|
Post by rockwell on Jun 14, 2007 8:33:07 GMT -5
james78 - Thanks for all the bible versus! And the link to the bible on line is helpful.
rockwell
|
|
DennisW
Full Member
Love God Hate Sin
Posts: 226
|
Post by DennisW on Jun 14, 2007 10:10:11 GMT -5
Hi guys,
I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Dennis, and I am a sinner saved by God's grace and mercy.
I appreaciate the boldness you have for proclaiming Christ on his support board. I have not seen that very much on this board. I believe that recovery has very much to do with turning from sin and turning towards God. I believe that porn and masturbation is an idol, just like anything else that takes priority over my relationship to God. Thanks for being bold enough to introduce more of a spiritual influence to this board.
Psalm 54:4 "Surely God is my helper. The LORD is the One Who sustains me."
|
|
faith
Junior Member
Posts: 55
|
Post by faith on Jun 14, 2007 10:11:44 GMT -5
I don't know if I am supposed to post in here but I just want to thank you guys for this thread. I pray daily for people on this board. I strongly believe in intercessory prayer. I hope you will continue to pray for each other. I believe the greatest thing you can get from this board is through the power of brothers and sisters lifting each other up in prayer. Let your temptations be a reminder to pray for your brothers so you will all gain victory. Thanks again.
|
|
|
Post by james78 on Jun 14, 2007 10:15:08 GMT -5
Welcome guys Great to have you here. And yes faith, you are supposed to post here I think rockwell wanted this thread to be sort of a place of fellowship for us to come for support and encouragement of each other.
|
|
|
Post by rockwell on Jun 14, 2007 14:50:12 GMT -5
Welcome to Dennis and Faith and thank you for your postings.
Yes, this is a place for prayer!
Lord, We pray for every person on every thread of this message board. We pray for your presence here, for your power and for your healing and that each person will be drawn to you. That you will reveal yourself by your spirit, and people who are feeling lost may be found by you.
We pray specifically for those on this thread: james78, faith, dennisW, changingmyways, witness and manic. Help them to receive your power over lust and temptation. Help each of us to draw others in, and to encourage each other and others as they join this thread.
Help us, Almighty God to be humble, to pray before posting and to seek your will above all else. Remove all of our idols so that only you remain. We pray this through your son, Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
|
|
|
Post by thims on Jun 14, 2007 18:11:00 GMT -5
When we are weak, HE is strong.
Relying on the power of the Holy Spirit is great, but it is nice to have a place to go when temptation strikes.... I've been away too long. I've had some good periods and some bad periods, but I must say that since attaching to this board I've never gone as deep into sin as I once did.
Hold me accountable. I will try to check in regularly. (Dallas Willard is one of my favorites!)
Grace and peace,
Thims
|
|
|
Post by rockwell on Jun 15, 2007 12:44:38 GMT -5
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path."
A quote from the bible
|
|
|
Post by Al on Jun 15, 2007 14:14:52 GMT -5
Happy to see this thead. By the grace of God, men. By the Grace of GOD.
Be well, Al
|
|
|
Post by thims on Jun 15, 2007 15:54:00 GMT -5
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path." A quote from the New Testament Actually, it's a quote from the Old Testament, Proverbs 3:5,6 Try reading one proverb each day... there are 31 (today I will read Proverbs 15 because it is the 15th of the month). It's a good way to work through this important book monthly. More than ever we need a handle on the Word of God so that we can be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks for the reason of the hope that is within us, yet with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15) Read it! Study it! Memorize it! God's Word will serve us well! Grace and peace, T
|
|
jack
Junior Member
Posts: 96
|
Post by jack on Jun 15, 2007 19:05:33 GMT -5
Hello All,
I would like to share a little. I havent visited this board in a while. Three years ago the Lord stirred me and drew me to himself. I was not searching for him nor as an adult had I seriously considered Jesus and the implications of him. A series of undramatic events occured in my life and there he was and in my mind he was gently telling me not to worry just to focus on him and believe in him. So I did and I do. In so doing it seems I have called down on me a wrath of evil spiritual forces. I have long cultivated this addiction to pornography and acting out sexualy always knowing it was wrong but I did not experience the true pain and anguish of the trap Ive ensnared my self in until Jesus began to reveal himself to me. I want to be free and I thought that he was somehow going to set me free and it hasnt happened that way. Instead I feel like a failure and unworthy of his grace. I cant stand to go to him in shame with the same dirt on my soul time and time again I feel hypocritical and dishonest. I have been trying to wage spiritual warfare against this affliction because it does feel like a spiritual attack. It is not tangable and it is insidious sneaking in and washing over like a force. I have memorised some scripture to try to combat : Ephesians 6 The Armor of God , Psalm 91 and 23 . Im working on 2nd Corinthians 10 now. Admitedly although it is a good mental exercise it has had little affect on staving off an attack. My powerlessness and repeated failure is creating dought and double mindedness. It has not been easy to overcome the intelectual pitfalls in moving from disbelief to belief never the less the Lord has been doing a work in me. God only knows why. Coming out of one wilderness I seem to have entered another. Did I miss a gate or a door or some sign I was supposed to follow.
My prayer to you all is relief in the name of Jesus Christ.
Jack
|
|
|
Post by thims on Jun 15, 2007 20:15:11 GMT -5
Ok Jack,
This is where the rubber meets the road. You said that you feel "unworthy of his grace..." BINGO! We are unworthy of his grace. By definition, grace is unmerited favor! We cannot achieve a measure of righteousness, it is not something we can possess; it possess us! It is all Christ...period!
Now, having said that I realize that we still have work to do. I am reading a very easy-to-read book right now and I would recommend it to every believer. "Real Christianity" by William Wilberforce and Ron Beltz (Ron Beltz has taken Wilberforce's work, written in 1797 (that's right, more than two hundred years ago!) and translated it into modern language. Wilberforce spent his career in Parliament working to abolish the slave trade in England. The book is as relevant as if it were written yesterday. It will give any reader the perspective on the self and the culture in down-to-earth language that will convict and encourage at the same time.
Jack, don't be too hard on yourself. You have spent years and years feeding the lower appetites and it will take time to re-program your brain. Don't loose hope. This is a battle that can be won!
Let's hang in there together lest we hang separately (apologies to B. Franklin)
Grace and peace, T
|
|
mrmr
Full Member
"It is God at work in you to will and to act according to His good purpose" Philippians 2:13
Posts: 121
|
Post by mrmr on Jun 16, 2007 4:03:37 GMT -5
Hello all,
I am a 26-year-old born again Christian and I am addicted to porn.
I was raised by Christian parents who took me to church every week and tried their best to raise me in Faith. When I was 14 I stopped going to church and my life took a different direction almost instantly. Wrong 'so called' friends who introduced me to drugs and alcohol. After three years of living my life like that, and never thinking about any religion whatsoever, I met my girlfriend. She lead me to a life without drugs and alcohol and gave new meaning to my life. She is still my girlfriend and I am still very grateful for getting me out of that lifestyle.
Four years ago, I was shopping and when I left a store an overwhelming warmth and feeling of happiness filled my heart. I acknowledged the feeling but did not know what it was so I walked on surprised by what happened to me. Then there was this man who came up to me and I thought he wanted to know the time or directions or something. But instead he asked me about my Faith and whether I knew who Jesus was. So I explained to him that I knew who he was because of my upbringing but that I did not believe in any God at the moment. I told him that if there was a God he would come into my life when I was ready for it. He replied to this by saying; He just did.
This experience changed my life. I see myself as a Christian and try to live the lifestyle although I do not attempt church.
Now I am struggling with porn and mb. I feel so guilty after a slip. I feel like I let Him down. Sometimes I am angry as well, thinking that Jesus could help me alittle bit more. After all He could take this away from any of us. Why doesn't he? I know these questions are futile and that I have to do the work. But sometimes it feel that being a Christian makes it harder on me because of the guilt toward my Saviour.
I know this was a long story but I felt like writing it down for a change. I don't know what any of you could reply to this but I felt like sharing it with you anyway.
MrMr
|
|
|
Post by james78 on Jun 16, 2007 5:18:30 GMT -5
Great to see more and more people coming to this thread Jack, You say you are working on 2 Corinthians 10, but it has little effect on staving off an attack. If I may make a few suggestions. First, try really working on Ephesians 6: 10-18 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. This is an excellent passage. Study it and put it to use. Defend yourself with this armour. Trust in God, and put on your your armor of truth, righteousness, readiness, faith and salvation. Lastly, parry Satan's temptations with the very word of God, for as it is written in Hebrews 4:12 : For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Just remember, you are not fighting alone, God is by your side. Simply surrender yourself and turst in Him. Then, visit the following for more scriptures that may help, inspire or comfort you lightwave.proboards48.com/index.cgi?board=addicts&action=display&thread=1181208813www.biblebell.org/lap.html
|
|
|
Post by james78 on Jun 16, 2007 5:26:20 GMT -5
mrmr,
I know how frustrating it is to struggle so hard when the Lord could just do it for us. I am sure we all feel that way. I know I do occasionally. However, I believe that the gift of freedom is precious. Sure way make bad choices and suffer, but the good choices feel that much better. When we chose God, it is out of love, not compulsion. Our trials make us better and stronger. And remember, Jesus did the real hard work, He died so that even though we will make bad choices, we can be made clean again.
A true Christian life is not easy. It is hard. However, the eternal alternative is harder still. Stay strng my friend, and keep the faith.
|
|
jack
Junior Member
Posts: 96
|
Post by jack on Jun 16, 2007 17:44:15 GMT -5
Hi, I was just aimlessly reading some posts old and new and spread out over this sight and I thought it was interesting that I found a common theme in such a random effort and also ironicly I just yesterday voiced the same thought in a post. That is that I have been looking to Jesus to rescue me from this snare of sexual addiction and so far have found only more trials and a deeper sense of remorse. Looking back over my life I have a definate sense of the Lord moving on it, subtely proding to direct my path. At those times I was not aware of his presence it was only after, that the impression formed. Some how I just know this and yet do not keep it in the fore front of my mind I begin to dought and Jesus begins to fade to myth and lose credability because he has not done what I think he should do, namely, yank me out of the fire. Where in this world is there not fire. What area of humanity is devoid of suffering. C.S. Lewis wrote about suffering as a necessary condition implemented by God to cause us to seek him. The longer I am around the more convinced I am of things spiritual such as evil. It is an abstraction but scientificaly no more so than gravity or any other force in terms of explanation. Something works on our thoughts to keep us in turmoil to keep us away from what Jesus says will free us. It goes against logic to think that we would purposely choose to remain enslaved and so I would surmise that on some level we are being influenced by an opposing force and when we dought the Lord who we know with our heart not with our head that force is gaining ground and looks only to over whrite our end. I know that this pontificating does not offer help necessarily but it is an affirmation to me to voice this thinking publicly in an effort to shore up my faith in Jesus Christ. He has been shaping my thoughts for some time now and I have been a hard sell but little by little I am relising that I am his, that He bought me and that he will not be denied.
In the name of my Lord Jesus Christ I sincerely pray that all who visit this board will know relief in there suffering.
Jack
|
|