Endure!

All throughout the Bible, the terms “endure” and “endurance” are stressed.

The Word admonishes us, as believers, to endure hardness, or hardships as good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). It also speaks of how Jesus, Himself, endured the cross while despising the shame and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

As a single believer, you must also endure.

You endure as you walk in patience while holding fast to your own desires in your heart. (Psalms 37:4)

Another word for patience is endurance, so endure temptation, endure those times you feel you just want to get it on like Marvin Gaye, endure feelings of loneliness while remembering with Christ you are never alone, endure other folks asking the dreaded question, “Why are you still single?” endure your parents wondering if they’ll ever have any grandkids from you, endure the holidays while remaining encouraged, endure every step of the way just as Christ endured and was tempted just like you while knowing that the joy of the Lord is your strength!

Because Jesus, our Great Example, endured so can you and He gives you the power to endure as you seek His face and His strength every day.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

…for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10b

Kim Brooks, author of, How To Date and Stay Saved, and, He's Fine...But is He Saved? www.kimontheweb.com

The Flesh is a Beast!

Kim Brooks, author of, How To Date and Stay Saved, and, He's Fine...But is He Saved? www.kimontheweb.com

Guard The Gates

A second way to tame the flesh is to “guard the gates”
more specifically the eye and ear gates. 

Job 31:1 says, “I made a covenant with mine eyes;
why then should I think upon a maid?”

The Amplified Bible makes it plain as Job 31:1 reads,
“I dictated a covenant (an agreement) to my eyes;
how then could I look [lustfully] upon a girl?”

In this passage of Scripture, Job, a man of God indeed, is demonstrating
how he made a personal covenant, or commitment to God, Himself, to not
even look lustfully at a woman.  Job is demonstrating ow he is guarding,
or protecting his eyes from even “going there.”

In today’s society, especially with images of sex being advertised on seemingly
every billboard and every television commercial, you have to make a special
effort to be careful about what you set your eyes upon, so you don’t look
lustfully upon it and arouse the flesh.

This is another reason why it is so important for believers not to get caught
in satan’s trap of pornography, whether in a magazine, on a video, or online.
The word, “porneia,” means harlotry, idolatry, and fornication.

As you look lustfully on these images, the spirit upon it, which is definitely
not the Holy Spirit, defiles your own spirit.  It causes you to view the opposite
sex as merely a sex object, even during day to day encounters with people in
general, you begin to undress people with your eyes.

I have heard of marriages which were shattered and almost broken because
their spouses were addicted to letting their eye gates get a hold of this filth
and allowing the enemy to have his way, subtly, tricking the person viewing it
into thinking he’s not doing anything wrong since he or she isn’t actually
having sex, but simply viewing it.

However, viewing it is not protecting your eye gates.

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:  I hate the work of them that
turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.  Psalm 101:3

****

The following has been an except from my latest book, How To Date and Stay Saved

Kim Brooks, author of, How To Date and Stay Saved, and, He's Fine...But is He Saved? www.kimontheweb.com

Canton Jones on How To Date and Stay Saved

Can’t hear him on the vid?  Here’s a written transcript of what he’s saying:

“This is Canton Jones here, how to date and stay saved?  For one you gotta set
up barriers before you even get in a situation.  You know you can’t go into a room
with the person that you’re attracted to, ya know, and expect to…to…to study the
Word of God -- it ain’t gone happen, so you might as well keep it real.

‘Cuz you can’t go in there watching certain type of movies or listening
to certain type of music, and I’m talking to saved people -don’t put your
flesh under that kind of pressure -   you gotta get yourself, you know what I’m sayin’,
a way of escape.

Date with other strong couples.  Don’t date, watch this, don’t be unequally yoked,
a’ight, that means you gotta date with somebody that’s strong or stronger than
you to keep you out of compromising situations, a’ight?

And last but not least, if you get stuck run! Run! Run Ruuuun fast! a’ight
Just like a fire escape you know how like when a fire takes place you know
where all the exits are, the emergency exits?  You already know…run…alright,
because she’s too beautiful or he’s too fine for you to try to ya know think you got
that much Holy Ghost in you….uh uh…don’t do it, don’t do it…don’t put yourself
in compromising situations, a’ight?  This is C.J.,
love you, keepin it real.”

Side note from Kim ******

I greatly enjoyed this interview with Mr. Canton Jones.  He’s a very positive person with a true heart for ministry.
Check out his newest CD project, Dominionaire, in stores nationwide and at http://www.cantonjones.net

Like the T-shirt he’s wearing in this video?  Find this and more on http://www.testiphy.com

Kim Brooks, author of, How To Date and Stay Saved, and, He's Fine...But is He Saved? www.kimontheweb.com

Satan Knows Your Weakness

You may be praying in the Spirit and going weeks without falling into sexual sin, but then the next thing you know, seemingly out of the blue, here comes this fine sister with everything you like and all the right curves just how you like them asking for your phone number.

Know that satan knows your weakness, ladies and gentlemen, and even during periods of sincere consecration he will send exactly what you like right in front of your face in order to tempt you.

Remember, satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness after Jesus fasted 40 days. What’s the first thing a man wants after having not eaten 40 days straight – food! So the next thing you know Jesus is in the wilderness with satan and the first thing satan tries to tempt Jesus with is challenging Him to turn stones into bread so He could eat (Matthew 4:2-3)

In the same manner, you may have gone 40 days without sex, you may have read this book and said you were going to read at least a Scripture a day and pray for at least 30 minutes each morning, but on the 41st day here comes that old boyfriend calling, asking if he can come over. Know that at your weakest point, satan may send you something that may look good to the eye, but is totally bad for you.

For every temptation sent your way, know that God will always create a way of escape for you (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Don’t even allow the enemy to open any doors in your life,

Close any and all doors immediately.

Do not call that ex back and definitely do not stop by and visit, I don’t care how much you try and convince yourself that you just want to go over there and have Bible study. Again, don’t trust yourself.

*****
This has been a section from my book, “How To Date and Stay Saved” Order your copy to read the rest Click Here

Kim Brooks, author of, How To Date and Stay Saved, and, He's Fine...But is He Saved? www.kimontheweb.com