YOU HAVE DISOBEYED A DIRECT ORDER!

 In spite of the fact that you were given a clear order not to enter this sector, you did.

In spite of the fact that this website was created specifically for you, to take care of your needs, to enjoy to the fullest, you chose to disobey the one request made of you: you were forbidden to enter this site, yet you did.

Sound familiar? Remember how God created a paradise for Adam and Eve, providing everything they needed and more, but made only one, simple request? He forbade them to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Everything else was created specifically for them to take care of all their needs and to enjoy to the fullest. Still, they chose to disobey the one request made of them. They were forbidden to eat the fruit, yet the very first time they were tempted, they did. And what is the consequence of this act of disobedience? DEATH. Separation from God. But thank God, that is not the end of the story... it is only the beginning of the biggest, most important battle this world has ever seen:

Jesus told His disciples, (Mark 14:38 NIV) "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." And don't think you're always going to be strong enough to withstand all the temptations life is going to throw your way--never boast, never say never! Even Jesus has been through this; even He has been tempted. (Hebrews 2: 18 NIV) "Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." Jesus fought temptation and won that battle. Now we need to be soldiers of Christ, battle-ready against temptation, drawing strength from His protection and shield.

Jesus came to save sinners, and not the people who think they are 'sinless'. He has compassion for us when we are being tempted because He knows first-hand the torment temptation puts us through. And if we look down on someone because they weren't strong enough to resist, then guess what? You can almost guarantee that one of your weak points will come up and tempt you beyond your ability to withstand it. Just like Jesus does for us, we need to reach out a helping hand to our fallen comrade. After all, we're in this battle together. (Galatians 6:1 NKJV) "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." The Bible also says in (Galatians 3:11 KJV) "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."

Your addiction and slavery to sin is a set-up for God to demonstrate His love and mercy for you, to you, and in you. You cannot overcome this on your own, and it is only through God's help--never withheld--that you be set free. The Holy Spirit sets us free from every bondage, every sin, every temptation, every negative emotion, every evil desire; and then we are free to experience the presence of God, which is love, joy, and peace that is almost unimaginable. (Galatians 5:16-23 NIV) "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. {17} For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. {18} But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. {19} The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; {20} idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions {21} and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. {22} But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, {23} gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."  

There is tremendous peace and relief in knowing that we are not fighting the battle alone, but that God has our back. God's grace--which is His freely-given and unmerited favor and love--is our strength, our invincible weapon against sin and temptations. There is nothing we can do by ourselves, but if we pick up the sword of the Spirit, we become God's warriors, saved by His mercy and love. (Ephesians 2:4-10 NKJV) "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, {5} even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), {6} and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, {7} that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. {8} For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, {9} not of works, lest anyone should boast. {10} For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  

The strategy is to keep your focus on Jesus, use His help and presence, and with him, you can cast off the unbearably heavy weights of sin and run free toward the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV) "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, {2} looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

 The Apostle Paul (a true warrior), in describing his battle with his own temptations, said (Romans 7:14-25 NIV) "We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. {15} I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. {16} And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. {17} As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. {18} I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. {19} For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. {20} Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. {21} So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. {22} For in my inner being I delight in God's law; {23} but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. {24} What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? {25} Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin."

 Understand one thing--our failures and weakness are no match for God's grace and love. There is tremendous peace and rest in knowing that it is not up to us, but by God's grace only. Not anything we do, but only by God's mercy. (Ephesians 2:4-10 NKJV) "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, {5} even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), {6} and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, {7} that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. {8} For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, {9} not of works, lest anyone should boast. {10} For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

The good news and the bottom line is that for the warrior who chooses Jesus as their 'commander in chief', there is no condemnation, only freedom and salvation. As the Apostle Paul said, (Romans 8:1-2 NIV) "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, {2} because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."  The same way that we are saved from our sins is the same way we are set free from sins and even temptations, it is by God's grace. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV) "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith; and this not from yourselves: it is the gift of God: {9} not by works, so that no one can boast. "

God's love for us is so great he sent us Jesus, His own deeply loved son. Jesus willingly allowed his life to be brutally and painfully taken, so that you and anyone else could have a chance at eternal life. And what do you have to do to receive this gift? Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. It is by the presence of God's Holy Spirit that we are given this freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:16-17 NIV) But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. {17} Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

OH, BY THE WAY.

TRESPASSERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE!