Sexual Sins

 I am reading in Revelation and am curious about the teaching of the Nicolaitans and Balaam. A warning was given to a couple of the churches against following these teachings. Eating things offered to idols and sexual immorality. Balaam had advised Balak that he could conquer Israel by influencing them to commit sexual immorality. If you go to the old testament and find the story of a donkey talking, that is Balak that is striking the donkey when the donkey refuses to go forward. The donkey sees an angel Balak does not see. Also, there is mention of Jezebel and teaching sexual immorality in this chapter of Revelation. We have seen the modern church today accept the morality of the world in many ways. Homosexuality is one of those teachings the modern world is accepting as normal behavior. We see in our society today that living together outside of marriage is commonplace. I too allowed this in my life. I married quickly often because of fornication, thinking it is better to marry than to burn. I participated in this sin of adultery/fornication several times in my life. So I don't write as one who has not sinned. It was an issue for me. It is an issue for the church at large today as it has become acceptable in our society and often it seems our society has more success at changing us that we do at changing our society. It is clear that God hates these doctrines. God tried to keep Israel from sinning and destroyed many peoples to keep Israel safe. I think we would be wise to try and understand God's teachings and not conform to the way society is leading us.  God is warning these churches in Revelation that have done some good things but have strayed in what they allow in their groups.  God hates these behaviors, Sexual immorality,  eating meats offered to Idols.  I am having trouble understanding the meats offered to Idols as the Jews did have dietary laws but I thought that the teachings in the New Testament allowed this as the dream Peter had to call nothing unclean.  But that dream also had to do with opening up the gospel to the Gentiles.  But sexual immorality as far as I see from old and new testament has never been OK.  At least in this country, I don't think we have an issue with meats offered to Idols.I think in some of Paul's writings we were advised not to eat meats offered to an idol if it caused our brother to stumble. Now immorality is a problem in the church with regards to sexual immorality.  Homosexuality is commonplace anymore as is living together outside of marriage. Casual sex between unmarried individuals is acceptable in our society. Almost any TV show today promotes sexual immorality.  I continued to attend church with this immoral behavior in my life. I struggled with it and prayed many a prayer asking to be forgiven. I married quickly because of this sin in my life. Having disastrous results in my marriages for a time.  We weren't compatible many times and I went through 4 divorces in 11 years. Talk about learning the hard way. This warning about sexual immorality is given to the churches in the second chapter of  Revelation. We would be wise to heed this warning and change our behavior because it says God hates this sin. He loves us but hates the sin. He loved me through this difficult time in my life. God helps us even in times of trouble. I will never forget the time in Tacoma when I was driving down Park street praying about divorce. I was in my shortest marriage. We had gotten evicted from my apartment in Renton after just one month of marriage. I suspected she was cheating on me. I had moved to Tacoma and my spouse had also moved to Tacoma and lived about 8 blocks from me. I was driving that particular Saturday morning praying about my situation as I drove. I felt I was being cheated on and had filed for divorce but was having difficulty getting the divorce. I knew God hates divorce, but my wife did not want to divorce and fought it. So I was confused about what I should do. Was I too hasty in wanting a divorce?  I still felt like she was cheating on me. I prayed to God I don't know what to do. I can't see what you see, but what should I do. Do I drop this divorce and try to reconcile, I still feel like she is cheating on me.  As I drove I felt impressed to drive one block over so as to not drive in front of the place my spouse was staying. I was about the fourth car in line at the stop sign at 56th and Park. I saw my spouse walking across the street in front of me at the stop sign. As far as I know, she did not see me. I watched as she got into a van at the gas station. I recognized the van and could see the license plate and knew it was the guy I thought she was cheating on me with.  This voice in my mind says I showed you this so you would know. Don't go over there and make a fool of yourself. I had peace about seeking my divorce after that prayer.  Even though I foolishly got myself into that mess God still helped me through it. God loves us in spite of our sins and will help us. That was not the end of my struggle but God continued to help me.  God bless, LVZ. 

 This prayer is like those stones Israel set up as a reminder of God's faithfulness. I think of it often how God helped me in that time of trouble and answered that prayer as I was still driving and praying about my troubles.