There are four things we are instructed to run from in Scripture. We must gain the victory over these things. They are idolatry, lusts, materialism, and sexual immorality. The spirit is ready but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41-45) Now is the time to put to death our earthly nature. (Colossians 3:5)
The time has come for us to live for something higher than just the pursuit of pleasure. Within the gates of pleasure, we enter into temptation. Shameful lusts man has been given over to. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. (Romans 1:26)
It is high time for us to awaken out of sleep. Keep your life free from love of money. (Hebrews 13:5) We are wise enough to forecast the weather through clouds, but are slow to discern the signs of the times. We must know the times and the seasons, for our end is near, the hour at hand. (Romans 13:11)
To win the larger war at hand, we must first defeat the enemies of the small battles. The victory gained in small battles makes us stronger. Allowing God to rule over our life gives us strength for victory over the struggles of the flesh. By not feeding fleshy desires starves them to death.
To give in to sin, our sinful nature is fed; it dominates the spirit, and makes us weaker. If certain things are allowed to enter and remain in our life, we are made weak in a game where there can be no victory. (Jude 7) Tells us that Sodom and Gomorrah served as an example for their perversion and sexual immorality.
(1 Chronicles 12:32) Tells us that Sons of Issachar with understanding of the times will have 200 chiefs under their command. Under the 200 chiefs are all their brethren consisting of hundreds of thousands of troops, outstanding warriors, equipped with every kind of weapon. We will be saved from the past, present, and future of the penalty, power, and presence of sin!
Matthew 26:41-45
New International Version
41 “ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.”
Matthew 26:41-45
King James Version
41 “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”
Matthew 26:41-45
Living Bible
41 “Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For the spirit indeed is willing, but how weak the body is!”
42 Again he left them and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot go away until I drink it all, your will be done.”
43 He returned to them again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy, 44 so he went back to prayer the third time, saying the same things again.
45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Sleep on now and take your rest . . . but no! The time has come! I am betrayed into the hands of evil men!”
Colossians 3:5
New International Version
5 “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
Colossians 3:5
King James Version
5 “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”
Colossians 3:5
Living Bible
5 “Away then with sinful, earthly things; deaden the evil desires lurking within you; have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires; don’t worship the good things of life, for that is idolatry.”
Romans 1:26
New International Version
26 “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.”
Romans 1:26
King James Version
26 “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:”
Romans 1:26
Living Bible
26 “That is why God let go of them and let them do all these evil things, so that even their women turned against God’s natural plan for them and indulged in sex sin with each other.”
Hebrews 13:5
New International Version
5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,”
Hebrews 13:5
King James Version
5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Hebrews 13:5
Living Bible
5 “Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never, never fail you nor forsake you.” ”
Romans 13:11
New International Version
The Day Is Near
11 “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”
Romans 13:11
King James Version
11 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”
Romans 13:11
Living Bible
11 “Another reason for right living is this: you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of the Lord is nearer now than when we first believed.”
Jude 7
New International Version
7 “In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.”
Jude 7
King James Version
7 “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
Jude 7
Living Bible
7 “And don’t forget the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, all full of lust of every kind, including lust of men for other men. Those cities were destroyed by fire and continue to be a warning to us that there is a hell in which sinners are punished.”
1 Chronicles 12:32
New International Version
32 “from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;”
1 Chronicles 12:32
King James Version
32 “And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.”
1 Chronicles 12:32-37
Living Bible
24-37 “From Judah, 6,800 troops armed with shields and spears.
From the tribe of Simeon, 7,100 outstanding warriors.
From the Levites, 4,600.
From the priests—descendants of Aaron—there were 3,700 troops under the command of Zadok, a young man of unusual courage, and Jehoiada. (He and twenty-two members of his family were officers of the fighting priests.)
From the tribe of Benjamin, the same tribe Saul was from, there were 3,000. (Most of that tribe retained its allegiance to Saul.)
From the tribe of Ephraim, 20,800 mighty warriors, each famous in his respective clan.
From the half-tribe of Manasseh, 18,000 were sent for the express purpose of helping David become king.
From the tribe of Issachar there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives—all men who understood the temper of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.
From the tribe of Zebulun there were 50,000 trained warriors; they were fully armed and totally loyal to David.
From Naphtali there were 1,000 officers and 37,000 troops equipped with shields and spears.
From the tribe of Dan there were 28,600 troops, all of them prepared for war.
From the tribe of Asher, there were 40,000 trained and ready troops.
From the other side of the Jordan River—where the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh lived—there were 120,000 troops equipped with every kind of weapon.”