Aren't you so glad that our God is alive in us? We don't serve a dead prophet, leader, or god; our Savior conquered death on the cross so we could live fulfilled lives through Him.
What does this mean? We have the power to conquer sin because we are dead to it. We have new life and a new nature. You see, "God doesn't want us to live under the bondage of sin any longer." He freed us from that. Why would we want to go back to the disgusting slavery of sin?
"We sin because we choose to sin." It's that simple. Of course, you could claim that you don't know that you were sinning at the time, which is entirely possible. But God did give us a conscience. We often just ignore it. Let's face it, our old nature still wants to sin.
What can we do? Well, thankfully, "God has given us the Holy Spirit that is stronger than sin." That doesn't mean we can pray and we'll just magically stop sinning. It's a daily process of surrendering to the Holy Spirit and letting Him control us, and it's far from easy.
Remember, "you are dead to sin and alive to God. Death is the inability to respond! We don't have to sin anymore. We choose sin."
What does this mean? We have the power to conquer sin because we are dead to it. We have new life and a new nature. You see, "God doesn't want us to live under the bondage of sin any longer." He freed us from that. Why would we want to go back to the disgusting slavery of sin?
"We sin because we choose to sin." It's that simple. Of course, you could claim that you don't know that you were sinning at the time, which is entirely possible. But God did give us a conscience. We often just ignore it. Let's face it, our old nature still wants to sin.
What can we do? Well, thankfully, "God has given us the Holy Spirit that is stronger than sin." That doesn't mean we can pray and we'll just magically stop sinning. It's a daily process of surrendering to the Holy Spirit and letting Him control us, and it's far from easy.
Remember, "you are dead to sin and alive to God. Death is the inability to respond! We don't have to sin anymore. We choose sin."
"You have to get rid of the sin so God can replace it with something better." His grace is far better than the "pleasure" of sin. His love is stronger than the chains of lust. Jesus will fill the emptiness that sin never can and will. The awesome thing is, "Jesus knows how to live your life better than you do." He says, "If you will let Me just take over your life, you'll like it!" Let Him!
Realize that "you won't grow spiritually if you say, 'No,' to the Holy Spirit." Now, we may not consciously say, "No," but if our lifestyle blocks out His guidance and direction it will shut out His voice and His power. So many Christians aren't hearing the Holy Spirit or living through His power. Sadly, I'm often guilty of the same thing.
"God wants to take over your whole life." He doesn't just want a small part, He wants to have complete control through His Spirit. But we so often won't let Him. We don't fully surrender. We want to keep some control; after all, it's our life, right? ...That's not being a follower of Jesus.
We need to put off...
"God wants to take over your whole life." He doesn't just want a small part, He wants to have complete control through His Spirit. But we so often won't let Him. We don't fully surrender. We want to keep some control; after all, it's our life, right? ...That's not being a follower of Jesus.
We need to put off...
- Sin by
Revealing - "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!" (Psalm 139:23, 24)
Repenting - "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death." (2 Corinthians 7:10)
Replacing - "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." (Romans 13:14)
- Self by ... (have a surrendered life)
Knowing (acknowledging) - "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin" (Romans 6:6)
Reckoning (believing) - "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:11)
Yielding constantly - "Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness." (Romans 6:13)
...then Put on the...
- Spirit
He indwells - "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
He convicts me of sin - "And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:" (John 16:8)
He fills me - "Be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18b)
"We are dead to sin." "If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations?" Colossians 2:20 (ESV)
JPK
"When Jesus comes into your heart, He doesn't make you better, He makes you over."
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