Every journey begins by taking the first step. You are embarking on a journey that will lead you to the freedom you seek. That is, if you really have the DESIRE to be free. The truth is, you are already free in JESUS CHRIST; it's a matter of claiming that freedom. And strange as it say seem, not every hurting homosexual is really ready to claim this freedom. Do you have a DESIRE to claim your freedom?
There are reasons why homosexuals don't claim their freedom in Christ. One is ignorance; they simply do not know that they are free. How can you have a DESIRE for something you don't know exists?
They are like the doves that didn't fly away even though they were free to do so. For, as the story goes, a man who loved animals and birds was walking through the market place one day and saw a number of doves whose one leg had a string around it which was attached to a stick stuck in the ground. The doves kept marching round and round the stick. The man asked how much the merchant wanted for the doves and bought them all.
"Now", he told the merchant, "I want you to cut the string on each dove so that it is free to fly away." The merchant did as he was told. But, instead of flying away, the doves kept walking round and round the stick just as they had before. They didn't realize that they were free! They had to be literally chased away by the merchant.
KEYS is intended to help us claim our freedom in Christ!
Other homosexuals do not claim their freedom because they are not certain in their hearts that they really DESIRE to be free. They do not want to give up the cheap thrills that come with homosexual sex. These thrills have become some of the chains that bind them. Chains they have forged for themselves over the years of active practice. Even when the chains begin to hurt, they cannot quite walk away from them. Rut they could if they had a DESIRE to walk away.
Some homosexuals don't claim their freedom in Christ because they know the battle will be rough. And who likes to battle? No one!! But when the DESIRE for freedom from homosexuality outweighs everything else, we are ready to FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT as the Lord bids us.
Following the footsteps of Christ is never easy, no matter what weakness we must overcome. We need to stop looking for an easy answer to the problem of homosexuality and face the truth that if we want freedom, we need to begin the struggle. The sooner, the better. For the sooner we start, the sooner we will have victory!
It is not easy to fight a battle alone. But the truth is, we don't have to! God will help us. There are sore people who love and care enough to stand by those who choose to do battle. KEYS is there to help! That's good! For homosexuals need all the help they can get to win the victory. Their enemies will do their best to keep them in the bonds of sin, but HE WHO IS IN YOU IS GREATER THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD. This can give all a burning DESIRE to face whatever needs to be faced to be free.
Are you ready to do battle? Is that the DESIRE of your heart? If it is, why do you want out? This may sound like a stupid question to ask, but it's a question that needs to be faced. Anyone can say, "I DESIRE out." But God is concerned about your motive - your real reason for wanting out. What is it? Do you really know?
Think about it! To have the right motive is all important in attaining total victory. If you aren't quite sure what your motive is or whether it's a good motive or not, KEYS will try to help you get the right motive by sharing insights from the Word of God.
If you honestly DESIRE to walk in the freedom of Christ; so it will be!
<------ SWORD OF THE SPIRIT ------>
Each KEY will have several passages for memorizing tech week. Memorize as many as you can. Always review ALL the passages you have learned from the beginning each week. As you review week after week, the passages should begin to stick with you so that you can use them as a sword. (Eph.. 6:17) Use them in time of temptation, even as Jesus did when tempted by the devil. But you cannot use what you have not memorized. It mar be hard at first, but you CAN do it. God bless you in this!
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK ************************
Anyone can carry his burden, however hard, for one day.
< -- SWORD OF THE SPIRIT -- >
Pa. 37:4
1 Cor. 16:13
WORDS OF HOPE AND HELP: Write below the thoughts that you get from these passages of Scripture which are most helpful to you as you fight the battle for FREEDOM. Do this with each passage. Explain what each thought does for you.
Luke 4:1-13 Eph..6:10-18 UNIT 1-2
