CUT-ER-LOOSE
It’s amazing the challenges that men and women will take on. Iraq for one example. They will also trek into the wilderness, over deserts, sail the oceans in small boats, and float around the world in balloons, and so on.
I suppose to prove manhood or the strength of womanhood.
But there is one challenge that not many are willing to take on, and that is to conquer sin in their lives.
I assure you that it is challenging, adventurous, dangerous, and certainly rewarding.
Is it easier to achieve all these other goals than to conquer personal sin?
That’s interesting.
God says that we can and must.
Isa 52:2-3
2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
3 For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought;
Prov 5:21-23
21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
(The Message)
Prov 5:21-23
21 Mark well that GOD doesn’t miss a move you make;
he’s aware of every step you take.
22 The shadow of your sin will overtake you;
you’ll find yourself stumbling all over yourself in the dark.
23 Death is the reward of an undisciplined life;
your foolish decisions trap you in a dead end.
(The Message)
Matt 19:16-22
16 Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
17 Jesus said, "Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you."
18 The man asked, "What in particular?"
Jesus said, "Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, 19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself."
20 The young man said, "I’ve done all that. What’s left?"
21 "If you want to give it all you’ve got," Jesus replied, "go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me."
22 That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go.
I’ve prayed with men who were homosexual, alcoholics, men with marital problems, and other issues in their lives who, at the time wanted help, but just couldn’t cut loose from the things that were destroying their lives.
Some have since died in their sin. I worshipped beside a man for years with a secret sin of homosexuality. He never gave it up and is now dead because of it.
My wife and I have prayed more than once with a pastor’s son to let sin go, who later was blown off a bar stool with a shotgun and went out into eternity without God. Just wouldn’t let-er-go.
Let God deliver you from the Devil’s trap, where you are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.
There are three root sins that has always driven mankind.
1 John 2:16
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1. The lust of the flesh;
Sensual gratification- prostitution, masturbation, adultery, pornography of every kind, e.g. Internet, movies and magazines.
2. Lust of the eyes;
Prov 27:20
...the eyes of man are never satisfied.
We are the greatest debtor nation in the world because we just can’t get enough.
The average credit card debt in our nation is $8,000.
Every new thing that hit’s the market is swallowed up. Its like throwing meat to piranhas.
People will camp out all night long with credit cards in hand to satisfy this lust.
This includes houses, lands, vehicles, toys, memberships, etc. etc. etc.
3. Pride of life;
Striving for power, prestige, titles, or positions, willing to run anyone over to achieve it. Demanding acclamation and respect.
It refers to whatever there is that tends to promote pride.
[Is not of the Father] Nothing of these inordinate attachments either comes from or leads to God. They are of this world; here they begin, flourish, and end. They deprave the mind, divert it from divine pursuits, and render it utterly incapable of spiritual enjoyments.
1 Cor 6:9-12
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Prov 30:16
There is one of three things that are never satisfied,
16 The grave; (Hell is never going to say that there is no room for you.)
There are steps of action that you must take if you really want to cut loose of the things that are keeping you from being what you want to be in Christ.
Three mainly;
1. We are taught that effectual fervent prayer make power available to live for God. Don’t ever be ashamed or afraid to come to this altar to seek God for help because the kind of help we need will not come from anywhere else.
If you want to be cut loose from sin it won’t come from Christian TV, books, or all the canceling that you can afford, (they may lead you in the right direction) but only you and God can work this out.
2. Reading and applying God’s Word to your everyday lives.
Understand that there are going to be days that you feel dry, discouraged, and unenthused, but none of these emotions change who God is or His love for you.
Take command, tell these kinds of emotions to take a hike.
We do not live by emotions or what we see in front of us, but by faith. If the Bible says it, believe it and go on.
There will be days that you won’t feel saved, but Christ did not speak to your heart to come and feel saved but to come and receive salvation. I did what He asked and so I am whether I feel like it or not, because His Word says so.
3. Cutting loose from wrong relationships is a must, (relationships that cause you to yield to overwhelming temptations).
(The Message)
2 Cor 6:17-18
17 So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good," says God.
"Don’t link up with those who will pollute you.
I want you all for myself.
18 I’ll be a Father to you; you’ll be sons and daughters to me."
The Word of the Master, God.
(The Message)
2 Cor 7:1
God is saying to make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts you, both within and without. Make your entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.
Heb 12:1
….lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
Surround yourself with people of faith. Get you and your family involved in church and do not let daily distractions keep you away.
The devil will supply plenty of them to keep you at home.
These three things will be a tremendous help to your spiritual growth, but they must be applied.
Application is labor intensive but the rewards are power to live the Christian life, harmony and love in the home, emotional wellness (sweet inner peace), and the list goes on.
The reason that we don’t take action is because we are led to believe that we can cut ourselves loose. If that’s the case, then why haven’t you been cut loose before now?
I can wish you well on your quest to conquer sin, but becoming a spiritual champion doesn’t come with a wish.
You can’t do it without God.
You say that your tired of being restrained by sin, well, God’s tired of you being in sin’s restraints.
I believe we all need to cut loose from things that keep us from the joy, peace and freedom that God wants us to enjoy in our relationship with Him.
John 8:36
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
