preaching and adultery
it's a long post - buckle up and dive in prayerfully
Preaching Opportunity
A couple of weeks ago, I had the distinct honor of bringing the message at church. Our pastor had a knee injury that morning and had to be rushed to the hospital, leaving the other deacons and I to continue service. One of them came to me and said, “I don’t have anything ready - what are we going to do?” I assured him I was prepared, as God had been inspiring a message in me for weeks.
So I took my notes that I had been slowly building on and fleshed it out prayerfully, also asking God if I was even supposed to do this today. The response was a “such a time as this” type response. In other words my teaching and blogging and studying had prepared me for this moment when I felt I was to step up step behind the pulpit.
What is He preparing you for? Are you actively preparing for God's plans or delaying them? He gives us the free will to act or not act.
If you’d like to see the service, here’s a link to the YouTube video. You can skip ahead to the 1 hour and 15 minute mark… YouTube It is also embedded below, but limitations on SubStack prevent it from working that well…
Next Message
God has already laid on my heart something specific to study and prepare for. I am being attentive and prayerfully ready for the next time. Want a spoiler? It has to do with Jonah… shhhh
Next Mission
I have also had something else laid on my heart. I feel a strong calling to explore deliverance ministry, a practice focused on freeing individuals from demonic oppression. I have had God lay things on my heart before as it applies to teaching, or making sure people know that Ephesians 6:12 applies to us today too.
Ephesians 6:12 NIRV - Our fight is not against human beings. It is against the rulers, the authorities and the powers of this dark world. It is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly world.
I personally believe that the majority of people in the United States have dismissed the supernatural. Even Christians that believe we have a spiritual transformation will dismiss the idea of other spiritual beings than God and Jesus, even though Jesus Himself cast out many evil spirits. The early disciples did the same thing. Do we dismiss that? Or do we say that times have changed?
If you believe that God doesn’t change and that His Word doesn’t change, then why would you think this is only a thing of the past?
Next step is to determine if it is spiritual oppression, or something else. As you’ve likely heard me say, I don’t start looking for a demon under every rock. It is a possibility though and you must be aware.
Specific Issue
Consider this something to prompt you for deeper study. I make a commitment to you now, as God leads, that I will delve deeper into this issue. For starters, though, I want you to consider something. Are you guilty of the sin of adultery?
Exodus 20:14 in the King James says Thou shalt not commit adultery. New King James is a little clearer - You shall not commit adultery. The NIrV speaks it a little clearer - Do not commit adultery.
Let’s see if our actions qualify as this sin… The Oxford definition of adultery is voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse. Merriam-Webster says voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than that person's current spouse or partner.
So this is a very clear meaning. By this definition, I am not guilty of adultery and have nothing to repent of. I’m good. I can ignore that issue completely, right? Well… If that’s what you think, I have bad news for you…
Matthew 5:27-28 KJV - Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Let’s see that in the NIrV for a more modern and clear reading…
Matthew 5:27-28 NIRV - “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But here is what I tell you. Do not even look at a woman in the wrong way. Anyone who does has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
More Definitions
Oxford defines lust as a noun and a verb. Since Jesus implies a verb, let’s look at that one - have a very strong sexual desire for someone. Miriam-Webster is a little less detailed…
intransitive verb: to have an intense desire or need: CRAVE
specifically: to have a sexual urge
Have you ever looked on someone and lusted after them? Is this so common to you that you don’t even think about it? Our culture has made this something that is taken for granted. Television shows and movies depict people with provocative clothing, or sometimes no clothing at all. Sports Illustrated puts out a swimsuit issue that rivals Playboy and the like.
And it is very mainstream… There’s an older sitcom called How I Met Your Mother where a man is relaying the story to his teenage kids about his life before their mother came along. It is filled with sexual content and ‘conquest.’ Adultery is so common in the show that it doesn’t stand out at all. It’s not the main topic and is just taken for granted.
Do you read fiction depicting sexual acts? Do they give you a desire or urge? How many millions of American women have read Fifty Shades of Gray?
Do you go to the pool or the beach and look at the scantily clad people? The men with the muscles? Do you think, “yeah, if I weren’t married…” or something to that effect?
Do you work or shop around people that wear things you wouldn’t want your daughter to wear, but you’re happy to look at on someone else’s daughter? Do you go out of your way to look down someone’s shirt?
It’s a Sin
I am going to put this bluntly. Adultery is a sin. It’s not just a choice or a lifestyle - it’s a sin. And according to Jesus you are guilty of it for lusting - for desiring ‘in your heart.’ This does NOT mean a deep seated desire specifically, as in your mind is on it all the time. But ‘in your heart’ means it is a part of you.
Our decisions come ‘from the heart.’ You may think about something in a logical way, like whether the ingredients of vanilla or chocolate have a more redeeming value. But in your heart you know which one you want.
If you want that person in your heart, then you are guilty of this sin. Period. The fact that the culture has made it okay and accepted does not mean that we should.
Romans 12:2 NIRV - Don’t live the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what he wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect.
Now, having said all that and hopefully having convinced you that it is not just ‘something you do’ but is a SIN, have you confessed it? Have you repented of it? Have you said, “yeah I looked at that dirty magazine - I’m sorry God.” Or have you realized just how BAD it is and what you have committed!?!? Is there an evil spirit whispering in your ear, “it’s not that bad - everyone does it - you’re not actually touching that person or having sex with them, so it’s okay.” This is a trick that goes back to the beginning…
Genesis 3:1 NIRV - The serpent was more clever than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. The serpent said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat fruit from any tree in the garden’?”
Let’s put that another way. Is Jesus God? YES. Did God really say you are guilty of adultery if you just LOOK at that person and WANT them but don’t tell them or touch them? YES!
Now I ask again, have you truly repented of this? To repent is to turn away from. If you say you are sorry and keep doing it “cause I’m human” then you’re not really repenting.
Have you broken any control the evil spirits might have over you? Have you actively TURNED AWAY from this sin and said get thee behind me satan? If not, you have an open door for demonic oppression. That is what deliverance tries to rectify…
I actually got a little deeper into this than I thought God was leading at first. Bookmark this post and come back to it in a few days. Pray over it. Pray that God will open your eyes. Pray that God will show you what doors need to be closed.
Grace to you!
This post reminds me of James explaining sin; namely, if you have committed one of these you are guilty of all (paraphrased).
Great word!