Isn’t it sweet to be loved by Jesus? To be protected in His arms and kept safe from harm? Today’s topic is that of how we often stumble, and we make choices: we either choose God, or we go on and sin willfully. But who would do that? Who would purposely go back to something they know is wrong? The truth of the matter, we all!
For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, –Hebrews 10:26
God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to come down to this wicked earth, to partake with us, and to love us. He sent His only Son to take on our guilt and shame, and our sins and in return also to die for us. Christ’s ministry upon earth, preached nothing but love, God the father (who IS love!), and the story of redemption from sins; a new life in Jesus, we no longer have to sin, we are conquerors through Him, we can put off our old man and instead take on a new character and lifestyle through and by Jesus.
When Jesus makes us free, we are free indeed (John 8:36), we are to sin no more and turn from our wickedness! Occasionally we do stumble and fall (Proverbs 24:16), but through Jesus’ we have an advocate (1 John 2:1) and are able to seek the forgiveness of our sins and press on in Jesus. The danger now comes when we stumble, but did so of our own free will, knowing the situation is dreadfully wrong, knowing it will grieve God’s heart and our own, and saying, we care not or we can’t help ourselves, and then proceeding with the act of sinning. An example of that could be: you often watched pornography, or had conversations that in no way uplift the Lord, He shows you these things and impress you that they are utterly wrong, but in spite of it all, you seek to fulfill your pleasure of watching or speaking the same old way.
When we’ve come to this state, we’re threading on dangerous grounds. The devil has us so far wrapped up in worldly pleasures, and self fulfillment, we fail to see Jesus. Remember, the three (3) things God says ruins this world? They are: the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). When we find ourselves trapped in sin, we should earnestly seek Jesus, when we find things are more than we can bear, we should seek Jesus. You see, our verse from Hebrews above tells us that, when we willfully sin, we are cut off! It’s like we’ve told God His sacrifice for us is nothing, it means nothing and we want no part of it! Friends! Steer clear of that path! If ever we find ourselves treading horrible grounds to begin to feel as though our sins are so much better than the sacrifice God has done for us, if we have a heart still yearning after Jesus, let us fast and pray that He removes the demons from ourselves that causes us to give in willfully to the devil. Let us come to Him in repentance with sincerity of heart and seek God’s utmost forgiveness, let us ask that He cleanses us from our unrighteousness and instead gives us a brand new heart and mind and ask that it be the same mind Jesus had (Philippians 2:5).
Friends, I hope today’s message causes us all to look at ourselves, inspecting and seeing where we’ve fallen. I hope we are able to pray that God will reveal to us our faults, and what things are hindering us from really worshiping and serving Him. It could be a friend, it could be a relationship, a family member, an addiction, a bad attitude, anything! Pray that He will reveal it to us, so we are able to ask Jesus to come and make us whole! May God richly bless us all, and may He impart His Holy Spirit upon us, that we can truly turn our lives to Him and sin no more!
