Marketplace Evangelism Today

Do You Seek the Things That Are From Above in Your Everyday Life?

Do You Seek the Things That Are From Above in Your Everyday Life?

Scripture taken from Colossians 3:1-2. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

If we continue to read Colossians 3, we would understand that this passage is talking about putting on a new self in Christ Jesus. Everyday, we are barraged with the evils of this world. The generation we are now living in is filled with so many abominations, it is almost as bad if not worse than Sodom and Gomorrah.

What was once considered by society pure and holy is now considered intolerable by this sinful and evil society. What was once considered abominations to God is now celebrated as wonderful and the right to practice sin and glorify it.

When we, as Followers of Christ Jesus are not in Church, what are we filling our minds with? I was recently reading a book that John Piper wrote.

He said that he doesn’t have a television at home because of the “subtle and pervasive dehumanizing banality of most television programming. This is the last thing a person needs when he is standing on the brink of eternity.”

The subtle programming has recently gotten worse since Piper wrote those words. Now, abominations to God are right in your face with every turn you make when watching television or participating in social media. Many social media platforms have allowed nudity and sexual encounters and perversion to be shown on their platforms. Certainly, Sodom and Gomorrah are being repeated right in the United States.

Let’s understand what Paul was writing in Colossians 3:1-2. If believers have been raised with Christ, it means that we have died to self and raised back up with Jesus. We have put off our old selves and have put on our new selves in our daily walk with Jesus. We are living our lives in a manner that is holy and pleasing to Jesus. We are seeking things from above. Our obedience is a response of gratitude of God’s favor which is already bestowed on us as Followers of Christ Jesus.

We are seeking to continue to live our lives holy because Christ Jesus sits on the right hand of God. The phrase “seated at the right hand of God” refers to the authority of Jesus over the world. RC Sproul writes, “The Christian life must be lived with an abiding confidence in and submission to the lordship of Christ.”

When we live our lives the other six days of the week, and we are not in Church, let us not participate in consuming the filth of this evil world. Instead, let us fill our free time with reading God’s Word, listening to Christ centered podcasts or programming. Listen to Christian music. Fill your mind with God and His Words and teachings.

The minute that you say it’s okay to watch a program or movie with cursing and sexuality, you are opening your mind to the evil one. This done over and over will condition your mind to start accepting sin as the norm. Instead, stay steady in Christ. Although we are in the world, we are not to participate in the sin of this evil world.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, If I have sinned against you by watching and listening to sin filled programming, I ask for forgiveness. Please help me to withstand the schemes of Satan through his temptations. Send your Holy Spirit to teach me what you want me to learn and change about myself. I want to live my life in a manner that is pleasing to you. I ask this in the name of Jesus.

Amen

References:

John Piper, “Lessons From a Hospital Bed,” 2016.

R. C. Sproul, The Reformation Study Bible, 2015.

Do You Pray For Others When You Yourself Are Sick?

Do You Pray For Others When You Yourself Are Sick?

Scripture taken from Luke 21:12-13, “But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.”

I am currently reading a study that John Piper wrote called “Lessons From a Hospital Bed.” In the book, Piper wrote, “Pray for patients near you, and if possible – without undue offense – see if your roommates will let you pray for them and give them words of hope in Jesus.”

Piper also wrote the above Scripture and inserted additional words. Let me share them with you now. “You will be brought before kings and governors (and doctors and nurses and patients) for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.” Can you imagine the impact you can make for the gospel of Christ offering to pray for other patients, pray for doctors and nurses?

His analogy reminds me of when my Dad was in the hospital. He was in suffering from a bleeding stomach ulcer. The doctors had cauterized the ulcer and it had stopped bleeding. The next day, my Dad was brought to a room from the emergency department and his roommate was a man named Mr. Crumpler. My Dad started talking to this man about Jesus. He witnessed to him. Our pastor came to see my Dad and the pastor led Mr. Crumpler to Christ Jesus. That night, my Dad passed into the loving arms of Jesus due to complications from the stomach endoscopy. Even on his last day on this side of eternity, my Dad was instrumental in leading his roommate to Christ Jesus.

My Dad has been an inspiration to me all these years. I come from a family of Christian men and women who were in ministry as well as laypeople in the Church. I cannot stop talking about Jesus and how He has made a difference in my own life.

There is a saying among us who are in ministry. “You are as close to Jesus as you want to be! How close are you truly to Christ Jesus?” If you are a “true” Christian, then it is your responsibility to tell others about your Lord and Savior. It is your responsibility to pray for those who are sick as well as those who are suffering and are in need.

We must bear witness so that others may know the hope that we have in Christ Jesus. Jesus said that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. One of the greatest acts of love is to show that you care for people. Do this by praying for them when you see them. If they are in the hospital, offer to pray for them. Give them the encouragement that they need in Christ Jesus. “You never know, you may be the only Bible people will ever read! You may be the only Jesus people will ever see!” – (Unknown)

Prayer: Dear Jesus, Help me to be a witness for you! I am willing to step out on faith and pray for others. Use me for your ministry.

In Jesus Name.

Amen.

Reference:

John Piper, Lessons From a Hospital Bed, 2016.

The Digital Fruit of Good and Evil

The technology that we have today is such that would appear to be space age only 57 years ago when Star Trek first aired as a television series. Their commutator looked like a flip phone that was invented only 27 years ago.

Today, we have smartphones that can do everything, from making telephone calls worldwide to FaceTiming with our loved ones on any day of the week. We can also search the internet and find anything we are looking for on this digital fruit. We can find good things as well as evil things.

Many Christians may use their smartphones to read the Bible or other Christian content. There are some though who have addictions to pornography who can find just about anything in this filthy sexually immoral world with just a few search words in a search engine. Then millions of pages of porn will appear at just a few words searched.

These smartphones can be called the “digital fruit of good and evil.” This is why parents should not be giving their children smartphones with internet access. A good parent would not give a child a loaded gun to play with. Why in the world would they allow their children to have access to some of the most vile images on the internet?

Possibly because the parent is naive, they trust their children and want to give them opportunities to be trusted. The problem I see with this is the same analogy of not giving your children loaded guns to play with. Patents need to protect their children so that they eyes and their minds will be protected from the evil of this world.

Even adults can be affected by viewing pornography. I know a man who struggled with pornography early in life. He was delivered from that sin once he fully came to Christ. Later in life, he got a smartphone. One day he was doing a search in a search engine and accidentally stumbled on a porn site. He tried and tried not to view the image but it was like an alcoholic taking a drink after 20 years. His addiction came back and he viewing pornography on a regular basis, but this time, it was so easily accessed on his digital device. It was only through much prayer and reading through the Word of God that he was able to break this addiction through Christ Jesus.

These smartphones are truly a “fruit of good and evil.” Be very careful how you use them. When I think back in Genesis, God gave both Adam and Eve one commandment, do not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. They may eat of any other tree, but not this tree. In Genesis 2:16-17, it reads, “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Unfortunately, Eve disobeyed God at the suggestion of Satan, the snake, and ate of the forbidden fruit. Then she encouraged Adam to do the same. And then they both realized their nakedness, and they made coverings for their private parts and covered themselves because they were ashamed. And God came into the Garden and was looking for them. They hid from Him. When God found them and found out what they did, He banished them from the Garden of Eden.

I find it interesting that a certain digital company has chosen a fruit as their logo. As I was meditating before the Lord, this story came to my mind pertaining to digital fruit. Perhaps we should reconsider how we use digital fruit when we are searching the internet. The fact that evil is just a click away is concerning. Parents, if you truly love your children, wait before giving your child a digital fruit that contains “good and evil.”

I pray that you will consider these words written. These smartphones should only be given to mature older children. Once children see the evil that can be accessed, they cannot be unseen.

Photo Credit: TextArt

Thanksgiving: Giving God Thanks for all Our Blessings

Every year, we have a holiday called Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving has many meanings for many different people. As for me and my house, we give thanks to God for all of His provisions and blessings.

Take a look at one of my favorite Bible Scriptures, Psalm 100. I know it by heart and was taught it at a very young age.

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Look at verse 4, Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him and bless His name. We are to praise God in all of our circumstances and give thanks for all of His blessings in our lives.

The thing that I am most thankful for is that God sent His Son Jesus into the world to save the world. I believe in Jesus and I know, that I know, that I know, that if I died tonight, I would be with Christ Jesus! This and this alone is my greatest thanksgiving that I could ever experience is knowing the love, sacrifice, and grace of Jesus the Messiah.

What is your greatest thing you are thankful for that has eternal consequences?

God is Love

God is Love (1 John 4:7-12)

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.”

Yes friends, God is love. In 1 John 4:7-12, we are instructed that since God is love, we are to love one another. It is implied that those who do not love does not love God, nor do they know Him. The reasoning is that if they knew God, they would know that God is love.

Through God’s love, He made manifest among us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. God did not send His Son into the world because we loved Him, but because God loved us so very much that He sent His Son into the world to be the propitiation for our sins. Therefore, if God loved us this much, we ought to love one another. Since no one who is living now has ever seen God, if we love one another, then that is a sign that God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

The love of our Heavenly Father for His own Son is the source that binds all believers together as a family. By our Heavenly Father who has willfully given us His only Son, He has introduced us to perfect love and eternal life. By Christ Jesus coming into the world, He turned His Father’s righteous anger away from us and Jesus satisfied God’s justice in our place. Jesus did this to fulfill God’s love for us.

We should be comforted that God does love us so very much that He was willing to send His only Son as a living sacrifice for the redemption of our sins. If we say that we love God, then we must love one another as Christ loved us.

One of the most important commandments that Jesus told us was to love God with all our hearts, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (cf. Matthew 22:37-39). And if we have love for our neighbor, then we love God. If we do not have love for our neighbor, then we do not love God.

Once you invite Jesus into your heart, the Helper which is the Holy Spirit will live in you and help you with your faith. He will teach you. Your life will start to change. Your hatred for others will dissipate and through the Holy Spirit, you will have love for those who have hurt you and ridiculed you. You will have the love of Christ Jesus in you. That is how you can love others. I pray that you will find the peace and love of God only found through a relationship with Christ Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I ask that you forgive me of my sins and those who I have sinned against. Please help me to forgive others as I have been forgiven. I ask that you help me to love others as you have loved me. Amen.

Watching Horror Films and other TV Shows Can Open You Up to Demonic Influences

Recently, on Instagram, a man was in a video talking about Demonic influences from watching horror films. He said that sometimes in these horror films, the producers of the film will introduce Satanic rituals, sayings, curses, and witchcraft. He was correct in all that he disclosed.

The same holds true for other films, TV programs, and secular music. For instance, in films that have sex or a lot of cursing, after listening to those words over and over, the demonic forces can infiltrate your mind, and you might be alone one day and start to hear these curse words in your mind. I know of someone this has happened to.

Watching sexual relations on film or TV can allow demonic activity into your home through a Jezebel spirit. You may think that you are mature and think that you can handle this, but there was a reason that Jesus said that looking at another woman and having lustful thoughts is committing adultery. See Matthew 5:28.

Watching these films and TV shows that promote sexual sin, perversion, and opening your mind to satanic rituals and witchcraft on film, is a dangerous endeavor. It can lead to demonic oppression and possession.

The Bible says that we should seek to live holy lives that are pleasing to God. Look at Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” In Ephesians 4:27, we are not to give any opportunity to the devil.

Our Heavenly Father gave us His ways to live by. See Leviticus 19:31, “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.” Opening your mind up to these things are dangerous and will make a person who follows Christ Jesus unclean.

The filmmakers in Hollywood do not have your best interest at heart. They produce some of the most vile things which are abominations to God. We are to stay away from such things. Stop watching filth and evil on your TV’s and devices. By doing do, you are opening your minds up to negative influences which are demonic in nature.

If you have done this or are currently doing it now, stop it! Repent from these things. Ask forgiveness that you have done these things. Renounce them to the Lord and pray that the Holy Spirit will live in you daily.

I am going to tell you that unless you are serious and determined, if you are addicted to watching this stuff, Satan isn’t going to just let you go. He already has been influencing your life through these films and movies. You must plead the Blood of Jesus over yourself. Ask a Bible believing Christian to pray for you and over you.

These influences are of the spiritual world. If you have been taking this stuff in over the years, you may not be able to break away so easily. I know of professing Christians who got addicted to porn and it took a great deal of prayer and counseling for them to finally break away and walk upright and righteous with Jesus.

I will pray for you that you will stop allowing sin in your homes, that you will turn all of your life over to Christ Jesus. Stay away from evil. Don’t allow it in your homes. Repent and turn from this wickedness. Jesus will forgive you if you ask.

Clean Hands, Clean Heart

Yesterday, while washing my hands before eating at a restaurant, a thought came into my mind. As I looked down at my hands, I thought about the work my hands have done throughout my life.

I have not always lived for Jesus. I remembered how my hands were used in my sin nature. No matter how often I washed my hands, the sin nature would always be there. I could not make myself clean.

Then I thought of Pontius Pilate and how he washed his hands after condemning Jesus to be crucified on the cross. See Matthew 27:24, “So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”

The fact is Pilate was not innocent as he had no authority to wash his own sins away. Symbolically, he thought he was innocent, but he was the one to order the death of Christ Jesus, and there was nothing to take that stain of sin off his hands.

The same is with us. Without true faith in Christ Jesus, all the sins we have committed are on our own hands. Our dirty rotten sin nature is caused from an evil heart, which is full of vile thoughts and sin.

In order for the heart to be cleansed, and to be made righteous through Christ Jesus, one must turn from their evil ways, believe on the name of the Lord Jesus, and they will be saved. Belief without true life changing works is dead. If one truly comes to the saving grace of Jesus, the Holy Spirit will come into our lives as promised by Jesus. The Holy Spirit will teach us and convict us when we sin again.

If one says they believe, but there is no change in their life, and they continue sinning like the way they have always sinned, then I would say that they are not following Jesus, because when one truly comes into the saving grace of Jesus, there will be evidence that their life is starting to change. They will not desire to continue sinning.

Look at James 2:14-26, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Issac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

Once the heart is cleansed through Christ Jesus, then the Holy Spirit seals you. Your heart is cleansed from sin and now your hands are cleaned. You have been washed clean through the blood of Jesus. He died on the cross to save you and me of our sins.

The gift of everlasting life is yours to take as long as you believe in Him. Jesus said in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Look at Romans 10:9-11, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Now look at Revelation 1:5b, “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” It is only through Christ Jesus that all of our sins can be completely washed away. Jesus took all our sin on the cross with Him. In His death, our sins were forgiven. In His resurrection, we have life and have it more abundantly.

If you want clean hands, you must start with a heart cleaning. Faith in Christ Jesus and repentance from your sins will cleanse your heart and then you will have clean hands. You will be washed in the blood of the lamb. I pray that you will turn over your heart and your life to Him today.

Roofing Storm Chasers are Coming!

As many of you know, not only am I involved in ministry, but I also own an independent insurance agency. Our agency sells a lot of homeowners insurance, and we feel confident that we have insured our clients correctly. We made sure that when we sold our clients, they had all the extra endorsements to take care of wind damage in the event of a major storm.

This weekend, a tropical storm will most likely hit the area. The meteorologists are forecasting that this storm will have some significant hail. Hail can cause major damage to your roof. I want to assure you that we will be there when you need us most!

I also want to warn you about out of town roofing storm chasers. Some of these contractors may be legitimate, but there are always certain individuals that do the most ungodly things to people who have major damage to their property.

Unfortunately, what comes after these storms are roofing contractors from out of town. We call these contractors storm chasers. Please beware of Roofing Contractor Storm Chasers who are not located in Virginia or your state. Be careful who you decide to do business with. If they only have a business card but no office or location that you can confirm is legitimate, I suggest that you do not do business with them.

There are many reasons why I issue you this caution. A few years ago, one of my clients used a storm chasing contractor. I had warned her not to use him because I could not verify him through any local companies. The out-of-town contractor took all of the insurance money and then did a sub-par repair to her roof and siding. He left and was unable to be found. Unfortunately, the insurance company is only going to pay once for storm damages per claim. She came back and wanted the insurance company to issue her a new check, but it was too late. The contractor cashed the check that she wrote him, and the money was gone. She was a victim of an unscrupulous contractor. The insurance company will not pay twice.

Don’t become a victim of being scammed. There are several things that you can do to verify these contractors. To avoid problems, I would only use a Virginia Licensed Contractor is who insured and will issue you a Certificate of Insurance proving they have insurance. You may send me a copy of the certificate and I will be more than happy to verify insurance for your contractor on your behalf. A local contractor who has been in business for years would be my recommendation.

Here are the tips to verify a contractor.

Get the Contractors Name and company name. I can call the Commonwealth of Virginia on your behalf to verify if this contractor is in good standing with Virginia. If he or she is not, then I would not use them.
Call the company to verify that the person you are speaking with is with that company. Look the company number up on Google. Look at their Google Reviews. If they have a bad review, stay away.
Obtain a Certificate of Insurance from the Contractor. If he or she hands you a copy of his or her policy, ask for a Certificate of Insurance be sent from their insurance agent to you listing you as a Certificate Holder. (Remember that I will call the insurance company listed on the Certificate on your behalf to make sure they are really insured.) If they hand you a policy and you do not verify that the policy is in force, then you may have a problem as the policy could be cancelled.
Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if said contractor has any complaints. If they do, look at the resolutions done by the contractor. Do not do business with a contractor that has bad reviews with no positive resolutions.
If the contractor cannot be verified as legitimate, then please don’t do business with them. As I mentioned before, I would only do business with a licensed Virginia Contractor who is insured.

By doing these simple checks, they can save yourself much grief in case you hire a bad contractor.

Let’s discuss why you need a Certificate of Insurance. By obtaining a certificate, this is a legal document which a licensed insurance agent will issue. This describes coverages. You want a contractor who carries General Liability with Products and Completed Operations. If that contractor puts a sub-par roof on, you may have recourse against the contractor by filing a claim against his insurance. As I mentioned, I will call the insurance company to verify coverage for you. This is a service that I do for all my clients.

I pray that we will not see any significant damages, but if we do, we will be there when you need us most! I will be praying for all my clients and friends.

The Key to Success

Recently, I saw someone post on Facebook the following message, “The Key to success is to Put God First. Matthew 6:33.” Now, I do agree that I have found success in my faith walk, when I put God first, when I embrace Christ Jesus and all that He did for me on the cross, that is the KEY to my Salvation, which is belief on the Lord Jesus Christ, and I will be saved. But is what I just mentioned the real intent of the original post? I do not think it is.

I have seen writings from the prosperity gospel preachers that will say, the key to your success is to “Put God First.” But how does one measure success? What did Jesus mean when he said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Exactly what will be added to you?

First, let us understand that Matthew 6:33 is not talking about success of becoming wealthy. One Scripture taken out of many means that this Scripture may have been taken out of context. This was the last Scripture verse of many. I will provide you with the context of what is being discussed by Jesus. Let us look at the entire passage taken from Matthew 6:25-34. In the Bible, the subject matter is titled “Do Not Be Anxious.”

Do Not Be Anxious

²⁵“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?²⁸And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.³⁴“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Now tell me, did you see anything in the above Scripture passage that discussed success or wealth? Neither did I. The passage discusses that we, as Followers of Christ Jesus, should not be anxious about anything in life. God will provide for us what is needed. According to the notes in the Reformation Trust Bible, “Anxiety over the uncertainty or scarcity of resources to sustain physical life reveals a faltering faith in the Father’s care for His children. Confident prayer, with thanks is the antidote.”[1]

The passage says that we should not be anxious or worry, that the Father will provide food and clothing for us. He is the source of what is provided to sustain us in life.

The conclusion is this, we must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things such as food and clothing and shelter, will be provided to us. According to the concordance notes, “seeking the kingdom of God means that we must repent of our sins, and we make God’s Redemptive Rule, repentance, and desire a right relationship with Him. These are the highest priorities of our lives. Worry is inconsistent with this priority; its doubts distract from these supreme goals. God will meet all the needs of those who risk all for Him.”[2]

The phrase “The key to my success is to put God first” is correct, but in the context of only when we consider that success is not monetary gain. We have success in Christ Jesus when we repent from sin and follow Him and risk it all for Him, by doing so, our Heavenly Father will supply all our needs to feed us and clothe us. We should not worry about tomorrow because God has this for us! He will provide what we need to survive today.

Reference:

[1] The Reformation Study Bible, Sproul, R.C. General Editor (Sanford, FL: The Reformation Trust Publishing, 2015) 1682.

[2] Reformation Trust Bible, 1682.

Photo Credit: Facebook

Sexual Immorality is the Number One Sin that Can Destroy a Marriage!

Written by Joseph T. Lee for Marketplace Evangelism Ministries Inc.

Did you know that sexual immorality is the number one sin that can destroy a marriage? That is our opinion because of what the Bible says what will occur in the last days before the return of Christ Jesus. Now there are many great sins one can commit, but sexually immorality can lead to a diverse set of problems in a marriage that causes one to lie, be deceitful, have a secret sin, be unfaithful, have extra marital affairs, and sleeping with a prostitute. Lusting after another woman or man means that one is committing adultery in their heart according to Jesus (cf. Matthew 5:28-29).

Men and women, when you view pornography, you are looking upon another human being with lust in your heart. You are engaging in adultery of the heart. If you take it one step further and masturbate to these images, you have committed adultery if you are married or fornication if you are single, by proxy, meaning using masturbation, another substitute process to achieve the desired outcome of orgasm. By doing so while married, you have in fact cheated on your wife. You have in your mind and heart, lusted after another woman or man. You have in fact committed adultery in your heart and in your mind.

Here are some starling facts. According to Barna Research, there are over 40 million Americans who are regular visitors of pornographic websites. There are over 42 million porn sites on the internet. As of 2022, around 50% of families in the United States reported that pornography was a problem in their home. Pornography increases marital infidelity by over 300%. 56% of American divorces involve one party having an obsessive interest in pornographic websites. 70% of Christian Youth Pastors report that they have had at least one teen come to them for help dealing with porn in the last 12 months. 68% of church going men and over 50% of pastors view porn on a regular basis. Of young Christian adults 18-24 years of age, 76% actively search for porn daily. 59% of pastors state that married men seek help for porn use. 33% of women aged 25 and under search for porn at least one time per month. 13% of self-identified Christian women say they have never watched porn. 87% of Christian women admit to watching porn. 57% of pastors state that porn addiction is the most damaging issue in their congregation. 69% of pastors state that porn has adversely impacted the church.

As you can see, pornography leads to sexual immorality. There are many Scriptures speaking out against sexual immorality in both the Old and the New Testaments. It is mentioned in all the four gospels as well as in Paul’s writings. Jesus said that marriage is a holy union of a man and woman. See Matthew 19:5-6, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So, they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Once a man or woman starts to view pornography and the addiction starts, then the marriage is in trouble with the offender satisfying himself or herself by viewing images of other men and women. The offenders have defiled the marriage by committing adultery in their hearts and again by proxy while masturbating to images of naked people.

Why is there so much sexual immorality in our nation and world? I as well as other pastors believe that the demonic spirit of Jezabel has been released on this earth to roam and is influencing the hearts and minds of men and women. The Bible has spoken of Jezabel multiple times. She was a wicked queen and wife to an evil king named Ahab. She had a reputation of murder and sexual perversion and sexual immorality. A Jezabel spirit is of demonic influence and causes destruction in marriages through deception and seduction.

In the Book of Revelation 2:18-29, the Apostle John has had a vision of what is to come. Jesus is addressing the seven churches and mentions the following of the church of Thyatira.

“18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am He who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ -Revelation 2:18-29

The Church of Thyatira could apply to any Christian Church today. The fact that a Jezabel spirit can destroy marriages with the use of pornography and sexual immorality is awful. Demonic influences are helping men and women to destroy their marriages because these men and women are not truly grounded in the Word of God. With only 8% of Christians who read their Bible daily, no wonder there is so much sexual perversion and immorality in the Church as well as in the United States and all over the world. Reading your Bible daily will feed your mind with holy words from God. Once one becomes a true Christian, the Holy Spirit comes into your life to dwell in you to teach you as well as guide your life. He will help you recognize when you have sinned by conviction and encourage you to pray to God to ask for forgiveness of sins. But when a person starts to view wickedness, then those demonic spirits will start to influence you to lust and to sin. That is why it is so very important for young and as well as older married couples to read the Bible together and to pray together as well as pray alone.

I once knew a man who professed to be a Christian but did not lead in his family. He thought he knew it all and would not take advice from those who truly loved him and wanted the best for him in his spiritual life and marriage. He did not take the opportunity to lead his wife in Bible reading or study. Instead, he was more interested in the ways of the world, and he read books on other religions, got involved in occultic practices, and started viewing pornography. This man would go into another room to watch his porn, masturbate, and then denied his wife of love and affection. The marriage ended up failing and now they are divorced.

Those of you who have ears, let them hear. Repent of your wickedness. Pray and ask forgiveness to Christ Jesus for your sins and ask your wife or husband to forgive you. Turn back to Christ Jesus. Immerse yourself reading the Bible and praying daily. Pornography addition can be overcome through a dedicated commitment led by the Holy Spirit. If you must, seek counseling from a Christian counselor. Do not get yourself involved in such wickedness that you allow demonic influences to enter your life and into your marriage. I pray that you will turn back to God and confess your sins and seek forgiveness.

Credit: Barna Research

Photo Credit: Text Art