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Posted: 05/19/2009 at 12:15pm
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Ezekiel 8:7 - 12 (NKJV) So He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, there was a hole in the wall. 8 Then He said to me, “Son of man, dig into the wall”; and when I dug into the wall, there was a door. 9 And He said to me, “Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there.” 10 So I went in and saw, and there—every sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls. 11 And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in their midst stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up. 12 Then He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’”
Ezekiel 8:12 (KJV) Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
Luke 17:20 - 21 (NKJV) Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21. nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
Romans 14:17 (KJV) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
What is reaching for us? What are the things that have us? That which is well concealed is still visible to God. The Lord is reaching for the hidden things of our hearts and minds. You may allow yourself indulgences of the “Lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, or pride of life” but the Lord knows. He is aware of our thoughts and is conscious of the unholy tolerances we afford ourselves.
Our society is saturated with sexual content through television. Soap operas and sitcoms expose us to unethical and unprincipled lifestyles that oppose healthy spiritual life. “Who done its”, de-synthesize us to death and the sanctity of life.
The computer/internet has created ready access to some of the darkest perversions of man. The amoral, immoral, depraved, and the ungodly are available through this media. When accessed and allowed these things become painted on the “chambers of our imagery”.
Be wise children of God. An unintentional event can become the snare of your life. And the occasional indulgence will strip you of your honor and holiness. You will find yourself sitting in a stupor while others are being blessed by the presence of the Lord. You will find yourself filled with shame and feeling unworthy of anything from God. You will find your spiritual effectiveness and “Kingdom” destiny placed on pause unless this door is shut deliberately and quickly.
Social networks and email are portals of opportunity to the dissatisfied and wandering heart. How harmless sharing the details of our lives with one another seems. Clear bounds and restraints must be kept in place. Otherwise, unholy alliances and ungodly soul ties will develop. Just as romance novels nurture unrealistic views of love. The person who is writing you can take on any form they choose. Flattery is as cheap as words and as deadly as porno. Comparing the wounds of one’s heart can become spiritually lethal. Even sharing the depth of our spiritual journey can become a doorway to the enemy. Don’t be deceived if you need help ask for it. We must shut the door to these toxic venues. They are death to us.
The “Kingdom of God” isn’t all about what is seen on the surface. It has to do with the inner workings of our hearts. The Lord is reaching for the hidden things of our hearts. He is ready to help us clean up and become vessels of honor. One of the best means of doing this is by us bringing our sin into the LIGHT. 1 John 1:8 (KJV) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10.If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
I’ve found that God is willing to do surgery on and bring healing to the things I bring into the light. I’ve also found because the Father loves us, He will not allow hidden sin to remain hidden forever. Many times men won’t come to the light for fear of the consequences. Better are some consequences and healing within, than role playing and pretending for the rest of our lives. Better to take a whipping deliberately than to be exposed publicly for deep wickedness. I have also found our Father to be tenderly gracious when I humbly cry out.
We had better learn how to receive and help one another without judgment and rejection. No one is immune to the temptation of man. The hand that is reaching to us may be the hand that is able to reach for us in the hour of our need.
I love you Church,
Bro Cleve
website
Sorry about formatting problems.
Some more of "The Chambers of Imagery"
Approximately 75 men were gathered and it was time for worship to begin. I watched as the leader dropped his head and rested his hands on the strings of his guitar. It was almost as though time began to slow down. He started to pray, in a measured, deliberate tone taking time that would normally have been relegated to his musical gift. I asked the Lord, "What is he doing"? The Spirit of the Lord immediately responded, "He is worshipping". That satisfied my mind and I moved deeper into the prayer with him and listened intently.
Suddenly, he began to weep and confess that he, a married man, had taken an interest in a young woman, that wasn't his wife. There had been no prayer but his, no preaching, music, invitation, coercion, or etc. Yet because of his integrity toward the Father, this brother had to get free … before proceeding. The "Fear of the Lord" and the Holiness of God left this brother with only two options; “Repent, and do it now” or “Stand in the strength of your gift as a pretender and usurper”. He was faced with the reality of the “Living God” and the embarrassment of his admission. Yet, he made the right choice.
In these moments everyone at meeting was confronted with the integrity of this brother’s heart. The "Spirit of the Lord" had defined to me what he was doing, "He is worshipping". As soon as his public confession and prayer ended another brother moved to the front. He confessed that he had battled pornography since a child of 4 when he had been exposed to a Chick porno track. With weeping and sobbing the brothers confessed their iniquities and then asked me to come and lead the group in a prayer of deliverance.
As an innocent child I was immersed in a world of perversion by the older and stronger. All through my teen years I battled the dark wickedness brought on by yielding to youthful lusts. I was so conflicted between the knowledge of right and this dark way, I considered suicide regularly. Ephesians 2:4 - 6 (KJV) 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: I don’t understand God’s love for me. He loved me when I could not love myself.
In His mercy He sent someone who wasn’t afraid to address the dark issues of perversion. He called those dark things by name and led us in a prayer of confession and taking authority over those things in the name of Jesus. Then we commanded those things to release us and to go from us in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. All praise be to my Lord Jesus, I was set marvelously free of the bondages and the shame that had tormented me. For 30 plus years I have enjoyed the freedom that I could not attain by discipline or will power or even by prayer. I learned what it meant to draw near the Lord and cry out for mercy and He heard me. I learned that man cannot free himself neither can he keep himself. He can only be kept in the center of the will of God by the wonderful grace of the Lord. That is the reason it is imperative to have a living relationship with Him and to draw near daily.
I asked Him once what to do about some things in my life that I knew needed to change. He said, “Son, Draw near to me”. I said, “But what about these things in my life”? “Son, draw near and I will deal with those things.” I did and I learned what the scripture meant “Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit says the Lord”. Freedom for me was found in the “manifold wisdom of God” brought to me by a brother in the Lord. However, the ability to live free and maintain a productive spiritual life is found daily at the feet of Jesus.
I moved to the front of the group with the consolation of my freedom. There is nothing concealed that won’t be brought into the light. What we think is well hidden is still visible to our God. I addressed the abominations that the elders of Israel did in the “chambers of imagery”. God knew right where they were and all they did in secret. If what we do remains in the dark it has power over us. The hidden things have power to control us. However, “if we walk in the light as he is in the light …..
1 John 1:5 - 9 (KJV) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Isaiah 26:13 - 14 (KJV) O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. 14 They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.
TMSG vs 14 “
The dead don’t talk, ghosts don’t walk, Because you’ve said, “Enough—that’s all for you,” and wiped them off the books”.
I believe the confession of our sin is an Act of True Worship. We must humble ourselves to do that. And by doing so we are declaring; “We believe our God is Faithful and Just to forgive us and Cleanse us of all.” God will do surgery on and bring freedom to the things that we will not let remain in the dark. Other masters have ruled over us but God. You are our only Lord, Jesus. We will serve no other gods before you.
As we gave opportunity to get free of other gods that had taken dominion over the lives of the men some 90% stood to repent. We called out the names of those gods. We bound them and commanded them to go in the name of Jesus our Lord. Then we declared our freedom. Not because we are good. It is because our Lord is good!! Not because we are worthy. It is because our Lord is worthy. Not because we are able. It is because our God is ABLE.
Yes, we began that day with WORSHIP. Not that which is normally expected or done by pattern but that which pleased God. Come on brothers and sisters let us WORSHIP together and be free.
I Love You Church,
Bro Cleve
clevesharp.com
Edited by Cleve Sharp on 05/26/2009 at 9:47am
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Grace and Peace
Bro Cleve Sharp
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Topic: "The Chambers of Imagery"
