Participants:
Series Code: TDYL
Program Code: TDYL200008B
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00:12 If you're just joining us,
00:14 oh, this has been so 00:16 and continues to be so enlightening. 00:18 We're talking about pornography in churches 00:22 and it is such a big problem 00:26 that no one wants to address and so, 00:29 our team from Coming Out Ministries has come on 00:32 and they're sharing their journey 00:34 and they're sharing tools and information. 00:38 But before we get back into the program, 00:40 I'd like for Kendol to play another song for us. 00:43 He's going to play "Divine Redeemer." 05:20 Oh, Divine Redeemer, I love that song. 05:23 Thank you so much Brother Kendol Bacchus 05:26 for sharing your gifts with us. 05:27 That song was beautiful. 05:29 Okay, so let's get back to our topic because again, 05:35 it's just everywhere 05:37 and no one's been talking about it, 05:40 and we're so glad that you're here to share 05:43 how God has delivered you. 05:46 Mike, tell us how... 05:48 I want all three of you to tell us 05:50 how God delivered you from same sex attraction 05:55 and from because it's all A sexual sin. 05:58 Yes. 05:59 Same sex attraction 06:01 and pornography and sex addiction. 06:03 Tell us how God delivered you? 06:05 Well, you know, I was hoping 06:06 when I came up out of that water, 06:08 when I got baptized that it would all be gone 06:10 for my convenience, you know, 06:12 I didn't realize that 06:14 this was going to be a journey. 06:15 Really the story of Haman is my story. 06:18 I had to dip seven times in that river. 06:20 And seven isn't just perfection that comes, 06:24 but there's a process of that cleansing. 06:26 And you know something? 06:28 God had to address all of those knots 06:29 that were in the rope of my life 06:31 beginning with the rejection of my father 06:33 and then, of course, 06:35 eventually, you know, after being teased by the kids 06:37 and being called sissy little girl, 06:38 and then going into the gay culture, 06:40 being a sex addict. 06:41 It was a lot that the Lord had to address at a time 06:44 when I couldn't handle that. 06:45 And so, as I began this journey with Jesus Christ, 06:48 it was messy. 06:49 But He was faithful. 06:51 And as He would draw me into more understanding, 06:54 as He would draw me into that healing, 06:57 man there were times when, it just felt like 06:59 it was just overwhelming and that I should give up. 07:01 But what kept me hanging in there, 07:03 was that I was experiencing Jesus 07:05 in a way that I'd never experienced Him 07:06 before and more like 07:08 I couldn't physically touch Him, 07:09 I could feel Him affect me. 07:12 And you know, when I had to make a decision 07:13 between my boyfriend and my Jesus, you know, 07:16 I realized that I needed Jesus more. 07:18 And then, as the Lord takes out of the picture, 07:21 then it's like, okay, Michael, 07:23 can we address this pornography thing now 07:25 and I'm like, "No, no, no. 07:26 That was my best friend." 07:27 That was the one thing that I ran to and, you know, 07:31 that God addressed that. 07:32 And then as He addressed that, 07:33 there were other things that had to go and there's... 07:35 I'm 60 years old, 07:37 I'm still dealing with those things that 07:38 He still addressing in other areas. 07:41 But even as an elder in my church, 07:42 I fell back into pornography use again. 07:44 And the things that worked before didn't work again. 07:47 And so, now I come to Jesus Christ and it's like, 07:50 I'm much more desperate because those things 07:52 weren't going away from my convenience 07:54 and so it was Ministry of Healing. 07:56 Just the first page alone says that, 07:58 "The same Jesus who wants to heal men 08:00 completely, physically, spiritually and mentally." 08:04 And in my margin of my book, I wrote pornography, 08:07 and masturbation, and homosexuality. 08:10 And I underline that and I said, 08:11 "You said that you can change me, 08:14 you said that you came to restore me. 08:15 And I need that." 08:17 I love how Ellen White didn't leave out 08:18 the three aspects that were physical, spiritual and mental. 08:22 And you can't do anything sexual 08:24 without incorporating all three of those. 08:26 So anytime we step outside the boundaries that 08:28 God created through a sexual relationship 08:31 between your spouse of the opposite sex, 08:33 what it does is it destroys 08:35 all three of those aspects, 08:37 the physical, the spiritual, and the mental. 08:40 And so God had to do this recreation, 08:42 but He had to do it in a time that I could handle it. 08:45 But also there had to be a cleansing of my mind 08:47 and a cooperation from me that was very difficult. 08:50 It was like, you're trying to take away 08:52 my only thing that gave me any comfort 08:55 from the time that I was 13 years old. 08:57 And that struggle wasn't easy, but God was persistent. 09:01 And he was faithful in the process. 09:04 Amen. So you stayed in the Word. 09:08 You were praying and asking God to deliver you. 09:12 Yes. 09:14 And so what, like, 09:16 and you read Ministry of Healing? 09:18 Yes, but one tip that I think is really powerful 09:20 is that so many of us, Jeremiah 79 says that 09:23 "The mind is deceitful above all things 09:25 and desperately wicked." 09:26 Trust me. 09:28 It's got a picture of me in the Concordance. 09:29 So when I think about that, 09:31 I thought, well, that's not fair. 09:33 What a curse, you know, that my mind is, 09:35 I can't even have a decent thought on my own? 09:37 And so I found myself confessing 09:39 these dirty thoughts that kept flooding up. 09:41 I didn't have the luxury of having my devotion 09:44 in the morning and I'm good all day. 09:46 As those thoughts will come in, 09:47 I had to constantly take stock of that. 09:49 But then all of a sudden, 09:50 the reality came that wait a minute, 09:52 that really is a blessing 09:54 because I'm learning the process of praying 09:55 without ceasing. 09:57 What that means is that I have to take every thought 09:59 into captivity, right? 10:01 And surrender that to the power 10:03 and the authority of Jesus Christ. 10:04 And so, while I could never get 10:06 the victory over those thoughts, 10:08 I could submit them to my higher power, 10:10 I could submit them to my savior 10:11 who had already overcome sin for me 10:14 and wiped that out. 10:15 One of the things that I find so pervasive 10:18 in our Christian culture is that so many people, 10:22 it's like, yeah, I want to give this up. 10:23 I know, I should give this up. 10:25 But I really don't want to let this go. 10:27 And I had to get to a point where the beast had to die. 10:30 This beast that I was feeding 10:31 whenever I was happy, or sad, or late, or whatever. 10:34 Not until I determined that the beast must die 10:37 because my mind will always try to find a way 10:40 to my addiction, whatever that is for you. 10:43 And so as I would take stock in that 10:45 and realize that you know what? 10:47 I can't go three months and reward myself with my sin. 10:49 I want to overcome my sin. 10:51 That meant I had to stab the beast in the heart. 10:53 I had to slit his throat before 10:55 I would actually start to have victory over this sin. 10:58 And so this battle with the mind, you know, 11:01 of learning that process of surrendering 11:03 and submitting to God was a real process. 11:06 But the stronger that muscle got, 11:08 the more that I exercise it, Jesus was 100%. 11:11 If I claimed it, if I asked for the mind of Christ 11:13 in Philippians 2:5, it came. 11:16 But he wasn't going to negate my power 11:19 of choice in the process. 11:21 You know, Jesus could just wipe it 11:22 all away from my convenience. 11:24 But I would never have this connection, 11:25 this intimacy with Him had I not learned the struggle 11:29 and having to surrender that sin over to my Savior 11:33 and that takes time. 11:34 Yes, that's beautiful because in so doing, 11:37 you're deepening that relationship with Him. 11:40 And look at what it cost Him in the process. 11:42 Yes. 11:43 But He's willing to because 11:45 what He wants is He wants my heart. 11:46 Yes, yes. 11:48 And you are surrendering it every time 11:50 you take that thought into captivity, 11:52 you are surrendering to God. 11:55 And so, and He is then in turn going to give you 11:59 the power to overcome, that power is not from you. 12:02 His strength is made perfect in my weakness. 12:03 That's right. Yeah. 12:05 That's right. What about you, Kezia? 12:07 How did you overcome? 12:10 For me it was a lengthy process. 12:12 Even initially, when it was really in Cuba, 12:15 I had gone on a mission trip 12:16 and a series of events had occurred. 12:19 And so the one that was really like 12:21 the icing on the cake for me to realize that 12:23 I had an issue was during this time 12:25 when we would come together to have morning devotion. 12:29 Coming Out Ministries was also on that trip as well. 12:31 So it's about 18 of us were coming together 12:33 for devotions every morning. 12:35 And this is about like 6:30-7 o'clock in the morning. 12:38 And so, as we were reading a book called "True Revival," 12:40 each of us would just kind of 12:42 share our thoughts in regards to, 12:43 you know, the book, what we were reading. 12:45 And when it came to Mike and another colleague, 12:47 I remember them just being really specific 12:49 in regards to their past lifestyle, 12:51 coming from a homosexual background 12:53 on their pornography addiction. 12:55 And so I remember just sitting there 12:56 just thinking like it is really early to be 12:58 talking about this, 13:00 but I was just like, okay, we'll talk about this. 13:03 But where we were seated, 13:04 we were seated right by the beach, 13:06 we were outside. 13:07 And so, I would have my sunglasses on. 13:09 And what really caught my attention 13:11 was when Mike had mentioned that pornography to him 13:13 was his best friend, that anytime he felt lonely, 13:16 angry or tired, he would turn to it. 13:18 So I remember I just started to tear up 13:20 because I was just like, wait, that's me. 13:22 That is my problem. 13:24 And I didn't realize that was my problem 13:25 until that was voiced. 13:27 And so, at that same time, 13:29 somebody else within that time of our devotion had shared that 13:33 God is unable to bring a blessing to us, 13:36 because the sin is taking place of that blessing. 13:38 And so in my mind, 13:40 I knew I desired a godly marriage. 13:42 But at the same time, I figured, you know what? 13:43 I was also still going to take pornography into that marriage. 13:46 I was still going to desire 13:47 three sons within that marriage. 13:49 And so God was just really showing me like, you know, 13:50 that's not going to work in the plan 13:53 that I have created. 13:54 And so there was a lot of tension in regards 13:56 to what I was thinking about. 13:57 And by the following day, I had two different situations 14:01 where people came to me, sharing with me that 14:03 they were demon possessed. 14:05 And so in my mind, I'm just thinking 14:06 there are other people in this group, 14:07 why are you coming to me right now? 14:09 But God knew I needed that wake up call. 14:12 So the first person that came to me, 14:14 they had mentioned, you know, 14:15 that they were demon possessed, 14:16 I had axe, would you like prayer? 14:18 And they said, "No." 14:19 I was like okay, but in my mind, I said, 14:20 "You know, let me at least say a silent prayer for them." 14:23 By the second time, the other person, 14:25 they had mentioned that they were demon possessed, 14:27 and I said, you know, would you like any prayer? 14:30 And they said, okay, 14:31 and so I got a Spanish translator, 14:33 and I remember the person 14:35 who was demon possessed sat down, 14:38 I knelt down, and our translator sat down 14:41 next to the person. 14:43 And so in my mind, I'm just thinking, 14:44 okay, Kezia, look calm, look relaxed, 14:46 but really deep down I was just frantic 14:48 because I'm thinking, I know that 14:49 demons have the ability 14:51 to interchange with one another, 14:52 that I knew I was still dealing with my own demons. 14:54 I'm trying to figure out, you know, 14:55 am I really going to let go of this pornography addiction, 14:58 this sexual addiction, 14:59 but at the same 15:01 I'm still trying to quote scriptures 15:02 in regards to casting out demons. 15:03 And so I remember just praying for this woman. 15:06 And I remember when I had opened my eyes, 15:07 I noticed that she had never closed her eyes 15:09 that her eyes were just beaming, 15:11 just wide open just on me. 15:12 I just told myself just to look calm, just relax. 15:15 And so by the following day, 15:16 I knew I had to speak on the sanctuary message. 15:19 And for me, coming from a construction background, 15:21 I got my degree in construction management. 15:23 And so I had worked 15:24 with general contractor for several years. 15:26 And I just knew that 15:28 when it came to building a structure, 15:29 it doesn't just come, you know, out of nowhere, 15:31 that there were plans that took place 15:33 for several years sometimes, 15:35 that when it came to the materials 15:36 or the dimensions of the building, 15:38 the rooms that they were really intentional 15:40 as to what the owner desired or the architect. 15:43 And so when it came to the sanctuary, 15:45 I just realized that, you know, 15:46 God really loves me that much 15:48 that He created a structure just for me 15:50 that He was really detailed with the materials, 15:52 the dimensions, the placement of the furniture 15:54 and I just thought you know, He loves you that much that 15:57 He has created something for you 15:59 a structure specifically 16:00 for you to be restored back to His image. 16:04 So for me I was just like, you know what, Kezia? 16:05 You know, you have all these things, 16:07 God is making it clear that 16:09 what you're holding on to is an issue. 16:11 But at the same time, He was also showing me that 16:13 He is willing and able to restore me 16:15 back to His image. 16:16 But even with those events that had happened in Cuba, 16:19 I knew I had to go back to Florida early. 16:22 And so even when I went back to Florida early, 16:24 I was so hesitant letting go even though God had, you know, 16:27 He showed it, He made it clear. 16:29 It just so happened to be that Mike had to come to Florida 16:31 as well, the following week... 16:33 It just so happened, right? 16:34 It just, and I was just like 16:36 God is just clearly making like a follow up. 16:37 Right. Right. Right. 16:38 You know how sometimes you make promises to God. 16:40 I know, Ellen White talks about 16:41 sometimes our promises are just like sand. 16:43 They go between our fingers, we say something, 16:46 but really deep down we're just, 16:47 we're still shaky with it. 16:49 And so I went back to Florida, 16:51 I knew I had to, I had like twist in my hair at that time. 16:54 And I knew I had to take my hair out. 16:56 And so Mike, he and I, 16:58 we still kept in contact even a week after from Cuba, 17:01 and we were supposed to meet for a specific day, 17:06 and I was still kind of nervous 17:08 whether or not I was going to meet with him 17:09 because in my head I was like, 17:10 I really don't want to talk about this right now. 17:12 I don't think it's that serious. 17:14 And so I remember just thinking, you know what? 17:16 I could just use my hair as an excuse because I, 17:19 you know, I know, I need to do my hair, 17:20 I need to take out the hair. 17:21 And so I spoke with him. 17:23 I was like, Mike, you know, 17:24 I don't think I'd be able to meet with you. 17:26 I have to just do my hair. 17:27 He's like, oh, don't worry about it, 17:28 I can help you. 17:30 In my head, I'm just thinking, I'm like what? 17:31 This is Mike, man know about hair! 17:33 And so, you know, it wasn't until we met 17:35 and we were talking for that day. 17:36 And he was, you know, helping me take my hair out. 17:39 He had showed that he was a hairdresser. 17:40 And I was like, "Oh, I didn't know." 17:42 And so God was just really showing me that, 17:45 you know, Kezia, I'm bringing you for a reason. 17:47 Yeah. 17:48 So as Mike was helping me take out my hair, 17:50 the physical things that were coming out now, 17:52 there were also the things that were spiritual, 17:54 the internal things that were now being unpacked. 17:56 And even with that conversation, 17:57 even though we spent a day talking, 17:59 I was so defensive. 18:00 Whole day. Was she? 18:02 Seven, eight hours she was there. 18:05 I wasn't the quickest with like, 18:06 you know, who I'm, I'm gonna let go of it 18:08 because it was really just recognizing that now, 18:10 this discussion in regards 18:12 to pornography addiction or sexual addiction. 18:14 Now you're asking me to let go of something 18:16 that I've held on to for all these years 18:18 that I have built it as my best friend as that, 18:21 you know, you're talking about 15, 14 plus years 18:24 of best friend, even if it's hurtful, 18:26 even if it's caused me 18:28 guilt and shame and embarrassment, 18:29 I still held on to it. 18:31 So now, to have that kind of a sense of an appeal 18:34 where God has asked me, you know, to let go of it, 18:37 even though I was well aware 18:38 of what it could do to marriages. 18:40 I was so hesitant, very hesitant. 18:42 I remember Mike had mentioned to me 18:43 that I should get a filter on my phone. 18:46 I was just like I don't need it. 18:47 I'm okay. 18:49 But I was realizing that 18:50 I was still relapsing even with that. 18:51 And so in the midst of that, I was realizing, you know, 18:54 I should get a filter. 18:55 I mean, eventually I did get a filter. 18:57 And so God was so merciful with me on that journey 19:00 because as I've been 19:01 going through it, overcoming it, 19:03 I was realizing that it wasn't just the pornography 19:05 that I had to let go of. 19:07 There was also the traumas from childhood, 19:10 the pains that I was still holding on to so. 19:12 You know when I look back at it now, 19:14 had I known when we were in Cuba 19:16 that it was going to be in a sense, 19:17 like a package deal, 19:19 I probably would have just been like, no. 19:21 But over time, I was just seeing that 19:23 God had used the porn 19:25 as kind of like a gateway for me 19:27 to address the other issues that had to be dealt 19:29 with because what happens 19:30 sometimes is when there are broken relationships 19:32 going on within the home or wherever, 19:35 we tend to turn to something 19:36 to find that comfort, even if it's a counterfeit. 19:39 And so I was just realizing that, 19:40 you know, as I was gaining the victory, 19:42 God was just allowing me to also go 19:44 or rather address other things that had to be, 19:47 I had to take to Him, 19:48 learning to just surrender those things to Him. 19:50 So it's really been beautiful. 19:51 Oh, that's so good. 19:53 So as you were, you know, 19:57 dealing with this whole spiritual journey, 20:00 were you in the Word? 20:01 Were you praying? Like, what were you doing? 20:03 What spiritual disciplines were you using 20:07 in order to gain the victory? 20:08 I would say the biggest thing for me 20:10 was really recognizing that my devotional time 20:14 with God was very weak. 20:16 I had to become very intentional 20:18 about knowing who He was. 20:21 And so I remember there was, 20:22 there's a document that we do have 20:24 called Journey Interrupted. 20:25 And in that one of the speakers was mentioning that 20:28 she realized that 20:30 she wouldn't let go of her lifestyle, 20:31 specifically because she didn't know who God was. 20:34 So, of course, if you know someone, 20:36 you will do something for that person 20:38 because you know them to be trustworthy. 20:40 And so I realized that 20:41 my relationship with God was really shaky. 20:43 I didn't really have one, even though I was, you know, 20:44 still going to church, 20:46 I was active with certain programs. 20:47 I was, you know, I showed my face, 20:49 but really deep down 20:50 what I was doing in my quiet time 20:52 was not reflective of that. 20:53 And so I became really intentional 20:55 when it came to like 20:56 reading the Conflict of the Ages series. 20:58 So those are several books with like Desire of Ages, 21:00 Prophets and Kings, Patriarchs and Prophets, 21:04 Great Controversy, I think Desire of Ages of... 21:07 Acts of the Apostles. 21:08 And so as I was reading through that, 21:10 I was also reading through the Bible. 21:11 So hand in hand, just really going day by day 21:14 and telling myself to not miss a day, 21:16 every morning be present, 21:18 and also seeing how I had to start my day off 21:20 with Christ, really getting to know 21:23 who He was recognizing, you know, how He sees me, 21:26 and realizing that what I was believing 21:28 all these times all these years, 21:30 the things I was still holding on to, 21:32 I had to realize that those were all lies, 21:35 that God was asking me to allow His thoughts 21:37 to define me, 21:38 because I just kept holding on to 21:40 all these lies from childhood, you know, 21:41 the neglecting feeling, the abandonment, feeling ugly, 21:46 so there were a lot of things I had to unpack. 21:48 And so as I was spending time with God, 21:50 it was really wonderful to see how he was consistent 21:53 through all that time that even though things 21:55 were changing throughout, that God was still there, 21:57 even when I didn't want to talk to Him, 21:59 even when I just thought that 22:00 it's too boring to read the Bible, 22:02 I had to realize that 22:03 that was really the biggest thing 22:04 in regards to spending time with God, 22:07 being very intentional about it 22:08 in the midst of other things as well. 22:10 That is so good, because I think people 22:14 need to understand the importance of setting 22:16 aside time for God. 22:18 There's nothing that we can do per se to be saved. 22:22 He's already done the work. 22:24 We just need to give Him His time so that 22:26 He can confirm our characters to His and that's, 22:31 it's done through time. 22:32 Harrison has a beautiful saying that 22:35 I think reflects about the fact that each new day, 22:38 I need to be intentional about that time with God. 22:41 Would you share that? Yes, please. 22:44 Yes, well, continue about testimony. 22:50 In my case, when I met Coming Out Ministries, 22:54 it was very difficult to understand that 22:56 the gay people could even overcome that 23:00 that sin so it was amazing for me 23:03 surprising that there was a group of people 23:05 who were able to do that. 23:08 So I wanted to know 23:11 what they did to make that happen. 23:13 Right. 23:15 So when they came to Costa Rica 23:17 to have several events 23:20 there with UAC, Costa Rica. 23:24 I shared with them many days before they even started. 23:29 So I just wanted to look at them 23:32 what they really had day by day, 23:35 so I was their driver or chauffeur, right? 23:39 Chauffeur. Yes, chauffeur. 23:41 So I spent many time with them 23:45 and I saw it was incredible for me to, 23:48 I was driving and I remember an accident, 23:52 but it wasn't a small accident just. 23:56 And I remember them saying, 23:57 "Oh, we should pray for them now." 24:01 I said what? 24:03 Are they going to pray 24:04 for something so small for that? 24:06 But I understood that they had a life of prayer. 24:11 So I said, well, 24:14 this is something I need to get, 24:16 okay, I'm not used to pray enough, 24:20 just maybe for to eat 24:23 or just few times in my, 24:27 in the morning or at night. 24:30 But I needed to have that deep relationship with God 24:33 through prayer and through a study 24:35 because it was part of the devotion 24:38 of the morning with them. 24:39 So I started to have victory at that time. 24:43 Amen. 24:44 Praise the Lord for that, 24:46 but that did not finish there. 24:50 I had many months of victory. 24:53 But I thought on those moments that everything was gone. 24:56 I said, "Oh, it's a miracle. 24:58 I am cured." Yes. 25:01 Yeah, I have no problem with this anymore. 25:05 Yeah. 25:06 And so I was thinking, 25:08 "Okay, I will focus on this and this and that" 25:09 because I started to know that I had many problems. 25:14 But there was a moment when I realized that really, 25:20 that I forgot how to say, 25:26 to have that sure of... 25:28 to be that security of, okay, I'm gone. 25:32 And this everything is gone and so I can move forward. 25:38 It was, I don't know how to say it but it was not... 25:44 You'd like to read today. 25:46 Yes, I want to come to this that 25:51 I fail again. 25:53 Mm-hmm. 25:54 And I was surprised I was but I thought it was gone. 25:59 How could I even fail again? 26:05 So I remember talking with a friend of mine 26:08 and he said to me, "Harrison, you need to understand that 26:12 just this victory will not work for today. 26:16 And today's victory will not work for tomorrow. 26:18 It is something that is daily." 26:24 So I understood that because I was just focusing 26:28 in other things and here Satan was, 26:31 is waiting, okay, just wait. 26:33 Yeah. That's how he rules, yes. 26:37 Okay. You are relaxed. 26:40 And so, he used with his, maybe his food. 26:44 Yeah. 26:45 And so, but then realizing 26:50 these I understood 26:52 how important is also the faith. 26:56 The faith is so important 26:58 because I was having my devotions, 27:01 my studies, my prayers, but I understood that 27:05 I didn't have the faith that I should have on those moments, 27:09 in the moment of victory. 27:12 And that we as a Christian lack of it a lot. 27:16 We think that we have faith 27:17 only because we go to church 27:19 and we pay attention to the preacher 27:22 or we watch 3ABN, you know, yes, 27:29 but is something more than that. 27:31 And when we read the Bible, Paul's journey, 27:37 we see on Roman, 27:40 Romans 7:15-20. 27:46 He was saying that the things that he wanted to do, 27:51 he could not do them, because you know, 27:53 of his flesh and he had these problems inside of him, 27:58 but when we go to Galatians 2:20, 28:00 it says that I forgot in English who's the... 28:06 that I'm crucified. 28:08 Yes, I am crucified with Christ, 28:11 I live no more, it's Him in me. 28:14 That's right. 28:15 So I say, okay, what a difference 28:19 that journey of Paul is the same journey 28:21 that Jesus wants for us to let him come in from us. 28:27 When we go to Revelation 3:20 28:30 when Jesus is making us an invitation to come in, 28:34 he's knocking the door for hearts. 28:37 But at most part of the time we talk about that verse 28:40 for the people who are outside the church. 28:43 But he is talking to Laodicea, 28:45 those are things I don't need these. 28:49 We are rich, we don't need anything else. 28:53 So He is asking us knocking at the door, 28:57 just let me in, yes. 29:00 And so Paul understood that, and he let Jesus come in, 29:06 and that's the way how we can have the victory 29:10 because I was laying on my efforts 29:15 to have that victory but now we need... 29:18 In your my own efforts. Yes, my own efforts. 29:21 So when I realize I cannot do that, 29:26 is only Jesus through me in me, 29:30 so everything works after that. 29:34 So it's very important that we develop the real faith 29:39 that Jesus asked us because He said, 29:42 "Without faith, 29:43 it is impossible to please Him." 29:45 And He says also in Hebrews 10:38 29:51 that the righteous shall live by faith, 29:57 it's everything about faith. 29:59 And when we go to 1 John 5:4, 30:05 it says that "The faith is the victory 30:09 that overcomes the world, as the hymn says also, 30:12 so faith on Him because we come to the church 30:16 and we say, okay, well Jesus created in six days 30:20 this world, everything that we see the stars, etc. 30:25 And we believe that those miracles that 30:29 He make to those people who were, 30:33 who had cancer or another kind of illness. 30:39 But what about our problem spiritually? 30:44 What about the miracles that He can do spiritually. 30:48 That's right. 30:49 So in other words we saw, through the Word, 30:52 you see the miracles that God did the healing 30:55 that Jesus did, physically, 30:58 but what about what He did spiritually? 31:00 Right. 31:02 And what he continues to do spiritually in us. 31:05 Oh, that's good. 31:07 So your victory came as you began 31:12 to develop more faith in Jesus. 31:14 Yes. 31:15 That's when your victory came, not just from your efforts, 31:20 but realizing that it was His righteousness, 31:23 and you are putting your trust in Him. 31:26 Is that correct? 31:27 Yes, that he has enough power to make me victorious. 31:33 He already accomplished the victory. 31:35 The victory is sitting there just waiting for you. 31:37 And I spent so much time asking for this victory 31:41 that was already mine. 31:42 And I didn't understand that in Christianity, it took years. 31:45 And so now my understanding is like wait a minute, 31:47 quit asking for something that's already yours. 31:49 It's been provided. There it is. 31:51 Just take it and maybe part of it was that 31:53 I love my sin so much that that if I didn't take it, 31:57 if I just asked for it, you know, 31:58 that maybe I could indulge or whatever. 32:01 So when I finally realize that instead of asking it, 32:04 now, my prayer is, Lord, 32:05 I take what You've already died on the cross to supply for me, 32:09 and that I don't deserve it and there's no way that 32:11 I could ever earn it. 32:13 But because you offered it freely to me, 32:15 I grabbed it out of desperation. 32:18 And you know what? 32:19 Your victory is 100% and there's no denying it 32:21 'cause it's not my power anymore, 32:23 it's His power, but I have to take it. 32:26 He's not gonna force it on me. 32:27 He's not gonna, you know, demand that I take it, 32:30 but it's there if you need it. 32:32 Yes, that's beautiful. 32:33 And um, for as you mentioned 32:34 what came to mind was 1 Corinthians 15:57, 32:37 which mentions that He has given us the victory 32:39 so just knowing that in His Word, 32:41 it's right there, it's present. 32:42 But it's hard sometimes 32:43 when you have all these things in your mind. 32:45 You're just like, I can't do it. 32:46 I fell again. 32:48 You know, I've been in it for so long. 32:49 Does God still love me 32:50 because that's an issue sometimes. 32:52 So it's just like, can God forgive me? 32:53 Yes. 32:54 1 John I believe is it 1:9, he talks about, 32:56 "If we confess our sins, 32:57 He's faithful and just to forgive us 32:59 of all unrighteousness." 33:00 So I thought that was one of the things 33:01 I had to recognize too even from a young age, you know, 33:03 losing your virginity at a time that was wrong 33:06 'cause that's an issue sometimes as well. 33:08 It's just like can God forgive me? 33:09 You can be a born again Christian, 33:11 born again virgin in Christ. 33:13 So it's one of those things where it's recognizing 33:15 the value of Christ's word, the truth, the validity of it, 33:18 but it really takes time 33:19 and spending time with God and knowing 33:21 who He is that He does not change. 33:23 Yes, oh, it's so important to know that 33:25 God does forgive us if you fall. 33:28 Don't expect that once you hear about something 33:32 that you're just gonna be 33:34 able to walk perfectly from there. 33:37 Yvonne, there's no statute to limitations on 1 John 1:9. 33:41 It is there when you need it, Jesus provided it. 33:44 It's nothing that we could do. 33:45 But He knows that we have to walk in this dirty 33:47 and defiled world 33:48 and so He provided a safety net, 33:50 that if you fall, it's there for you. 33:52 It doesn't give you an excuse to fall, 33:54 but it says that if you're in need, 33:56 there it is for you each and every time. 33:57 Amen. 33:59 You were going to say something, Harrison? 34:00 There's about Proverbs 24:16, 34:03 you see that the righteous fall seven times that... 34:07 Yes, and rises up again. Yep, and rises up again. 34:10 Yes. And you know something? 34:11 You can't fall unless you're standing. 34:14 So for the Christian you know what? 34:15 It makes you vulnerable when you stand back up. 34:17 But you know what? 34:18 Eventually as we have all experienced 34:20 is that you keep standing up, you keep standing up 34:23 and the more often you stand up, 34:24 the stronger those muscles get. 34:26 And eventually, you can overcome the enemy 34:28 because you are standing on the promises of Jesus' word. 34:31 Amen. And that's the key. 34:33 It is not your strength. 34:35 It is not because of anything in you. 34:38 God has given you everything you need to walk in victory. 34:42 So if the reason we fall is because we stop abiding in Him. 34:48 But once we reconnect and say, Lord, I'm so sorry. 34:52 I messed up, please forgive me, 34:54 and then you get back up and you try again. 34:58 We can, it's like the victory as you said, 35:01 the victory is already ours. 35:04 We just have to claim it. 35:05 You make a mistake, you ask God to forgive you, 35:08 He forgives you every single time. 35:12 As Mike said, that's not an excuse for presumption. 35:14 Right. That's right. 35:16 You don't just do, you know, God's gonna forgive me, 35:18 I can keep on doing this. 35:20 No, you have to be intentional. 35:22 As you were saying, Kezia, 35:23 be intentional about your time with God, 35:26 about your actual efforts to seek God. 35:30 And then once you're doing that, 35:31 you're abiding in Him and guess what? 35:33 He gives you the... You're plugged in! 35:36 Yeah. That's right. 35:37 You're plugged into the power source. 35:39 So that's how we have victory. 35:42 We have some questions here that I'd like to ask you that 35:47 some of our viewers have called in. 35:49 And again, if you have any questions, 35:51 you can email them at live@3abn.tv 35:56 or call 618-627-4651. 36:02 This question is, is it a sin for a person to masturbate? 36:08 I'll take it. Sure. 36:10 So while the Bible never says the word, 36:12 but anyway, 36:14 the Bible is very clear about the power of the mind. 36:17 And you know what? 36:18 Jesus Himself, He says, 36:19 "Be ye holy, even as I am holy." 36:22 And so in the act of the physical expression, 36:25 sexual sin, you know, 36:26 what's happening in the mind is really 36:28 what's most important to God. 36:30 Really, the act is nothing more than a manifestation 36:32 of what has already taken place in the mind. 36:34 And scientists actually say that the most, 36:37 the largest sexual organ in the body is the brain. 36:40 So when I'm speaking to young people 36:42 and I talk to them about, you know, 36:44 pornography and masturbation, 36:45 they say, you know, so what's the big deal? 36:47 You know, I'm not hurting anyone. 36:49 As a matter of fact, I think I heard that 36:50 from Kezia a few years ago. 36:52 But the whole idea about that 36:54 is what is happening to the mind 36:55 because the mind is what's developing 36:58 the character and the character 36:59 is what we're going to take to heaven. 37:00 So if the mind is looking on sensual thoughts, 37:04 and even before pornography was available, 37:06 I was using fantasy 37:08 and I created a harem in my mind, 37:10 and so whenever I was participating 37:12 in that behavior for 10 minutes in the bathroom at a time, 37:14 I was pulling people out of this harem, 37:17 people that I went to school with, 37:18 people that were, you know, in my neighborhood. 37:21 And what I was doing is I was indulging 37:23 the sensual thoughts, and I was objectifying 37:25 these people for my own gratification. 37:27 And it was a destruction 37:29 of what was going on in the mind. 37:30 Really, the sexual act itself 37:32 was really nothing more than a manifestation 37:34 of what had already happened in my mind. 37:36 James 1:13 and 14 is very clear. 37:39 It says, "When lust has been conceived, 37:42 it brings forth sin." 37:44 So when I start allowing my mind to, you know, 37:46 to run amok and start thinking about 37:48 those images and stuff, they conceive sin, 37:51 which means anything that's been conceived 37:53 that takes time before it's manifested, 37:55 you know, for a woman it would be nine months 37:57 before she delivers. 37:58 So by the time it manifests in the sin, 38:01 the act of sexual sin, 38:03 then what happened is what is it says, 38:06 "When lust has been conceived it brings forth sin. 38:08 And when a sin is finished, it brings forth death." 38:10 So you don't need 38:12 the actual word in the definition. 38:14 I'm not that intelligent and I understand. 38:16 So, you know, it's definitely talking about that issue. 38:20 Yes, and thank you. That's very good. 38:22 And, Harrison, you have an explanation 38:24 for what goes on in the brain. 38:27 What happens in the brain hormonally 38:29 in all that masturbation pornography? 38:31 Yes, it's very important to understand that 38:36 Satan has a goal with all of these 38:40 about pornography 38:41 because every time that we watch pornography 38:46 or we have the practice 38:50 of masturbation, 38:52 there is a release of many hormones 38:55 in our brains. 38:56 When we, there are like dopamine and testosterone, 39:03 norepinephrine, oxytocin, vasopressin and sero, 39:07 all those are hormones they come to work, 39:12 they follow a way interesting 39:16 because that connection that 39:17 we have with God with the Holy Spirit 39:19 is through our frontal... 39:21 Frontal lobe. Frontal lobe. 39:23 So Satan knows that those hormones, 39:27 they have a way of going forward 39:30 first to the frontal lobe 39:33 and then going back and so he knows 39:36 he attacks exactly the right place, 39:40 how we can block, 39:42 how we can have a disconnection with God. 39:46 So he literally is burning our brains 39:52 making us falling again and again and again 39:55 in those practices. 39:57 So that's the way how he understood our bodies, 40:02 our brains in order to disconnect that 40:06 relationship we've got. 40:07 So it's very important to understand this. 40:12 Very important. 40:13 Even with on, 'cause I know 40:15 'cause I remember even with myself 40:16 and other friends I've had that 40:18 sometimes our concern was, well, you know, 40:20 I could masturbate without porn. 40:22 And so what happens, 40:24 one of the things that really convicted me 40:25 was Philippians 4:8, 40:26 where it talks about whatsoever things are true, 40:28 whatsoever things are lovely, 40:29 whatsoever things are just, 40:30 but really what the wording 40:32 whatsoever is pure think on these things. 40:35 And so I was realizing that even if I didn't watch porn, 40:37 and I was still doing that act, was just recognizing that 40:40 what I was thinking about 40:42 wasn't always the purest things. 40:43 There were, I've had some friends 40:44 that would talk about, you know, 40:46 I could think about a garden. 40:47 I could think about roses, 40:49 but it's like you could only think 40:50 about that for but so long, as Mike was mentioning, 40:51 you know, it turns into something else 40:53 because then you're going to be desiring, you know, 40:54 I'm tired of just doing it myself now. 40:56 I need someone else. 40:58 So then, that's where you know, 40:59 the whole premarital sex comes in 41:01 and all these other things are potentially 41:03 bringing other partners 41:04 that are not supposed to be present. 41:05 And so, the thing in regards to what you're thinking about, 41:09 it's not of God, you can't bring that next, 41:10 like you know your devotional time. 41:12 So just really recognizing 41:13 that you have to be very mindful, 41:15 becoming aware of what you're thinking about 41:16 when you are doing that act. 41:18 Yes, yes. It is very, very powerful. 41:21 The whole idea that Satan knows how we have been created, 41:26 he knows and he knows 41:28 what he can do to interfere 41:31 with that connection physically 41:32 with the brain by attacking the frontal lobes. 41:37 That's incredible to me, because he knows what to do. 41:42 And in order for us to maintain that connection with God, 41:46 we have to avoid those behaviors, 41:49 because if we don't, 41:52 physically, physiologically, 41:54 hormonally, we can lose the connection. 41:57 That's really deep. 41:59 Here's another question. 42:00 I'm a widow, and I'm quite sure many widows 42:02 and widowers have 42:04 the same problem of self pleasuring. 42:06 I'm spending more time focusing on 3ABN, Dare to Dream, etc. 42:11 and reading the Great Controversy 42:13 to keep my mind off it, 42:15 because I don't have a companion. 42:17 Please give me more insight. 42:22 Well, one thing's for sure is just recognizing that 42:25 it's what's the word I'm looking for? 42:28 It's understandable 42:29 what she's feeling in regards to being a widower, 42:31 it's widower or widow. 42:33 That is understandable. 42:35 But at the same time, just recognizing that 42:37 God did not necessarily create us 42:38 just to be married, 42:40 that if something were to happen, you know, 42:42 God permitted that for whatever reason, 42:44 but do know that our greatest duty on earth 42:46 is not to be married or to have sex, 42:48 but it is to do His work. 42:49 And that was one thing I had to recognize, 42:51 because when I first, you know, 42:52 started this journey, 42:54 I kind of panicked because I was like, 42:56 I'm not gonna have sex and we're like, 42:57 "What am I supposed to do?" 42:58 So I really panicked. 43:01 So I had to come to a realization that you know, 43:03 Kezia, what is your life made of? 43:05 Like is it just sex? Is it just porn? 43:07 Because I did have a moment where I was just thinking, 43:09 like, Lord, you know, 43:10 I don't want to pray, I just want to watch porn. 43:12 That's all I want to do. 43:13 You know, I love the porn more than I love you. 43:15 And it was through that time where I was struggling, 43:18 that I had to say, you know, Kezia, 43:19 where's your heart? 43:21 Like, you know, I thought you said you loved God. 43:22 But right now, it's not evident. 43:24 And so I had to realize that, you know, 43:25 even if it comes to someone who was once married, 43:28 or even divorce, that just realizing that 43:30 your greatest duty is not just, you know, 43:32 sexual activities, yes, we are sexual beings. 43:35 But God has created us to do His work to go forth, 43:38 and to tell those who do not know Him. 43:40 So even with myself, just realizing the work 43:42 that has to be done in regards to making sure that 43:44 people do know who he is, 43:46 that resources are available, 43:48 that, you know, it's not the end of the world. 43:49 If you know, in a sense, 43:51 you have to postpone that sexual aspect, 43:52 but she won't die. 43:54 Right. 43:55 That's having to keep that in your mind that you know, 43:57 it's not the end of the world. 43:58 I think that's a really great point 44:00 because the media bombards you with sexual stimuli 44:05 to the point where you feel like, 44:06 I've got to have that as part of my life. 44:09 Oh, really you don't. 44:10 It's a part of life, 44:12 but it's within a certain context 44:14 that God has approved of it. 44:17 And so, you're not going to die if you're not having it. 44:22 You're just, you know, you just hold on, 44:24 ask God to help you to hold on 44:26 until you're able to express it in the proper context. 44:29 You know, Christian culture 44:30 isn't so kind to single people either. 44:32 There is this expectation or this kind of understanding 44:34 that if you're not married right, 44:36 that you're kind of not a deviant in society, 44:39 but you're just not right, like you're not complete. 44:42 Like something is wrong. Right, right. 44:44 But to the person who is a widow or widower, 44:47 you know, who has experienced 44:48 a healthy relationship sexually with a spouse, you know, 44:52 I'd like to be compassionate to that person. 44:54 But I also would like you know, to get you to look outside 44:57 a little bit more broader 44:58 and realize that fact that Harrison is, 45:01 you know, just 30 and Kezia is under 30. 45:04 And here are two young people with hormones raging. 45:07 And if God can hold them together, 45:09 then of course God can hold 45:11 each one of us together as well. 45:12 Yes. Amen. Amen. 45:13 He's able. 45:15 Oh, this caller wants that 45:19 quote from the Spirit of Prophecy that you gave. 45:22 She wanted to ask would you repeat it 45:24 and say what page it's on. 45:26 Sure. 45:27 So while you're getting that, I'll ask the next question. 45:30 People who are attracted to the opposite sex, 45:33 will Jesus forgive them, if they ask for forgiveness, 45:38 even though they may remain attracted to the opposite sex? 45:42 First of all, we hope you are attracted 45:44 to the opposite sex. 45:46 Attraction is not a sin. 45:48 Attraction is a gift from God. 45:50 That's attraction is normal. 45:53 It's what you do with the attraction. 45:55 Well, let's assume that they mean same sex attracted. 45:57 I think they mean same sex. Yeah. 45:59 And if that's the case, what I find so compassionate 46:02 about God is that 46:04 all of those texts that talk about homosexual practice 46:08 being an abomination to God, when I reread them, 46:11 I realized that God 46:12 is not calling me an abomination. 46:14 God is calling the behavior abomination. 46:16 And even in Deuteronomy, where it talks about 46:18 how a woman shall not wear the clothes of a man, 46:21 and vice versa, for it is an abomination. 46:23 He didn't call me an abomination 46:25 because I had transgender ideation. 46:27 He knows why I have transgender ideation. 46:30 He says, just don't practice it. 46:31 Because what that does is, 46:33 is as Harrison was talking about 46:34 those hormones actually separate my ability 46:38 to be connected intimately with God 46:39 and you know something? 46:41 Psalms 1:39 is a perfect answer to that. 46:43 It talks about how God is in pursuit of us. 46:46 And then His thoughts towards us 46:47 are as countless as the sands of the seashore. 46:49 And in the very same chapter says, 46:51 God knit our delicate inward parts together 46:54 in our mother's womb, and in Jeremiah 46:56 it says that before the earth was formed, 46:57 I knew you, and He knew me to be male, 47:00 I was not a mistake. 47:02 I was not a joke, that I was completely 47:04 and utterly known even before I existed. 47:06 And loved. 47:08 And loved and that blessing of that 47:09 love came through 47:11 the expression of making me a male. 47:12 So anything that pulls me away from that, 47:15 it's an abomination because God says, 47:17 "Why would you refuse the gift, 47:19 and the intimacy that I have with you?" 47:22 So I am so compassionate to anybody 47:24 that has transgender ideation, 47:26 or same sex attraction, because that was my history. 47:29 But now I realize that God was not rejecting me. 47:32 He was saying that through those behaviors, 47:34 you're rejecting Me, 47:36 and that's an abomination of God. 47:37 That's foul to God because of all of this love 47:40 that He wants to bestow on each one of us. 47:42 Amen. That's so beautiful. 47:44 It's all about love. 47:46 You know, I think that one of the things 47:49 that's happened is in churches there have been people 47:53 who have been so condemning, and judgmental, 47:56 and ugly to people who are same sex attracted, 48:01 instead of saying, you know, we have to love you, 48:05 we have to show you love and let you know that 48:07 you are accepted here. 48:09 Not that you can continue to practice it, 48:12 but you have to be able to love everyone 48:16 and to show that love. 48:17 Absolutely. 48:19 Because that's who God is, you know. 48:20 A famous person said that, 48:22 that as far as LGBT community in our churches, 48:26 they need to know that they're loved, 48:28 and that they belong and that they're accepted, 48:30 but God never leaves us where we are. 48:32 That's right. 48:33 I have that quote if you will. Yes, please. 48:35 It's from Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, 48:37 Adultery and Divorce, page 84. 48:40 And it says, "Satan's Repetitious Plots. 48:43 Near the close of this earth's history 48:45 Satan will work with all his powers 48:47 in the same manner 48:48 and with the same temptations 48:50 wherewith he tempted ancient Israel 48:51 just before their entering the land of promise." 48:54 He goes and he says, 48:56 "He will lay snares for those who claim 48:57 to keep the commandments of God, 48:59 and who are almost on the borders 49:00 of the heavenly Canaan. 49:02 He will use his powers to their utmost 49:04 in order to entrap souls, 49:05 and to take God's professed people 49:07 upon their weakest points. 49:09 Those who have not brought the lower passions 49:11 into subjection to the higher powers of their being, 49:15 those who have allowed their minds to flow 49:17 in a channel of carnal indulgence 49:19 of the baser passions, 49:20 Satan is determined to destroy 49:22 with his temptations to pollute their souls 49:25 with licentiousness." 49:26 So matter of fact, the rest of the chapter, 49:28 Chapter 11, in that book goes on and talks about 49:31 even the leadership of our church 49:33 that are struggling with licentiousness 49:35 and sexual thoughts. 49:38 And, you know, I think that we need to again, 49:41 remember that this is not just a problem 49:45 with the laity. 49:46 This is a problem with leadership as well. 49:49 Pornography and sexual sin is a problem across the board. 49:53 It is one of Satan's strongholds. 49:57 And it's shrouded in secrecy 50:01 which makes it even more difficult to get away from, 50:04 because you can't talk to people about it. 50:07 So this, I mean, God anticipated this though. 50:11 And through His Messenger gave us that encouragement, 50:16 knowing that it's going to happen 50:18 in these last days, 50:20 but we also can have the victory. 50:21 Amen. We can have the victory. 50:23 So what would you tell? 50:26 Each of you, I want to know 50:28 what each of you would say to that person 50:31 who's struggling with same sex attraction, 50:34 with pornography, with sexual sin, 50:37 what message do you have for that person? 50:40 It's very simple. 50:41 John 17:3, this is life eternal. 50:44 Yes. 50:45 There you go, there's a formula. 50:46 The rest of that verse 50:48 is the formula for eternal life, 50:49 that you may know the only true God 50:52 and Christ Jesus whom He has sent, 50:54 and very simply, that's it. 50:55 It's not about your same sex attraction. 50:57 It's not about your addiction to pornography. 50:59 It's about knowing Jesus Christ as a personal Savior, 51:02 and the truest knowledge of the intimacy 51:05 that God the Father is. 51:06 And that was a real difficult thing for me 51:09 to learn that God was good and that He loved me 51:11 because I never got that message in Christianity. 51:14 And I certainly didn't get that from my father 51:16 who was a head elder of the church. 51:18 And so, very simply, it's not about your sin, 51:21 it's really about your Savior. 51:22 Oh, I love that. Yes, thank you. 51:25 What about you, Kezia? 51:27 I'm just really committing to the journey of healing, 51:29 'cause it's not the easiest in regards to recognizing, 51:32 okay, this what I'm doing is wrong. 51:34 When it comes to the pornography, 51:37 sexual attractions or just being, you know, 51:40 very sexually active. 51:42 It's just come to a place where you've acknowledged 51:45 where you are doing wrong, and just having to know that 51:48 God knows what's best. 51:50 The enemy, what is it? 51:51 John 10:10 talks about, you know, "He comes to kill, 51:53 steal and destroy, 51:54 but Jesus came to give us life more abundantly." 51:57 And so even because I know initially 51:59 when I was first letting go of the porn, 52:01 I just thought it was torturous. 52:02 I was just like God, like how... 52:05 It just felt like a part of me was dying, 52:08 which needed to die. Which it was. 52:09 Yeah, which needed to die, 52:11 but I had to realize that 52:12 I had to commit to the journey of healing, 52:14 that it wasn't just the point that I had to let go. 52:16 But there was also the trauma, the anger issues, 52:18 the resentment, the abandonment issues, 52:20 the neglect, there was a lot of things 52:22 that I had to let go of. 52:23 So God was just showing it to me, you know, 52:26 little by little, but even for someone else, 52:28 sometimes there are other things 52:29 that they are quietly going through. 52:31 The reason why you may have turned to porn or you know, 52:34 being a sex addict, whatever it may be, 52:37 to come to that place where you are willing to do 52:39 whatever it takes to be whole in Christ. 52:42 Thank you. Nice. 52:43 It's beautiful. What about you? 52:45 Adding to that and keeping on pushing of about 52:49 the faith that we really need to have on, 52:52 even the disciples, 52:54 they were sharing with Jesus day by day, 52:57 night and daylight, 53:01 every place of three years and a half, they were with Him. 53:05 And they even did not understand 53:08 that even after He resurrected, 53:13 and they understood 53:14 the lack of faith that they had, 53:16 even when they were sharing with Him. 53:18 We see in Luke 17:5 53:23 where they were asking 53:25 Jesus please increase our faith. 53:29 That's my prayer. 53:31 And I hope this is your prayer too, 53:34 if you don't believe or you don't see 53:38 God making a work 53:40 or making out something that you have been asking for. 53:45 So, that deliverance come from that faith, 53:49 from that power that God has to work 53:55 to make us victorious. 53:57 So faith, faith, faith. 54:00 Just ask Him to do may feel us we did. 54:05 Amen. Amen. 54:07 Thank you. 54:10 If people want you to come to their church 54:13 or their organization, or whatever, 54:15 are you available to do that? 54:17 Yes, times 100. 54:19 You know, it's a very difficult topic 54:21 to address. 54:22 But when we get into a church, even with their resistance, 54:25 by the first or second presentation, 54:27 people come up and they go, 54:28 "Oh, I really didn't realize 54:30 what your ministry is all about." 54:32 And 100% of the people at the end of the weekend, 54:34 they realize that 54:36 they're totally on board with this. 54:37 So I understand that 54:38 it's a really difficult topic to unpack 54:41 but whether it's now 54:42 we're speaking at grade schools, 54:43 we have a program for kindergarten 54:45 through sixth grade, 54:47 just talking about the beautiful blessing 54:49 of identity that God has given to each one 54:51 so that when children are confronted 54:53 with the LGBT agenda in their schools 54:55 or in their communities, 54:57 then they're already grounded 54:58 with the fact that God made them male and female 55:00 and it's a blessing to be a boy or a girl, 55:03 as well as pastors retreats. 55:05 We go wherever we're invited. 55:07 Yeah, absolutely. That's beautiful. 55:09 How can people reach you? What's your website? 55:11 Our website is ComingOutMinistries.org. 55:13 And if you go there, we have a lot of resources, 55:16 we have presentations. 55:17 I'm just sitting here in all of the people 55:19 that I get to work within, to work with young people 55:22 that have their heads on and understand this issue. 55:25 And when I think of Kezia and Harrison, 55:27 where they've come from, 55:28 and the things that they've been exposed to, 55:30 I wasn't even exposed to that. 55:31 And yet still, God is a redeeming God 55:34 and could work through them. 55:35 That's right. 55:36 And I just want to listen to their presentations more, 55:38 but we want to bring that to the churches, 55:40 to the schools, we have to educate. 55:43 And you know, unfortunately, 55:44 we don't have the luxury anymore 55:45 of sitting silent on this issue. 55:47 That's right. 55:48 Let Coming Out Ministries come and help you 55:50 unpack the very uncomfortable issue 55:52 of pornography and sexual sin. 55:55 You know, monogamous adultery 55:56 is the number one issue in our campuses, 55:58 on universities. 55:59 Monogamous adultery, it sounds like... 56:01 Pre-marital sex. Okay. 56:02 Pre-marital relationships. 56:05 So we have a secret 56:06 and we've got to expose this darkness. 56:08 Don't keep a secret with Satan. 56:10 You know, let the church be a redeeming 56:13 and a healing church. 56:14 And that's what Coming Out Ministries wants to do. 56:16 Well, we thank you so much for being with us. 56:19 What a blessing you've been and what a blessing 56:21 you are to our churches. 56:24 We're just very grateful for all that you're doing. 56:28 And we're grateful that you tuned in tonight. 56:29 You know this, the Bible says, 56:31 let me just read this really quickly. 56:33 "But we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, 56:36 but against principalities, against powers, 56:38 against the rulers of the darkness of this age, 56:41 against spiritual hosts of wickedness 56:43 in the heavenly places." 56:45 Therefore, we're to take up the whole armor of God 56:48 that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, 56:51 and having done all to stand. 56:53 Thank you for joining us and stand for Jesus. 56:58 God bless you. |
Revised 2020-03-16