Dead Drunk (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We are all prisoners of sin. Desires of the flesh lead to death. (James 1:15) Are you a prisoner to your own desires of flesh? Some people think “desires of the flesh” is a personal sexual deviancy, but pleasures of the flesh self is so much more than that. I recently learned about some old friends who were captive to alcohol related addictions, which in essence are sinful flesh pleasures. Addictions are like having 2-faces, the face we show people around us, and the face we know God can see. My one friend lost his job for being drunken at work, then his home for lack of being employed & employable, then his last breath in life. My other friend lost her job due to her complications in needing a new liver, and yet when it came time to receive her new liver she couldn’t stay sober to receive the donation. It is such a grievous situation, and it is the work of the enemy, which is out to destroy lives. I am going to need to study the Biblical teaching about alcohol since I like to drink beer. I myself have had very ungodly behavior with beer in my past. I had fun, I laughed, I enjoyed myself while living in the vice of the world. I see now how I was God’s unruly child. I swam in my self-indulgent pleasures. I am so glad I am not that person anymore. The good Lord is redeeming me every single day, I am so grateful, and you can be too. You have free will to choose.

For me it was a light bulb moment when the Lord showed me that sin has many faces. Sin doesn’t always look like something ugly (rape, murder, child molesters) Sin has many faces, and many more ways to allow people to become entrapped by the works of the enemy. Sometimes sin looks harmless, or even scrumptious. We all are sinners to pleasures of the flesh. There is a constant battle with the ego (the flesh self) that is always at hand. Seeking righteousness is such a wonderful way to see inside our own heart. The truth of who we really are, not what others see, or what we show others, or even what others say. Then in dealing with all the sinful layers of our unwantedness we can slowly rid our self of our sinfulness (desires of the ego flesh self). Seeking the Lord’s bounty is also so very priceless in emotional healing from wounds, and the poverty of emotions, that can lead to sin, such as addictions. It’s not exactly easy either, since worldly passions are contentions of everyday life. Sin is always enticing us in one way or another. Armed with the Lord we all can conquer the demon that traps us, and deceives us from the promises and prosperity of Gods want for us. Purify Your Heart…

LOVE JOY & JESUS

(TITUS 2:11-14 NIV)

“11: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12: It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13: while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14: who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”