APPEARANCES

I ASK YOU TO READ THIS MESSAGE WITH AN OPEN MIND AS I, AS AN OLDER WOMAN, TEACH YOU WHAT GOD HAS LAID ON MY HEART TODAY.

IN SCRIPTURE, WE ARE TOLD TO ABSTAIN FROM CERTAIN THINGS AND ACTIONS, SUCH AS: FORNICATION (I THESSALONIANS  4:3); ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL (I THESSALONIANS 5:22); AND FLESHLY LUSTS (I PETER 2:11).

GIRLS (AND GUYS), GOD HAS GIVEN A BEAUTIFUL BODY TO REJOICE IN.

ALL OF US ARE …FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE…(PSALM 139:14).

WHEN GOD CREATED WOMAN, HE FORMED HER FROM ONE OF ADAM’S RIBS; WHICH WAS THE FIRST RECORDED SURGERY. GENESIS 2:21-23 – AND GOD CAUSED A DEEP SLEEP TO FALL UPON ADAM, AND HE SLEPT: AND HE  TOOK ONE OF ADAM’S RIBS, AND CLOSED UP THE FLESH INSTEAD.

          AND THE RIB WHICH THE LORD HAD TAKEN FROM MAN, MADE HE A WOMAN, AND BROUGHT HER TO THE MAN. WOMAN MEANS: “AT LAST THIS ONE.” WHY DID ADAM CALL HER “AT LAST THIS ONE?” BECAUSE ALL THE ANIMALS CREATED HAD A MATE.—-…AND THE LORD GOD SAID, IT IS NOT GOOD THAT MAN SHOULD BE ALONE; I WILL MAKE A HELP MEET FOR HIM (ONE SUITABLE TO HELP HIM) (GENESIS 2:18).

SO HERE WE GO! IT IS GOD’S PLAN THAT MAN IS ATTRACTED TO WOMAN, AND WOMAN TO MAN.

IN GENESIS 4:1, WE SEE …AND ADAM KNEW EVE HIS WIFE; AND SHE CONCEIVED…

SEX BEGAN.

BEFORE THE FALL, AND RECOGNITION OF GOOD AND EVIL, THERE WAS NO NEED FOR ONE MAN ONE ONE WOMAN TO BE CLOTHED IN GARMENTS. THEY WERE CLOTHED IN THE LIGHT OF GOD, IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN WHERE THERE WAS NO SIN OR CORRUPTION. ALL WAS PURITY AND PEACE. THERE WAS NO SEXUAL CONTACT BETWEEN ADAM AND EVE BECAUSE THEY WERE IN A PLACE OF HOLY COMPANIONSHIP.

DID GOD KNOW THEN THAY WOULD FALL AND SIN? YES, BECAUSE THE SCRIPTURES SAY IN REVELATION 13:8b – …THE LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD…SO WE SEE, GOD MADE PROVISION FOR OUR SINS BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, BEFORE CREATION. GOD KNEW THE CHOICES OF MAN TO COME, AND GAVE US A SAVIOR THROUGH HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST. IT WAS GOD’S DIVINE PLAN THAT HIS SON WOULD DIE FOR US, AND RISE AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY, AND ASCEND BACK TO HEAVEN TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR US. WHOSOEVER WILL MAY COME TO JESUS. COME TODAY.

AFTER GOD PRONOUNCED THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN, IT IS RECORDED THAT HE CLOTHED ADAM AND EVE, AND AS HIS WIFE, SHE CONCEIVED A CHILD.

OUR AGE IS NOW CALLED A SEXUAL REVOLUTION: WITHOUT RESTRAINT, PORNOGRAPHY, FREE SEX, HOMOSEXUALITY OT OF THE CLOSET, EXPOSING ONE’S BODY, AND EVERYTHING GOES.

NOW, INSTESD ABSTAINING FROM ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL, IT IS TO BE TOLERANT OF EVIL; DO YOUR OWN THING; MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICES! —-WE ARE FREE TO CHOOSE, BUT TAGGED-ON ARE THE CONSEQUENCES, OR COULD WE SAY, THE HARVEST OF OUR CHOICES.

TAKE THE CHOICE OF FORNICATION OF WHICH THE DEFINITION IS: SIN, ADULTRY, INFIDELITY, EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR (ACTUALLY IT MEANS ANY TYPE OF SEXUAL PERVERSION, EVEN CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. 

LOOK AT I THESSALONIANS 4:3-5– FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD, EVEN YOUR SANCTIFICATION, THAT YE SHOULD ABSTAIN FROM FORNICATION:

          THAT EVERYONE OF YOU SHOULD KNOW HOW TO POSSESS HIS VESSEL IN SANCTIFICATION AND HONOR;

          NOT IN THE LUST OF CONCUPISCIENCE (PERSONAL DESIRE), EVEN AS THE GENTILES (HEATHEN) WHICH KNOW NOT GOD. 

WHEN THE CHOICE TO FORNICATE IS MADE, THERE ARE MANY CONSEQUENCES THAT EVOLVE. IT OPENS THE DOOR TO AIDS, VENEREAL DISEASES, HEARTACHE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, UNWED PREGNANCY, ABORTION, AND THE LIST GOES ON; NOT TO MENTION DOSOBEDIENCE TO,  AND CHASTISEMENT OF GOD. MOST SAY GUILT IS THE HARDEST TO OVERCOME.

WHAT ABOUT OUR APPEARANCE, WHICH INCLUDES CHOICE OF CLOTHING, OUR ACTIONS; WHO WE TRY TO IMITATE; ANYTHING THAT WOULD GO UNDER THE APPEARANCES WE WANT TO REVEAL TO OTHERS WHO ARE WATCHING OUR LIVES?

ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL  (I THESSALONIANS 5:22).

I WAS TOLD BY AN ACQUAINTANCE OF MINE, WHO CONFESSED TO BE A CHRISTIAN, “IT DOESN’T MATTER THAT I AM LIVING WITH A MAN TO WHICH I AM NOT MARRIED. WE DON’T SLEEP TOGETHER.”

I KNEW THE CONSEQUENCES SHE COULD FACE BECAUSE A MAN AND WOMAN LIVING IN AHAOUS TOGETHER, ALONE, WHO ARE ATTRACTED TO EACH OTHER, SPELLS FORNICATION.

I SAID TO HER, “WE ARE TOLD TO ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL.” SHE GOT VERY QUIET AND CONVICTION SET IN. PRAISE GOD, THROUGH A DANGER TO HERSELF, SHE GOT OUT OF THAT SITUATION. FROM THAT DAY SHE STAYED CLOSE TO THE LORD, AND SHE WENT TO BE WITH THE LORD TWO YEARS AGO.

WHAT ABOUT MODESTY?  I PETER 2:11 – DEARLY BELOVED, I BESEECH YOU AS STRANGERS AND PILGRAMS, ABSTAIN FROM FLESHLY LUSTS (DESIRES) WHICH WAR AGAINST THE SOUL;

STUDIES SHOW THAT MALES TEND TO BE MORE VISUALLY ORIENTED THAN FEMALES WHEN IT COMES TO SEXUAL AROUSAL. CHRISTIAN WOMEN, THEREFORE, HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY NOT TO TEMPT MEN BY THE WAY THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES. WE MUST KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN WE EXAMINE PAUL’S INSTRUCTION TO TIMOTHY THAT WOMEN’S CLOTHING SHOULD BE MODEST, DECENT, AND PROPER. I TIMOTHY 2:9a,10 – IN LIKE MANNER ALSO, THAT WOMEN ADORN THEMSELVES IN MODEST APPAREL, WITH SHAMEFACEDNESS (REVERENCE TOWARD GOD, AND DECENCY; RESPECT) AND SOBRIETY (OR SELF CONTROL, SOUNDNESS OF MIND) …WHICH BECOMETH WOMEN PROFESSING GODLINESS) WITH GOOD WORKS.

THIS IS NOT THE DO’S AND DON’T”S—-IT IS ABOUT POWERFULLY COMMUNICATING OUR INDIVIDUAL VALUE AS WOMEN AND RESPECTING THE VALUE OF MEN. JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE KINGDOM, MODESTY ISN’T ABOUT RULES AND REGULATIONS—-IT IS BORN IN THE REALM OF MOTIVES OR ISSUES OF THE HEART.

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FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART I

THIS IS AN UNUSUAL TITLE FOR A TESTIMONY, BUT I’VE LIVED AN UNUSUAL LIFE.

MY NAME IS CHARLES SELLERS, FORMALLY KNOWN AS C.A. SELLERS.

BEING A SHARECROPPER’S SON, AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT A SHARECROPER IS, IT IS TAKING CARE OF ANOTHER PERSON’S LAND. YOU CAN LIVE THERE AND PLANT FOOD ON THAT PROPERTY.

IN OTHER WORDS, MY FAMILY WAS POVERTY STRICKEN.

MY DAD LEFT MY MOM WITH 6 CHILDREN, WHEN I WAS 4 YEARS OLD. SO ME AND MY SIBLINGS HAD NOTHING. WE HAD NO CHRISTMAS PRESENTS, NO BIRTHDAY PARTIES; NOTHING NORMAL CHILDREN ENJOYED. EVEN OUR CLOTHES WERE HAND-ME-DOWNS.

IT WASN’T MY MOM’S FAULT, IT WASN’T MY FAULT; IT’S JUST THE WAY IT WAS.

PROBABLY, IF THERE WAS ANYONE TO BLAME, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY DAD.

BUT THAT IS A DIFFERENT STORY WITHIN ITSELF.

MY DAD DIED WHEN I WAS 9 YEARS OLD. MY MOM HAD HIS BODY BROUGHT HOME. WHILE HE LAID IN HIS COFFIN IN OUR LIVING ROOM, I WAS AT MY FRIEND’S HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET, AND STOLE SOME MONEY THAT WAS LAYING ON HIS AUNT’S DRESSER.

AT THAT MOMENT, I STARTED A LIFE OF STEALING.

OVER THE YEARS, I’VE STOLEN EVERYTHING FROM BICYCLES TO ROBBING BANKS. I SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE LOCKED UP.

I’VE DONE TIME IN 8 FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS. SOME, LIKE TERR HUNTA, ATLANTA FEDERAL PENN., LEWISBURG FEDERAL PENN., ASHLAND KENTUCKY CORRECTIONAL INST., PETERSBURG VIRGINIA FEDERAL FORMITORY, TALAHASSIE (FLORIDA) CORRECTIONAL INST., LOUIVILLE KENTUCKY CORRECTIONAL INST.

ALSO, I’VE DONE TIME IN 7 STATE INSTITUTIONS, STARTING AT HOMESVIEW TO PERRY CORRECTIONAL INST., AND SEVERAL MORE.

I REMEMBER AND INCIDENT WHEN I BROKE IN A SCHOOL AND THE POLICE SHOWED UP. I CLIMBED OUT A WINDOW, AND WAS RUNNING ACROSS THE ROOF. THE ROOF RAN OUT AND I DROPPED DOWN 2 STORIES TO THE GROUND, ROLLED, AND KEPT ON RUNNING. FOR THIS ONE, I NEVER GOT CAUGHT.

BY LOOKING OVER THIS EVENT AND MANY MORE IN MY LIFE, I NOW REALIZE, GOD HAD HIS HAND ON ME.

I’VE BEEN SHOT; I WOKE-UP OUT OF A THREE DAY COMA BY FOOD POISONING, AND FOUND MY LIVE-IN GIRL FRIEND WAS DEAD. THE DOCTORS SAID IT WAS NATURAL CAUSES, BUT I BELIEVE SHE ALSO HAD FOOD POISONING.

AS MY LIFE PROGRESSED, I FOUND MYSELF DOING THINGS I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER DO: LIKE SHOOTING DRUGS IN MY VEINS, UNTIL I DESTROYED EVERY VISIBLE VEIN IN MY BODY; AND TAKING UP A GUN AND ROBBING BANKS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. THIS WAS A LONG WAY FROM STEALING BICYCLES AS A CHILD.

I GUESS YOU COULD SAY I WAS NOW IN THE BIG TIME: SELLING DRUGS, ROBBING BANKS, BUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS LIFE STYLE TOOK ME FURTHER THAN I WANTED OR PLANNED TO GO, AND COST ME MORE THAT I WANTED TO PAY. YOU SEE, THE COST WAS MY FREEDOM, THE SUFFERING OF MY FAMILY, AND ALWAYS LOOSING EVERYTHING AGAIN AND AGAIN, AS I WOULD REPEATEDLY GET ARRESTED AND CONVICTED, AND SENT BACK TO PRISON.

A LIFE IN PRISON WASN’T EASY. WHEN I STARTED OUT IN REFORM SCHOOL, I HAD TO DIG 10 FOOT DITCHES, 18 INCHES WIDE, WITH A 10 FOOT SHOVEL. I KNOW YOU PROBABLY HAVE NEVER SEEN A 10 FOOT SHOVEL, BUT BELIEVE ME THEY HAD THEM.

I WAS 12 YEARS OLD AT THIS TIME.

WHEN I TURNED 15, I WAS SENT TO THE NATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON DC. BELIEVE ME, THIS PLACE WAS “HELL”. I WAS IN A FIGHT ALMOST EVERY DAY. WHEN THEY WOULD PUT ME IN LOCK-UP, THEY WOULD STRIP ME OF ALL MY CLOTHES, AND PUT ME IN  A SMALL TILED ROOM. THE TEMPERATURE IN THE ROOM WAS THE SAME AS IT WAS OUTSIDE. SO CAN YOU IMAGINE DECEMBER AND JANUARY? HOW COLD IT GETS IN DC? 

I COULDN’T TAKE MUCH MORE OF THIS PLACE, SO I PLANNED MY ESCAPE AND CARRIED THROUGH WITH IT. AS I CLIMBED THE FENCE SURROUNDING THE INSTITUTION, THEN BARBED WIRE BROKE AT THE TOP OF THE FENCE, AND I FEEL 10 FEET, AND JUST KNEW I WAS GOING TO GET CAUGHT, BUT NO ONE SAW ME BREAK OUT OF LINE GOING BACK TO THE DORM FROM THE GYM.

WE WERE SURROUNDED BY GUARDS. IT WAS AT NIGHT, BUT NOBODY SAW ME.

I MADE MY WAY TO A RAILROAD TRACK, AND THERE WAS A SLOW MOVING TRAIN. I JUST KNEW IT WOULD TAKE ME A LONG WAY FROM WHERE I WAS AT. I DIDN’T CARE WHERE IT WAS GOING AS LONG AS IT WOULD TAKE ME AWAY FROM THERE. WELL I JUMPED IN THE OPEN DOOR OF THE BOXCAR, AND THE TRAIN KEPT ROLLING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES; IT STOPPED, AND HERE CAME A TOW MOTOR IN THE BOXCAR I WAS IN, TAKING OUT PALLETS OF FREIGHT. I GOT OUT OF YTHE BOXCAR AND FOUND MYSELF IN DOWN TOWN DC.

TO SHORTEN THIS, I MADE IT BACK TO SOUTH CAROLINA, WENT TO CALIFORNIA, CAME BACK TO SC AND GOT CAUGHT. I WAS OUT FOR 2 MONTHS, AND THEY PUT ME BACK IN THE STRIPP-CELL AGAIN, NAKED. THEY THEN TRANSFERRED ME TO ASHLAND KENTUCKY.

THIS IS NOT THE END OF MY STORY: BUT HOW I CAME TO THE LORD, AND WHERE I AM NOW WILL BE IN “FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART II”, COMING UP NEXT.

    

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