Menschen wie Joe Dallas oder Tim Wilkins geben deshalb unumwunden zu, dass sie unter bestimmten Umständen immer noch von Männern sexuell gereizt werden oder eventuell sogar fallen könnten. Heißt das nun, all das Gerede über "Heilung" wäre Unsinn?
Keineswegs! Versuchung wird es immer geben. Selbst Jesus wurde versucht. Als Christinnen und Christen sind wir uns dessen durchaus bewusst. Uns ist aber auch klar, dass die Macht der Sünde durch Jesus am Kreuz gebrochen wurde. Wir sind frei! Die Bibel warnt uns aber auch davor, unseren "Schutzschild" herunter zu lassen. Wir müssen immer auf der Hut sein - und das betrifft alle Christen. Ein fester Glaube, tägliches Bibellesen und Gebet sowie ein strukturiertes Leben in der Nachfolge Jesu Christi und in Gemeinschaft mit anderen Christen gibt uns die Kraft und den festen Boden, den wir brauchen, um nicht zu fallen - oder - sollte es doch geschehen - wieder die Kraft und den Glauben zu finden, aufzustehen.
Jesus hat uns nie gesagt, es würde leicht werden. Er hat nur gesagt, es wäre all die Mühe wert.
Er hat uns aufgefordert, uns selbst zu verleugnen, unser Kreuz auf uns zu nehmen und ihm nach zu folgen. Damit macht man sich heutzutage nicht unbedingt beliebt. Schnell gilt man als altmodisch, rückständig oder radikal. Als Christinnen und Christen aber wissen wir: es ist all die Mühe wert.
But what about having to stay alone for the rest of your days? If you mean "lonely" by "alone", then let me remind you that you can - and likely will - be very lonely in the gay scene. Being "alone" is something different. It is a gift that Jesus often used when He went out in the desert to pray. We need to be alone at times to spend some good quality time with ourselves and with God. To be able to be alone is a true treasure. Ever since I left the gay scene, I found times to be "alone", but most of the time the Lord grants me time to spend with the many true friends He brought into my life ever since and with the people He leads to me to help them get back on their feet again. I have never been less "lonely" than since I had left the gay life. I have found a true meaning and purpose in life and also my life has changed in all areas.
So what about "being happy"? I think it is a big misconception in today's culture and society that once with throw something in the "love"- or "being happy"-pool, everything is fine. No, it isn't. Being "happy" is not a criteria that something is good or morally acceptable. An alcoholic who just had a bottle of wodka might say he is "happy" now. A family father might have just left his wife and kids to live with his new girlfriend, "love" her and be "happy" with her for the rest of his days - it would still be unacceptable adultery in a Christian's eyes. Following Christ will give you true joy and tell you about the difference between "being happy" and finding that joy only God can give. And please don't mistake love for a fuzzy feeling. Feelings come and go. Love is a covenant where one person gives himself or herself (reflecting Christ's life-giving covenant with His bride, the Church) and where the two take the willful decision to stay together for their whole lives to become one flesh again. Again? Yes, our sexual drive hints back to the beginnings, where Eve was taken from Adam's flesh. This drive seeks that union back again - becoming one flesh. So much one you have to give this "one" a name nine months after.
To cut it short: I know it isn't easy to leave the gay life. It can be very scary as you have no idea what you signed up for and where this will take you. So for the beginning I give you this piece of advice: Scratch together the little faith and trust you can find in you and put it on God. And then let yourself fall and begin the journey - step by step. God has never broken any of His promises. He will be with you every second of the way and lead you out of this. Promised.
God to take away my habit.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary
I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No.
Patience is a byproduct of tribulations;
it isn't granted, it is learned.
I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No.
I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.
I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares
and brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No.
You must grow on your own! ,
but I will prune you to make you fruitful.
I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No.
I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.
I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.
I've been meaning to share this with you for some time now but I figured that I've already said so much, I didn't want to overload you.
This is something that totally transformed my life and has made my walk with the Lord so much better. Ever since I was taught this truth, I have gained new insight and victory into areas I found problematic in my life.
As you may have noticed, I'm not perticulary keen on focusing exclusively on sexuality. Such an approach I believe gives the impression that we're one dimensional (which we are not!) and it also alienates us from the rest of believers. I shall therefore present this teaching not just in an effort to help you understand your struggles with sexuality better, but that you may also understand other areas of your self better.
Colossians 3:2-3 says: "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (King James Version)
I don't know about you, but I never really understood this passage of Scripture and all the others that also speak of believers dying very well. I understood the atonement of Yeshua on the Cross for our sins and ressurection well, but I never understood when the apostle Paul refered to himself as being dead, especially when he says he's been crucified with Christ. Being very analytical person by nature, I attempted many times to solve this mystery on my own, but without much success. So I waited on God to shed some light on the subject.
Was I blown out of my socks when I was explained the meaning of this concept. Dr. Ed Murphy, in his book, Handbook for Spiritual Warfare, explains this glorious truth so beautifully. For the first time I realized what Scripture meant when it says believers died.
So who died? The old man. "But if the old man is dead," you ask, "How come I still have sinful desires of all sorts?" Here comes the best part. When you expereinced new birth, the old you (in my case the old Adam) was supernaturally crucified with Christ on the cross. If you think I'm exaggerating, read Romans 6:5-7:
"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin." (King James Version)
This is the beauty of the gospel. Old Tom, old John, old Henry, etc., have all been crucified. They no longer exist. They're all dead. The sexually broken man that you once were, was killed and done away with the minute you accepted Him as your Saviour, when you first believed. Even if you backslidded, the old self was not resurected.
(I shall explain this later as we go along.) That's not all, Scripture tells that when this old man was destroyed, `you received a new man or new nature `was given to you. Scripture says that you are now "born of God". (1 John 5:18-19. King James Version).
"But I still have so much sinful desires!" you say. "My flesh is very much still alive. My battles with pornography, sexuality is still very much alive and real. Does it now then mean that I have not been crucified with Christ and therefore not born again?" Absolutely not. If you trust in Jesus as your Saviour, you are born again. "But how come the sinful desires of my flesh are yet still alive?"
If you read Romans 6:5-7 again, you'll see the Bible talks about your old self that was crucified and not your physical flesh. (Rom. 7:14-23) The two are totally different from one another.Your flesh on the other hand is still very much alive. The old self is that Adamic cursed wicked part of you that could do nothing else but sin. The way I see it, this old self was personified just as the new man is personified, just as the flesh is personified (Gal.5:19-21). It therefore wasn't a force or some impersonal energy but a person with will, desires and mind. It's difficult to understand but nevertheless fascinating.
Neil T Anderson explains our new state of affairs so wisely. He writes that the flesh is the tendency that is in every person and pushes us to act independent of God and to focus only on ourselves. This is how an unsaved person acts - worshipping the creature more than the Creator. However, those who are born again are different. Their old self died and their new self lives now. As we might have spent years far away fro God, secular experiences shaped our brain with things that are not of God. So even though our old self is dead, our flesh still works against God - or independent from God. (Neil T. Anderson, "The Bondage Breaker". Harvest House Publ. ISBN-10: 0736918140. ISBN-13: 978-0736918145):
"The flesh is the tendency within each person to operate independant of God and to center his interest on himself. An unsaved person functions totally in the flesh (Romans 8:7-8), worshipping and serving the creature more than the Creator (Rom. 1:25) When you are born again, your old self died and your new self came to life...{but} during the years you spent separated from God, your worldly experiences thorougly programmed your brain with thought patterns, memory traces, responces and habits which are alien to God. So even
though your OLD SKIPPER* is gone, your flesh remains in opposition to God as a preprogrammed propensity from sin, which is living independant of God" Bondage Braker (Eugene, Ore.: Harvest House, 199) pg 79-80 *-capital letters MINE
When one reads this you begin to understand why unsaved people can do nothing but sin. They have a corrupted "person" that is riding on the back of the flesh- that is also unredeemable. However, we who have received a new nature, through new birth, who desire the things of the Spirit, no longer have an excuse to continue in sin. That is why 1 John 3:9 says:
"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." (King James Version)
We were once utter slaves to sin, but now we've been giving a new man that can do and choose the things of God. Our old selves couldn't.
Do you see the implications? We no longer have to battle with the old man. He's dead. We still however have to battle with our flesh, that is totally corrupt. Furthermore, our brains must also be given new software becuase it still runs on old evil software. This is where sanctification comes in. Please listen to me. I don't care what any body says, sanctification is not an easy process! I get so fed up when I hear well known 'Christian' speakers tell people that they can change their lives instantly. They give you a formulas and principles (that usually involves money) and guarantee that you will be healed, you will be blessed, you will receive a break through.
Thirty years ago David Martin Lloyed-Jones in his book "The Christian Warfare: An Exposition of Ephesians 6:10 to 13" (Baker Pub Group. ISBN-10: 0801055741. ISBN-13: 978-0801055744), wrote about cults offering an instant blessing. This short cut allows them to win adherents. There is no growth concerning grace or growth in the knowlegde of the Lord. Also no mentioning of salvation with fear and trembling. You go to perfection in an instant. No problems, no struggle, no difficulties:
"Another great characteristic of the cults is that they offer you a cure, the blessing all at once. It is the short cut method always; that is why it wins adherents...the cults do not talk about 'growth in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord'; they do not talk about work out your salvation with fear and trembling'; and there is no mortification of the body and of the flesh. It is immediate arrival at perfection; and all you have to do is to keep you there. All problems have gone, there is no struggle left, there is no difficulty to solve; it has all been done and done at once. Short cuts!"
I mention this because I know false expectations lead to discouragement and discouragement ultimately, if not dealt with correctly, will lead to backslidding. It is my prayer that none of you will ever backslide into your old lives. That is why I want you to know that your road to freedom will be difficult and will involve actve fighting, struggling and resisting on your part. Better know what you're up against than to be caught off guard. I urge you not listen to the fools who promise you quick rememdies through useless formulas and vain Christain pop psychology. Forgive me if I sound harsh but when I see so many people being led astray by mere salesmanship, my blood begins to boil.
Even though our walk may not an easy walk, it is a blessed walk nevertheless. From my own experience, I can truly say that it's been worth the while. It's been extremely difficult at times but also glorious! Christ has really given us life and life in abundance. He has also given us the tools to fight for our inheritance. Where we once didn't have a chance against sexual struggles in our former states (before salvation), we now can supernaturally voluntary choose the things of the Spirit through our new man/nature.
If Satan has been condemming you about your recent failures by telling you that you arn't really a Christian because of your weak state, listen to this. If you thought you're still the same old perverted little dude you were before you got saved, listen to this. If you still despise yourself for the things you allowed yourself to do, listen to this wonderful timeless advice by Dr. D.M. Lloyed-Jones. He talks about the truth that as Christians we are already saved, We have already died with Jesus. We are already "in Christ". We have been crucified with Him. This cruxifixion is not something we have to do. It happened already! We have been crucified - one and for ever! And as we died with Christ, we have also been risen with Him. That's why satan attacks us so that we loose our confidence in our complete security in Jesus.
This is the finest tonic for any weak Christian....Remind yourself of the truth about yourself as a Christian, that you are already saved, that you ahve already died with Christ, that you are 'in Christ', that you will never be more saved spiritually than you are now. If you are a Christian at all, you are 'in Christ', you have been crucified with Him. Thus to be crucified is is not something you have to do, 'having believed'. Romans tell us what has happened to us, not what should happen to us. 'You have been'- it is in the aorist tense. 'Knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with Christ' once and for ever. Remind yourself of that . Remind yourself that, as you died with Christ, you have also risen with Him, that you are seated with Him in the heavenly places, and that the devil is therefore attacking you in order to shake your confidence in your complete security in Christ." Dr. D.M Lloyed-Jones
Paul says, "And such were some of you." (1 Cor. 6:9-11. King James Version. Emphasis added).
Begin to realize that you have been given a new nature that genuinely wants to do the things of the Spirit. Your old self is dead. Even though you may still do things that may be wrong, you can and never will be the sinner you used to be. Relapses are merely a sign of a need of sanctification (removing old programs that your old skipper installed) and not salvation. If you are also truly born again, you will eventually repent of a certain sin. Why? Because you've been given the ability to repent through the Spirit that now lives in you that empowers you.
We really have no excuses not to live holy lives.
My God open the understanding of our hearts and continue to lead to freedom from all bondages.
Grace to you all
André
Mit dem Sündigen ist es wie mit einem Frosch, den man in heißes aber in angenehm warmes Wasser setzt und langsam die Temperatur erhöht: Er wird gekocht, ohne dass er es überhaupt merkt. Genauso ist es mit der Versuchung zur Sünde: wenn wir uns immer wieder jeden Unsinn im Fernsehen ansehen, wenn wir nicht auf das achten, was wir sagen und wie wir es sagen, wenn wir auch bei der Auswahl unserer Freunde und Freizeitbeschäftigungen nicht unser Ziel und unseren Glauben im Auge haben, stumpfen wir immer mehr ab, wenn es darum geht, Sünde zu erkennen und zu vermeiden. Wir brauchen nur einmal die heutige Gesellschaft ansehen: vieles von dem, was uns heute überall in den Medien und im Alltag begegnet, wäre vor nicht allzu langer Zeit undenkbar gewesen! Offenbar sind wir schon so an das "heiße Wasser" gewohnt, dass wir eher die Bibel neu schreiben ("gemäß der heutigen Wissenschaft uminterpretieren") und eine 2.000-jährige Kirchengeschichte über den Haufen werfen, um das Rad neu zu erfinden - wir heute sind ja so viel schlauer als all die Menschen, die vor uns gelebt haben sowie intelligenter als der Schöpfer des Universums! Hierbei gibt es nur ein Problem: Jesus kommt wieder - zu einer Zeit, wo es keiner annimmt. Und die Begleitumstände Seiner Ankunft werden uns nicht gefallen...






