This week at our church my husband kicked off a new teaching series entitled "God is Bigger". You can listen to his messages by clicking here. As the staff and worship leadership designed the service, it all flowed perfectly as he presented the Bible story of the son who rejected The Father and squandered his gift in selfish living. We learned that guilt, hitting rock bottom, and conviction are a blessing from God to bring us home. We learned God is bigger than our sin. We learned that God would meet us with mercy and grace if we would repent, confess, and step out in faith.
Many hundreds took that step. The work of the gospel miracle brought glory to God. Lives were changed, including mine. But I have not been able to get a passage of scripture out of my mind that my friend Susanna shared with our worship team as we prepared musically and spiritually for this series. She read to us from Romans 6. It has been many years since I got up out of my pig sty and came home to God. But I still let sin separate me from the intimate life with God that Jesus bought for me. I still sometimes believe the lies my enemy tells me about my past. I still sometimes walk like a victim who has no power to live supernaturally righteous. The verse that the Spirit is ministering to me with is Romans 6:11, " Likewise, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus."
That's the key...I'm alive to God in Christ. The part of me that God was displeased with was absorbed into Christ and covered forever. I'm not guilty anymore. But even more, I'm dead to sin. I have the power to live above my own abilities. I've been practicing claiming this verse out loud this week. Letting my emotions rule me? I'm dead to that. Thinking about giving in to that habitual sin? I'm dead to that. Acting foolish by believing a lie? I'm dead to that. Focusing on and indulging my pride or selfish nature? I'm dead to that! And if you are in Christ, so are you! Dead. To. That. Alive. To. God. You can be clean, free, holy, and useful to God.
If you would like to know how you can experience the life changing mercy and grace God offers through Jesus, please comment on this post and I would be honored to contact you and walk you through that decision. I have encouraging and helpful resources I can give you to help you along the path. Please don't push this off. Come home...
Sunday, Susanna Kirksey, who had shared the scripture with us earlier, sang a precious and prophetic word over our people. The song is straight out of scripture. She proclaimed the truth that we can be a new creation, through Jesus. Not guilty, through Jesus. Please listen to it and let the message of love, hope, and redemption wash over you and give you the courage to get free. No one, not even Jesus condemns you. Just come to Him. He loves you. I look forward to hearing from you. (Comment below or message me via facebook or twitter)
Lori, thanks for this post & for your invitation! Yes! There IS LIFE IN CHRIST!! :~) And, thanks for posting Susanna's song!
Posted by: Carrie Adams :~) | 08/21/2012 at 09:26 AM