Sexual freedom or sexual bondage?

Colin Dye — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:11:44 +0000

Does freedom mean I can do what I want? What about sexual sin?

To some, ?freedom from sexual bondage? might seem a strange combination of words. Most people in our post-modern society are crying freedom from rules and regulations. Surely freedom means that you can do what you want, doesn?t it? Such people would no doubt regard God?s rules for living as ?bondage?, and indeed biblical principles are often mocked by society. But I want to promote the truth that in fact, God?s rules are liberating.

By way of illustration, picture this scene: a high speed train is hurtling along its tracks towards its destination. Now imagine the same train leaping off its tracks, crying freedom and running across open fields, completely out of control. Which of these scenarios is a true picture of freedom? The train running smoothly along its tracks as it was designed to, or the train hurtling out of control, throwing passengers out, killing and destroying right across the field? If a train leaps its tracks, it?s not free ? it?s dangerous.

To use another illustration, imagine you go out to a concert one evening to hear a solo pianist perform. You are expecting to hear some relaxing classical music or perhaps some jazz, but the pianist announces that he is a ?free? musician and is going to play some of his own compositions. Being a ?free? musician means that he doesn?t believe in or follow any of the conventional rules of music ? he just plays a random, discordant and unrelated series of notes and chords. How many of us could listen to that for any length of time? Maybe you would you like to go to such a concert ? but that?s just the novelty element!

A train off-track, picture of real freedom?

The fact is, all good music is expressed within the framework of a set of rules which are interpreted in various creative ways. Even a genre such as jazz, which many consider to be very ?free? in its expression, has certain rules that govern it. A jazz pianist will drop the root note of his chords and ?colour? them by sharpening or flattening notes in the middle ? to put it roughly! But he is still moving within predefined boundaries to express subtle nuances of sound.

In both these examples there are principles at work that, when followed, produce something orderly, beautiful and lovely. That is what I commend to you about God?s ways for human sexuality. God?s ways are truly liberating and as we abide by them, we are blessed. In Romans 12:1-2 the apostle Paul instructs us to surrender our bodies to God according to His will so we will ?prove? that God?s way is best:
?I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.?

Bound by sexual sin

This passage raises some important principles. First of all, God says, ?I want you to present your bodies to me.? In the twenty-first century we are more aware of our bodies than ever before. The mass media has actively promoted a ?body awareness? that has often been taken to excess with the likes of plastic surgery and ?extreme makeovers?. But Paul insists that our bodies should be surrendered to God.
When Paul wrote these words, he was not thinking just of the physical body, but of bringing your whole being ? body, soul (emotions, personality) and spirit ? in surrender to God?s purposes. But obeying God does have a lot to do with physical obedience.
Scripture has a lot to say about the body ? it is given by God; made by God; endowed with a range of desires that need to be fed in order for it to function at an optimum level ? including normal, healthy sexual desires. But God says, ?Don?t treat your bodies like the world treats theirs. Bring what I have given you back to me and place it on my altar, because by so doing you will not be conformed to this world and you will be blessed.?
Here lies one of the great difficulties that all Christians face and the reason why so many people, Christian or not, are trapped in sexual sin: instead of surrendering their bodies to God and letting them be governed by Him, they are taking their morality from what is happening around them in society. People are watching movies and television programmes and learning values which they believe are values to live by. Yet, God offers us alternative: to not be pressed into the world?s mould of conformity, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
So what is the renewing of your mind? In essence it is to understand that God?s way is the way that brings liberty, freedom, joy, fullness and happiness. In this regard God goes further than simply saying, ?Trust me, it will work,? He says, ?If you obey me, I?ll prove to you that it works! I?ll prove to you that my way is ?good and acceptable and perfect?.?

The post Sexual freedom or sexual bondage? appeared first on Colin Dye.

How to know the will of God for your life God's Way – The third green light

Colin Dye — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:47:31 +0000

God's will must be done God's way - in his time and by his methods. You may be sure that something is his will for you, but how and when does he want you to fulfil it? This is the third and final traffic light.

Thirty-five years ago, I sat at the back of Kensington Temple, the London church I now pastor. I was a newly baptised member and God spoke to me very clearly: “I have a plan for your life, and a work for you to do.” I told him I was ready. I had read in the Bible how the disciples left their nets to follow Jesus, so I left my “nets’ too! I rushed out to fulfil God’s will for my life – and fell flat on my face! What was wrong? An elderly Christian woman gently explained to me that I had run ahead of the Lord. I had heard God correctly, but it was not yet his time.
Around that same time, in 1972, God gave me a mental impression of a map of Africa. I was born in Africa, and the Lord seemed to be saying, “Where you came from you are going to return.” The impression was that I would be going back again and again, As soon as I grasped that, the map changed to one of South America. The message seemed to be the same. Fourteen years later, in 1986, I finally set foot back in Africa! I have returned many times since, and each time God has revealed his ministry and power.
Then, in 1991, nineteen years after I saw the map of South America, God opened the door for me to go to Brazil. Of course, I could have gone many times before through my own efforts, but I waited for God’s timing. I took a small team with me and the Lord was with us in a special way. He gave us prophetic words for many of the people we met there. In particular, he gave me a prophetic word for a large Christian denomination. I preached two or three messages to that movement, and God is now visiting them in a new way. A fresh wave of spiritual renewal has broken out! It took nineteen years, but in the fullness of time, God released his power and blessing.
God unfolds his will progressively, and it must be followed progressively. Each step must be according to God’s particular way for you. God does not reveal his will by floodlighting the area in front of you.
The picture here is that of a shepherd carrying an oil lamp, as he makes his way home in the night time darkness across the craggy hillsides. As he takes one step, the light swings forward just in time for him to see where he is to put his next step. As so he goes on, step by step. That is how the will of God unfolds for you. You have to go at his pace, one step at a time. If you are willing to wait in patience and in dependence upon him, he will make his will known to you and fulfil it, both in his timing and in his special way for you. Be patient and wait on the Lord both for the when and the how.
Over to you
Now it is time for you to begin to seek the Lord for your situation. Call upon him and tell him exactly how you feel. He is concerned about you. He wants you to walk in the light of revelation and not to grope in the darkness, looking for his will in strange places. He wants you to know him and his direction for your life, because he loves you. Ask him to lead you and speak to you.
Get to know God’s Word, the Bible. Make sure that you are reading it regularly and getting to know it thoroughly. Don’t neglect the times of public preaching and teaching in your church. That is often where you will hear a word from the Lord. Also, it is good to join with others who also want to study the Bible and do it together in small groups.
Finally, invite the Holy Spirit to be your friend. Let him be who the Lord Jesus gave him to you to be – your guide, your comforter, your counsellor and your helper. He is living in you, so learn to hear his voice. He will give you ears to hear, if you ask him. Don’t chase experiences, but stay rooted in the Word of God, and allow him to guide you through it. Through his power and his presence, the living Word will come to you. It is a good idea to keep a journal or some kind of record of what the Lord says to you. I find it extremely encouraging to look back over the things I have received from the Lord. It helps me piece everything together and to discern his hand in it all.

The post How to know the will of God for your life God's Way – The third green light appeared first on Colin Dye.

God's way Archives - Colin Dye

Sexual freedom or sexual bondage?

How to know the will of God for your life God's Way – The third green light