Excellent question. For me, deliverance would be complete freedom from being attracted to my gender.
I agree that would be complete deliverance. However, God doesn't deliver heterosexuals from their attraction to the opposite sex to prevent fornication or adultery, so I'm not sure that's His normal modus operandi. (Delivering us from our flesh.)
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"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
I agree that would be complete deliverance. However, God doesn't deliver heterosexuals from their attraction to the opposite sex to prevent fornication or adultery, so I'm not sure that's His normal modus operandi. (Delivering us from our flesh.)
EXCELLENT POINT!
Christians love the Lord so much that everything else begins to grow pale in comparison. There will always be some things that are of this world and enticing to our flesh, but our LOVE for the Lord will lead us to the conclusion that the costs associated with giving in to the enticements of this world are not worth it.
Married couples love each other so much that even if there is someone else out there who has attractive qualities, their love for each other (and often their children) will lead them to the conclusion that the costs associated with damaging their marriage are not worth it.
For the Christian struggling with homosexuality, one of the keys to overcoming that and other deep-rooted sins is to dive deeper in love with the Lord.
Still, just like there isn't one thing that leads people into that particular sin, there isn't one "secret formula" that will bring people out of that sin.
Living the Christian life requires a "multi-pronged approach", grounded in the trust that the Sovereignty of God will bring you to your desired place.
Having others pray for you (and with you as you pray) continually, regularly, fervently, will help the person struggling with any sin to break away from that sin.
The ANOINTING destroys the yoke.
There is NOT ONE SIN that can attack a Christian's identity that can't be defeated through prayer and fasting.
Who do you know that will go before the Lord with you continually, regularly, and fervently in order to help YOU overcome any sin?
Who will be your friend-- not just for one mile, but for two miles, four miles, and beyond?
The value of true fellowship between Christians can not be overstated.
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"The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character."
Last edited by Jermyn Davidson; 02-13-2013 at 11:09 AM.
There is a difference between legalism and love and I do not intend what I have typed above to be taken in the sense that one must read the Bible more, pray more, fast more, go to church more, and etc.
All these things are necessary, commanded even.
But these things in themselves are not demonstrations of love.
I will ask God to teach me His love language and I suggest you do the same.
I will ask God to show me how to love Him and I suggest you do the same.
I will ask God to know me and that I may know Him in a deeper way and I suggest you do the same.
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"The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character."
I agree that would be complete deliverance. However, God doesn't deliver heterosexuals from their attraction to the opposite sex to prevent fornication or adultery, so I'm not sure that's His normal modus operandi. (Delivering us from our flesh.)
So God's intention is that a certain percentage of people will never have sex? At least straights can marry. And it's better to marry than to burn.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
So God's intention is that a certain percentage of people will never have sex? At least straights can marry. And it's better to marry than to burn.
Is it God's intention that people who like to steal never own things that don't belong to them? What if they aren't able to get a good job and they're poor all their life? Is it okay to steal then?
How would it be God's "intention that a certain percentage of people will never have sex" unless you believe the He's the One who caused their same-sex attraction?
However, it is worth considering that if a man is born without an attraction for women, that perhaps he's intended to be a eunuch. Who knows? Does God have a plan for some men that they're missing--because in our society, if you don't have sexual attraction toward someone or something, you're the most abnormal of all? I mean, you state this: "...God's intention is that a certain percentage of people will never have sex...." as if it's the end of the world or something. A fate worse than death. Are we slaves to our sexuality, unable to find satisfaction or fulfillment unless our life includes sex? (Mind you, I'm not arguing that sex isn't a wonderful thing. I'm just throwing the idea out there that maybe we overemphasize the necessity of sex in a happy life.)
What does this scripture mean? Does it only apply to straight men?
Matthew 19:12"For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it."
It seems to me that living a single life, if one can't have a scripturally permissible sexual relationship, is a biblically acceptable and even suggested solution.
__________________
"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
I do. But I have never personally known of anyone who has. I know that I have not been delivered even though I have fervently asked to be free of this desire.
Thank you for your honesty. I believe you, but there may be some on this thread that don't.
Why is that we hear great testimonies about how God delivered them from attraction to the same sex, yet four years later we find them back in the lifestyle. Did the deliverance not stick? Were they ever TRULY delivered?
I have absolutely 0% attraction to my same sex, so I can't fathom if the church or society asked me to change my attraction. I think it would be impossible. God would have to perform a miracle on the level of parting the Red sea!! Just sayin!
__________________ Words: For when an emoticon just isn't enough.
Is it God's intention that people who like to steal never own things that don't belong to them? What if they aren't able to get a good job and they're poor all their life? Is it okay to steal then?
It seems to me that living a single life, if one can't have a scripturally permissible sexual relationship, is a biblically acceptable and even suggested solution.
Amen, and let's be honest, this is not about love, it is about sex. To be (possibly) brutally honest, it can be easier to have sex with the familiar, the same sex, from a psychological standpoint, than the opposite.
You start life as a circle of one; yourself. Parents are servants. As you start school, the opposite sex has 'cooties.' It is not until puberty that ones psychological circle widens to include the opp sex--or not.
Thank you for your honesty. I believe you, but there may be some on this thread that don't.
Why is that we hear great testimonies about how God delivered them from attraction to the same sex, yet four years later we find them back in the lifestyle. Did the deliverance not stick? Were they ever TRULY delivered?
I have absolutely 0% attraction to my same sex, so I can't fathom if the church or society asked me to change my attraction. I think it would be impossible. God would have to perform a miracle on the level of parting the Red sea!! Just sayin!
Hmm, reversionism is common under stress, so...and you experimented in HS, dont lie!
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