Ephesians 4:26-27 KJV
Do you see here that sin gives place to the devil? It gives him opportunity!
It doesn't matter if it is anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, covetousness, adultery, fear or any other sin!
Sin opens the door and allows the devil to do his thing; i.e. kill, steal, & destroy! Oh, and throw in there torment!
“All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant. Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;”
Psalms 44:17-18 KJV
Since my conversion, I have purposed my heart to seek Him; walk with Him; serve Him!
And about the time I think I'm getting the hang of this servanthood, He exposes another sin! One that may have been hidden or one that may have crept in under my radar!
“If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.” Psalms 44:20-21 KJV
Sometimes it takes a while for me to recognize I'm being chastised! Sometimes it quickly slaps me in the face! Those "aha" moments are thrilling and humbling at the same time!
When faced with my sin I have the opportunity to do one or two things! Justify or repent!
Justifying is what the devil does! He makes excuses and refuses to obey because he has a right! But the right way is to lay down your "right"! Give up your "right"! Not be right - for the sake of being obedient to His Word!
“For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” 1 Peter 2:19-21 KJV
Laying down my pride, humbling myself in repentance, admitting that I'm wrong, confessing my sin to another is so hard, because my flesh, my old man does not want to die! Oh, I get victory in an area and then another spot demands attention! And all the while the battle continues, then the skirmish is over and the enemy retreats to fight yet another day!
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Ephesians 6:12 KJV
I'm bloodied, and bruised but the victory is mine, because I do not war alone, when I choose to enter in the fight and obey, instead of refusing to engage!
All the while I know I am being perfected!
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6 KJV
All of the promises of God are true and ours when we are obedient! But we don't obey for the promises! We obey because of our love for Him! That is how we show our devotion! We obey because He obeyed, even unto death on a cross!
“Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” Mark 10:21 KJV
How can we say, "No, I won't"?
Even so - MARANATHA!
From 2/22/15
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