Pastor Elwin Ahu
October 31, 2010 - W1044

Still Struggling with Sin

Pastor Elwin Ahu

October 31, 2010   W1044

We are waiting for the count down in a couple of days…not from Politics but for the --Temptation To Over Eat—with Parties and Holidays- After eating so much our excuse is  I CAN’T HELP IT..

What should I do now-DIET- Eat the things that we should not eat and don’t eat the food that  we should. We came up with a list of reason how we can CHEAT..Top # 1-If You Fatten Everyone Up Around You- You Look Thinner

The CHRISTIAN WALK is like to DIET

We know what we should do-     But we don’t do it

We know what we shouldn’t do- But we do it anyway

We come up with our own rules on how to CHEAT in our Christian walk-

   1- It is not a sin  -    If no one see’s it and nobody knows

   2- Some one sin’s more than I do  -  Then my sin’s don’t count

   3- You know it FELT good  -     So I did it

We all come up with these rules that prevents us from what we should be DOING

I am talking bout this old worth kind of sins -  Not like murder or robbery

But the sin’s we struggle with that we have.  The kind that is going on in the inside of your minds and heart where nobody sees it or knows.  Thoughts and feelings that are Inappropriate :Unforgiveness, Anger, Hurt, Bitterness.  No one can see the inside of us, and we wear a mask that makes us look good.  But inside of use it is hidden.  But we still Struggle within.

Like Internet pornography where no one is around to see us watch it and so you struggle within with this. We look but not touch, and do some window shopping.  So we struggle and get frustrated.  The rule of our frustration is :

If Jesus came and saved me for my sins and wash me clean- Then shouldn’t have that been take care of and “ Then why do I still struggle with the  sin and The challenge in my inner thoughts and feelings “.  

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it.  I do what I hate..I want to do what is right, but I can’t.I want to do what is good, but I don’t.  I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” (Rm7-15-19  NLT)

Still Struggling with Sin

Pastor Elwin Ahu

October 31, 2010   W1044

That’s why I am very glad that Jesus Christ gave us an

Apostle like Paul who is saying to us…No matter how hard we try – we are going to FAIL.  Because we don’t understand our nature and that :

Salvation is a 3 Stage process- we don’t come to Christ and over night become a complete new person and never sin again.  The bible tells us we will become new, but we will still struggle. 

.

When you come to Christ and you confess with your mouth about your sin. And believe with your heart ..That he is Lord and has risen from the grave, died for your sins, …the first stage of salvation is:

The penalty of sin is DEATH..but when we come to Christ and acknowledge him…We do not have to pay for this penalty for sin, Christ did.

The Power of sin – Either being saved, or entering the process of being saved by the power of sin.  While we are living here on earth

Although we come to Christ, there is still the power of sin over us.  That is the CHALLENGE..

The presence of sin  - When you get to heaven, cause your name has been place in the book of life, when you get to heaven you are save because there is no sin in heaven. 

When you come to Christ there is a new nature ..but we still slip and fall and still get frustrated.  Why is this happening?  Why can’t I do what is right all the time.

For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.5:14 NIV)

Still Struggling with Sin

Pastor Elwin Ahu

October 31, 2010   W1044

Jesus Christ tells Cain:

what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”  (Gen 4:7 NIV)

We were born SINFUL in nature.

When we are told not to do something we do it…We should trace it back to Adam..he was told not to do something and he did it.  Adam was told not to eat from the tree of KNOWLEDGE of GOOD and EVIL.  That was his instruction, but he had one problem..and that was his wife- Eve.

. Telling us this:

I love God’s law with all my heart.  But there is another power within me that is as war with my mind.  This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. .”  (Rom 7:22-23 NLT)

When walking the Christian journey : Life Can Be A Slippery Slope

 When we see a line of temptation  you know what that is.  We should stand like fifty yards away from that line or even not get close to that line.  If we just give the devil an opportunity HE WILL TAKE IT.

Don’t UNDERESTIMATE the power of sin

Sin will take farther than you want to go, it will make you stay longer than you want to stay and it will cost you more than you want to pay.

“And don’t sin by letting anger control you.  Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.”  (Eph. 4:26-27 NLT)

Still Struggling with Sin

Pastor Elwin Ahu

October 31, 2010   W1044

All the devil needs is a little bit to enter into your heart, and you will fall again and again.  It is in us, it is who we are.

We can try and try to get better and not sin, but we fail, because we still have the nature of sin within us.  If we want to be all that Christ want us to be, then we shouldn’t be sinning anymore.

Paul is teaching us to transform our minds and be different.  But we cannot keep trying alone, we must change. Why should I be a Christian if I keep failing.  If you try and you keep failing then:

  It’s time to stop trying, and start trusting.

Begin to trust more despite your failing and fall short in life.  You must trust that God will still be here to LOVE YOU .

If you have an addiction,  or unforgiveness in your heart, keep trying to OVERCOME that.  Begin to trust that Jesus Christ is going to hold and embrace you and walk you thru those seasons.  So you don’t get frustrated and give up in life.  It is only by the POWER of Jesus Christ that you can change.  Even if you should fail again, the Lord will give you the POWER to get yourself back again and walking closer to him. That is what Paul says

“What is a wretched man I am!7:24-25 NIV)

God is always there even when you continue to sin..You will not even know he is there.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of the life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Rom. 8:1-2 NIV)

1. Are you going thru the nature of sin and its challenges

2. Give an example of how you can over come these challenges

3. What does the Lord tell Adam