Reading 2 Samuel 13:1-19
To Pervert – by definition is to lead astray, turn away from the right course, to turn to an improper use or to misapply something. To distort, misinterpret or misunderstand, or to bring to a less excellent state.
When we think of perverts the first come thing that comes to mind are child molesters, peeping toms, porn creeps, and overtly sexual explicit people. However if we clearly read the definition we see that a pervert can be anyone who leads astray, improperly uses or misapplies something, someone that misinterprets or misunderstand someone, or someone that brings something to a less excellent state.
So a pervert extends beyond just sexual perversion, but it can be relational, financial, social, economical, political, spiritual, and so on.
When we think of perverts and perversion, we have to talk about the where the origins of perversion come from. Remember in Genesis when the serpent began to talk to the woman? She had a conversation with the serpent in which he perverted the use of the tree. God told them not to eat from it, because eating from it was not the proper use for it for Adam and Eve. However the serpent came along, and perverted the use of the tree and told Eve that it was good enough to eat. The oppositional spirit of Satan forces people to take something meant for proper use and through persuasion and influence use it for an improper use or bring something meant for a higher purpose and debase it.
After reading 2 Samuel 13, there are few things to look out for to recognize perverts.
1. Watch out of people that attach themselves to your innocence or the innocence of your children. Ask questions.
To be a virgin meant Tamar was pure, set aside, and clean. People with pure hearts are sought out by perverts. Perverts want from others what they themselves don’t have. Amnon was a grown man and was not a virgin, yet he wanted Tamar because she was one.
2. Watch for people that become obsessed with you.
Amnon was so obsessed with Tamar that it made him sick. Unhealthy obsession is the mentality of a pervert. They have misinterpreted or misunderstood the appropriate type of relationship. When a person’s world is consumed with the actions, attention, personage, and possessions of another they are exhibiting signs of a pervert.
3. Watch out for the company people keep.
Jonadab was known as a trickster and he an Amnon were good friends. In order to be a good friend with someone who is known for doing wrong, you at some point have to participate or at least condone the behavior. If all of their friends are liars, cheaters, selfish, gold diggers, pretenders, and thieves, then what do you expect of them.
4. Watch out for people who get what they want and still are not happy.
When a baby cries for something, if you give them what they want then they are satisfied and stop crying. Perverts pretend they want something just to get your attention. But are never really honest enough with themselves and others to admit what they really want.
Amnon told his father he wanted Tamar to fix him something to eat because he was sick. After she prepared the meal and gave it to him. He refused to eat. Didn’t he say he was hungry and wanted Tamar to feed him? If indeed that was the issue, he would have ate the meal when it was prepared. What he really wanted was to have sex with her, not eat from her.
Be careful when you give people what they want and they are still not satisfied. You give them power, respect, money, time, acknowledge them, lose weight, spend more time at home, and so on, yet they are still not satisfied. You give them what they ask for and they refuse to participate in the very thing they said they wanted. That is another sign of a pervert.
5. Perverts don't really care about protocol, the rules, or what is right.
If a person consistently disregards what is at the very least morally sound, then be cautious of that person’s intentions. When someone wants to avoid leadership, family, close friends, and places, that person is most likely hiding something they don’t want revealed.
Tamar begged Amnon not to shame her by taking her virginity. If he cared anything about her he would at least respected the moral obligation to her, their family, and nation. He was indeed the King’s son and Tamar was the King’s daughter. She could have been the prize of the nation that was used to make alliance with another nation. However, Amnon did not care about protocol or what the greater good or how his actions would affect others. He was only concerned with his desires and how it benefitted him.
6. Watch out for people who want to force their way in your life or on you.
There is a saying that is used, “you cannot force someone to love you.” This is true in any type of relationship. People who become overbearing and forceful with their affection, attention, possessions, and relationship are exhibiting signs of a pervert. This person has a greater and maybe even unhealthy desire to be a part of your life.
Be it psychological, mental, financial, social, or spiritual be very cautious. Not only is it unhealthy but in some cases it can escalate and become dangerous as with Tamar. When he made his advance she tried to plead with him to reason, when she didn’t cooperate, he forced his way on her. When a person who is perverting a relationship doesn’t get what he/she wants or thinks they want in return, the person will act out and in most cases causes harm.
It is very important that we understand how to identify where people are perverting relationships to help avoid some of the many issues we have faced. Many people have deep wounds and serious issues with trust, love, and esteem because a pervert has violated them in some way and like Tamar, made them trade in their garments of pretty colors for mourning clothes.
It is my prayer that as God heals you from your past hurts, and you regain your pretty colors, that is LIFE – joy, love, trust, peace, happiness, faith, tenacity, will, and drive. I also pray that you in turn do not become a pervert (hurting people often hurt people) and you are able to keep a watchful eye to avoid further occurrences.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says to EVERYTHING there IS a season. A season by definition is a period of time. Another use of the words is to mature, ripen, or condition by exposure. So a season is a period of time to mature, ripen, and condition by exposure. If a fruit is not consumed when it is ripe, it rottens and is no longer suited for use. Not even consumption.
The power of goodbye is a powerful tool. It is the ability to embrace finality on any level and be at peace with letting go. Learning how to say goodbye means you have matured and been conditioned for a period of time by whatever you were a part of or exposed to – a job, person, event, location, group, etc. From layoffs to break ups, and from relocations to death they are all events that require you to take a deep breathe, reflect, and then say goodbye. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.” Unless you are willing to go beyond where you have already been or have already done or experienced, you will never grow.
Now this doesn’t mean that it won’t hurt, make you feel sad, or in some cases glad, nevertheless even sorrow and feelings last but for a season. How long you stay in that season is up to you. Even regions exposed to constant temperatures, at some point change. All things will and must change, including you, your circumstances, and your situations. Like a fond farewell after a graduation or a delightful visit from family or friends. Though it brought comfort, a certain sense of peace and happiness or tolerance, be OK with saying goodbye.
Goodbye is necessary so you can say Hello. Jesus said, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth, it is expedient (in your best interest) that I go away (say goodbye). For if I go not away, the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will not come unto you. But if I depart I will send him to you." Fifty days after Jesus ascended, the Day of Pentecost occurred. When the Holy Spirit came, people were being healed by the Apostles’ shadow! The Holy Spirit could not come until Jesus left. Your greater cannot get here if it is occupied with your less than or just enough. Ruth’ s husband had to DIE before she even considered being somewhere else. Do you realize that though Naomi’s son was good, but Boaz was better? God had to tell Joshua. Moses is now DEAD. GO FORWARD TO THE PROMISE! Manna and quail in the wilderness was good, but a land of their own with the ability to have limitless supply was better.
Robert Cody once said, “have the courage to live. Anyone can die.” When you say goodbye, its not so you can give up and quit and bury yourself in hopeless pity. It’s your P Diddy moment to say Hello! Good Morning! Hello to a new opportunity, a new era, a new chance, a new day, a new habit, a new experience, a new level, a new purpose and goal, a new way of thinking and living and area to succeed in. Even hair when cut grows back, stronger and longer. So you must do the same also.
My prayer for you today is that you exercise your power to say goodbye and hello. Everything, no matter how good, bad, or comfortable or uncomfortable, will one day end. The question is will you mature for good use, or stay there and rotten?
For more or to listen to India Arie’s, Good Morning, go to http://www.h23livingeveryday.blogspot.com/
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Have you ever gone outside and the sun wasn’t shining? Do you recall a time when at sunrise, you couldn’t see the sun creeping the horizon? Nope. Ever since God said let there be light and said it was good, the sun hasn’t stopped producing. As a matter of fact, it hasn’t stopped producing light since it received instructions the first time.
Have you ever thought about the phrase, “the sky is falling.” It is simply a euphemism because since God separated the firmament above form the firmament beneath, the sky hasn’t moved. Likewise, when God told Abraham his seed would be blessed and increase exceedingly, even in slavery in Egypt that word kept producing. The bible says they lived in Egypt and grew exceedingly. When God gives a word, it keeps producing until told otherwise.
In Isaiah, God said, “so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper (progress, succeed), [in the thing] whereto I sent it.” That means that whatever God said about a thing, a person, position, or situation, that word will succeed to what is assigned to. God called the children of Israel blessed. So in Numbers 22:12 when Balaam was hired to curse the Children of Israel. God told him he could not because He said they were blessed. When God showed Joseph what he said about his brothers serving him, through slavery, false imprisonment, distance, and deceit, what God said still came to pass. Joseph’s brothers bowed to him and begin to serve him. When the Centurion sought Jesus about his sick servant, the Centurion told Jesus to speak the word. Why? Because the Centurion understood authority and the power of Jesus and His word. In that same hour that Jesus spoke and the Centurion believed, the servant was healed. It accomplished what it was sent to do.
I want to encourage you that if you have received a word directly, or you believe the words already spoken, believe it because it will come to pass. It will accomplish what it was sent to do. No matter the trial, test, setback, set off, distraction, plot, plan, ploy, trick, mess up, mistake, or work….. though it tarries, wait for it, for it will surely come to pass (Habakkuk 2:3). When God speaks everyone in the cosmos hears it. And if they are wise enough to adhere to it, then so should you.
Read More Like These at http://h23livingeverydaylife.blogspot.com/
WAIT FOR IT!
Reference Reading
Psalms 27:4 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
We live in such a Microwave Age. Everything has to be done NOW. We have to eat now, fall in love now, get everything we want NOW, and if we serve God he has to do everything NOW. The concept of waiting is foreign and drives most of us to a point of frustration. Even as I was gathering info to type this piece, the internet was draaaagging. A whole 7 seconds for my page to pop up almost made me, shut down and restart my computer (which by the way would have taken me at least 3-5 min). If I didn’t have 7 seconds, how was adding 3-5 minutes with the “hopes” that it would make it go faster save me anything? Well it didn’t. And for most of us our band-aid quick fix solutions to our life issues, only ends up costing more time and resources. We allow our appetites and fears drive us to go for the easy route because we don’t want to wait. It took time to get to where you are and wit will take time for you to get to where you want to go. The question is how do you want to spend that time? In fear and anxiety? Or in peace and faith? Either way you are going to have to WAIT.
Wait on the Lord, in Psalms 27 is Qavah, translated look for or hope for, to look eagerly for, to lie in wait for. Sounds like an antonym to our understanding of WAIT. We think wait means NO, or you’re not getting it, or you’re not ready for it. So one of two things happen, you get depressed and pray out of fear and out of sorrow because you think you have been denied. Or you prep yourself; go through all these rituals of preparation thinking that will speed up the blessing or answer. In my Madea voice, “Sat DOWN!” and WAIT. And don’t wait moping, stressing, fearing, pacing. WAIT and be of GOOD COURAGE. That means – be strong, courageous, firm, resolute. Not whiny, crying, frantic, depressed, dejected, and down trodden.
When we (people who believe God IS and KNOW God IS), WAIT, we are to be like the Buckingham Palace guards. On the outside they look like they cannot be moved. It is a tourist’s challenge to do as much as you can to try and distract them and get them to move. But they have built a reputation on their stellar ability to NOT BE MOVED no matter what is going. However underneath the uniform and outward decorative appearance, is a beating heart, a keen mind, instinct, and a highly trained guardsman eagerly awaiting for the appointed time. The only thing that moves them is a threat on the palace or their appointed time to move. They look like decorations but they will destroy you before you can take two steps beyond the line. The only thing that should move you is a threat on what you are charged to protect or your appointed time to move.
When you WAIT - eagerly expect God to do it, and be of good courage – firm resolute, it say HE will strengthen your heart and HE will exalt you, and HE will save you. (Psalms 27:14, Psalms 37:34, Proverbs 20:22). God gives provision when he has you planted somewhere to wait. He sent the children of Israel water first, then manna, then when that wasn’t enough he sent them quail. He sent Elijah to the brook to drink, then the birds brought him bread, then they brought him meat. God increased their substance while they were waiting. If you trust him, instead of fight him (do your own thing) or flight him (run from him) you will see he has provision for you in your place of wait. And he is able and ready to increase as you need.
WAIT I SAY ON THE LORD AND BE OF GOOD COURAGE AND HE WILL STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART. Please WAIT.
Enjoy this song of encouragement by Marvin Sapp, Not the Time or the Place.
Reference Reading: Psalms 19:7-14
Psa 19:12 Who can understand [his] errors? cleanse thou me from secret [faults].
The word cleanse translated means empty, free, purify. The word secret is translated hide, conceal, or cover up. So in essence the psalmist is asking God to empty, free, and purify me from the things I HIDE, CONCEAL, COVER UP.
How many secret faults do we carry? How many sins (the things that causes us to stumble) do we hide? The things we do in secret that no one knows. The things we struggle with that we don’t tell anyone about. Not the big sins that others can see but the secret sins that those close to you or that know you, don’t ever get to see. The stumbling that keeps you up at night, the stumbling that makes you wait until everyone is sleep, the stumbling that you do alone because you don’t want anyone to see. The stumbling you only do with a select circle because you don’t want others you respect or that respect you to know. The stumbling that actually makes you feel ashamed and convicted because you know it’s not right.
Here is the problem. We can go to church or go through some at the moment event and think we are free, but we don’t realize the more we engulf ourselves in those faults, the more we taint, stain, and convolute our souls. We also don’t realize that he more we continue in those actions, the more we entangle ourselves and bind ourselves to those things, people, places, habits, and actions.
In Psalms 19:7, the word soul, actually means your life, being, mind, desires, and appetite. Your life, your mind, and your appetite have to be changed in order for you to experience true freedom. Like an addict or a person with a disease related to diet. They must first DETOX their bodies in order to begin a true healing and recovery process.
There are people who have diabetes, that have actually been healed from it, by simply changing their diets. When a person is first diagnosed with the common form of diabetes, the first thing they are told is that they have to change their diets. Then they are given classes and materials to help educate them on how to make better food choices. It’s one thing to eat right while you’re in the hospital, but it’s a different monster to eat right when you’re home alone, and there is no diet being forced upon you.
In that same verse, it says, "the law of the Lord is perfect," which really means the instruction and direction of God is sound, whole, and complete for the converting- turning back or returning, of your soul. To be free, you have to allow the instruction and direction of God to turn your life, mind, desires, and appetite back. The word, prayer, and counsel will help you learn the tools necessary to change your life, mind, and appetite.
That’s why he said CLEANSE me – empty, free, purify me. It’s those hidden things, those soul ties that keep us bound to habits, people, places and things that we should owe no loyalty to. Check the children of Israel. They were freed from the physical, slavery, but their souls were still tied to Egypt. In their hearts they concealed, and hid their love for Egypt. Everyone that walked out of Egypt wasn’t happy to leave. Some of them got comfortable being one of Pharaoh’s workers, handmaids, sex slaves, musicians, bakers, soldiers, etc. They liked the privileges of their roles. They got used to that appetite. That’s why they said I’d rather have garlic and onions with a whip on my back, than to eat bread from heaven FREE. How else could they sit there and watch God perform the greatest miracle their eyes had ever seen and still strip naked bow down to a idol.
DON’T JUDGE THEM. How many times has God performed miracles for you and come through for you, and you still end up in your concealed, hidden, covered sins?
God wants to heal you for real. Like the diabetes patient, you don’t have to struggle with this all your life. And you don’t have to die from complications of the secret faults. Allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse you of your secret faults. Be like Namaan and keep dipping yourself until you come up clean. Keep following the instruction and direction of God until your life, mind, and desires, and appetite are turned back to the way God intended.
Be like the psalmist in this chapter, and ask God not to allow “presumptuous sins” – arrogance, pride, insolence to have rule over you. God is giving us ALL an opportunity to come before him in His secret place to be cleansed, freed, and the reproach taken away from our names. Take advantage of this season. For when it is passed, things will be revealed and uncovered, and those secret faults will be secret no more.
Dr. Cindy Trimm, world renowned Prophetess, Prayer Warrior, and Kingdom Teacher will be hosting a 40 day Soul Fast. For more information or to participate, click the link below: http://www.trimminternational.com/readmore/thepower/soulfast.html
