BUT I REALLY LOVE JESUS! WHY CAN’T I STOP SINNING?
THIS IS THE W-O-WORLD (Childish Gambino voice) 😯
Yup, child of God. This is the World we livin’ in. Childish Gambino and Falz The Bad Guy tried to put into words what John said in 1 John 5:19 – “We know that we are of God, but the whole world is under the sway of the wicked one.” 😐. As in, while you are in human flesh, and you live in this world that has the evil one as its primary influence, you will be tempted to sin. Doesn’t matter who you are. This is the world.
I mean the devil took a chance to tempt Eve and Adam; gosh, he even tried with Jesus. So why do we expect not to war with the sinful nature within us? BUT, did you notice that Adam and Eve fell … Jesus didn’t. How come?
We’ll explore this for the remainder of this week because I’ve had many of you DM me asking me this very question: “But I love Jesus! Why can’t I stop sinning?”
DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE😐? The devil tempted Eve and Adam by offering them what seemed like a grand identity and possibility that he suggested that God would not make available to them. He said: “God knows that the day you eat of it [the fruit] your eyes will be opened and you will be like God …” (Genesis 3:5) All they had to do to get this grand identity and possibility was to disobey God.
Whereas, Adam and Eve were ALREADY created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27). 💥They didn’t need to eat a fruit to become like God. But they fell for the temptation and disobeyed God because though they had walked with God in closeness, they clearly were not yet convinced about WHO THEY WERE IN HIM.
Spotlight on Jesus.The devil tried the same thing with Jesus: “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones turn to bread…” (Matthew 4:3) But after Jesus was baptized, God the Father declared from heaven: “This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). So when the devil tried to tempt Jesus to fulfill His base desires by going against God’s design, just like he had done with Adam and Eve, Jesus did not bite; He knew who He is; the Beloved Son of Father God💥.
Our sins are often on repeat because they offer us a temporary gratification or a more comfortable identity that we feel we cannot get/have if we stick with God’s way. It’s the age old trick of temptation. Offer alternative identity and pleasures that seem attainable only by deviation from God’s way and plan😐.
However, if you and I, like Christ, know our true identity in Christ, yes the temptation will come, but falling will not be so easy, because we know WHO WE ARE and what that identity makes available to us, and therefore, the alternative does not seem so attractive.😉
If you would like me to help you to get to know your identity in Christ so that you can stand strong against the temptation to sin, DM me.😉
ARE YOU ARMED? ⚔ Life is a battle. The desire to sin will come, but it can be overcome if you are armed. When Jesus was tempted in Matthew 4:1-11, He had spent 40 days in the desert, fasting and praying. Just prior to that, He had been baptised and the Holy Spirit had come upon Him (Matthew 3:16-17)😮. In other words, Jesus was armed. A close relationship with God, prayer, fasting, communion with the Holy Spirit… Jesus was armed to overcome a very clever temptation approach by the devil.
We fall into sin because we are either unarmed or poorly/inadequately armed. Many times, things are cold between you and God, sometimes this is the case even though you do pray etc. 🤔.
Other times, we think that all we need is some good willpower and we will be able to say “no” the next time we are tempted.
Well, willpower is great, but it fails often in the face of a very clever tempter who knows your weaknesses. What really works is a growing relationship of intimacy with God. That is the surest armour against falling into sin💥.
If you would like me to help you to grow in your relationship with Jesus, DM me😉.
TURN AROUND AND RUN BACK 🏃. Child of God, you really love Jesus but you can’t stop sinning because when you get tempted and fall for it, you make the same mistake that Adam and Eve made; they felt ashamed so they ran and hid from God (Genesis 3:7-8)😪. What would have happened if, instead of responding to their shame and fear by hiding from God, they instead ran to Him, confessing their sin and asking for mercy… like David often did (Psalm 51).🤔
On Wednesday and Friday, I shared that Jesus was also tempted, but He never fell for it. You would think that He would therefore not want anything to do with us who still struggle right? On the contrary, Hebrews 4:14-16 says that because He was tempted in every way and yet did not sin, we have a standing invitation to come BOLDLY to God’s throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help you when you are tempted to sin😮.
Are you thinking, “But Coach Toyin, I am not yet done with this sin. I know I’ll still do it again tomorrow.”
Fam, TURN AROUND AND RUN BACK TO GOD. Don’t wait till you “feel” strong to say “no” to that stubborn sin. Just run to Him, even with your fear that you’ll still mess up again tomorrow. He promises to give you mercy and grace to help you get stronger, and soon, your “NO” will be bold and final.😉
If you would like to me to help you with practical ways of ‘running to the throne of grace’ DM/email me. 😉
Coach Toyin, Founder of The Narrow Gateway
As always, I end this by saying, I am Coach Toyin, fully convicted by my own words and very much still under construction in the hands of the Father.
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