Listening today to American Family Radio – “Understanding the Times Radio.” The guest was Dr. Ron Rhodes and he stated that three out of four teens today have been exposed to occultism. The latest percentages also say that 60 – 76% of males of all ages and positions in the church are viewing pornography on a regular basis – the percentage of females is about 35%.
These facts should stir up the hearts of parents and church leaders to become radical in touching all hearts with the deep teaching of the Word of God. The God of glory is returning for a Bride that is not walking in sin! God’s Word teaches if we hide God’s Word in our hearts we will not sin against Him!
Psalm 119:1-11 (NLT) 1 “Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. 2 Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. 3 They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. 4 You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. 5 Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! 6 Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. 7 As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! 8 I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me! 9 How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. 10 I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Re-read verse 9 – “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.” Verse 11 – “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Are we teaching God’s Word and making it life applicable? This needs to begin in the home. Teaching what it means to be holy as He is holy. Taking Galatians 5 and teaching verse by verse through the works of the flesh and teaching the Fruit of the Spirit. These are foundational truths after salvation that all must be willing to obey.
The works of the flesh starting with sexual sins including porn as Greek definition of fornication = porneia and sorcery are addressed plus many other sins in Galatians 5. Paul told the church, “Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” Playing around with evil spirits and allowing the lust of the flesh to dominate actions will destroy the soul! I must speak the truth and do it in love. I’ve been in ministry over 50 years of my 70 years of life. I’m in the trenches with the saved, but deeply wounded and see the devil’s destruction. I must speak truth for I will answer to God!
God forces no one to be holy as He is holy! He continues everyday to give us choice. As parents and church leaders, we will answer to God for what we do not do to influence our children for godliness. Bible teaching should be the most important activity of the church after sharing the gospel. ‘Living’ the Bible in the home is the greatest teacher. Do your children see you read God’s Word? Do you share His Word with your children? Do your children hear you pray?
One young godly teen told me that in her youth group the discussion is about how close can we get to sin – where is the fine line!!!! The discussion should be how close can we get to God! I have parents and youth tell me weekly through my nationwide counseling that almost all young men in church are viewing porn on a regular basis. The guys talk to each other about it. Then when they date the church girls, they ‘come on’ to them sexually. This is happening under our noses in the church and not much is being done. Even the cover-up of sin is happening in the church.
The use of porn creates a sexual addiction because it is a self-induced chemical addiction in the brain. This happens because users of porn satisfy self while using porn, even with visual porn engraved on the brain, and a chemical surge hits the brain that causes a stronger sensation than alcohol or any other drug available. The brain goes into overload and it causes brain damage as the receptors that process dopamine shut down. It destroys the brain, soul and body. It destroys the natural sensitivity that fulfills physical intimacy within marriage.
Who is teaching 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (MSG)?
16-20 “There’s more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, “The two become one.” Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than ever—the kind of sex that can never “become one.” There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for “becoming one” with another. Or didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.”
Our body does not belong to us. Our body belongs to God! Having ‘outer sex’ including oral sex is having sex. Anything that is done with the sexual parts of our body is having sex! Are we teaching this to our church body? Are parents willing to teach God’s design for His gift of sex to marriage? We must teach God’s Word and have a call of repentance to these fleshly sins and totally surrendering to God. We need continual teaching of living before God holy without sinning. John told the church that those who sin do not know God!
1 John 3:5-10 – NLT 5 “And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. 6 Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know Him or understand who He is.
7 Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. 8 But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 10 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.”
If my heart is heavy because of these sinful issues within the church, I cannot imagine the sadness in the heart of God looking at His children that He died on a cross for and has given His Spirit and see the lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and the pride of life controlling the hearts for fleshly sins!
I beg church leaders and parents get stirred in your hearts to teach your youth and all the church God’s Truth for sinless living before Him! With God all things are possible! It’s God Word that transforms hearts – Romans 12: 1&2.
NOTE: Carol Clemans – As a Bible teacher for 50 years, Holy Ghost anointed 61 years, Certified Pastoral Counselor for 24 years, it is my heart beat to teach for churches and conferences nationwide and counsel by phone/Skype (636) 448-0121 to help others grow and heal spiritually, emotionally and relationally.
Go to: www.carolclemans.org for ‘about ministry’, teaching products, book: GOD’S DESIGN FOR MARRIAGE as soft cover or eBook: amazon.com – plus 295+ articles on God’s Word.