About Sexual Desires…

Fresh Manna 2009© by Pastor Tim Burt

Col 3:10 “… put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

Have you ever seen before and after pictures? I think God loves before and after pictures. Do you know why I think that? Because throughout His Word, He tells us to put off this and that and to put on the new man within us. He talks about being made new. He talks about being transformed by His Spirit and Word. He then reminds us not to go back to the former way we were. In a sense, He tells us to put the picture of our new selves on the refrigerator and look at! Let’s take a look and see if that isn’t so.

Col 3:7-10 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Eph 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

James 1:21-25 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.

God wants us to remove certain things from our life but in order to do so, we have to remember that God’s Holy Spirit – the power of God to help us – lives within us! The Holy Spirit helps us sensitize our spirit by showing us what is best for us and what is harmful for our lives according to the Word of God. We may at times feel condemned but I assure you God is not condemning you. Jesus already died for you. There may be a feeling of conviction. That is the feeling we get when we recognize God wants to help us make changes. That’s a good thing. He means we are spiritually alive. Now He wants to help you and that is what the Holy Spirit does! As we pray and ask God, He helps our inward desires change and even feel disgust for what evil is in our lives. As desires change, change comes!

In the book of Galatians, one of the works of the flesh to put off is lasciviousness. It is not a well-known word but it is a very practiced sin. I believe it is Satan’s greatest tool in this earth to draw men and women from God and back into sin.

Lasciviousness is the enticing and exciting of sexual desires – the creating of lust. People that read the Word of God come to understand that fornication – sex of any kind outside of marriage – is against God’s will. People that read God’s Word come to understand that adultery – sexual activity of a married person outside of their marriage is against God’s will. What many people don’t learn about or understand is the sin of lasciviousness – the enticing of one’s sexual desires. (Of course this does not include a husband or wife exciting each other.)

For men this usually has to do with visual and mental stimulation from sexual things. Satan, who the Bible says is the god of this world, (2 Cor. 4:4) understands the power of enticing men visually and mentally and that is why the advertising industry creates sexual ads continuously. They try to entice men to lust! That’s why pornography is one of the greatest problems amongst men today. Sexual imagines literally burn an image in the mind like photographic imagines caught on paper. That’s why people can go back in their mind to those sexual images over and over again. Men are stimulated by those sexual imagines and Satan uses them to pervert and degrade our thinking and draw us to ungodly behavior – with the goal of ultimately condemning us so that we will run from God out of condemnation and an overwhelming sense of guilt.

For women in general, the images are not as seducing as the romantic thoughts. That’s why romance novels, soap operas, and love movies or shows are so big amongst women. Women are more geared to fantasize romantically and men are more visually stimulated.

These things are designed to lead you away from God’s best. God wants us to purify our minds and thoughts and put off things that defile them. Only faith in the power of the Holy Spirit working in us and prayer to help us change will produce those godly changes we so desire. Our relationship with God and His uninterrupted blessing are too precious to let escape or trade for vile and short-term fleshly pleasure.

As today’s Fresh Manna verse says,”… put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” God is turning us into a beautiful after picture. So let’s let Him do it in us. Put on that new man which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2009 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/

White As Snow

by Renee Burt

It’s that time of year when the snow in Minnesota can really be quite dirty, messy and annoying. Aahh…but then we get a fresh snowfall of several inches, like this weekend. And it really is about one of the most beautiful sights to see the crisp, clean, white snow blanketing the trees and the ground. It covers all of the dirty mess so well, you’d never know it was even there in the first place. And it’s really that same way with our lives. There are times when our life can become messy, dirty, and even annoying…with complaining…or jealousy…or anger…or lying…or petty behavior…or any number of (let’s call them what they are) sins. But God is there to blanket us with a fresh snowfall of His grace…it’s what saved us in the first place(Ephesians 2:8), and it’s what keeps cleansing us and making our lives snow white over and over again. And the awesome part of all of this? It’s the fact that we don’t have to “hope,” like we do for a Minnesota snowfall to cover up all the mess. We can “know”…it’s a settled fact…that no matter how messy your life has become, He will make your life as white as snow…simply yours for the asking! So what are you waiting for?

Isaiah 1:18 NLT ~ Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.

More devotions from Renee’s Fresh Manna

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2009 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.
http://dailybibledevotionsbypastortimburt.blogspot.com/

Great Skill and Ability Starts in the Heart

Fresh Manna 2009© by Pastor Tim Burt

Exodus 31:3-5. “And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.

I had learned to work hard from my father and had learned diligence and integrity from my very first boss. They helped shape me to whom I would become. Early in my young marriage with Renee, I began a painting company. When it came to painting, I asked others and learned whatever I could to become a highly skilled painter. It served me well as over 90% of my jobs were by referral.

Recently, I had a young man painting the exterior of my home. I had employed his skills before and was awed by the level of skill and diligence in the details that others wouldn’t have even given a thought about. His work is so much better than anyone else’s I’ve ever seen that it amazes me. He cares about the details and gives great attention to them. It will serve him well in life.

How does great skill come? I believe it starts with a purity of heart in wanting to give the best and caring more about the work than the money. This is probably why most artists and craftsman aren’t rich. They take such great time in their work that it’s difficult for them to get the value the level of their work deserves. Some people don’t pay attention to the details and don’t know good work from okay work. That drives a skilled craftsman or artist crazy. They can see the difference in a second.

I had a finish carpenter working on another part of my house some time ago. I had been told he was the best. They were not exaggerating. This gentleman could do amazing things with finish carpentry work and would take what might have been an ordinary room turning it into an elegant room with his finish work. He also had the qualities of wanting his work to be excellent. I know he often takes more time that the cost of the job would pay him. It never hinders him from hitting his high standard of excellent craftsmanship.

People operating in this level of skill and craftsmanship are way too few. For many people in business, it’s just get in there, get the job done, and get the money. The quality and work may easily be substandard and they don’t really care.

I believe that God has called us as Christians, to have a high standard for our work, no matter what it is we do. Careful and diligent work will always bring reward in the long run. Proverbs 10:4 says, “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.“ Do we have it within us to be skilled at what we do? If you tell me you are a Christian then the answer is yes! Why do I say that? As we read Exodus 31:1-5 we see God qualities that led to the natural skills we can develop and use in this life. God, by His Spirit, gives us wisdom to learn our skills, the ability to comprehend and understand what it takes to do the best work. The Lord will help us with witty and creative ideas. If we will yield to Him, He will develop us as men and women with highly developed skills and ability. His integrity formed in us will keep us from letting money delude our work ethic and standard of excellence. You can see that excellence starts with yielding to God and letting His Holy Spirit work in you in Exodus 31:1-5. “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.”

God given desires are deposited within us to help lead us toward things we truly enjoy doing. As we patiently but diligently develop those skills and abilities, they will eventually bring reward and blessing to us and glory to God as we rightly represent Him. Some people will forfeit the very thing God has put in them because of their love and drive for money or impatience or laziness (being slack) in perfecting them. I think most people inwardly know that doing something you love and enjoy brings a satisfaction and pleasure from doing it that is worth more than any fleeting pleasure money can bring.

Don’t get me wrong. People do need to make an income and I am all for people doing their best and making a good income. Sometimes skills are practiced and developed on the job and they get paid while they are developing them. That’s great. Others will have to develop them outside of their job. The effort made will be worth the result in the long run. When one works to perfect his/her skills and abilities diligently, good things will follow – as we read…”But the hand of the diligent makes rich.“

In everything we do, our motive for a diligent and high standard should be the love for people and God that He places within us. We are to use our skills and abilities to glorify God. Does God see and know our diligent efforts? Absolutely! He is your source of perfecting the very gifts and abilities He has placed within you. They will lead to personal increase and a life you enjoy living! Hebrews 6:10-12“God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”

Published by Pastor Tim Burt

Copyright© 2009 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/