Gideon has sinned. And the truth still stands regardless.

bèlla · Jul 15, 2019

Gideons300 said:
I call them gateway sins. They look innocent until you notice the big chain connected to them leading round the corner to something a bit more menacing. LOL.

Of course. That’s the point. ;-)

Alithis · Jul 15, 2019

Carl Emerson said:
Gids...

For what it is worth - I suggest you pray for a hatred of evil - it is the negative aspects of God's character that are the most powerful for us to appropriate.

You need an early warning system to nip temptation at the bud before it becomes sin.

You need to see it clearly as a choice between Satan and God.

I know it is a long road out and we are all different, but the hatred of evil will give you a hatred of Satan to the degree that you will not tolerate his attempted entry. You will see it as an enemy and reject it because it is detestable.

We are chicken feed if we don't attend to these issues in God's way. It is His fight.

Never forget how Jesus loved Peter after He denied Him, you are similarly Loved.

For me it was love...
That day the lord said to me... You do that sin because you love that sin MORE then you love me.

Yes it is the SAME principle ...but he told me the truth that day and it set me free from the lie i had been agreeing with ..
The Lie that said i cant stop....

He told me i was free the day christ rose from the dead... But i did not love Christ more then the pleasure of sin .
Then he told me how to love JESUS More..he told me listen to Me and do as i tell you.
Always...

Carl Emerson · Jul 15, 2019

Hatred of Evil is Love for the intended victims.

bling · Jul 15, 2019

Try not to be alone. If I am working with someone (teaching, mentoring, listening, Loving and helping) I do not have time to work in sinning.

Hazelelponi · Jul 15, 2019

Gideons300 said:
Hi guys. The following is a letter God had me write to a close brother in the Lord today. It was not a pleasant letter to write. Confessions never are.

Hello my friend. How is life "on the road again", as the country tune wafts in the background? I am sure you are getting a lot of riding in when you are off.

Things here are going well. Terry is in such good health that she has taken the two boys and flown to Dallas to see two of her three sisters and their families for two weeks. They both have grandkids there so the boys are eating it up having playmates all day. Plus, Terry gets to truly relax, with no stress other than bickering children, LOL.

Having some real quiet time here by myself has had its ups and downs, LOL. Thank God the up part came second, because the down part was horrible.

You are my closest spiritual brother. We have both been through a lot and God has mercifully led us down the path where we finally 'lit our lamps.' We do not deserve it, yet here we are. What an amazing God we serve.

So I hope you do not mind if I have selected you as my "confess your faults to one another" brother. I hope you feel the same, that, should the need arise in your own walk, you can lean on me.

So let me get straight to the point. Having an empty house, the devil began tempting me this week. I do not think I told you but I have smoked pot a good portion of my life. Started as a hippie, stopped for 25 straight years to raise my family, but then started again.

The old me loves being stoned. Heck, I lived in a commune.... in a cave! LOL.

But let me make sure you know that I am in no way making light of it. All sin has blackness and rebellion at its core. Perhaps for another, their heart might not condemn them for giving in to pot. and it would not be a sin. But there is no doubt it is for me. I know it is a sin for God has dealt with me multiple times about laying it aside and running my race with no hinderances, no crutches, no compromises, in full 'Yes, Lord" obedience.

There is also panother important aspect of this particular sin.... pot is a 'gateway' sin for me. It is an aphrodisiac to me for whatever reason, so the temptation to go back to inappropriate content and masturbation increases many times over when I partake.

Well, with an empty house, I fell and sinned this week. It sickens me, so in shame, I have brought it before God in confession, and received the forgiveness of the Lord.

Unfortunately, one thing we learn about Our God is how faithful He is to be a good Father to us. We both have learned that our God, as a good father always does, will chasten us in some manner, not because He is mad at us, but because He loves us! Chastening is the ultimate display of love when a Father is concerned about their child's well being when they need correction. God is a GREAT Father, lol. Trust me.

Part of that chastening? He has asked me I to confess my sin to a brother, one I trust and love. So, because of your character and closeness to the Lord, I want you to know what I did, and as a good brother in the Lord, find it in your heart to forgive me and pray for me to be unwavering in faith when satan comes with a good heap of accusations and condemnation... and he will. Thank you, my dear brother for your prayers I know are on the way.

blessings,

Gids

But God wasn't finished with my chastening. Man, I HATE when that happens! What was it? He wanted me to publicly confess my sin here on CF. Yes, really, And I have agreed. It is what is called for.

But the most amazing thing has happened. When I realized what He was asking of me, the ultimate having of ones'. private "flesh-life" exposed in front of brothers and sisters, people I have shared with for twelve years that God can and will set us free indeed from committing sin, my heart sank, and fear came in. Will they now (if they haven't already! LOL), think all I have shared is a lie, or that I am deceived? Will they simply view me as a hypocrite? It really doesn't matter what others think when God tells you to do something, does it?

Oh, I had a choice. He made that clear, but I also knew if I tried to 'save face', the Spirit inside me would be grieved, and my pride would limit His ability to bless others through the words I have been asked to share. Without the anointing to bless the words I share with them, they accomplish nothing. So my decision to man-up was a no-brainer. And i pray that you too can find it in your heart to forgive me.

For those of you familiar with my story, I pray this forever cements the truth in your heart thatI am "only human" just like you and am nothing special. Without grace, I am nothing. I have not "arrived" (obviously, lol). And you need to know that you do not need a miraculous visitation in order to be set free indeed and really stop sinning. You just need to know that God does not lie and is fully able to keep you safe from the temptations satan throws at us, and will do so as you trust Him to.

I hope you are finally understanding. This is NOT "sinless perfectionism" that I share. It is not a place you arrive at through time and diligence, and strenuous self effort. It is a walk, and as such, must be practical, and work for even the weakest of saints... like me! And, praise God, brothers and sisters, it is... and it does!

That is why in 1st John, he says IF we sin, not when. IF. It is possible to walk in victory ALL THE TIME. However, it is also practical for even though we possess new natures and our fleshly fallen nature is dead, we still have these new nature housed in fleshly bodies.

So if someone asks me if it possible after one reckons themselves dead to sin and alive unto God to fall back into sin, I immediately answer... Of course! Yet by sharing that, does that mean that by my falling in sin, all I have shared is a lie? Not at all!

It means God is faithfully growing us in the faith. pruning is back through chastening, so that we can produce MORE fruit, with the ultimate goal as we continue in the truth, that we will finally become established in it, to the point where we are unshakeable.

I pray readers see, if we step out to believe our God, and refuse to let doubt in, and refuse to give up our grip on the promises of God to keep us from falling, we WILL become established in the faith, guaranteed.

Oh, we may physically be able to sin, but amazingly, we will not. Why? Because we are finally abiding in the vine, and kept from fulfilling the lusts of the flesh through faith, because He now lives IN US, and it is Him in us that keeps us from falling. Glory!

In contemplating my chastening 'task', having to confess my sin to all whom I have assured many times over that Christ can and will keep us from falling, well, needless to say, it is certainly not on my Christian bucket list, but it seems it was on His.

So today I wish to bare myself and my sin before all here, both to those who may agree with me, and as well, those who think me crazy or worse yet, a deceiver. I pray for forgiveness that I do not deserve but desperately need.

May God bless you all,

Gideon

God allows certain things in our lives to teach us humility, and to understand our own nature and desperate need of Him.

Good day and God bless.

All praise is to God.

Alithis · Jul 15, 2019

Hazelelponi said:
God allows certain things in our lives to teach us humility, and to understand our own nature and desperate need of Him.

Good day and God bless.

All praise is to God.

God never allows sin ..
Never
Ever.
And he does not lead us to sin to humble us..
He saves us from it.... That is humbling

Hazelelponi · Jul 15, 2019

Alithis said:
God never allows sin ..
Never
Ever.
And he does not lead us to sin to humble us..
He saves us from it.... That is humbling

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"

The above is part of how Jesus taught us how to pray.

God allows temptations in our lives (Jesus Himself was tempted) in order that we do not grow prideful, or see ourselves as somehow worthy of salvation, as we are not.

dqhall · Jul 15, 2019

Gideons300 said:
Hi guys. The following is a letter God had me write to a close brother in the Lord today. It was not a pleasant letter to write. Confessions never are.

Hello my friend. How is life "on the road again", as the country tune wafts in the background? I am sure you are getting a lot of riding in when you are off.

Things here are going well. Terry is in such good health that she has taken the two boys and flown to Dallas to see two of her three sisters and their families for two weeks. They both have grandkids there so the boys are eating it up having playmates all day. Plus, Terry gets to truly relax, with no stress other than bickering children, LOL.

Having some real quiet time here by myself has had its ups and downs, LOL. Thank God the up part came second, because the down part was horrible.

You are my closest spiritual brother. We have both been through a lot and God has mercifully led us down the path where we finally 'lit our lamps.' We do not deserve it, yet here we are. What an amazing God we serve.

So I hope you do not mind if I have selected you as my "confess your faults to one another" brother. I hope you feel the same, that, should the need arise in your own walk, you can lean on me.

So let me get straight to the point. Having an empty house, the devil began tempting me this week. I do not think I told you but I have smoked pot a good portion of my life. Started as a hippie, stopped for 25 straight years to raise my family, but then started again.

The old me loves being stoned. Heck, I lived in a commune.... in a cave! LOL.

But let me make sure you know that I am in no way making light of it. All sin has blackness and rebellion at its core. Perhaps for another, their heart might not condemn them for giving in to pot. and it would not be a sin. But there is no doubt it is for me. I know it is a sin for God has dealt with me multiple times about laying it aside and running my race with no hinderances, no crutches, no compromises, in full 'Yes, Lord" obedience.

There is also panother important aspect of this particular sin.... pot is a 'gateway' sin for me. It is an aphrodisiac to me for whatever reason, so the temptation to go back to inappropriate content and masturbation increases many times over when I partake.

Well, with an empty house, I fell and sinned this week. It sickens me, so in shame, I have brought it before God in confession, and received the forgiveness of the Lord.

Unfortunately, one thing we learn about Our God is how faithful He is to be a good Father to us. We both have learned that our God, as a good father always does, will chasten us in some manner, not because He is mad at us, but because He loves us! Chastening is the ultimate display of love when a Father is concerned about their child's well being when they need correction. God is a GREAT Father, lol. Trust me.

Part of that chastening? He has asked me I to confess my sin to a brother, one I trust and love. So, because of your character and closeness to the Lord, I want you to know what I did, and as a good brother in the Lord, find it in your heart to forgive me and pray for me to be unwavering in faith when satan comes with a good heap of accusations and condemnation... and he will. Thank you, my dear brother for your prayers I know are on the way.

blessings,

Gids

But God wasn't finished with my chastening. Man, I HATE when that happens! What was it? He wanted me to publicly confess my sin here on CF. Yes, really, And I have agreed. It is what is called for.

But the most amazing thing has happened. When I realized what He was asking of me, the ultimate having of ones'. private "flesh-life" exposed in front of brothers and sisters, people I have shared with for twelve years that God can and will set us free indeed from committing sin, my heart sank, and fear came in. Will they now (if they haven't already! LOL), think all I have shared is a lie, or that I am deceived? Will they simply view me as a hypocrite? It really doesn't matter what others think when God tells you to do something, does it?

Oh, I had a choice. He made that clear, but I also knew if I tried to 'save face', the Spirit inside me would be grieved, and my pride would limit His ability to bless others through the words I have been asked to share. Without the anointing to bless the words I share with them, they accomplish nothing. So my decision to man-up was a no-brainer. And i pray that you too can find it in your heart to forgive me.

For those of you familiar with my story, I pray this forever cements the truth in your heart thatI am "only human" just like you and am nothing special. Without grace, I am nothing. I have not "arrived" (obviously, lol). And you need to know that you do not need a miraculous visitation in order to be set free indeed and really stop sinning. You just need to know that God does not lie and is fully able to keep you safe from the temptations satan throws at us, and will do so as you trust Him to.

I hope you are finally understanding. This is NOT "sinless perfectionism" that I share. It is not a place you arrive at through time and diligence, and strenuous self effort. It is a walk, and as such, must be practical, and work for even the weakest of saints... like me! And, praise God, brothers and sisters, it is... and it does!

That is why in 1st John, he says IF we sin, not when. IF. It is possible to walk in victory ALL THE TIME. However, it is also practical for even though we possess new natures and our fleshly fallen nature is dead, we still have these new nature housed in fleshly bodies.

So if someone asks me if it possible after one reckons themselves dead to sin and alive unto God to fall back into sin, I immediately answer... Of course! Yet by sharing that, does that mean that by my falling in sin, all I have shared is a lie? Not at all!

It means God is faithfully growing us in the faith. pruning is back through chastening, so that we can produce MORE fruit, with the ultimate goal as we continue in the truth, that we will finally become established in it, to the point where we are unshakeable.

I pray readers see, if we step out to believe our God, and refuse to let doubt in, and refuse to give up our grip on the promises of God to keep us from falling, we WILL become established in the faith, guaranteed.

Oh, we may physically be able to sin, but amazingly, we will not. Why? Because we are finally abiding in the vine, and kept from fulfilling the lusts of the flesh through faith, because He now lives IN US, and it is Him in us that keeps us from falling. Glory!

In contemplating my chastening 'task', having to confess my sin to all whom I have assured many times over that Christ can and will keep us from falling, well, needless to say, it is certainly not on my Christian bucket list, but it seems it was on His.

So today I wish to bare myself and my sin before all here, both to those who may agree with me, and as well, those who think me crazy or worse yet, a deceiver. I pray for forgiveness that I do not deserve but desperately need.

May God bless you all,

Gideon

When I was in college I used to smoke pot. I smoked until I hallucinated. I got low grades and dropped out. Things went from bad to worse. I became alcoholic and found loose women. I was in an auto accident, lost my job and was suicidal. As I tried to crash my car into an overpass abutment at a very high rate of speed. God asked me to live. I had already given up pot as I realized drugs were illegal, expensive and unhealthy. I gave up alcohol as I did not want the insanity of drunkenness. I practiced celibacy as I was single. I read the Bible as much as possible. Because of my past “highs” I was impoverished. I hitchhiked to the Rockies working day labor and temporary jobs. I set out loblolly pine seedlings on S.C. tree plantations one winter. Years went by and I became more certain of God’s truth. I have not smoked pot since 81 or 82. I can not get drunk. I am 60 and celibate. I reject inappropriate content. I texted and called a divorced Christian lady I found in an online dating site who reminded me of Paul’s warning, “Flee from sexual immorality.” I reminded her we are not supposed to do premarital sex, as this is fornication. You might have a chance with Jesus. I once asked a pastor what part of the Bible I should study. He told me, “The Gospel of John.” It is a good book to read from time to time. I took part of a community college course in the Gospels before dropping out to work on a contract. I studied the course Gospel parallel book. It showed Gospel verses side by side. The teacher emphasized Matthew’s “Sermon on the Mount” and Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain.”

Alithis · Jul 15, 2019

Hazelelponi said:
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"

The above is part of how Jesus taught us how to pray.

God allows temptations in our lives (Jesus Himself was tempted) in order that we do not grow prideful, or see ourselves as somehow worthy of salvation, as we are not.

lead us Not....into testing....
Does not mean he leads a person into Sin
.never charge God with doing evil.
-For God CANNOT be tempted by evil Niether does he tempt any man ......"
The lords prayer is asking Gods protection from being tempted by the evil one....
God never allows or uses Sin .
He cannot...
For a man is tempted ( to do evil) when he is lead astray by the desire of his Own heart...

I have No condemnation of the Op.. But do not use the post to promote sin.as being of God...

Hazelelponi · Jul 15, 2019

Alithis said:
lead us Not....into testing....
Does not mean he leads a person into Sin
.never charge God with doing evil.
-For God CANNOT be tempted by evil Niether does he tempt any man ......"
The lords prayer is asking Gods protection from being tempted by the evil one....
God never allows or uses Sin .
He cannot...
For a man is tempted ( to do evil) when he is lead astray by the desire of his Own heart...

I have No condemnation of the Op.. But do not use the post to promote sin.as being of God...

Perhaps Spurgeon can help you, as I certainly cannot say it better:

"Dear brethren, do but notice the text does not say, “ Tempt us not, if it did, then there would be a difficulty ; it does not say, “ Lord, tempt us not,” but it says, “ Lead us not into temptation ; ” and I think I shall very rapidly be able to show you that there is a vast difference between leading into temptation and actually tempting. God tempts no man. For God to tempt in the sense of enticing to sin were inconsistent with his nature, and altogether contrary to his known character; but for God to lead us into those conflicts with evil which we call temptations, is not only possible, but usual. Full often the Great Captain of Salvation leads us by his Providence to battle fields where we must face the fell array of evil, and conquer through the blood of the Lamb; and this leading into temptation is by divine grace overruled for our good, since by being tempted we grow strong in grace and patience. Our God and Father may, for wise ends, which shall ultimately subserve his own glory and our profit, lead us into positions where Satan, the world, and the flesh may tempt us, and the prayer is to be understood in that sense of a humble self-distrust which shrinks from the conflict. There is courage here, for the suppliant calmly looks the temptation in the face, and dreads only the evil which it may work in him. but there is also a holy fear, a sacred self-suspicion, a dread of contact with sin in any degree. The sentiment is not inconsistent with “all joy” when the divers temptations do come, it is akin to the Saviour's “ If it be possible, let this cup pass from me,” which did not for a moment prevent his drinking the cup even to its dregs.

Let me observe that God in no sense so leads men into temptation as to have any share in the blame of their sin if they fall into it. God cannot possibly by any act of his, become co-partner with man in his crime. As good old Trapp well observes, “God tempts men for PROBATION, but never for PERDITION. The devil tempts men that he may ruin them; God tries men, and puts them where Satan may try them, but he leads them into temptation for probation, that the chaff may be sifted from the wheat, that the dross may be separated from the fine gold. By these trials hypocrites fall, being discovered in the hour of temptation; just as the rough March wind sweeps through, the forest, and finding out the rotten boughs snaps them from the tree, the fault being not in the wind but in the decayed branch. James alludes to the actual solicitation to evil in which the most holy God can have no part, but our text deals with the providential bringing about of the temptation which I think you can clearly see may be the Lord’s work without his holiness in any degree being stained thereby. "

"Lead Us Not Into Temptation"

Jesus so hated the hypocrisy of the Pharisees...

Grip Docility · Jul 15, 2019

Alithis said:
lead us Not....into testing....
Does not mean he leads a person into Sin
.never charge God with doing evil.
-For God CANNOT be tempted by evil Niether does he tempt any man ......"
The lords prayer is asking Gods protection from being tempted by the evil one....
God never allows or uses Sin .
He cannot...
For a man is tempted ( to do evil) when he is lead astray by the desire of his Own heart...

I have No condemnation of the Op.. But do not use the post to promote sin.as being of God...

IMO

God tempts no one, nor did God Will evil to exist. However, God did Will sincerity and Gave us the opportunity to make choices.

A byproduct of giving sentient beings choices is created sentient beings having the choice to choose poorly and that option is there for the Angels, too.

We know angelic rebellion manifested in the garden and we know Satan tempting Eve was not God’s will.

BUT... we also know God permitted Satan to temp Eve.

God has a “permissive will”. In this frame, we see this verse take deep meaning (Romans 8:28).

There is no doubt the Almighty only desires GOOD and only Does Good, but there is also no doubt that He allows bad to come our way as a result of “choice” provided.

Where does this leave us? If we fail, He’s already provided forgiveness and He can teach. If we succeed, we know it is by His strength.

In His hands... all things will be utilized, though not all things are “Specifically Willed”... by Him... “Simply Permitted”... for our greater good.

Clearly, @Gideons300 doesn't wan’t to be in narcotic stupor, as he sees his time being utilized more productively in many other ways.

Though Paul clearly says ALL THINGS are permissible... Gideon knows that not all things are “profitable” in matters of health, wealth and personal growth. Gideon is clearly focused on Jesus Christ and wants to invest his time towards the Gospel... where he sees no place for Herb.

This is my opinion.

RaymondG · Jul 15, 2019

LaBèlla said:
The dagger that Satan received as a result of your confession is worth the discomfort and gives hope to others struggling in silence.

God bless and keep you.

Is the public admission that we that are filled with the spirit of God commit sin when the opportunity presents itself, really a dagger to Satan?

Wouldn't this be more of a statement of what God cant do, rather than a dagger to Satan?

If I, instead, say that I slipped up....therefore I must do my first works over....and lay an axe to the root of this tree.....for good trees cannot bare bad fruit..... yes, this is a victory and a dagger to satan.

However....to say i was always saved and sin when sin presents itself, and telling other people along, makes me retain my previous status.... Im not so sure about this.

Dave L · Jul 15, 2019

Here's my approach to walking in the Spirit. This beats sin while it is still temptation...

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Corinthians 10:5) (KJV 1900)

We censor every impure thought or imagination. And change the channel in our thinking on any thought that does not conform to obedience to Christ.

And we replace it with:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

Knowing Jesus is God and God is love. Jesus is lord of our lives when love rules our thoughts and actions.

Grip Docility · Jul 15, 2019

---SE---

?

This entire world is a den of iniquity! Within our own hearts and minds, dwells iniquity. One would have to leave their very body to get away from iniquity.

However, witness is removed when the Saint marches on into the other side, and that isn’t profitable, either.

How is it that Jesus Christ Called smoking gun sinners to His presence, but there are people in Christ that desire higher standards of interpersonal connection than God Almighty?

Hazelelponi · Jul 15, 2019

Alithis said:
Yeah blahlah ....stil doesnt say God will cause us to sin
He cannot ever do so .

I never said God caused us to sin, I said HE sometimes allows certain things so that we will grow in humility (and thus love for the lost). (to teach us) Our sometimes faults and failures gives us a forgiving spirit with others, when we ourselves know without doubt we utterly and completely depend on God's forgiveness..

Grip Docility · Jul 15, 2019

Hazelelponi said:
I never said God caused us to sin, I said HE sometimes allows certain things so that we will grow in humility (and thus love for the lost). (to teach us) Our sometimes faults and failures gives us a forgiving spirit with others, when we ourselves know without doubt we utterly and completely depend on God's forgiveness..

What you are saying is so biblical it’s literally all throughout scripture.

In no way did I see you suggesting God made us sin. I believe we are witnessing the idea that “those who have been forgiven much, Love much, while those who have been forgiven little, Love little”. (Though, as you might agree, I have yet to meet a person that didn’t have much to forgive.)

RaymondG · Jul 15, 2019

Grip Docility said:
How is it that Jesus Christ Called smoking gun sinners to His presence, but there are people in Christ that desire higher standards of interpersonal connection than God Almighty?

Are you of the mind that we remain smoking Gun sinners after being called into the Presence of God? Saddles must be taken off while on holy ground, but sin can still remain?

Grip Docility · Jul 15, 2019

RaymondG said:
Are you of the mind that we remain smoking Gun sinners after being called into the Presence of God? Saddles must be taken off while on holy ground, but sin can still remain?

I am of the impression that all men fail, but the ONE man that “failed” at merely being a man.

fhansen · Jul 15, 2019

Gideons300 said:
Hi guys. The following is a letter God had me write to a close brother in the Lord today. It was not a pleasant letter to write. Confessions never are.

Hello my friend. How is life "on the road again", as the country tune wafts in the background? I am sure you are getting a lot of riding in when you are off.

Things here are going well. Terry is in such good health that she has taken the two boys and flown to Dallas to see two of her three sisters and their families for two weeks. They both have grandkids there so the boys are eating it up having playmates all day. Plus, Terry gets to truly relax, with no stress other than bickering children, LOL.

Having some real quiet time here by myself has had its ups and downs, LOL. Thank God the up part came second, because the down part was horrible.

You are my closest spiritual brother. We have both been through a lot and God has mercifully led us down the path where we finally 'lit our lamps.' We do not deserve it, yet here we are. What an amazing God we serve.

So I hope you do not mind if I have selected you as my "confess your faults to one another" brother. I hope you feel the same, that, should the need arise in your own walk, you can lean on me.

So let me get straight to the point. Having an empty house, the devil began tempting me this week. I do not think I told you but I have smoked pot a good portion of my life. Started as a hippie, stopped for 25 straight years to raise my family, but then started again.

The old me loves being stoned. Heck, I lived in a commune.... in a cave! LOL.

But let me make sure you know that I am in no way making light of it. All sin has blackness and rebellion at its core. Perhaps for another, their heart might not condemn them for giving in to pot. and it would not be a sin. But there is no doubt it is for me. I know it is a sin for God has dealt with me multiple times about laying it aside and running my race with no hinderances, no crutches, no compromises, in full 'Yes, Lord" obedience.

There is also panother important aspect of this particular sin.... pot is a 'gateway' sin for me. It is an aphrodisiac to me for whatever reason, so the temptation to go back to inappropriate content and masturbation increases many times over when I partake.

Well, with an empty house, I fell and sinned this week. It sickens me, so in shame, I have brought it before God in confession, and received the forgiveness of the Lord.

Unfortunately, one thing we learn about Our God is how faithful He is to be a good Father to us. We both have learned that our God, as a good father always does, will chasten us in some manner, not because He is mad at us, but because He loves us! Chastening is the ultimate display of love when a Father is concerned about their child's well being when they need correction. God is a GREAT Father, lol. Trust me.

Part of that chastening? He has asked me I to confess my sin to a brother, one I trust and love. So, because of your character and closeness to the Lord, I want you to know what I did, and as a good brother in the Lord, find it in your heart to forgive me and pray for me to be unwavering in faith when satan comes with a good heap of accusations and condemnation... and he will. Thank you, my dear brother for your prayers I know are on the way.

blessings,

Gids

But God wasn't finished with my chastening. Man, I HATE when that happens! What was it? He wanted me to publicly confess my sin here on CF. Yes, really, And I have agreed. It is what is called for.

But the most amazing thing has happened. When I realized what He was asking of me, the ultimate having of ones'. private "flesh-life" exposed in front of brothers and sisters, people I have shared with for twelve years that God can and will set us free indeed from committing sin, my heart sank, and fear came in. Will they now (if they haven't already! LOL), think all I have shared is a lie, or that I am deceived? Will they simply view me as a hypocrite? It really doesn't matter what others think when God tells you to do something, does it?

Oh, I had a choice. He made that clear, but I also knew if I tried to 'save face', the Spirit inside me would be grieved, and my pride would limit His ability to bless others through the words I have been asked to share. Without the anointing to bless the words I share with them, they accomplish nothing. So my decision to man-up was a no-brainer. And i pray that you too can find it in your heart to forgive me.

For those of you familiar with my story, I pray this forever cements the truth in your heart thatI am "only human" just like you and am nothing special. Without grace, I am nothing. I have not "arrived" (obviously, lol). And you need to know that you do not need a miraculous visitation in order to be set free indeed and really stop sinning. You just need to know that God does not lie and is fully able to keep you safe from the temptations satan throws at us, and will do so as you trust Him to.

I hope you are finally understanding. This is NOT "sinless perfectionism" that I share. It is not a place you arrive at through time and diligence, and strenuous self effort. It is a walk, and as such, must be practical, and work for even the weakest of saints... like me! And, praise God, brothers and sisters, it is... and it does!

That is why in 1st John, he says IF we sin, not when. IF. It is possible to walk in victory ALL THE TIME. However, it is also practical for even though we possess new natures and our fleshly fallen nature is dead, we still have these new nature housed in fleshly bodies.

So if someone asks me if it possible after one reckons themselves dead to sin and alive unto God to fall back into sin, I immediately answer... Of course! Yet by sharing that, does that mean that by my falling in sin, all I have shared is a lie? Not at all!

It means God is faithfully growing us in the faith. pruning is back through chastening, so that we can produce MORE fruit, with the ultimate goal as we continue in the truth, that we will finally become established in it, to the point where we are unshakeable.

I pray readers see, if we step out to believe our God, and refuse to let doubt in, and refuse to give up our grip on the promises of God to keep us from falling, we WILL become established in the faith, guaranteed.

Oh, we may physically be able to sin, but amazingly, we will not. Why? Because we are finally abiding in the vine, and kept from fulfilling the lusts of the flesh through faith, because He now lives IN US, and it is Him in us that keeps us from falling. Glory!

In contemplating my chastening 'task', having to confess my sin to all whom I have assured many times over that Christ can and will keep us from falling, well, needless to say, it is certainly not on my Christian bucket list, but it seems it was on His.

So today I wish to bare myself and my sin before all here, both to those who may agree with me, and as well, those who think me crazy or worse yet, a deceiver. I pray for forgiveness that I do not deserve but desperately need.

May God bless you all,

Gideon

Thanks for your humility here Gid-beautiful and helpful. While forgiveness is always available we must appreciate and want it, and repent as necessary. And then continue striving onwards and upwards. That, with the help of grace, is to remain our trajectory overall.

RaymondG · Jul 15, 2019

Grip Docility said:
I am of the impression that all men fail, but the ONE man that “failed” at merely being a man.

This i can stand by. I am a man and I behave like a man and will until I am transformed by God.

What I ponder is whether or not I can be transformed by God and still sin whenever sin presents itself and be tempted of the same lusts as before transformation....

And whether or not i should promote this belief...

Gideon has sinned. And the truth still stands regardless.

❤️

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