Whether it be a church or a nation, there needs to be a firm foundation upon which to build. Jesus said in Luke 6:48, that a wise man builds his house on a firm foundation. Ideas and philosophies have consequences. For example, look at Marxism or Nazism. They both collapsed. Our current Post Modern Society is the consequence of Freudian Philosophy that goes back 150 years. Freud thought every Human behavior is an expression of their sexuality. Guess what is dominating our society today? Foundations are very important.
So how do we avoid the inevitable consequences in a society that is patterned after Freud's philosophy?
Let's take another look at King David in 2 Samuel. David offered an innocent man ( Uriah) on the alter of his own reputation. Why? To try and cover up his sin. That's what happens with sexual sin. It puts in motion a whole bunch of other sins to try and cover it up. Lies, deception, murder, jealousy to name a few. It creates subterfuge. To deceive through a strategy to conceal the truth. We are so sinful we need to know the potential depravity of our hearts. David was a believer when this took place. No Christian should ever say " I would never do that!". A very dangerous statement. We don't even know how evil our hearts can be. What we should be saying is " I need Gods grace so that won't happen to me. " There is a deeper repentance that needs to take place than for just for the sexual sin. We tend to compartmentalize our lives which diminishes the seriousness of sexual sin. We may say to ourselves, " I have a good prayer life and I read the bible every day, I have a good job and am honest with my customers, so If I messed up in this one area, I'm not that bad off compared to some others I know." In 1 John 1:5, it talks about light and dark. Light is that which reveals, dark is that which conceals. Light is God's nature. Truthfulness must be our approach to God. Honesty is required. What do you find when you lift up a slab of rock? A bunch of bugs and worms running around looking for a hole to crawl into. Why? They can't stand the light. They have been exposed. It's the same with our sin. It's honesty, not holiness that's the basic requirement in our relationship with God and with others!
Just so we don't forget, yes God hates sin, but he loves the sinner and because of that he is merciful and willing to forgive our sin and give us hope, thanks to the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.
In 2 Samuel 12:14, we can see that David was forgiven, restored and reconciled "but" there was still consequences to his sin that God did not take away. Why? Because if you look in Hebrews 12:4-12 God loved David enough to discipline him. God's hand was heavy on David. He reaped his sexual sin and murder through his children. This was God's loving discipline to remind David of his own sin, so that he could see the seriousness and harm it caused to others. He wanted to make David pure and Holy.
David finally did repent and got honest with God, himself and others. He accepted the consequences of his sin, he didn't try to excuse his actions, he accepted the responsibility. This is why God called him a man after his own heart.
That is the destiny of every believer. To be Holy, as he is Holy.
So, let's get honest with God, ourselves and others, so we can get on that road to Holiness!
Start building a firm foundation. On "The Rock". Jesus Christ!
Watch the final talk # 10. This coming Sunday at 6:30pm at www.livechurch.ca
Friday, April 24, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Talk 8 - The Manifesto Of The New Sexual Revolution -Principal 2- Love Your Neighbour
In Talk # 7 the discussion centered around a truth about ourselves and the dishonour done to one's own body when we sin sexually. This talk is centered around the wrong done to others.
In our culture we have tried to diminish the seriousness of sexual sin by calling it by other than what it really is. Instead of adultery, we say " affair", or instead of homosexual we say " alternate lifestyle" etc. God, on the other hand, takes this sin very seriously, as we can see in scripture.
Let's take a look at King David in 2 Samuel 11 and 12. From reading this scripture and others like it in the old testament we can conclude that when God is displeased, he always responds. His actions and the timing of his actions are determined by his own sovereign will. When King David sinned with Bathsheba, he knew he was doing wrong, but deceived himself into believing it wasn't as bad as it really was. When God sent Nathan the prophet to David who told him the story about the poor man and his sheep to show David his own sin, David was outraged by the story, not knowing that Nathan was talking about him. Here's a man that committed both Adultery and Murder, but still had a proper sense of justice. That teaches us that people can be deceived about their own sin and still maintain a sense of justice as it relates to others.( even church leaders).
So, what is the wrong in Adultery?
It is one of the most calloused sins you can commit to another man. It's like murder and steeling rolled into one. It can bring out a jealous rage that can lead to murder. You steel another man's spouse and it kills the relationship. Not only between the spouses, but other family members as well. Children, parents, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, you name them and they are affected by this sin. It's not just the two people involved in the sin. It's effects are devastating and permanent. Even though God is full of mercy and grace and can forgive this sin, there are still consequences that nobody can escape. In King Davids case he ended up losing his sons, who were heirs to his throne, to the sword.
What is the wrong in pre-marital Sex ?
1. Misleading occurs- people tell each other things they don't really mean just to get what they want.
2. Pressure to go against conscience- people have an inner sense that they are doing is wrong but feel the power of peer and social pressure and not wanting to look like a wimp if they say "no".
3. Beginning of a slippery slope- once you start and cross the line it is harder and harder to resist.
4. Rob yourself ( and other participant) of the most precious gift you can give your future spouse. Your virginity is the one gift that you should give your spouse that is not shared by anyone else. That's what makes the wedding night so special and unforgettable.
5. Destroys the foundation of future marriage stability- if you have had multiple sexual relationships prior to marriage, you bring a piece of each person into the marriage making it very difficult to give all of yourself to your spouse.
The good news is there is forgiveness for sexual sin and counselling available to help us cope with the consequences, however just like King David we cannot escape the consequences.
Wouldn't it be better to love our neighbour as ourselves? Love does no harm to a neighbour.
We are our brothers keeper!
There will be no Lesson this Sunday night due to the Easter holiday. The next lesson , Talk #9- The Manifest Of The New Sexual Revolution- Principal 3 - Walk In The Light( Honesty)- Principal 4 - Pursue Holiness will tale place on Sunday night, April 19th at 6:30pm. Join us at www.livechurch.ca
This Sunday night join us for "The Sacrifice" musical and drama Easter special at 7:00pm. See www.westhighland.org for more details!
God bless you and have a great Easter!
HE IS RISEN!
In our culture we have tried to diminish the seriousness of sexual sin by calling it by other than what it really is. Instead of adultery, we say " affair", or instead of homosexual we say " alternate lifestyle" etc. God, on the other hand, takes this sin very seriously, as we can see in scripture.
Let's take a look at King David in 2 Samuel 11 and 12. From reading this scripture and others like it in the old testament we can conclude that when God is displeased, he always responds. His actions and the timing of his actions are determined by his own sovereign will. When King David sinned with Bathsheba, he knew he was doing wrong, but deceived himself into believing it wasn't as bad as it really was. When God sent Nathan the prophet to David who told him the story about the poor man and his sheep to show David his own sin, David was outraged by the story, not knowing that Nathan was talking about him. Here's a man that committed both Adultery and Murder, but still had a proper sense of justice. That teaches us that people can be deceived about their own sin and still maintain a sense of justice as it relates to others.( even church leaders).
So, what is the wrong in Adultery?
It is one of the most calloused sins you can commit to another man. It's like murder and steeling rolled into one. It can bring out a jealous rage that can lead to murder. You steel another man's spouse and it kills the relationship. Not only between the spouses, but other family members as well. Children, parents, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, you name them and they are affected by this sin. It's not just the two people involved in the sin. It's effects are devastating and permanent. Even though God is full of mercy and grace and can forgive this sin, there are still consequences that nobody can escape. In King Davids case he ended up losing his sons, who were heirs to his throne, to the sword.
What is the wrong in pre-marital Sex ?
1. Misleading occurs- people tell each other things they don't really mean just to get what they want.
2. Pressure to go against conscience- people have an inner sense that they are doing is wrong but feel the power of peer and social pressure and not wanting to look like a wimp if they say "no".
3. Beginning of a slippery slope- once you start and cross the line it is harder and harder to resist.
4. Rob yourself ( and other participant) of the most precious gift you can give your future spouse. Your virginity is the one gift that you should give your spouse that is not shared by anyone else. That's what makes the wedding night so special and unforgettable.
5. Destroys the foundation of future marriage stability- if you have had multiple sexual relationships prior to marriage, you bring a piece of each person into the marriage making it very difficult to give all of yourself to your spouse.
The good news is there is forgiveness for sexual sin and counselling available to help us cope with the consequences, however just like King David we cannot escape the consequences.
Wouldn't it be better to love our neighbour as ourselves? Love does no harm to a neighbour.
We are our brothers keeper!
There will be no Lesson this Sunday night due to the Easter holiday. The next lesson , Talk #9- The Manifest Of The New Sexual Revolution- Principal 3 - Walk In The Light( Honesty)- Principal 4 - Pursue Holiness will tale place on Sunday night, April 19th at 6:30pm. Join us at www.livechurch.ca
This Sunday night join us for "The Sacrifice" musical and drama Easter special at 7:00pm. See www.westhighland.org for more details!
God bless you and have a great Easter!
HE IS RISEN!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Talk 7- The Manifesto Of The New Sexual Revolution
The question remains, how do we, in The City of God, live in a sexualized culture? From examples in the Old testament we have concluded that we have three options:
1. Jonah - avoidance
2. Esther - Accommodation
- Assimilation
3. Daniel - Separation
- Activist
From the last lesson, we concluded that Daniels example was the best one to follow. Daniel was totally immersed in a culture that was hostile to his Jewish faith. The Babylonian culture he lived in, tried to brainwash his faith out of him through education in a total immersion program. They even changed his Hebrew name to one after a Babylonian God. Him and his three Hebrew friends. If you have trouble remembering their names, just think of " my shack", " your shack" and a "bungalow". The Babylonians tried to totally change their thinking and their way of living. Daniel drew the line at eating the Kings Food, because he believed God's word and did not want to defile his body because he knew this would destroy his faith. This was the one thing he knew he must not do, in order to keep his faith in tact while living in this pagan culture. He could learn their culture, even be called a name after one of their god's, but he must not defile his body by eating food that had been dedicated to their Gods, which by the way were all sexual Gods. As we learned last week, our Kings Food is our cultures sexual ethics. We too, in our culture, must keep our bodies from being defiled in order to maintain our faith. Look at 1 Corinthians 6:18. " Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body." You see, sexual sin is much worse that other sins because of the total damage it does to our whole psyche. It has adverse effects on our whole being. Our sexuality is so closely related to our emotions, body, mind and spirit. Cameron Diaz said it really well in the movie Vanilla Sky. She was so engrossed with Tom Cruise she was stalking him, because she couldn't get over the fact that he didn't want her any more after their brief, but intense sexual love affair. She said to him " Your body makes a promise, even if you don't." Imagine that! Cameron Diaz saying what Paul the Apostle said In 1 Corinthians 6:18!
So what can we conclude from all this? How was Daniel able to stand up to the pressures of Babylonian culture?
1. Influence of the Believing Community
Daniel was around 9 or 10 years old in 622B.C. It was during this period after the reign of an evil king , that the Jewish temple was re-opened after being closed for 70 years. There would have been great revival of faith during this time. The Jews were once again on fire for God, and was this influence on young Daniel that shaped his religious convictions that carried him through the tough times during the exile.
2. Influence of Godly parents
Nothing is mentioned specifically about Daniels parents, but we know through familiarity with Jewish culture of that time that Hebrew parents gave their children names that meant something. Daniels name means " God is my judge". we can conclude therefore that God was very important to his parents and they wanted his name to reflect that fact. They must have raised him to be a God fearing young man.
Psalm 78: 4-7 " We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands."
Pastor John invited us to a New Sexual Revolution. One that would honour God by honouring our bodies and keeping them pure according to his word in order to maintain our faith in our paganistic society. We must pass this down to future generations.
Next week Talk # 8 - The Manifesto Of The Sexual Revolution- Principal # 2 Love your Neighbour. Watch live at 6:30pm, www.livechurch.ca
1. Jonah - avoidance
2. Esther - Accommodation
- Assimilation
3. Daniel - Separation
- Activist
From the last lesson, we concluded that Daniels example was the best one to follow. Daniel was totally immersed in a culture that was hostile to his Jewish faith. The Babylonian culture he lived in, tried to brainwash his faith out of him through education in a total immersion program. They even changed his Hebrew name to one after a Babylonian God. Him and his three Hebrew friends. If you have trouble remembering their names, just think of " my shack", " your shack" and a "bungalow". The Babylonians tried to totally change their thinking and their way of living. Daniel drew the line at eating the Kings Food, because he believed God's word and did not want to defile his body because he knew this would destroy his faith. This was the one thing he knew he must not do, in order to keep his faith in tact while living in this pagan culture. He could learn their culture, even be called a name after one of their god's, but he must not defile his body by eating food that had been dedicated to their Gods, which by the way were all sexual Gods. As we learned last week, our Kings Food is our cultures sexual ethics. We too, in our culture, must keep our bodies from being defiled in order to maintain our faith. Look at 1 Corinthians 6:18. " Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body." You see, sexual sin is much worse that other sins because of the total damage it does to our whole psyche. It has adverse effects on our whole being. Our sexuality is so closely related to our emotions, body, mind and spirit. Cameron Diaz said it really well in the movie Vanilla Sky. She was so engrossed with Tom Cruise she was stalking him, because she couldn't get over the fact that he didn't want her any more after their brief, but intense sexual love affair. She said to him " Your body makes a promise, even if you don't." Imagine that! Cameron Diaz saying what Paul the Apostle said In 1 Corinthians 6:18!
So what can we conclude from all this? How was Daniel able to stand up to the pressures of Babylonian culture?
1. Influence of the Believing Community
Daniel was around 9 or 10 years old in 622B.C. It was during this period after the reign of an evil king , that the Jewish temple was re-opened after being closed for 70 years. There would have been great revival of faith during this time. The Jews were once again on fire for God, and was this influence on young Daniel that shaped his religious convictions that carried him through the tough times during the exile.
2. Influence of Godly parents
Nothing is mentioned specifically about Daniels parents, but we know through familiarity with Jewish culture of that time that Hebrew parents gave their children names that meant something. Daniels name means " God is my judge". we can conclude therefore that God was very important to his parents and they wanted his name to reflect that fact. They must have raised him to be a God fearing young man.
Psalm 78: 4-7 " We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands."
Pastor John invited us to a New Sexual Revolution. One that would honour God by honouring our bodies and keeping them pure according to his word in order to maintain our faith in our paganistic society. We must pass this down to future generations.
Next week Talk # 8 - The Manifesto Of The Sexual Revolution- Principal # 2 Love your Neighbour. Watch live at 6:30pm, www.livechurch.ca
Thursday, March 26, 2009
TALK 6 - THE NEW SEXUAL REVOLUTION
Our society has moved from Modernism, which didn't believe in anything spiritual. The high point of atheism and the "God is dead philosophy" to Post-modernism, which believes in everything spiritual providing a Psychic or Astrologer/Tarah Card Reader on every corner. Because of it's spiritual nature, post-modernism was able to infiltrate the church faster than the rest of society. It was like a dark spiritual force that was able to change minds. Spirituality was affirmed, especially in relation to sex. It gave birth to a Neo Pagan Spirituality. The highlight of this paganistic sexual revolution was really manifested in " The Clinton Factor". You remember the U.S. President Bill Clinton and his friend Monica Lewinsky? First he denied any wrong doing. His wife Hilary said in order to protect the sanctity of the Presidential office he would have to resign. Then after he admitted guilt, everybodies mind seemed to mysteriously change and what he did turned out to be not that bad after all. At least not bad enough to resign. In fact the media made it out to look rather tame in nature, not that wrong, and almost like it was normal behavior for a president under those circumstances. What a turn around! We went from a sexual revolution to sexual Anarchy!
If you study the history of past paganistic societies, they teach a "Salvation Through Sex" philosophy. Many of the pagan temples had temple prostitutes and part of the worship of that pagan God was to have sex with the prostitute in the temple.
That is where we are now in our society.
So, how do we live in the midst of a pagan culture?
Take a look at three Old Testament examples:
(note: You can look up and read the stories for yourself.)
1. Jonah- he was called by God to be a prophet He was proud of his distinctiveness as a Jew in a paganistic culture, but was asked by God to prophesy to that Pagan society. He fled and didn't want to engage that culture. He took a " leave me alone" attitude.
Obviously not a good example as to how to live in a pagan culture.
2. Esther- She was a beauty queen that was very much into how she "looked" to others. It was disclosed that she was a Jew, but she wanted to fit into and blend into the paganistic culture she lived in rather than stand out. She wanted to be liked by everyone.
Obviously not a good example.
3. Daniel- He was living in exile as Jew in a paganistic society which was hostile to his Jewish convictions. Daniel 1:8, he wouldn't eat the Royal food because it was dedicated to the Babylonian God's first. Him and his jewish friends would only eat vegetables and their health flourished. They stood by their convictions and would not bow down to the pagan Gods and were delivered from the fiery furnace and the lions den.
He is obviously the best example of how to live in a paganistic society.
Our " Kings Food" is our cultures sexual ethics.
Our Christian witness depends on staying pure and not indulging in sexual immorality.
WE ( in The City Of God) HAVE BEEN CALLED TO EMBRACE HOLINESS AND PURITY AND SEPARATE FROM OUR CULTURE AND TO GO AGAINST THE FLOW TO A NEW SEXUAL REVOLUTION!
See the tape of this teaching at http://www.livechurch.ca/. Watch Talk #7 " The Manifesto Of The New Sexual Revolution" next Sunday live at 6:00pm.
If you study the history of past paganistic societies, they teach a "Salvation Through Sex" philosophy. Many of the pagan temples had temple prostitutes and part of the worship of that pagan God was to have sex with the prostitute in the temple.
That is where we are now in our society.
So, how do we live in the midst of a pagan culture?
Take a look at three Old Testament examples:
(note: You can look up and read the stories for yourself.)
1. Jonah- he was called by God to be a prophet He was proud of his distinctiveness as a Jew in a paganistic culture, but was asked by God to prophesy to that Pagan society. He fled and didn't want to engage that culture. He took a " leave me alone" attitude.
Obviously not a good example as to how to live in a pagan culture.
2. Esther- She was a beauty queen that was very much into how she "looked" to others. It was disclosed that she was a Jew, but she wanted to fit into and blend into the paganistic culture she lived in rather than stand out. She wanted to be liked by everyone.
Obviously not a good example.
3. Daniel- He was living in exile as Jew in a paganistic society which was hostile to his Jewish convictions. Daniel 1:8, he wouldn't eat the Royal food because it was dedicated to the Babylonian God's first. Him and his jewish friends would only eat vegetables and their health flourished. They stood by their convictions and would not bow down to the pagan Gods and were delivered from the fiery furnace and the lions den.
He is obviously the best example of how to live in a paganistic society.
Our " Kings Food" is our cultures sexual ethics.
Our Christian witness depends on staying pure and not indulging in sexual immorality.
WE ( in The City Of God) HAVE BEEN CALLED TO EMBRACE HOLINESS AND PURITY AND SEPARATE FROM OUR CULTURE AND TO GO AGAINST THE FLOW TO A NEW SEXUAL REVOLUTION!
See the tape of this teaching at http://www.livechurch.ca/. Watch Talk #7 " The Manifesto Of The New Sexual Revolution" next Sunday live at 6:00pm.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Talk 5- Lessons On Romance, Sex, And Coveneant Love From The Song Of Songs
The Song Of Songs reveals that it is OK to desire sexual love and passion and to express them within a covenant love relationship according to God's definition of a covenant love relationship. The churches attitude over the decades has not been a positive one in this area, leaning more towards avoiding the issue and hiding the truth. This has not only been unhelpful to those within the City of God, but has left it up to the secular world to offer instruction to our youth and married couples about sex and sexuality. If you want to know the truth, we are all sinners because we live in a fallen world. That's not something people these days want to hear, but true none the less. Because we are sinners, our fallen nature expresses itself through our sexuality resulting in each one of us being sexual perverts. The good news is, we don't have to remain in that state, once we know the truth about sexual expression of covenant love and begin to express it according to Gods will.
There are three principals for cultivating passion: a) Be attractive- people have a tendency to let themselves go after marriage, and not attempt to look their best for their mate like when they were dating. Maintaining this practice can help to maintain the passion in the relationship. b) Be available- If you take a look at 1 Corinthians 7, it explains how the husband and wife are one flesh and their bodies belong to each other. The only reason to withhold sex is on mutual agreement for prayer and fasting. Otherwise Satan may bring temptation into the relationship. c) Be anticipatory- Our brains have a tremendous effect on our sexuality. It is possible to think sensual and erotic thoughts within a marriage and keep them pure and holy.
Covenant love has three elements to it: 1) It places a seal on the relationship that goes beyond the sexual act to a commitment of the whole person. Is your husband or wife the most important thing in the whole world to you? 2) Strong as death- this love is as fierce and unyielding as the grave. It is jealous towards that one and only person. It is powerful and final. 3) Flame of the Lord- This love is fueled by divine power. God stirs up love in your heart for your spouse. We become stewards of the love we have covenanted to our spouse. If it dies, we are held responsible by God, because we have not been good stewards. Covenant love cannot be destroyed. Only good sex can happen in a covenant love relationship. It is not a right, but something to protect.
The world has made sex their icon.
We, in The City Of God, make long lasting covenant love relationships, such as those who are celebrating 40,50, 60+ years of marriage our icon.
We have to live and love just like Jesus Christ did.
If we are truly following him, It's not a burden, but a joy!
This is the last week on the Song of Songs. Next week will begin to look at the societal attitudes that have been formed over the decades. and how that effects us.
Tune in, 6:30pm Sunday evenings at http://www.livechurch.ca/
Special Note: There are those who have suffered sexual abuse and may find some of this information confusing or hurtful. Our hearts go out to these people and they may require special attention and counselling to help them through their understanding of this subject.
There are three principals for cultivating passion: a) Be attractive- people have a tendency to let themselves go after marriage, and not attempt to look their best for their mate like when they were dating. Maintaining this practice can help to maintain the passion in the relationship. b) Be available- If you take a look at 1 Corinthians 7, it explains how the husband and wife are one flesh and their bodies belong to each other. The only reason to withhold sex is on mutual agreement for prayer and fasting. Otherwise Satan may bring temptation into the relationship. c) Be anticipatory- Our brains have a tremendous effect on our sexuality. It is possible to think sensual and erotic thoughts within a marriage and keep them pure and holy.
Covenant love has three elements to it: 1) It places a seal on the relationship that goes beyond the sexual act to a commitment of the whole person. Is your husband or wife the most important thing in the whole world to you? 2) Strong as death- this love is as fierce and unyielding as the grave. It is jealous towards that one and only person. It is powerful and final. 3) Flame of the Lord- This love is fueled by divine power. God stirs up love in your heart for your spouse. We become stewards of the love we have covenanted to our spouse. If it dies, we are held responsible by God, because we have not been good stewards. Covenant love cannot be destroyed. Only good sex can happen in a covenant love relationship. It is not a right, but something to protect.
The world has made sex their icon.
We, in The City Of God, make long lasting covenant love relationships, such as those who are celebrating 40,50, 60+ years of marriage our icon.
We have to live and love just like Jesus Christ did.
If we are truly following him, It's not a burden, but a joy!
This is the last week on the Song of Songs. Next week will begin to look at the societal attitudes that have been formed over the decades. and how that effects us.
Tune in, 6:30pm Sunday evenings at http://www.livechurch.ca/
Special Note: There are those who have suffered sexual abuse and may find some of this information confusing or hurtful. Our hearts go out to these people and they may require special attention and counselling to help them through their understanding of this subject.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Sex And The City Of God- Week 4
My wife said I should make my posts more personal and tell more and about myself. I think that will come later. Right now I feel compelled to report on these messages, because I think people, mostly Christians, the people of The City Of God need to hear this message. I see Pastor John like a modern day Moses trying to lead Gods people out of Egypt. Just like those people of old, I'm sensing a resistance to follow him. They didn't want to leave their slavery into the unknown land of promise God was offering. People! Pastors! Listen up! Jesus said: " MY sheep hear my voice and they follow me!" Let me repeat myself. There is no other message like this one being preached out there. When Pastor John consulted his good friend about preaching this message, the friend said " don't do it!". Pastor John said " I have to !" This is an original inspiration of the Holy Spirit. A relevant prophetic message to the church! HELLO!!! God is speaking. Are you listening? Pastors and churches should be letting their pride down and grabbing hold of this message for the sheep in their congregation. This is not a competition, it's a campaign against evil. Will you join with us? This assault of sexual propaganda is destroying marriages in our churches. The word of God is sharper than any two edged sword. Let's use it to remove the evil from among our people. As Moses said to Pharaoh, " Let my people go!"
This week we looked at The Song Of Songs and learned what romance is really is all about. Essentially romance is about intercourse. Not sexual intercourse. Verbal intercourse. Any strangers can have sex. Speech and sex are closely related. This week the emphasis was on the man in the relationship . (next week will be on the women). The Song Of Songs is a poem. A lost art in today's society. A verbal exchange between two lovers, in the context of marriage. Words are powerful. They can give life or they can kill. This exchange of words in poetic form, between the man and the women, create an erotic atmosphere, which is perfectly OK in a marriage and even encouraged by God in order to experience that love and intimacy that a husband and wife are supposed to have. Marriages that are on the rocks, have lost this art of communication, lost the intimacy and are headed for divorce court. The man, after the marriage, has failed to romance his wife with his words. Bitterness and anger take hold, and unless they are taught how to communicate effectively, the prognosis for the marriage is not good. But I do believe that it is the man who is responsible for initiating romance and then the women will follow. Romance is meant to be a growing reality, not a diminishing memory. The key is carefully composed words. A mans excuse when he gets home for work for not talking to his wife is that he is tired. The truth is we are just being selfish and lazy. Before we touch our wife's body, we need to touch her heart and mind. How we speak to our wife makes all the difference in the world as to how she responds to us. The Songs Of Songs gives a good example of how to do this. It is verbal foreplay. A model that allows us to feel and articulate sexual passion which is perfectly OK in a marriage. It is good and esteems this kind of talk in marriage to encourage sexual passion. Women are wired through what they hear. Men are wired through what they see. God wants a Christian husband to communicate sincere, carefully composed words to his wife. These can be of a sexual nature, but honoring, wholesome and pure and encourage and initiate a natural response in her.
This lesson really hit me between the eyes.
I need to go back to the time I was romancing my wife with my poems during our courtship. The very thing that captured her heart.
I dropped the ball, but I'm going to pick it up again and get back in the game!
Thanks Pastor John. This lesson is just as good as marriage counselling!
P.S. Let me make this clear, that all of the aforementioned commentary, are my words and not Pastor John's. I am just summarizing in my own words my understanding of what was said. If you have any questions you can contact him through the churches website at www.westhighland.org, or email: sex and the city@westhighland.org. The first paragraph was totally me. He didn't say any of this. That is my picture of what is happening.
Watch live Sunday evening at 6:30pm, or download recordings at www.livechurch.ca
This week we looked at The Song Of Songs and learned what romance is really is all about. Essentially romance is about intercourse. Not sexual intercourse. Verbal intercourse. Any strangers can have sex. Speech and sex are closely related. This week the emphasis was on the man in the relationship . (next week will be on the women). The Song Of Songs is a poem. A lost art in today's society. A verbal exchange between two lovers, in the context of marriage. Words are powerful. They can give life or they can kill. This exchange of words in poetic form, between the man and the women, create an erotic atmosphere, which is perfectly OK in a marriage and even encouraged by God in order to experience that love and intimacy that a husband and wife are supposed to have. Marriages that are on the rocks, have lost this art of communication, lost the intimacy and are headed for divorce court. The man, after the marriage, has failed to romance his wife with his words. Bitterness and anger take hold, and unless they are taught how to communicate effectively, the prognosis for the marriage is not good. But I do believe that it is the man who is responsible for initiating romance and then the women will follow. Romance is meant to be a growing reality, not a diminishing memory. The key is carefully composed words. A mans excuse when he gets home for work for not talking to his wife is that he is tired. The truth is we are just being selfish and lazy. Before we touch our wife's body, we need to touch her heart and mind. How we speak to our wife makes all the difference in the world as to how she responds to us. The Songs Of Songs gives a good example of how to do this. It is verbal foreplay. A model that allows us to feel and articulate sexual passion which is perfectly OK in a marriage. It is good and esteems this kind of talk in marriage to encourage sexual passion. Women are wired through what they hear. Men are wired through what they see. God wants a Christian husband to communicate sincere, carefully composed words to his wife. These can be of a sexual nature, but honoring, wholesome and pure and encourage and initiate a natural response in her.
This lesson really hit me between the eyes.
I need to go back to the time I was romancing my wife with my poems during our courtship. The very thing that captured her heart.
I dropped the ball, but I'm going to pick it up again and get back in the game!
Thanks Pastor John. This lesson is just as good as marriage counselling!
P.S. Let me make this clear, that all of the aforementioned commentary, are my words and not Pastor John's. I am just summarizing in my own words my understanding of what was said. If you have any questions you can contact him through the churches website at www.westhighland.org, or email: sex and the city@westhighland.org. The first paragraph was totally me. He didn't say any of this. That is my picture of what is happening.
Watch live Sunday evening at 6:30pm, or download recordings at www.livechurch.ca
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Sex And The City Of God- Week3
This week was very interesting. I heard some things I have never heard before. Most teachings and commentaries on the book Song of Songs says that is just allegory and is over spiritualized. Pastor John has stepped outside of that box. He believes this is about what it says it is about, sexual love. Only he believes this is God's way of teaching us how to do it right. 2 Timothy 3:16 says: : " All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." God created us to be sexual beings, and sex is his gift to us, not only for procreation, but for pleasure. So would God give us a gift and not provide a means for us to learn how to use it? Would he leave it up to the world through TV sitcoms, movies, advertising, with their "Sex In The City" mentality to teach us? No! God provided instruction in the bible, called the Song Of Songs to give us a picture of what real sexual love can be like in the confines of a monogamous, safe,committed marriage relationship.
Once again, you need to listen to this whole teaching, which you can do by tuning in live at www.livechurch.ca, or go on the site and watch a download that has been recorded.
The one thing that stood out to me in this session was the "Narrowness of marriage". As part of the City Of God, once you become married, that's it, you have forsaken all others. No more exploring the ocean for other fish. You are with that person until death do you part. That is Gods perfect will for marriage. Yes, there is forgiveness and restoration for sin and mistakes and other things that happen beyond our control, but these things still leave a scar that will last a lifetime. The thing is though, that although it appears to be narrow and restrictive, it opens up a whole universe of discovery in that one person, that you could not achieve any other way. A fulfillment and a joy and a growth and a depth, that cannot be attained through multiple relationships.
God is a God of pleasure and he wants us to enjoy sex the way he created us to enjoy it. That is why he chose it to be expressed in the confines of a marriage. Waiting for marriage to have sex actually increases the pleasure. It's the anticipation. Sharing that one thing with that one special person that gives the power to the expression of it. In other words the pleasure of sex is much greater within the confines of a loving marriage relationship than if you indulged in lots of sex with multiple partners. God wants us to maximize our pleasure. The enemy on the other hand wants to decrease our pleasure because he hates God and the gift God has given us. His strategy is to create " an ever increasing craving for an ever decreasing pleasure". For example, those that have indulged in making porno films, have been so overexposed to sex, they find it harder and harder to become sexually aroused. For them, the pleasure is almost completely gone.
What a shame!
Next weeks continues the study in the Song Of Songs.
Want to learn more about romance? Stay tuned!
Once again, you need to listen to this whole teaching, which you can do by tuning in live at www.livechurch.ca, or go on the site and watch a download that has been recorded.
The one thing that stood out to me in this session was the "Narrowness of marriage". As part of the City Of God, once you become married, that's it, you have forsaken all others. No more exploring the ocean for other fish. You are with that person until death do you part. That is Gods perfect will for marriage. Yes, there is forgiveness and restoration for sin and mistakes and other things that happen beyond our control, but these things still leave a scar that will last a lifetime. The thing is though, that although it appears to be narrow and restrictive, it opens up a whole universe of discovery in that one person, that you could not achieve any other way. A fulfillment and a joy and a growth and a depth, that cannot be attained through multiple relationships.
God is a God of pleasure and he wants us to enjoy sex the way he created us to enjoy it. That is why he chose it to be expressed in the confines of a marriage. Waiting for marriage to have sex actually increases the pleasure. It's the anticipation. Sharing that one thing with that one special person that gives the power to the expression of it. In other words the pleasure of sex is much greater within the confines of a loving marriage relationship than if you indulged in lots of sex with multiple partners. God wants us to maximize our pleasure. The enemy on the other hand wants to decrease our pleasure because he hates God and the gift God has given us. His strategy is to create " an ever increasing craving for an ever decreasing pleasure". For example, those that have indulged in making porno films, have been so overexposed to sex, they find it harder and harder to become sexually aroused. For them, the pleasure is almost completely gone.
What a shame!
Next weeks continues the study in the Song Of Songs.
Want to learn more about romance? Stay tuned!
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