| Fell Again | Why | Conclusion | |
Conclusion
Faced temptation and chosen to give in to it.
Reached a crossroad and followed the wrong path, whether it was out of ignorance or with full intent.
You... not anyone else has inhabited in darkness by choice. Now you are a servant, a slave to this lust. We have opened the door for this Spirit of Perversion to come in and destroy but now we cry out to God.
Father, Father... Free me !... Make it end!.....Let me be free!... Now Father, Please !
Please understand that our heavenly Father hears us and loves us. It is His will for us to be free. I repeat, it is His will, desire, and good pleasure to see us free of bondage but so often we want the spoils(reward) but do not want to go through the fight.- What if I told you to rejoice and be glad that you are going through this.
- What if I told you that this could become the most significant quest that you will face in your life.
- What if I told you that the end state of your spiritual life will be far greater than the beginning because of this.
- What if I told you that you will remain closer and have a far greater relationship with the Father because of this struggle.
Let's go to the Bible:
"My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2
"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:4
OK... What does this mean? Did you say Joy ?
Let me ask you:
Can a college student earn a degree just by simply desiring it?
Would God make it fall from the sky just because he wants it?
Can He?... of course. Would He?... most likely not.
Doesn't the student have to enroll(become a Christian) study and apply himself to the teachings. Doesn't he need to be taught and have a willingness to learn? Doesn't he have to persevere in his class to obtain a passing grade and when he gets that A+ doesn't that give him patience to endure thorough out those 4 years of college.
And once this student is on his second year, doesn't all of what he has learned, now helps him with his even harder classes ahead. Haven't all of these disciplines of applying himself, studying, and perseverance to pass the tests, built in him character?
He might have failed some tests but doesn't he get another chance to do better?
Haven't his previous failures given him experience to pass the next test and once he passes, doesn't that give him hope to go ahead? And once he is complete with all knowledge he can look back at all his failures which produced in him patience, and patience perseverance, and perseverance character, and character experience, and experience hope, and isn't that hope going to get him through the final test fully confident and prepared.
Well it is the same way with our walk with God.
You see...if that student was faced with his final test from the beginning without having been able to study and practice through out all of this time he would have definitely failed.
That is why we Glory in tribulation. Because in our life that test is Spiritual and has the potential to:
- Make you a spiritual warrior, fully matured in Christ, free, and full of joy.
OR
- Make you a slave, in bondage to Sin, without rest, and with the possibility of total eternal separation from God.
But now we Rejoice , because we are going to be prepared to face that test so that we can choose God and not Lust every time we are tested. So that we can be free not just from this bondage but that we will have the wisdom and experience to overcome anything else that life and Satan throws at us. That we will be complete and mature Christians wanting nothing of the world.
That is why I personally thank God for this trial. Because if it wouldn't have been for this trial then I would still be an infant in Christ, immature, and full of strife. But because of this, I have fallen on my face many times, looking for answers, and crying out to the Lord while devouring the Bible.
Because now I am aware of who I am in Christ and understand the power of His sacrifice. Because now I understand how to live for the Spirit and seek not the desires of the flesh.
Now I can wear the armor of God and face any test. Because I now realize that is not on my own strength that I rely but on the strength of the Lord. So I praise God not because of my sin but because He has turned it around and has used it to build me up as a Christian and helped me mature.
I am still a long way to go but now I have more patience, greater endurance, better character, and awesome hope.
"and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. " Romans 5:5
So... do I still face temptation?... Of course, we will always do. But this temptation is a test from God, and now I draw on His strength, my experience, endurance, and patience so that whenever I face this test I can say no to the devil and yes to God.
Yes...I am free... I am free to say No to Lust and Yes to God... I am free to do His will. I do not have the compulsive desire to disobey God. What used to overwhelm me now just sounds as a silent whisper from far away. It is now a flying seed that I can easily blow away.
So I praise God and devote myself to Him daily so that I can remain in His love and ready to face what's next.
"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." John 8:36
Praise God