What do you think of this statement: “Sin” to see God? In our fourth lesson about “Being In Awe Of God” some of you just can’t get past the fact that you are in some sort of pit that you can’t get out of. Then you feel unworthy of asking God for anything since you constantly find yourself in this same pit of sin. I want to tell you today if that is the case then Satan is doing his job. He is making you think that there is no hope for you. That you are no good and that you will never get out of the pit you are in. So why even try, right? You have tried to climb out of this pit so many times but have fallen back into it that you are not only discouraged but tired of trying. If that is the case then GOOD!!
I say good because this is where God does His best work. If we could get out of the pit of worry, fear, addictions, anger and hopelessness ourselves then we would take credit.
Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
You see, “Poor in spirit” means to NOT be prideful, boastful, secure in self but this means that you have come to the end of yourself. We cannot be full of the Spirit of God (Which God desires) until we empty the tank of self. All my worry and fear comes when you and I think too much of ourselves instead of others. God has allowed all my sleepless nights, depression and a host of other evil thoughts not because I have sinned but because He loves me enough to help me make a change.
I am here today to tell you that you are never too far gone, too deep in the pit, sinned to much or too often for God not to grab you with both arms and love you back. I know you desire that as too many of you have written back in about your being strangled with fear and worry. In the footnotes of the NIV “Quest” Bible this is what it says about worry.
“Is it wrong to worry”? “This is an invitation to rest in the arms of a loving Father. As humans, we will at times cross the line and violate this principal when we allow ourselves to constantly focus on ourselves instead of God.”
That last statement may sting a bit but it is a true statement. The more we focus on ourselves the more we will worry. We all desire rest for our souls and we need to be able to know that God is not just a Father but a LOVING Father. When we worry and have fear we are actually telling God we do not trust Him. “Ouch”. But be honest if we trusted God completely we would not fear. Since God is love (Perfect Love) then this next statement will help us move forward to hope instead of falling back into the pit of fear.
1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
In the back of our minds this fear we have in some way we think that punishment is coming. Again, another great tool of Satan. Since God is perfect love we NEED to allow ourselves through the power of God’s Spirit to immerse ourselves and believe in His love for us. We need to stop thinking about punishment (which Jesus paid) and start thinking of the price that was paid for us to be set free. We all could be living a joyous, fearless life if we stopped the gloom and doom thinking that judgment was coming. Today, please pray that God would set you free from the worry of ________ and for you to finally let it go. God has, why can’t you? Write this date down and cast it off never to be snared by this again. Jesus loves you enough to set you free. The key is will you believe in His awesome power to set you free? I am, praying for YOU today to finally let it go and be set free. The choice is yours.
Have a great day.
Brad
