Sexual Immorality - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Sexual Immorality

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;  that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, NKJV)

Nothing seems to be getting more airtime than the many exposures of sexual immorality having been done in days, and decades, gone by. Be it in the sports field, political arena, church institutions, Hollywood scene, corporate life or throughout the educational system – we certainly are being made aware of what has gone on behind closed doors. It is now being shouted from the rooftops.

That which was hidden is now being made known. Even as the Lord Jesus Himself said it would be.

He spoke truth centuries ago, “For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.” (Mark 4:22, NASU)

With the explosive exposure of immoral behavior being widely reported, yet it is nothing new. It has been going on for a long time.

Even King Solomon, with all his God-given wisdom and understanding, wrote, “What has been is what will be, what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9, Complete Jewish Bible)

From Genesis to Revelation, the Word of God treats sin for what it is – the turning of man from the Creator to walk in his own pride, selfishness, and lusts. From Abraham’s nephew Lot and the gay men of Sodom in the beginning of the Bible (Genesis 19), to the whore of Babylon in the last book of God’s Word (Revelation 17:1), sexual immorality has been in the forefront of evil within the human race, seeking to destroy the beautiful purpose of sex for which our Father created it.

Temptation abounds as we are bombarded daily on the TV screen, movie theatres, Internet porn, and published works, attempting to get each trapped in a downward spiral of sin and degradation.

I recall when I was in 6^th grade at St. Patrick's School in Cedar Falls, Iowa, over 50 years ago, when my teacher, a Catholic nun of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) order, went to convenient stores in our town persuading the owners to at least move the pornographic magazines to behind the checkout counter, so as not to so easily make available to adults, and influence unknowing kids. Sister Robert Cecile was a courageous soul. She wanted to stop it as much as she could within her power and scope of ability. I remember that clearly as her actions stuck with me.

By the grace of God, also when I was in 6^th grade, I committed then to not permit pornographic material in my life. On one occasion, I had taken a shortcut through the woods near our house, on the way to deliver the Waterloo Courier newspaper on my daily route. Along the path, I spotted a sandwich bag lying just off to the side. With curiosity, I picked it up. In it were nude photos torn from a magazine, along with some cigarettes. I could feel the evil presence pulling at my soul, as it tried to implant within my spirit. I vowed then not to ever look at this stuff again. Commitments can be for life. The Lord helps us stand in purity.

Nothing can be more hurtful in a single or married life than for one to participate in pornography or sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman. Neither can nothing be more destructive to an individual life than being used for someone else’s lust fulfillment than in our massive sex trafficking industry worldwide.  

Freedom from sin has been bought with a price – a very high price. Jesus Christ offered Himself on the cross to free us from the curse of sin, enable us to overcome temptation and to live a life pleasing to the Father.

“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:20, NASU)

While we pray for those who have been caught up in the vicious trap of sexual immorality, with repentance and forgiveness, we also humbly receive the love of the Lord for ourselves, which each heart longs to know and be known. He alone can fulfill all needs and desires.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

Please be sure to sign up for our newsletter. Use the "Sign Up" button on our website, or go here: Sign Me Up!

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$50 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

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P.O. Box 414   

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Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.) 

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Now Think On This #353 - in the year of our Lord 09.26.18 – “Sexual Immorality”, Wednesday, 11:00 am

Stones - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Stones

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

'These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates.” (Zechariah 8:16-7, NASU)

Have you ever been hit by a stone? Hurts doesn’t it. As a little kid, we’d throw smooth, flat stones across the still pond, hoping to skip them two or three times. If we ever made over five skips, that was a bit deal. But if you accidentally threw one amiss, and it hit someone, then the scream came. Yes, it hurts.

As grownups, we tend not to throw literal stones anymore, unless the scarecrow is trying to eat the vegetables out of the backyard garden. But we do still throw stones, only these ones can hurt more than a real one when it hits another. These are the verbal or written “stones” that can be very harmful, even deadly when viciously tossed at another. Bullying has received more attention in these days, given the predominance of social media. Even fake news has gotten into the picture, especially in our political climate. Some very vicious stones are being thrown wide and far.

Now I know that it has been the attitude of church leaders over the past decades not to get involved in local, state and national politics, primarily out of fear. Fear of whom? Those in our government politics. And yet we are told to be involved, as Jesus commanded us to be “lights in the world”. So yes, we must get involved.

Letting our voices be heard is necessary, going outside our four church walls, if we are to be as salt or light in anything we move about in, within the society we live in. Christians must speak up. We must let our truthful words be spoken and heard before we are silenced for good.

Coupled with prayer, which is of vital importance, we are to be involved, for the sake of all in authority, and for those they rule over.

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NASU)

With prayer as the first action in lifting up those serving in politics, the next step is to put action to those words of supplications.

The many battles going on in our nation’s capital, Washington D.C., involves all of us, whether we want to admit it or not. The actions of the elected, and even those appointed must be noted and paid attention to by Christians. We cannot sit idly by and let the ungodly, unrighteous, or unlawful ones take over. We have been given the responsibility to know and be about the Father’s business, in seeing His kingdom come about in all the realms. We have the truth. Let us speak it boldly and confidently.

As stones are being thrown every which way in the chambers and halls of our government institutions, let us stand against the lies being slung at the righteous seeking to represent the good of our nation and the people. With the Holy Spirit working in and through us, let us speak up and make our influence known while we yet can.

We are called to be living stones, ones that build up and not tear down. May our actions bring life and protection to those who are having hurtful stones slung at their character and honor. May we speak up with the wisdom and knowledge we have been given through our Lord’s Word, and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

Please be sure to sign up for our newsletter. Use the "Sign Up" button on our website, or go here: Sign Me Up!

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$50 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

Secure, conveniently contributions can be done online now. Click here: DONATE 

(or use the DONATE buttons on the blog.)

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc. 

P.O. Box 414   

Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.) 

Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn.  We appreciate your help.

Now Think On This #352 - in the year of our Lord 09.18.18 – “Stones”, Tuesday, 11:30 am

Remember When? Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Remember When?

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” (2 Thess. 2:16-17, NASU)

If one is not watchful the day to day cares of this world in our times will take the love, joy and peace out of what is good and wholesome in our walk. A lot of grayness has eliminated the “white is white” and the “black is black” reality that Scripture clearly gives us to stand on. Indeed, if it were not for the Word of God giving us a clear, unwavering view of what life is to be, and how to live it, we would be flailing under the weight of the massive turbulence about us.

There is just too much craziness out there for anyone to know what is truth, unless they continually keep their eyes, mind and purpose focused on He Who is Truth, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember what life was back when:

1. There was no need to be concerned if the boy was a boy and the girl a girl. You were one or the other, not something ridiculously conjured up by those denying the Creator of all.

2. Remember when a married couple (man and woman) was expecting a child, and all were grateful for new life coming? You believed the family life would surround the child with godliness, and the child’s growth would be surrounded by proper care and nurture.

3. Remember the times when you knew your neighbors, and the kids played without concern outside even when it got dark?

4. Recall those years when church life was an extension of family life – clear sermon messages, good potluck dinners and weekly times of being together truly built your spiritual life?

5. Wasn’t it great when celebrations of parades honored those who stood against evil, and didn’t permit those who flaunted it?

6. Weren’t there times in days gone by when we trusted what newsmen reported, when personal opinions and slanted persuasions didn’t exploit our information, but rather we had confidence in believing what was spoken and shown?

7. Didn’t we respect governmental leaders, educational teachers, and business owners to do the right thing, and lead the right way, for the benefit of those they had been given authority over and guidance for, and not for their own power and glory?

The list can go on and on, if we allow ourselves to relish those good memories shared by many.

Of course it too wasn’t a perfect world, but at least standards were rightly set and abiding in the ways of the Lord brought stability and certain hope for the future.

But as the Word says, we can have confidence and assurance of faith that He is in control, and fear need not over take us.

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” (2 Thess. 2:7-17, NASU)

The Lord will bring restoration of all things, even though at times His plans and purposes may seem hidden at times, as the darkness increases around us. Our trust in Him must not waver nor shall we grow weary in doing good. Standing strong on His Word will shine light in the midst of darkness.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

Please be sure to sign up for our newsletter. Use the "Sign Up" button on our website, or go here: Sign Me Up!

If these messages have ministered to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $10-$50 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless families in Israel whom we consistently help monthly through our humanitarian work. Your tax-deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

  

Secure, conveniently contributions can be done online now. Click here: DONATE 

(or use the DONATE buttons on the blog.)

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc. 

P.O. Box 414   

Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.) 

Please share Now Think On This with your friends on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and LinkedIn.  We appreciate your help.

Now Think On This #351 - in the year of our Lord 09.06.18 – “Remember When?”, Thursday, 10:45 am