Sexual Purity - I hate my flesh

I have done good for sooo long and then recently I have compromised with my eyes and my thoughts.And also my flesh I want to make an oath to God should I do that.

All an oath means is that you're determined to [i]try harder[/i] to not sin. This is a common mistake lots of believers make after they yield to temptation and are distraught. I will share with you something very unpopular here: If you make an oath to God, God will see to it that you break it. I know that sounds crazy, but it's true.

As long as you're making oaths to Him, you're expressing that you're be able to keep from sin by your own strength. It's a clever trap that your flesh will play on you. From the moment of your salvation, God's aim has been to divorce you from the idea that you can walk in a way pleasing to Him by your own efforts. The way He teaches you grace is by allowing failure after failure to crush any attempt at living righteously that might begin in the flesh.

True Christianity is wrought by living your life [i]from the inside out[/i] of Christ. Anything more than this can be achieved by willpower, and I've found that human willpower is not accepted by God. Instead, we must learn what it means to "walk in the Spirit" whereby the deeds of the flesh are mortifed. Now, if you could make an oath to God and keep it...imagine what a boast you could make! Tragically, many preachers make this very boast before the unconverted and spiritually downtrodden, and this does more to frustrate things than anything else.

it's so true. All I've been doing is failing and then trying harder! And then I would feel proud and even said in my heart " Well I won't talk to those "weaker " brothers that cannot control themselves, because I am sooo strong now ! Judging others. What should I do about my oath I don't want the Lord to punish me.

It's a blessed thing when a believer comes to the realization you've come to. All of the broken oaths, the defeats, the failures, the "letting God down"...all of these things God will use to work for your good, to teach you grace and the power of the blood.

There is no condemnation, dear friend. Two laws are at play within you: the law of sin and the law of grace. The latter is used to transcend the former, and God by the Spirit will teach you these divine physics in time...but not before you confess your utter incapability to do anything for him but fail. Christ must finally take the centralized position in the nucleus of your spirit. This position is wrought by Him allowing us to fail repeatedly - sometimes hundreds of times before we finally surrender and lay down dead. Some of us are pretty thick-headed and die-hards. Notice, I speak from personal experience. The process is painful indeed - yet necessary.

So, give up trying to please God, resolve to make no more resolutions, give up trying to live a sinless existence by your own power, give up trying to meet the expectations of other holy men who have shared with you their testimonies. Stop listening to legalistic preachers and reading their books and trying to emulate their lifestyles. The secret to victory is in giving up like Jonah and allowing yourself to be tossed overboard - to just sink down, down, down into the dark depths where God has a sancuary waiting to receive you. [i]The reason you keep failing is because you're too strong[/i]. You need to become zero-level weak; God will then take the controls from your surrendered, resting hands and replace your efforts with His strong, wonder-working power that passes all understanding.

Brother Paul

thanks bro !! God has been good to me, and I feel bad when I fail him. I also think me judging others was something bad too. I think that they don't care about God. My heart hurts. I wish I was baptized in the holy spirit.

Some scriptures to look at. These have helped me in the battle with sin.

Philippians 2:12-13

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Notice it is by the power of God that you will work out your salvation

Jude verse 24

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (I love this one because it is a promise to those who have been regenerated it tells us of what the Holy spirit will do inside us)

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Notice the Holy Spirit empowers us to keep his word and overcome. This is amazing to me. Brother Paul is right if we keep fighting the flesh with will power and Law we only come under the harsh task master of failure. Look to Jesus and his merits alone to empower you causing you to overcome the flesh it is by the spirit that mortification is made effective.

By no means am I saying you will be a robot or a mere automation but the holy spirit will empower by his grace to do what you could not do. and you will give him glory alone knowing that it was by his power alone not your efforts that victory came.

Psalms 110:3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power

He will give you his grace that free unmerited gift to cause you to over come sin Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Also remember my dear brother God is at work and he started this wonderful work inside of you and is determined to finish it in you causing you to be conformed to the image of his son. Check this out

Philippians 1:6
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ

Dear Brother,

You are getting some very good council from our brothers. The victory that you desire will not come from you trying harder or making stronger resolutions, because it is not through our will power that we overcome. The victory comes by seeing and believing that our old man (sin nature) has already been dealt with at the cross. WE have been given a new nature, and the life of Christ that is in you will overcome everything that is in oppostion to it.

"The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2).

"Sin shall not have dominion over you." (Romans 6:14).

"Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16).

"Present your bodies unto God as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1).

also know that you are not alone. many men struggle with this. i appreciate what paul has had to say regarding this and feel that he has given great council.

i agree with what paul has said and feel that the best thing we can do is stop trying. allow God to work in your heart. i don't think that is a free ticket to continue sinning (not saying brother paul is advocating this) just like what the Apostle Paul talked about in Romans. just because the grace of God will cover our sins is not permission to continue to walk in sin.

i would also say something practical you can do is eliminate sources of temptation. i personally do not have an internet connection anywhere in my house. the only place i can access the internet is on a wifi network or at work. if you need to have the internet at your home (for work, etc) purchase a filter for your computer.

i would also encourage you to consider your television set. i have realized more and more how much temptation comes from this, even if my intentions are sincere and pure. i might be watching the history channel and a sensual commercial may come on. this is not to be legalistic, but i would say it is something to consider. allow God to convict you of this.

these are just some suggestions of things i've done. personally, i'm married and marriage does not cure this struggle. this is something you need to give to God and allow him to change your heart. the greater He becomes, the less you will be.

You are not alone. We need each other to battle for purity.

If any of us is righteous, it is because Christ IS our righteousness and intercessor before the father. He didn't come to condemn us but to save us! He died for us while we were still sinners, how much more will he help us now that he has washed us in his own blood!

I challenge us all to cut off any impure influences which are making us stumble (filter/block internet, get rid of cable/magazines, avoid tempting locations, etc), but realize that these sacrifices don't make us righteous. An alcoholic under grace doesn't need booze in the fridge and we don't need lust provoking objects/environments.

Ultimately, and I'm on this quest as well, we must abandon hope in our willpower and moralism. Pagans can be moralistic and still be unsaved. We don't need good behavior - we need a Savior! Jesus is our righteousness, self control and joy. May we die (give up) on our own deeds and find relief in the arms of God.

Relieve us Lord!

Edit: Read this: [url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=27189&forum=34&0]https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=27189&forum=34&0[/url]

Brother,

I would have been very blessed to have these brothers on this forum to go to at a time in my life when I had more defeats than victories, and at times I felt quite hopeless that I would ever get back up. What prolonged the struggle for me was that I was heavily in to positive confession, so as quick and I would fall, I would get up and confess the promises of God. There is nothing wrong with doing this, and it is faith in the promises of God that make us partakers of the divine nature. The problem was that I thought I was the one that had to be strong, when I was so weak. I thought that by doing a lot of religious things that I would overcome. Deliverance came when I came to the point that I realized that I was helpless to do anything to deliver myself, and I threw myself on the mercy and grace of God, and in my weakness, His strength and deliverance were manifested.

When we see that He is the One that keeps us, and His grace His sufficient for us then we will live a life of victory, knowing that without Him we can do nothing, but through Him we can do all things.

Mike

Christians are in dire need of instruction and teaching during times of failure. All we ever hear, it seems, are exhortations on how not to fail...or how to keep from failing. But what do we do when our purported victories and triumphs suddenly begin shattering all around us like glass houses? Where are the messages that are bathed in grace and wisdom? Where are the preachers who are able to minister with a fresh breath of God from their own grevious losses and defeats?

The truth is that most people are afraid to speak in a positive way about failure, because of the risk of being misconstrued as someone who "excuses" sin. But those who have been through the fire of defeat know better. The purpose of failure in the school of God is to wean a believer off relying on his/her flesh. This is God's way, and it is how He teaches grace. The Lord is not the author of sin, nor is it His will that we sin, but we serve a God who is infinitely resourceful...and one who turns around what the devil designed for devastation for our benefit and growth. We still feel the rod of our Father's chastisement, but with the healing of the stripes we find ourselves stronger in the knowledge of grace. It is also through the fires of failure where the Lord teaches His sons and daughters the resotrative power of the blood of Christ.

With God, the most painful lessons prove to be the most precious. You cannot learn these things through books and sermons; you must actually enter the furnace yourself. The greatest lesson I've learned in the school of God is that my Father is inconceivably gracious and loving - and that I am detestable and full of sin. It was the repeated acts of grace and kindness of God that finally pulverized my unruly heart to lay down and submit and cease all efforts to preserve victory. O brethren, how can we refuse such love and mercy?

It should make us never, ever want to sin...not because of [i]us[/i], but because of [i]Him[/i]. It is God's way, and it is wonderful.

Amen brother paul!! that is so true and refreshing to hear.

The truth is that most people are afraid to speak in a positive way about failure, because of the risk of being misconstrued as someone who "excuses" sin.

One of the things I try to consistently do (I speak as a fool) is to lead the way in coming forward for confession and repentance no matter who or how many is watching. I have to respond to God no matter how bad I look or whether it is misunderstood. Who cares what people think?

Admission and seeking prayer, etc. comes at great risk no matter what the struggle is. Many believers are discouraged and need a message of hope, but like the blind pharisee they would give the serpent of judgment for the fish of grace or the stone of condemnation for the bread of restoration. Why is there this tendency to want to smack somebody seeking help? That's why so many lurk hopeless in the shadows.

I'm crazy enough to say that if God would flash our sins on a screen before the world we would all be embarrassed. Galatians 6 tells us that the 'spiritual folk' are the ones that consider themselves and restore those overtaken in a fault. Sooner or later we will all need a hand to lift us up. I say we start tossing life preservers instead of the anchor and so fulfill the law of Christ.

PaulWest wrote:
The purpose of failure in the school of God...

In fact, in the school of God, you must fail in order to pass.

Paul "failed" in Romans Seven before he "passed" into Romans Eight.

I sometimes think of good book titles (which is as far as I get in writing one). One I think of is Great Failures of the Bible.

And there have been some great ones. Moses. David. Peter. Paul...

But through their failure, He who had called them showed Himself faithful, and brought forth vessels of mercy. Character. Grace. A priestly heart.

I have been thinking about "the word of His grace." In a message I listened to, Ron Bailey shared that grace is more than just unmerited favour. It is also divine enabling, an impartation of enabling power.

And so, thinking upon that line the other day, this verse came to mind. "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound..." (Rom. 5.20). Grace. Not just His unmerited favour, and forgiveness abounding, which is certainly true, but His enabling power. Abounding.

Till, as the verse goes on, grace REIGNS in our lives where once sin reigned. And you have just as much a problem breaking that fetter, as once you did sin's chain.

"...That like as sin hath reigned unto death even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

...Be encouraged, brother. Continue to sow these words of grace others have written into your heart. "In due season we shall reap, if we faint not." And the Lord through the brothers is sending help your way for this very purpose: that you "faint not" (that you don't give up).

AD

After I posted my previous post, I found this song in my heart, and I wondered if perhaps I was to send it to you.

[url=http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/s/e/searchme.htm]It is here.[/url]

A beautiful hymn of grace, and it has these lines in it:

"Fill me with fire where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire to magnify Thy Name."

AD

All you guys are great !!! And I like that hymn that was sent to me thank you. From what I understand is that God has to change my heart and grant me the ability. And so I will pray for that from now on.. Lord lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil right ???

I want to be careful not to get this thing out of balance. Are we saying that believers 'have' to sin or are we saying that Christians sometimes 'do' sin? I guess I ask because I have a heart desire for perfection. And then what are we to make of Christian Perfection?

I want to be careful not to get this thing out of balance. Are we saying that believers 'have' to sin or are we saying that Christians sometimes 'do' sin? I guess I ask because I have a heart desire for perfection. And then what are we to make of Christian Perfection?

Using the phrase "have to" is a little ambigious, in my opinion, since it used in so many different contexts in our language. When I think of "have to" I think of "forced to". In that sense, I would say that Christians never "have to" sin. Rather, they are deceived by the remaining corruption still in them.

It is also important to note that, while it should never be an excuse for sin, sometimes God allows believers to fall (Peter, for example). From what I understand, this is used to humble and draw believers closer to himself who need chastening.

For a thorough treatment of sin, please consult John Owen's "Mortification of Sin". I highly recommend it!

With care in Christ,
Taylor

RobertW wrote:
I want to be careful not to get this thing out of balance. Are we saying that believers 'have' to sin or are we saying that Christians sometimes 'do' sin? I guess I ask because I have a heart desire for perfection. And then what are we to make of Christian Perfection?

Yes, it is possible to get this wrong. If it is taken that believers "have" to sin... then it's out of balance.

"Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?"

What I meant about the necessity of failing in order to pass in the school of God is simply learning the lesson the law was meant to teach: the lesson of what we are by nature: undone sinners, failures before God, and no outward law can change that. It might be able to restrain a man for a time, but can't change his nature.

Israel after the flesh (I am generalizing) never seemed to learn that lesson... and rejected the Grace of God when He came unto His own.

You mentioned you have a heart desire for perfection. I do, too.

And then you asked about Christian perfection.

I wonder if this thread is the place to discuss this. Considering other threads I've looked at regarding this, the brother here who seems to be encouraged now will likely end up disheartened. :-)

AD

Quote From Robert:

"I want to be careful not to get this thing out of balance. Are we saying that believers 'have' to sin or are we saying that Christians sometimes 'do' sin? I guess I ask because I have a heart desire for perfection. And then what are we to make of Christian Perfection?"

Robert, this is a good question because many Christians tend to go to both of these extremes when it comes to the issue of sin.

Some denominations teach that you are going to sin every day, that it is inevitable that the Christian is going to fall into sin. Christians that believe this false teaching do not have any expectation of overcoming sin, so the result is usually a pattern of sinning and repenting.

The other extreme teaches that a Christian can get to the place in his walk with the Lord where he no longer sins.

The Word of God teaches that we are dead to sin, and if we are dead to sin then how can we continue in sin.

The first epistle of John teaches that a man that says that he has no sin is lying and the truth is not in him, and then it goes on to say "if anyone sin, we have an advocate with the Father". Notice it didn't say "when" as if sinning is inevitable, but "if" which means that a Christian that sins is not to be expected but it could happen.

This same epistle goes on to say that "whosoever is born of God does not commit sin". The Apostle John seems to be contradicting himself, but I believe that what he is saying is that a Christian does not have the tendency to sin because he has a new nature. If we would walk in the Spirit and allow this new nature to have dominion, then sinning would be rare.

The Holy Spirit is conforming us to the image and likeness of Christ. God has commanded us to be holy even as He is holy. We can only be holy to the degree that we are allowing Christ to live His life in us.

Mike

I've looked at regarding this, the brother here who seems to be [u]encouraged[/u] now will likely end up disheartened.

I was thinking tonight about the awesomeness of God's forgiveness. In Matthew 6 and 18 there are some very good example of how God has forgiven and expects us to do likewise. it is wonderful to know that one of the ways we are conformed into the image of God is in our ability to forgive; this tells me that God by nature desires to forgive.

So in that I see a double edge sword; encouraged to brush ourselves off and keep walking with God and potentially also encouraged to keep sinning. ;-) I didn't mean to be a discouragement at all, just wanted to make sure we still had our safety harness on. :-)

RobertW wrote:
I didn't mean to be a discouragement at all, just wanted to make sure we still had our safety harness on. :-)

Yes, we must watch that.

"Thou LORD art good, and ready to forgive..."

But if that readiness of God to forgive leads someone to deliberate sin, presuming upon the grace of God... that is pretty treacherous ground.

...And having come to know you a bit the last while, Robert, (in a "virtual" sort of way) I realize you had no intent to discourage a brother, far from it. :-)

AD

Sometimes after I sin I can't believe that I have done what I've done. To walk in joyous union with Christ is the believers great privilege. To turn from this to sin is folly of the highest degree, but yet we struggle. It's when we fall on our knees helpless before God that true blessing comes.

I think it's all about what we feed. Genuine prayer and the Bible study balanced with Christian service will allow the Holy Spirit to really work in us and we can live that life of victory over sin. It's only allowing the Lord to have His way with us that we can experience this victory.

"Sin will keep you from the Bible and the Bible will keep you from sin" - Anon

Thanks for everybody's comments on this thread. They've been a real blessing to me. We have a wonderfully merciful God.

Purity is something I want to strive for!

Mt 5:8 - Show Context
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.