Resisting Sin’s Cure
John Owen famously said, "be killing sin, or sin will be killing you." The stakes are high when it comes to dealing with sin! In fact it could be said that the message of the whole Bible is how to deal with your sin!
Some would disagree. Some streams of theology tend to focus on other areas. I, however, am convinced by the words Dr Shelby Corbett - a General Superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene in years past. He said: "When one has found a cure for the sin problem, his major difficulty in life has been solved. Through the solution of this major problem, he is brought into a right relationship with God, with himself, and with everything that is right and holy in the realm of earthly existence."
The First Christian Sermon and the Sin Question
This week we saw in the book of Acts how Peter told the people to deal with their sin. Recognise that you’re a sinner. Repent of that sin and turn from it. Receive the remission of your sin in faith. And then receive the Holy Spirit to help you conquer those sins going forward.
Praise the Lord – though we have a sin problem, He has given us a cure! Are you willing to deal with your sin?
Don't Put It Off Until "Way Down the Line"
Some time ago YouTube Music recommended a new artist to me - Chris Klafford. I listened to his album, and the last song was called Way Down the Line. The chorus went like this:
Way down, way down the line
I'll change my colours if I change my mind
Way down, way down the line
I might turn my whole life around
My fear is that many of us have that attitude when it comes to the sin problem! I'll deal with it... way down the line! Not now, definitely not now.
Imagine being diagnosed with a terminal disease, and the doctor says to you, "This will kill you at some point. It may be today, it may be years from now, but if we don't deal with it, it will kill you. We have the cure right here. You can get rid of this thing today - and it's already paid for!"
Imagine saying to him: way down the line, I might take it!
Foolish, isn't it? But many of us do exactly this with sin.
Don’t wait, my friends. The sin problem can be cured by the blood of Jesus Christ. The Great Doctor is ready to administer the cure.
Go through the steps. Deal with it. While you have the chance!
Forgiveness of past sin is only part of the story - the Holy Spirit's indwelling power is what keeps you walking in freedom every day. Receive Him today, and live the cured, healthy, free life God has always intended for you.
Recognising sin is only the first step - God calls every one of us to repent, renounce, and turn away from it. Come to Him today, not just confessing your sin, but truly turning from it.
Sin is a disease that affects every one of us, and you can't deal with it until you recognise and admit it. Take an honest look at your heart today, and name what you find there.
Changing moods and emotions are a normal part of being human, and holiness doesn't make you immune to them. Fix your eyes on Jesus through your ups and downs, and be patient with yourself and others.
Phoebe Palmer's life of service, hospitality, and teaching helped birth the holiness movement - proof that one ordinary woman's faithfulness to God's call can change history. Give thanks today for those who went before you, and ask God how He is calling you to do the same.
Stephen's story reminds us that Christians have always paid a price for their faith - and calls us to ask whether we are willing to do the same.
Even as he was being stoned to death, Stephen prayed for his killers - a mirror image of Christ's own dying prayer, and a challenge to release any bitterness we may be carrying.
Stephen's life was shaped and marked by his love for Jesus, raising the question of what is truly shaping your character today.
Stephen was chosen by the apostles because he was known as a man full of faith, grace, and the Holy Spirit - a challenge to examine what others see when they look at you.
Thank you for your support my friends! In your extra devotion today, we look at Peter's words about a deep, reverent fear of the Lord which shows what Spirit-filled maturity truly looks like. Consider whether your life is marked by the holy, reverent fear of God that honours Him in all you do.
Like Pilate, many of us see the truth about Jesus but fear the crowd more than we love Christ. Ask yourself today: are you compromising the Jesus way because of what others might think?
The guards who mocked Jesus at His trial made a tragic misjudgement of who He truly was. Be careful today that your words and your life honour Him as He deserves.
Peter denied Jesus instead of denying himself and taking up his cross. Do we do the same?
Jesus called Judas friend as he betrayed Him. What did He mean?
We all have a sin problem - and God has told us exactly how to deal with it. Don't put it off any longer; deal with your sin today.