Jesus Unfiltered - Follow - No More Shame, Part 2

One of the most sensitive areas. All of our lives is our sexuality thoughts we have things we see things we've done at all that our sexuality is wrapped in shame often in guilt sometimes accurately and often in God does not want you to live with shame. They want you to celebrate who he made you stay with me today as I share a story of a close friend delivered out of the chain of sexual immorality.

Welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram Living on the Edges of international teaching and discipleship ministry featuring the Bible teaching of shipping this program to continue the message he began. On our last broadcast. Now this is the teaching you really need to hear from you listed. Let me encourage you to back up and listen to that one first easily done on the out regulator today go to LivingontheEdge.org and find no more shame part one of the broadcast mellowed stewardship for part two of his message from John chapter 8 second thing though is that I've been around the block and churches to is a pretty significant reason why a lot of people don't go public and don't ever deal with the things that need to be dealt with by speaking to a friend get to know each other really really well a part of his history.

He was in full-time ministry. He had an affair that went on for a significant amount of time he lost his wife and he lived in that situation.

He lived with the law he lived with the pain. He lived with all the things there's like these two forces and one pulls at you so strong what you're experiencing in the sexual sin and the other pool that you know this is right and you want to confess you want to make it right with God and he said I so wanted to do this. But honestly, I thought God would forgive me but I just wasn't very sure about church. I just didn't know how I be you know received.

I just I just thought I don't know that I want to go there I get a email from Mark Kendall and she shared with me a little bit more. Their journey and I will tell you that Dave and Kendall's journey may be in the top 1% of the most wonderful moments I've ever had in ministry in my life, of seeing the body of Christ, act and respond in the beauty and the power that God calls us to and see a man and a woman courageously deal with pain and be completely restored. I want to share a bit of what she shared with me what you listen very carefully because here's what I know 50% of the men in this room are involved in pornography right now about 30 or 35% of 18 to 30-year-olds are currently sleeping together or living together are born-again Christians about whites not restricted to them is just where we have the stats sexual sin is epidemic in our culture and it's now epidemic inside the church and I think lots of people's souls are stuck, but that I want you to hear the inward journey that Kendall writes the night. Dave share with me about his unfaithfulness. He took full responsibility for his actions.

He shared openly and honestly. In that moment, God brought clarity perspective to my heart.

I too had come to a place of deep despair and lack of trust in God.

After Dave's chronic pain diagnosis and the loss of our baby says God opened my eyes to my pain as I looked at this man I've known for 15 years and I saw a man that was so broken and hurting so desperate to get out of physical and emotional pain so responsible for his actions asking for forgiveness. All I can say is God would not let me turn him away will reject him. I told him that I love them and I forgave him and I would be willing to work through this with. We talked a lot that night and I knew immediately. There will be significant consequences for his job.

I knew he'd be resigning and also know he would need to do it publicly. I'd seen this done both well and very poorly in churches, but I believed our church would respond well to us. I wanted Dave to be able to take ownership of his behavior and then demonstrate in real life the things we talk high school ministry and claim to believe I was also in need of support, and I knew going somewhere else would be very difficult. Listen to this. I believe the people of her church, who had already demonstrated their love and support over us. Over the last years would do the same things.

I believe they would see in Dave. What I saw in him next week. Dave shared in front of the ministry in high school, but he crossed the sexual boundary can be resigning. I asked to go up so that we could pray with them for Dave and see the faces of those that we loved and in a sense it was our last opportunity to lead through how we responded to failure the next weekend. An announcement was made in Dave's letter was read to nearly 3000 people in attendance, and weekend services. We didn't go to church that day, but the following Sunday. Talk about courage. The following Sunday. I didn't run. They didn't hide they didn't repress, they didn't try to make up for the following Sunday we made our ways down the halls into the worship center as we done every week for the last eight years the first Sunday back. I was anxiously confident. I believe people would respond lovingly toward us, but also new.

It's hard to handle, and some people probably can't. I was so grateful for the families and friends. A demonstrated their love for us that first week in the next couple of months and now years people we know for many years would see us across the worship center for down the hall and they would come right up to us encouraging Dave and sharing their support and love for me and encouraging me to still meet with their students and they just love this with ask without asking details or questions were judging us. Our friends protected us to protect our privacy. They honored us in a way that will forever be grateful for. They continue to be people that we meet with on a regular basis for community and accountability acts of kindness and love allowed us the opportunity to heal in our own time in her own way without shame and without embarrassment to hear the hope of been a Christian since I was 12 and I walk with God through some very difficult times. This is listen carefully, God is going to ask those of you and those of us who are involved in sin, but specifically sexual sin to come clean. The way Dave did, and here's what you will experience from God. I've been through difficult times, but I have never experienced the intimacy and the general love of God in ways that I have in the season by life's presence has been so real it's almost tangible through his word, his people's creation is undeniably spoken into my life gently meeting me and slowly walking me through the deep places of pain and fear and shame, and giving direction and clarity and hope and perspective the process of obedient surrender has been slow. Not without missteps and failures, but I see the trajectory of life is heading toward wholeness and intimacy in my relationship with God and with Dave how does healing like this really occur once the process how do you move from simply experiencing forgiveness and knowing in your heart and ask God to forgive you. How do you get to where there's a level of courage that you can own some stuff and get some stuff in the open in the appropriate way with the appropriate people and be forgiven, but then be restored to have your soul set free to have the guilt and the depression. David send sexually and for a year. No one knew about it. Psalm 32 you might jot it down and some of you will read it go. That's me said when I was silent about my Sandy was oppressive was like being in a desert literally as you read Psalm 32. Here's a man is clinically depressed when we deny when we shut down when we repress stuff in our soul, especially sexual sin. It erodes your soul will destroy you from the inside out. And finally he's confronted and in Psalm 51 you get this picture of a man who experiences the gentle intimacy grace of God. Friday morning as I was praying God really tap me on the shoulder know my sermons done about all said it's in the folder. The notes are down there printed and I really sense at first just a whisper from the Holy Spirit ship. This is so much bigger than you think I want to heal people. This weekend I want this to be a weekend of liberation and freedom and no more shame you realize how rare it is that an actual church body has done what the Bible says love supported encouragement doesn't judge helped did you just see this. This is an amazing picture.

This is the hope that everyone wants to do. You understand it's not statistics.

These are real people and their some of them that are depressed are some of them. The currently having affair, some of them that are logged onto porn there some that are having homosexual issues and other heterosexual issues. There's others that it's it's about verbal stuff. There's others that are older and no one thinks that what they do have these lustful pots and sexual sin is an addiction. You might be asking why take this much time I want to take as much time because this is a victory on a celebrate there really is hope and I will take this much time because when sexual sin has a hold of your soul. It not only does something very devastating to you. It impacts your relationships, and it cuts you off from the grace and the power of God in significant ways. You won't be fruitful. You want to experience love and joy and peace and patience and goodness and kindness and gentleness God will not use you even remotely like he wants to honor some gifts and honor his word, but there is no hope for the world out there until there's a revolution inside of the world and here and someone to talk to you about why sexual sin is so devastating and how to get out of it okay. The research they've done.

By the way, this isn't about how I'm going to try really hard one more time trying hard doesn't work. The studies they've done on those hooked on pornography. It is as addictive as cocaine, crack cocaine or heroin. And when you study the brain of the men and women who over prolonged period of time who are watching and hooked on pornography.

The changes in what happens in your brain are exactly the same and therefore what it does to your life.

What it does to your thinking what it does to relationships.

It's not some casual sin, but doesn't have any impact on anyone else.

Jesus is saying to you neither do I condemn you grace go and sin no more. And the question is how, when the prodigal son came to his senses. He turned and where to come home only legal acronym that is just a quick way to know how to come home. The H is for honesty, jot this down okay just write this HO MEM going to be some very clear and give you chance to act on it today. You might jot down some one 4518 the Lord is near to those who call upon him, to those who call upon him in truth, God will listen to you. David would say in Psalm 51 God desires truth in the innermost being. Later he would say if there was a way to earn my way back or make up for it or do some burnt offering, I would've done it, but the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart.

A broken spirit and contrite heart. Oh God, you will not despise. You'll get honest and is the first step I mean you will experience God like never before. He'll give you the power will take care the future. Don't worry about what's going to happen or all the implications, or will he understand, will she understand what about this. What about that just get honest, painfully difficult to do the O is for openness. You will not ever be free from sexual sin until you get it out of the secret world secrets have power secrets destroy your life. That's what all through Scripture the deeds of darkness jot down if you would first John because I want you to look at these later.

First John chapter 1 verses five and six if we say we have fellowship with him Jesus and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and the truth is not in us.

But if we walk in the light as even he himself is in the light. The blood of Jesus keeps on continuously freeing you for giving us. You gotta get this out in the open. Gotta get it out the open. The M is for mentor, you will not do this alone. Jot down Hebrews 313 but encourage one another, day after day as long as it is still called today least anyone of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. If you know anyone who's been through 12 step program.

Anyone who's gotten serious in realizing their weight issue or their sex or their alcoholism or the shopping and I got really serious about what you realizes the root cause is never the symptom and the only way you make progress is you get honest when you get open then you gotta get some people and you walk the journey and you need the encouragement, not like once a year.

This is like okay I heard it mean God to read the Bible more away. Second, I've said this 44 times the last 43 days it will work.

You can't do this alone and see what keeps you from what is it that keeps you from other guys tell me. I've driven 3040 50 miles to celebrate recovery are two different groups somewhere. What because of the shame they feel that if someone knew we had to get over that. The final E is for exit. You do not slide out of sexual sin and jot down Matthew 527 to 30. Jesus is talking about adultery. You have said do not commit adultery but I say to you if you lust for a woman you commit adultery already with your heart long before psychology. Jesus is saying everything starts with the mind and that hears his application. Are you ready for this. He says so. So how do you deal with this how you deal with what happens inside of the man or woman's mind when there's less: if you're if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off if your eye causes you sent poking out you think I'm glad I didn't go that message but let's not know what a second is very clear. He's not being literal is watch this if I cut off my right hand and my problem is stealing or some sort of sexual sin. I can actually do that with my left hand I poke out my right eye. I can lust with my left. Did you know what he saying here the idiom of the day be as drastic as you need to be to deal with this as radically as you need to deal with it be as drastic as you need to be so something in here are involved in an affair summits physical summits emotional stop today exit those of you that are hooked on pornography you need today to someone say here's my phone.

Here's the TV. Here's my computer put a password on it that I don't know. I'm sending an email to the church from finding a program from you to go to Christian. But today you will slide out of this. Here's the thing in this window or this moment right now.

When were together as God speaks if you choose and act and do it today, God will deliver by Monday 24 hours later, the probability of you actually obeying will probably drop about 75%. We are liars where deniers in your soul will state prison like you to close your eyes. If you would. I just want you to hear Jesus say please, please, please come home. I want to give store make you right back with the application but if you're just joining us your listing to Living on the Edge Chip Ingram chips message today is from his series, Jesus, unfiltered, volume 2. Follow Jesus unfiltered is a study through the gospel of John exploring topics like what does it mean to believe in Jesus and what does it mean to follow Jesus. Those phrases mean different things to different people. So Chip goes right to the source to find out what Jesus would say if you were asked to check out all four volumes of Jesus unfiltered. Just visit us online at http://livingontheedge.org or tap special offers on the app will chip just before you go to your application can see want to jump in here as we study the apostle John's teaching here to the gospel. I can in the back my mind here. Some of you saying you know chip at this all sounds really wonderful but you don't know me you don't know what I've done, you don't know what I've been boy if you ever understood the terrible things. In other words, Jesus could never associate with someone like me he could never really love me. Never forgive me and I want you to know. Listen carefully. That is alive from the pit of hell. The fact of the matter is, as no one is beyond the reach of Jesus love but but if you believe that lie. It'll keep you stock if you believe that life you'll never come to receive his grace or as a follower.

If you believe that lie you'll think you're a second-class citizen. The rest of your life and never experiences joy in his power be used by him.

Here's what I want you to know the only way to break lies is with truth and so what we develop is what we call truth cards for every chapter in the book of John we have the light outlined and that we have the truth of that chapter to help you break free. Let me give you an example for those who feel like you don't measure up your unworthy. The lie in chapter 4. Is this God could never accept me or use my life. After all the terrible things I've done. It says right on the card and right below the cart is a little stop sign, stop, and then you turn over the card and the cards as Jesus wants to accept and use me, he for gave a woman who had five husbands and was currently living with a man so he could communicate his love through her to a whole city. Actually, that passage goes on to say he is seeking or pursuing those who would worship him in spirit and in truth. If you want to be free of your past, trying hard doesn't work. The truth does let me encourage you get a copy of these truth cards will give you all the information back get two or three copies. They're very inexpensive and go through it with some friends or family, and here's what you experience you experience the truth and the truth will set you free.

Thanks to all the Jesus unfiltered truth cards are available now while supplies last.

When you tap special offers or go to our website LivingontheEdge.org there a set of 21 cards like the one strip uses. Each card is a common lie or spiritual battle we all face and on the flipside, it has a passage from the Gospel of John to help you renew your mind with the truth whether there for you or someone else or your set of Jesus unfiltered truth cards and get free shipping by calling us at 1-888-333-6003 tapping special offers ordering online that LivingontheEdge.org will now hear strip with his application as we wrap up today's program. Believe me I understand that a lot of people are both uncomfortable and convicted at and some of you just yearning and hopeful. I hope the stats are completely wrong about men that half of all the men in the church visit triple X websites at least once a month and have pornography addictions.

But here's what I want to tell you there is hope. I mean, I know so many men I'm gonna try am going to try am going to try let me go over that little acronym to for you to get home home with God. Home with your heart home with the people that you love the H is for honest just owning your stuff just get real with God.

He's not shocked. Tell him and get real, to his open up.

You have to tell someone as scary as it is, you have to get the secret out of the bag and and be able to get it on the table because the enemy is holding you hostage. The M is for find a mentor you need help. No one is going to break sexual addiction or any addiction for that matter on their own and the EE is exit. I mean, you literally have to make a dramatic whether it's pornography whether it's a illicit relationship, whether it's an affair.

I mean, you just have to exit and before you just feel overwhelmed with getting honest in your opening up and finding a mentor and exiting. I just have to tell you of the scores and scores of men and women that I get to experience here and I've had in my past of people to overcome pornography. People that have lived through the affair who have reconciled. We got a whole ministry of men in our church and one is a is a friend that I talk too often he talks about how dark and how impossible that it was and he thought there would never be held open interview, he found some some men that he could get with and then his wife started in ministry to women whose husbands are hooked on pornography.

Here's what I want to tell you if you will be honest and take the first step there is hope this doesn't have to define or ruin your life will just before we close. We want you to know that as a staff we asked the Lord to help you take whatever your next brief step is. We'd love to hear how it's going. Would you take a minute to send us a note or give us a call either one is easy. Just send a quick note to chip@livingontheedge.org or give us a call at 1-888-333-6003.

Until next time, this is Dave really saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge