Expectant Prayers ®

People who find themselves in the clutches of sin didn't get there overnight.  It is a slow process that begins with small compromises until you find yourself yielding to things that you never dreamed you would.  I was once told the story about boiling a frog.  You cannot throw a frog into a pan of boiling hot water.  If you do, he'll jump out.  They way you boil a frog is to turn up the heat slowly until he is cooked.  Before he realizes what is going on, he's in too deep.  What a concept concerning our spiritual walks!

I am shuddering today to think how much sin we have allowed to enter the "camps" of our homes and our church doors.  One little compromise after another;  falling continually for satan's lies until we are bound in the jaws of a trap we cannot remove ourselves from.

Church it's time to wake up!!   I am tired of seeing the affects of sin grip people... especially those who claim to be Christians.  I am tired of the lines of sin being blurred in our churches where the consciousness of men and women are seared to accept those things which are detestable to God. What ever happened to us being alert and sober minded; realizing that the devil is out to steal, kill, and destroy everything about us and our families?

Sin is deadly.  Don't make any doubts about it.  Compromising only leads to more and more deadly activities.  It not only kills your spirit, but it affects those around you. 

Evil is on the rise.  I believe it will continue to flourish, especially since we are getting closer and closer to the return of Christ.  The devil wants to take out as many people as he can... especially if they profess to be Christians. 

With the availability of things like the internet, a lot of sins are increasingly accessible.  If your temptation is gambling... it can be found online.  If it's dabbling in other religions... it can be found online.  If you have a shopping addiction... it can be found online.     If it is sexual sins... it can be found online.  I'm not blaming the internet, people still have a choice.  Television is up there in explicit content, too.  I am saying that our culture is saturated with sin and we need to be wary of the wiles of the devil. 

Most of these sins are committed in "secret"... or at least the person committing the act believes so.  But be sure to know your sins will find you out.  If not abated, they will only lead to death and destruction and leave families (if you have one) in their wake.  It's time to rise up as Christian people and commit ourselves to righteousness and holiness.  We cannot allow for sin in the camp to affect us any more.  It's time to tear down the Asherath poles and all other idols. 

Sin is not just about the individual.  The lie of the devil is to say that you are hurting no one but yourself.  Do you realize that people immersed in sin affect the spiritual levels of worship and community impact in your local church? 

Consider this:   While doing some research this week, I ran across a website that I found a lot of good information on and stats about sexual addictions.  It said that over 50% of people in our churches today are in the vices of sexual sins.  Go to church on Sunday and look around.  How would you feel knowing your deacons, your pastor, or the guy/gal sitting next to you are sexual addicts?  We cannot turn a deaf ear or cover our eyes... it is happening in our midst and people are perishing spiritually.  Why are our Pastors not confronting this issue?  I feel like there are many people out there struggling with this...caught in a web of destruction... and need help!   I find the pornography industry to be one of the most vile and detestable moral (and spiritual) failures that our nation is facing today.  60% of all websites visited are sexual in content!  We need to confront it and remove it from our churches.  BTW- if this is YOU, please checkout the following website:  www.blazinggrace.org

If you are Christian and you are battling with sin today... don't stay there.  Chances are that you have been making small compromises that have gotten you where you are today.  God doesn't want you bound.  He doesn't want your faith compromised.  He wants you free!   Are you willing to let go of the sin and allow God to cleanse your life?  There is nothing that He cannot remove if you let Him.  Be committed to sanctification.  That's a word most churches don't use anymore.  It  means separating yourself from the sin and TO God.  You have to run hard after God and pursue Him.  As you grow stronger in the Lord, resisting sin will become easier and easier.  It is impossible to really be sold out 100% to God and remain in sin.

What do you do?  1.) Repent and confess your sin to God and others if needed 2.) Build yourself up in the Lord- you will have to commit 100% to staying free  3.)  Don't return to the vomit you came from  4.) Talk to someone and become accountable 5.) Flow in forgiveness and grace.

Let me further encourage you today to nurture your relationship with the Lord.  He has to be a top priority in your life in order to overcome sin.  It is not a sin to be tempted by the tactics of the enemy, but it is sin to yield.   I believe that cleansing the blood of Jesus is still as real today as it was 2000 years ago when He shed it on the cross.  He shed that blood for you.

Redemption is still alive!  Come back to Jesus today.  Come to Him and live.