Dead to Sin and Alive in Christ

“And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you’ve come out of this with purity of heart. And that is what I was hoping for in the first place when I wrote the letter. My primary concern was not for the one who did the wrong or even the one wronged, but for you—that you would realize and act upon the deep, deep ties between us before God. That’s what happened—and we felt just great.

And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you’ve come out of this with purity of heart. And that is what I was hoping for in the first place when I wrote the letter. My primary concern was not for the one who did the wrong or even the one wronged, but for you—that you would realize and act upon the deep, deep ties between us before God. That’s what happened—and we felt just great. And then, when we saw how Titus felt—his exuberance over your response—our joy doubled. It was wonderful to see how revived and refreshed he was by everything you did. If I went out on a limb in telling Titus how great I thought you were, you didn’t cut off that limb. As it turned out, I hadn’t exaggerated one bit. Titus saw for himself that everything I had said about you was true. He can’t quit talking about it, going over again and again the story of your prompt obedience, and the dignity and sensitivity of your hospitality. He was quite overwhelmed by it all! And I couldn’t be more pleased—I’m so confident and proud of you.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭7:11-13‬ ‭MSG‬‬
https://www.bible.com/97/2co.7.11-13.msg

 

Satan takes legitimate desires and starts to twist and pervert them. He wants to deceive you into believing that the perversion is better than God’s way. Then you are worshiping the created rather than the creator. The truth is that God’s way is best.

 

God designed us to be in a supportive community of positive encouraging people who can help others recover from the ill effects of the world. This excerpt from the book "Change your brain change your life" affirms the need for communities like this one in the recovery process. The limbic part of the brain is the emotional part of the brain. It is involved in bonding, nesting, feeding, sexuality and emotions.

"I believe that limbic bonding is one of the key principles behind the success of support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous. For years, clinicians have known that one of the best ways to help people with serious problems like alcoholism is to get them to connect with others who have the same problem. By seeing how others have learned from their experiences and gotten through tough times in positive ways, alcoholics can find the way out of their own plight. While gaining information about their disease is helpful, forming new relationships and connections with others may be the critical link in the chain of recovery."

 

Taking every thought captive means bringing ALL thoughts, feelings, and circumstances to God through the spirit. Asking God about thoughts and feelings. Question them and ask for clarity and wisdom. Many of our thoughts and attitudes good or bad need to be questioned especially the bad ones. This means temptations, negative emotions, and identities we give ourselves.

 

PMO Pure idol worship.
This is part of my testimony. This was my turning point, over three years ago.
I realize now that I was engaged in pure idol worship when I turned on P. I never called it out as such until the time I remember thinking that I did not regret the PMO. There was this particularly attractive woman and the experience was exhilarating and at that moment it hit home. I was worshiping this more than God. Most people hit a bottom and that is what brings them to the realization that they need help. This is a situation where I was not at a bottom, at that moment, I was thrilled and ecstatic. I started thinking, if I could duplicate this experience over and over, I would never stop. Every other time I was disappointed and ashamed but this time I was not. That scared me. The truth is the experience is not always like that. This incident was a trick to get me back into the regular habit. It had probably been at least a month or maybe close to two months since the last time. So naturally it felt great. Don't fall for this trick. The longer you stay on your reset the better the relapse will seem.

 

Tell me @Tao Jones do you think PMO is no longer appealing to you because you are enjoying God and His way more? I think that is why, even though I am still tempted constantly, I am able to resist, because the tables have turned. Like scales the balance is heavily leaning to the Lord not PMO?

 

Wanted to share something I gleaned from a recent sermon I heard. It related the passage from Matthew 11:25-30 to a call for discipleship. The yoke of sin and worldliness is one that destroys. Imagine a man yoked to a thoroughbred horse. He would drag you to your death. Now compare that with being yoked with Christ. He will be gentle and go at your pace, but it is still a yoke. We have a responsibility to link up with him daily. Then we can learn, grow, work, repent, and do everything he has planned for us relying on Him and the strength of being yoked to Him. I hope this is helpful to you as you daily seek him.

' At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”'

Matthew 11:25-30

It is believed that Jesus was referring to this passage from Jerimiah
' Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,” says the Lord . Thus says the Lord : “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ '


Jeremiah 6:15-16

 

What I meant is that although I was saved by grace through faith, I personally lacked assurance because of my frequent sin. I doubted and even questioned my salvation because of my habitual sin. You don’t feel worthy and the enemy has a field day with your mind because of the sin.

 

What Tao said I meant P+M+O.
O with your spouse in the marriage relationship glorifies God and good.

 

I am reading CS Lewis Screw tape Letters and wanted to share this excerpt as it pertains to immorality.

My Words These excerpts are the demons discussing that the best chance they have to succeed in tempting and destroying Christians. It describes how most of us feel after we relapse. My encouragement to you is this, regardless of how you are feeling after a relapse, you feel distant but God is not distant. He is the father in the prodigal story who is scanning the horizon waiting for you to return to him. The minute you do he runs to you and hugs and kisses you and restores you completely. He casts your sins away and remembers them no more.

I have always found that the trough periods of the human undulation provide excellent opportunity for all sensual temptations, particularly those of sex.

there is more physical energy, and therefore more potential appetite, at the peak periods; but you must remember that the powers of resistance are then also at their highest.

The attack has a much better chance of success when the man’s whole inner world is drab and cold and empty.

And it is also to be noted that the trough sexuality is subtly different in quality from that of the peak—much less likely to lead to the milk and water phenomenon which the humans call ‘being in love’,

My Words when you are rested and happy your guard is up to potential temptations and real love. When you are tired, sad, and lonely you are susceptible to the easy way out. PMO and hookup sex without commitment and no real intimacy is not fulfilling in the long run and only takes us further down into the pit of despair and further away from the love of our Father.

 

'Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. ' 1 John 3:4-6