He thought escaping purgatory would be a one-time thing. But somehow he is being sucked in again. Too religious to say being in the world is fun. So he lies about his struggles with the things he should have never begun. He is not sure if he wants to leave the darkness alone. Cause he has been hiding in it in secrecy for so long. He picks up the phone to call his sweet forbidden fruit. Her illustrious sounds have him ready to let loose. The internal battle within has him living in sin. Will he continue to eat the sweetness which is ultimately killing him? But the way she strides and her lips lock with his. He’s okay with being lukewarm again.
How long does one dwell in this in-between before they ultimately fall? And why did his religious leader lie to him about the constant battles he will have with it all? He thought giving it all up at once was enough. He was completely naive to the fact that this world would continue to seep into every place he allowed it to be. Cause as we all know, one can be incredibly wise but still choose to make darkness their home.
Will All The Pharisees Please Stand Up?
Aware that he’s losing himself again. He runs to the pulpit to confess his sins. But instead, the congregation uses his testimony to judge. So now he turns his back on true love. The Church made him feel as though he was alone. So he ran back into the arms of the sweet forbidden fruit that felt like home.
The Pharisees have done it again. Made their own definition of righteousness to create a safe place for ungodly judgment. But when you are stuck in this in between it is easy to be manipulated by the words that sound like God but don’t actually align. Now he has left God due to a perspicacity that was made up. So the question I have is not for the one who is lukewarm, but for the one who has put up this shield of religious superiority to disguise your struggles. Will all the Pharisees please stand up? I pose a pertinent question. What will you do when faced with the reality that you have led more people away from God than the devil has done?
How Do I Know When God's Word Is Being Manipulated?
Know God’s Word… The reason many religious leaders are able to consistently manipulate God’s word to force their personal agenda is by preying on the ignorance of their congregation. The same has been done in politics. When you are unaware of what truth is, you allow whatever truth you hear to become accurate. You must pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit, test teachings against biblical truth, and seek input from trusted believers. Be aware of personal biases and cultural influences. While also taking the time to foster a close relationship with God personally and not just a relationship with your church and church leaders. Remember God speaks to us all, not just the clergy.
Ask God for Discernment… “Sweet Forbidden Fruit” can be anything. A person, a habit, even a thought process. However that’s why it is so important to understand discernment. Discernment is simply the ability to judge well. Usually when we think of judgment it tends to have negative connotations. However, the ability to discern what is and what is not for you is necessary. Not every religious leader’s sermons need to be watched by you. Just like not every “christian influencer” is someone God wants influencing you. Seek guidance to recognize what aligns with your values and purpose. Trust your intuition and make choices that contribute positively to your spiritual and personal growth. But always remember we have all fallen and will fall short of his glory. Therefore never allow your “discernment” to become a “Pharisees” like tool to give you a false belief that you are somehow better than other believers.
What Can I Do To Be More Disciplined?
Embrace Failure…Embracing failure is one of the best things you can do. Only Jesus is perfect. Therefore the rest of us will fail. But how we decide to respond to that failure is immensely crucial. Failures can be wins if you allow them to be.When we view failures as opportunities for growth and learning, they can become valuable lessons. Embracing failure means acknowledging our imperfections, learning from our experiences, and continually striving to be better. It’s about turning setbacks into comebacks and recognizing that each failure brings us one step closer to God’s purpose for our life.
Create a Routine…Having a simple day-to-day routine will help with your discipline. It will allow your mind, body, and spirit to align with what is best for you. Incorporating daily devotionals, workouts, bedtimes, and even trying to eat dinner around the same time allows you to show up more and more. And like my phenomenal church, Social Dallas, says “If you keep showing up, you keep growing up”.
Eliminate Distractions…Identify the things that divert your attention and minimize their impact on your daily life. Create a clear, actionable plan that outlines your goals and the steps needed to achieve them. Prioritize tasks that align with your purpose and set boundaries to protect your time and energy. Surround yourself with supportive people who encourage your growth and remind you of your purpose. Regularly reflect on your progress and adjust your strategies as needed. By staying disciplined and intentional, you can realign with your purpose. Rid yourself of your “Sweet Forbidden Fruit”.
1 John 4:1-3…Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.
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