Struggling with sin ?

SANTOSO

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Didn’t Jesus Christ our Lord come to free us from sin ?
Why were we still struggling with sin ?
What we may have missed ?
If we have understood, perceived and turn ! Wouldn’t the Lord heal us ?

This is what we have heard:
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; -Isaiah 59:1
but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. -Isaiah 59:2

So we have heard that iniquities can make us separated from God ! Likewise, our sins make the Lord hide His face !

When we are separated from God ! We are subjected as enemies of God if we don’t repent !

As we have heard:
If a man does not repent, God will whet His sword; He has bent and readied His bow; -Psalms 7:12 ESV
He has prepared for him His deadly weapons, making His arrows fiery shafts. -Psalms 7:13 ESV

So we wouldn’t like that.

What we like then is to be near God ! To be under His grace ! Be found in His mercy !

For we have heard:
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. -Romans 6:14 ESV

Let us not have sin as our master, or let us not have sin dominion over us ! For we are not under the law of sin and death but under grace of Christ Jesus, who is our Lord.

Then what our Lord has done that we don’t understand, for us to be freed from sin ?

This is what we have heard:

We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. -Romans 6:6 ESV
For one who has died has been set free from sin. -Romans 6:7 ESV

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. -Romans 6:8 ESV
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. -Romans 6:9 ESV

So apostle Paul have told us that our self was crucified with Christ ! How ?

This is what we have heard:
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? -Romans 6:3 ESV

Yes, many have said that they have been baptized; why many still enslaved by sin ?

This is what we have heard:
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.-Roman 6:12 NIV

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather OFFER yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. - Roman 6:13 NIV

So for us, not to let sin reign in our mortal bodies is that we need to offer ourselves to God ; yes, we need to offer every part of ourselves to God ; Yes, that means Daily or every moment !

How are we to offer ourselves to God ?
This is what we have heard:

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, -John 8:31
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." -John 8:32

As we also have heard what apostle Paul have said :
because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. -1 Thessalonians 1:5

So to offer ourselves to God means that we abide in the Lord’s word and including the gospel that the apostles have spoken — the truth will set us free — for the gospel came to us not only in word but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

Let us live a life free from the bondage of sin. Let us be near God and be found in His favor. And the Lord hears the prayers that we have asked of Him.
 

SANTOSO

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Are we struggling with our weakness?

This is the grace that we have heard:

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. -Romans 8:26

Let us lift holy hands. Give praise to God for His grace. Hallelujah. Amen
 
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SANTOSO

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when struggling against sin, many are concerned with their hearts ! ?

Yes,we have heard:
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? -Jeremiah 17:9
"I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds." -Jeremiah 17:10

Many don’t know how to deal with their hearts, knowing their hearts desperately sick!

Likewise, we have heard:
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. -2 Corinthians 4:6

Where do the light shine out of ? Darkness.
Where has the light shine in ? Hearts

So we can considers that the hearts are in the dark when the light has not shone in.

This is also what we have heard:
And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." -Mark 2:17

Aren’t those whose hearts are desperately sick — sinners ? Doesn’t the Lord come to call sinners ? Doesn’t those whose hearts whom the Lord heals — that their hearts are made right — so that they can be called righteous through Him ?

Didn’t God said, "Let light shine out of darkness," ; that this light has shone in our hearts ? Isn’t it explained that this light shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ ?

Have we not understand what God has said ?
Have we not perceived His grace ?

Are we concerned how do this light shone in our hearts?

This is what we have heard:
For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, -Proverbs 6:23

Have we not heard a command when God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," ? Isn’t His commandment is a lamp ? Isn’t His teaching a light ?

Didn’t our Lord have said this ? :
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”- John 8:13

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in Me may not remain in darkness.-John 12:46

For we heard in Proverb 6:23, that the teaching a light ! Don’t we consider the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ considered a light ?

Doesn’t the Lord say that those who believe in Him may not remain in darkness ? Doesn’t those who believe in Him that their hearts no longer remain the dark ?

As we heard:
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. -John 3:36

assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, -Ephesians 4:21

Have we not heard about Christ? Have we not believed in Christ? Don’t we consider those who believe in Christ — are those who obey Christ, that the wrath of God will not remain on him? Doesn’t those obey — obey what they were taught in union with Christ?

Can’t we who believe in Christ, as the truth in Christ — can we not consider that our hearts are no longer in darkness ? Why ? Because our hearts have set free by the truth.

By this truth, we consider that the teachings of Christ have enlightened our hearts.

That is how we believe the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ a light that has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God.

So let us remember what our Heavenly Father have said : My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. -Proverbs 4:20
Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. -Proverbs 4:21
For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. -Proverbs 4:22

Haven’t we been attentive to the words of our Heavenly Father who spoke to us through His Son ? Haven’t we kept the teaching of His Son in our hearts ? Doesn’t the Lord promise to heal our hearts? Yes, He does.

So though the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick, the Lord understand it !
So let those whose hearts desperately sick; understand and perceived His grace ; that the Lord heals.
 
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SANTOSO

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Many have spoken of their consciences !

What is conscience ?
Conscience is described as an aspect of self awareness!

Conscience is considered as that faculty of the mind, or inborn sense of right and wrong, by which we judge of the moral character of human conduct.

In sum, conscience is defined as an aspect of self-awareness that produces the pain and/or pleasure we "feel" as we reflect on the norms and values we recognize and apply.

Do our norms and values conform to God’s norms and values ? Do our conscience always good ?

This is what we have heard:
To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. -Titus 1:15

So we can consider there are those whose consciences are defiled because their minds do not conform to the norms and values that are from God. And there are those who whose conscience is pure because their mind conform to the norms and values that are from God.

As we have heard: How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. -Psalms 119:9

Yes, the man is able to keep his way pure by guarding his way according to God’s Word.

Likewise, we have heard the Lord said :
And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. -Mark 7:20
For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, -Mark 7:21
coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. -Mark 7:22
All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." -Mark 7:23

So we consider what the Lord have said about those who are defiled, that their consciences and minds are defiled.

Can those whose consciences are defiled BE MADE CLEAN ?

This is what we have heard:
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. -Hebrews 10:22

How do our hearts sprinkle clean from evil consciences?
This is what we have heard:

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. -Hebrews 9:14

Yes, our Lord Jesus Christ have offered His own blood through the eternal Spirit without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
That is His grace toward us. We need to stand by this truth and speak this what we believe.

Then how about our bodies get washed with pure water ? This is what we have heard:

that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, -Ephesians 5:26
so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. -Ephesians 5:27
Likewise, we heard:
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, -John 8:31
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." -John 8:32

So let us abide in His word, that He might sanctify us, having cleansed us by the washing of water with the word, so that we might be presented to Him as church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that we might be holy and without blemish.

In this manners, our consciences are considered undefiled because we have abandoned our wicked ways and unrighteous thoughts, — and wholeheartedly abide in His word, having been cleansed by His blood.

Let us hear what apostle Paul and Timothy spoke of their consciences:

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. -2 Corinthians 1:12

This we understand and perceive that we should behave in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God.

Let us understand that by His grace that He makes our conscience good. Let us submit to His truth. To God be the glory. Hallelujah. Amen.
 
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SANTOSO

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When struggling with sins, many consider themselves weak and never count themselves as those whom God has chosen !

Is there no hope for the weak ? Whom the Lord God consider to be His chosen ?

This is what we have heard:

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. -1 Corinthians 1:26

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; -1 Corinthians 1:27

God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, -1 Corinthians 1:28

so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. -1 Corinthians 1:29

Can we boast that it is good for God to have us ; Because we are wiser by world standards, powerful, born from rich family ?
No !!! But it is good for us to have God !!!

Aren’t we those who are humbled by God ? Yes, we are.

Don’t we consider it to be foolish to be arrogant ? Why? Why we would want God to resist us ? Wouldn’t we be foolish to resist God ? Yet, the wise according to the standards of the world resist God ; and so arrogance of their wisdom. And they consider us foolish to follow Christ. Yet for us, Christ is the wisdom of God.

We may not be strong in the world but God chose us, the weak in the world. For the strong in the world may look down on us, scorn us, and held us in contempt. Yet we say in faith that we who are weak in the world; we are strong in the Lord ; and the Spirit of God who raised Christ from the dead will rise us with Him. For God has chosen us.

We may have a low position or standing in the family or in our circle of friends and acquaintances or in the workplace or in the community or in the world ! Or we may be despised for that. Isn’t this God’s love for us who are low and despised that this is spoken for our sake ? : God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, -1 Corinthians 1:28

We may look low and despised in the world but isn’t this spoken for us to give us hope in Christ our Lord :

Beloved, we are GOD’s CHILDREN now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. -1 John 3:2

So let us remember these things that has spoken to us :
God chose what is foolish in the world....; -1 Corinthians 1:27
God chose what is weak in the world...; -1 Corinthians 1:27
God chose what is low and despised in the world,... -1 Corinthians 1:28

Can’t it be anymore clear what God chose ?

So what would Christ have said to His chosen ones ?
You did not CHOOSE me, but I CHOSE you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you. -John 15:16

When He chose us ?
even as He ( God the Father ) chose us in Him ( Christ) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him ( God the Spirit) . In love -Ephesians 1:4

Shouldn’t we be thankful to God for loving us ? Yes, we should. This is what we have heard:

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God CHOSE YOU as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. -2 Thessalonians 2:13

So let us yield to be sanctified by the Spirit. How? This is what we have heard:

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. -John 6:63

that He might SANCTIFY her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, -Ephesians 5:26

So when we meditate God’s words and treasure His words in our hearts — we are sanctify by the Spirit, that is, Christ’s words.

So let us do this that we may abide in His words, and bear fruit, pleasing to Christ who has CHOSEN US.
 
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SANTOSO

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Struggling with sin ! Are we discouraged? When I consider this discouragement ; It can’t be God want me to be discouraged? Or why I want to discourage myself ?

Yes, circumstances can discourage us. But aren’t we taught to be moved by what we see or hear or feel but be moved by what we believe?

As I offer myself more to God by submitting to the truth of His words ; I find hope in His words. This hope encourage me and strengthen me in what I believe in Him.

Then I perceived that this discouragement is like an evil spirit of despair. So I rebuked it in the mighty name of the Lord. And I find relief.

The psalmist expressed eloquently:
I lie prostrate in the dust;
revive me, in keeping with your word.-Psalm 119:25 CJB

When we are discouraged, it may seem that we lie in the dust.
So I pray and pray that the Lord revive me, in keeping with His word. And He gives strength to resist the enemy and can find myself to be revived in keeping with His word.

How good is God !
I lift my hand in praise to Him.

When I remembered what He has said, I am encouraged; this is what I remembered:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9

So I have seek the Lord’s strength and found myself to be encouraged by His words.
 
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Psalm 27

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Didn’t Jesus Christ our Lord come to free us from sin ?
Why were we still struggling with sin ?
What we may have missed ?
If we have understood, perceived and turn ! Wouldn’t the Lord heal us ?

This is what we have heard:
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; -Isaiah 59:1
but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. -Isaiah 59:2

So we have heard that iniquities can make us separated from God ! Likewise, our sins make the Lord hide His face !

When we are separated from God ! We are subjected as enemies of God if we don’t repent !

As we have heard:
If a man does not repent, God will whet His sword; He has bent and readied His bow; -Psalms 7:12 ESV
He has prepared for him His deadly weapons, making His arrows fiery shafts. -Psalms 7:13 ESV

So we wouldn’t like that.

What we like then is to be near God ! To be under His grace ! Be found in His mercy !

For we have heard:
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. -Romans 6:14 ESV

Let us not have sin as our master, or let us not have sin dominion over us ! For we are not under the law of sin and death but under grace of Christ Jesus, who is our Lord.

Then what our Lord has done that we don’t understand, for us to be freed from sin ?

This is what we have heard:

We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. -Romans 6:6 ESV
For one who has died has been set free from sin. -Romans 6:7 ESV

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. -Romans 6:8 ESV
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. -Romans 6:9 ESV

So apostle Paul have told us that our self was crucified with Christ ! How ?

This is what we have heard:
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? -Romans 6:3 ESV

Yes, many have said that they have been baptized; why many still enslaved by sin ?

This is what we have heard:
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.-Roman 6:12 NIV

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather OFFER yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. - Roman 6:13 NIV

So for us, not to let sin reign in our mortal bodies is that we need to offer ourselves to God ; yes, we need to offer every part of ourselves to God ; Yes, that means Daily or every moment !

How are we to offer ourselves to God ?
This is what we have heard:

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, -John 8:31
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." -John 8:32

As we also have heard what apostle Paul have said :
because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. -1 Thessalonians 1:5

So to offer ourselves to God means that we abide in the Lord’s word and including the gospel that the apostles have spoken — the truth will set us free — for the gospel came to us not only in word but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

Let us live a life free from the bondage of sin. Let us be near God and be found in His favor. And the Lord hears the prayers that we have asked of Him.
Luke 4 Jesus said;

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who areoppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

He led captivity captive...
 
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