Emmanuel330: WEEK 14 - New Oath: Action Plan to Control Your Lusts (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Today's Reading: Matthew 5:33-37

**For a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.

Please click this link to Matthew 5:33-37

English(NIV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 5&version=NIV
Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 5&version=CUV

Bible Study

Yesterday's passage and today's is like Part 1 and Part 2, they go together. As I wrote yesterday, Jesus says there are two reasons for people to divorce. One is because we can't control our lusts and the other is we have no integrity and do not keep our marriage oath.

Why do you have to keep you marriage oath if you have let the devil to breakthrough your front line of guarding the relationship with your spouse. What is the front line? It starts with your thoughts and your eyes. It starts with your getting addicted to pornography. I have so many cases to prove of how so many people cannot pull out from this front line that they let the devil to enter deeper and deeper into their soul, becoming depressed, burn-out, losing intimate relationship with their spouse, committing sexual harassment, losing their ministry, their job, their family, the everything and then their life by committing suicide. That's how Satan choose opportune time to take one's life and soul! Very sad!

That's why Jesus links up with three things together: control your lusts, keep your marriage vow and no divorce.

This is not a time to discuss the theory, the theology or the mentality. This is the time to take action so that we can avoid those darkness to destroy us. This is the time for action. Have you got any idea of action or just say to yourself, "This is none of my business." If you are not one of those who need to take action then you must be the one to help someone to take action. Are you willing to do that?

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmax47l2hLU

Spiritual Journal

The topic I received from Jesus today is :

New oath: Action plan to control your lusts

I took Rev. Paul Sorenson to the airport this morning. He, Ven. H. Miller and Mr. Robbie de Villiers came to Vancouver to meet with leaders of theAM-Canada and Richmond Emmanuel. I told Paul what I wrote in this blog about the importance of how to control our lusts. He confirmed to me that the percentage of Christians including pastors watching pornography are very serious and he showed to me his cel. phone that he and some pastors download a software call "covenant eyes" to help each others not to go to those dangerous web site. The soft ware send a weekly report to all their group members so that they can be accountable to each others. Another Christian I know cut the internet at his home and go to cafe to get emails in order not to fall back to the addiction of pornography. This is a modern way of what Jesus says to gouge your right eye out and throw it away according to Matthew 5:29.

If you want to keep your marriage vow, you need to take action now!
If you have a good marriage or do not have any problem with what Jesus says in the passages these two days, then you may have a call to help those who need your help. Just like how Rev. Paul Sorenson helping some leaders to avoid watching pornography.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Help us to take action in order that we can keep our marriage vow. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Questions for group discussion

Topic: New Oath: Action Plan to Control Your Lusts

新承諾: A計劃

Passage: Matthew 5: 33-37

Questions for group leaders

1. Read Matthew 5: 33-37 again now. What do you think is the importance of the marriage oath? Does the oath still works now in this modern age?

2. Do you agree with what Jesus says of the three steps to bless our families: control your lusts, keep your marriage vow and no divorce?

3. Is there any action plan to protect and bless your own marriage and to help others? Can you think of some more similar situations that can ruin your marriage other than "lusts", say too much TV, computer, work, church activities etc.?

4. What is the highlight for you today?