Saturday, November 26, 2011

“Ten Steps to Conquer Impure Thoughts” Part 4







V.        6th Step: “Reinforce Your Will by a Bond Accountability”



A.   The principle of accountability is one of the most important tool to use to conquer temptation. If we are going to commit ourselves to do something and we fail to use this tool of accountability, we only fool ourselves and set ourselves up for failure. By using someone to be accountable to, will benefit us enormously, because it doubles our accountability, which in return forces us to be honest.



B.   Take for example, when we have impure thoughts on an average of three times (3X) a week. We then will suffer defeat of an average of 156 episodes within a year. If one can reduce these episodes by half, were on our way in being set free from impure thoughts.



C.   One should ask the Holy Spirit for guidance on whom, we should go to for accountability. By going to someone, we take these thoughts that plague us under the submission of the Lord. The person who we can be accountable is our Bishops, Stake President, and Quorum President Leaders, a teacher or a friend. By going to this person, we are making a covenant with them that they will respect our confidentiality and also that they will be accountable to God.



D.   This agreement that we are making with this person is when a temptation plaques us, we should be able to contact them and share with them what is happening to us. So when this transpires, the both of you can pray about it. What will this accomplish? Four major things will happen:



1.    The thought of divulging these temptations to the person whom we are accountable to, is a powerful motivation to resist this temptation even more.



2.    One’s need for prayer is a powerful tool in setting us free. By going to them is like having a “spiritual umbrella” to protect us from our thoughts that try to captivate us and bring us back into bondage of these thoughts.



3.    By going together in prayer, will be a source of power for victory we’re striving for. It says in the Word, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20



4.    By sharing the problem with another solves half of the problem. It also gives the Lord an opportunity to work in the situation. It is when we keep it to ourselves, we are bound to this sin and by sharing it allows the Holy Spirit to work in it and set us free from the claws of the enemy. “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19



E.   As you are struggling with your weakness, it will be a benefit  to the person, who you are being accountable to because it causes that person to be accountable to God and to you. In return it will be a blessing to him because it fosters and encourages them to live a godly life.



1.    When you talk to the person, there is no need to go into any details. Just share with them that you are being tempted. After sharing with them, the both of you should go into prayer in order to receive the help you need.



2.    After praying, asked them to check with you later to see how you are doing. There may be a need to pray some more. The more seek the Lord’s face the greater the triumph will be.



3.    In James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  This will foster and strengthen our covenant by building and relying on God’s Word. In return the both of you can rejoice when the war is over and it is won. You both can savor the delicious victory. Moroni 7:9 says “And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.”



F.    Another form of accountability is by asking your spouse or your girlfriend to help you in this area. Asking them to help you in guarding your eyes in public. This will be effective and reassuring too.



1.    Ask her when she notices you looking more than twice at another women, she will help you by gently reminding you of your covenant with your eyes.



2.    She can also remind to view this other women from God’s perspective.



3.    When she is helping you, she do this in love and not in condemnation. By doing it in a sarcastic and condemning way, will only foster defeat.



4.    Sometimes when one is being accused, our old nature will kick in and one says to himself, “If I am going to be judged and convicted of it, I my wells give into it and do it!”



5.    When it is done in love, it will inspire you to try harder to guard your eyes and your heart.



6.    Also this bond of accountability to draw the couple closer together, strengthening their relationship.



7.    It will encourage and better ones communication between couples.



8.    Their love will reassure them daily and the both of them will bask in the victory of the battle that was won by the power of God.





 

VI.       7th Step: “Realize That Winning a War Means Many Battles”

A.   In Scriptures, the Lord gives us various accounts of battles that we will face in life, so that we can learn and benefit from them. In
1 Corinthians 10:6  “Now these things were our examples,” Take for instant, the following story in the Bible.

B.   The prophet Elijiah reminded King Jehoash of his future battles that he will have to face. Elijah gave the king some arrows and commanded him to shoot the arrows into the ground. King Jehoash shot the arrows in the ground three times and then gave up. Elijiah was deeply disheartened in the king and told him, if he had struck the ground five or six times, he would of subdued his enemies. By striking the ground trice, he would only win three battles, but eventually he would be defeated. 2 Kings 13:14-19

C.   We have to make a gut, soul and have a heart determination that no matter what the cost is we will stick to the struggle until we see the end comes and victory is gained. The Scriptures are filled with examples and reminders that we need to be more determine than we think. Here are some scriptures to encourage you. Jeremiah 12:5 “If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?”

Proverbs 24:10 “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.”

Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

D&C 89:20 “And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.”

D.   In Romans 5:20-21, it says where there is much sin, more grace abounds. No matter how deep one is in sin, God gives us the grace to overcome it. God’s mercy and His grace flows more abundantly. Also when we have been forgiven much, more is expected of us.

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E.   When one lives a sinful life, they are sold out to it and don’t give a second thought to it, because one is in bondage to that sin. No matter what the circumstances was, we gave no excuses to go out and party commit our wrongdoings.

F.    When Christ came into our lives, He gave us the choice to say no or yes to our old nature. The Lord wants to see that we have the same passion to live a godly life as we did when we lived our sinful life.

G.   We come up with various excuses why we can’t serve the Lord. We take advantage of Our Heavenly Father’s mercy.

H.   We need to be honest with ourselves that when we lived our old life, we were sold-out to the devil and his ways. We didn’t give it a second thought how our sin was hurting us, because we were enjoying its’ temporary pleasure. This sin held us in bondage.

I.      If one is willing to have that kind of passion for our old nature: why can’t we have same passion for the Lord? Another words, we need to be sold out to the Lord with the same passion and degree. Serve Him with a grateful heart because He set us free.


If you would like to know more about Jesus and your purpose in life, please contact the Mormon Missionaries:

In the Buffalo, NY area:

940-7143
997-4490
1-585- 403 – 0556

Rochester, NY area: Spanish & English

1-585-905-4620

In the Cattaraugus area:

716-740-0631

In the Wyoming County area in the state of Pennsyjvania:

570-240-2354

Elder Zayne Callahan

Elder Callahan's Mission is the whole wide world of the Internet. If you want to contact him and talk with him; you can reach him on Facebook and he also has a blog. Here are the web connections:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=hp#!/elder.zayne.callahan

http://elderzaynecallahan.blogspot.com/2011/09/rachels-testimony-expected-logic.html



For a free DVD “Finding Faith in Christ” call 1-800-443-9911
 


Wednesday, November 23, 2011

“Ten Steps to Conquer Impure Thoughts” Part 3




III.       4th Step: “Give God’s Spirit His Most Effective Weapon.” 
        Our battle of impure thoughts is far more than a battle in the mind or a
            physical struggle. It is “Spiritual Warfare”.

            Read Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
            against principalities, against powers, pagainst the rulers of the darkness
            of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”



A.   Both the Spirit of God and the devil seek and needs a person’s mind, their wills and their emotions in which they can express themselves.

B.   God and the devil know that our own human nature can easily betray us.

C.   The world will offer us glamorous and temporal pleasures to entice us, but behind those enticements is Satan seeking to control us and put us into bondage.

D.   The Lord does not want us to conquer Satan for He did it at Calvary. Our Heavenly Father will use these temptations in the following matter.

1.    He will use this pressure of the daily battle to motivate us  to transform our thoughts to His way of thinking.

2.    This will be accomplished and achieved by using the Holy Spirit’s weapon of warfare and that is the Word of God.

Read Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”









A.   It is not only important to resist the temptation when it comes at you, but to be always preparing between temptations by memorizing the scriptures. It says in His Word, “be instant in season, out of season;”;

2 Timothy 4:2. Here are some other scriptures that will be a help to you:



1 Corinthians 3:11-20   1 Corinthians 10:12-15     2 Corinthians 10:3-5

2 Nephi 4:30                  2 Nephi 9:42                    1 Nephi 22:19

Alma 14:11                    D&C 95:1                          James 1:1-8, & 13

D&C 42:68                     1 Thessalonians 4:1-9      D&C 1:38

Romans 6:1-14, & 16     D&C 20:32                        2 Nephi 4:27    

2 Nephi 2:29                   Alma 3:27                         Alma 34:34

Helaman 14:31               Romans 8:1-14                 Alma 13:12

D&C 84:33                      D&C 11:12                        Mosiah 3:19

Colossians 3:1-10 & 16   D&C 8:2                            Galatians 5:16 - 6:5

Ether 4:12                       Moses 3:19                       2 Nephi 32:3

Hebrews 12:1-17            2 Nephi 4:18                     Psalm 1:2-3

Psalm 19:14                   Psalm 119:9-11                 Mosiah 1:7

Alma 50:20                     Helaman 12:1                   D&C 19:13



B.   Peter said 1 Peter 1:13  “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,



IV.      5th Step: “Remove the Hidden Provisions for Defeat”



A.   If we allow any provision (seductive allurements) in our thought life, than we should expect to fail. We have invited that lure in our thoughts, which in return snare us and caused us to fall into temptation and lead us to sin. It provides us tempting possibilities for our mind to stir up various emotions which will seductively overpower our will and we give into the temptation. Our emotions play important role in this area especially in regards in feeling self-pity, loneliness, anger and sense of discouragement. It is our human nature to react and succumb to these emotions.



B.   We need to ask the Holy Ghost and He will show us those things that will trap us and cause Satan to defeat us. Things that will trap us are such as pornography, books, magazines, sensual music, sensual lyrics, pictures, movies, certain friendships and being involve in certain activities.



C.   We need to take a bold step by removing these items from our lives and this in return will show ourselves and others that we are sincere to our commitment to free us these various bondages. By resisting the devil’s lures forces him to flee from us. It is by this action, we are demonstrating that we mean business. It shows that we are taking a stand for God and His ways.



D.    "When you are tempted to do wrong, do not stop one moment to argue, but tell Mr. Devil to walk out of your barn"  (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 81).



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Click on the following web link.




If you would like to know more about Jesus and your purpose in life, please contact the Mormon Missionaries:

In the Buffalo, NY area:

940-7143
997-4490
1-585- 403 – 0556

Rochester, NY area: Spanish & English

1-585-905-4620

In the Cattaraugus area:

716-740-0631

In the Wyoming County area in the state of Pennsyjvania:

570-240-2354

Elder Zayne Callahan

Elder Callahan's Mission is the whole wide world of the Internet. If you want to contact him and talk with him; you can reach him on Facebook and he also has a blog. Here are the web connections:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=hp#!/elder.zayne.callahan

http://elderzaynecallahan.blogspot.com/2011/09/rachels-testimony-expected-logic.html



For a free DVD “Finding Faith in Christ” call 1-800-443-9911

Friday, November 18, 2011

“Ten Steps to Conquer Impure Thoughts” Part 2



III.       2nd Step: “Replace the secret pictures in the gallery of our mind.”



A.   At the heart of most impure thoughts are the secret pictures stored in the back of your mind. We sometimes hold a special place for our first experience and encounters. We have a very special fond memory that we hold dear to our hearts over the years. It is during those time periods of temptations or fleshly promptings that we can easily revive those memories and force on the illicit affair in our past.



1.    Many times we are fighting these recollections on our own and all it does is frustrate the situation and cause us to have sense of failure.



2.    One way to fight this battle is superimpose pictures of God over these memories. Another words, when these images creep into our mind, we should place the image of Christ being bruised and tortured for our transgressions and iniquities. The word “iniquity” is often refers to moral impurity. We need to bring to remembrance that Jesus died on the cross, so that His blood would wash away our iniquity and setting us free from this bondage.



 Read Psalm 51:2 “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”  And in Mosiah 26:30, it says, “Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.” In Romans 6:6 it says, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” And in verse 14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

Additional scriptures: 2: Nephi 2:26-27 and Mononi 10:32-33.

A.   We need to recall the series of stories of men and women in the scriptures that succumb to own personal lust. Such as the following people:

1.    Samson groping around after, he lost his eyesight by having them gorged out after his illicit affair with the harlot Deliah.

2.    King David grieving over his divided family and kingdom due to his affair with Bath-sheba.

3.    .King David’s son Amon raped his half-sister; in which his lustful thoughts turn into a deep hatred.           


A.   We should also recall series of people in the scriptures, who have won the battle. We can read about the in Hebrews chapter 11.This chapter in the Bible is sometimes refer to “Hall of Fame.” A good example for us is Joseph fleeing away from the advances of Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39. Another good examples are Nephi, Alma the younger and Mosiah’s sons: Ammon, Aaron, Omner and Himni.

 Joseph fleeing away from the advances of Potiphar’s wife.


Alma the younger visited by an angel.

A.   The next picture that one should bring in forefront in one’s mind is Jesus Christ. Picture His arms stretched out and Him embracing you with following saying underneath that picture saying, “I Forgive You!” Contemplate this one gospel truth and take it to heart; that when we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us and that He remembers it no more.



A.   There was a little girl who told her parish priest that God spoke to her. To humor the child the priest asked her that the next time she talks to God, to ask Him what sins the Bishop committed. A few days went by and the priest saw the little girl and he asked her about speaking to God. The priest asked what did God say about the Bishop’s sins and she boldly told him that God said I forgot them and I don’t remember them either.

Read Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

 And read Alma 13:12 “Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God.”

And in verse 28 it says, “But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;” 

B.   We need to picture Jesus with His loving arms embracing you and forgiving you all your past sins.  


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 3rd Step “Make a Covenant with your eyes.” 

A.   One of the righteous men who ever lived was Job. One of the main key to his righteous living was that he made a covenant with his eyes. Read Job 31:1 “I MADE a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?”

A.   The crucial key to controlling one’s thoughts is by controlling one’s roving eyes. How does one make this covenant with their eyes?


B.   One should purpose in one’s heart to look at the countenance of the person.

1.    What does the countenance of an individual show us? It revels what is in heart of that person. It will give us the insight and the direction on how one should pray for that person.

2.    The eye of the individual reflects what is inside the person’s heart.

Matthew 6:22-23 “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”

Proverbs 4:23 & 25 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life…. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.”

3 Nephi 13:22 “The light of the body is the eye; if, therefore, thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.”

Mormon 8:15 “For none can have power to bring it to light save it be given him of God; for God wills that it shall be done with an eye single to his glory, or the welfare of the ancient and long dispersed covenant people of the Lord”

D&C 4:5 “And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.”

D&C 59:1 “BEHOLD, blessed, saith the Lord, are they who have come up unto this land with an eye single to my glory, according to my commandments”

3.    One should keep one’s eyes under the Lord’s control. One needs to train them to see what Lord wants us to see.


The Lord commanded Samuel to go to the house of Jesse to choose the future king of Israel. Samuel was looking at outside and Lord showed him that He was looking what was inside the person’s heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Isaiah For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

A.   When the Lord gazes upon us, He does not view us for what we were, but what we could become through Him.

Isaiah 43:1-2 “BUT now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
Isaiah 43:18-19 “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

B.   If one could see God’s thoughts for the person that we are eyeing, we would be able to glimpse His desires for that individual. When one sees these desires, we would want to see them come into being for that person. We need to visualize this person receiving Christ into their heart and witness their transformation into becoming a new individual through Christ’s love.

1.    This would incite us to pray for individual instead of lusting after them.

2.    This in return will put us at ease when we talk with this person, because we built a godly restraint in our thought life.

3.    A good example is Jesus’ experience with the woman who was taken in adultery. Instead of seen her as adulteress; He saw what she would become through grace of God. John 8:1-11

A.   When one envision this person as having been made by God, loved by God and that Christ died for them will force us to see them in a spiritual sense and as a child of Our Heavenly Father.  It will force us to realize that whatever we do this person; we are doing this to Christ too. We need to remember them vessels of God.
 Matthew 25:40 “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”   

Mosiah 2:17 “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
                 D & C 42:38For inasmuch as ye do it unto the least of these, ye do it unto me.”


If you would like to know more about Jesus and your purpose in life, please contact the Mormon Missionaries:

In the Buffalo, NY area:

940-7143
997-4490
1-585- 403 – 0556

Rochester, NY area: Spanish & English

1-585-905-4620

In the Cattaraugus area:

716-740-0631

In the Wyoming County area in the state of Pennsyjvania:

570-240-2354

Elder Zayne Callahan

Elder Callahan's Mission is the whole wide world of the Internet. If you want to contact him and talk with him; you can reach him on Facebook and he also has a blog. Here are the web connections:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=hp#!/elder.zayne.callahan

http://elderzaynecallahan.blogspot.com/2011/09/rachels-testimony-expected-logic.html


For a free DVD “Finding Faith in Christ” call 1-800-443-9911