Kevin Rape @KevinRape

❤️Most people are okay with the "Neither do I condemn you," but many don't like the "Go and sin no more" aspect because it identifies their way of life (or identity itself) as sin, and commands them to turn away from it. ❓How can you turn away from yourself? It's who I am! ⚔️That's why so many people feel personally attacked, because they are (in their minds) their sin. They don't see how to separate themselves from their sin. 📜““No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”” John 8:11 NIV ✝️It's the same Jesus Christ who said both. 🌳Any identity rooted in sin (not just in a person's sexual identity) isn't rooted in Jesus Christ (because He is sinless). It's true that some people are in the process of denying their sinful identity and ways, but they're seeking to conform their identity in Jesus Christ and leaving their sinful ways. 🆕 Once you become a Christian, you're a new creation, and you have a new identity (in Jesus Christ). ↔️Your spiritual nature changes from darkness (representing sin and ways that oppose God) 🌑to light ☀️ (representing righteousness and ways that God loves) 😇I turned away from witchcraft after 14 years, burned my new age and witchcraft books and custom-made 9' pentagram rug that cost over $1,500. I never looked back. 🗣️"I'm glad you found what works for you" they say. 🔍"I didn't find what worked for me. I found what went against my former sin-nature... what (or rather, Who) directly opposed me and my ways." 😇I had to deny myself to follow Jesus Christ. God's grace empowers people to walk free from who they were (denying themselves) and walk into who they are in Jesus Christ.

@catturd2 I cut out all coffee, tea, and soda back in 2010. It was a rough 2 weeks when I quit. Now, I feel much better, and have more sustained energy throughout the day.

Truth 😇🕊️❤️‍🔥

@GiaMMacool @Rich_Cooper A long time ago I told people, "When I get married, I'm getting a prenup." A woman told me, "That's not very romantic." I said, "Neither is divorce." The guys started laughing. Thankfully, prenups can protect both parties when setup well.

@DisrespectedThe That's Jeff Dabe. I met him in person at a festival that had an arm wrestling challenge.

What Joel prophesied about the moon turning to blood was already confirmed by Peter in Acts 2 that just happened (in his day). ❓So where does it say the blood moon prophecy was fulfilled? 📜“Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this [Acts 2:3-13] is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Acts 2:14-21 NIV 🕊️Holy Spirit poured out (Acts 2:4, 10:14) 🩸Moon to Blood (Rick Larson video, Stellarium - blood moon eclipse on April 3rd 33 AD, day of the cross) bethlehemstar.com/the-day-of-the… 🔥Fire (Acts 2:3 - tongues of fire) 💨Smoke (Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44 - Darkness covered the earth at the crucifixion) 🗯️Prophecy via sons and daughters (Agabus Acts 11:28; Prophetesses Acts 21:9) 😴Dreams (prophetic dreams) (Paul Acts 16:9) 👀Visions (Peter Acts 10:9-16) 😇Salvation via Jesus (Calling on the name of our Lord; Joel 2:32) 😇Knowing scripture and having a relationship with the Lord will help prevent you from living in error.

"When the Greeks got the gospel, they turned it into a philosophy; when the Romans got it, they turned it into a government; when the Europeans got it, they turned it into a culture; and when the Americans got it, they turned it into a business." Richard Halverson 👆While not true for every person in those areas, it is a sad reality for many. As a pastor, I teach relationship with God (what's often left out of many churches), and the Pray, Hear, Obey model as part of discipleship. Are they praying from the heart and prayers that match well with scripture? Are they taking time to listen to God, hearing His response, and writing it down so they can reflect upon it? Are they obeying (i.e., applying) what God said after He talked with them? When a person does those things well, they no longer heavily rely on leadership as a crutch, but upon God. They can still reach out to leadership; however, their primary influence will come from the Lord. Those aspects seem to defeat the issues presented. I hope more people grow Spiritually.

It would help if more people knew what they want, were honest, and set clear expectations. Some call that having a DTR (Define The Relationship) discussion. When people don't know what they want or add shenanigans (e.g., say they want something when they don't) that causes a host of problems. I'm celibate (and tell women that). I've friend zoned all women. Maybe 1-2 women believed me. Most seem to test the boundaries. I've said "No" to models, hookups, and people claiming they'd do anything I want. I don't mind being "just friends" as long as expectations and boundaries are clear and respected. If lines seem to get blurred, I remind them that I'm uninterested in them. There's a time to let them self-correct. If the issue continues, I may not hang around them unless the Lord says otherwise. I enjoy people's company without desiring more intimacy (beyond friendship). I'm definitely not the norm.

I'm thankful you mentioned 1 Corinthians 7:3-5. I just counseled someone on this topic. I also mentioned it's not well liked, and that the main purpose is to prevent sin due to lack of self control. A Godly couple should be concerned about the areas that trip up the other person where they fall into sin, and help their beloved. It's less about "control" and more about helping preserve the marriage by preventing sin. Additionally, I gave instructions to him about sowing and reaping. What are you planting in the relationship? Romance? Strife? Love of God? What garden are they tending? If they don't like what's growing, they need to change what they're sowing.

I chose a celibate life many years ago, and I recently added to this post a "10 Years Later" section. kevinrape.com/why-i-chose-ce…

@DowdEdward Yes, I hear about "digital fasts" during lent, too. I try not to be too picky when mentioning the differences. It's just becoming a more common expression. Shalom.

Biblical Fasting = Not eating... sometimes it includes not drinking, too (i.e., Complete Fast). Fast biblehub.com/greek/3522.htm "Fasting digitally" is just abstinence (typically temporary). It's helpful to use the extra time to focus on the Lord. It's not a new trend. Social media is a tool that could be used for good or evil, much like a pen could write a love letter or threat. Social media (as other things) can become a vice. Abstaining from it can help reset habits.

Nearly six years ago my family cancelled: •Hulu •Netflix •HBO GO •Cable TV •Deleted all “news” apps We unplugged from what SOCIETY told us was important & focused ONLY on what we knew was important. •Faith •Family •Fitness •Finances •Friendships Here’s the results:

I cut out all coffee, tea, and soda in one day back in 2010. It took about 2 weeks to get through withdrawal symptoms, but my energy stabilized throughout the day, and I need about 2 hours less sleep (down from 8 to 6). I may have an occasional soda, but it's less than once per month. Some people aren't happy before their coffee, but I chose not to live like that anymore. If drinking coffee works for you and others, that's good. I've saved myself a lot of money over the years. Now, I just drink about 3 liters of water per day.

It reminds me a bit about Jonah... 📜“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2 NIV 😡Jonah was a prophet, but in Jonah chapter 4 he showed that he was angry and perhaps without love. 📜But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. Jonah 4:1 NIV 😇God showed His care for people who didn't know Him, and reasoned with Jonah about that love. ❓The book ends with a question from God to Jonah about His love and care, but Jonah's response (if there was one) wasn't recorded. 📜But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” Jonah 4:10-11 NIV 👎No matter how gifted someone is, when they lack love, their works profit them nothing. 🫵We can also take a look at our own life and ask God where in our life that we are angry about Him showing love, mercy, forgiveness. ❤️We learn love from God who is love, that He sacrificed His only begotten Son, Jesus, to redeem us from the curse of the law of sin and death that we may be reconciled (i.e., made friends with) to God.

keyboard_arrow_left Previous keyboard_arrow_right Next

Thank you for sharing. I've had a similar experiences asleep and awake. A demon came after me in my sleep and said it was going to kill me. I told it I believe in Jesus Christ, and He said that he who believes in Him will never die but shall have everlasting life. Then I wasn't able to move or speak. I prayed in my heart and mind "Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Then, I could move and speak. The same thing happened after I woke up. Initially, I wasn't able to move or speak. So, I prayed in my head and heart (because God knows our thoughts and hearts) and then I was able to move and speak. That lesson about God knowing our thoughts and hearts is essential, and something I teach people in sermons and discipling others. I'm glad you made it through with God's help 😇🙏❤️‍🔥

Beware of UnGodly Influences 📜“Before they [Lot, his family, their guests] had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him and said, “No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked thing.” Genesis 19:4-7 NIV 👨‍❤️‍👨Men wanted to have sex with other men, and Lot called it wicked/evil. 🏃‍♂️The angels told Lot, his wife, and their family to run away from Sodom and Gomorrah. Their sin had reached Heaven, and God was going to destroy it. 📜“Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”” Genesis 18:20-21 NIV 📜“As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”” Genesis 19:17 NIV 💔Unfortunately, lots wife didn't heed divine instruction and looked back. 📜“But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” Genesis 19:26 NIV

Glass Cannons 🪞There are many people who tear down others because they can't stand to face the sin in their own life. ➡️They can dish it out, but they can't take it themselves. 💥Their holiness is a veneer... it's so thin that any correction becomes a wrecking ball and destroys their image. 😭So, they play the victim when receiving correction, and hide behind the façade of holiness. 📢They make a ruckus with their megaphone as loud as a cannon (quoting the canon), but easily shatter when someone rebukes them. 😵They have no (or little) depth. ☹️Their scriptural patchwork falls apart when confronted with sound doctrine. 🕵️‍♂️They throw stones at others who allegedly sin, but don't invite others to scrutinize their lives and allow others to throw stones at them. ❗️Hypocrisy! Heresy! Heathen! 🤬They shout those words at other Christians. 👻They attract crowds to side with them, which fulfills their needs and likely helps them feel powerful, that they have friends, and (self-)righteous, but they are hollow inside. 👀As a pastor, I've encountered many people who are bitter because they allowed themselves to get hurt, and they blame specific churches, people, and even God. 🤢They never recovered, because if they took responsibility for their own recovery that would mean they could no longer blame others and they couldn't be the victim of their circumstances. 🏋️‍♂️Their victimhood (in their mind) makes them powerful (but that's the lie they hold onto). 🪦I've watched people live in unforgiveness well over 10 years and it ruined their life. 😡They make fun of the church, its people, and live in turmoil seeking help from a psychologist after all of these years when they could've just forgiven and grown from the experience. (Seeking help from a psychologist isn't bad). 👎Victimhood became their identity... so they must tear down others to feel good about themselves but it ends up destroying themselves instead. 🤯The glass cannon may fire, but they're destroyed in the process. 📜“Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.” Proverbs 26:27 NIV

Truth and the Bitter Hearer 🎭When presenting truth, the bitter person who hears it can try hiding behind the façade of scripture, love, and (self-)righteousness while Hell rages in their heart. 😡It's easy to see the bitter person's "peace" shatter when pressed. 👹Hell can't stand being exposed by the light of Jesus Christ. 😤They can't stand to have a civil conversation because of their offense. ⛓️‍💥The mask they worked so hard to maintain crumbles right in front of you. 🙏Rather than laugh or demean them, pray for them instead, that God heal what's broken, and they repent. 📜"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23

@achachohoh Speak for yourself. I was in the best shape of my life at 5.83%, and felt awesome. 8 strength training routines, and 2 phase 4 HIIT routines per week. Yes, I know what 8-10% is. I've been working out since I was 5. Resource for measuring BF%. linear-software.com/online.html