Dead to Sin and Alive in Christ

I had a revelation today that I wanted to share brothers and sisters. I understand the passage in James 2:14-24 better.

'So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ' James 2:17-24 https://my.bible.com/bible/59/JAS.2.17-24

I am not saying that we are saved by works. Instead we are sanctified by works. I was a believer for many years but I had never given up PMO. I did not have the closeness with God and the complete assurance of my salvation until I gave up PMO and began walking obediently with God. Once I started exercising my faith by surrendering everything to Christ and seeking to find and fulfill my purpose, my faith became real and I had the assurance, confidence, and fellowship with God that my heart has always been yearning for. I want this for everyone on this site. I pray this will encourage and motivate you to exercise your faith by leaving PMO for good. Then you will be able to discover completely what God has for your life.

 

That is good that you are turning to God in the middle of the night. You will do it more and more until you don’t want to be without His fellowship. Then the porn will be unappealing. It is also good that you recognize that your are escaping negative feelings. Now you can be on the lookout for those situations and go to God for help getting through the tough times instead of avoiding them with PMO.

 

As I read this passage this morning, I thought of all of the times I was not looking for the way of escape. I wanted to PMO and that is what I did. Now, most of the time, I am looking for the way out. It is not always easy and the Lord knows I am not perfect but I am looking for the escape now instead of moving headlong into sin. Particularly the second passage rang true. The picture that you cannot partake the table of the Lord and the table of demons. This is what I was doing. PMO Saturday and going to church Sunday. I was a hypocrite. That was why I had little or no intimacy with God. That was why I was not living victoriously. That is why I could not minister to others effcetively.

'No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. ' 1 Corinthians 10:13 https://my.bible.com/bible/59/1CO.10.13

'No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? ' 1 Corinthians 10:20-22 https://my.bible.com/bible/59/1CO.10.20-22

 

The righteousness like the Pharisees is obtained from the imputed righteousness of Christ. We do however put on righteousness when we live in submission and obedience. We demonstrate our faith and salvation when we do good works. Otherwise, the world would not recognize a believer from anyone else. Sadly, there are believers like this. We could do a whole study of Paul in Romans 3 compared to James 2. But they are not contradictory. They are expressions of different concepts.

 

Thoughts lead to Feelings, feelings lead to actions, and actions can lead to sin if the thoughts are impure.

The key is not resisting, it's replacing the impure thoughts and redirecting or refocusing your attention to something good. Resisting is like looking at an ice cream Sunday and telling yourself over and over again I don't want it. The key is to stop staring at it. Be prepared and have a plan.

 

The passage below in Deuteronomy made me think of the choice between life with PMO and life without it.

“I’ve brought you today to the crossroads of Blessing and Curse. The Blessing: if you listen obediently to the commandments of GOD, your God, which I command you today. The Curse: if you don’t pay attention to the commandments of GOD, your God, but leave the road that I command you today, following other gods of which you know nothing.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭11:26-28‬ ‭MSG‬‬
https://www.bible.com/97/deu.11.26-28.msg

 

I heard this quote on a Podcast today and had to share.

Sex addicts use sex Like a drug, not to consummate loving relationships, but to drown the pain of feeling empty inside a dark shameful well of sexual oblivion. The same could be said fore PMO.

 

Vulnerability is the pathway to emotional healing.

Revealing your feeling is the beginning of healing.

'Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. ' James 5:16 https://my.bible.com/bible/59/JAS.5.16



We are to confess our faults to each other.





If you want to be forgiven, confess your faults to God. If you want to be healed, confess your faults to God and others. When we confess our faults to each other, then we can receive help and healing. Specifically, if we confess our faults to someone who is one step ahead of us in the recovery process, who is escaping from the same problem, addiction, or weakness we are on the road to healing. This is what we do here for each other. Do not be afraid to start helping someone.

 

Rethinking my life, to think like Jesus, is called repentance. Rick Warren

“So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];”

Acts 3:19 AMP

https://www.bible.com/1588/act.3.19.amp

 

“So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];”

Acts 3:19 AMP

https://www.bible.com/1588/act.3.19.amp

 

“When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭73:21-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/psa.73.21-26.esv

 

I had to share this from the daily devotional Jesus Always for 10/28. It is spot on for those in recovery.

There are hurting parts of you that I desire to heal. Some of them have been with you so long that you consider them facets of your identity. You carry them with you wherever you go, barely aware of their impact on your life. I want to help you learn to walk in freedom. However, you are so addicted to certain painful patterns that it will take time to break free from them. Only repeatedly exposing them to My loving Presence will bring you long-term healing. As you grow increasingly free, you’ll be released to experience My Joy in greater and greater measure!

Jesus I pray that I will continue to expose everything into your presence do that I can be healed and experience your Joy to the fullest. In your holy name I pray this for all who are trapped in the painful patterns of sin.