Definition of debauchery is 'immoral behavior: unrestrained self-indulgent immoral behavior, or an instance of this'. Now, without understanding of THE WILL of *GOD*, and therefore, HIS instructions on leading a moral, upright, righteous life, one IS influenced by the world, it's ways, and it's traditions, REGARDLESS of the fact that they destroy lives, harm, even kill people, lead people way farther from *GOD*, and add to life in the flesh, pride, arrogance, and other such which separates us from THE LORD...
Besides lack of knowledge, understanding, strong will, and self-control, THINGS such as alcohol, drugs, lust, greed, and others, LEAD us to debauchery, as our senses are dulled, in fact, taken over BY either the mind, lack of control, or the induced state of what we put into our bodies, thus, we are desensitized to what THE LORD WILLS of us...
The EFFECTS of lack of self-control, along with what we ADD to this lack, endanger us, and those around us, which AFFECTS relationships, Family life, work, and well, it reaches throughout to the very core of our existence! All which is good for us is LOST when we CHOOSE to live in ways that endanger us, for they not only have damaging effects in our lives, they damage our relationship with *GOD*, UNLESS we change our ways, our habits, our perception of what is favourable to our well-being...
Expanding the problems is the FACT that BECAUSE SO many partake in such behaviours, it is CONSIDERED normal, and is acceptable; at least as long as it doesn't affect the lives of those accepting it! It is nearly impossible to dissuade people from doing what is wrong for them, and their lives WHEN everyone they know exists in the same, for they are convinced by ways of the world OVER the WILL OF *GOD*. The enemy is beaming, think???
I went through the wringer of lack of self-control, and I PRAISE THE LORD, I was able to FINALLY, be cleansed, and to SEE after suffering from my own wrong choices, and HIS guidance! It is amazing the stark difference that HAVING control vs. lack of control makes in a life, in a mind, in a body, in a heart, in a spirit! Like most people I was raised in the ways of the world OVER the WILL of *GOD*, AND LORD KNOWS, I shouldn't be here today, but by HIS GRACE, MERCY, LOVE, and WILL, here am I!!!
Lately, I have had to attend numerous gatherings where lack of self-control is prevalent, and have witnessed the ugly face of the truth of this lack! It is like people just DON'T KNOW, or even care, about limits! Then when bad things happen, they still don't acknowledge the power of being under the influence, instead they blame one another, or find some way to lessen the impact of what has happened. It is REALLY sad to be around. I won't share any details, but recently, several lives, which spirals through their Families, and Friends were altered by lack of self-control, responsibility, and the effects of their choices! It breaks my heart, and whoa!, don't even TRY to give such people sound advice, because they DON'T want to hear it, they DON'T want to think about it, and unfortunately, UNTIL something REALLY awful happens, most of them won't wait past sobering up to start all over again, BECAUSE we WANT to have FUN, and that IS what people DO, or so they tell me, and these being considered model citizens...
There are 78 BIBLE verses concerning debauchery, 100 concerning drunkedness, 50 concerning being drunk, 78 concerning being sober, 56 concerning being sober-minded, 61 concerning lack of self-control, 100 concerning temptation, 56 concerning resisting temptation, and of course the interwoven cross referencing therein...
1 PETER 5: 8 (There are 60 cross references to this verse)...
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Humility preserves peace and order in all Christian churches and societies; pride disturbs them.
What difficulties will not the firm belief of his wisdom, power, and goodness get over! Then be humble under his hand. Cast all you care; personal cares, family cares, cares for the present, and cares for the future, for yourselves, for others, for the church, on God. These are burdensome, and often very sinful, when they arise from unbelief and distrust, when they torture and distract the mind, unfit us for duties, and hinder our delight in the service of God.
The remedy is, to cast our care upon God, and leave every event to his wise and gracious disposal. Firm belief that the Divine will and counsels are right, calms the spirit of a man. Truly the godly too often forget this, and fret themselves to no purpose. Refer all to God's disposal.
The whole design of Satan is to devour and destroy souls. He always is contriving whom he may ensnare to eternal ruin. Our duty plainly is, to be sober; to govern both the outward and the inward man by the rules of temperance. To be vigilant; suspicious of constant danger from this spiritual enemy, watchful and diligent to prevent his designs.
Be steadfast, or solid, by faith. A man cannot fight upon a quagmire, there is no standing without firm ground to tread upon; this faith alone furnishes. It lifts the soul to the firm advanced ground of the promises, and fixes it there.
Rev. LWINSOR © 2014
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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