When The Door Slams
The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.
But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.
Proverbs 24:16
Have you ever struggled with a "besetting sin"? That 's the kind of sin people commit over and over. They simply fall into it repeatedly. No matter how many times they confess it, no matter how often they vow to stop doing it or try to resist it, they end up giving in. It can be smoking habit, a sexual addiction, abuse of drugs, anger, jealousy, greed, lies, or a multitude of other thing.
Think about this: You can't stop because your sins will-not let you stop. Sins like these can wreak havoc on your life. You feel constantly guilty, like a failure, a loser, and a sneak. You try hard not to let anyone else know about this problem in your life. And when you keep stumbling, even after you have confessed it to others, you are too ashamed to admit that it happen again.
What doses God say to those who have such problems, who have trusted him for their salvation but still struggle with sins they can't seem to overcome? Keep facing it. Keep trying. Don't give up. You belong to God, although you may not find victory quickly. He promises to be with you, to help you, to show you the path to victory. You know the story.
Peter was told he had to forgive his enemy seven times seventy; in the same way, we might fall that many times, instead of the seven times found in this verse. God doesn't fix everything in a Christian's life at once. We all struggle. But we can trust his promise that he will not give up on us--he will enable us to keep getting up and getting back into the fight
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.
Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Sunday, July 21, 2019
The Battle Begins
When The Door Slams
Because you belong to Christ, the power of the life-giving Spirit
has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
Romans 8:2
People the world over struggle with addictions, bigotry, sinful attitudes, lies, and every kind of dysfunction imaginable. Many cry out for help, for someone to step in and show them the way out. When they don't find it, they turn to mediums, other religions, self-help books by weak-minded unbelievers. There is all kind of falsehood out there. It's only when we look to Christ, then, we will find true help.
Think about this, what this verse says happens when we belong to Christ: God gives us the Spirit, who will free us from sin. Many Christians will testify to how Christ empower them to overcome their sinful attitudes and habits. It doesn't happen overnight. Do you reality think you can just walk away from you old habits and attitudes without a struggle? There will be behavior battles, when you try to change the habits of your old life.
God's promise is that the "life-giving Spirit" will give us the life we crave-the life of joy and peace, the life of freedom and hope, the life of love and kindness. You can tap into His power at any time, for the Spirit lives within us and is always ready to begin the work that will truly set us free
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.
Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Because you belong to Christ, the power of the life-giving Spirit
has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
Romans 8:2
People the world over struggle with addictions, bigotry, sinful attitudes, lies, and every kind of dysfunction imaginable. Many cry out for help, for someone to step in and show them the way out. When they don't find it, they turn to mediums, other religions, self-help books by weak-minded unbelievers. There is all kind of falsehood out there. It's only when we look to Christ, then, we will find true help.
Think about this, what this verse says happens when we belong to Christ: God gives us the Spirit, who will free us from sin. Many Christians will testify to how Christ empower them to overcome their sinful attitudes and habits. It doesn't happen overnight. Do you reality think you can just walk away from you old habits and attitudes without a struggle? There will be behavior battles, when you try to change the habits of your old life.
God's promise is that the "life-giving Spirit" will give us the life we crave-the life of joy and peace, the life of freedom and hope, the life of love and kindness. You can tap into His power at any time, for the Spirit lives within us and is always ready to begin the work that will truly set us free
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.
Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Sunday, July 7, 2019
Wretched Man
When The Door Slams
So I have learned this rule: When I want to do good, evil is there with me.
In my mind, I am happy with God's law. But I see another law working in my body,
which makes war against the law that my mind accepts. That other law working in my body is the law of sin, and it makes me its prisoner. What a miserable man I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death? I thank God for saving me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 7:21-24
Unless we can embrace the good and bad in ourselves, we can never be fully at peace. If we pretend that we are all goodness, we live in denial. Rather than seeing our journey through life as a process, we race through life consumed with and controlled by the quest for perfection. On the other hand, we see only badness in ourselves, we make ourselves and those around us miserable.
You know the story: When God accepts us because of what Christ has done, He accepts all of us. He embraces both our goodness and our badness, and covers it all with the blood of Jesus Christ.
Think about this: When we think that God only accepts the good part of us, we are deceived and we become pretenders. We go through life fabricating innocence and perfection and deny our need to grow.
Only as a result of facing God's unconditional acceptance of us can we embrace the deep insecurity and doubt underlying our constant need to impress by pretending and then be free in His love to know that He isn't finished with us yet. Each new day is an opportunity to embrace this reality at a new level.
I am God's child. I am in process. Today instead of pretending innocence, projecting blame and protecting my insecurities I am going to admit my powerlessness, and ask Christ to be my power.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord God and thank Him for His forgiveness.
So I have learned this rule: When I want to do good, evil is there with me.
In my mind, I am happy with God's law. But I see another law working in my body,
which makes war against the law that my mind accepts. That other law working in my body is the law of sin, and it makes me its prisoner. What a miserable man I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death? I thank God for saving me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 7:21-24
Unless we can embrace the good and bad in ourselves, we can never be fully at peace. If we pretend that we are all goodness, we live in denial. Rather than seeing our journey through life as a process, we race through life consumed with and controlled by the quest for perfection. On the other hand, we see only badness in ourselves, we make ourselves and those around us miserable.
You know the story: When God accepts us because of what Christ has done, He accepts all of us. He embraces both our goodness and our badness, and covers it all with the blood of Jesus Christ.
Think about this: When we think that God only accepts the good part of us, we are deceived and we become pretenders. We go through life fabricating innocence and perfection and deny our need to grow.
Only as a result of facing God's unconditional acceptance of us can we embrace the deep insecurity and doubt underlying our constant need to impress by pretending and then be free in His love to know that He isn't finished with us yet. Each new day is an opportunity to embrace this reality at a new level.
I am God's child. I am in process. Today instead of pretending innocence, projecting blame and protecting my insecurities I am going to admit my powerlessness, and ask Christ to be my power.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord God and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Sunday, June 30, 2019
The Change In Me
When The Door Slams
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity.
Proverbs 32:1
When we refuse to forgive ourselves for past sins or mistakes, are playing God-and God does want or need us to do so. We are God's children if we have trusted Christ, and we have no right to punish ourselves for our sins. Doing so leaves us chronically tired, depressed, and useless for God's service.
Thank about this: Christ paid for all our past, present and future sins.
When we reject His forgiveness, we reject what He did for us on the cross. He may need to discipline us in love to prevent the same sin in the future, and there may be natural consequences to our disobedience, but God dose not vindictively punish His children.
You know the story: When David "kept silent" and stuffed his guilt feelings, he "groaned all day long" with clinical depression until he finally accepted God's forgiveness and forgave himself. Then and only then he could write our passage for today:
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven."
Blessed is the person whose sin is covered by the blood of the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, allowing the righteous Heavenly Father to "impute" our iniquity to Christ rather than hold it against us. The Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior, better than I deserve.
Forgive me, Lord, for my unwillingness to forgive myself. I know the price you paid for my sin, and that I am precious and clean in Your eyes. Thank you Lord God for forgiving me.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of confessed sin.
Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity.
Proverbs 32:1
When we refuse to forgive ourselves for past sins or mistakes, are playing God-and God does want or need us to do so. We are God's children if we have trusted Christ, and we have no right to punish ourselves for our sins. Doing so leaves us chronically tired, depressed, and useless for God's service.
Thank about this: Christ paid for all our past, present and future sins.
When we reject His forgiveness, we reject what He did for us on the cross. He may need to discipline us in love to prevent the same sin in the future, and there may be natural consequences to our disobedience, but God dose not vindictively punish His children.
You know the story: When David "kept silent" and stuffed his guilt feelings, he "groaned all day long" with clinical depression until he finally accepted God's forgiveness and forgave himself. Then and only then he could write our passage for today:
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven."
Blessed is the person whose sin is covered by the blood of the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, allowing the righteous Heavenly Father to "impute" our iniquity to Christ rather than hold it against us. The Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior, better than I deserve.
Forgive me, Lord, for my unwillingness to forgive myself. I know the price you paid for my sin, and that I am precious and clean in Your eyes. Thank you Lord God for forgiving me.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of confessed sin.
Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Lawlessness,No Peace
When The Door Slams
The man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus
will kill him with the breath of his mouth and
destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:8
Undoubtedly, The Most powerful human who will ever set foot on earth (apart from my Lord Jesus) will be this one: the man of lawlessness. Theologians identify him as the Antichrist, the one who will appear in the last days of the world. What will he be like, according to this passage?
Think about this: He will be lawless. When the door slams. That doesn't necessarily mean he will be a lawbreaker. Rather, he will be a law unto himself. Whatever he says to the world will be law, no matter how nasty, cruel, or crazy it might be. His wish will be the world's command.
Its people will bow in submission to his every demand an will be mesmerized by his power. From other Scripture passages we know that this person will possess supernatural ability to do miracles, show signs in the heavens, and demonstrate all kinds of amazing power. Most of the people alive at this time will worship him as God.
Nonetheless, he is simply an importer. And he will be destroyed with hardly a fight when Jesus returns. You can trust too, if you're around at that time, that Jesus our Lord will rescue you from this importer's deception and entrapment. Look to the Lord, and you will find him faithful and true.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of confessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
The man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus
will kill him with the breath of his mouth and
destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:8
Undoubtedly, The Most powerful human who will ever set foot on earth (apart from my Lord Jesus) will be this one: the man of lawlessness. Theologians identify him as the Antichrist, the one who will appear in the last days of the world. What will he be like, according to this passage?
Think about this: He will be lawless. When the door slams. That doesn't necessarily mean he will be a lawbreaker. Rather, he will be a law unto himself. Whatever he says to the world will be law, no matter how nasty, cruel, or crazy it might be. His wish will be the world's command.
Its people will bow in submission to his every demand an will be mesmerized by his power. From other Scripture passages we know that this person will possess supernatural ability to do miracles, show signs in the heavens, and demonstrate all kinds of amazing power. Most of the people alive at this time will worship him as God.
Nonetheless, he is simply an importer. And he will be destroyed with hardly a fight when Jesus returns. You can trust too, if you're around at that time, that Jesus our Lord will rescue you from this importer's deception and entrapment. Look to the Lord, and you will find him faithful and true.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of confessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Sunday, June 16, 2019
Serenity
When The Door Slams
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the habitation of the just.
Proverbs 3:33
Each time something replaces the love for Christ within us, inner conflict is the result. We can't have habitual, willful sin and also experience serenity.
Think about this: Sin is much like a splinter in our unconscious mind. Unless sin is removed through confession and repentance, it will fester just as a splinter festers. it will lead to feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. It's not as easy to stand tall and tell ourselves we're okay when we know we have violated God's standard.
Inner conflict rages. Still, we ignore it and sin continues to fester. There is a loss of creativity and perhaps even lowered efficiency. If we continue to ignore sin, we will experience a sense of failure. After all, we have been unfaithful to ourselves and to Jesus. Even ill health can be a result we refuse to acknowledge the presence of sin in our lives.
The fourth step of the Twelve Step program is to make a search and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Have you done that? Becoming a Christian ins't fire insurance. it's a relationship with a loving God that affects every area of our lives. It transforms our values, our lifestyles, our will, and even our sexuality. It involves obedience; unconditional love compels us to obey. Wholeness, serenity, and health are the result.
Think about this: Habitual, willful sin enslave me; obedience and confession set me free.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of confessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the habitation of the just.
Proverbs 3:33
Each time something replaces the love for Christ within us, inner conflict is the result. We can't have habitual, willful sin and also experience serenity.
Think about this: Sin is much like a splinter in our unconscious mind. Unless sin is removed through confession and repentance, it will fester just as a splinter festers. it will lead to feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. It's not as easy to stand tall and tell ourselves we're okay when we know we have violated God's standard.
Inner conflict rages. Still, we ignore it and sin continues to fester. There is a loss of creativity and perhaps even lowered efficiency. If we continue to ignore sin, we will experience a sense of failure. After all, we have been unfaithful to ourselves and to Jesus. Even ill health can be a result we refuse to acknowledge the presence of sin in our lives.
The fourth step of the Twelve Step program is to make a search and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Have you done that? Becoming a Christian ins't fire insurance. it's a relationship with a loving God that affects every area of our lives. It transforms our values, our lifestyles, our will, and even our sexuality. It involves obedience; unconditional love compels us to obey. Wholeness, serenity, and health are the result.
Think about this: Habitual, willful sin enslave me; obedience and confession set me free.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of confessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Sunday, June 9, 2019
True Wisdom
When The Door Slams
"Abide in Me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches.
He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:4-5
True wisdom is found in establishing a balance in teamwork with God. it seems so often there is a tendency to go to one extreme or the other.
We can adopt the philosophy of "Let go and let God" and sit back and expect God to do everything. However, I have found that if I'm lazy, God won't do it for me. On the other hand, there have been times when I have gone to the other extreme of trying to do it all on my own and proceeding almost as if God was not around. That too, has usually ended in failure.
Think about this:
Philippians 4:13 brings these two contrasting extremes into balance: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." The verse is not saying I can do it all, period. Nor is it saying Christ does it all. it is a joint project, a teamwork relationship, a partnership, with the Holy Spirit.
Today's passage uses an example from nature to illustrate the same point. the branch without the vine or trunk soon withers and dies and produces no fruit. Teamwork is a relationship, the mode of God's operation. Be wise and team up with God. Watch excitedly for the results of your partnership in your daily accomplishments.
Prayer: O Heavenly Father, My soul silently waits for God alone; My salvation comes form Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my stronghold; I will never be shaken. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting. Praise the Lord everybody.
"Abide in Me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches.
He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:4-5
True wisdom is found in establishing a balance in teamwork with God. it seems so often there is a tendency to go to one extreme or the other.
We can adopt the philosophy of "Let go and let God" and sit back and expect God to do everything. However, I have found that if I'm lazy, God won't do it for me. On the other hand, there have been times when I have gone to the other extreme of trying to do it all on my own and proceeding almost as if God was not around. That too, has usually ended in failure.
Think about this:
Philippians 4:13 brings these two contrasting extremes into balance: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." The verse is not saying I can do it all, period. Nor is it saying Christ does it all. it is a joint project, a teamwork relationship, a partnership, with the Holy Spirit.
Today's passage uses an example from nature to illustrate the same point. the branch without the vine or trunk soon withers and dies and produces no fruit. Teamwork is a relationship, the mode of God's operation. Be wise and team up with God. Watch excitedly for the results of your partnership in your daily accomplishments.
Prayer: O Heavenly Father, My soul silently waits for God alone; My salvation comes form Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my stronghold; I will never be shaken. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting. Praise the Lord everybody.
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