Gilbert Switzer said:
I don't think it's a very big deal. You all have a seriousness that is very interesting. I was interested in Christianity but I don't think I can take myself as seriously as you guys. The Anna Kournikova calendar issue is a good example. I think that Christianity is a beautiful thing but it's just to ridgid for me.
God Bless you and your Church,
Gilbert
Greeting Gilbert , and all ,
This is what happens when we look at what will must lose carnally , instead of what we stand to obtain spiritually .
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. <-----> Romans 13:12-14
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. <-----> 1st Peter 2:11+12
Who would think that such private meddling with folly could be such a spiritual detriment ?!
We cannot discern by sampling the " rewards " of serving the will of the flesh alone ; we must also experience the " rewards " of serving the will of The Spirit ... Then will we be able to know within ourself , what is truly worthwhile and fulfilling .
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. <-----> Psalm 34:7-9
I have clearly been on both sides of this divide , and can say with all certainty that The Holy Spirit's Comfort and Joy is infinitely better and greater and more enduring than any that this world , or our flesh has to offer .
But don't merely take my word for it , seize the opportunity to " see " for yourself !
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God . <-----> Romans 8:5-16
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? <-----> Luke 11:9-13
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. <-----> James 2:26
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. <-----> Philippians 2:12+13
Who is it that has our best interest in mind ?
Is it the world which seeks to entice and allure for it's own material gain ?
Or , The God of Heaven and earth , which urges humanity to receive of His Spirit of Grace , so that we may harmonize with that which is Eternal in the Light of Christ's Atoning Sacrifice ?
Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. <-----> Isaiah 52:2
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. <-----> Isaiah 60:1+2
...
if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. <-----> Romans 8:17
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. <-----> 2nd Peter 1:4
In many cases " extremes " are not good ; but The Extreme which is Extremely Good , is an exception to this rule !
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. <-----> Mathew 13:45+46
The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light. <-----> Luke 11:34-36
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel . <-----> 2nd Timothy 2:7+8
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. <-----> Romans 6:4
Obviously , I can't say enough about how good it is to walk with Christ , in Spirit and in truth .
Here's something which has been given me to do , if someone's physical appearance begins to entice my flesh for the sake of taking captive my mind , so that my liberty as a son of God is impinged upon , so that my witness is detracted from , so that my purpose is unfulfilled , so that the " Miserable ones " may have hope of my company .
I simply look at the physical beauty in an age progression mode .
To help get the hang of this , find someone who is very old and physically unattractive , and compare photos of when they were young , middle-aged etc .
This helps put things into a perspective which coincides with reality , which keeps us from being taken captive by an unfruitful fantasy .
There may even be some software which can do this on a computer . But more importantly , it should be recognized within our own hearts and minds , if ever we are to grow up , and put away the childish things of our lustful youth . ( See 1st Corinthians Ch. 13 - esp. vs. 11 )
The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. <-----> Isaiah 40:6-8
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. <-----> Psalm 90:12
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. <-----> Romans 13:11
It's not that unfruitful fantasies are so bad ... It's that our time is too short to be neglecting that which is truly profitable in this life and in The World to come with Christ's Return .
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. <-----> 1st Timothy 4:8
In order to fit into God's Everlasting Kingdom of Righteousness , Peace , and Joy , we must be able to harmonize with The Spirit thereof . For , for the sake of those who do enter in , God will not allow any who would spoil the Bliss to have access . ( See Revelation Ch. 21- esp. vs. 27 )
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. <-----> Ecclesiastes 9:11
Now's our time , and here's our chance . ( See 2nd Corinthians 6:1-3 )
May The Lord Be Pleased To Grant Us Wisdom And Understanding , So That Opportunity Turns Us To Blessing And Not Cursing . Amen .
Peace and Joy In Christ ,
wm
