Is there something that has a hold on you today?
That whatever you feel afraid, worried, terrified,
excited, depressed, angry, you turn to it? It
can be a sin that you have confessed and repented,
but always seem to turn back to it. Do you get
a sickening feeling in your spirit knowing full
well that God does not want that in your life?
Well, today's message is all about habitual sin,
part one. Main scripture is first Corinthians
10 verse 13. It says No temptation has taken
has overtaken you that is not common to man God
is faithful and he will not let you be tempted
beyond your ability But with the temptation he
will provide the way of escape That you may be
able to endure it once we are saved through Jesus
Christ the Holy Spirit becomes our helper. We
have a choice to choose to live in the flesh
or in the Holy Spirit every day in every aspect
of our lives. Jesus provides an escape so that
we can live righteous for Him and in Him because
we have to look within ourselves and realize
that we are not enough but Christ is enough to
break any hold of sin bondage that has a stronghold
in our life. Our second scripture is 1 John 2,
15 verse 17. It says, do not love the world or
anything in the world. If anyone loves the world,
love for the Father is not in them. For everything
in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust
of the eyes, and the pride of life comes not
from the Father but from the world. We cannot
serve two masters. It is either we're going to
choose Christ as our master or that habitual
sinful bondage in our life. Our choices today
will influence our choices tomorrow, next week,
next month, and the years to come. We must be
careful to not let God's conviction turn into
the enemy's guilt trap. Our last yet final scripture
is Titus 3 verse 3. For we ourselves were once
foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various
passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice
and envy, hated by others. and hating one another.
Once we are saved, we are now children of Christ.
We are clothed in righteousness. It is a position.
It is not a waiver for us to sin. Christ saved
us from the path of destruction. So why should
we go back to it? Is it because we get too comfortable
in our sinful habits that we quiet the Holy Spirit
within us? God will let us stumble and fall in
order for us to open our eyes and to return to
Him. Yes, He forgives us. Yes, His grace shines
upon us. So our points today are, first, a choice.
We have a choice to choose to live in the flesh.
and to continue on a path that leads to destruction,
or we can choose Jesus, a path of freedom. Second,
we cannot. We cannot serve Christ and continue
in our sinful bondage. We will either serve our
flesh or we can serve Jesus Christ. And our final
point today is comfort. Because when we are comfortable
in our sin, we have no shame and if we have a
habit of sinning, we will quiet the Holy Spirit
within us and go down a path that Christ has
delivered us from. So if you have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ, then this message
will help you. But if you don't have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ, then I invite
you to give your heart to the Lord today. To
receive him into your heart go to Romans 10 9
through 10 It says that if you confess with your
mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart
that God has Raised him from the dead you will
be saved For with the heart one believes unto
righteousness and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation If you said this prayer with
sincerity You are saved and now have eternal
life with Jesus. You are saved from all your
sins, past, present, and future sins you may
commit. This truth is not a free past to sin
anytime. Instead, Jesus gives you power over
all wrong choices and empowers you to spread
the gospel to others. You are saved forever and
your name is written in the book of life!