"It is impossible for a man to be freed from the habit of sin before he hates it"

The title is a quote by Ignatius

Can I hate sin? This deserves more thought. Though the truth is there, is the action. Can one who continues to do sin hate sin.

For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do...For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God's law. But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner into the law of sin in the parts of my body. Romans 7:19;22-23

Now I can claim to be struggling as Paul writes here to the Romans, but is this true. Do I joyfully agree with the God's law? See Paul writes this to explain the impact of the God's grace through the spirit rather than by the rigidness of the law. Paul using this example means to show that we (as humans) know that there are certain laws that govern us but we cannot follow them. This then condemns us. But see Paul tells a way out of this inability to control. First by saying this:

Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, because the Spirit's law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2

That appeals to our sense of guiltiness, because the sin we are struggling with we want forgiveness for. And God forgives. Amen! That's what Paul is saying. That is what we all want. Everyone not only wants forgiveness but needs forgiveness. That is how God mends the broken hearts and binds his people together. The brokenness of each of us through our experiences help us to understand forgiveness (or the need to give forgiveness to others because I don't know if we'll understand true forgiveness of the purest sort) and the power to help others in similar circumstances. But the second part is the more troublesome part. Sanctification. As Paul continues to explain salvation He tells us more of what this law of life we are following is about and what (if we are Christians) He is supposed to be doing.

So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. All those led by God's Spirit are God's sons. Romans 8:12-14

Sanctification is to purify or free from sin. That is the process the Spirit is beginning when we are born in Him. In verse 13 Paul says living by the Spirit we die to our flesh or sinful desires. Dead means no longer in effect, significance, or practice as by Dictionary.com. This means that our fleshly or sinful desires are no longer of any significance or practice. I am not to care about or do what sins I want to. But prior to this Paul says anyone who does do these things will die.

Here is where my thinking comes in. How am I hating sin if I still doing it. But further more how am I living by the Spirit if I am living in the flesh. I cannot run on the same "nobodies perfect" theme forever. God will judge His people. And if I'm not hating sin am I loving God? In another part of the bible it says loving this world (and the things of it) makes me an enemy of God. How long will God sit back and allow me to slander His name. I have a job. It is to wait on Him. However this waiting is not idly sitting around twirling my thumbs (which coincidentally causes much sin to begin with).

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us...we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:18;23

So today I resolve to do my job. To bring the Kingdom to Earth. To deny self no matter the cost so that I may see Him, my God in the fullness of His glory. Robed in light. Shining like the Sun. And I will praise Him.

Yes I hate sin, because I love God.

Wait on the LORD

I remember sitting at a red light one time in the middle of town.  It had been red for what seemed like hours.  The light had been red for so long (there were no cars in the other direction) that cars just started to go past the red light.  It didn't matter what the law was.  So I decided to go too.  As soon as I go the light turns green and then another colored light shined.  Its color was blue.  I got pulled over and given a ticket.  I told the officer first "I thought the light was broke!" 

 He said "Its green now."  

Then I told the officer "Everyone else was crossing!"  

He replied, "I didn't see everyone else."

Patience is a tough thing to handle a lot of the times.  In this world we are seeking instant gratification (getting what we want when we want it).   If it is not ready now we don't want it.  It is the same way with God in our spiritual lives.  A lot of the time we want God to produce answers or get us out of trouble that instant.  We have little regard for His will in the situation.  We only want our own.  

In my quiet time I read 1 Samuel 13.  It talks about how King Saul was suppose to offer a burnt sacrifice before his battle with the Philistines but he must wait seven days until Samuel would arrive (8).  However, King Saul got impatient worrying about his officers leaving and fleeing and he offered the sacrifice early (9). In the midst of it burning Samuel appears and asks what has happened and Saul starts babbling off excuses (10-12).  Despite the excuses Samuel brings judgment upon King Saul for his disobedience to God's will (which he can because he is a prophet of God) (13).

King Saul's lack of patience for the will of God spoke by the prophet Samuel caused grievous punishment to be handed down upon him.  How many times do we destroy the glory that God had for himself in us due to the impatience we have in His plan.  King Saul's punishment was loosing the kingdom to a man after God's own heart.  Will that be our punishment.  If God has serious plans for His glory in our lives, what if He decides to take those plans somewhere else because we are not men and women after His own heart.  People with great potential in their lives with Christ are losing great opportunities because of their lack of patience and want to do His will. Whether it be in our work, studies, relationships, or activities.  When we don't wait on the LORD, God will remove His awesome plan from us and give it to someone more deserving.  Do we want that?

Starting today let us not seek instant gratification but wait for when the LORD sees fit.  Let us not live in our fears and our troubles that surround us, but in the faith that God is standing in our steed.  I charge you today to be a man or women after God's own heart.  Living everyday in His presence in His will, and in His time.  Let the Spirit of God reside in our hearts producing the fruit of patience in our lives.  Let us do the call God has called us to do!

Don't Turn From Following the LORD.

We all sin don't we.  Its a fact of life.  But sometimes we have that sin that hurts us so bad that we can't forgive ourselves.  That is a tough situation.  We've all been there.  I came across a passage today that exemplifies this.  In 1 Samuel the Israelites cry out because of the sin they committed (If you read an earlier post then you know it was because they asked for a king).  Samuel proceeds to tell them an amazing thing.

Samuel said to the people, "Do not fear.  You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart." 1 Sam 12:20

Every time I commit sin that hurts my God I am going to remember this.  Ask for repentance and then don't turn aside form following Him. Samuel gives a great command. So often we are stuck in the weight of our sin and forget about the power of God's forgiveness.  Lets not forget God forgives.  But Samuel doesn't stop there.  Often times we find ourselves getting told to do something but we don't know why.  This time Samuel lays the plans out clearly and beautifully.

You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile.  For the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make a people for Himself. 1 Sam 12:21-22

First When sin is conceived if we don't repent it has puppies.  If we don't align ourselves back with the Father we race after things of no importance.  In essence sin becomes easier.  I can remember one night missing church to hang out with some friends from work.  It started out as missing church and ended up in a wasted night of drinking and partying.  I remember this night because after that I chase after drugs, alcohol, money and women for the next 3 years.  I know how turning away from God will cause one to follow foolish things. I believe Samuel gives this reason for us to understand the weight of sin.  That sin can carry if allowed to. However the second is the most amazing.

Samuel says "the LORD will not abandon His people".  If we turn from our sins, the LORD will make his presents known to us and to the world that we are His children.  I had a friend once who was atheist and his life was clearly visible to that.  (though I did not know him at the time).  I always hear of reports of how he use to be.  But now this man is a burning flame for the power and presence of GOD.  Feeling the spiritual resonance I get from being around this person lets me now how powerful God is. And seeing how powerful God is makes me glorify His name.  And thats what God wants!  He is pleased to make us His people so that others might know how great He is.  Thats what "on account of His great name" means.

Let us remember that sin has no hold on us, and that the past is the past and that God is the future.  Let us not fall to the lie that Satan tells of how we should not forgive ourselves.  A great man of God C.S. Lewis once said  "If God forgives us we must forgive ourselves otherwise its like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than him."  So I charge you to live every day serving the LORD with all your heart.  To not turn aside from His will or call when all seems in despair because the LORD will make His name great in your life but only if you let Him.

Integrity

Life is full of "good" people and "bad" people.  I've known many people who use to sell illegal drugs for a living.  It was a lucrative business.  They had money going in and out of their house everyday.  Nice cars, fancy clothes, pretty girls, I mean they had everything.  We see on tv how all these high profile celebrities in these crazy shows get the big deals, new movie parts, big houses and luxurious lifestyles.  I know sometimes I wonder why does everything seem to be working out for them?  How come I can't seem to "hit the big lick"?  If we had the money we would of course use it for good, to glorify the LORD and further North American and International missions. But when we look do we stop to think what the ends to all these means are in these peoples lives?

The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way:  but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.  The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.  Proverbs 11:4-5

I read these verses this morning and thought "they" will always get whats coming to them. We see countless people getting caught up in their own naughtiness (i like how Solomon uses that word).  The drug dealer always winds up in jail if he continues in his way.  It is an old saying that you never retire from the game you only end up in jails institutions or death.  For the drug dealer this is his fate.  Yes the money is fast but the time is not.  And the celebrity (of course not all celebrities are living evil lifestyles) where do we always see them, doing dumb stuff and getting their face plastered all over tv.  Acting a fool then getting made fun of on SNL.  Take Charlie Sheen for example.  Now I do not know what is going on in his situation but I do know most of it is stupid and his sins are on front street.  Or Lindsey Lohan and she is in a like manner.  When we wait we find that sin finds its way.  With the righteous truth is always with him or her.  In righteousness he or she walks therefore he or she is always trusted.  Trust is a hard thing to gain but easy to lose.  How much is trust worth?  When a problem comes along the upright follow the rules. This makes him or her right before God and man.  If someone is to yell or make an offence at the "good" guy or gal then the good guy or gal has his or her integrity that he or she can stand upon.  Like many people say word is bond for him or her.

I charge you today to make your word your bond.  I charge you to see the ends to the means, to remember that what is now will not always be.  Let us walk in righteousness with the integrity of our Father and eternity in front of us than in deceitfulness with pleasure all around.

Dangerous Sin

Women are wonderful creatures.  God has made them as a companion with man, to bear children, and to love us with all affection.  I am very glad they are in this world.  However, as I read I find that though they are very precious beautiful creatures they are also dangerous and cunning beings.  I bring this up because I am reading Proverbs.  The first few chapters are characterized with obeying parents, listening to wisdom, not being lazy or walking with the wicked, and women.  I think we forget these early chapters.  We often go to the verses about alcohol or the path of the LORD or having a vision for the future.  But as I began reading this it reminded me of a time when I felt God was speaking to me through this scripture.  I had first started walking with the LORD and I guess that when I was reading this God was telling me I should break up with little Suzy (not in those particular words of course).  I asked many times to my pastor and others about the verse, none gave me any answers because they new ultimately it was up to me to listen to the Father.

I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.  I have perfumed my bed with myrrh aloes and cinnamon.  Come let us take our fill of love until the morning:  Let us solace ourselves with loves...With her much fair speech she caused him to yeild with the flattering of her lips she forces him.  He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;...For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.  Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death. Proverbs 7:16-18;21-22;26-27

 Initially these verses are talking about a women lusting for sex and she is married.  Yet the applications can apply to those who are not married or even pornography.  Lust is a sin that all men struggle with.  It is a key sin that Satan uses to attack us with.  Many men fall victim to it who are weak but also those who are strong for she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Men don't fall because she is married (you would think they would not fall because of that)  but they fall because of her smooth words and their (not sinful in itself) sinful desires.  I write this not so much to say what to do, because I struggle with this, but I write more as a warning of the danger because it will come. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death. 


 But about what to do I can say one thing with two examples.  When Joseph was tempted by his master's wife he ran Genesis 39:11-12.  And Paul says to the church in Corinth "Flee fornication." Corinthians 6:18. I know that it hurts to run (Men are strong and can handle anything) but take it from me if the Bible says run then thats what we gotta do.  So I charge you men out there (and women) that if temptation comes run so that victory may come to you with sin through the Word of God.

And finally I say if this has already happened to you then freedom is available from sin through Jesus Christ who forgives all.  He didn't just die on the cross but payed our punishment for sin. This is to say He took on God's wrath for us.  We should put this in God's hands.  "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" 1John 1:9 So I charge you not to let past sin hold you back.  Do not let past sin bring you down, but I say to confess your sin to the Father and live life anew with Him. And live life how God intended it.  In freedom.

His Mercy Endures Forever

How great it is that Gods has mercy forever.  I read this Psalm 136 and was filled with joy.  No matter what I do God's mercy will endure.  He will always forgive sin (1John 1:9) and when He forgives He remembers them no more (Psalm 103:12).

To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 136:5

Who remembered us in our low estate:  for his mercy endureth forever.  And who hath redeemed us from our enemies:  for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 136:23-24

These are three verses in that text that illustrates three important points about the mercy of God.  

1. God doesn't have to give mercy to us.  He has all power all might and all wisdom.  Would it be smart to redeem a people who so much caused Him pain? (...by wisdom made the heavens...)

2. God is the only one who can forgive. "...who hath redeemed us..."  If something is redeemed that means that it is bought back.  If you buy back something that means it was whoever's buying it backs first.  Like at a pawn shop only the owner's pawn ticket can buy back the item.  That is what Christ did.  He died to cover our sins and He bought back all of mankind that believe on Him.

3.  God did this because He loves us.  "Who remembered us in our low estate..."  God loves us so much that He would do anything to take us out of the pain and struggle we put our own selves through.  He remembers us at all times, watching over us though we sometimes care not what He thinks.  It takes great love for a person to continue to look after someone after so much rejection.  That is why I love my God.  He still loves me though I ran from Him for many years. I am glad to call Him Father.

God's mercy endures forever!

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 136:1

 

Desperation

We should be in a desperate longing for God.  We should constantly be crying out to Him, seeking His will in our lives, and loving Him fully.  We should have an overwhelming desire to be near the LORD and to feel His presence.

Out of the depths have I cried unto thee O LORD.  Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.  If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?  But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.  I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.  My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning:  I say, more than they that watch for the morning.  Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.  And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Psalm 130

When we read this verse we should feel desperation and need for the Father.  The writer is seeking forgiveness for sin. "Out of the depths have I cried..."  This guy is earnestly desire for God to hear him."...let thine ears be attentive..."  We need to be this desperate for God.  This is a call for repentance.  We have got to cry out to God from the depths of our sin and flesh.  We have got to ask God to hear our cries.  I believe this is part of seeking His face.  Seeking his face is to have that desire for God to speak and for His will to be revealed in our lives.

If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?  We have got to know the truth.  This guy knew the truth.  He knew he was a sinner.  Not all sins are big.  Not all people sin big.  Lecrae said in one of his songs that people always ask the question "If there is a God then where is He in all the murder and in the rape?"  but his rebuttal to this is "Why doesn't God let us feel the wrath of sin?"  What Lecrae is getting at is that sin is more than rape and killing. It is even lust, lying, and our evil thought.  Anything contrary to God is sin and we have all strayed from His perfect will.

But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.  But thanks be to God that was not the end of it.  God gives forgiveness.  There is only one able to forgive and make clean our sins and He has done it.  GOD has shown His love by sending His Son to die.  In that death the blood of Christ has covered all of our sins.

 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.  In that forgiveness of sin our love comes.  We love God because of His love for us (1John 4:10).  And through that love we wait on Him. The Hebrew word for wait is qâvâh.  This means to expect or wait eagerly.  When we wait on the Lord it is in excitement to see what God's plan carried out will be.  We can expect it to be carried out because He said it would be.  His word is sure. On the forgiveness of sins we know that He forgives so we wait for that Holiness gotten through confession (1John 1:9). However, for revival of our souls if we seek God to change our stagnant faith we can expect a consuming fire to fall upon us.

 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.  And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.  The love of God changes people.  When we seek God in desperation to change our lives He does.  And when He changes our lives we know that He can change others.  I love how on a lot of Psalms it talks about how the country will benefit from the LORD.  Imagen every Christian on bended knee praying to seek revival in their own hearts seeking God in desperation. What would this country be (2Chronicles 7:14)?

Desperation is one who is willing to do any extravagant act regardless of consequences.  Are we willing to be desperate.  Thats in our prayer life.  Can we pray for more than five minutes?  In our bible readings, can we take scripture read and apply it to our lives everyday?  In our public life.  Can we walk the faith in which we were called to?  I challenge you to be desperate.  What could be more worth it?