MORTIFY YOUR MEMBERS

I have been disturbed, or bothered by something and as usual the way for me to release it is to write about it , so this is not for those who will be offended or can not handle confrontation, as for me I say things like they are, and if it is truth… let the truth been known. There is no excuse for us Christians, we have the Word to direct us and teach us what the Devils schemes are and how to better equip ourselves, there are common knowledge things that even a small child would know not to do, but yet you have Christian adults doing things they KNOW they should not do. I really have a problem with Christianity today, and it really has not changed but has probably gotten worse. I think I am pretty simple minded if the bible says something, especially to the mature, should we not have the brains to understand what it is saying? Why have we candy coated the gospel? What do you mean Michele? Since I have been saved 29 years, I have heard of a few well known leaders fall and sin being exposed. And I very well understand, “but for the grace of God do I stand”, but don’t you think we need to stop making excuses for the sins of the church? Should’nt we stop closing a blind eye to the things that go on, I know churches (that are right in my own backyard) where the leaders are aware of the sin of adultery in their congregation and they are closing a blind eye to it, what has happened to the TRUE gospel? Let me answer that for you, NOTHING!!! The question should be what has gone wrong in the hearts of the people? Let me answer that one for you, NO REPENTANCE, COMPROMISE, and IDOLARTY. Let us look at some scripture for a moment the bible says this in Col 3:1 if ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Are these Christians (who are leaders) have they been raised with God? 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. Of course they have when you give your life to God and you are baptized your laying your old man down and your new man is coming alive, but the secret is (which really is not a secret) but common sense, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE!!! How can you seek those things which are above and be a mature Christian and still dabble in sexual sins of the flesh especially same sex!!(Any sexual sin)I have a problem with it. I can understand a new Christian (a babe) struggling with things but these are mature leaders that have been exposed! I have said for years if you have not dealt with your demons before you go into ministry, they will pop they ugly head up and bite you where the sun don’t shine!! All the more to say continually “God show me my heart and if there be any evil way show me”, just like David did. Again, the bible is so articulate as to what it says about how we conduct our lives here, how much more should the mature understand it? I am opened for someone to help me to understand this, but I am really tired of the crap that goes no in Christianity, How must the LORD feel with his children, I remember when I was little I was so disappointed when my dad was mad at me, I wanted to make it right, so that he was not angry anymore. As it is in the natural so it is in the spiritual, the church needs to make it right with their Father in heaven.

Col 3:2 set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Col 3:3 for ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

 Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? How more plainer can this be??

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

The church has set their affections on the things of this world!! And there needs to be a real eye opener to repentance. I am tired of greasy grace!!

What really bugs me is that these people go on national TV and expose there sin, again someone help me to understand this. My bible tells me to go to one another, in the church, to deal with sin, not go on National TV, where God is made a mockery!!!

Col 3:5  Mortify ( to deaden, that is, (figuratively) to subdue: - be dead, mortify.)Subdue means, gain dominion over, as by war or force, to repress (emotions, impulses)

 therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: do you know what the word concupiscence means well the Webster’s says it means this , unknown or illicit sexual desire, lust, any inordinate appetite or desire. The Greek meaning is this: a longing (especially for what is forbidden) lust (after) to set the heart upon to covet, a passion

Why is it we see men and women of the faith falling into sexual sin? Instead of finding excuses for them, why not address the real problem…SIN. Maybe we need to hear more preaching about purity to God then how to make more money!

How is that it is SO plain in scripture, but yet Christians can still find reasons to give in to the flesh, and THINK that their sin will not be found out? Is there a difference in falling short say in anger than sexual sin? I think both are a snare of the enemy and both are a breach in our lives. But I think putting off and Mortifying are to different things. “Putting off” means to lay aside, or lay down, cast off, to put away , it is like taking off a garment, Now Mortify means to subdue, in other words GO TO WAR AND GAIN DOMINION OVER THOSE IMPULSES!! Again we have not been left IGNORANT!! So there is no excuse for  those things, there needs to be a recognition in the body of Christ that SIN and that is what is happening when we see leaders dabbling in the things that they should KNOW to MORTIFY, but yet are standing declaring the Word of God and continuing in their sin … until they get caught, and lose everything, is it worth it?

Col 3:6 for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: This is not written to the unsaved!! The bible is written to the church, HELLO!!!! The wrath of God will come down on those who practice sin, I know you do not want to hear this, but they are not my words they are the God of heaven and earth, and he has a standard for us to live by, why are we not living it!!! What we sow we will reap!! Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Col 3:7 in the which  ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

Col 3:8  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

Col 3:9  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

Col 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

I have been carrying this with a burning in my heart that the world is and has been hearing and watching through the media. It is high time we as Christians, especially mature ones, are you not mature if you have been preaching the word and studying it and running a church for years, to the point that you have thousands attending, a church does not grow over night, my point is if you are mature and you are teaching the things of God, you had better live what you are preaching!!! I know we are all capable of falling but it is common sense like I said before to know what is wrong in some things, it is different if you are maybe being deceived in some things and then a light goes on by the Holy Spirit, but sexual sin is and always will be blatant , even a child when he or she is brought up in a morally up right family with out the standard that most Christians have been taught to  live by will know that sex with the same sex is wrong or sex outside of marriage is wrong., Christians (who are leaders) who know to do right and do not do it. HE THAT IS BEGOTTEN OF GOD KEEPS HIMSELF

 1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

1Jn 5:17  All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

1Jn 5:18  We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

3Jn 1:11  Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

I believe with all my heart the reason leaders have fallen into concupiscence is because they have not seen God, when you truly see Him and know him you will have fear that will cause you to MORTIFY your members so that you remain pure as he is pure!

 LET ME SAY THIS: IF YOU LOVE HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART SOUL MIND AND STRENGTH, YOU WILL NOT WANT TO HURT HIM SADDEN HIM DISAPPOINT HIM! This is my standard to righteous living. Loving him is the key to not sinning!! Yes it is a journey we are being changed from glory to glory, I know that, but when we know to do well and do not do it is SIN!! Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

God did not make stupid people, yes they are blind in some cases, but there is no excuse for those who have been claiming to be mature, to give into something that a 10 year old would know is wrong!!

Look again at the meaning of the word MORTIFY- it means subdue-which means gain dominion over, as by war or force, to repress (emotions, impulses) Again we are equipped to overcome all compulsions of the enemy, of the flesh, he has made us to overcome , the question is do we want to, ? The truth is, sin is pleasurable, the truth is if it feels good do it, and the truth is THERE IS A PENALTY FOR SIN!! At least that is what my bible says. What happened to “take off your shoes we are standing on holy ground”, There is no fear of God in the church we have used him to build bigger and better (so we think) churches and ministries, only to see Humpty Dumpty fall down!! Listen I hope you hear my heart , I do not care if people think I am being judgmental , I know I am not, but I am raising my banner and it is a standard of holiness!! How about you? What is does your banner say? We are in a battle, continually , but we are the winners, the battle is the LORDS the victory is ours, there is a lifestyle we must gain ,and it is through warfare, we have to tell our flesh creature he is dead, it is no longer I that lives but Christ that lives in me!!! Is that so hard to understand for mature Christians? Again someone help me to see differently. If they can. We have to fight for the faith. We are soldiers in Gods army.

Jud 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Let me leave you with this, If your standard is coming from the pulpit or the TV preachers, or even a “good” book, but they are falling all around you, then you had better look again as to where you get your standard, the bible says study to show thyself approved, you had better know truth for yourself and what his heart is longing for because in most cases it always opposes mans ways. And seek the LORD with all your heart soul and strength, because it is His standard that will lead you into truth and life everlasting!

In His Service, Michele