Monday, September 14, 2009

Prison

Most people think of a prison as a place with jail cells, locks, barbed wire fences, and guards carrying a gun.
But there are other types of prisons.

Lies/Lying
Some I thought would lie to cover up a lie. Then I wondered why do they lie when they know that eventually the truth will be found out. But then the other day Megan and I was talking about a certain person. And she said I don't think they even realize they're lying. They do it so much it just comes natural.

Addictions/Habits
People say I can't stop doing this or that. You don't know what it's like to do something for a long time and give it up cold turkey.
But if your hiding to do it then you know either it's wrong or you are ashamed that your doing it.

Adultery
Our culture today is no different than in the times of Sodom and Gomorrah. No, sometimes I wonder if we are even worse. They sinned openly. We hide it and justify it. We give reason after reason for what we do. I was talking to someone about relationships and was asked what an open relationship was. I told them when two people are married but date others and do what they want without giving an answer about it. I told them basically if you can think it, it's out there. How are we raising our children? That it's okay for two women or two men to date and marry. That we marry and we change our mind we divorce and keep re-marrying. Some don't even marry. They just live together. They say trying it out first to see if it's going to work. Then others don't even marry, they date and sleep around. Not thinking of the consequences. Because with every sin there is consequences.

II Timothy 3
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

But the good news is: 1 Corinthians 10:13 (King James Version)
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 John 1:9 (King James Version)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We don't have to live the life we have lived. He's there willing and waiting to help us to change.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

We stop after verse 16 but the next five is just as powerful. He came to show love, mercy, and grace.

Ephesians 2:4-8
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Jesus Loves You!!!!!!