Conquering Sin (3): Understanding And Beating The Cycle Series

Jer.31:3 - I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Rom.8:38-39 - “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Nothing can separate you from His love because that is His very character. 1 Jn.4:16 - God is love. Heb.13:8 - He never changes. His love for you has nothing to do with you! Ps.139:17-18 - How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. Ps.139:2-4 - He knows your thoughts, your actions and He even knows what you are going to say before you say it. Mt.10:30 - He knows every detail about you; even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Created for close relationship with God...BUT...we sinned. There is a cycle which is important for us to recognize here. Gen.3:6-12 - When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" The man said, "The woman you put here with me-she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." The Sin Cycle - James 1:14 -”But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” Desire - (Remember Ps.37:4), Temptation, Sin (often accompanied by dragging others into it with us, or being drug in by peer pressure), Conviction (Jn.16:8) - Then we can go one of 2 ways: We can run from God, hiding from Him and rationalizing our sin (like Adam and Eve did). When we rationalize we begin believing a lie (Rom.1:28). That results in bondage and isolation from God and others. Kingdom of darkness!!! Or, we can run to God, confessing the sin (1 Jn.1:9). When we walk in the light, we know the Truth. That results in freedom (Jn.8:32) and fellowship with God and others (1 Jn.1:6-7). Kingdom of Light!!! Sin, Confession, Relationship and Fellowship Chart. Too often, we pick the first route (running, hiding and rationalizing). The natural human response. We hate vulnerability (ex. FB superpokes). We fear confrontation (ex. Text message breakups). But, there’s a problem, with that. Heb.4:13 - Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. He knows everything about us yet loves us still - so why run??? Mt.9:36 - Jesus saw the crowds and had compassion!!! Hagar’s story - Gen.16:13 - She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." Run to Him guys, not from Him. You don’t have to be perfect to Connect with God, THANK GOD. Mt.9:12 - Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. You don’t need to get cleaned up to take a shower. He sees you and you are the apple of His eye (Ps.17:8). Draw near to Him with confidence. Eph.3:12 - In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Not based on my performance, but on His. GRACE!!! Rev.3:20 - Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Run to God, not away from him!