Thanks for the encouragement Am_Lovin_Him. I believe that there is victory over sin through Jesus and it's a real victory. In other words, the power of the sin is broken. I believe that Jesus has broken it and it's something I've battled with God for 2 years over. I didn't want to admit it was a sin. That's the scary part. But I believe He has broken it.Brother Ron, I believe we're on the same page regarding the scripture I quoted in James. If I'm wrong, please correct me.If I commit a public sin, then it has to be dealt with publicly. If it's a private sin, then it's to dealt with privately. That's the rule of thumb at our church. The Holy Spirit quickened me on several occasions to confess this sin and then repent. I failed to do it because of my pride, plain and simple. Then I had to repent over that attitude as well.So one of the things the Holy Spirit was dealing with me on was pride, not just the smoking.I pray that I haven't glamourized this, because it certainly is not very pretty. My intent was to humble myself and confess the sin, realizing that it wasn't up to me as to how this would be received. One of the things the Lord is requiring that I lay down is the right to defend myself.As I stated Brother Ron, if I'm off-base I seek forgiveness and a better understanding of what I should do in this type of instance.
_________________Ed Pugh
Brother Ron, I believe we're on the same page regarding the scripture I quoted in James. If I'm wrong, please correct me.If I commit a public sin, then it has to be dealt with publicly. If it's a private sin, then it's to dealt with privately. That's the rule of thumb at our church. The Holy Spirit quickened me on several occasions to confess this sin and then repent. I failed to do it because of my pride, plain and simple. Then I had to repent over that attitude as well.
_________________Ron Bailey
