Meant to Be

We are meant to live in triumphant victory.  We are not meant to live in chains.  Last week as one of the Little Visits I posted Romans 5:17  For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.  We are meant to be victorious, living in triumph over sin.  

Our Pastor's Sunday sermon was entitled "Broken Chains."  Once again the Lord lined things up to get His message across and into my heart.  Romans 6:5-6  Since we have been united with Him in His death, we will also be raised to life as He was.  We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives.  We are no longer slaves to sin.  

The first thing we need to do in order to live in triumph over sin is to recognize and believe that the chains of our old life have been broken.  We have been set free.  A friend and sister in the Lord and I after church about this sermon and were saying it's as if we are comfortable in our captivity.  The cage door is open, yet we fail to walk out of our prisons.

So I've been thinking, what is it that ties me to my sin?  Since I struggle with food addiction I know the ties that bind are comfort and fulfillment.  I look to food for emotional satisfaction and comfort.  It's there when I'm sad, when I'm mad, when I'm celebrating....food consoles and elates me.  Temporarily. 

What about the sin of anger?  Could it be tied to us through pride, old hurts that we haven't brought to our Father, unforgiveness?  Could gossip be chained to us by low self-esteem, getting our self worth from putting others down rather than in our value to Jesus?  What are the chains that make up your entanglement to the sin in your life?

We need to  figure out where our sin is coming from and bring it to the Lord.  He has set us free.  And in His time, He will heal us from these hurts and habits that bind us to our old selves.  Our job is to say NO to the sins that enslave us.  That is part of the healing process, learning to live in freedom.  It's hard, for sure.  But every time I say no to extra food, I walk in victory.  Every time we say no to acting in anger we triumph over that sin.  And eventually we will find they no longer have power over us at all.  We truly live out Romans 5:17

Romans 6:12-13  Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.  Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin.  Instead, give your selves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life.  So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.  Sin is not longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law.  Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace.  

The Bible talks about this as if it's a done deal.  I think we need to start thinking in that way as well.  This is how our lives are meant to be.  We do have to walk it out day by day, hour by hour...through the power of the Holy Spirit.  But we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).    

Paul tells us in Philippians 2:12-13  Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you.  And now that I am away, it is even more important.  Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.  For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.  Breaking sins chains is already done, but the day to day of walking it out is hard work.   We decide whether to stay out of the cage or to run back to our prisons when it gets tough, hurts or we feel our needs go unmet. 

Lord, thank You.  A million times thank You.  We have been set free.  We can and will have victory.  Help us Lord to put down the broken chains, stop carrying them around with us.  We are free.  Those chains don't belong to us anymore.  Lord, believing this is hard, walking it out hard as well.  Help us.  You have put the desire in us to live in freedom and victory, to live as we were meant to be, bringing glory to Your Name.  Let us walk in Your power, starting right now.  In Jesus' mighty Name, amen.

Exam yourself with the Lord.  What is holding you back?  Bring those things to Him and apply His Word to your heart.