Posts with the tag “sin”

“They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, ‘All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!’” - John 8:7  We live in a dark world, a world that wants to dim our light and put it out for good. But Jesus models for us what it means to remain lit in the midst of life’s darkness. The first thing He teaches us through John 8 is that in order for our light to “...  Read More

“Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.” - 2 Corinthians 13:5   Yesterday, we talked about needing to upgrade your equipment. If you are a believer, I have good news for you: God has BIG plans for you. Paul says in Ephesians 3:20, “Now all glory to God, who is able throu...  Read More

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” - Ephesians 5:18  Overindulgence comes in many forms such as gluttony, drunkenness, drug abuse, shopaholism, excessive partying, idleness, even excessive media use. The list is never-ending. It occurs when the activity intensely feeds the flesh and interferes with healthy and holy living.   The problem with ...  Read More

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” - Isaiah 43:18  Over the last few days, we have talked about the importance of letting go in order to experience God’s very best. The key to excelling in life is recognizing our shortcomings and working to improve them so that we don’t look back or go back to those former things that were previously a hindrance to us. This is the dilemma that c...  Read More

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” - Hebrews 12:1    There is a story of a bald eagle that was gracefully soaring over the northwestern pacific in search of food one day. In the middle of its flight, the eagle happened upo...  Read More

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” - Mark 11:24-25    Mark 11:24 highlights that when we are faithful and obedient to God, we have the ability to ask what we want in prayer; and if we be...  Read More

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9  As Christians, we should strive to be more like Jesus. One of the ways we can do this in a way that encourages, challenges, and strengthens other Christians, is to help release people to their future rather than holding them hostage to their past. Instead of punishing ...  Read More

“It is for freedom that Christ as set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1 The apostle Paul knew a lot about what it was like to be in prison. During his second missionary journey, he was arrested and imprisoned in Philippi. He was set free by an earthquake that freed him and Silas. After his third missionary journey, he was ...  Read More

“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” – Romans 13:10 When you sin, you are not the only one who suffers the consequences. Those around you suffer as well. I once heard a preacher ask his audience the question, “Whose life hangs in the balance of the decisions you are making?” This might sound drastic and bold…and well, that’s exactly what it is. Every action has a reaction; in other words, the decisions you make have consequences, which can directly affect your parents, kids, significant other, friends, team players, classmates, employees, and others in your sphere of influence. If you sow good seeds, you reap good seeds, and the same goes if you sow bad seeds. The Bible lays out a general template for operating in the flesh (sinning) vs. operating in the Spirit (living righteously). “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like…. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5: 19-22). The consequences may not be immediate, but they are eventual. Maybe you are wrapped in sin, and you cannot find your way out. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. That’s where Jesus comes in. He is our help in times of trouble. He will never leave nor forsake us, even when others do. Decide today that you will master the sin and the sin will not master you!   Read More

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ” - Romans 7:15-18 ...  Read More

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ” - Romans 7:15-18 ...  Read More

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. (Ephesians 4:26)  There is a common misconception about anger that needs to be cleared up. Feeling angry about something is not a problem. It’s not sinful. Even God gets angry. Psalm 7 talks about how God is a righteous God and a God who also feels anger and indignation. And if God, who is without sin, can be angry, then we know an...  Read More