithful, and known for gentleness and discipline. The moral law of God is not a burdensome repression of sexual desire, it becomes a reflection of the Spirit by which you freely live. The Spirit has set you free from sexual addiction so that you may enjoy your sexual gift in the purity and purpose for which it was given. Those who have not been set free from sexual immorality or addiction will not experience the richness and nobility that attends those who live by the Spirit and who keep in step with the Spirit. “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. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1:28-32)
Thursday:
- Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
- Join our 6:00pm Thursday night prayer team.
Friday:
- Ask God to increase your sensitivity to the leading of His Holy Spirit in matters of your sexuality.
- Pray for the Good News families of the week: Ben & Jen Martin (Emma, Grace, Benjie, Callie), Barr & Sherry Miesch, Laura Mohr (Ashley, grandbaby #1).
Saturday:
- Thank God for His moral laws that promote sexual purity and freedom from destructive addictions and behaviors.
Sunday:
- Pray for a revival that sets men and women free to follow the Spirit into sexual and moral purity.
- Join in with our Sunday prayer services to pray for God’s presence and blessing.
Monday:
- Ask God to strengthen your refusal to be influenced by the world’s models of sexual relations.
- Attend “In Touch” Prayer meeting at GNCC at 10:30am or join in prayer at that time.
Tuesday:
- Pray that men and women may clearly see the slavery connected with pornography and sexual immorality.
Wednesday:
- Ask God to help you guard and preserve true sexual freedom and purity in your life as you follow the Spirit!
Prayer Challenge: Recognize that our bodies are a sacred creation and that God made us male and female so that we might glorify Him through sexual intimacy, mutual joy and procreation with our spouse. Cherish the gift of sexuality. Establish God’s Word as your standard for sexual relationship, and do not let the influence of the world pervert or corrupt God’s plan and purpose. Say no to the sinful nature and yes to the Spirit!