Steps to Christ Today

"I have sinned..." Is there still hope?

O Lord, bless whoever is going to create time to read this message for I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

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"I have sinned against the LORD". Is there still hope? Can I ever be forgiven?

When we sin, we always feel this deep sense of guilt and hopelessness. We feel that Good can never receive us again but....That's a wrong assumption. God will still receive us as long as we are a truly repentant. Remember this Roman 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". However, what differentiate you from others is how you react to this sin. Do you confess or do you defend that sinful act?

I shall use the story of David's fall to shed more light.

Generally, the man's nature is sinful. Goodnews is that Jesus died to save us. However, the fact is that children of God tend to slide into temptation. I will like to share what I have learnt about temptation. God develops the "fruit of the spirit" by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you're tempted to express the exact opposite quality. For instance, you are learning the fruit of the spirit; meekness. Then you are faced with a situation with the opposite quality. Maybe a situation that will bring out great rage or anger in you. Temptation can come in this form.

I feel it is like a test to strengthen your growth in Christ. But to the Devil, this temptation is to pull you down because he knows "...The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mark 14:38). We think temptation lives or lies around us, but God says it begins within us. Sin begins in the mind. In 2 Samuel 11:1-27, we see David did not expect that when he walked on the roof of his palace that night that he would be captivated by the beauty of another man's wife.

The New Life Translation renders  Proverbs 4:23 this way: "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life".

When we get our guard down, satan attacks. Temptation is a sign that satan hates you. However, every temptation is an opportunity to do good. Satan uses temptation and sin to destroy your confidence and you. This is the purpose behind everything Satan does. Jesus said, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy" (John 10:10).

Sin is a double-edged sword. So satan uses hopelessness and discouragement as his powerful weapon. The devil makes us feel that our case is beyond redemption and that God can't have us back. He uses this hopelessness and discouragement to keep us from rising from our fall when we sin.

The battle of sin is won or lost in your mond. Whatever gets your attention will get you. When you are faced with temptation, don't argue with the Devil for he is the king of deception, call onto God for help. That is the true secret to defeating temptation.

Let us not be fooled by the popular expression, "follow your heart". I dare not trust in my heart, for "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

New International Version (NIV) says: "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cute. Who can understand it?"

The Bible adds further: "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool, but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered" - Proverbs 28:26.

Back to the story of David, we see he fell into temptation. David saw a "very beautiful woman" taking her bath on her roof. His sinful impulses got the better of him that evening and he slept with Bathsheba, the wife of a trusted army officer. She became pregnant and to cover his son, David reverted to "remote control" assassination of Uriah. However in 2 Samuel 12: 1-23, we see the king made an agonizing confession. "I have sinned against the LORD," David had said. His repentance was deep, genuine and heartfelt. Psalm 51 is his earnest plea for forgiveness and a changed heart. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).

God answered David's prayer. The king was forgiven, but forgiveness did not result in avoiding the tragic consequences of sin. I John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness". Therefore, our Merciful God is willing to forgive you if you truly repent. However,  you will still face the consequences of your sin. Why? That's because consequences is a way through which God makes us see how grievous sin is and to prevent us from going into it again. Yet, despite sin's consequences, God is always ready to forgive and rebuild our lives.

Here are three facts to remember when you have fallen into temptation:

1. Christ longs for you to come to Him, just as you are. If, as David, you come with an honest heart, not making excuses for your sin, you, too, will experience God's forgiveness.

2. Christ has never, ever cast out or rejected anyone who has sincerely come seeking His grace. In fact, he assured us that "the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37 NKJV).

3. Christ's promises for forgiveness and restoration are as certain as His eternal throne. Your feelings are not the criteria of whether you are forgiven. You may not feel forgiven. You may still have feelings of guiltiness, but you can still have the assurance based on the Word of God that your sins are forgiven and that you are a Child of God.

Amen!

If you read this message to the end, I hope you were blessed by it. I want to thank you for creating time to read this. Sincerely, I pray God blesses you abundantly and answers your prayers. Just as how long it took to read the length message, it took a lot to type it too. So I truly appreciate your effort. I pray and hope I have shared a message that will help you in your spiritual growth. God first, others second! Always seek God first in your life and I assure you that you will never regret it. I pray for God's grace in Jesus' name. Amen.

Thank you. ☺☺