What is a 'pet sin'?

It would be something you feed.  

The best way to think about it is a dog begging under the table.  Sometimes it does the cutest thing or whines and you give in and toss a scrap.  You know you shouldn't…it's not the best for him, but you do it because you feel it's showing him love.  But after awhile, the dog is overweight and this misguided show of affection has trained you both into a wicked cycle…the dog expects it now and you feel guilty if you don't give in.

It's that way with how our carnal man sides with demons & the sin.

It takes an 'overhaul' to get out of that rut.  

Do not despair, cycles do take some reprogramming, re-training and actively exercising and walking it out in conforming to Christ Jesus.  Even Paul attests:

"For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate." Romans 7:15

Instead of believing the lie (looking at those begging eyes), you stand confidently and say 'No'… and side with the Word of truth.  If you fall, get back up and continue on.  Eventually, when the pet sin raises it's ugly head you will catch it sooner and sooner... you will go from walking 2 steps with it to immediately recognizing it's initial whimper and call it down.  And one day... you will confidently testify, minister and help others to be free in that area as well!

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Birds, Bees, 'Coming of Age', What Happens Spiritually? Pt1

This video (and series) is about what happens around the time of puberty or 'age of reason', from a spiritual standpoint. The time where you transition from being under Mom and Dad's spiritual wing; from innocence into accountability.
You don't have a free ticket to heaven anymore... you know too much. You're accountable for your own sin now. You have to receive Jesus for yourself; your own personal relationship. Not the one of your parents.
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Being a teen is a tumultuous time, especially spiritually. You just popped up on the enemy's radar. When the enemy would look down before he'd only see Mom & Dad's covering, but now he sees this new dot next to them. And if the enemy can entice you and get you to sin and then condemn yourself straight out the gate... if he can get you to believe his lies instead of the truth... if he can't turn you from Jesus, he can tap you off from Greater Works and moving in the power of Jesus. Essentially a saved but powerless Christian. Well, we don't want that... we want alllll the promises of God manifest in our lives!

The first attacks for those coming out from under Mom & Dad's wing are most notably of 'the flesh'.

As a child, a baby... you cry when you need something, whether a diaper change, food or love... and that need was taken care of by an adult. In your exodus from a child into adulthood, satan's first line of attack is appealing to the basest of our physical needs. In Luke 4:1-2 we find out that Jesus having just been baptized, goes immediately into the wilderness for forty days.

(Luke 4:2b) "And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry."

What was the first attack? Remember, it was a challenge to satisfy that base need of hunger in turning Stones to Bread.
Jesus answers satan in this attack by saying:

"One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God."

What can we learn? As we come out from under Mom and Dad, it's not our circumstances or what people say that matters, but it's what God says that alone is the truth. And this can be comforting... because some of you out there have had a rough childhood... Mom or Dad may have not been around... you may have been hurt by people in authority positions, or even at church that speak the gospel but then don't follow it's instruction. As a child you had to go with what you were given; your parents or caregivers will have to account for what they did or didn't do in your care. Even though you're accountable on your own now don't feel your youth disqualifies you... what did young David do?

1Sa 17:26 "Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, 'What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?'"

David didn't look at the circumstances... when the bear charged or the lion... He believed God and could ignore Goliath's taunts because of God's promises and truth. The Bible is your benchmark now... so invest spending time building relationship with God, so you can stand confidently when Goliath comes to taunt you!

In my next video, I'd like to go more in-depth with how satan first attacks using temptations with our base physical needs. And this is a key time because we go beyond those base needs of love, care and food... in maturing, we have the addition of sexual maturation, which keeps the human race going, right? The thing is, is that satan will use this new thing that you don't quite understand... bodily changes and the hormonal mood swings... he'll try to use all that to confuse you and get you to defile yourself... turning what God says is good and holy and natural into something dark, dirty and a vice that satan can use to condemn you and make you feel like you can't have restored relationship with Father God after you've heartily repented. Even if it's too late and you already screwed up... let's know that Jesus offers us complete forgiveness with no condemnation...


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A Bible Study for Boys - Spiritual Tips 5

A great Bible Study for Boys!

Boys have great energy, so how can we funnel that energy and interest into digging into the Word and conforming to His image?

Use the first 3 movies from Star Wars (episodes 1,2 & 3), in paralleling Anakin Skywalker's steady downfall into negative fruits alongside of Galatians 5:19-25.

Get your dictionary handy as well, as you read through those nasty fruits in Galatians, you'll be mining through each one with that dictionary to really get the kids to understand what each one really means.  Then, talk about the movie(s) and encourage the kids to pick out scenes that show that bad fruit in action so that they can begin to grasp by an example  (in Anakin).

Not only does this study grasp their interest, but it encourages them to discern and teaches them to investigate based on the Word of God.

Galatians 5:16-25 (New American Standard Bible)

 16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

 17For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

 19Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,

 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,

 21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

 24Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
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