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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2019 5:38:02 GMT -7
When I see others with a long sobriety date I ask myself I wonder if there are being honest about the date? It's not my business really but when someone posts their sobriety date it let's other know a little bit about them. However it does not let others know what really goes on in their mind and heart. For example, when Jesus said
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Matthew 5:27-30 NKJV
I ask myself does my sobriety date really matter? The last time I acted out? Well, if I take Jesus' holy words seriously then the sin started already started in my own heart and that sin is as if I did the physical act, therefore, if the internal heart sin is going to be judged by Jesus Christ and that sin can **** me to hell then, how is sharing my sobriety date of any benefit? Really, there is not benefit until you are only concerned with external actions and disregard Jesus' warnings.
In secular SA group settings the sobriety date is sometimes looked at like a personal achievement or trophy to sort of give that man some authority or priviledge in sharing others.
My point is this, I I didn't act out for two years but I looked at a women with list today, I should not consider my sobriety date to be two years but lost today because of committing adultery in the heart. If we measure by this standard, I wonder what my real sobriety date is. What would yours be?
Ever think about that?
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Post by savedbygrace on Feb 14, 2019 10:49:04 GMT -7
Yes, God's standard of purity is very high!
At this point, I am not counting slips or stumbles if overall I am on a pathway UP and OUT. There is a pattern of behavior that used to represent me, and ONLY by the grace of God I am moving away from that.
Progress not perfection.
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Post by savedbygrace on Apr 9, 2019 5:12:00 GMT -7
In the Bible, the number 40 seems to be associated with a period of learning of some sort. I think in my case it represents the challenge to take the lessons learned and move out into a totally new time of walking with God and serving Him. I am afraid of failing, but God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and- of love and of a sound mind. 2 Tim. 1:7
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Post by savedbygrace on Jun 28, 2019 5:03:37 GMT -7
It's a very difficult line to draw. Did I look at that woman too long... allow my thoughts to stay there too long? Or did I immediately rebuke them and ask God's help?
As someone once said, temptation is like poison gas. It hurts.
We can't play with it; it will pull us all the way down if we let it.
So the object of the game is to run to God as fast as we can. And if our mind has lingered too long, just tell Him that. Ask Him to cleanse our minds with the washing of water by the Word. We must remember He is merciful and will help us get back on the path!
So even if the slip seems small, let us remember to run to Jesus right away: 1 John 1:9 also says he is faithful to CLEANSE!
As to how all this affects our sobriety date, I have no idea!
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teetop
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Post by teetop on Jul 24, 2019 7:38:24 GMT -7
Great question Dominic, though many never even think about it.
As you have pointed out below on Matt 5:27-30 so let us look at another set of scriptures.
Heb 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (My Emphasis)
Heb 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Do Not Grow Weary
Heb 12:3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Heb 12:4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
Heb 12:5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "MY SON, DO NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD, NOR BE DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU ARE REBUKED BY HIM;
Heb 12:6 FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."
Heb 12:7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
Heb 12:8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
Heb 12:9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
Heb 12:10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Heb 12:12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
Heb 12:13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
Heb 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
Heb 12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
Heb 12:16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.
Heb 12:17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
And when it comes to adultery those of us who have been married more than once while our first spouse is still alive thinking we are OK the Lord has told us differently and here are His very words:
Mat 5:27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.'
Mat 5:28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Mat 5:29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Mat 5:30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Divorce
Mat 5:31 "Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
Mat 5:32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. (NKJV) And again:
Mar 10:1 Getting up, He *went from there to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowds *gathered around Him again, and, according to His custom, He once more began to teach them.
Mar 10:2 Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife.
Mar 10:3 And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?"
Mar 10:4 They said, "Moses permitted a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY."
Mar 10:5 But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.
Mar 10:6 "But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE.
Mar 10:7 "FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER,
Mar 10:8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Mar 10:9 "What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."
Mar 10:10 In the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again.
Mar 10:11 And He *said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her;
Mar 10:12 and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery."
And still again:
Luk 16:18 "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery. (NASB)
Now to what extent does lust play a part in our remarrying another? And I would say everything on close examination, I would say everything. I would also think many more verses could be brought up about this very topic. I for one Know when my lust started in my life and now I am confronted by just how much and just how hard it is to flee from my youthful lusts. Let alone the object of my lust. And to how far it has drawn me done into a world of depravity. Yes, date setting to me is not letting God heal me but doing the battle myself. Virgil
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2019 20:03:18 GMT -7
Good points teetop.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2019 20:06:43 GMT -7
In the Bible, the number 40 seems to be associated with a period of learning of some sort. I think in my case it represents the challenge to take the lessons learned and move out into a totally new time of walking with God and serving Him. I am afraid of failing, but God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and- of love and of a sound mind. 2 Tim. 1:7 Yes, I believe this is true. For God has not given a spirit of fear, but of love, of power, and a sound mind. Jesus said, all things are possible with God. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2021 22:07:43 GMT -7
depending on God for all things. God please help us.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2021 5:27:51 GMT -7
I wrote that article then deleted my account. Oh well. I still don't think the sobriety date means much but it's good to have a measure how we are doing. I'm not saying it's ok to keep losing a sobriety date. No, I never want to act out again. But hanging on to a sobriety date as the whole means to the end, is not what I think Jesus wants me to do. I believe my Jesus wants 100% of of me which includes no lust period, not merely controlling an acting out experience.
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Post by Will on Jun 15, 2021 6:47:06 GMT -7
I agree it doesn't mean much. It's the past. Today is what counts. Was it Kevin who said that God spoke to Him and said 'I don't care about your sobriety date'. That instantly felt true to me.
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KevinesKay
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Post by KevinesKay on Jun 15, 2021 20:14:11 GMT -7
I agree it doesn't mean much. It's the past. Today is what counts. Was it Kevin who said that God spoke to Him and said 'I don't care about your sobriety date'. That instantly felt true to me. God doesn't give a flying hoot about my sobriety. Deeper within my flesh's desire to fornicate myself is my pride, which hid my toxic shame. God is way more concerned about pride and shame than my sexual sin which is a mere extension of the two. Mike's article ,"Sexual Sobriety isn't Enough", brings a lot of these points to light. |
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Post by Will on Jun 18, 2021 2:02:03 GMT -7
Hey Kevin,
is that article accessible online somewhere?
Thanks!
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KevinesKay
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Post by KevinesKay on Jun 18, 2021 5:09:57 GMT -7
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2021 5:38:37 GMT -7
Just counting the days of not stumbling it isn't enough and the Lord doesn't care about the number. When you are only counting the days, you are saying "look at what I can do." God wants you saying, "Look at what Christ can do!" Now, if you are using those days to encourage yourself to keep your eyes firmly planted on the Lord and give Him the glory, then you are doing it correctly. I don't remember the exact date of my last stumble just as I don't remember the exact date I was born again. I know it's been 10 plus years on both counts and the Lord gets the glory for it all because I couldn't do it on my own.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2021 2:45:41 GMT -7
Good points
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