The Secret
Ron Browning
Many times men want to be free from sexual sin because of selfish reasons. However, as you have learned or will learn this never works. Only when our motive is the glorious and compelling love of Jesus will we ever discover the power of a clean heart and a pure life.
Then as we discover that Christ is our life and not our sexual pleasures we are able to SECURE freedom for a lifetime.
So why are so many men failing to find freedom? Why do we fall over and over again? Yes, in Romans 7 Paul teaches us that many Christians live a life they really don't want to live and continue to be enslaved to a sinful master. Paul cried out who will save me from this wretched self. He acknowledges that there is no one or nothing that can, except the Lord Jesus Christ and His work alone at the Cross.
Are you desperate for freedom? Most men fighting for freedom are fighting on the wrong battlefield and with the wrong weapons.
Consider the right motive for freedom... the only motive that works... God's glorious love! What is God’s love and God’s glory? If we can't define these basic terms then how can we truly know if we really have the right motive? How can this motive become our greatest weapon?
In the Old Testament ‘glory’ has a very specific definition but by the time we reach the New Testament this word takes on new ideas. Over time the word glory developed into a general praise term... But when Paul used it he had a more narrow meaning.
Read with me: Colossians 1 (NKJV)
27To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Notice that this verse reveals a mystery... a secret. I believe this verse is the key that unlocks all the locks of every mystery, of every prison, and of every bondage. Paul uses the word “IN” through His letters very strongly. The key to freedom is that Christ lives in you.
Let's define glory. Originally glory simply meant ones nature or image. The glory of a person is his likeness... God said in Genesis 1:27 that we (man) were created in His image --- in His glory. But in Genesis 3 we chose to disobey God and we fell from that image and became sinners. Our nature changed. Our glory no longer reflected our Creator but sin.
Ever since that day, man has been trying to restore himself to God's image or glory. But we constantly fail. God has proven that we just can't measure up!!!
Let's not forget that we were originally created and intended to live in God's glory – in God's likeness – but we fell. God has not left us in a fallen, sinful place. He has not left His children salves to sin. He never intended that His children live under the control of sinful behaviors – He never intended for us to corrupt the beauty of sexual expression. But we did, and we do. So what is the solution? I believe it begins with the revelation of this mystery that Christ is IN you!!!
Most Christians have heard this but do we really know how to use it? How do you and I apply this truth to real life? Let’s reword this Scripture like this: ‘The secret that unlocks the greatest treasure and secures our freedom from sin and self is that Christ is living in you and me – this is our only hope of ever being like Christ!!!’
Christ does not struggle with sin... He does not live in fear of guilt and shame trying constantly to find some sense of worth and belonging... to just be accepted. He is accepted by God the Father. He belongs to God our Father. His value exceeds all other. He is worthy of praise and honor and holds all power and authority.
Because He now lives in you and me, He shares His worth with us. We do not need self esteem we have been given Christ esteem. We do not need self confidence for Christ shares His confidence with us. He shares His power over sin. He shares His authority over Satan. He shares His thoughts, His feelings, and His choices – He shares His very mind with us. He shares with us acceptance. There is no need for fear of rejection in this world for no matter how hostile it treats us leaving us feeling inadequate and rejected Christ is our Life!!! His Father spoke these words. In Matthew 3:17 (NKJV), “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’"
Jesus shares his Father's acceptance with you and me. WOW!!! Do we need further acceptance? NO! God's acceptance is pure gold!
Read with me two Scriptures:
Colossians 2 NLT
13You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins. 14He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ's cross. 15In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ.
Consider these verses for a moment. God has cut away your nature – that is your glory – your nature to sin. He has nailed your nature to sin to the Cross and canceled its power in your life!!! He has stripped Satan’s and his dominion’s power over you. He shares His Cross and His authority with you and me. Praise God!!!
Colossians 3 NLT
1Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power. 2Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. 3For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
WOW!!! What a Scripture! Christ is our real LIFE! That means homosexuality is an illusion of real life but it never measures up. It means that those same sex attractions that drive us insane are a lie – a mere illusion of what God really desires. God desires to live within us and to share all that He is with us. We do not have to look to men for gay sex, pornography, or masturbation to meet our needs. We must fix our eyes upon Jesus who is our LIFE.
What does this phrase "is our LIFE" mean? Whatever your focus is upon at any moment that is your life!!! What most often influences your thoughts, feelings, and choices – that is your life. Our only hope of God's glory – of being like God – of being FREE – of fulfilling our created purpose to be like Christ is that Christ Himself lives His life in us, that Christ lives our lives for us in obedient holiness for only He is able to do so!!!
How does this happen?
We are learning 7 truths. We are NOT learning a 7 step program. This is NOT recovery. This is deliverance, healing, and RESTORATION to God's purpose for our lives!!!
These 7 truths are an expression of the man who truly wants to be FREE! These are an expression of Christ living out His life in us. These are an expression of a new heart --- a new nature!!! These 7 truths reflect the extent we cherish freedom. These truths are the means God has designed to set a man free and keep him free. These are truths that keep our focus on Christ and Christ alone!!! These are the tools by which we discover and secure the powerful life of purity – Christ in me my hope of being like Christ!!!
Radical Amputation of all avenues that lead to sin (Matthew 5:29-30)
Radical Appropriation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as in Romans 6 and Gal. 2:20... exchanging your life for Christ's life...
Radical Accountability to two or more daily accountability partners (local) (Eccl. 4:9-12)
Constant Attachment to Jesus (Abiding, John 15:4-5)
Passionate Adoration of Jesus (Exodus 20:3)
Accurate Affirmation of who I am in Christ (I Peter 4:12)
Compelling Articulation of Truth and Personal Testimony (Rev. 12:11 & Psalm 35:27)
What is your cost? Your life! You and I must die daily, knowing that our nature to sin has been nailed to the cross... therefore, denying the self and our rights ... denying self focus and our expectations ... denying the scream of our body's urges and demand for orgasm and pleasure. You and I must embrace the LIFE of Christ... the life where we cease that He may increase. He demands our full attention!
Remember I wrote of two truths in this motive. God’s glory is our ultimate goal. But what motivates our hearts toward that fulfillment? LOVE! 1 John 5:3 (NLT) reads, “Loving God means keeping his commandments, and really, that isn't difficult.” How can obeying God be easy? The answer is LOVE! Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:14 that the love of Christ compels us. Being loved by Christ and loving Christ compels us to obey. The word ‘compels’ is best described in the phrase – God’s love “twists your arm” until you choose to obey. Remember Jonah? He choose not to obey God so the Lord Almighty sent a big fish to swallow him up and vomit him out on the shores heading in the right direction.
Many times God’s love is tough like with Jonah. Then there is God’s sweet love, where he is compassionate and gentle, cradling us in His strong arms, and speaking ever so softly and gently to us; like in Isaiah 43:4 where we read, “...because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I (God) love you” (emphasis added is mine).
Let me illustrate how LOVE is motivating with a story.
“Once upon a time”, there was an eight year old boy who loved to play marbles. Everyday after school he could be found in the backyard, on the play ground, or just about anywhere with his ever growing bag of marbles. He would show them in showing tell. He would pull them out just to watch others eyeballs pop. He would draw a circle in the dirt and play a game of marbles. He could show, shoot, and score his marbles with great passion.
Then the boy turned 13 or 14 and his friends introduced him to a new game; the game of Hoop. Everyday after school and on Friday’s when his parents would allow him to shoot some hoop until midnight you would find the boy and his friends playing basketball. You might say that his love for HOOP delivered him from marbles. The marbles got left in the dust.
The boy continued to grow and eventually came to the exciting age of 16. One Sunday he was sitting in Sunday School and a new girl walked in. He could not keep his eyes from watching this young lady as she past by and sat down to join his class. He was smitten by her beauty and her smile. As soon as the boy got home he asked his Dad if he could use the car some Friday night to take this girl out on a date. His father responded with a proud yes and one condition. The condition for using the car was that the boy actually got the date.
The following Sunday the boy could not wait until he arrived at Church. He headed directly for Sunday School hoping with all his mental imaginations that she too would be there. He waited and finally she walked in and once again plunged the boy into desperate hope. He could hardly wait for class to end. When it did he shot a straight line for her before any other boy could beat him to the punch. The boy asked the girl out Friday night to a movie followed by pizza. Blowing his mind, the girl said, “yes”!
Friday night came with great anticipation. He showered and dressed for an hour. He drove to the girl’s house and arrived early. He drowned himself in cologne three times. He went to the door and rang the doorbell. He was greeted and told that the girl would be down shortly. That night the boy took his wife out on his and their first date; three years late she married him.
The Monday after the boys first date all his friends gathered around him to ask him where he was Friday night. They said we always shoot HOOP on Friday night. The boy proudly exclaimed, “Fellows, I had a date!” One might say that his future wife delivered him from hoop.
In the same way, when we fall in love with Jesus He delivers us from sin, self, and Satan. Yes, it often takes time. But the love of Christ toward us, in us, and through us causes us to fall smitten in obedience as an act of worship. Are you in love with Jesus? Do you love Jesus more than your own children; how about your beautiful or handsome spouse or “guy-friend”? Do you think your love for God and His love for you have greater value than your pocket book or your employment? Is Jesus your deepest and greatest love?
My friend, this compelling LOVE is the only true motive the brings forth freedom and God’s glory (Christ’s Life) into your daily experience. God’s love is our greatest weapon to conquer sin and self! When Christ, who is our real LIFE becomes our daily familiar experience and love we live FREE!!!
