“The Fullest Kind of Love!”
| Today’s Church and Christians are grossly ignorant about sexual information and issues. This is Pt.3 of a 5-part series on “Divine Design for Sex.” Pt.3 deals with the programming and consequences of sinful sex. (Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgZe6aZsbG0) |
| Some time ago in the prison, I asked, “Who’s afraid to pray?” No hands went up. Since guys don’t want to admit that they’re afraid of anything, I rephrased the question. “Who is not afraid to pray?” Only two of the fourteen men raised their hands, so the remaining twelve were exposed. (Lol!) They admitted their reluctance to pray because of fear and/or ignorance. One of the inmates blessed me by taking a small step of faith and said he would pray next week. I went on to show a clip from the movie “Jerry McGuire” with Tom Cruise. The clip was the famous elevator scene where a young, deaf man signed to his girlfriend, “You complete me.” I then showed another short video of a guy driving through the country and talking about today’s use and misunderstanding of the word love. He says, “For example, we say we love our wives, but in the next breath we say we love tacos or football.” The guy pulls over and retrieves two full 5-gallon gas cans from his trunk and begins to walk through the snow and woods while contrasting the world’s definition of love with God’s definition of love. He goes on to explain that in the Old Testament there are basically three types of love: ▪Rayah = friend or soul mate ▪Ahavah = deep affection, lifelong friendship or commitment ▪Dode = carouse, rock, fondle (erotic) He arrives at this 2-story high pile of fallen and discarded trees. It’s the makings of a bonfire. He climbs on top of, and around, the woodpile and splashes gas here and there, and explains that to have a godly, vibrant, and healthy marriage we have to have all three of these components of love. He’s careful to point out that we are not to awaken this combination of love before its time, and that if any one of the three components is missing, we will not experience God’s original intent, or the fullness of love. He submits that one-night stands may have the ‘dode’ and not the ‘rayah’ or the ‘ahavah’ and this makes these relationships empty and meaningless. A marriage can have the ‘rayah’ or ‘ahavah’ without the ‘dode’ which makes for great frustration. He also suggested that husbands and wives may have affairs, or are disconnected, because the ‘rayah’ or the ‘ahavah’ is missing in their marriage. (Ever notice how longer married couples tend to fall into dullness and routine, or just going through the motions?) Anyway, the guy finishes dousing the wood-pile with the gas, climbs down, makes a trail of gas about 20 feet away from the pile, lights his lighter, and says something to the effect, “Now, I pray that you experience the kind of love that has all three of these elements – the rayah, the ahavah, the dode.” He drops the lighter, the gas-trail is lit, and soon the entire woodpile is blazing and can even been seen from miles away. A great illustration. We read Song 2:7, “I adjure you by the gazelles, and by the does of the field, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you do not stir up and do not awaken the Love until it pleases.” I asked the guys for their simplest definition of love. They said things like communication, serving, commitment, and providing. I threw “giving” at them, i.e., “For God so loved the world he gave…” and we agreed to work with this. I submitted that movies like “Jerry McGuire” often give us a skewed picture of love. Other movies like “The Titanic” and “The Notebook” came up. Upon closer examination, we saw that we had fallen for Hollywood’s definition of love. According to God and the Bible, having sex in the backseat of a car (The Titanic) while engaged to someone else is fornication. In “The Notebook” having sex before marriage is a sin. (Rose was also engaged.) As we surveyed these movies more closely, we did find some overlooked, genuine acts of love. For instance, in “The Titanic” Jack gave up his life by putting Rose on the floating debris so she would live. And in “The Notebook”, Noah’s father gave (there’s that word again) everything he had so he could buy his son that house. We all confessed “guilty” to rushing into relationships and sex when we should’ve used more restraint. As we closed, I pointed out that whenever we apply a warped understanding of love to a relationship, we inevitably curse that foundation. During the development stage of a relationship our character is revealed throughout the decisions we make. Let’s say six months pass. We now have history… a record. Whatever occurred in those six months – god-honoring or sin – is a record and a reflection of your character. Never fully weighing the consequences, far too many couples today compromise godly values and yield to fleshly desires, i.e., fornication, lust, compromise, impatience, rationalization, dishonoring and devaluing each other, etc. Then they get married, having already demonstrated their destructive patterns and habits (weakness, impatience, ignorance) and are surprised when adultery or some other form of infidelity occurs. Why are we surprised at this??? That “poison” has been there the whole time and the failure was predictable. The Bible says in Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” So, whatever we plant – good or bad – we put into motion this law of sowing and reaping, and we will yield that fruit. Sometime ago, I told the attendees of a “Divine Design for Sex” conference, “Everyone dreams about and hopes for ‘happily ever after,’ yet so many couples are not sowing ‘happily ever after’ seeds! Instead, you’re planting seeds of sin and whoredoms! It’s kind of like planting corn seeds, but expecting apples. That’s literally insane! Who does that?!!” (Read “You’re not planting ‘happily ever after’ seeds!”) So, let’s learn 1) What love really is, according to God’s definition, and 2) Not to awaken love before its time. And to God be all the glory! ▪I recently uploaded over 50 YouTube videos (Here) ▪Make a Donation ▪Remember to Share this Newsletter |
| Making disciples through our “Fix bayonets” exercise! Role-playing – Christians vs. Critics – as we quickly debate every topic Christians may face today and counter these arguments by “casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2Cor 10:5) We apply the Word of God to every argument and conversation. (Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwEqKWJP4r0&t=2s) |
| High School Senior picture 1980. There is no way that young man had a clue about what his future held. But God did. With Jesus Christ, I found forgiveness, love, restoration, sanity, meaning, dignity, identity, value, and a purpose for my life. Without Him, I made a mess of things. With Him, I still tend to make a mess of things, but He’s quick to forgive and teach and restore. Forty-one years later, I am not the same guy. (Watch “He’s not the same guy.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYlb0zeIwdM) |
| Agree with us in prayer: a. I have a meeting this Friday morning with some Chaplains about resuming on-base Bible study at the Camp Schwab Chapel. Pray that we can walk in agreement to advance Christ and the Kingdom of God. b. I still have not heard from the Brig other than they’re concerned that I am going to lodge an IG complaint and they’ve been advised not to interact with me. Pray that lines of communication can be established to resolve this matter. c. Pray for mature, Qualified Families and Permanent Personnel to co-labor with us in this northern-most, remote area of Okinawa. Henoko/Schwab outreach carries a constant rebuilding nature due its high turnover rate and operational tempo. We literally rebuild a congregation every six months and gather new members. Pray for our strength, wisdom, and resources as weekly we gather sheep and convert goats. d. Pray for our current schedule, i.e. finances, resources, wisdom, strategies, and strength: – Sun: Share/Report Christians In Action ministries – Mon: Radical & Relevant (R&R) @7pm – Wed: Brig Christian Fellowship (BCF) @7pm (PRAY for Reinstatement) – Thu: Publish Think On These Things newsletters – Thu: Publish YouTube Videos (Channel: YahwehHasASon) – Fri: Sexual Integrity & Restoration (SIR) @9am (PRAY for Reinstatement) – Sat: Zebulun Christian Discipleship Center (ZCDC) @6pm ▪Make a Donation ▪Check out my recently uploaded (50+) YouTube videos! ▪Facebook Live Videos |
| After 35 years, it amazes and comforts me that “it” still happens every day. You labor every day. You love every day. You give every day. You sacrifice every day. You’re patient every day. You’re courteous every day. You’re thoughtful every day. Your wisdom increases every day. Your honor increases every day. Your value increases every day. Your beauty increases every day. And my love and appreciation for you increases every day. (Trigger Alert! Watch “Women were created by God to be led by a man.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0ZnadsUylw) |
| In closing: Saints, know that each of you are never far from our thoughts and prayers. We think of you often and fondly. Just this morning, I had a very detailed dream about being robbed by three young men, but as one of these young men was cornered at gunpoint by a retired policeman, he was afraid, panicky, and addled. I was pleading with him to just relax and comply. It was a really tense situation. He calmed down and gave in and allowed the Officer to handcuff his hands behind his back. He looked at me and began to cry and wail. He was telling me that the crime he just committed against me wasn’t really who he is, that he’s truly sorry, he didn’t want to do it, he knew better, and he apologized to me profusely. He said he’s so afraid of going to prison and that he knew he wasn’t going to make it. I literally began to cry with him and I told him that I’d be with him every step of the way, that I wasn’t going to leave him alone in prison. I woke up, honestly on the verge of tears at the realness of the dream. Having been one who’s been in so much trouble with authorities in my youth, God has forgiven and restored me, and to this day I still have a great burden for those who make mistakes, are remorseful, and are willing to repent. I prayed with my brother this morning and he recalled co-laboring with me in the Brig many years ago. He said that I quickly bridged the gap with the prisoners and the ministry team with, “One of the biggest differences between you prisoners in confinement and people beyond these bars is simply that they haven’t been caught.” It’s very difficult for me to “throw stones” at these prisoners because I’m guilty too. The difference today is that I’ve been forgiven through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. And this message is my burden to all who make mistakes. Vibrant and effective ministry still occurs every week. Living as full-time missionaries in Japan is extremely expensive. For whatever reason, financial support has been down, so please consider partnering with us in these works of the Lord. Financial gifts and contributions can be made online through Christians In Action. Or, you can mail contributions to the address listed below. I declare that God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. (Php 2:13) <*{{{{>< In His strength, Pastor Nick & Sandy Guerra Contributions can be sent to: Dominic Guerra (Acct# 426) c/o Christians In Action, Missions International 1322 E. Shaw Ave., Ste. 150 Fresno, CA 93710-7904 ▪ Please ensure Acct #426 is annotated on your contribution so the funds can be allocated correctly. ▪ Please share/forward these newsletters at your discretion. Make a Donation |
| — OUR MISSION — Gather Sheep & Convert Goats! Catch, Clean, & Release! |