Opening Prayer - Father God, we come as truth seekers. We strive to tear down the strongholds blocking Your truth from those trying to follow Your Way. Lord, continue to guide our steps as we rightly divide Your Word using a discerning heart and a right Spirit. We thank You for Your mercy, forgiveness, and special anointing. Thank You for forgiving us of our transgressions and encouraging us to forgive those who transgress against us. Lord, teach us and give us understanding. Teach us mercy, teach us discipleship, teach us compassion, and Lord, teach us all we need to know to delight in Your ways and teach the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. Thank you for strengthening us as we strive to break the bondage of sin and become a slave to righteousness. Thank You for giving us the heart and mind to do what is necessary to create a sustaining peace within our homes, churches, and communities. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
Believe in your heart that all things are possible. These are not just words to those who believe. If you believe in Christ then you accept that all power in heaven and on earth was given to Him (Matt. 28:18), making Him all-powerful. Then, let us reason together! Being all-powerful means Christ has power over sin and Satan, the author of sin. Let us go one step further. If we believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, then it also stands to reason that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13). A supernatural demonstration of His power was evident when Jesus Christ entered the world through the womb of a virgin. Even though Jesus, the Son of God, resided in a human body while He was on earth, He did not sin.
Scripture says that though Jesus knew His existence was with God, He did not need to cling to or exploit His omnipotence. Instead, He emptied Himself of His powers by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of a man, and humbling Himself by becoming obedient to death (Phil. 2:6-8). While living on earth, He cared for the poor, the sick, the orphans, and the widows. He taught the prophets and set an example of what a human can be. His love for God’s creation was and is endless.
If you abide in Christ and allow Christ to abide in you, you can tap into the Lord’s power and exercise self-control. Thus, it is within you to “… not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have a new life. So, use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God” (Rom. 6:13, NLT). By the power of God’s Word, we urge you to offer your whole bodies as living sacrifices so that no parts of your bodies will become instruments of evil.
To become instruments of righteousness is impossible if you separate the body. Know this, one part of the body does not become an instrument of evil without infecting other parts and including them in its evil pursuits. The hand cannot steal without agreement from the heart, mind, and feet. The mind conceives the evil, the heart believes it, the feet take you to it, and the hands commit the crime. The eyes will not look upon evil (Pornography and the like) unless the mind conceives the thought, and the heart believes the action is okay. The Apostle James says the tongue is an unruly evil, but Matthew says, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34, NKJV). If we fill our hearts with the righteousness of the Lord, the tongue will not use the mouth to speak evil. Everything works together for the good of those who believe.
All the things that God hates can be avoided if the mind receives and the heart believes the knowledge of God which says, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5, ESV). Now if you reject the knowledge of God and do not put those things to death you will not be able to avoid ungodly situations. Evil will continue to visit you repeatedly because you rejected the Lord’s Way and His Truth. Acknowledge God’s truth and surrender your whole body as a living sacrifice.
We say we believe the Word of God, then remember Scripture says, “If we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins” (Heb. 10:26). When we thirst for worldly goods, we need to make sure that we do not gain them in an ungodly manner. We pray God will give us the strength to overcome any desires that cause us to turn away from His truth. We might have to give up popularity, if we are trying to win the approval of human beings instead of God (Gal. 1:10). We may have to give up power, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost” (Luke 9:25, NKJV)? We may have to give up friends and family because “the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Prov. 13:20).
We implore you, “Do not go on presenting the parts of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness” (Rom. 6:13, NASB). Strive to live a life filled with love for yourself and others. We must love who we are if we are to love those who are not like us. We have the means, through Christ to demonstrate the love of Christ, the same love He showed when He walked among us in a human body. The Lord called us to do good, even if it means suffering. Take captive your thoughts, because you know that “out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts” (Mark 7:21, NLT).
Pray that the Lord will turn your heart to testimonies and not to covetous gain (Psa. 119:36). “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15, NIV). The Lord blesses those who hear the Word and believe it is true. Hear the Word of God and become a slave to righteousness. Do not allow escalating evil and wickedness to reign in your mortal body.
Using the excuse that it is okay because you live under grace is a false doctrine. “Do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1, ESV). Many deceitful workers are among us disguising themselves as preachers, teachers, deacons, mothers, and untitled believers. No title is necessary to do evil. Beware of those who cause strife and teach to suit their purpose. They are wandering away from God’s truth and establishing their own truth. When you hear His voice, turn back and make your whole body an instrument of righteousness.
Closing Prayer - “Because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer” (Rom. 12:1, GNT).
