Life Through the Spirit

I recently had a conversation with a friend about Romans 8, and the law from the old testament in the bible. Paul explains what it means to have life through the Holy Spirit in Romans 8.  This chapter is one of the most important chapters in the bible I believe because it explicitly tells us believers that we are free from the law.  For some, this might be somewhat confusing to grasp, and I'll admit that I am still learning how this applies to my life.   The law was created by God to reveal what sin is to the Israelites.  For those who are familiar with the bible; recall when God wrote the ten commandments as a guideline of the biblical principles for God's chosen people to follow. 

What was pointed out to me during this conversation was that the ten commandments were not meant for the gentiles.  However, this does not mean us gentiles are free to live in sin.  Romans 8:1 says "Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" The Israelites did not have Jesus in the old testament and were required to live according to the law.  There were severe penalties for those who broke one of the commandments.  The laws are still a guideline for us to live by today, as it reveals if we are walking in the spirit or in the flesh.  When you walk in the spirit you are under grace, but when you walk in the flesh you are under the law and will be judged by the law. 

How do you know if you are walking in the flesh? Galatians 5 says the acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;  idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions  and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

How do you know you are walking in the spirit? the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. 

Sex is only for the Married

 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men^{[a] 10} nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.   1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

Yesterday me and my husband were having a conversation about the sexually immoral and God spoke so clearly to me on this subject.  I don't think many people understand the biblical law as much as they should, especially believers.  I honestly believe that so many believers are going to be shocked on judgment day when they stand before our Lord and all their sins will be revealed by His light.  We deceived ourselves into believing that because we go to church, read our bibles and pray that this is enough to pull the wool over our Lord's eyes and convince Him that we are worthy of His kindom.   God sees what's in our hearts not what we try to pretray to the people around us! You can dress up the outside all you want but what do you look like on the inside? What does our God see in your heart? Are you ugly spiritually? You can't decieved the Lord, He sees who you are and He know's what's in your heart.  God also reveals to His true followers a glimpse of what's going on in the hearts of those who claim to be spiritually cleansed from all their sins but are only deceiving themselves. 

Mathew 17:3 says it so clearly; so many people will choose the road that is traveled  frequently rather then the road that's traveled less on their way into eternity.  Which road are you traveling now? You may already be taking the road that the majority of people are  traveling.  We choose in this life which path we want to take and we are already walking that path now, whether it be walking with our Lord on the road that leads to heaven and everylasting life, or walking with the world on the road that lead to destruction and death.   Which road have you chosen? If you are sexually immoral? Are you committing adultery against your Lord, your body, and your spouse? Are you greedy? Are you a thief steeling what doesn't belong to you? Do you cheat people? Do you drink excessively? Do you gossip to ruin other people's reputation? Are you having sex or thinking of have sex with the same sex? I hear so often that we are not perfect but there's a scripture verse for that too.  1 Peter 1:15 tells us "Just as He is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: be holy, because I am holy."  God would not tell us to be holy if He did not know we could.  God tells us in this verse that we can be like Him and if you are living a life that's pleasing to Him you are being holy. 

Sex was never meant for the single.  The bible calls anyone who has sex outside of marriage a fornicator.   Sex was designed for only the married according to the biblical law.  The bible calls a spouse who cheats or has the thoughts in their mind to cheat an adulterer.   God is very clear on His thoughts about adultery.  He hates it and He hates divorce.   Don't be deceived in thinking that you are worthy for God's kingdom if you are sexually immoral.  God makes it very clear that anyone who is will not inherit the kingdom of God.  What does this mean? It means you are not going to heaven if you are having sex outside of marriage, cheating on your spouse, having sex with the same sex, a drunkard, a thief, a slanderer, a swindler. 

This all can be changed if you are willing to give up the desires of the flesh and practice self-control.  God is forgiving and merciful.  He does not want anyone to perish but for all to come to repentence.  It's not too late to change your path into eternity.  All you have to do is ask Jesus to help you.  He tells us to have self-control because He understand that we are not perfect and will be tempted.  It's what you do with these temptations.  You can choose to act on them or dismiss them and know that they are from the enemy who wants your soul to join him in hell.  The choice is yours.  Mathew 11:13 Jesus says "my yoke is easy and my burden is light".  Only when you have come to true repentence will you understand and know that it is not hard to live in this world, especially when you have Jesus walking with you every step of the way.  You do not have to do this alone and it does not have to be hard but you have to want to change. 

Please note: I know this post is touching on some very convicting points but keep in mind;  This is not my laws or even my opinions.  I am speaking on the Lord's behalf-I am just the messanger so don't shoot the messanger! If you have a problem with anything I've written take it up with Lord because I only took what He said from His word-the bible.  God would love that you got down on your knees even if it was to have it out with Him.  He wants a relationship with you and He's waiting to bless your life.  You can be happy and have peace, even in the most trying circumstances.  John 14:27 says "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid".  The world can never understand this peace but we can. 

I DO!...ut oh..what did I do!!!

You finally found "the one", he's perfect in every way.  You spend every waking moment when you must be away from him, dreaming, thinking about the next time you get to embrace each other again.  Then comes the words "I love you" and before you know it your saying "I Do".  You only see joy, love and happiness spending the rest of your life with this man that makes you feel like the most important person in his life.  You move in with each other and now your ready to live happily ever after.  This of course sounds more like a fairytale but regardless of how it plays out this is pretty much what it feels like during the honeymoon phase. 

I was fifteen years old when I found "the one" and being as young as I was I had no idea what was in store for us.  I fell so deeply in love with him almost immediately there was nothing anyone could say to take me off of my love high.  I met him through my boy friend, and yes this sounds horrible but it happened and to this day I have no regrets.  Besides, my boy friend at the time was way too possessive and I never even considered a future with him.  In fact at that time we weren't together but he wouldn't leave me alone.  My mom didn't help either by allowing him to still come over and visit all because she had grown to like him.  I guess I probably shouldn't refer to this person as a boy friend when things happened with his friend, even though in his mind he believed we were.  

I would have never thought that my life would change so suddenly and I wasn't prepared for what would happen next.  I didn't think anything of taking a pregnancy test because I never thought I could get pregnant.  I was too young to have a baby so my thinking back then was, it's not possible.  Both pregnancy test read positive and I was pregnant.  Things got very complicated and ugly for a time so I contemplated abortion.  I cringe even at the thought of aborting my baby even now, but I thank God I did not follow through with.  Things started happening so fast but eventually ex boy friend left me alone and me and his friend starting dating. 

This was baby number two for him and he was only eighteen.  He was scared and had to immediately start thinking of how he would take care of two kids, so he joined the military.  He asked me to marry him on Christmas day in 1996 and were married by the Justice of the Peace in May 1997.  We've been together now for fifteen years and married for thirteen.  Our oldest son is fifteen years old and we have a seven year old, a five year old, and a three year.  These past thirteen years have been the hardest years so far of my life.  I've wanted to quit, walk away, run away and never come back but I'm still here.  My husband has also wanted to walk away and never look back but he's still here to.  It's obvious that we love each other but love is just not enough.  It has taken  patience, long suffering, perserverance, humility and God to overcome our obstacles in this marriage. 

 Acorrding to Jean Warren Lindsay the author of Teen Age Couples: Caring, Change, and committment.  More then sixty percent of teen marriages will fail within five years.  This percentage is probably the reason why me and my husband are always asked how did we make it this far.  No one thought we would in our hometown and they all let it be known but, it can be done and it has-my story is proof! Not only have we made it this far but we also renewed our wedding vows and had the big wedding we always dreamed of last July.  I plan to share all of what we've gone through for the last thirteen years but please do not think this was easy because it was not even close.  There were too many times to count where I was asking my self "what did I do?!?" Why did I marry this man and how could I have made such a decision at such a young age. 

We will always have our struggles and I know there will be times where there are feelings of hopelessness but I vowed two times now that I would stay with my husband through the good and the bad times, through sickness and in health, until death do us part.  The bible says in Ecclesiastes 5:5 It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.  If you are married and have reached a point where you feel hopeless I'm here to tell you that there is hope.  If I can do it you can to and we can do it together.  : )

Scripture verse:  1 Corinthians 7:10-11 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. 

Prayer: Father in heaven I pray that you bless all of my sisters out there that might be ready to give up.  Replace their hopelessness with your promises for their lives and mend their broken hearts.  Speak to each one according to their needs and give them peace.  The bible says nothing is impossible with you so let this be their focus for now Lord.  I thank You for what you have done in our lives and what You plan to do.  In Jesus' name Amen. 

There is hope.....