20150814 DO I AGREE WITH GOD ABOUT SIN?

RESCUE US

Matthew 6:13 And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]

Note: The words that are gray up above are in some manuscripts, but not in others. The NLT and other translations point this out. Since I’m using the NLT with permission I left the words as they have them.

Here Jesus teaches us to pray for protection, for rescuing from sin and the evil one. [1^st Attitude] When temptation comes do you immediately look to your Heavenly Father for assistance? Do you ask Him to help you make the right choice? [2^nd Attitude] Or do you start weighing the consequences if you give in? Do you look around to see if anyone is watching? Can you get away with this sin and not get caught?

I’ve heard it said that the strength of one’s character can be measured by what he does when no one is watching. But, God is always watching. He does not sleep, nor does He slumber.

The 2^nd Attitude above shows a heart that has not fully agreed with the Heavenly Father about sin and therefore has not fully repented. Sin is what got Adam and Eve kicked out of the Garden of Eden. Sin is what separated us from the Father. Sin is what made us in need of a Savior. Sin is what would send us to a devil’s hell. Sin, our sin is what Jesus took upon himself on the cross of Calvary. He died to pay the penalty for our sin, and to set us free from the law of sin and death. He gave us victory over sin, Satan and death. He didn’t do all this for us to continue to walk in sin. His desire is that we would be a light to the rest of the people in the world who don’t yet know Him.

“Why so hard on sin, preacher?” Because sin will always take you farther than you want to go, cost you more than you want to pay and keep you longer than you want to stay. That is not just some cute saying that preachers spout to get more “AMENS”. I have seen the devastation in the eyes of spouses who’ve been cheated on. I have heard the desperation and unbelief in the voices of children who grew up being abused. I have sat in a locked room on the other side of a table from a prisoner caught with drugs, or caught driving under the influence. I’ve watched them weep over the lost opportunities with their children and spouses. I’ve sat with the family members of one who paid the ultimate price for his or her sin and wondered, “Where do I find strength and hope to offer this family?”

Jesus wasn’t just looking for something else to add to a short prayer. He knows the hearts of men. He saw the struggles we deal with. He was tempted in every way like we are and yet He did not sin. In the garden of Gethsemane He told Peter to pray so that he wouldn’t give into temptation. See Matthew 26:41.

James tells us, James 4:7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

He doesn’t suggest we have a conversation with the tempter. No, the instructions are to 1) humble ourselves before God and 2) resist the devil. The result is that Satan will flee. It is imperative that we are humble before God and that means that we agree with Him fully. We agree that He is right about sin and therefore we look to Him for help in defeating it in our lives daily, moment by moment. Then we will not be looking around for a way to sin and not get caught. We will quickly say, “NO” to sin and the devil.

Someone put it like this, “When Satan comes knocking ask Jesus to answer the door.”

Heavenly Father, don’t let us yield to temptation and please deliver us from the evil one. Thank You for the promises in Your Word that You will indeed help us and that the evil one will indeed flee. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

REPENT

REPENT

(Matthew 4:17)  From then on Jesus began to preach, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. "

Repent:

1) to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent

2) to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins

The above definition is from Thayer's Greek dictionary. When John the Baptist spoke to the Pharisees he said, (Matthew 3:8) “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.”

Repentance calls for three things:

1. To change our minds so that we agree with God.

a. agree that we are sinners

b. agree that sin as defined by God is heinous

c. agree that to live by God's standards is right

2. To hate our sin.

3. To start living and continue living according to God's standards.

Note this is the message that Jesus preached "from then on." This was and is His Gospel or good news. The good news part is that the Kingdom of God is near, at hand, here right now and you are invited to partake in it. The Apostle Paul makes it clear that there are ways of living that will keep one out of the Kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, [10] or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people-none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, [21] envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:5

You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

There is a teaching that says, “All you have to do is believe and you will be saved.” It is based on pulling a few verses from their context and is often referred to as “easy believism.” It is true that one receives salvation by believing in the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and by confessing with the mouth that Jesus is Lord. (Romans 10:9 my paraphrase) But, to believe in the heart means a change in the life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

The heart will change causing a change in the outward actions. A toddler doesn’t believe that touching a flame on a candle will hurt her hand, and therefore she will reach for the pretty glow. Hopefully the parent can persuade the child, but in most cases one touch is what it takes. After that, the child is a believer and that believing will forever after alter her behavior around fire.

Likewise, believing that Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for our sin and that God raised Him from the dead, and proclaiming Jesus as LORD will change the heart, which will subsequently change the actions. This is repentance; agreeing with God, seeing sin as He sees it, and changing our actions to match His standards.

Repentance becomes a lifestyle for the believer, daily turning away from evil and turning toward our Heavenly Father. It is continuously seeking His Kingdom and Righteousness.

Father in Heaven, Help us today to seek You, Your kingdom and righteousness. Lead us in paths of righteousness for Your Name’s sake. Keep us from evil.

In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!