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13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.- 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
This verse can apply to all Christians to keep watch to not fall into temptation, stand strong in faith, and to not give up on God when life gets hard. But I want husbands to focus on this verse today. I want them to act like men and be faithful to God and their wives. Next to your relationship to Jesus Christ, the relationship with your wife is the most important one you will have in this life,so honor it, love it,and protect it. Sexual sin is running wild in the church today, and most churches are turning a blind eye to it. In particular, porn addiction seems to be the devil’s weapon of choice in keeping men enslaved to their sin. So many men are missing their calling to greatness because they can’t put porn to death. It’s time! If your a man and your letting porn rule you, trust God to help you act like a man and kill it before it kills you. you will lose everything if you don’t. Stop justifying your sin by saying I’m not really cheating on my wife by watching porn, because Jesus says:
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.-Matthew 5:27-28
So many Christians have said that porn is bad but it’s not really cheating, but their most likely saying this because their looking at porn, and don’t want to stop. It’s childish sneaking around on the computer looking at porn or watching late night tv. That’s not being a man, little boys do that. Are you a boy, a man, or a man of God? Stop playing games with Jesus.
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.- 2 Timothy 2:22
But stopping the behavior is not enough. You must deal with the root of the problem. Your problem is a heart problem. You need to dig deep down into the core of who you are and check your heart. Check out what Jesus said about the heart in Mark 7:20-23:
20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
So what can you do about your heart? That’s not the question to ask. The question to ask is what does God do about man’s heart problem? He gives us a new heart and new desires with a new life that can be lived free from sin, and to live for him and with him forever.
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules-Ezekiel 36:26-27
This is the beautiful doctrine of regeneration that happens when one comes to faith in Jesus Christ. Once where a hard heart beat for sin and folly now sits a new heart which longs to worship Jesus, pray to Jesus, serve Jesus and others, witness to others about what God has worked in you, and with the Spirit’s help the power to kill sin in your life. This is why Jesus proclaims we must be born again. We need a new heart to ever see Jesus as worthy of our devotion. When you are a Christian you are given a new heart, new desires, and a new life. The very core of who you are is changed forever. Your desires are about Jesus Christ. You love him, you want to worship him, pray to him, serve others, read your bibles, and go to church. Being a Christian is not about what you don’t get to do, but what you get to do. Which are the things I just mention. We see them as a joy not a duty. In Christ, we are new creations(2 corinthians 5:17). A Christian deepest desires will be all about God, but because of our sin nature we will have conflicting desires, these lesser desires we call temptations, but the more we focus on the True desires of our hearts, the lesser desires will lose power over us. This fact should bring you great joy. You can have victory over porn. Check out these verses from Scripture:
5 The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.- Proverbs 20:5
Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.- Psalm 37:4
What are your Deepest Desires?
Are they for Jesus or something else?
Your God, your wife, your children, and the body of Christ is counting on you to step up and start acting like a man. Be Strong, Be Faithful, for God is with you.
14 But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”- Malachi 2:14-16
Hello readers,
A few months ago I promise a study in the book of James. It’s still coming, but I’m still tweaking the blog a little. I’m looking for more guest writers to talk about the Christian faith, living with a disability, and civil rights for people with disabilities. If you would like to write something shoot me a email at cpoutlaw@hotmail.com. God Bless.
The Christmas season for the Christian is a time of hope. It marks the birth of our Savior, but this time can be hard for a lot of people. I think about my wife, who’s grandma passed away on Christmas day nine years ago. Robin’s greater hope is in the God of her circumstances but every Christmas she’s sad that her gram is not with us. Other people are going through hurt right now that just leaves them with bitterness of the soul. And what do we do with hurt like this? Every time I’m hurting and my heart is broken I Just love reading what Hannah did in 1 Samuel. Look at the Text:
1 Samuel 1
The Birth of Samuel
1There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite [a]from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
3Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. 4Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. 6 And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8Elkanah her husband would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”
9Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s temple. 10 In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
12 As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine.”
15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
19Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him- 1 Samuel 1:1-20
There is a lot to learn from these verses but let’s focus on Hannah. In verse 6 Peninnah who have children is provoking her because of her circumstances. The verse says she did this to irritate her. I think we have all had people like this in our lives that remind us of bad times. For whatever reason they want us to be unhappy or their just unhappy and just want to make everybody feel their pain. Whatever the case, we will face circumstances and even people like Peninnah.We can’t control the way their going to act but I pray God will give us grace to respond like Hannah. Verse 7 says this provoking happen year after year as Hannah went up to the House of the Lord to Worship. Peninnah kept on her till Hannah wept and could not eat. Now we would want revenge. We want payback! But look what Hannah does. She takes her very real pain and circumstances to God. Verse 10 says in bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord. O how we need to get this into our hearts. In the darkest times of life let us run to our God and Father. Lets be real with him and trust him to work out the circumstances in our life. Prayer is where we meet God to talk with him with not just mere religious speech but with real heart felt words that are filled with joy and at times with pain. Hannah prayed that God would remember her in her misery and that he would give her son. She than vowed to give this son to the Lord’s service. She was so lost in prayer that Eli the priest thought she was drunk. she tells him not to take her as a wicked woman because she was praying out of great anguish and grief. It’s my prayer that one day I can get so lost in prayer and worship that no matter who is around that the only one that matters is God. After Eli gives her encouragement verse 18 tells us that she went her way ate something,and that her face was no longer downcast. Of Course we find out in verses 19 and 20 that God answers her prayer but it says in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son named Samuel. The text doesn’t say it but think about it. Peninnah is still in her life. She was at the temple that night and most likely knows about the prayer Hannah prayed. Who knows how much time passed before the prayer was answered, but I can only imagine the evil things Hannah heard from Peninnah. But Hannah trusted God, and he was her vindication and victory.
In our lives it so easy to give up on God when we feel like he hasn’t answered our prayers. We need to trust that He’s a good Father and will always gives us what we need when we need it. I once had a friend’s mom tell me that no normal girl would ever date me or want to marry me. I prayed for God to bring me someone who would love me, and for years it seemed like the answer was no. But than God answered my prayer by giving me Robin. She loves me at my worst and challenges me to be my best. People told me I would never amount to much because of my cp. I prayed that God would use me in his service. He responded by making me a youth pastor and preacher. He allowed me to work at a place that fight for the rights of people with disabilities. In my times of pain, tears, and depression God has answered me with a remarkable life. My God didn’t give me everything I wanted, but everything I have needed. Learn from Hannah, take your cares to God. When your hope is in God, you’ll never be let down not matter the circumstance or Peninnah in your life. God Bless
haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…this is funny
Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.-Colossians 3:19
I can’t put into words sometimes how much I love my wife. Robin’s love for me is the closest thing I can understand as an example of God’s unconditional love. She has loved me for who I am, the good and the bad. I don’t thank God enough for her but I’m grateful for her. I been a husband for one year now and have a lot to learn but one thing I have learned is that men need to guard our hearts to protect our marriages. The devil wants us to give in to temptation and mess up what we have with our wives. Rather it’s another woman or other sexual sin like porn, the devil wants to destroy marriages and families through sexual sin. But let me tell you something, it’s not worth loosing the one who puts up with your sorry butt. During those times when no one else has your back and you take it out on her, and she still loves you. Why throw that away? Why throw away the one who loves you at your worse and challenges you to be your best. As Christian husbands our marriage to our wives is our greatest ministry and calling God has given us. If we can’t love our wives we can’t love others with the love of Christ. There’s all kind of ways the devil can make a man fall but I think that sexual sin is his weapon of choice against strong Christian marriages. We need to fight the good fight of faith and keep Christ at the center of our marriages and not trade our wives loves for a temporary pleasure which is no pleasure of all. When I’m tempted to sin sexually I think about what it would cost me. It hurts my witness for Christ to my church,friends,family, and I would lose Robin. I’m not willing to mess up the Blessing I have in Robin. So, Men of God, pray for me as I pray for you to stay strong in your marriage and life.
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
-Hebrews 11:24-26
“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?-Jeremiah 32:27
Pastor Aaron of Life Point Baptist Church talked about this verse in his sermon today. And as he been teaching on differnt people of faith from the Bible, the one thing that they all had was the faith to know that there is nothing that is impossible for God.I started to praise God at the end of service during the time of prayer. I started thinking about how Jesus has done great things in my life no matter what people have said to me. There was a time when people told me flat out that a woman would not have me because of my cerebral palsy,but I prayed to the Lord for a woman who would love me for who I am and he answered me by giving me my wife Robin. If I listened to the negative people around me I would still be single but I had the faith that God had someone out there for me.
Also at 22 the Lord revealed to me that he wanted me to be a preacher. I started teaching children than was the youth leader at my church for three years, and this whole time he gave me chances all over my city to preach the Gospel. In a world who would look at me as broken and worth nothing, Christ scooped me up, made me whole,and use me as a tool for His Kingdom.That’s what he does all the time, He takes the least and the outcast of the world to do great things to his glory. Take me as an example, I was fatherless,motherless,angry about having cp but he changed my heart giving me joy. He made me a proclaimer of his Word. He made me a youth leader to reach out to teens. Can you see the miracle in that? Can you see His grace in that? He took me who was filled with hate and turned me into someone filled with His love. I never think that this is me cause apart from him there is no good in me. I say all this to show you that nothing is too hard for God.Do you have faith that God can do great things in your life? Dream big for Jesus, he’ll never let you down. God Bless.
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.-Romans 12:9-10
In a earlier post I wrote about feeling like I don’t fit in anywhere, and the Lord has met me in my time of prayer and Bible Study. What He revealed to me is we are made for community and relationships. First with Him and than the family of God. Also I think we need to love everybody with the love of God, no matter who they are. Can you imagine what a family would look like if the members whould love with an genuine heart and outdo each other in showing honor?Or what a marriage would look like? friendships? The church would draw people to the cross and would mirror the God they worship. If people would apply these verses than this world would be a better place.
As for me, with the help of the Lord I’m going to do my best to love this way. In regards to other people with disabilities I will never put them down but build them up. For we are always seen as outcasts and symbols of pity that as a man with an disability I never want to do that. I want to give disabled people hope that they can be whatever God wants them to be. I want all people to see nothing is impossible with God.
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, even though I might feel like I don’t belong or I’m not always understood, I know in Christ I do belong, and I will do my best to show you love and build you up in your faith. To all the ones who have hurt me growing up in church since I was a kid, I forgive you cause Jesus forgave me.
To my wife Robin, I promise to forsake all others and love you always. no other person will come between us. I pray I can be the man you deserve.
To sum it up, all I want to do is love God and other people, even if that love is never returned by people. God bless and may you outdo someone in showing love and honor this week.
In a few days I’ll be writing about my first action with ADAPT, but right now I’m asking for people to pray for my uncle John. He was up in a tree today sawing it down, and fell 20 feet. He broke both his legs and is in the hospital. I’m on my way to Pittsburgh to see him now. God Bless.
The Parable of the Sower
4:1 Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The Purpose of the Parables
10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that
“they may indeed see but not perceive,
and may indeed hear but not understand,
lest they should turn and be forgiven.”
13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”- Mark 4:1-20
Since I’ll be out of town for a week and won’t be able to post anything, I wanted to do something tonight. I been a devoted follower of Christ since I was 22. I have had my ups and downs in my walk with the Lord. I have turned my back on him, but I’m thankful He never gives up on on me. I have come to the point in my life that I want to be good soil for the Lord and be fruitful for his kingdom. I want to live for him and his glory. I want to honor him in my marriage, my job, and my ministry. I don’t want my life to resemble the people in verses 17 through 19. Oh, I’m not being high and mighty, for I been there. I don’t like that place. Apart from Christ there is darkness in my heart, but praise God he made me a new creation and I don’t have to go back to the old me. I been sick for two days and I was having a lot of conflicting desires but the Lord kept bringing me back to these verses. Be good soil I heard from him even though I was sick. It seems in my life that the devil always trys to work on me when my health is not good, but I’m thankful God met me in my prayers for strength to endure and to understand. I’m not perfect, I still mess up and sin big, but all I want to do is live for Him. God Bless.
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.- Psalm 107:27-30
Robin and I are doing a bible study titled “God at your wits’ end” by Marilyn Meberg and so far it’s awesome. The study is about where is God when our backs are against the wall and we are at our wits’ end. We’ve all been there and we all at times feel like He has forgotten about us. Look at your own life and I know you’ll agree. When the circumstances just seem rougher everyday with no sign of letting up.
Bills just keep piling up.
You can’t pay for your baby’s medicine.
Your disability is overwhelming you.
The cancer won’t go away.
The pain of a broken childhood won’t go away.
The list can go on and on until you can’t take any more and there is only one thing you can do. That thing is seek God. He has given His word when He said He’ll never leave you. The Lord will deliever you and give you the strength to endure. Trust me, I’m not some sappy church attender. I’ve been in the pit of depression and troubled over 26 years of life. From a dad who died of drugs to a mom who thought she was Jesus walking naked up main street of our town, being born with cerebral palsy, and many more I’ll talk about in later posts. I mention these to show that I understand pain but, I also understand the Truth that is in Jesus Christ of the Bible. He has never left me and has always been there for me. He’ll be there for you too. TRUST HIM. And know better days are coming. God Bless.
