Messiah Is Coming : With Power To Conquer

Do you ever feel like no matter how much you want to do what is right, you do wrong again and again and again? It hurts, doesn’t it? Did you know that Paul felt this way, too?

One time Paul wrote a letter to some Christians in Rome.

Paul talked to them about how every single one of us has a big problem — SIN. No one is good, not even one of us.

Satan likes to try to convince people that it doesn’t matter if we’re all yucky in sin. But it matters to God. And something in your conscience knows that, doesn’t it? In fact, God said that everyone is without excuse. Everyone has a chance to open the eyes of their heart and put on their God-glasses. They can look around at all God has created in this Perfectly Designed Universe and recognize that God is Real. But some people don’t want to admit that. (Because if they admit that they were created, then that means they aren’t the boss of their lives. And they want to be the boss.)

So Paul told the Romans that we all have a big sin problem. And sin comes with deep consequences.

But he also reminded them of the Answer — Jesus.

While we were still filthy sinners, God sent His baby boy, Jesus, to take our punishment. For anyone who will hand over control of their life to Jesus and be baptized, Jesus will pay our sin debt and wash away all our sins.

But once someone is free in Jesus’ life and forgiveness… does that mean they should just keep on sinning so that “grace and forgiveness can do their work”? Uhhh…. No.

IF we loooove something too much… IF it changes our attitudes or behavior or friends, then bye-bye old life idols. God’s kindness makes us want to actually change and become more and more like Him.

So we join Jesus in His death by accepting that He died FOR us; and then we join Jesus in His made-alive-again Life.

Once we’re born again, we rise up to walk in Jesus’ new life. We don’t let sin boss us around… we don’t offer our body to sin like, “Here I am, sin. I can’t help but sin, so I’ll just depend on God’s grace to save me.”

No! Instead, offer yourselves to God as someone brought back to life from the dead.

Anyone who really believes and participates in this Faith Solution, when the Heavenly Father looks at them, He sees His Son. And He is not going to judge His beautiful baby boy. We get Jesus’ perfect score of 100.

So once you’ve been made new — have a party. Celebrate. Throw the confetti, play the music, and dance like David danced.

But also Prepare for WAR.

Sin is still a war because our sinful, natural, mammal flesh continues to want its own way. But by His Spirit, we can win this war. We can put a stop to the evil deeds of the body by His Spirit. And we can learn how to walk in the Spirit by offering our bodies as a LIVING sacrifice.

Did You Know?

Do you remember how people in the Old Deal of Rules would sacrifice or give up something as a gift to God?

Well, God still wants sacrifice from us… but not dead animals. Now we offer our very lives as a LIVING sacrifice.

We LIVE a life that lays aside the things of this world. We lay aside the cravings of our natural mammal flesh and our boastful pride of life. We lay that junk aside because we see with our Jesus-glasses. We don’t need that junk anymore.

Before someone is made new in Jesus, they can grow closer and closer to Him one step, step, step at a time learning God’s language and ways.

But after we make a covenant with Jesus and He washes away all our sins, we don’t stop there. Instead, we are meant to grow closer and closer to Jesus in both relationship and in being more and more LIKE Him. Who He is in all His wonderful, adoring character is a perfect 100. But when we first become a Christian, our character is not yet like His, so we’re more like a 5!

Think about it. Do you think the Father wants to give us Jesus’ perfect score of 100 and then stand back and watch us flunk every life test? NO Way! He wants a People who will show the world WHAT HE IS LIKE.

Do you remember how Jesus said His Spirit would bring power? Power to do what? Power to just do some miracles on occasion? There’s no evidence in Acts that all of the Christians did miracles. So what was this power from on high for? It was Power to walk like He walked. To fight like He fought. Power to Conquer sin, not just have it washed. Power to say no to ungodliness — to shut off the noisiness of your own mind and of sin so that you can have a relationship with Him, Living in His Smiles.

Living in His Smiles is His glorious solution to putting a stop to our sins of the flesh! And as we get closer and closer to His 100 in our actual Christlikeness — great stuff starts happening. Stuff that all of creation is standing on tiptoe waiting to see.

Of course, those who belong to God will have to face some pain, but Paul told us we should not let the pain of the battle scare us. God’s got a plan. He’s always had a plan. And those who fully surrender to Him in Faith are not losing this fight. Through Him, they will be made more than conquerors.

So Know this: God will have a People who are walking in His Power, by His Spirit. And in the end, He’s going to grab the hands of His people of Faith, both Jews and Gentiles, and lift their hands up together as Victorious Winners in Christ, who loved us and gave Himself for us!

Now I know that Paul was talking to people who were already Christians… but I know some of you are growing up and already feeling those feelings of “I feel hopeless. I mess up again and again.” I know it hurts, and it hurts me to see you hurt. But I have to let you know that it’s okay to hurt in this way. That means you care. And if you keep on caring and are willing to trade your yucky, selfish flesh-life for His Beautiful life, then Messiah is Coming for you. He IS Coming! So keep getting ready!