Abstinence Doesn't Mean Deliverance Part 1
~The Consequences of Not Pulling Sins Out At The Root ~
Stacey Lunsford
Galatians 5:18-21
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
When it comes to Galatians 5:18-21, no matter what work of the flesh that you are or have been dealing with, unless you acknowledge your sin, confess to God and repent, turning away from this act completely, 360 degrees you can't say that you are delivered yet until you - with God's help, pull the works of the flesh out at the root because allowing it to remain will only provide an opportunity for you to fall short of the glory of God, somewhere down the road. Confessing, repenting and turning away are essential to the deliverance process but you must identify the source, the root of your struggle.
Example #1, when gardening, you can cut down the weeds that grow in your garden but unless you pull them up at the root, the seeds of the weed is still there lying dormant, until the rain begins to water it and the sunshine begins to shine and the weed begins to show it's ugly head. In comparison, if you are celibate, no longer having sex, whether it was fornication or adultery, have you allowed God to pull that sin out at the root? Abstinence doesn't mean deliverance!
Example #2, You go out on a date with an old boy/girl friend, someone that you used to be intimate with (familiar spirit) this person knows you better than you know yourself remember...we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers, against principalities, against the rulers of the darkness of this world. Your friend has not been abstinent; he has no desire to stop having sex..that's the reason that you broke up with him anyway because God was calling you to holiness. Ending your relationship with him, you cut off all contact with him, you stopped having sex and you pray, "Lord help me to present my body to you as a living sacrifice" but you don't ask God to help you pull all of the sexual sins & works of the flesh out of your heart, at the root...so that they (sexual sins & works of the flesh) can't grow back!
My people perish for lack of knowledge, Hosea 4:6. Most people don't know to do this, so when they give up sexual sins and stop entertaining the works of the flesh, the real problem (root of it) lies dormant until it gets watered and the sunshine starts shining and warming it up to show it's ugly head again.
Example #3, You run into your ex at the market and he/she asked you out to dinner and you know that you shouldn't because you care about him/her, you still think about them, you still dream about them and you have unresolved issues where they are concerned. Remember they know you, (I mean he/she "Knows" you like Adam "Knew" Eve.) They know how to push your buttons, water your garden and get what they want because the root that is lying dormant (soul ties) - You stopped having sex with him/her but in your mind the relationship is going strong. You have a video library of your times together and can pull a tape out any time you want to...on the bus, on the train, at your desk and even at church...oh they really come out at church, especially when you are trying to worship the Lord.... been there, done that! I encourage you today to destroy that video library, in Jesus name!
The consequences of not pulling sins out at the root...eventually somebody or even you can water the seeds of sin that are lying dormant, waiting for the opportunity to sprinkle some miracle grow on your empty flower bed (heart, mind, body, soul & spirit) so that you can actively participate in the works of the flesh again. Abstinence doesn't mean deliverance!
After dinner your he/she invites you to his/her place for a nightcap and you tell him that you don't drink anymore and rubbing the back of your neck and your ears he tells you that one little glass wont hurt you...but after being sober for 6 months or so you know good and well that...that one little glass of wine will kick your behind and make you loose your mind, causing you to miss the mark...the wine fuzzes your brain and the ability to think clearly and soberly is gone in the wind.
Giving in to the lustful desires of your own heart, you accept the glass of wine (spirit of drunkenness) no longer thinking soberly, you give into the fire that is burning deep inside of you and slowly your body begins to respond to his/her touch. Abstinence doesn't mean deliverance!
Feelings and emotions that were asleep are wide-awake and your flesh is saying feed me! You give into the desire of your precious ex (and you are responsible for your actions not him/her) all they did was extend an invitation...you had a choice to accept their offer or to reject it!
Responding to your flesh, you embrace the spirit of lust and fornication; afterwards you are naked, you are sober, (in your right mind), and you are crying, condemnation is embarrassing you, wrapping you up in the blanket, laughing at you, covering you up in the shame that is eating away at you, abstinence doesn't mean deliverance! Where you were just starting to feel good about yourself, here comes the spirit of heaviness (strongman) with all of it's (fruit) roots that need to be pulled out
- heaviness, excessive mourning, and depression~ Isaiah 61:3
- sorrow-grief ~ Nehemiah 2:2
- broken heart ~ Psalm 69:20, Proverbs 12:18; 15;3, 13; 18:14; Luke 4:18
- self-pity ~ Psalm 69:20
- Insomnia ~ Nehemiah 2:2
- despair, dejection and hopelessness ~ 2 Corinthians 1:8-9
- suicidal thoughts ~ Mark 9
- inner hurts-torn spirit ~ Luke 4:18; Proverbs 18:14; 26:22
Oh don't go...satan's not finished yet, he just released another assignment on you and here comes the spirit of perversion (strongman) with all of it's (fruit) roots that need to be pulled out
- broken spirit ~ Proverbs 15:4
- evil actions ~ Proverbs 17:20, 23
- abortion ~ Exodus 21:22-25, Exodus 30:13
- sex perversions ~ Romans 1:17-32; 2 Timothy 3:2
- filthy mind ~ Proverbs 2:12, 23:33
- foolish ~ Proverbs 1:22; 19:1
- chronic worrier ~ Proverbs 19:3
- doctrinal error ~ Isaiah 19:4; Romans 1:22-23; 2 Timothy 3:7-8
- twisting the word ~ Acts 13:10; 2 Peter 2:14
- pornography, fantasies, (video library in your mind)
Abstinence Doesn't Mean Deliverance Whatever you are abstaining from...don't let it lie dormant...pull it up at the root and kill that thing, in Jesus name
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A Clarion Call To Return To: Holiness ~ Sanctification ~ Consecration ~ Righteousness ~Purity & Integrity
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