Today I'm preparing for the talk I'll be giving on Sunday titled "Taboo: When It Feels Good To Do What You Know Is Bad." Here's what I wrote in the e-mail I sent to my congregation:
Dear friend:
All sins are serious, but some are so taboo that they are committed in secret and never mentioned in public. What causes us to hide behind closed doors may be embarrassment, or it may be the reluctance to give up what has become an addictive pleasure, or it may be a combination of those two things--but, if you are waging a private war against a habitual sin, you are probably haunted by two accompanying thoughts:
"I'm all alone."
"There's no way out."
Take a look at 1 Corinthians 10:13, and you'll see that both of those thoughts are lies. Your struggle is a common one, and there is a way of escape. But what is it? This Sunday at Sunridge, I'll share with you seven practical strategies for winning private battles. It's not a formula, but a stack of proven biblical principles, one of which may be God's way of escape for you. If you need to be set free, don't miss church this Sunday.
All sins are serious, but some are so taboo that they are committed in secret and never mentioned in public. What causes us to hide behind closed doors may be embarrassment, or it may be the reluctance to give up what has become an addictive pleasure, or it may be a combination of those two things--but, if you are waging a private war against a habitual sin, you are probably haunted by two accompanying thoughts:
"I'm all alone."
"There's no way out."
Take a look at 1 Corinthians 10:13, and you'll see that both of those thoughts are lies. Your struggle is a common one, and there is a way of escape. But what is it? This Sunday at Sunridge, I'll share with you seven practical strategies for winning private battles. It's not a formula, but a stack of proven biblical principles, one of which may be God's way of escape for you. If you need to be set free, don't miss church this Sunday.
If you don't have a church home, and you live in the Inland Empire, I hope you'll join us!
Looking forward to God's movement in and through us all tomorrow!
I really liked today's sermon Greg. And I sincerely mean that, no Taboo words....
For me thinking about the scriptures that deal with the specific sin area or temptation really help. And I love how you emphasized speaking them..... I've always sensed that God's spirit gives power whenever His word is vocalized.
I also liked the point about installing a firewall. It reminded me of the Proverb that asks, regarding temptation, "Can a man take fire to his breast and not be burned?" It's impossible NOT to be burned when we handle fire or combustible substances that cause sin. Your points about avoiding, even fleeing or throwing the sources of sin out of our lives was very powerful.
Anyway, I need to sign off now, but those were a few thoughts I had during the services today. Thanks again for a compelling and timely message.
Lacekke