In this world it is easy to be stressed out. It can be all from work, circumstances, family, bad report when it comes to sickness or even when it comes to know our identity.
As a believer in a mighty God, we should not give into this stress, but the reality is that we are not so much different from people in this world. We still let this things get to us and even control us. And you are not alone, and sometimes I ask why? We have an answer that this world dose not have, and a hope and a power that are beyond our circumstances. So why do we worry? Often it is actually because we feel we not please God enough, so he might not hear our prayers. And that brings us back to identity too.
The truth is or soul can be still and know that He truly is God.
Have you ever asked yourself this question: What is it all about? It may be in several contexts we can ask ourselves this question, perhaps in relation to the meaning of life, but have you ever asked this question in relation to your faith and Christian life? Maybe you’re a bit scared of this question, because it may be associated with unbelief. Sometimes it can be healthy to ask yourself some questions, and remember God does not get nervous because of it.
I have heard many say that we need more of God or Jesus, but do we need more of Him? Does the Bible says that we must hunger and thirst for more and that we do not have anything of Him yet. Do we need more power, more forgiveness, more of His nature, or more blessing from God?
Many people are not aware that what you think will lead you to what you feel, and then again what you do. It is important that we know how to handle the feelings right so they don’t lead us down the wrong path. And it all starts with our thoughts. If you know you have thoughts and feelings that can lead you away from God and fellowship with Him, it is important that you do something with them, so that you can control them, before they will control you. If I can control my thoughts, I will be able to control my emotions. If my thoughts are in line with God’s words, my feelings will follow.
We are all looking for value and being someone important. We are all looking for love. I think if we truly saw our value this world would look very different! This applies not only to the non-Christians, but to us Christians as well!
I think there would be less gossip, envy and judging others if we really saw who we truly are, I actually think these things would not be a problem, even sin would not be a problem anymore if we truly saw who we are!
See this important encouragement, which I think can help you and inspire you!
Some think of our desires and lust as something evil. Especially when we read this verse:
James 1:14-15 14 But each one is tempted by his lusts, being drawn away and seduced by them . 15 Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin. And sin, when it is fully formed, brings forth death.
Can I tell you one thing: Your lusts and desires are created by God and they are good. In fact, they are absolutely essential to our existence. Before you get upset about what I’m saying now, let me ask you this: Do you have appetite? Are your desire for food sinful? I hope not so, because you would soon have starved to death.
Top two of our strongest desires we have are to have sex (the desire for food is number one). Is the desire and lust after having six sin? Some strongly religious may say so. Some decades ago, there were also many who looked at sex as almost a sin in, and sex was just a necessary evil to carry on the human race (it should at least not be enjoyed). Today, most people realize that sex in itself is not a sin, because there would not be many of us then, but if you feed this lust with the wrong thoughts, it will start to conceive something and if you dwell on it a lot, it can lead to death, for example of your marriage and/or relationship that you have.
So remember this: Your lusts and desires in themselves are not sin, but you need to have wisdom and know the truth so that sin does not control them. God has also given you self-control, it is part of your new and true nature. The only power sin has over you today is lies it wants to tell you, for the truth is that the power of sin was broken once and for all by Jesus’s death and resurrection 2,000 years ago!
It is a spiritual evil force and power called sin, and it is our enemy. When other hurt me, I know that they do not see the truth about who they are, and when somebody sins against me, I also know that they are not what they do, but it is a spirit that is behind, and it’s called sin, and it has tricked them to choose to do the wrong thing.
If you or others were our enemy, we would have fought a fight against ourselves or others, but yourself or others are not your enemy (Ephesians 6: 12-13), it is the spiritual power, called sin. It is our true enemy, and the good news, as we can also read in the Ephesians, is that we can stand after having overcome everything or as one translation says: win victory in all things. I hope you begin to see the Good News now?
Your enemy is not yourself, but the lies you believe about yourself.
We as Christians say that we have the answered for the problem of sin, which is Jesus, but in the practical life, it often does not look like it. Many Christians struggle with sin as much as the non-Christians, some even more, although they may manage to maintain a better facade. in addition they struggle more with condemnation, guilt and self-condemnation. You may find that some non-Christians can often exercise better self-discipline than many Christians. What is this so? Is there an answer?
When I bring up a subject like this, about sin, I can get many reactions. Some people think that I will not listen to this because I feel tired of being condemned and feeling guilty. Often this subject can be said like this: You are a big sinner, stop sinning, shame on you, try to win victory over your sin! Or they try to give you a ten-step program to overcome sin and live a victorious Christian life.
Someone else may think like this, when they hear this subject: Not another person who wants to say that sin is not so bad and not dangerous or that it’s noting really called sin.
I do not want to tell you any of this in this teaching. I do not want to condemn you and I do not want to say that sin is not dangerous or non existent. My focus is on identity and who you are, that will help you to not to fall to any of these traps.
This is a part of a series, so follow this series in on this website.
Sin may not be a very popular topic, but it is a very important one. What I am going to say about sin in this teaching will not be condemning, but I hope you can get a new light on this subject and see sin of what it is.
The word sin is used most in religious context, and it is often about the wrong thing we do and think, and make a god angry and sin must be punished.
How you handle this subject depends on your image of God. If you have a picture of a judgmental and angry god, you will also try to avoid this theme and you will easily feel condemned. I will talk about that sin is also not only something we do, but it is also a power. And I will also talk about that you are not sin, that’s not your true identity
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