Where Is God When Bad Things Happen?

The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 KJV)

God is not the one who causes terrible things to happen in this world. Many confuse the Old Covenant Law (where Jesus had not yet come and the Holy Spirit had not yet been given), with the New Covenant of Grace (in which God has poured out His wrath upon Jesus on the cross, given us His Holy Spirit, and a better covenant with better promises). God does not kill anyone, especially children. He doesn't fly planes into buildings, and He doesn't devastate populations with famine, drought, hurricanes, or tornadoes. When we understand that God is loving and compassionate toward us because of what Jesus has done,  we will run to Him instead of from Him, and stop blaming Him for the things Satan does.

     We gave away our dominion, domination, rule, power, reign, authority, control...,or however you want to say it,  of this world in the Garden of Eden (Gen.3).  Ever since that time Satan has been in control of this world, and still will be until Jesus disposes of Him (Rev. 20:10 KJV). God didn't give him this authority...we did. God gave it to us, we gave it to Satan. Remember God looks upon the seed; in other words, when He looks upon a person He either sees the seed of Adam (corrupted, unholy, a child of Satan) or He sees the seed of Jesus (redeemed by putting faith in the grace extended to us through the precious blood of Christ). 

     God spent the time from the fall of man (Gen.3) till now, making and providing a way for us back into relationship with Himself. He has provided that way through His Son Jesus Christ. He (the Father), along with Jesus, and the Holy Spirit conspired (Acts 2:23) to achieve the greatest legal and military victory ever conceived...spoiling death, hell, and the grave.

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—" (Hebrews 2:14 NIV)

      But it is only by choice that we become children of God. He will not force us. So either we accept Him and His Son Jesus as ruler of our lives and as our eternal God and Savior, or we choose to remain children of Satan and spend eternity separated from the love of God. 

     When the church teaches, as many do, that God - in His sovereignty - is in control of everything that happens, either bad or good, they are deceived and teaching a doctrine that Satan loves ("And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.. 2 Corinthians 11:14 NIV). But this teaching does many things that hurt God's children, two of which are; it makes them angry at God when bad things happen (which Satan is responsible for), and it keeps them feeling helpless and victimized, when in reality they have been given authority in Christ to rebuke the Devil in the name of Jesus, speaking the word of God with all boldness and authority commanding evil, sickness, poverty, depression, etc. to flee. (**see note below)

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 NIV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV)

Note **As believers in Christ we do have authority over the Devil, but do not fall into the trap of spending more time focusing on and speaking to the Devil than you do Jesus. This will open unwanted doors in the spiritual realm. A simple command proclaiming the truth of God's word over a bad situation or illness is sufficient, and as your faith muscles grow it will become easier to stand believing, because God will establish a track record of faithfulness to His Word in your life. Here is a simple example of one prayer to rebuke the Devil. Notice I speak way more to the Father than to the enemy: 

"Father, I thank you that Jesus bore my sickness and disease upon His body on the cross, and by His stripes I am healed. I thank you Father for the authority you have given me, in Christ, to use His name, and "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth," (Philippians 2:10 NIV). Father I thank you that you have told me to speak to my mountains in faith and they would be removed - (Matthew 21:21 NIV). Now I turn to my physical body and I command sickness (or be more specific and call it by name; cancer, hernia, infection, etc.) to leave this body and never to return. I command this in the name of Jesus Christ. Now that I am cleansed of this fowl, unclean spirit, I command you body to be completely healed, restored and made whole as God intended. All damage be undone. I command every cell to be restored. Body I call you healed, healthy, restored, and made whole...in Jesus name, it is done! 

"Father, thank you for loving me so much. Thank you that it is your will that I be in good health, and prosper, and that you would never put sickness upon me as punishment. You are a good Father. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Bless you Father, Bless you Jesus, Bless you Holy Spirit...my God in whom I trust...Amen.

This is not a magic prayer, it is simply the way I speak to a loving Father who has charged me with the responsibility of interacting with Him through His Word and the Power of the Holy Spirit, in faith, as the way to obtain all the good things He has provided for me through Jesus perfect sacrifice on my behalf, and on yours. As these truths of God's goodness and His Word become revelation in your heart, use your own words and scriptures He has illuminated for you, in your conversations with the Lord.

 Faith released, retrieves Grace already provided. God is good all the time :)

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (3 John 1:2 KJV)

Be Blessed, 

Will Brocker 

JESUS CAME TO SET THE CAPTIVES FREE!

If you have excepted the free gift of God's forgiveness and have made the very personal, yet public commitment to give your life over to Jesus Christ - then you are born-again (redeemed, saved, you know and are known by God). You have gone through the strait gate, which is Jesus, and have begun your precious journey down the narrow way of the Christian life which the Bible says few ever find. If these things are true in your life, then I have a very powerful, important, life-changing truth for you from God: You are not a sinner saved by grace. You were a condemned sinner whom has been, is being, and will be saved by grace, and are now the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
 You are no longer "compelled to sin", but you still have the ability to sin (by choice). In your born-again spirit you have the very mind, character, feelings, and emotions of Jesus himself. And you can and will live a loving, holy, free life - to the extent you allow your soul (mind, will, emotions, personality) to learn and agree with God regarding who you really are now - according to His Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit. But, at every point you agree with the worldly, politically correct, selfish, lustful, erroneous ways and desires of your flesh...you will sin (whether in thought or deed).
  We as Christians have the responsibility of learning what truth is according to God, agreeing with and allowing Him to renew our minds through His Word (The Bible is God's revelation of Himself to His children, word for word, cover to cover). If God said it, that should settle it.
  The life of faith is a life of love, and humility. As Christians, the Holy Spirit is our single source of power to live this new life. He empowers us to love the unlovable, forgive the unforgivable, believe for the unbelievable, and to trust in a loving Father we have never seen and a conquering savior whom to the natural man seemed to be crushed and humiliated by His enemies.
  To the enemies of Christ the simplicity of the gospel, the talk of the cross, the resurrection of the dead, Jesus' precious redeeming blood, a tangible kingdom more real than the one we see, ministering angels, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the eternal hope of the life to come are all foolishness. But to those of us who know Him, these things are very real. Scientists may be able to count how many seeds are in an apple, but since they cannot tell me how many apples are in a seed...I will stay close to my loving Creator, who can.
  God loves you and has a perfect plan for your life which includes freedom from sin, and a real relationship with Him. Seek Him with your whole heart...the promise is 'you will find Him'. Jesus came to set the captives free - throw off your chains today.

-And Christians, please remember this: when you decide to condemn and criticize others for their sin, your motive is never one of love. It is correct to shed light into the life of a deceived or defiant person, but remember God loves that person and Jesus died for them. Unless you can hate the sin but love the person with the love of God, leave them alone. Do you spend time on your knees crying out to God on their behalf? Do you allow them to see God in and through your life? If not, then I doubt God has assigned you the task of fixing them. While it is possible you mean well, you must consider the effect of your judgment on that person. You will find it to be counter-productive. Remember that Jesus bore our shame, guilt, and condemnation on His body on the cross...so anytime you employ those same aspects of the curse; shame, guilt, condemnation - you will have a negative effect instead of a positive one. Make sure you are seeking to glorify God and to reconcile others to Him. It gives Him no glory for you to be right, but the other person not be reconciled. The Bible says to examine yourself to see if you are in the faith.-

I am praying for you...please pray for me too.
Love & Blessings,
Will

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. ~ Matthew 7:14 KJV

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. ~ John 10:9 NIV

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ~ John 14:6 NIV

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. ~ John 1:17 KJV

and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. ~ John 8:32 ESV

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh ~ Ezekiel 36:26

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ~
2 Corinthians 5:17

(Jesus said) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. ~ John 14:16-17 NLT

"...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." ~ Acts 1:8 NIV

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. ~ Romans 8:14 NLT

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; ~ Titus 2:11-12 KJV

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. ~ Romans 6:14 KJV

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. ~ 1 John 2:15 NLT

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ~ 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! ~
2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV

OBEDIENCE IN CHRIST

Our faith is a gift from God, as is His grace. When we draw on our faith to give us strength to obey God at times when His will and ours cross, we will find ourselves plunged deep into the supernatural power and blessings of God. Oh what a magnificant journey! Our needs, our hurts, our wants do not cause God to act in our lives. He has already acted through the perfect and fin

ished work of Christ's life, death, burial, resurrection, and enthronement. It is finished...now we just use our faith to obey and cooperate with God, and obtain those things already provided by His grace! He has already provided all things pertaining to life and godliness...forgiveness, healing, eternal life, deliverance, power, and prosperity to further His kingdom and establish His covenant in the earth...believe it, receive it, speak it, live it, shout it from the roof tops....victory is ours...Hallelujah!
~ Blessings, Will Brocker

"The man that believes will obey; failure to obey is convincing proof that there is no true faith present. To attempt the impossible God must give faith or there will be none, and He gives faith to the obedient heart only." ~ A. W. Tozer

[The natural life] knows that if the spiritual life gets hold of it, all its self-centeredness and self-will are going to be killed and it is ready to fight tooth and nail to avoid that. ~
(Clive Staples) C. S. Lewis

I know the power obedience has of making things easy which seem impossible. ~ Teresa of Avila

(Jesus said) "Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” ~ John 14:21

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them." ~ John 14:23 NLT

"When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love." ~ John 15:10 NLT

"And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments." ~ 1 John 2:3

"Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome." ~ 1 John 5:3

"Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning." ~ 2 John 1:6

"I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love." ~ Galatians 5:4-6 MSG

THE HEART OF THE MATTER (for the grieving)

Remember God loves you. He does not bring sickness, nor does He kill children. Religion, many times, has missed the mark regarding God's true nature. We live in a fallen world that is temporarily under the rule of a fallen angel and those with him. We as Christians are in a war while we are here on earth, battling the invisible forces of evil in the heavenly realms. The weapons of our warfare are opposite of what the world teaches. We love, bless, pray, and trust in an awesome God who has made a way for us back to him by sacrificing His own Son in our place.

 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Purpose -  to find peace and perspective in the midst of painful and sometimes confusing times.

My calling and my heart for God's people is to help them come out of religious traditions & into real relationship with an awesome Lord who loves them - no better way to get perspective than to hear God's own words regarding death, life, hope, suffering, faith,and peace. Here is a tapestry of scripture, in common language, that I feel captures the essence of God's heart, truth, plans and provision regarding these things. 

Some of Jesus' words from the night of His betrayal:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am ~ John 14:1-3

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 NKJV

"Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am...!" John 17:24

Paul's Words:

"Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ......... No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow -- not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below -- indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 8:35 - 39

"No eye has seen no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9b

"And God will raise us from the dead by his power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead." 1 Corinthians 6:14

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3

"For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands" 2 Corinthians 5:1

"For we will put on heavenly bodies, we will not be spirits without bodies." 2 Corinthians 5:3

"We would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord" 2 Corinthians 5:8b

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6 - 7

Here is what the Word of Says Regarding Believers Who Have Died:

and now 

 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death,so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Peter's Conclusion to the sufferings of the living:

"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -- though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." 1 Peter 1:6 - 7

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1

And Finally:

 When we are suffering,

During the worst days following a death, (if we allow Him) God surrounds us with others who have gone through what we are going through. We should take full advantage of this, as our Christian brothers and sisters are compelled in their hearts and conscience to be of comfort to those who are suffering, just as they have found comfort in their past experiences through God's word, and the compassion of His other children toward them.

So here is my charge to you, in the name of the Lord:

today - honor your loved one by acknowledging his passing, or better said, his home going. Then celebrate his life, and don't call him dead, because he surely is not. Tell fun stories, eat his favorite foods, find comfort in each other and in God's promises...then, at the end of the day, when it gets quiet and you sense the Lord's presence...take time to make a commitment to the Lord, and to your loved one to meet them in heaven. And you can have confidence that the Lord, who is faithful, willing, and able to make this happen, will stand good on His promises, if you will humble yourself, acknowledge your need for a savior, and put your trust in Him and His finished work on the cross on your behalf.

God Bless you...in Jesus' name.

Thanks & Be Blessed, 

Will Brocker281-216-8960
Grace & Truth Ministries
http://www.facebook.com/GraceTruthMinistries

http://intorelationship.com

A Prayer of Trust

Father thank you for this day. I have been sitting before you. I have been building myself up in my most holy faith. You have been speaking to me through your Word and strengthening the faith you have given me. I get so excited in your presence that it is hard for me to be still and quiet. Why are you so mindful of me my Lord? How can you love me so much? Yet, you assure me that you do and it gives me strength. I am so excited to see your supernatural intervention in my life again today. Thank you for showing me that you are the blessing, yes you and not the things you have made. Oh I love you Lord, because I am convinced of your love for me, and the hope I have of eternal life with you overwhelms me. Today Lord protect me from the enemy of my soul. Help me not to allow him access into my life by the things I do, or say, or set before me. Thank you for the angels that you have assigned to watch over me. I trust you Lord.

Grace By Number

I am so thankful that God speaks to all of His children. He speaks to me sometimes through numbers. What I mean is He uses numbers to convey His meaning, or even to encourage, or direct me. A great blessing He has given me in the way of numbers is a revelation of the number five.  Every number in the bible has a meaning, significance, and great importance. Nothing is in God's word by mistake. He is a God of order and no human being, or super-computer can hold a candle to His brilliance. The number "five" stands for "grace"; that by which we are saved through faith. Here is a brief explanation of the grace of five.

In the beginning was God, and God is a triune being...Father (God), Son (Jesus/God), and Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit/God). So, in the beginning was our triune God...1, 2, 3 of them, completely individual, yet completely one. He/They- is/are- awesome! So while one stands for unity, two stands for division or simply implies that there is another. Then three is the basis of the two coming together, and again forming the unified "one" out of two. Three is divine perfection, and the three (the Holy Spirit) is third because He joins the two together to make them one again, thus joining the parts, as a part, and becoming a part of the one. Sometimes, when teaching this, I've drawn the Godhead as a triangle with the numbers 1, 2, 3 at the points. However, it would be more accurate (as if words or drawings could ever do the Lord any justice) to simply draw a circle, symbolizing the never ending oneness of our God.

Next we see something truly amazing. They (God) created. Yes in God's revelation/revealing of himself to man (the Bible), He begins by creating ("in the beginning God created" Genesis 1), thus adding everything created as His means of revealing Himself to created beings. Amazing, huh? He, who is unseen, or spiritual, revealed himself to us (natural, carnal, created beings which are created by Him) through things which can be seen, His creation. Thus adding one to the three, making four - the number of creation.

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they [men] are without excuse" Romans 1:20     

                  

 The number four always speaks of creation. But we know that corruption entered into creation through pride, or sin. There was nothing we could do to redeem ourselves. So God sent His son, Jesus Christ, as our kinsman redeemer to reconcile us back to him. Redeeming us from vanity - having been subjected to it through the corruption that entered into the world.

This redemption has come, not as a reward for anything we could ever have done to deserve it, but by a redeemer. Jesus Christ is that redeemer, messiah, anointed one through who grace and truth have come. He loved us even in our weak and helpless state, while we were yet sinners. So we give this redemption, this amazing grace, the number five.

Here are a few of the definitions given for grace by the Free Online Dictionary:
grace  n.

a. A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill.

b. Mercy; clemency.

5. A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.

a. Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people.

b. The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God.

c. An excellence or power granted by God.

I simply say it is the unearned, unmerited, and undeserved blessing and favor of God.

Every time something in scripture is connected to the five, there will be a reference, or a type, of a model of God's grace. Here are a few examples.

-Father, Son, Spirit, Creation, Redemption = 5 great mysteries

-God added the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the h(hey) the symbol for the #5 to the names of Abram and Sarai, making them Abraham and Sarah when they were called to walk before God in a special way. It was then that God revealed Himself for the first time By El Shaddai, the "all bountiful one", able to provide all their needs, solely for his own purposes and not because it was deserved.

-The fifth book of the Bible, Deuteronomy, points to the grace of God. He makes sure to let us know that it is not as a result of our (the people's) goodness that He chose us and blesses us, but for His own name's sake...For Jesus.

-The life of Benjamin, who is a representative (type) of you, and me (the church), is marked by grace. The first time Joseph (a type of Jesus) saw him, he said "God be gracious to you, my son." Gen 43:29. Later when all the brothers ate with Joseph~ Benjamin's serving was five times as much as the others. Then again later, Benjamin was given five changes of clothes. God makes no mistake in His word. These indications of five/grace in the life of Benjamin are a message to you and me.

- When David slew Goliath he chose five smooth stones, and took him down with one.

- When Jesus was approached by His Goliath (Satan) in the wilderness, He also had five smooth stones; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. But He only used one, the fifth one, the book of Deuteronomy in every response to the Devil. Satan was easily defeated.

-The Children of Israel made five main offerings, all pointing to the one offering made by Jesus.

-Jesus took five loaves and fed five-thousand

-The fifth Psalm tells us how God surrounds us with His favor (grace) as a shield.

-The fifth book of the New Testament, Acts, tells of the amazing Acts of the Apostles who had recently scattered and even denied the Lord when trouble came. But now, under the influence of God's amazing grace and the power of the Holy Spirit they turn the world upside down.

I hope you will begin to research the fives of the Bible. You will be amazed that when you find a connection to the number five there will somehow always be a link to God's grace. I pray that it strengthens your faith as you see more and more that no human being could have linked so many references to this beautiful gift of God. Our Bible is truly God's love letter to His children.

I am especially thankful that God marked this disciples life with so many fives; born on the fifth day, of the fifth month, of the sixty-fifth year, the youngest of five children. I think He knew it would take that many for me to actually believe He could actually forgive, and love someone like me. But He did, and He does. Now I am His! That should give everyone hope.

"For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:17

Godly Motives Are Birthed By The Good News

Our motives are more important to God than our actions/deeds.

"For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”~1 Samuel 16:7

We can take an inventory of motives that compel us to do things. If we are honest, many are derived of the things that we want. We may want to be famous, known, or accepted by men. We may crave power, money, sex, or just attention. Instead of trying to earn man's approval some do things to try and earn God's approval by their own goodness, holiness, deeds, self-effort...works. Still others are driven by bitterness, hatred, unforgiveness, or revenge. All of these are ungodly motives; in other words they are carnal, or of the flesh.

{def. Carnal -1."pertaining to or characterized by the flesh or the body, its passions and appetites; sensual: carnal pleasures.2.not spiritual; merely human; temporal; worldly: a man of secular, rather carnal, leanings.} 

"For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" Romans 8:6.

And while men rate these things in different ways, some being worse than others, and actually some being accepted and even expected in the society we live in and around the world... God sees them all as sin, and they all link back to the Garden of Eden. That's right, nothing new, they all fall into three categories; lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. It is the same stuff that caused Adam & Eve to fall, nothing new under the sun.

Want to know something else? All people know they are sinners. I know it is true because the Holy Spirit told Paul to write it down in the book of Romans. I will agree that some have not admitted it yet, maybe even to themselves, but their conscience tells them that there is a God and that they are not Him (read the first two chapters of the book of Romans). You don't have to tell people they are sinners, as a matter of fact, most of them will readily admit it, albeit this is usually where the sin of comparison comes in. They start trying to justify themselves by comparing themselves to other people who they deem to be worse sinners than themselves. God doesn’t see it that way.

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. 

The point I want to make is that the knowledge of the fact that they are sinners does not surprise anyone. And condemning them and giving them a list of regulations, dos and don't s and putting them on a path to God that is shaped from the arrogance of men and is performance based, will not help them anymore than it did for the 1500 yrs. the Old Covenant of the Law was in effect.

What people need is the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the Good News. Actually, if you had a literal translation it would say the "almost too good to be true news", “great news”, the “you are not going to believe this but its true news”. People are not fixed by being told how broken they are. Sure in some cases, when people are in extreme pride & arrogance, the law can be useful to beat them with, as a club, until they admit what they really already know. But then, what they desperately need is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God’s power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance. Romans 1:16 amplified 

They need to know that there is a savior that loves them, that died for them, and that lives today and is waiting with open arms to receive them into the family of God. He is the one who will free them from this bondage to the sin that destroys lives. He is the only one who can change their selfish motives into selfless ones. Like Jesus' own motive, theirs can be one of love. Instead of doing things to try and earn God's approval, they can come to a place where their good deeds are done as a loving response to the good He has done on their behalf, and not as a means to earn it or deserve it.