43 And if your hand puts a stumbling block before you and causes you to sin, cut it off! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to go into life [that is really worthwhile] maimed than with two hands to go to hell (Gehenna), into the fire that cannot be put out.
45 And if your foot is a cause of stumbling and sin to you, cut it off! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to enter into life [that is really worthwhile] crippled than, having two feet, to be cast into hell (Gehenna).
47 And if your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell (Gehenna),
Mark 9:43-47 AMPC
Cut off whatever causes you to sin
WATCH LESSON 21: https://playmakersinthefaith.subspla.sh/k9838y8
In the picture above, I was at the Track and Field ACC indoor Championships in 2009. I had got 2nd place in the 60m and we won the meet as a team. After I ran the 60m and was done for the day, I pulled out my portable vaporizer and began to get high at the track meet. I was with some other track athletes and we were laughing while hitting the vaporizer because no one knew what we were doing at the time. We lied and told them it was our inhaler. We were also right in front of the police at the track meet. I'm thankful for the mercy that God had on me, because we very foolish.
A couple weeks earlier around that time we had a track meet in New York. After the meet, we were back at the hotel and I was so addicted to marijuana that I had to get some in order to sleep at night. I decided to walk down to Times Square and ask people if they had some piff. One guy at a club had some and I purchased some off of him right in front of the club. I then went into a restaurant bathroom and put it in my vaporizer and got high.
When I was with the Ariziona Cardinals, during OTA (Organized Training Activities) I failed a drug test with the NFLPA (National Football League Players Association). I was placed into the Substance Abuse Program with them. I was going to church at the time but had a hard time accepting the Word that Pastor Sean Moore was preaching. I had to meet weekly with a psychiatrist from the NFLPA and he said something that was very convicting. He said, "How are you going to be a Christian and smoke weed? Isn't that hypocritical?" When he said that, it hurt. The conviction was real. He was also right. We know that medical marijuana helps those with pain, cancer, or other severe conditions, but to smoke it for recreational use for pleasure isn't right.
In October of 2009, I had got baptized in the Holy Spirit. I had to separate myself from people who I knew that I could buy marijuana from. I had to cut off the ability for me to access it so I wouldn't go back to it. Also, I'm thankful for the frequent drug tests that the NFLPA would put me through each month to help keep me accountable and to be completely set free. I was completely free in November of 2009 and I never went back to it. The Lord wants us to be delivered but we also play a part too. Jesus says to cut off whatever is causing you to sin.
Many people are dealing with pornography and are living in sin because of it. I used to watch porn back in college. I decided to do a 40 day fast from it. When I abstained from pornography for 40 days, I never went back to it. I have no desire to go back to it at all. Pornography also opens the door to demonic spirits that bring serious strongholds over people's life. Sometimes, the temptation will show up on social media but I quickly scroll past it. I am not going to play with fire. I fear the consequences of falling into that sin. I don't want the Lord Jesus to cast me away because I did not make the choice to cut off whatever was causing me to sin.
I pray that ya'll do the same, examine yourself and cut off whatever it is in your life that is causing you to sin. Pray and ask the Lord to help you and He will!