sanctification – GRABBING THE GOOGLE GEN FROM GEHENNA MISSION / DUKE JEYARAJ h

Rev. Dr. Duke Jeyaraj

If it is not possible to overcome besetting sin in our lives as believers, the Bible will not even call us for it. But it does! Hear the writer of the letter to the Hebrews: “Therefore, seeing we also are compassed by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 KJ21).

There are those who are merely satisfied with the cleansing work of the Cross. Does the Cross cleanse us from sin? Of course! Apostle John wrote, “the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all Sin” (I John 1:7 ESV).

The Cross of Christ does more than just PURIFICATION. It gives us POWER over habitual sin. The Cross of Christ does more than just WASH away sin. It gives us the wherewithal to WALLOP sin! The Cross of Christ does more than just CLEAN sin. It enables us to CRUSH sin’s grasp over us!

The connection between the Cross of Christ and victory over besetting sin is so clearly established in Scripture that we will have to be stone-blind or be heavily influenced by cultic hyper-grace hell-populating teaching not to notice it.

Apostle Peter expressed it clearly. He wrote, “He(Christ) himself bore our sins on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” (I Peter 2:24 ESV). Apostle Paul penned the same thing using different words and imagery: “Those who belong to Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). And when he wrote in Galatians 6:14, “the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and to the world” he was saying this: “thanks to the deep work of the Cross in my life, the besetting sin of worldliness is now dead (crucify here means death) in me!” Jesus died so that we might have victory over sin in our day to day lives.

Let me talk about various “P”s that help us understand how the blood of Christ gives us victory over daily, besetting sin.

PEACE & THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

Prophet Isaiah wrote, “the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him” (Isaiah 53:5). When we choose to sin against the Lord as a believer, the first result is a loss of peace. The knowledge that we will lose our peace when we sin should strongly deter us from walk down the familiar path of sin. Yes, that journey to watch a web series full of erotic scenes is not worth it for it destroys our peace which was given to us because of the work of the Cross. Yes, that online affair outside the boundaries of marriage is not simply worth it because our serenity goes for a Six (to borrow a Cricket imagery)! Apostle Paul wrote, “we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us” (Romans 5:1 NLT) on the Cross. “When I commit a wanton wickedness against my Lord, my peace will go for a huge Six. I don’t want that to happen. So, I will overcome the temptation before me by tapping into the power of the Holy Spirit!” That is what we should say. That is what we should do.

PRECIOUSNESS & THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

The Bible says, “You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ” (I Peter 1:18-19). When we realize the preciousness of the blood of Christ, we will realize how atrocious it is when we keep returning to same old sin (that porn-watching, that drunkenness, that abusive language, etc.).

Hosea’s wife left him to go to the Red Light area for prostitution. But that did not put a red light (stop) on his love for her. He bought back his wife from the Red Light District operators by paying 15 pieces of silver, five bushels of barley and a measure of wine (Hosea 3:2). These things were by no means cheap those days. They were very expensive. Exodus 21:32 and Zechariah 11:12 tells us that the price of slave in the Jewish slave market was 30 shekels of silver. Translate that into today’s world where to ‘buy’ a kidney also you need to shell out a bomb. Imagine the price of one full individual, then! Hosea paid this monstrous amount, part in silver (15 pieces), part in agricultural produce (five bushels of barley and a measure of wine). After redeeming her, Hosea told her not to return to the Red Light area as a prostitute (Hosea 3:3). She had to put a ‘red light’ (stop) on her life of sin having experienced a love from her husband which did not stop even though she went into the red light area! Having been bought with something far more precious that Prophet Hosea paid for his wife, which is the precious blood of Jesus, we must also take efforts to overcome sin. Since we were “bought” with a price – the utterly precious blood of Jesus – we must glorify God in our body, the Apostle Paul wrote (I Corinthians 6:20). We must stay away from sinful habits that destroy our souls and bodies – torrid habits such as masturbation coupled with porn-watching, alcohol/drug consumption, sexual activity outside marriage, etc.

THE PROFANING & THE BLOOD OF JESUS

The author of the book of Hebrews wrote these powerful lines: “How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God, and profaned blood of the covenant by he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of Grace?” (Hebrews 10:29 RSV). And when do we profane the blood of Christ? The same author answers this question very directly: “when we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth” (Hebrews 10:26 NIV). So, when we are tempted to watch that profane web series that is showing in that popular streaming service (Netflix and the likes) we must tell ourselves this: “If I watch that, I would profane the precious blood of Jesus which I do not want to do. So, I will overcome that temptation empowered by the Spirit!”

Yes, it is possible to beat besetting sin through the blood of Jesus!

THE PERSECUTION & THE BLOOD OF JESUS

John observed in the Book of Revelation this: “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not lives even unto death” (Rev. 12:11). Yes, end-time believers overcame “the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world” (Rev. 12:9) through the blood of the Lamb (the Lord Jesus Christ). The Devil tried to threaten these believers with severe persecution but because they were inspired by the blood of the Lamb they did not “love their lives so much that they were afraid of death” (EXB version of Rev. 12:11). Jesus was extremely bold as he marched toward the Cross. While his disciples ran helter-skelter when the Roman arrest party came, he very boldly marched towards them saying, “I am he (the one you have come to arrest)!” (John 18:4-6). His bold voice threw the arrest party on the floor. They were flabbergasted. He was that bold! So, his blood gives us the courage in the face of persecution that can came to us for saying ‘no’ to sin. Therefore when we say ‘no’ to sin inspired by the blood of Jesus this complaint that the writer to the Hebrews made about his congregation will be no longer true about us: “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Hebrews 12:4 RSV). Instead of compromising with sin trying to escape the brickbats, inspired by the blood of the Lamb we will conquer sin despite the onslaught of severe persecution which may come from the Government, from your boss in the place of work.

Keep connecting the above-mentioned four “P”s – Peace, Preciousness, Profaning, Persecution – with the Cross of Christ! Habitual sin, which the Bible clearly warns us against (I John 3:6), will be a thing of the past!

This article was published in Evangelical Fellowship of India’s AIM magazine (April 2021 edition). Rev. Dr. Duke Jeyaraj, is the founder of Grabbing the Google Generation from Gehenna Mission. He has preached by invitation in over 20 Indian States and in five nations, in a ministry that has spread over three decades. His book, STRAIGHT TALK (on Sex, Love, Marriage, Porn, Sexting, Phone Addiction, wise life partner choice, happy marriage, and More), is seen by some as a Reference Text Book on what the Bible has to say on these Taboo Topics, and is available on Amazon and Google Books. Alternatively, you can reach out to him via WhatsApp at 91-8886040605 or email to emailduke@gmail.com to buy a copy.

SHOCKING EXCUSES FOR A SECRET SEXUAL AFFAIR OFFERED SUPPOSEDLY BY A PREACHER BIBLICALLY UNPACKED

Duke Jeyaraj

In what was the most widely read PDF read by believers world-over in recent times these terribly shocking lines appeared: ‘She reported that he made her pray with him to thank God for the “opportunity” they both received. She said he called her his “reward” for living a life of service to God, and he referenced the “godly men” in the Bible with more than one wife. She said he warned her not ever to speak out against him or she would be responsible for the “millions of souls” whose salvation would be lost if his reputation was damaged.’

Those were lines supposedly used by a world-famous evangelist, allegedly, to convince a woman into having a sexual relationship with him. Let’s unpack these lines in the light of the Bible using sound Bible interpretation principles.

NOT A GOD-GIVEN OPPORTUNITY

First of all, sexual activity outside marriage it is not a God-given opportunity. Only the false teacher we read about in the Book of Revelation could see sexual immorality as a God-given opportunity. These are the words of Christ – words of stern rebuke – about this woman preacher who was part of the church at Thyatira: ‘Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So, I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds’ (Rev. 2:20-23 NIV). Jesus does not consider sexual immorality as an opportunity to thank God for, as this fallen preacher allegedly made it to be in his private conversations with the woman, he had a secret sexual relationship with. Instead, Jesus reserved the sternest words of judgement on the woman who was leading God’s people into immorality by teaching a twisted theology.

NOT A GOD-SENT REWARD FOR DOING ONE’S MINISTRY DUTY

Second, sex outside of marriage, can never be a ‘reward for living a life of service to God’ (as this celebrated preacher allegedly made it to be). In fact, the Bible teaches, God need not even save us from sin, should he choose to do that. Hear the Lord God’s words as recorded by Prophet Zephaniah: “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger” (Zeph. 2:3, NIV). Don’t miss the word ‘perhaps’ in the above quoted verse. That tells us even salvation of the soul cannot be demanded by anyone from the Lord God. If we are saved, it is because of God’s sovereign will and demonstrated grace. Read Joel 2:13 and 14. Our ‘rending of hearts’ does not ‘qualify’ us to receive God’s forgiveness. God forgives us because he chooses to respond in grace and mercy. “Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing!” so says Joel 2:14 (NIV). The phrase “who knows” and “may turn” tells us that nothing we do – even the very noble act of ‘rending of our hearts’ – puts God under any sort of compulsion to do anything for us. God is never in debt to us, no matter what we do for Him, including good quality ministry (which this preacher most definitely did). If we are in the ministry and do it reasonably well, we have nothing to boast. We boast on nothing, except the cross of Christ (Gal. 6:14). When this is the case, it is ridiculous to think sexual immorality can be a reward for living a life of service to God. On the contrary, the Bible teaches that the Lord will bring judgement upon those who pervert the grace of God into a license for immorality (Jude 3). The Bible proclaims a “woe” on such preachers (Jude 11). The Bible warns that the “blackest darkness” of hell is reserved for such ministers of the Gospel (Jude 13; Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30).

NO GOD-GIVEN PERMISSION FOR POLYGAMY

Third, there is nothing in the Bible which can make us think that God would be okay with it, if we have more than one spouse (as this fallen evangelist supposedly argued to convince a woman to have a sexual relationship with him). This is not only a case of plain sexual immorality but also a clear-case of Scripture-twisting for personal convenience. Clear passages of the Old Testament are enough to teach us that God’s will for humankind is this: one man marries one woman and they both stay faithful to each other. We don’t even need to go to the New Testament to grasp this. Genesis 2:24 says, “a” man (one man) “leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife” (not wives). Psalm 128:3 says, “Your wife (not wives) will be like a fruitful wine.” Malachi 2:14 says, “The Lord is the witness between you and the wife (not wives) of your youth”. Malachi 2:15 says, “Do not be unfaithful to the wife (not wives) of your youth”. Let’s get back to sound Bible interpretation! Let’s get back to holy living!

NO CALL FOR SUPPRESSION OF NEWS ABOUT SECRET ADULTERY

This preacher apparently warned this woman with whom he had a secret sexual relationship this way: if ever she revealed to anyone that she has been having a secret sexual relationship with him, she would be responsible for the millions of souls whose salvation would be lost if his reputation is damaged. This supposed warning from this preacher is from the pit of hell! It is not Scriptural. The Bible teaches that we must not hide, but rather expose the deeds of darkness in Ephesians 5:11 where we read: ‘Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them’. I Timothy 5:17 calls for a double honour for church elders (preachers-teachers of the Word in our context) who do a good job. But if folks of the same tribe persisted in sin, they should be publicly “rebuked” (public rebuke is like double punishment) so that others who are thinking of living such a double life will “fear” a similar treatment. This can be gathered if we read just three verse below (in I Timothy 5:20)! Preachers can not only get to chose the privilege of double honour when they do well. They also must be ready to face the responsibility of receiving double punishment/discipline when it can be shown that they are guilty of living in persistent sin.

This lesson cannot be missed if we read the Bible in context. We read everything else in context, instinctively. For example, if we hear the name, “Shah Rukh Khan”, we now ask: “Shah Rukh Khan, the Bollywood actor? Or Shah Rukh Khan, the Tamil Nadu explosive batsmen who bagged for Rs.5.25 Crore fee by Punjab Kings for the IPL Season 2021? In the same way, we must read the Bible also in context lest we miss crucial truths.

So, none of the excuses this famous evangelist gave to carry out a secret sexual affair stands the test of sound Scriptural interpretation. Let us choose to shun a hypocritical life which will take us to hell (did not Jesus warn the hypocrites of his day, the Pharisees this way: ‘You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?’ – Matt. 23:33). Let us choose the narrow road of holiness (Math. 7:13-14).

THIS KIND OF MINISTRY CANNOT LEAD TO LETHARGY

In a much-read Christianity Today article published on the same matter on September 29, 2020, the same preacher used a similar excuse to get into a sexting-phone sex relationship with another woman (allegedly). Here are those lines slightly altered to maintain the anonymity of the preacher and the person he supposedly preyed upon: “He (the same preacher referred to, above) stated so many times to me that the cost of ministry has been very high, that none of his time is his own, he has no privacy, no personhood left,” this woman wrote in 2016. She added that famous preacher-apologist assured her that the Lord understood what he had sacrificed and implied their sexual exchanges were God’s way of rewarding him.

The above paragraph implies that for this preacher, doing ministry left a huge vacuum in his heart which he wanted to fill with a secret sexual relationship outside marriage. Ministry is not something we do! Ministry should be an overflow of our love for Jesus. Nothing more. Nothing less. That is why when Jesus chose his disciples he mentioned “being with him” before he mentioned “preaching about him” (Mark 3:14). Let’s get back to falling in love with Jesus all over again! And when we do that – ministry will be a pleasure, and never a “pressure” for which we need find a sinful sexual release which will only make the vacuum in the heart even more voluminous.

(This article by Duke Jeyaraj appeared originally in the March 2021 edition of the Aim Magazine, the magazine published by Evangelical Fellowship of India. Duke Jeyaraj, is the founder of Grabbing the Google Generation from Gehenna Mission Mission. Find out more about this reader-supported Indian ministry at http://www.dukev.org. Duke’s book, Straight Talk on Sex, Love, Marriage, Porn, Sexting, Phone Addiction and More is available. Reach us at +91-8886040605 via WhatsApp/Telegram/Signal/Viber to buy this book. Or search for the same on Amazon)