How can they continue to grow and continue to fight sin? What kind of man or woman are they to become? While I often ask myself the other questions it is, in particular, the last question, “What kind of man or woman are they to become?” that I am most concerned about when it comes to the purity movement as a whole.
That last statement needs a little clarification and qualification. There are great ministries out there doing excellent work in the area of biblical manhood and womanhood. You won’t hear me say otherwise. These ministries are emphasizing that men and women are equal in dignity and worth, but distinct in role and function. They understand well what the Bible teaches. My concern though is that there is so little written from the specific angle of fighting pornography and the goal of becoming a biblical man in the case of men and in the case of women, a biblical woman that the impression can become—great, I’m struggling with pornography, but wonder in the back of their minds, “What kind of person should I be becoming?”
In this article, I want to lay out what kind of person I believe men and women should become. Biblical manhood and womanhood is first about God. God is the One who created man in His image and likeness. He then took from man’s rib and made Eve to be a helper to man. Man is to lead in the home and in the church. Women are to have a significant ministry to other women, specifically older women instructing younger women (Titus 2:3-5). Women can also serve as deaconesses, writers, counselors (to other women), and a great help and support to their husbands as they preach and teach (if their husband is a pastor or an elder).
The proper way to view these roles especially in relation to women is through the prism of servanthood. Every single Christian is a servant of God’s grace. Every single Christian has God-given gifts, abilities, and talents. God is not saying, “I gave you this gift, now you can’t use it…” rather He is saying, “I gave you this specific gift to function this specific way, as I’ve designed within my Church, just as I created you.” The question is not whether women can serve but rather why shouldn’t they, since every Christian is to serve. Yet, many men and many women are failing to adhere to the vision that God has ordained for their respective gender. We see this especially today in the current discussion on homosexuality and transgenderism.
We’ve just seen recently in the news that President Obama has decreed that all public schools must allow those who believe they are transgender can go into whatever bathroom they want. This means that a teenage boy, if he thinks he is transgender, can go in and take a shower in the women’s bathroom—with teenage girls present! And vice versa with teenage girls. The level of confusion on sexuality is not improving at all, and this is only the start.
Pornography and the Objectivity of the Opposite Sex
Pornography trains the mind to view the opposite sex as an object of pleasure. Instead of sexual pleasure being enjoyed within the confines of covenant marriage, between one man and one woman, those addicted to pornography lust after the opposite sex outside of God’s established boundaries. Biblical sexuality is concerned that men function as men and women function as women, as God has decreed in His Word.
Instead, our culture trains men to be superheroes. They view women as a conquest to conquer over and then move on to the next woman. “Say,” our culture says, “if you don’t like your wife, there’s this thing called no-fault divorce. Sure you can get a divorce. It might hurt your pocketbook, but you can do that. There’s no consequence for divorce.” We live in a culture of mass confusion when it comes not only to marriage, but also to biblical sexuality in general.
Biblical Gender Roles and Pursuing Purity
Biblical gender roles are applicable to the discussion on pornography and purity because they help us make sense of how God views each specific gender. As men, we are to be the pastor-theologians in our homes. Men are commanded to love our wives (Ephesians 5:33). As Christians, we are to hate our sin and turn from it to Jesus. This goes for whether you are a man or a woman and profess faith in the Lord Jesus.
Part of your God-given identity is to take hold of the newness of your new life in Christ. This new life entails the idea that while you are a sinner by nature and by choice, Christ has transferred you from the Kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ (Col. 1:13). You are wholly His, and He is yours. You have union with Christ for the purpose of communion with Christ.
By understanding biblical gender roles, we come to understand the aim of our fight against pornography. We are not just men and women struggling against a particular sin. Instead men and women are created in the image of God. Through Christ, we are new creations in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17). He is making all things new in our lives. As we turn from our sin to Jesus, the nature of God in us that was marred by the Fall is being restored increasingly through the present ministry of the Holy Spirit. As He puts a spotlight on our sin and convicts us of sin, He also points us to the finished work of Jesus, and then empowers us to go out on mission to make disciples, for His glory.
Many men and women today are failing at their God-given assignment. Instead of being biblical men, many men even in the Church (I was one of them when I was addicted to pornography) are apathetic to their God-given responsibilities. I’m convinced, in my ministry to men, that pride and apathy are killing us. Men need role models like what Paul outlines in his pastoral epistles, men who take seriously their own walk in godliness and come alongside other men as Paul instructed us to do (Titus 2:6-8).
Likewise, many women now are struggling with pornography. Whether it’s with illicit images, videos, or romance books that take women into a fantasy world where they can depart for a few hours or minutes, women are struggling with this issue. God created woman to be a helper to her husband. Both men and women have abdicated their responsibilities outlined in the Scriptures. So what do we do?
Six Ways Local Church and Proclaim Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
First, local churches should commit to preaching series somewhat regularly on biblical manhood and womanhood issues. Local churches should have specific groups for guys and one for ladies. Both groups need small groups where they can study the Word and share together with each other, with a view to caring for and pray with one another. Such groups should be led by men, but where women participate and contribute to the discussion.
Second, men’s and women’s ministries should be designed to help men become biblical men and women to become biblical people. Men need specific instruction on how to become men of God in private, in the home, in the church, and in society. Women need to understand how to respect their husband, how to deal with the stress of motherhood (if they have children) while ministering to others (if they work outside the home), and if they don’t work outside the home how to care for their husband, children (if they have them), and how to be a good church member. This is not an exhaustive list of the responsibilities of men or women. There is much ground for men’s and women’s ministries to cover, but it is all covered in the Word of God. So my encouragement if you are in a men’s ministry is this: guys, teach the Word to the men and proclaim the Gospel. Women, if you are in a women’s ministry let me encourage you: ladies, teach the Word and proclaim the Gospel to the each other!
Third, men and women should not be shamed when they come out of sexual sin. Instead, the local church should come alongside them and minister to them. People who struggle with sexual sin often feel a debilitating sense of guilt and shame. When someone opens up about their struggle with porn, they need first a big hug, prayer, and a whole heap of God’s grace. They need lots of room for people to listen and to care for them. They also need help.
If someone comes to you and admits to struggling with sexual sin, listen to them, pray for them, love them with the love of Jesus, and speak the truth in love. Help them find the help they need and be an accountability partner to them.
Fourth, the Church needs more resources and voices on this topic. This issue of Theology for Life has aimed to cover a lot of ground. To be fair even this article alone could take up an entire issue on its own. With that said, we desperately need more people writing and speaking on this topic. If you don’t know where to start please, don’t hesitate to contact me. I would love to help you get started writing and speaking on this topic.
Fifth, the fight for purity is a fight for a vision of biblical manhood and womanhood. As I’ve tried to make clear in this article—our world is confused about biblical gender roles. God has established these roles for the good of civilization. When civilization fights against these roles, they are ultimately fighting against God’s design for the sexes. The fight for purity whether it is against sex-trafficking or against pornography is a real fight. It is ultimately a fight not against flesh and blood, against real people who are living and working in these industries, but for the Gospel. Men and women are captivated by their sin. The only hope and cure for the pornography and sex-trafficking industry is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Church must proclaim a biblical vision of manhood and womanhood and continue to do so.
Lastly, the fight for purity is a fight for a vision of God’s glory. The glory of God is impugned when men and women look at pornography of any kind or type. When either gender supports the trafficking of men and women created in the image of God, they have sinned against their Creator. Men and women were created by God to reflect His image. They are sinners by nature and by choice. The good news is that while an enemy of God, they don’t have to stay that way. Instead, they can become friends of God through the death, burial, and resurrection of King Jesus. Instead of assaulting the glory of God, men and women can know God, enjoy Him, glorify Him, and live within the God-ordained role and function that He has designed.
Final Thoughts…
The more men and women understand of the Gospel, the more they will desire to become men and women of God. The more this happens, the more Christians will desire to become like Jesus. He is the ultimate example of biblical manhood. He called the religious leaders out, yet cared for the broken. He taught men and women, and yet He didn’t excuse their sin. He healed the sick, mended the broken-hearted, and taught His disciples. Jesus is unlike us, however; He is utterly sinless and we are sinners. Jesus had to die in our place and for our sin and rise again. You and I need Jesus. We need the bread of life that He provides. We need the living water that He promises. You can know Jesus today by believing that He is who He says He is, and did what He said He did in His death, burial, and resurrection (Acts 16:31).
If today you are a Christian struggling with pornography there is hope in Jesus. He is still waiting for you like the prodigal son’s father in Luke 15. He is the Father you need and the Father who loves to lift up the struggling out of the pit of despair. He took upon Himself all your sin and shame, and died in your place for it. Turn to Jesus, look at His loveliness and be captivated once again by the grandeur of His grace.
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the
LORD. ( Genesis 6:8 )
My Dear in Him,
Please follow me to study this words of hope from
the beginning to the end of the messages so you can found grace in the eyes of
The Almighty Father in obedience to The Divine direction to His prophet.
The word “grace” appears for the first time in the Bible in this verse. Noah
lived in the midst of the most heinously evil society the world had known, but
because he had found grace, God favored him with personal instruction about the
coming catastrophic judgment and the details for a new beginning on earth.The language of Genesis 6:8 gives us insight into Noah’s character. “Found” is a simple active perfect verb, not a passive one. Thus, Noah found favor—grace—in God’s eyes because he was actively looking for it. Likewise, Adam found no helpmate from among the animals that was suitable for him (Genesis 2:20), and Noah’s dove did not find rest for the sole of her foot (Genesis 8:9). Laban did not find his household images that Rachel had stolen and hidden (Genesis 31:35), and Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses
(2 Chronicles 34:14-15). God could have used a passive verb in reference to Noah, but He did not.
What can we learn from the life of this great man?
Evidently, God intended for us to know this key factor: Noah’s life was righteous—in spite of the horrible condition of the world of his day. He was looking for God’s direction and for the answers to his heart’s cry. Noah wasn’t merely hanging around waiting for the inevitable destruction that he sensed must come as a result of the awful rebellion that surrounded him. Noah was anticipating a response from God—and when God finally did give him instruction, Noah “found” the favor that he sought!
Captain of Industry
Many centuries later, God warned Ezekiel of future judgment that would happen to the land of Israel because of its wickedness. God identified three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—as examples of the best “righteous” men in history (Ezekiel 14:14, 20). If that comparison has any meaning, Noah was much more than a mere chance recipient of God’s grace.
Job was “the greatest of all the men of the east” (Job 1:3). His livestock resources (mainly those for caravan duty) were enormous. That certainly meant that he was a successful trade broker and possibly a source for prized stock. He had multiple houses and land—so much so that “bands” from nearby nations were necessary to destroy his wealth.
God had labeled Job “my servant...there is none like him in the earth, a perfect [blameless] and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth [shuns] evil” (Job 1:8). Job was much more than a “nice guy.” He was probably the wealthiest man of his day, and yet he was of such godly character that God used him to teach Satan a lesson!
Daniel was one of the king’s descendants and nobles from Judah taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 1:3). The account of Daniel and his three godly friends is well known among Christians, but the young adult experiences of Daniel often overshadow the long life that he led as the leader of the “scientists” (learned men) of that day. He was commissioned as a “great man” by Nebuchadnezzar and “sat in the gate of the king” (Daniel 2:48-49). Daniel served in some form of senior political and advisory position for six kings over some 70 years. Not bad for a captive!
God identified Daniel as a “man greatly beloved” (Daniel 10:11). He was privileged to have unusual spiritual insight, which he could have used to his personal advantage. But he always made it clear that he was gifted by God’s grace—to whom he always gave credit. Furthermore, God used Daniel to record several of the most remarkable prophecies in all of Scripture. Scholars are still discussing the book of Daniel. He was a significant person indeed!
If the comparisons of the righteous men listed in Ezekiel 14 are to be genuine comparisons, Noah must have been a person of significance in his region—if not well known throughout the world of his day. He clearly possessed or had access to the resources and skills needed to accomplish the monumental task that was assigned to him. Since God’s instructions to build the Ark are somewhat general, it is not beyond reason to assume that Noah ran an architectural and contracting business of some kind.
The pre-Flood civilization would certainly have been advanced enough for such an enterprise. The evolutionary cloud has mesmerized most of the world into relegating the “ancient” world into some sort of pre-human existence—living in caves and grass huts with animal skins for clothing. The Bible paints a much different picture! There were cities during Noah’s day, as well as developed technology that included metallurgy and the skills to build and market musical instruments (Genesis 4:17-22). Somebody had to construct the habitations for the growing population, and someone had to coordinate the distribution and development of those manufacturing places that produced the products needed by that society.
The world of Noah was very wicked, but it functioned with much the same needs as our current world. When the Lord Jesus wanted to emphasize the suddenness of the destruction in the coming end-times judgment, He did it by drawing a comparison with the “ordinary” life of the populations around Noah.
And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be
also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married
wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the
ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. (Luke 17:26-27)
Noah was an important man in his day. Whether he was a general contractor,
an architect, or a business baron is pretty much an educated guess. But the
fact that he found grace is important. Noah was fully dedicated to the
work of God during his life.Walked with God
The Bible says that Noah was one of only two men in all of history who “walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). The other is Enoch, who may be more well known since he was taken up into God’s presence without dying (Genesis 5:24). Efforts by some to portray Noah as a bumbling, drunken hypocrite are simply not true. God’s commentary is that Noah was “just” and “perfect” (upright, without blemish). The Creator entrusted him with a monumental task that is unique in all of history.
Noah was “just.” That simply means that he was known for his equitable dealings with others. Even in the wicked world that disgusted the Creator, Noah was “justified” in his dealings. He charged reasonable prices for his work. He gave a good product (whatever it was) to those who employed his services. His honest dealings gave rise to his influence in the community. He was proven to be a man of integrity (Genesis 7:1).
Noah was “perfect.” That precious reputation, at least from God’s perspective, means that he was a man without condemnation. His “just” dealings resulted in a “blameless” record. Whatever the wicked people of his day may have said behind his back, they knew that Noah was above reproach. Just as folks today often resort to rumor-mongering and distortion of facts to cover their own guilt, those around Noah no doubt employed some of the same practices to discredit righteous Noah. He may well have had that kind of treatment, but God saw that he was “perfect.”
Preacher of Righteousness
Peter called Noah a “preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5). Think of what that means in the context of Genesis 6! The whole earth was “filled with violence” and “every heart” only thought of evil. The social milieu must have been a real mess. Yet Noah had the guts to stand up publically for the righteous behavior that just about everyone else openly and loudly rejected.
Perhaps his extended family members, and even some or most of his employees, were under his influence. But by the time the judgment of God fell, only Noah, his wife, and three of their sons and their wives were willing to follow his leadership into the Ark. Many would consider a ministry with such results a failure today, and yet God insisted that Noah’s faith not only “saved” his family but the future world from extinction (Hebrews 11:7)!
We are not told in Scripture what Noah preached about. Enoch (the other man who walked with God) preached about the return of the Lord in judgment (Jude 1:14-15). Noah may well have preached about the coming judgment of the Flood and the desperate need of the world’s people to turn back to their Creator for salvation. Whatever he may have preached and however he implemented his heart’s desire, Noah was labeled a “preacher of righteousness” by the only Judge that ultimately counts.
God’s grace is always available. It is not hidden from anyone. But it must be “found” by God’s servants as we “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
My Most Beloved,
If you look for God with your whole heart you will find Him and He
will remove that affliction out of your life, family, marriage and business.
God is great and also the wisest personage in the
universe. Your decision to look for Him today as the solution to the problems
that have weighed you down in this life is the only key to the problem.
You might be among those who are searching for God but
not with your whole heart. You might also be searching for God and at the same
time going to the places you know from your heart that is not pleasing to God
Almighty.
God is everywhere you go though not accessible from all
places you have fixed your heart for the solution to your needs.
So many people have looked for this God through many
gods of various religions and yet they are still confused of life and why they
even came into existence.
Others have believed that joining different kinds of
Self Realization organizations is the key to actualize and realize what they
are looking for.
I have seen others who are tired of other gods of other
people but now they have decided to create their own gods to worship. Can a man
create God?
Yet many men have created gods and deceived you to
worship them.
Many are calling upon the names of other gods they do
not know about simply because they want to try a certain kind of worship and see
how it can be with them. Some others are
busy looking for a place to discover another strange god which is not yet
discovered by any other man. If we move
a little into the Bible book we will discover the exact message of God
concerning searching and developing gods in any other scientific method which
the Bible rightly stipulated, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any
likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath,
or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve
them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that
hate me;
And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me,
and keep my commandments.” – EXODUS 20: 3-6.
God is warning you from this portion of the scripture
to stop developing any form of worship that will
entice you to worship other gods.
God is also warning you in particular to remove and
throw away those gods you kept in secret places which men do not know you are
worshipping.
Stars and other things in the skies are not made to be
worshipped by The Almighty Father and the Creator of universe. God commanded
you also never to worship gods of woods, silvers, gold and iron.
God
spoke to us through Moses and said. “And
the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye
might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.
Take
ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on
the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:
Lest
ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any
figure, the likeness of male or female,
The
likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl
that flieth in the air,
The
likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish
that is in the waters beneath the earth:
And lest
thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon,
and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship
them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations
under the whole heaven. - Deuteronomy 4:14-19
God is angry with you as you are bowing down to them
and this is the source of those problems that refuses to go out of your life.
The Almighty Father does not want you to worship the gods of your land.
Some people do carry the gods of their lands in wooden
form to another country for worshipping purposes but The Almighty Father cannot
be carried in a wooden form because He is accessible from any place and any
condition you can call Him in truth and in Spirit wholeheartedly.
There is no good gods in seas and oceans. There is no
marine good gods that is capable to do what Almighty God cannot do for you.
He warned you never to bow down to any of them. Your
destiny is purely in the hand of The Almighty Father. None of your blessings
comes as a result of worshipping idols.
God is jealous and will not be happy if you are giving
the glories that are due to His Most Holy Name, Jehovah to other gods of
nations and other gods who have ears but cannot hear.
If you believe me today, and decide to drop those gods
you are serving and to come to The Almighty Jehovah through His Son, Jesus
Christ.
The
Bible warned, “As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold,
I stand at the door, and knock:
if any man hear my voice, and open the door,
I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
To
him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also
overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches. The Revelation of Saint John 3:19-22.
Why not decide right now as you are reading this
message and give your entire life to your Creator so it shall be well with you,
your family and all your businesses?
Will you continue to serve the gods that demands for
the blood of your children for ritual purposes and sacrifices so as to bless
and protect you?
Will you serve the gods that takes away your fertility
in other to give you unrealistic financial blessings and fame?
Reason well before you go.
God is telling me that some group of people is trying
to initiate you into a cult, an occult group, a satanic system of worship.
Please beware and run away for your dear life so you
will not regret the final outcome of it.
There is nothing absolutely good in Satan. He is a liar
and father of all liars.
If you believe this message is for you in particular
and you wants to be saved before it is too late. Why not call my attention for
my direction to establish your faith in Jesus Christ?
Accept and Confess the name of Jesus Christ so He shall
come into your life and be your God as you have totally dropped all form of
other gods with sincere heart.
Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.- JOHN 14:6-7
Am available to assist you to develop your faith in God
and also to pray with you for instant divine solution to those problems that
has taken you far and wide without hope for solution.
“And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy
father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the
LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the
thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him,
he will cast thee off for ever. - I CHRONICLES 28:9.
God bless you for giving a listening ear to this
message of God that is specially made for you today for your upliftment.
If you are moved by the Spirit of God to
support this work. Please don’t hesitate to tell us of how you are led by God
to assist. Or you can send us your Check to our office below for our mission to
Africa and building of schools for Orphans and Orphanage .
We need an offering and a monetary donation
motivated by the Spirit of God for the poor and less privileged because God
loves a cheerful giver.
Please
kindly send us Check of the amount placed in your heart by the Spirit of Most High
GOD JEHOVAH to- Bishop Uchenna Celestine Okonkwor
472 Amherst St
Suite 732225
Nashua, NH 03063
U.S.A.
Tel:
781-569-0201.
Alternatively, I will also suggest that you
forward your donation to us for the poor through Our Payoneer Bank Account
details below to make the deposit…
Bank Account Holder: Uchenna
Celestine Okonkwor
Bank Name: Bank Of America
Account #: 00003503352939167
ABA (Bank Routing) #: 061000052
Account Type: CHECKING.
Bank Name: Bank Of America
Account #: 00003503352939167
ABA (Bank Routing) #: 061000052
Account Type: CHECKING.
You may as well send your financial
donation in support of this missionary work through our paypal account at
zionagency@yahoo.com.
You can visit our outreach and ministerial sites below
for perusal to enable you understand our mission practically well. We need up to $2,ooo,000 to facilitate the
schools building project for the poor and less privileged. This will have
primary, secondary and University educational system. We are pleading that you
give us your financial contribution and support as you are capable and also led
by The Spirit of The Almighty God.
God bless you.
Bishop Uchenna C. Okonkwor
472 Amherst St
Suite 732225
Nashua, NH 03063
Suite 732225
Nashua, NH 03063
781-569-0201.
U.S.A.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE LORD.
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