Christian Living

Part 17 Overcoming

by james rondinone 
01/09/16
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●Benefitting Another in Love

●For When We See Him, We Shall Be Like Him                                                                 

   This is the final chapter on “Overcoming”. Each of us has passions or propensities to sin. How can we address those tendencies that involve perpetrating physical or sexual abuse on someone else? God always provides a way for us to be victorious in any area of weakness. What is His prescription for us?

Benefitting Another in Love

Rape

The unlawful compelling of a person through physical force or duress to have sexual intercourse.

An act of plunder, violent seizure, or abuse.

Physical Abuse

To commit sexual assault on.

To treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way102.

   Rape is perpetrated in order to gratify one’s sexual desires, irrespective of the well being of the victim. Rape is a self-centered act, precipitated by self-centered thoughts.

   I don’t think that finding the reason or reasons behind why a person committed rape upon another will allow that person to be able to find a solution or cure for his/her tendencies. I believe that the solution to being driven by one’s carnal desires is to receive the desires of another, namely the desires of the Holy Spirit. This mandates that a person must be born again. To be born again means to believe in Jesus Christ as our personal savior. This belief in him includes that:

   He is God, who left heaven and came to earth in the form of a man;

   He was born of a virgin;

   He lived a sinless life;

   He died on a cross paying the penalty for the sins of the whole world.

   He forgave the world of all of their sins;

   He rose from the dead after 3 days;

   He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father;

   He gives the Holy Spirit to anyone who believes in Him.

   When we receive the Holy Spirit, we have an opportunity to walk in a different power source than our own. But this is not enough. We also need to have a change of mind. This change of mind occurs by thinking anew, according to the word of God. As we think in a Godly manner, we will be Godly empowered. The strength of sin, in this case rape, will be diminished. The evil cravings and desires will be weakened. Eventually, we will learn to rely on God’s word and power on a daily basis. When we sin mentally, we will be able to recognize it, confess it to God, replace it with divine viewpoint, and subsequently be strengthened with God’s might.

   Do you want to be set free in this area?

   Believe in Jesus, receive the Holy Spirit, learn and apply His word, and you will operate in a love that is no longer self-serving, but self-sacrificing.

Amnon, Tamar, Absalom, and King David

Suggested Reading: 2 Samuel 13:1-39

   One of King David’s sons, the eldest named Amnon, who was next in line to the throne, was infatuated with his half-brother Absalom’s sister. Through the help of his cousin Jonadab, a plan was devised so that he could have sexual relations with her. Amnon was to pretend that he was sick and lay in bed. When his father King David would eventually come and visit him, he would tell him to have his half-sister Tamar visit him, and make some food  for his nourishment. The plan worked.

   When Tamar came to visit Amnon, he told all of the men servants to leave so that he could enjoy the meal with his sister. Being left alone with Tamar, he expressed to her his love and desire to have relations with her. She told him that the proper way for them to have a relationship would be to ask King David to give her in marriage. He did not heed her advice, but forced himself upon her. After having raped her, he sent her away.

   Her brother Absalom found out about this incident and decided to wait for two years in order to revenge his sister. He would invite all of the king’s sons to a feast. It would be during this time that Absalom’s servants would rise up and kill Amnon.

Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous and be valiant. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded... (2 Samuel 13:28-29)

   Amnon was obsessed with his half-sister. It sounds to me like he was constantly thinking about how he could spend time with her and, presumably, this centered around thoughts concerning having a sexual relationship with her. The scriptures don’t express that he had any reservations about having a relationship with his half-sister based on the restrictions of the Mosaic Law. The Mosaic Law prohibited: sexual relations between a brother and sister; marriage between a brother and sister; and the rape of a sister by her brother.

   This indicates that he either had no knowledge of God’s commands or, if he did, he chose not to think about and obey them. After discussing the cause of his depression with his cousin Jonadab, which related to his inability to get alone with his half sister Tamar, his cousin came up with a devious plan that would allow him to be alone with her for the purpose of having sex with her. Amnon didn’t look at this plan as being inappropriate. Asking the servants to leave when the time was right, clearly indicates that this action was premeditated.

   When the time was right, he forced himself upon her, after realizing that she would not consent to sexual relations. She rejected his sexual advance, but he would not take no for an answer. After he had his way with her, he booted her out of his house. He had no regard for her well-being. He got what he wanted and discarded her like trash.

   Because there was no one in the house to be a witness to this rape, he must have thought that if she told others about it that no one would believe her. It would be her word against his. Some commentators state that because she was no longer a virgin, it is possible that no marriage was ever contracted for her, and thus she might have remained unmarried for the rest of her life. Little did Amnon know that the punishment for this crime would be his very life, which would be taken from him within two years by Tamar’s brother, Absalom.

   All of us have propensities in different areas. Some have more than others. The issue isn’t how many do I have, but how can these propensities, weaknesses, or passions be addressed? Is there a way for these tendencies to no longer have rule overus?

   Some believe that people can have control over their tendencies by getting counseling. Others believe that they can get control of their tendencies by cutting off those occasions which tend to stimulate unholy dispositions, such as avoiding those places and people that re-excite them. And still others believe that if you attend and participate in a church activity, this will help you in your tendency because your mind and body will be engaged in other things. I’m not saying that none of these approaches can’t help, but I don’t believe that any of these approaches can truly deal with the root problem, which is our sin nature.

   I believe that continual victory over any tendency must start from within. As believers in Christ we can be kept secure within, although thoughts and passions are trying to besiege us, by firmly establishing our thoughts on God. When we think upon God’s word, we are rewarded with divine peace. This peace refers to inner tranquility. Inner tranquility includes blessings such as wholeness, health, quietness of soul, preservation, and completeness.

   When the love of the Holy Spirit is operating in our lives, we will no longer be exhibiting a self-centered, self-gratifying love, but we will exhibit a love toward others that is self-sacrificing. This means that we are looking out for the welfare of others, including their financial, spiritual, and physical (health) well-being. How does the love of the Holy Spirit become operational in our lives, by continually keeping God’s word (all that he has made known to us as his will in regard to our conduct)? As we think upon scriptures that reveal to us God’s mind in any area of weakness, the love of the Holy Spirit will be realized in us. As a result, the imperfect state of our mind, which was so because of wrong thoughts, will now be overcome by One who is perfect.

   You might be thinking, I don’t understand it. I go to church and am still having a problem with a tendency or tendencies. I don’t know what to do. Ask yourself, are you being taught to think with the mind ofChrist? If you are, then are you appropriating the mind of Christ foryourself? Experiencing daily deliverance from a tendency doesn’t occurjust because we go to church. Daily deliverance comes from intenseeffort on our part. This refers to working out our own salvation withfear and trembling.

   Cherishing and cultivating the influences of the Holy Spirit in our lives, being under his control and power, will truly provide happiness on a daily basis. Don’t give up. God’s word is the divine prescription which God has provided for us that we can partake of on a daily basis. And when we do we will no longer be controlled by our sin nature, but by God’s divine nature.

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. Matthew 5:29

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1 John 2:5

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Romans 8:13

   By hearing God’s word, memorizing it, and applying it as soon as we wake up in the morning and whenever we can throughout our day, we will experience a renewal in our mind. The areas of mental weakness will be replaced with divine viewpoint. As we purpose to think anew we will continue to grow in Christ-likeness, and when the time comes for us to depart from this earthly realm we will proceed directly to heaven where we will see Jesus who will see us to be like him.

FOR WHEN WE SEE HIM, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM

   The way you live is determined by what you think. Those who are habitually dominated by the indwelling sinful nature have their minds controlled by what their body wants. Those who are Spirit-filled live as the Holy Spirit tells them to live and think only about what the Spirit wants. They seek those feelings and views which the Holy Spirit produces, and follow his leadings. When the mind is controlled by the evil nature, the result is misery. When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, the result is life, joy (a happy life filled with every kind of blessing) and peace (rest and contentment in the circumstances in which we encounter). God’s peace is a state of freedom that allows us to be free from anxiety and inner turmoil. This peace is completely beyond all power of human comprehension.

   As you think with God’s mind in place of your area of mental weakness day by day, God will provide you with Himself. Your heavenly destiny with its permeation of God’s presence will become more and more a reality in your life, here and now. You are an overcomer in God’s eyes. Build yourself up in the Lord on a daily basis and you will experience the victory that overcomes the world — your faith.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:24

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith,… (Jude 20)

… and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)

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