I don't know why I have avoided writing on this particular topic. I guess to me it is a typical and cliché topic in the church, but for some reason I am led to write on it. I know the captivity of sexual urges and strange emotions of perversion too well. Even in the church many struggle in secret. I have come to realize that some teach to accept sexual urges and strange feelings as a part of our 'humanity'. However, how then does one minister to a Christian who struggles with homosexual urges and thoughts? Should that one accept that as a part of their humanity also?

I think a good tell tale sign that something is wrong is that our conscience convicts us when we have these urges. The only reason we even say we 'struggle' with sexual urges is because we are fighting against it. However if it is simply a part of our humanity, or if it is simply proof we are alive, why does our conscience still condemn us for it? Why do we seek counsel to get rid of them?

We must admit that there is something in us that tells us that these urges ought not to be. In my experience in church and as a minister, this is one of the most questioned topics among the youth. I however want to give hope in this area of the Christian life, which seems to be so taboo.

In this post I will be going straight to the point, that you may see and understand how to overcome these emotions forever and never struggle again. Many people say that everyone struggles with sexual emotions, but that is a lie, God always has a remnant unto Himself to prove His word.

First of all we must agree the GOD IS SIMPLE. In face He is very simple. He is so simple He becomes a mystery to many. I will deal with this at the root

"NOBODY IS PERFECT/ONCE WE ARE IN THESE BODIES YOU WILL SIN"

I have come to know that the teaching of this doctrine has such a powerful stronghold on the people of God. THIS DOCTRINE IS A GREAT LIE! The reason I must go here, for us to understand how to be freed from sexual urges is because we must see the effect that this doctrine has on us.

Well we came from the bondage of sin having received the Holy Ghost, only to hear that because we are not perfect we will one day return to it. We came into this great salvation only to hear that we are the dogs the scripture speaks of that will one day return to his vomit. Sons of God, but dogs. Why? - Because nobody is perfect, and once we are in these bodies we will one day sin.

We have to look at the implications of this doctrine. Let us not measure sin, all sin is sin and is on the same level. With that said, we have to look at what we imply when we preach once we are in these bodies we will always sin. What we actually imply is when the murderer is saved, because he is never actually free from sin, it is a great possibility that he will return to murdering. The rapist will always rape, the liar will always lie. The harlot will always sell herself short. We preach a hopeless gospel.

Anyway, getting back on track here, when we preach that one day we will sin, the effect it will have on the people is that they will eventually allow sin in their lives. This creates such instability. Have you ever been to a church, and notice the people are faithful to church work but when you entertain the church mothers, they are mean and full of gossip. The young men are flirts, and the young women are lascivious. The pastors, may be after money and the things of this world.

What else is there to hope for when all you hear is that one day you will sin anyway. One day you will fall. What do you preach, how do you prevent people falling away from the church and losing faith in Christianity? The truth is you can't once this doctrine is preached. The only thing will create a powerful church is the preaching of the truth with true demonstrations of the power of God. Automatically I know where our minds went with that one. But when I said the power of God, right there I was not speaking to signs and wonders even though they are technically included, but the greatest power of God, is holiness.

God is able to make any man holy and keep him holy.

Jud 1:24
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

God is not shy about this matter. He professes the power to keep us holy and spotless until we see His face. It is only if we have allowed Him to do this will we see His face in peace.

The point I make here is that we must change our perspective. If we believe that we must sin someway or somehow, then we will allow ourselves to think wrong and then we will make provision to sin. However what we will find is that our conscience will never agree with sin. We will always feel condemned when we sin. Why because it is no longer our nature to sin. We are of a divine nature and a divine nature only. We were created perfect and God gave us the ability to never sin again

The doctrine Nobody is Perfect is more commonly called the doctrine of Dual Nature. I discuss that doctrine more in depth in my post The Gift to the World, explaining the scriptures used in defence of the doctrine and explaining them in context go check it out.

With that said.

Mat 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

The reality of salvation is that it enables us to walk in holiness even as Jesus did. After all He is within us. We tend to blame our flesh as the reason for our sins. But there are a couple things that we fail to realize.

Firstly we forget that the body is inanimate without the soul. It has no life of its own. It has no feelings nor emotions of its own. The body is a vehicle of expression for the soul. It is the soul that produces emotions and feelings and lusts, and cravings - not the body. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also (Jam 2:26).

Secondly, we must think about the fact that Jesus was also in a human body. The scriptures let us know that he learned obedience by the things he suffered (Heb 5:8). He was indeed touched with the feeling of our infirmity, he had a human body and yet without sin.

Question
"There must have been something different about his body then, after all He was not born of a man, He was born of God by a virgin - Jesus was God"

Well let us consider this.

Jn 3:3-6
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

The scripture explains something here. It lets us know that in order to be saved we must be born again. It is clear here that when you are born again you are no longer born of flesh and blood but you are born of the Spirit of God. So then let us look at this. At your first birth, you were born of flesh, meaning you came forth from your mother and experienced life. But this second birth is not of a woman, but it is of God. God raises you from the dead at salvation and enters your body, causing it to be reborn. Therefore in order to be born again - both the soul and the body must be reborn.

I am feeling a bit redundant here, I have done a series on Salvation explaining what truly happens at salvation. It is called the Salvation Series. It starts from the garden of Eden and continues up to today's date.
Part 1 - deals with the make up of Adam before his fall. (made perfect and sinless)
Part 2 - deals with the make up of Adam after he sinned (body became sinful and soul held captive)
Part 3 - emphasizes the need to be saved
Part 4 - deals with the make up of Jesus (He had a different body than Adam's even though it was human)
Part 5 - deals with atonement (how Jesus took away our sins)
Part 6 - deals with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (What happened after Jesus' death and how He was resurrected)
Part 7 - how are we saved? (explaining how Jesus sacrificed made it possible for us to be saved)
Part 8 - deals with the operation of salvation (a step by step outline of what occurs at salvation)

So long and short of it. Parts 1, 2, 4, and 8 would be perfect for you to understand and agree with the rest of this post. The Salvation Series serves as a foundation for most of the posts on this blog.

So lets get on with it.

SEXUAL EMOTIONS

Its no secret that many Christians today struggle with them. Well let us think about this in light of all scriptures

Gal 5:24
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Well the scripture lets us know that if we have the Holy Ghost, our bodies have already been crucified with the lusts of the flesh and unlawful emotions. With that said we can come to three (3) conclusions.

If I am experiencing these urges then it might be a possibility that:

1. I do not have the Holy Ghost.

This may seem harsh, but it is something we ought to all think about. The Holy Ghost gives us the power over sin. He changes our sentiments from one that takes pleasure in sin to one that delights in righteousness. When you are saved your conscience will never agree with sin. You will also find it very difficult to take pleasure in sin (from the heart). However if you are not saved, you are freed from righteousness

Rom 6:19-20
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

Before salvation we had no true knowledge of righteousness until we were taught. Our conscience would only warn us against things we perceived were moral but even our conscience was freed from righteousness. This is why our conscience had to be purged as well at salvation (Heb 9:14).

If one does not have the Holy Ghost the scripture says that there is a law of sin working in their body. When they would do good, evil is present. That when they would want to perform that which is righteous, they cannot because sin works in them. Sin resides in the human bodies of the unsaved, and its purpose is to keep such a one from righteousness. The law of sin produces in the flesh what is called - evil concupiscence, which is an insatiable urge for sin. These cravings cannot be satisfied and hence the soul is held captive by them.

In order for this soul to please God it must be delivered from this body.

Rom 7:24
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 

He delivers us when he crucified us with him at salvation

Gal 2:20
I am crucified with Christ:nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Gal 5:24
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

In short. If you do not have the Holy Ghost, you do not have the power over sin. There is a spirit that dwells in your body called the spirit of bondage. The spirit of bondage is the devil. When the devil is in the flesh he dictates the sin he wants to perform through the body. Jesus said it this way.

Jn 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do...

If he desires to manifest his lust of homosexuality he will do it through the flesh of the unsaved, and the soul of that particular body can do nothing about it because it is bound. If the devil decides to be a fornicator in the flesh, he will a body to do so. If he decides to be a paedophile he will use the body of a grown man (or woman) to do so. If he decides to be an alcoholic, a rapist, a murderer, a thief, a masturbator, a pimp, if he desires bestiality, whatever sin it is, he will use the body of the unsaved to do it. That is why we all needed Jesus, to be finally set free from sin.

Therefore if you are having strong cravings that go against God's word, it may be that you do not have the Holy Ghost. If you want to be delivered from them, get under God's word and it will purify you and most importantly seek God for the Holy Spirit so that you can be delivered from sin once and for all.

2. I have the Holy Ghost, but do not believe the word of God.

As I said before God is very simple.

This is a biggy here. Let us look at all that God has done at salvation. This is where part 8 of the Salvation Series really kicks in.

Eph 4:22-24
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

We have put of the old man which is the body of sin. The body we had before salvation, with all its lust and evil concupiscence. And have put on the new man who is made in righteousness and true holiness.

The new man is the Holy Spirit in the flesh. The new man is Jesus Christ. Let me say it one more time. JESUS IS IN THE FLESH. This same body that we often blame for sin, it is actually Jesus'. It is the place He lives. Jesus is a human again by way of our bodies. So then we cannot blame the bodies, because they are holy. What then is the problem?

Jam 1:13-14
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

It is not our bodies that tempt us to sin, the bodies have no power of their own and it is God who has them alive by His presence within them. The nature of the body is determined by the spirit that is in it. When we were unsaved the nature of the body was sinful and devilish, but now that we are saved the body has a divine nature, because it is born of God.

Therefore in a practical sense, it is not the body that produces these urges and temptations we feel. The body is simply a vessel! But it is the soul that creates his own lust. Our souls are the real us. The scripture says that when we are tempted to sin, it is because the soul considered sin and agreed with the suggestion of sin. In other words, sin enticed the soul.

Here the power of the gospel is revealed

Pro 23:7
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...

This is strongly grounded in the concept of belief. Let me say this off the bat, belief is not a hard task as some make it to be. In fact it is quite simple. Also there are no levels of believe, it is either we believe or we do not. Our thoughts are at the root of our beliefs. In fact it is our thoughts and actions that serve as proof of our beliefs.

As a man thinketh so is he. If the soul believes or thinks that he is a Son of God trapped in a body of sin, then he will begin to struggle with sin. He will develop his own sin to be tempted with. He will produce emotions in his flesh and begin to fight against them.

However if one believes that he is a son of God, and free from sin by the new man, then that is exactly what he will experience - Freedom.

The mind is a powerful thing. The root of all sin, is wrong thinking.

When I believe the Word that says that all the lusts of the flesh have already been crucified with Christ, then I can rest in assurance that this body is not sinful and will not betray me by sinning against me.

Rom 8:15
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

God doesn't want us fearing sin, so he didn't give us the spirit of the devil with the law of sin and death again. He gave us the Holy Spirit - a sinless Spirit. He placed the Holy Ghost within our flesh, now it cannot sin (1 John 3:9). Now if our souls desire sin, we will use our bodies to do so, but in doing so we actually sin against our body because our bodies are now of a divine nature.

1Co 6:18
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 

We must believe the word. We are already free. We do not have to pray and fast for it. We have to believe that we have already received our freedom. It is a state of being. But it is because of what we have learnt and believe have caused us to believe that we could never be free. Let us free ourselves from that mindset. This is more than a declaration this is a matter of reality. Now we live in the Spirit (Gal 5:25). Let us not confuse ourselves to think that we are always bound to sin. We are indeed free.

There is such power in unbelief. Unbelief plagues many who may struggle with homosexuality in the church. The devil wants us to believe it is more complex than simply our belief in what Christ has already done in us. But this is the simplicity of God! He have you Jesus Christ that you might never have to sin again. If you believe and have the Holy Ghost the root of the problem is found in the third possibility.

3. I have the Holy Ghost, but I desire sin.
This is very plain. Sin is something we desire as sons, it is not something that is sprung upon us. As a man thinketh so is he. If we are tempted we are drawn away by our own lust and enticed. We must deal with the root here. To truly be free from these sexual urges we must deal with the fact that we desire unlawful sex.

These feelings are produced by the soul and experienced by the flesh. It is after we produce these feelings we then begin trying to fight against them. But if we are totally honest here we will say that the only reason there is a fight is because a part of us really wants to experience the pleasure of sex. The fight isn't against the fact that my body is getting aroused, but it is against the fact that at the moment I want to use my body to have sex.

Without a doubt the devil is real. He has the ability to tempt us, with suggestions. However for a set of people that love to step on him and trample on him all day we give him too much power. That is the extent of his power against us. He can merely suggest that we do something, whether we do it or not is based on our desires.

Consider Jesus.

Mat 4:2-4
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

The devil came tempting Jesus from the outside (he was not inside of him) and suggesting that he eat. Note that Jesus was hungry however His in his heart he was repulsed by the thought of obeying the devil. He knew that was sin and he should only obey the words from the mouth of God. At that moment Jesus could have decided that he was hungry and said, to himself "well, its not sin to be hungry and my fast is already up, let me do it". (Thank God He didn't) He rather, did not allow the suggestions of the devil to entice him. He did not allow what the devil said to incite lust in him. He was not enticed by his words. This is our example

When the devil brings suggestions to our mind, we must never agree with him. We must be repulsed by what is not godly. But we must hate sin before the suggestion comes, in order to manifest Christ. We must be in fellowship and agreement with God.

If I am tempted with sexual urges, it is because I have come to a place where I am not in agreement with God's will for sex. At that moment I want sex outside of marriage and am in disagreement with God and his will that says sex is within the boundaries of marriage.

This is the root of it all - disagreement with God. I must agree with God's will and way in order to manifest Christ. This is not a hard thing either. It is the delights of our heart to do so.

The devil fights us in our minds. He doesn't want us to believe how easy it is to be free from sin. We simply need to accept what God already did for us at salvation. It doesn't matter what we have done and for how long after we were saved, the moment we accept this truth and walk in it, you will come to know the power of it.

Rom 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

This salvation is powerful. If you believe it. You have put on the new man who is Jesus Christ in the flesh. He is in you for this very reason. Walking holy is simply a choice that we all must agree to do, this is love in God's eyes (John 14:15).

We must purify our hearts from all unlawful desires we may have and then believe the scripture. IT IS WHEN WE BELIEVE THE POWER OF GOD WILL BE LOOSED WITHIN US.

As a man thinketh so is he.

When you think of yourself, see a holy son of God in whom God dwells, who has already overcome sin. When tempted of the devil simply say no and tada, you have a sinless life.

I love you, truly.
- Kareem Flowers
An apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.

(In part 2 we will really go into the operation of the spirit of suicide, stay tuned for it. The knowledge of its operation will truly help you to be delivered from it.)

Suicide in the church is a topic that I don't hear spoken about much. It seems to be just so saddening that people just give heavy sighs and try not to think about it. Some of us begin preaching in our heads, the love and grace and joy that is found in Christ, wishing they knew. Suicide altogether is a really grievous reality. We must know that there is a real devil out there, seeking whom he might devour. He is a minister and the father of lies. He was a murderer from the beginning and today he remains the same. He is attempting to murder us all, one way or the other and he will use our own hands to do it

I just want to say, that if you are someone that is struggling with suicide, find hope in God. The devil may say to you that there is no hope for you. That you will be better off dead. That no one loves you and that you should have never been born. But Jesus Christ, the true son of God, died on the cross for your life. He loves you and is able to keep you in great joy and contentment, if you allow Him to. You may not even believe in Him, but I pray that you consider Him today. You were thought of by God even before the world was formed. He knew you, He knew your life, He knew your heart - He loved you and still does. He desired to see you born, to live to see this far. He however desires your life. He wants you to love Him back even as He has loved you. Get to know Him, ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Meet your maker. When you truly get to know Him you will see the brighter side of all your troubles and then you will really understand what love is.

When the devil speaks to us, he wears a mask, so we don't know that it is him. He will say 'I' when he ought to say 'you' so you think that you are the one thinking, but the reality is that he is speaking to us. For example he will say, 'I am the worst', instead of 'you are the worst'. When we hear it we think that its our thoughts, but no, it is the ministry of satan to our minds. Learn how to discern his voice, and always disagree with him when he speaks. He will never speak something that will lead you to God and to life.

You will also notice, that whenever the devil ministers, he will never remind you of the reality of hell. Anyone that commits suicide is going to hell. He just makes you think that the other side is greener. But its not, its redder. It is a place that has been created to torture him and his demons, however, humans that follow in his steps will go there too. There is rarely repentance for suicide. There are cases where Jesus has resurrected persons who committed suicide, but there is no guarantee that he will. There are many more cases that he didn't. This post is a warning here on the earth to you, because there is no repentance in hell.

There is hope for everyone on the earth. The scripture lets us know that people perish because they lack knowledge. It is the knowledge of God that enables you to love Him. Jesus died, went to hell for 3 days and nights so you wouldn't have to. He then rose from the dead, so that you can have life, not just any life, but His life. Accept Him and He will transform you into Love, and you will become His child. You will see as He sees and know as He knows as it pertains to your life.

If you already have the Holy Spirit, and are struggling with this spirit of suicide. Please I pray that you read this post. It will help you to overcome, you however have to agree with it. You will have to come to terms with the mind of God, and how He views your life. If you settle with the Word, it will produce in you righteousness, peace and joy.

SUFFERING IS A COMMANDMENT GIVEN TO ALL BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS
(Read Discerning Your Suffering blog post)

1Pe 2:19-25
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 
21 For even hereunto were ye called:because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:by whose stripes ye were healed. 
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

There are many reasons why someone would come to a place of suicide. Most of the time suicide starts with depression. Depression comes from a disagreement with what God allows to take place in one's life. It can also stem from a disagreement with the consequences of our own actions. However nevertheless, everything that happens in the life of a son of God, is allowed of God, for His glory.

The Father seeks to comfort us greatly, and indeed has with this scripture.

1Co 10:13
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.

There is nothing that comes our way that we cannot bear, through Christ, even our consequences. When we agree with God for the suffering and the route he has taken us, we will experience such peace and contentment.

AGREEMENT WITH GOD IS THE KEY TO HAPPINESS - AGREEMENT IS OF THE HEART

That is the liberty of being a son of God. All it takes is agreement with the will and way that God has for our lives and He will be a comfort to our souls. If He allows certain things to happen, seek Him for His wisdom, let Him lead you and guide you into how you are to make decisions. However in the midst of it, He is sufficient to keep you emotionally stable.

The Discerning Your Suffering blog post, is excellent in getting you to see God's plan for our lives, and teaching us how to embrace the sufferings we face, no matter how tough they may be.

Many times I would get depressed because of what would randomly happen in my life, but my depression was based on my own failures. Sometimes even the consequences of my failures would haunt me. Nevertheless the scripture still remains true. If God has given me a consequence I can bear it, if I agree with the consequence itself. I must agree with the manner in which God chooses to discipline me, because He is fighting to save my soul. He knows us, and He knows what is necessary to discipline us. He will cause us to suffer greatly if it means that our souls will be saved by it.

Rom 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Also, the scripture lets us know that if we suffer for our wrongs, take it patiently. But, even as we take it patiently the love of Christ will be there to keep us in perfect peace. What an awesome God.

SUICIDE FROM GOD'S EYES

I just want to write an experience I had one day. One day I was very depressed, and I was on the verge of suicide. I am and have always been afraid of hell though so I would have never thought to go all the way to kill myself. However on this particular day, I went as far as to truly consider killing myself. Immediately I had a vision. I saw Jesus in me, with a knife to his throat. He then said to me, suicide is the murder of Christ.

I got instantly frightened and delivered from that thought that even suggested that I would kill Christ. One may wonder what did God mean when He said suicide is the murder of Christ?

Well lets look at the scriptures.
(It would be good to read the Setting the Perspective of Christianity blog post, or part 8 of the Salvation Series.)

Gal 2:20
I am crucified with Christ:nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The scripture lets us know that the life we live in the flesh it is not us that live but its Christ that lives in us. This basically means that Jesus is in our bodies, and living his life through them.

Rom 8:8-9
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

They that are in the flesh that verse 8 speaks of are the unsaved. People who have not received the Holy Spirit. Verse 9 outlines the make up of a believer.

BELIEVER
- Not in the flesh
- In the Spirit
- The Spirit is in them

In other words. The soul of a believer is not inside of their flesh directly, but it is inside of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit however is inside of their bodies. They therefore look like this.


Jesus is therefore in the flesh, He has therefore become a human again by being in our bodies.
The scripture says that we have put off the old man and put on the new man.

Eph 4:22-24
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The new man is Jesus Christ

Gal 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

The new man is our bodies with the Holy Spirit within it. The new man is Jesus Christ in the flesh. Therefore this is how you literally are.




We are in the body of Christ. This is so literal.

1Co 6:15
Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

If we commit fornication we are using Jesus' body to do so. Our bodies are no longer ours, they belong to Christ.

Eph 5:30-32
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 
32 This is a great mystery:but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Now that we understand that we are in Jesus Christ let us consider this scripture

Rom 5:10
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Our souls will only be saved if we allow the life of Christ to live through us, however if we commit suicide we kill the life of Christ. He is in our bodies to live through us, and he is touched with the feelings of our infirmity. He knows our lives, he knows the temptation because he is in us and is touched with the same trials. However he is not going to sin, and because you are in Him you do not have to sin either. He is willing to live your life, pleasing the Father. However, when we disagree with God's will and way, we usurp our authority over Christ that is within us and use His body to do our own will. If we commit suicide we will end the life that Christ intended to live through our flesh, thus we would be murders of Christ.

Consider this scripture

Act 9:1-4
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus:and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Saul (Paul) had been persecuting the saints of God. Jesus made it known that He was the one that Saul had been persecuting. He had been murdering the Christians, but because it was Jesus who was in the flesh, when a soldier would murder them, they would murder Christ. That is why Saul was so distressed when he came to the knowledge of salvation. He realized that as he murdered Christians he was a murderer of Christ.

However in that case, when he murdered those Christians, the life of Christ was complete according to the will of God and they were killed as a testimony of their faithfulness to Christ. However in the case of suicide, Christ is not yet finished with the flesh, and we end his life prematurely. When we commit suicide we become even as Saul, a murder of Christ.

I struggled with suicidal thoughts for a long while, but when I came to the knowledge of this, I never struggled again. I don't even consider it any more. Even though life may get tough. If I agree with my sufferings for Christ's sake, and patiently endure my wrongs, in the end both God and I will be glorified. For to suffering for Christ sake and to receive my reward in the millennium is the hope of my calling.

A Prayer
     Father, you see and you know the situations that are happening in this individual's life. You are all knowing and you love greatly. I pray in the name of Jesus, that your love will be felt by them. Let your light shine in their hearts and deliver them from the haunting of the devil. Father, show them your perspective of life, and keep them from death. Lord let your spirit shine in their lives. Let your love consume every fibre of their being. I pray directly for the situation, I pray that you will sort out every issue according to your will. You are love and you work all things out for our good. So give comfort in your will and put a smile on the broken hearted.

- With love
Apostle Kareem Flowers.

Suffering is a commandment given to the Church by the Father. This is strangely a controversial topic even though the scriptures are very plain concerning it.

Rom 8:17-18
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint- heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

1Pe 3:14
But and if ye suffer for righteousness 'sake, happy are ye:and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1Pe 4:1
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind:for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

2Ti 2:12
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him:if we deny him, he also will deny us:

I pray I have made my point. Many preachers yoke the church with the promises God had given Israel, however this ought not to be. The Church has been given a whole new testament to be governed by. Some preach we are the head and not the tail and that the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the righteous. Yes this is true, but we shall receive that wealth in the millennium. Right now the sons of God are suffering servants sent as lambs among wolves. God promised Israel to be wealthy and rich as long as they obeyed Him, however to the church, God promises suffering for those that are obedient and he subjects them to wait on the hope of glory.

THE PURPOSE OF SUFFERING

2Co 4:8-18
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 
11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus 'sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 
...
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Herein the purpose of suffering is revealed. In order for anyone to enter into heaven they MUST be tried and tested and proven to be worthy of the Kingdom. A holy life in the midst of suffering is the proof that we are worthy. When the saints of God are tried and tested then the life of Christ within them is manifested. It is the nature of those from the world to run from suffering, and to sin, however this is exactly what differentiates those that are God's from those that are not. A son of God proves his love for the Father when he chooses to stand righteously even though it may be more comfortable not to. This brings glory to God.

This is why the saints of old were martyred. They chose to stand for righteousness even unto death - therein their love was made perfect.

It is important that we understand the kind suffering that God takes glory in. It is when we suffer for Christ sake that God is glorified. There may be times when we have made mistakes in our lives. We may have made bad choices or have sinned and are paying the consequences for those mistakes. This is not suffering for Christ sake. We may have bills to pay because we spent too much, this is not suffering for Christ sake. Suffering because of a lack of wisdom is not suffering for Christ sake, we should take those sufferings patiently (1Pet 2:20).

Suffering for Christ sake is the suffering that comes upon the believer because of their faith in Jesus Christ and resolve never to sin against Him. This suffering may come in various forms. It may come in persecutions, abuse/torture, it may even be illness .It basically includes anything stirred up by the devil to get the believer to doubt/blame God and become discouraged.

1Pe 2:19-20
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

God actually thanks us for suffering for Christ sake. It is simply saying that we have been trusted by the Father to glorify Him in that particular situation. God does not trust everyone to stand in the faith. The scripture says He will never give us more than we can bear. Therefore the sufferings in our lives have been orchestrated by God that we may, by them, give Him glory. When we live righteously in the midst of suffering we show principalities and powers (the devil and his kingdom) that we truly love the Father.

James 5:10-11
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy

Let us consider the life of Job, seeing that he is given as an example to the church.

Job 1:1, & 6-12
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 
...
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. 
7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 
8 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 
9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 
12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord

This may be hard for some of us to believe, but it is indeed God that orchestrates our suffering. Nothing can happen to us unless God allows it. The extent to which the devil causes us to suffer is determined by God. When we suffer for Christ sake, it is because we were considered worthy to manifest Christ on the earth, by love and holiness. If we are not tried or tested, there is no proof that our love for the Father is absolute. This is why the devil asked God if Job's fear of the Lord was for nought. He was in a bubble that the Lord had protected Him by. Therefore the devil could do nothing unto him, however it was the Father who suggested his perfect servant, Job, to be tempted of the devil. We must have the testimony that no matter what comes our way we will always obey God.

PERFECTION - To obey God in all things, at all times.

You may question your ability to be perfect. It was Christ who died for us and has come to live in us. It is the indwelling of the Christ that has made us perfect. We are complete in Him, who is a perfect God. We manifest this perfection by our obedience to Him in all things and at all times. (Matt 5:48)

Some of us may look back and consider the fact that even though we may have had the Holy Spirit, there were times that we were disobedient. Be of good cheer, all it takes is that you make a resolve now, to honour the Father, and you will walk in perfection once more. Walking in perfection/obedience is called walking in the Spirit (Gal 5:25). All it takes is for one to agree with God's will and way at all times. This is the power of God given to us. The ability to obey.

Jude 1:24
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen

If we obey Him, we won't ever have to fall. When we obey, Jesus will live His life through us and this will save our souls (Rom 5:10).

THE PERSPECTIVE OF SUFFERING

Suffering must be seen from the perspective of salvation. Jesus Christ is in us, and He is a suffering servant. It is by His suffering in us that He is revealed unto the world and glorified. This is why it is given to the sons to suffer.

2 Cor 12:9-10
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake:for when I am weak, then am I strong

Christ is in our bodies. When these bodies are destroyed because of suffering, it is then the power of Christ is revealed. When the flesh is undermined, rejected, teased, battered, abused and despitefully used; it is at that point that the true strength of Christ is seen. But for Christ being in the flesh we could not walk righteously in the midst of all these, therefore when we manifest Christ in the midst, it serves as proof that He is indeed alive.

Those that are in the flesh according to Rom 7:5 and Rom 8:8 (unsaved) cannot please God because sin worked in their bodies. When faced with suffering they would ultimately deny God and glorify the devil. However, those that are Christ prove that they are not in the flesh (Rom 8:9) because they manifest their ability to please God.

SUFFERING - A MANIFEST TOKEN

2Th 1:4-12
4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,  
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This scripture says that suffering is a righteous token, but what exactly does that mean? To help us understand this let us turn to Genesis.

Gen 9:11-15
11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. 
12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 
13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 
15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

After the flood of Noah, God had made a covenant with man, and all creation. The covenant was that He would not destroy the earth and all living things by the waters of a flood again. However, the rainbow served as a token to God and living things of this promise. Now every time that rainbow was seen it would serve as a reminder to God and the living things of the earth that He would not destroy the earth again by water.

This token was given as a visual representation of the God's promise. The promise of God itself was and still is unseen, however when we see the rainbow we have evidence of the promise. The rainbow is a natural proof that creation has that God remembers His promise. When humanity, plants, and animals see the rainbow, they will be set at peace because they would be comforted to know that God remembers His promise. We know that God will not flood the earth tomorrow because we have the token of the rainbow that reminds Him of His covenant.

A token is therefore a visual/visible representation of the promises of God. A token serves as the proof that God remembers His promises, and the purpose of the token is to comfort our hearts in knowing that the promises of God are sure.

Now let us read 2 Thessalonians again.

2Th 1:4-5, 6-7
4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

Suffering therefore is a natural, visible proof of the righteous judgement of God.

God will judge both the dead and the living, according to their deeds in the flesh. The scripture above lets us know God's judgement concerning suffering. Suffering is a physical manifestation of the promise of God. When the believer sees the manifestation of an opportunity to suffer for Christ's sake He can rejoice in knowing that God has counted them worthy of the Kingdom.

6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 

It is important to note that, suffering also serves as a token for the offender. When we or any man cause others to suffer for Christ's sake, it is the visible proof to us (or them) of the damnation we will receive in the judgment if we do not repent quickly.

*Verses 7, 10-12
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels
...
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must see this in light of the scriptures. The bible says if we do not suffer with Christ we will not reign with Him. It also says the suffering of this time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us (Rom 8:17-18). There is a reason suffering is always paralleled to the glory of the millennium. God has established it that our sufferings are nothing to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us at the coming of Christ. Therefore our suffering serves as a token (visible proof of the invisible promises of God) that God has already judged us worthy of unfathomable blessings and glory in the millennium. He gives us the suffering that we may know that His promise to glorify us is sure. Even as the earth rests knowing that they will not be destroyed when they see the rainbow, likewise the believers rejoice when they see their sufferings (for Christ's sake) on earth, because they see that God has judged them worthy to be greatly glorified in the reign of Christ.

We cannot enter the Kingdom without this token. We must be able to say I have suffered righteously (without complaint, rejoicing and in full agreement with the will of God) for Christ here on the earth. Jesus suffered during His life for our sakes, will we do the same for Him, and for others?

I hope your heart is rejoicing even as mine is.

With that said, suffering is something we ought to embrace. It is for this reason the scripture tells to rejoice in our sufferings, because by them God speaks to us, telling us He is pleased. He only allows those that He trusts to suffer for Christ and He has chosen you!

This is why the disciples could rejoice while being beaten and scourged, because they knew that if God would have them suffer to this degree, the riches of glory they would receive in the millennium will be so much greater. God trusted them to glorify Him even if their flesh was torn apart. WHAT AN HONOUR. This is why Peter could, at his death, beg to be crucified upside-down, because God had seen Him as so worthy that He would predetermine that he should die in a similar fashion to Jesus Christ. This is the hope of glory.

Now, we need to ask ourselves, can God trust us to suffer righteously for His sake?

DISCERNING OUR SUFFERING

I implore you to take this section very seriously, because if you embrace it you will never sin again if you truly desire not to (and if you have the Holy Ghost).

Luke 14:26-27
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple

Each believer has a cross designed specifically for them. In order to be considered a disciple of Christ, we must honor God's influence above every other, whether it be the influence of our family, friends or our own selves. If these influences challenges Christ, we ought to hate and deny it.

Self denial is a big stumbling block for many. When we deny ourselves of any other life outside of the life of Christ is when we truly honor God. In doing this we may come up upon situations, circumstances and relationships that may be against our comfort. However it is our responsibility as believers to allow the life of Christ to be lived through us.

Every believer has to be tried and tested to enter the Kingdom. With that said, it is God who fashions our suffering. He knows what we don't like, He knows what we can bear and what we cannot bear, He also knows what would usually get us to sin. These are the exact situations that we are gonna find presenting themselves in our lives, because we must prove to all creation that we have decided to please God, no matter what.

The devil knows what it usually takes to get us to curse God, so in his attack he will stir up situations that would cause us to do just that. However, when we see them we must look at them from this perspective. God never gives us anything more than we can bear. This means that God believes that, based on your knowledge of Him, you can walk righteously in the whatever situation He gives unto you. He knows what each believer can bear. Some can bear some things that others can't, but if he gives it you can bear it. Our sufferings must rather be seen as an opportunity to glorify God.

Discerning your suffering is crucial in our walk with Christ. When I say discern your suffering I am speaking to the fact that we each have a cross to bear, that has been specifically designed for us. If we can discern the sufferings of that cross, and embrace it then we will walk holy for the rest of our lives.

Rom 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose

Both the good and the bad in our lives work together for good, if we are a believer. If I can discern the trend of suffering in my life and simply embrace that this is the cross given to me, this is when I will experience the power of the Comforter.

For Example,

Tulip is a young lady. She was left by both parents when she was born. Raised in a foster home. She was abused by her foster parents and often teased at school. This would often cause her to question God and blame Him for her life. However one day in her young years she gets saved. Her anger and bitterness leaves, and she for the first time feels love. However, she notices that since she received the Holy Ghost, her suffering has increased. Teachers pick at her, and students ridicule her because of her love for God. She notices that people in authority would attempt to hinder her studies, all because they did not like her. She is very smart, but she finds she only excels in the classes of which the teachers like her.

She is now an adult and has suffered greatly. She has been had married and has suffered a divorce, because of her integrity in God. Even in college the abuse of authority continued. Lecturers would grade her according to their grudges against her, and would often try their best to get her to fail. This has often caused her to question God.

"Why me? Why do people keep doing this to me? People always try to use me and abuse me, and use their power to undermine me"

These thoughts have caused her to despise her life of hardship. Even now she works as a professional for the government and is often lied on and abused.

There is one thing she notices however, no matter how hard people have tried to come up against her God always vindicated her. No matter who tried to destroy her, she always prevailed and excelled. She was never one to fight back, but she always sat quietly and watched God fight for her. She has discerned the faithfulness of God in her life.

Despite all of this she still has an issue with her suffering. Why is it that God allowed such a terrible life to happen to her even since she was a child? Why is she always used and abused?

----

Tulip simply needs to discern her cross. She needs to agree with the reality that suffering is a commandment. Tulip needs to discern that her suffering is emotional. It will involve rejection, and being despitefully used. She is not being beaten like Peter was, she however suffers for Christ in a different way. If she would simply discern that the cross that God has designed for her to carry is one of rejection and abuse, and embrace that, it is then that she will experience the power of the Comforter.

She then needs to apply all the knowledge above concerning suffering. That every trying time is a manifestation of God's heart concerning her. He has judged her worthy of the Kingdom, and gives her visible proof every time she is rejected. When she can identify the things she has suffered for Christ's sake, that is her token that God has judged her worthy of the Kingdom and not only that but worthy of added blessings of riches and glory.

I hope we are seeing the power of discerning your suffering.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me

Paul was able to discern his suffering. His cross was to be buffeted and tortured every where he would go to preach the gospel. At first he resented it, but when he was able to discern his suffering, the purpose of them, and the reward of them his response was;

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me

This will set at liberty the sons of God. The only stronghold the devil has on the sons of God, is their rejection of suffering. If we would as our Master did, accept our cross and say not our will but God's be done, it is then that the angels of heaven will come and strengthen us.

TYPES OF SUFFERING

I must say there are different types of suffering. There are different ways in which we suffer. It could be illness. Many do not believe that a believer can suffer because of illnesses but this is very much true. There were many people that Paul left sick, for example Timothy when he was instructed to drink wine for his stomach illness. Yes God is a healer, but there are times when a believer is appointed to suffer sickness and disease.

There are times a believer may find the recurrence of sicknesses, diseases and/or physical harm being done to their bodies. This is so they can manifest Christ in a position that a sinner would not. Their peace in sickness will then prove the power of Christ within them.

One can also suffer poverty for the sake of Christ. Paul said, he knew how to be hungry and how to abound. There are certain times that we may suffer lack because we decide to retain our integrity in God. This is also suffering for Christ sake. One thing we know for sure however is that God will provide, as He deems fit.

Here are a list of the types of sufferings.

2 Cor 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake:for when I am weak, then am I strong

INFIRMITIES - Suffer harm to the flesh, or suffer because of the flesh; An ailment that deprives or hinders someone of enjoying or accomplishing what they would like to do; Weakness or illness.
REPROACHES - To be despitefully used or abused; to cause, damage or loss; to insult
NECESSITIES - To suffer compelling needs requiring timely action
PERSECUTIONS - to be slandered or defrauded or attacked in word with efforts to seeking to punish
DISTRESSES - suffer peril, threats, danger, or even death; a difficult circumstance.

...and these are all for Christ's sake

A good way to discern your suffering is to discern the trend of trials in your life. How do we usually suffer? If we are able to do so, then whatever our suffering is, accept it, embrace it and rejoice in it; because it is our sufferings that serve as a token that will cause us to see the face of Jesus Christ in peace.

- with love
His Apostle,
Kareem Flowers

WHAT IS FAITH?

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FAITH

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BELIEF

DEALING WITH FRUSTATIONS IN PRAYER AND IN FAITH