Abstinence Doesn't Mean Deliverance Part 2
Removing The Dross ~ Coming Out Of A Sexual Relationship
Stacey Lunsford
Key Verse - Galatians 5:18-21
Proverbs 25:4, Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Dross is something regarded as worthless; rubbish, dregs, foreign matter, mineral waste, in particular scum formed on the surface of molten metal.
When the silversmith is melting down (purifying) the silver, the dross comes up top to the surface and the silversmith scoops it out...to prevent it from contaminating the silver.
Allowing the dross (foreign matter) to remain will prevent the silver from becoming pure silver...in comparison, allowing the dross, (worthless; rubbish, dregs, foreign matter, mineral waste, in particular scum formed on the surface) of our heart, mind and emotions to remain will prevent us from coming forth as a finer vessel.
BUT...removing the dross (worthless; rubbish, dregs, foreign matter, mineral waste, in particular scum formed on the surface) of our heart, mind and emotions, will enable us to come forth as a finer vessel.
Romans 12:2, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
To a person that is coming out of a sexual relationship or any kind of an addiction abstinence doesn't mean deliverance type of relationship or situation, they have several things that they must deal with...
1) is being not conformed to the old way of doing things....Romans 12:1-2
2) is being transformed (learning) how to do the new things.....Colossians 3
The old behavior needs to be replaced with a new behavior and here's where the battle comes into focus because if we try to replace the old behavior without removing the dross, (worthless; rubbish, dregs, foreign matter, mineral waste), in particular scum formed on the surface of our heart, mind and emotions, chances are that we will return to the old behavior or relationship because the roots are still there...it's a familiar place....and most people don't want to come out of their comfort zone because they are afraid of the unknown (unfamiliar territory) and often times, fear will paralyze them, keeping them in a relationship or addiction that they really don't want to be in.
When coming out of a relationship (especially a sexual one) or an addiction, the condition of our hearts, our minds and our emotions are so essential to the healing process. When we don't allow ourselves the opportunity to grieve our loss, express our hurt, pain and deal with our issues, we are allowing the dross to eat away at us from the inside out...
What is the dross (worthless; rubbish, dregs, foreign matter, mineral waste, in particular scum formed on the surface) of our heart, mind and emotions?
fear
shame
abuse
denial
unbelief
rejection
bitterness
retaliation
resentment
stubbornness
unforgiveness
embarrassment
negative speech
negative behavior
negative thoughts
failure to let go of the past
rehearsing our hurts over and over to anyone that will listen
2 Timothy 2:21, If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
Purge is to rid (someone) of an unwanted feeling, memory, or condition, typically giving a sense of cathartic release, (crying is a cathartic release)
In an effort to help somebody...that is either on their way to being restored and cleansed or are at the beginning stages of the process of being restored and cleansed, here are a few questions that I had to ask myself:
(1) What brought you to that special place in God where you wanted to leave your past behind you and press towards the mark for the high calling in Christ Jesus?
(2) What prepared you to receive God's healing touch, His cleansing power and His restoration?
(3) How did God help you to rid yourself of unwanted feelings, hurt, and bad memories that brought you pain?
(4) What brought you to that place where you wanted to be justified, purified and sanctified, (set apart by God for God?)
I'm asking these questions because some people don't understand that there is a process to being processed and my objective is to help those that want to begin this process but don't quite no how to get started. I pray that this message has been a blessing to you. Please email me at
[email protected] if you have any questions or comments. God Bless you, Stacey
Click on the banner for Abstinence Doesn't Mean Deliverance Part 3
Hope Is On the Horizon
A Clarion Call To Return To: Holiness ~ Sanctification ~ Consecration ~ Righteousness ~Purity & Integrity
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