Uncomfortable Truths – My desperate need for Christ

Posted by on November 18, 2011  |  No Comments

Most of society today is influenced with sensationalism. If it feels good, looks good, tastes good, satisfies me and doesn’t seem to be hurting anyone; it must be okay. Right?

There are some serious trickle down side effects from adopting such a life philosophy. Take a look at government spending. Or how about a long committed marriage that just went belly up because one of the partners caved in to carnal desires. Consider how the use of credit can often bankrupt the consumer ruining their creditable reputation and prevent them from buying homes, getting good insurance rates, etc. How about the diabetic that won’t give up sugar and lives in denial and then has to sacrifice a toe or a whole foot.

Or… in a Christian application this:  By not reaching out and sharing God’s true and saving gospel for EVERY sinner, we don’t fully and accurately represent Christ to those who are suffering and have every right to His saving redemption. This is an uncomfortable truth in churches that brings dishonor to God.  Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”  Jesus died for every sinner and we are commissioned to share His love, His compassion and His truth.

Many things in life without careful consideration, can lure us and tempt us. However, if we carefully consider some of the effects that  result by indulging; we wisely resist or refuse to partake.

Christianity is full of such ongoing choices. Remember Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

God … Almighty, loving, caring, powerful God… holds all the answers for His needy children, yet we don’t always seem to want His help or choose to obey His statutes.  This puts us in a peculiar and possibly terminal relationship with Jesus.  James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Truth can hurt! Truth can be uncomfortable. Our natural tendencies are heavily influenced by our sinful nature unless we take action with the power of choice that God gave us.  1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  Decision making is vital to our continuous relationship with Christ.

Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”  In today’s world I continually see people molding God around self. Trying to make Him earthly and comfortable. Trying to shape Him so that whatever we do serves self and there is not perceived need for change. Self absorption and self indulgence is taking over every where you look. And the effect of this preoccupation is devastating when meeting the contrast of someone who believes or feels differently.  Satan has diluted the perfect and Holy truth. He is pinning people against one another. Entire nations are at war with one another for even the most simple differences.

Romans 1:26 “That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.”

From birth, my natural… yet sinful inclinations were in developing affections with my same gender. What this natural or unnatural? Well… it was perfectly natural to me. But I was born in a sinful state just as we all are. Someone else may not have same-gender attraction, but is drawn to another overwhelming temptation that is uncontrollable without making choices under the influence and truth of Jesus Christ.

This is where great division has begun. Much in the same way as race and religious sects have become uproarious and turned people against one another, gay and homosexual rights are doing the same thing. This is a tool in the plan of the one acting as the great deceiver in the great controversy.  He believes that if he can stimulate large groups of unbelievers into twisting God’s Word, He can make God seem unfair and unjust.  He contends that it would make no sense and would actually be harmful to ones existence to act outside of what is “normal” or feels right to them. He would have us turn to total disregard for the written Word that God carefully and lovingly provided us.

James 4:4 “Do you not now that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

God has provided us with many stories and accounts of those who were given light or warned well in advance of a catastrophic event, only for us to see the human desire and lack of self denial to bring about ruin, punishment and death.

Love is blind. In measuring our desires to be loved and accepted, we…(I) are/was blinded to God’s pure love for me/us. I will never forget the day He “got through.”  It is because of that day that I urge believers never to give up and never to stop praying.  Love as Jesus loves. Unconditionally. Let Him reach out through you to one who has not yet seen His clear and saving truth.

It’s not a magic trick. It’s daily submission and a continual abiding in Him and a casting off of the seemingly natural things of the world that put us into a right relationship with Him.

Not just homosexuality, but any sin that detracts and distracts us from God’s Holy Word. We are souls being fought for. Call upon your heavenly father. Seek forgiveness daily and ask for His guidance. Surrender to His will in preparation for life in the kingdom. Reject the lies of Satan. Ask God for strength to make right decisions and to be drawn into the one and only relationship that weighs the outcome of your destiny.

God loves you and I dear brother or sister am compelled to share that love and saving grace with you, the way He shared it so generously with me.

REDEEMED – How I Love to Proclaim IT

Posted by on November 10, 2011  |  No Comments

This 3ABN interview just aired on Celebrating Life in Recovery with Cheri Peters and Wayne Blakely.

I’m working to stream it within in my blog, but am having some technical difficulties.

In the meantime, click HERE to view the interview on my video host site. I will be uploading other recent interviews and presentations soon.

Unity or Dissension

Posted by on November 5, 2011  |  No Comments

What a shame it is to observe those who proclaim their faith and their victory in Jesus, be the first to demonstrate discord and separation from those Christ deeply loves and is working His healing and personal convictions.

No Christian has an easy road to travel to the kingdom. I am daily reminded of my need to humble myself before God and man. We cannot expect to magically arrive in the kingdom of heaven one day without being taught by our heavenly father, the importance of unity and peace which comes directly from Jesus.

When we are in disagreement, victims of offense, or initiators of discord we need to instantly call upon Jesus for divine guidance, His comforting love and His strength to make right … intended or unintended harm to His precious children. We often forget the sensitive aspects of how we were created. Especially when we are in disagreement. It is so crucial that we consider the feelings of others as though we were feeling their pain personally.

Christian author Ellen White said; “Press together, is the command I hear from the Captain of our salvation. Press together. Where there is unity, there is strength. All who are on the Lord’s side will press together. There is need of perfect unity and love among believers in the truth, and anything that leads to dissension is of the devil. The Lord designs that his people shall be one with Him as the branches are one with the vine. Then they will be one with each other.” —Letter 6, 1899. {3SM 352.1}

“Dissension is of the devil.”  How quickly we come into his captivity without even realizing it. How long many are comfortable residing in discord, disagreement and the damage it exhibits. The counsel from God is clear.  Our God is one who tells us to keep our minds, decision making and our actions, stayed upon Him.  Proverbs 19:20 says:“Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.”

and Proverbs 27:17 says: “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

We cannot expect to stay sharp unless we are honest with one another. But only for the cause of unification. Not division. We must be so very careful in our interactions as faith believers to promote love and everything that represents the character of the one who has commissioned us.

“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17

I have observed and experienced the self-righteousness of others to a painful degree. But the more important lesson I am learning is to not become part of that dysfunction. While ill at ease feelings of discord and dissension might be  pressed upon me; I have a choice given to me by God as to whether or not I accept that discord or become acutely aware of the peace and safety that Jesus my savior promises me.

I need to walk in the light of Jesus continuously. Listen to His counsel and listen to the counsel of others, but only let it affect me when it is given under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Discernment is so very important as Satan creeps around like a lion ready to devour me and shift my focus off of Jesus onto self and the despair that might be currently imposed upon me.

The walk with the savior must always be guarded. At times of peace and contentment we might be easily subject to pride and self glorification. At times of despair we might be focused inwardly and affected by being distraught and failing to see the light and healing hand of Jesus.

I would like to challenge anyone who is reading to look to Jesus as your example. Would He harbor discord? Would He distance Himself  to impose guilt, discord, shame and dissension?  Or would He seek opportunity to lift one another up in love and concern?  Would He look for acts of kindness and ways that would enhance our walk and fill us with the Joy of the Lord?  How much more healing and comforting His ways are to all believers.

An Invitation to Victory – Wayne Blakely

Posted by on November 3, 2011  |  No Comments

The Word of God gives everyone of us a call to seek to do the will of God, rather than living a self-indulgent life controlled by worldly temptations.  It took nearly forty years for me to realize that God wants direct personal communication with us that continually grows and enhances our relationship with Him.

On Monday November 7, 2011 Cheri Peters of the 3ABN network will interview me and I will tell of my life-long struggle with same-sex attraction. Cheri Peters show is called Celebrating Life in Recovery.  The 3ABN network is here. If  3ABN does not broadcast on your cable service, you can download TVU Player and watch on-line.  

The broadcast is scheduled at the following times.  Monday November 7, 5:00 PM pacific time.  Tuesday November 8 at midnight pacific time and Thursday November 10th, at 9:00 AM pacific time.

The interview will then be posted on a page here on my web site.

My story is about living in the victory that Jesus offers every soul. Not by continuing to identify by the nature of temptation. That steals the focus of our heavenly power and strength. By identifying as a gay Christian or as homosexually oriented, Satan keeps an individual chained to failure and the allurements of earth.  But Jesus sets us free in the new identity He offers us when we give our life over to Him. A life as a “New Creature” in Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Recovery is hindered and when we don’t claim all that Jesus offers. By identifying my the temptation, many will be focused on failure instead of the victory that has already been paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Can you pray the gay away? Absolutely!  It is in fact that continual prayer that insures freedom. A constant turning over of self to Jesus is what He asks of all of us. Abiding in Him and submitting our will to Him.  Continual prayer and talking to Christ is what removes the gay identity. Jesus does not tell us anywhere to present ourselves as the nature of our temptation. Or we would have “adulterating Christians,” “gossiping Christians,” “prideful Christians,” “murdering Christians,” etc. 

When we repent and confess our sins to Him, He washes us clean and we are that “New Creature” in Jesus. We are not sexually oriented, but claiming Jesus as our orientation. My identity in Jesus is no longer driven by sexual orientation, but by faith and trust in the one who possesses the power to set me free from the temptations of this world.

Is sexual sacrifice too much? At what cost is heaven too much? These are questions that every sinner must contemplate, evaluate and make their decision. We don’t have to be heterosexual or homosexual. We only need to focus on Jesus and follow His individual plan for us.

His freedom is offered to all who will accept it.  This is not the popular road. This does not get the social support and affirmations that are so important to so many people. This gets the approval and empowerment of Jesus Christ.

If you are seeking this healing and redemptive experience, please don’t hesitate to contact me. If you are a pastor or religious leader who is wanting to breach this topic with your congregation, please contact me. The amazing facts are that the tools to recovery and redemption are parallel to any sin.

I am happy to speak to anyone one on one in order to further the understanding, joy and redemption offered to all.

God bless you… let Him reach your heart today.

Wayne Blakely  knowgreaterlove@comcast.net