God Is Giving You The Power To Let Go Of Everything Holding You Back!

foreign I want to talk to you about one of the great Servants of God in the Bible Paul the Apostle Paul is a man who is mightily used by the Lord he was a man who was undeniably led by God in fact if you read Acts 19 verse 11 and 12 you'll realize just how anointed Paul was because the Bible says God did extraordinary Miracles through Paul so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them the Apostle Paul was a man who could discern evil spirits and cast them out so strong was Paul's faith that he and Silas were beaten chained placed in prison only for him to then praise and worship the Lord that strong faith bold unwavering faith so how could a man of such great faith then go on to say this in first Timothy 1 verse 15. this is faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief not only that but here's what Paul said in Romans 7 verse 15 to 20. for I do not understand my own actions for I do not do what I want but I do the very thing that I hate now if I do what I do not want I agree with the law that it is good so now it is no longer I who do it but sin that dwells within me for I know that nothing good dwells in me that is in my flesh for I have the desire to do what's right but not the ability to carry it out for I do not do the good I want the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing now if I do what I do not want it is no longer I who do it but sin that dwells within me Paul clearly struggled with this issue of sin that we all struggle with although he was mightily used by God he was clearly human he clearly had flaws and weaknesses on a personal level Paul writes about some of the same frustrations that I struggle with today because at times I Can Be My Own Worst Enemy in this fight against sin on the one hand I know what I want to do what I ought to do I have the desire to do good but because of My Flesh and carnal nature sometimes I fall short sometimes I fall in sin and so what are we to do as Christians we all face this battle sin or Holiness sin or righteousness my will or God's will Pride or humility the broad Road or the narrow road well Saints here's what you should know the Lord is merciful he is merciful to those who repent no one is perfect we all fall short but here's the sign that you're growing as a Christian when you struggle with sin when you get to a point where you find no pleasure in sin this is a clear sign that your faith is alive your heart is not hardened because if it were if you were spiritually dead you would have no problem sinning so I encourage you to rely on the grace of God rely on the strength of the Lord to overcome sin and the first step to overcoming sin is always repentance second Timothy chapter 2 verse 21 says therefore if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable he will be a vessel for honorable use set apart as holy useful to the master of the house ready for every good work oftentimes we act like the world because we're afraid of stepping on toes we're afraid of the ridicule or the criticism we might even receive if we show ourselves to be true followers of Christ and deep down we're afraid that somehow by letting go of this world we might be missing out but when we separate ourselves from this world we are not depriving ourselves of any good thing rather we are taking hold of the promises of God which are far greater do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect the opposite of Conformity is a renewed mind the way God views the world in our lives is counter-intuitive to everything our culture teaches therefore we must be willing to let him change us and reteach us how to think then we will be equipped to live a life that is pleasing to him [Music] this is why Paul says in First Corinthians 9 verses 25 through 27. every athlete exercises self-control in all things they do it to receive a perishable wreath but we and imperishable so I do not run aimlessly I do not box as one beating the air but I discipline my body and keep it under control lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified Paul is telling us that he's strictly disciplines his body he crucifies it and so if we know the unspoken truth which is that sin is like a delicacy one may ask why can't I enjoy a little bit of sin and a little bit of God why can't I dip my toes in the water and just have a little bit of pleasure but then come run back to God well Saints first and foremost sin will always take more from you than you're willing to give you may think it's just this one occasion but that occasion leads to a frequent occurrence that frequent occurrence then leads to an addiction and that addiction will get you into total bondage and finally When sin is full grown well here's what the Bible says concerning that in James 1 verse 15. it reads then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death sin is a killer sin flatters to deceive sin it's a temporary pleasure that has painful consequences once again let me remind you that Psalm 141 verse 4 it reads do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in Wicked Deeds along with those who are evildoers do not let me eat their Delicacies let this be your prayer let this be your cry when the devil offers you a tempting plate of a sinful delicacy run to Jesus because in him alone you have Liberty you have freedom you have the power to say no you have the power to resist you have the power to withstand absolutely any Temptation that you may face [Music] the Bible says in Proverbs 14 verse 12. there is a way that seems right to a man but the end is the way to death think about that what we as humans often think is right is contrary to the word of God the standards that we often set are well below God's standards there is a way that seems a way that looks right to us as people but its end is the way of death following the ways of the world following the doctrines in the world following a path set in the world will lead only to destruction the Bible has this phrase when referring to sin by saying the pleasures of sin [Music] doing what's wrong can deceptively appear rewarding or pleasurable after all satan is walking around like an angel of Light he makes sin attractive but in the end sin is deadly and rotten David prayed that God would help him face this and say no to sin the Apostle James also said resist the devil and he will flee from you in other words say no to the devil enough times and he will flee sin almost always begins in the mind and that is exactly where you should be saying no so pray that God would give you the grace to say no when the tempter reminds us how delicious his offerings are of course the Apostle Paul says the 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