FORGIVENESS: Reconciling with God
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Last week we learned about the power of prayers, and how it serves as our lifeline to our God.
Being human, we are easily deceived and tempted by the enemy to wander away from God and to commit sin. The good news is that like the prodigal son in the bible, we can “always” turn away from our wicked ways, and reconcile with our Father in heaven through His son Jesus Christ.
What happens when we sin?
Isaiah 59:1~2
Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,
nor his ear too dull to hear.
But your iniquities have separated
you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
so that he will not hear.
First, we become separated from our God.
We leave ourselves more open to the enemy's attack, and deprive ourselves from the blessings, graces, and protection of God.
Romans 6:15~16
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Second, we become slaves of the sin we committed.
Have you noticed that once you commit a sin it’s difficult to break free from this once you are used to it. Take for example, reading pornographic materials, watching X-rated movies, and fantasizing sexual images. To someone who is not hooked to this vice, it’s a waste of time and energy, but to someone who is into this, like I used to be, the addiction is real. No matter how hard you will try to break away from it, time and time again you will weaken, give in and fall to the same sin.
What’s ironic is that, the sinner doesn’t feel great even a single bit after the commission of the sin. Deep inside he has no love for himself, and may even hate himself, but he is powerless from stopping himself from doing it. This is what is meant by being a slave to sin.
How to reconcile with God?
1 John 1:9-10
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
To be reconciled, and be forgiven from our unrighteousness with our Father in heaven, we have to do at least two things.
First, we have to confess our sin; acknowledge our personal guilt, and admit our specific sin directly to our God. Confessing to other people like a pastor, priest is also good act specially if that person is righteous and will help pray to God for you.
Matthew 6:14~15
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Second. we have to forgive those who offended us, and sinned against us.
What happens if we don’t reconcile with God?
Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
First, we won’t prosper in the important aspects of our life such as health, relationships, work, and wealth. Take note that money is not the only measure of prosperity.
Psalm 32:3, 4
When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night
your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
Then, we will feel miserable; there's no peace, and joy in our heart.
We may gain material things, attain popularity, gain recognition, meet powerful people, and reach places but we won't get satisfaction from our accomplishments. Our life will become a series of events that has no direction and meaning.
Why?
Because we are not in communion with our Father in heaven. We keep ourselves busy with earthly goals thinking that our next accomplishment will satisfy our inner hunger. No it won't! Earthly things can never bring joy to a sorrowful spirit; it can never satisfy a thirsty spirit...only God can!
Romans 6:16
Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
And we continue to become slaves of sin.
No matter how hard you will try, as long as you don't receive real reconciliation with your Father in heaven, you can never break free from the bondage of your sin. No amount of self-help books can help you break free from the chain of sin, and turn your life around.
Why?
Because until then, you are fighting the enemy on your own strength! You need God's help to break free the bondage of sin. No one else can help you.
In order for you to tap God's help, you need to sincerely ask for His forgiveness, and be reconciled with Him. There is no other way! I know because I used to be a slave of the sin of lust, and only when I surrendered to God and ask for His forgiveness, and help did I receive total healing.Yes, it wasn't instant; it was gradual, but my recovery was real.
What happens if we reconcile with God?
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
God will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Our spirit will be cleansed, and we can start a new life; a life in Christ.
Our relationship with God as our Father will be restored; and we will again enjoy the privileges of being children of God.
Our God will heal us from the wages of our sin, and give us the endurance to resist it. He will break our addiction in His own chosen pace and time, and heal our spirit.
Galatian 6:7~7
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
The answer is No. By God’s mercy He may, but He is not required.
We are both flesh and spirit. When we are forgiven by God, He literally set free our spirit who is in bondage to sin, and erase all our unrighteousness. (And if we die, our spirit will return to our Creator, and be saved from spiritual death.) However, in God's mercy and wisdom our flesh still has to bear the consequence of our wrong choice.
Take for example the case of King David, the man after God's own heart. When he committed adultery with Bathsheba, and later murder by ordering Joab, his general, to leave Uriah, Bathsheba's husband to die in battle, God rebuked David through His prophet Nathan.
2 Samuel 12:13~14
"So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die."
David was forgiven by God after his sincere confession but he still has to bear the pain of losing his child which was the consequence of his sin.
As Chuck Swindoll once stated, "Grace means that God won’t kill us for our sin, and that God will give us the ability to endure the consequence of our sin, but this will not necessarily take away the consequences of sin."
What are practical tips to avoid sin?
Yes, our Father will forgive us at a snap of a finger if we only confess our sins to Him. But as Christians we must also mature spiriturally. Spiritual maturity means that we don't fall to the same sin as easily as before. To help grow in spiritual maturity here are some practical tips I learned over the years on how to avoid sin:
(1) When tempted, don't fight the enemy alone, use your lifeline, and pray to God for deliverance and protection
Before Jesus was crucified, he was tempted by Satan in Getsemane to disobey the will of the Father. Satan must have shown Jesus vivid images of the pain, agony and shame that He will have to bear should He obey the Father. The Bible stated that Jesus sweat out blood. What did Jesus did? He prayed to the Father. Let's all learn from our Lord Jesus Himself.
(2) Know the scripture
When Jesus was tempted by satan in the desert after 40 days of fasting, he didn't responded to the enemy by saying, "I am the son of God, do not tempt me." No he didn't say that. In every temptation, there were three of them, that satan subjected Jesus to, our Lord always began His reply with "It is written..." The son of God fought the spiritual battle with satan by quoting from the Holy Bible! We should learn from our Lord, and know what is written in this most Powerful Book ever written so that we can have more weapons against the enemy.
(3) Avoid situation when you know you will be susceptible to temptation
For example, when you are vulnerable to sexual temptation avoid reading materials, and movies that reveals a lot of skin or show sexual acts; avoid being alone with a computer or stay away from porn websites; avoid spending time with your old drinking/gambling/night club buddies who will only invite you to sin.
(4) Hang out with people who are passionate with God
Find Christian buddies, participate in Bible study group, and join Christian communities. There is no such thing as a Lone Ranger when it comes to Christianity. We all need each other for support, encouragement and correction.
(5) Do not entertain sinful thoughts, dismiss it right away
It's true that we cannot stop the birds from flying over our heads but we can stop these from building a nest on it. Sinful thoughts will come, and there is nothing we can do about that, but we can stop ourselves from entertaining it. The only time that the enemy can deceive us is when we entertain his lies and deceptions. Temptation doesn't necessarily make us sinner, we only sin once we give in to it. So dismiss evil thoughts and feelings PRONTO!
(6) Flee, and run as fast as you can
When Joseph, son of Jacob, was tempted by Potiphar's wife to commit adultery with her, he ran away from her as fast as he can. He didn't entertain her pleading and seduction. He flee like a man who see a ghost! Let's all learn from Joseph too on how to handle temptation.
The enemy does not come to us as a dark creature complete with two horns, two sharp fangs, a pair of bloodshot eyes, a bat's wing, a pointed tail, and a pitchfork. No, he comes to us as an attractive, seductive creature so that we will put down our guard, and will not flee from him. When that happens he can tempt us all he wants, and you know what? Sooner or later, we will fall.
NOTE: Some of the materials in this message were taken from the booklet, One2One, written by Steve Murrell.
PS: If this post inspires and enlightens you, then give praise to God for all glory and honor belongs to Him alone...
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