Preamble
Hello.
Welcome.
I wanted to add to this topic : LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX SCANDAL IN THE CHURCH
But
This topic is an umbrella and is not meant to be limited to a sex scandal.
However, it was inspired by sex scandals in the Church.
But
There is more to be learnt.
Join the board of this topic and participate.
Lets go
Foxes are animals
Song of Solomon 2:15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. (KJV)
Foxes are generally known in most folklores as being witty and crafty. They are in the same family as dogs, and are wild in nature. Few people have managed to have them as pets but they fare better in the wild.
Foxes as used in the passage above represents flaws, weak points, hidden sins, personal struggles etc.
The interesting thing to note is that these foxes as used in the passage are little, meaning they are easy to ignore but in the next line the destruction they cause are not small.
Tender Grapes
The grapes at any malhandling will loose their juice.
They would be wasted
These tender grapes signify purpose, destiny, position, honour, dignity and everything good that God has in store for us.
These grapes are delicate and need to be protected and guarded with carefulness.
Vines
The vines hold the grapes.
The vines respresent PLATFORM.
The suitable environment where the grapes are.
The surroundings of the grapes.
It represents the platform where the purpose of an individual will take shape in physical form. It is the area of expression of destiny.
Why Foxes have acCess to the vines
The foxes have access because they were given access. They feel familiar with the environment because they feel that they belong there.
Probably, even before the grapes started sprouting they were already there.
To them the vines were home first.
Our flaws and weakness develop over time and their evidences are noticed in the negative effects they cause to us and others and to our relationship with God.
They grow on us until we begin justify them. As time progresses our hearts are hardened towards reprenting from them because we have seen it as a part of us.
That is who I am. I easily get angry
And because we have accepted and justified our actions, we cannot get help and even when help is presented, we refuse it.
I cannot help it
We inwardly cherish the feeling they bring to us even though we know they are forbidden feelings. We love the momentary pleasure we get even though we know that in the long run, the after taste is bitter.
Venom to the soul
We convince ourselves that we are helpless and present ourselves in such manner to others. We can defend our reasons.
The flesh made me do it. The satan made me do it. The snake made me do it. The unknown creature made me do it.
And because we place ourselves in a position of blaming external factors, we will always find a new factor to blame.
If you do not catch the foxes and take them out of the vine, they will destroy the tender grapes. The foxes need to know that they do not belong in the vine.
We need to tell our weakness that they do not belong in our lives and then procedd to chase them out.
By now you understand that weakness used in this post does not refer to physical deformity or intellectual ability, rather it refers to character weakness that is ruining our lives no matter how minute it appears to be.
The moment you no longer justify the foxes, you are on the path to catching them.
Scandal and the Church
This is a post on it own.
But it will be included here briefly
I believe that the main reasons real scandals occur in the church is because boundaries and trust were broken due to pride, carelessness or negligence.
When those in authorities cannot be held accountable for their actions, there is a risk that boundaries would be overriden.
Importantly, those who are involved in scandals have an altered relationship with God where their concept of Him is not associated with holiness probably because they have not grasped that concept of God well or they have their own idea of God which God has not declared or they simply do not know God.
Failure of the Church to handle scandals biblically and effectively erupts into more scandals leaving trails of broken and damaged people.
There are many things to say here but I will leave this passage:
Ephesians 5:2-11 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (KJV)
This topic was covered in these Podcasts:
THE SIFTING 1 and THE SIFTING 2
How To Catch Foxes
You deal with your weakness by facing them for what they are.
No need for camouflaging them. They are foxes, don’t call them ants or spiders or even hyenas.
Then the next step is to know the weakness of the fox.
Know the weakness triggers of our weakness
What makes your weakness stronger? What makes it active?
Observe yourself
Remove the elements of triggers.
Do not turn back. Continue.
To put it in points:
- Seek help. Seek help
- Pray about it (non-stop)
- Remove the physical components that encourage your weakness to exert more power over you. (Books, movies, social media app, game app etc)
- Tighten your boundaries in your relationships (Dissolve friendships that encourage your weakness, guard conversations, limit access to triggers, etc)
- Encourage healthy influences that weaken your triggers.
- Pray again and again.
- Read your Bible (this works when you allow it work and when you pay it attention)
- You may need a deliverance session (where other Christians will pray over you)
- Seek therapy from licensed individuals if it is a psychological trauma.
- Trust God and hold unto Him.
I have tried these options except seeking psychological therapy and they have worked and keep working.
Tested. Tried. Trusted.
The Truth
Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.(KJV)
You cannot hide it forever. One day it would be revealed.
Aka kasala go burst meaning you will be exposed if you are hiding it (Nigerian pidgin English)
Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (KJV)
You cannot decieve God. You decieve yourself and other people. You can convince yourself and other people. You cannot change God’s ordinances and its operation.
Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.(KJV)
Even if it seems you are getting away because of your ability to control other people, one day it will all come crashing down.
This always happens even though humans never learn after observing it happen time and time again
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (KJV)
Give it to Jesus and do not collect it back. Do not turn back to the burden God has taken away.
Trust God. He does His job perfectly.
Podcast
This post did not contain everything I shared about this topic, some things were added in the PODCAST VERSION.
The podcast has the same body matter but a specific character was analyzed to explain this topic.
Foxes were used to analyse in this post, whereas in the podcast a human was analysed.
If you are new here, there is a PODCAST PAGE where you can listen to my podcasts if you not have the app.
N.B Click on the highlighted texts to be redirected.
Conclusion
Our relationship with God is one of making daily choices of choosing God in every area of our lives.
The moment we stop choosing God, we start choosing something else. Therefore, we need to be intentional in our relationship with God and seek Him beyond what He can offer us but for who He is, God.
Many Bible passages were used and more should have been used but I hope you read them and did not skip the important parts.
If you did, oya scroll back
Kindly share this post to as many people as possible as well as the podcast version and if there are people you know need this message, do not hesitate to share it to them as well.
Your comments and questions are welcomed in the comment section below.
Stay safe and God bless.
Designs by me.
#daughterofabba
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