FLEE FROM SIN

Romans 6:1-4

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

INSIGHT

-Christ died for our sins and the sins of the world that we may be set free from eternal condemnation. God demonstrated great love for us by sacrificing His only beloved Son so that whoever believes in Him may not be put to shame. It is by grace then that we have been saved and not by our own works lest anyone should boast. There is a misconception that gives some Christians power to continue in sin because grace abounds. From the above scriptures we note that, since we have been baptized into the death of Christ, we are dead to sin and should walk in the newness of life. Grace should not be the fuel that drives willful sin but the catalyst that leads us to righteous living. Grace gives us the power to say no to sin and to walk just like Jesus walked. Titus 2:11-14 tells us that, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

PRAYER

You are worthy O Lord to receive glory, honor and power; for You created all thing and by Your will they exist and were created. Thank You Jesus for loving us. Thank You for dying on the cross for our sins and the sins of the world. Thank You for Your mercy and grace upon us. You have said in Your word that, if my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. We humbly come to You Jesus asking for mercy. Forgive us, our families, the homeless, those in prison, our leaders and our nation for all the times we have sinned either knowingly or unknowingly, and heal our land. Heal our land from corruption, adultery, idolatry, fornication, drunkenness, drug abuse, malice, jealousy, hatred and sanctify us with Your precious blood merciful Father. We boldly come to Your throne of grace so that we may obtain mercy and grace to help us during our time of need. Thank You for choosing us Lord to be the heirs of salvation, we magnify and exult Your holy name. We humbly ask You to guide us throughout this week. May Your will be done in our lives, our nation and on the entire world. Take control of our lives and situations Holy Spirit our Paraclete. Take control of our lives Holy Spirit and deliver us from all evil. Cover us with Your hedge of fire and protect our stars from any adversary for our destinies are great. Help us Holy Spirit to always walk in the newness of life and lead us in the light of Your salvation. Remember with mercy Lord those who are sick that You may heal them and restore their health. Be with all those have lost their loves ones and grant them Your perfect peace that surpasses all understanding. Strengthen all those who have lost jobs or are struggling in business that You may open many doors for them. Prosper us Lord in all things and in health, just as our souls prosper. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen

James 4:7-8

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

INSIGHT

-The devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour. We are reminded to be sober, vigilant, steadfast in faith and to resist him (1 Peter 5:8-9). The devil attacks the minds and leads us astray if we fall prey. When one is double-minded, he/she does not fully submit to the will of God. The lukewarm church of Laodicean was neither cold or hot. It boasted of being rich but was poor, wretched, blind and naked (Revelation 3:16-18). God calls us to hear His word and follow His will only that we may inherit the new Jerusalem. We are also called to gird the loins of our minds, be sober and rest our hope fully upon grace revealed through Christ as obedient children, not conforming to our former lusts in ignorance but to be holy because God Himself is Holy (1 Peter 1:13-16). As we flee from the devil, we resist temptation just like Jesus did. Cain; when cautioned by God to resist temptation as his soul yearned to kill his brother Abel, he gave in and committed murder. He received a severe punishment as his avengers would. When Lamech killed a man afterwards, he noticed that, if Cain was avenged sevenfold, then he would be punished seventy-seven fold (Genesis 4:23-24). Jesus then commanded us to forgive one another; not seven times, but seventy times seven times (Matthew 18:22). It is through forgiveness that we too are forgiven and find peace with God and one another. Lastly, when we repent our sins, the Lord is faithful to forgives us and remembers them no more.

PRAYER

Shout with joy to the Lord all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we are His. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name, for the Lord is good. His unfailing love endures forever and His faithfulness endures to all generations. Thank You Lord for Your love and mercy upon our lives. Thank You for this far that You brought us and the far that You are taking us. Thank You for the good plans that You have for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. No weapon fashioned against us shall prosper and no accusation raised against us in judgment shall prevail because Your blood Jesus speaks better things than the blood of Abel. Thank You Jesus for giving us victory through Your death and resurrection. Have mercy on us, our families and nation, forgive us our sins and remember them no more. Grant us the grace to forgive all those who offend us and forgive our trespasses too; merciful Father. Only You Lord are able to keep us from stumbling, renew our minds and purify our hearts with Your precious blood that we may follow You wholeheartedly. Sanctify us daily Holy Spirit and lead us in the light of Your word. Fill us with Your gifts and fruit that we may be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth according to Your divine will. We raise Your altar of mercy and grace in our homes, work places and nation, through prayer and praise Lord, cover us with Your precious blood and hedge of fire. Bless us indeed Lord and expand our territories for Your love for us is everlasting. Oh God of all creation, bless this our land and nation, justice be our shield and defender. May we dwell in unity, peace and liberty plenty be found within our borders. Amen

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.”

INSIGHT

-Sanctification means being separated from sin. It is the will of God that we should remain holy as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 reveals to us that, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” It is clear that Jesus Christ has already sanctified and justified us through His death and resurrection. Since He died once for our sins and was raised from the dead, He cannot die again. We have been separated from sin and united to God through His death and resurrection, and should flee from all sin since we are no longer slaves to sin but possessors of righteousness through Him. If we have been baptized into a death like His and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, we possess the power of His resurrection, since the Spirit Who raised Him from the death dwells in us. It is thus the will of God that we endure temptations for he who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous, but he who sins is of the devil for the devil has sinned from the beginning (1 John 3:7-8). If then, we have been united together in the likeness of His death, we will live together with Christ forever.

PRAYER

Mark 10:17-22

“Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

INSIGHT

-Through the parable of the rich young ruler, Jesus teaches the message of love. Having summarized the law to love, He demonstrated how we should apply love in our lives and that of others. Jesus discloses in John 14:21 that, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” If we love God, we should keep His commandments and if we love our neighbor’s, we should show kindness, compassion and generosity to them. Love is the judgment criteria as revealed in Matthew 25:31, John 3:16, among other scriptures. The rich young ruler had kept the law but was still required to give to the poor. 1 John 3:16-17 reveals that, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” We are called to demonstrate the love of God by keeping His commandments, giving to the poor, visiting the sick and prisoners, and many other ways that God has instructed us.

PRAYER

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good and His love endures forever. Save us God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name, and glory in Your praise. We love You God because You loved us first, teach us how to love You and our neighbors according to Your will. Grant us the wisdom to follow Your commandments and seek first Your kingdom and righteousness, and all other things You will add unto us. You have said in Your word Lord that, those who freely scatter their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor. Fill our hearts with compassion and generosity Holy Spirit, so that we may always offer help to the poor and needy as You direct us. By Your stripes Jesus we were healed, heal all those who are sick and suffering. Remember all the street children and families that You may be their ever present help in times of need. Be with all those who are in prison that You may transform them and deliver them from all forms of oppression. Deliver also all drug addicts, commercial sex workers, and all those who have been chained in evil thoughts and behavior, and cover them with Your precious blood. Bless our nation and leaders Lord, and deliver us from all forms of idolatry and witchcraft. Be with our churches that many will know You, be transformed and follow You. We submit our thoughts, hearts desires, prayers and supplication unto You Jesus, heal us and answer us according to Your holy will, we humbly implore You. You are our good Shepherd Jesus, grant each one of us the grace to take up our cross and follow You. All blessings, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power and might belong to You Lord our God, forever and ever. Amen

Hebrews 12:1-2

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

INSIGHT

-We are called to flee from sin that so easily ensnares us for we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. According to the scriptures, witnesses include:- Jesus Christ our Faithful witness (Revelation 1:5), the Holy Spirit and other brethren (Acts 5:32) and others in the heavenly realm who include angels, saints, the twenty four elders, etc. Let us then run the race of endurance and finish faithfully, keep the faith and fight the good fight. Also, to endure we remain sober and vigilant, pray day and night in the spirit, give thanks to God always, worship in spirit and truth and hold fast our faith in God.

SUMMARY

As Christians, we are called to walk in holiness for God Himself is Holy, and we have been created in His image and likeness. So why should we flee from sin and walk in righteousness ? Because; God has not called us to uncleanliness but in holiness. Secondly, fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers and extortioners will not inherit the kingdom of God. Thirdly, God has called us to submit to Him, resist the devil and he will flee from us. To draw near to God and He will draw near to us. Fourthly, there is a great cloud of witnesses watching us and we are not on our own. We should thus flee from sin which so easily ensnares us and look to Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith. Also, the grace of God does not give us the power to sin but to deny all sin and walk in the newness of life. Last but not least, Jesus is coming soon; at a time or hour that no one knows, and should find us ready. Let us therefore remain awake like the wise virgins who carried extra oil just incase their lamps went out. Let us be ready always seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness through love. Let us love God by following His commandments and show compassion and generosity to the poor and needy. Let us also forgive one another seventy times seven times and the Lord will forgive our trespasses too. Jesus has bestowed unto us His grace that teaches us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11-14). Since we have been justified and sanctified through the washing with the blood of Jesus, baptized into His death and have the hope of living with Him forever.

PRAYER

We give thanks to You Lord our God Almighty, Who is, Who was and Who is to come. Jesus You are the same yesterday, today and forever, You never change, help us to remain faithful to You as You are Faithful to us. Prepare us Jesus for Your second coming and help us to be ready always. Grant us the grace Jesus to flee from sin with endurance, fight the good fight, be steadfast in faith, run the race and finish our course. Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory; forever and ever. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen