
by Pastor Tim Burt
Shhh! Don't tell but people keep secrets. Some of them are secret sins. Let me state the obvious. People hide sins hoping that no one will find out. Sin can hide for a while but it eventually becomes discovered as revealed in Numbers 32:23 “…you may be sure that your sin will find you out.”

Does God hate sin? Yes enough to send Jesus to die for them. Why does He? Because sin hurts the sinner and always negatively impacts others! Always! But... God does not hate you or me! God is merciful, patience and kind. For good reasons better known to Him than understood by us, He wants to help us make the changes that we already know we should make. He wants us to especially change the hidden things that most hurt ourselves and others. And again, get this whether you fully agree with it or not—wrong thoughts and actions never hurt just you. They always find a way to touch someone else's life. So, out of God’s love for you and for others, He keeps talking to us if we will listen) about those changes.
The Apostle Paul understood change could not be accomplished through man’s will power. The power of sin is stronger than our will power. Paul, like you and I, learned that the hard way. He said, “I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong… When I want to do good, I don't. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway… Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin… For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 7:15 – 8:2 TLB)
Paul continues to reveal that power within us. Romans 8:3-9 “… But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent His own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful.

God destroyed sin's control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins…Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.)
Prior to giving my life to Jesus, I thought addiction ran in my genes. I was even told that! I believed I had no control over it. I guess in a way, it became a convenient excuse. Then I learned what Jesus did for me and that sin had no more power over me. What a wake up call that truth was! I applied my faith to that truth. When tempted I’d say out loud, “Satan, the power of the life-giving Spirit of God has freed me from the power of sin leading to death. You have no more power over me. I am free. I am no longer your slave. I am who God says I am – His child empowered by His Spirit. I rebuke this temptation in Jesus name.” I had to say these things out loud to overcome the pesky lying thoughts that were continuously running through my head saying otherwise. Over time my thinking changed and my mind was renewed to the truth of God's word. Sinful patterns in my life were eliminated one by one and I finally saw godly character forming in me. What a wonderful day that was!
There is power to change. It is Supernatural Power to Change. It is the power of the Holy Spirit within every believer of Jesus Christ.

Romans 8: 2 “For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.”
In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt
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If Fresh Manna is a blessing to you, let me know how. I’d love to hear from you! Write me at FreshMannaFeedback@comcast.net

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2016 All rights reserved
http://todaysfreshmanna.wordpress.com/
If Fresh Manna is a blessing to you, let me know how. I’d love to hear from you! Write me at FreshMannaFeedback@comcast.net

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2016 All rights reserved
http://todaysfreshmanna.wordpress.com/