For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world. even our faith. I John 5:4
KEY NUMBER TWO: The Power To Overcome - GOD-GIVEN FAITH
The only homosexuals that can he helped to get out of homosexuality are those who have a DESIRE to get out. But sheer desire is not enough. Mere desire cannot be sustained when the going set rough and temptations are strong. Desire will give way to surrender and then the homosexual will be back to square one. Ever happen to you? Why? Did you ever think about It? Did it make you feel like giving up? There are several reasons why DESIRE alone will not work.
One is that desire alone really doesn't change anything, It doesn't change the sexual feelings that you have and are trying to overcome nor does it change your thought pattern nor your acquired habit pattern. The wrong feeling and thoughts just serve to fuel one another until they build up irresistible urges that cry out for fulfillment. You end up doing what you have no more desire to do. The result is disgust, despair, and a feeling of hopelessness. It seems as if that's the way it has to be for there doesn't seem to be a way out. That's a lie!!!
It is possible to have our feelings changed, our thought patterns transformed, and develop a new pattern of action, We can become new people in Christ. That's what God says to us. THEREFORE, IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME HEY. (2 Cor. 5:17) Do you hear what it says? It's music to the ears!!
We need FAITH! Faith transforms us. Through faith we become new people inside. Faith helps us to think, speak, and act differently. Faith puts us on God's "wavelength". Since thoughts control actions, our actions can be controlled. Homosexuality can be overcome! The homosexual can claim his true sexuality and function as the heterosexual being God created him to be.
Temptations will still come, but you won't need to give into them. The battle may be hard, but you can OVERCOME. You have the SHIELD OF FAITH, WHEREWITH YOU SHALL BE ABLE TO QUENCH THE FIERY DARTS OF THE WICKED. (Eph. 6:16) Too many people are trying to fight off the fiery darts of the wicked - homosexual darts - without FAITH and it cannot be done successfully. Even with faith it isn't easy, BUT it's possible!!
It's amazing how Christians forget to use their faith to resist temptations, When we have developed God-pleasing responses, we often can say "no" quickly to a temptation, but many times we will have to deliberately call upon our faith to resist strong temptations and to develop new reactions to temptations. This does not come automatically just because we have faith. And while you are doing this, the struggles may be intense; for old habits do not easily die. Unless you realize this, you may give up before the battle is won. God's promise is that you can OVERCOME. Believe it! You may suffer some defeats, but the VICTORY WILL BE YOURS! A half-hearted prayer or a neglected faith won't do it. Let God build up your faith. The very exercise of faith will help strengthen it.
Another reason why DESIRE alone won't work is that it has no power! And power is what is needed to break the hold of homosexual behavior on the life of a child of God. Power is to say "NO" to the temptation. Power to enable you to take the route that doesn't lead past the book store or run along the side of the park that was a haunt in time past or the power to look at the body of another man and see a creation of God and not another source of conquest. Power that allows you to take the way of escape - and there will always be one - that God provides in time of temptation. (1 Cor. 10:13) Power to control your body with all its emotions.
This is the victory mentioned in our passage. The world, in the passage, represents everything that is evil, everything that is contrary to God's will. It's the sin we must face each day. Homosexuality is one of those sins; including all that goes with this particular sin.
We can dare to face the truth that homosexuality is a sin because it is forgivable through faith in Christ and can be OVERCOME by FAITH. Jesus sets up free from homosexuality if we will only accept our freedom. The truth is, homosexuals as well as all believers are free through personal GOD-GIVEN FAITH in Jesus.
You are FREE! FREE! FREE! Use your freedom! Let the Holy Spirit help you grow in it! Let Him help you come to FAITH. You cannot do it alone nor do you have any power to even help the Holy Spirit dn His work in your heart HE DOES IT ALL!
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK *******************
God cannot be contained in the finest churches but He walks with me today.
<-- SWORD OF THE SPIRIT -->
2 Cor. 5:17
Romans 10:17
WORDS OF HOPE AND HELP:
Hebrews 11 - Write below the thoughts that you get from these passages of Scripture Explain what each passage does for you.
Matt. 8:5-13 UNIT I-6
