Hey! Hey! Hey! 
Happy New Year to you once again!
I totally enjoyed 2018 and I declare in Jesus’ Name that 2019 will be my best year yet! Don’t you know that the children of God only move from glory to glory?
“But the lovers of God walk on the highway of light, and their way shines brighter and brighter until they bring forth the perfect day.”
Proverbs 4:18 TPT
Eleven days into the year and I’ve gotta say that 2019 rocks! 
I am extremely thankful for what the Lord has done already and I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of the awesomeness that awaits me in the remainder of the year!
So here’s a toast to a dope 2019!
Once upon a time, as a little girl, I used to enjoy watching an action-adventure TV series called Sinbad. How many of you know it or have watched it before? Good for you. Nonetheless, I am not here to talk about that television show; far from it actually.
Today, I would like us to discuss a very sensitive topic that the Body of Christ often beat about the bush concerning it… SIN.
Yes, I said it.
It is all fun and games until we start talking about sin but we have to talk about it; we cannot escape it. I would equate the sin conversation to the dreaded sex-talk with your parents; you never looked forward to it but you knew you had to have it.
Let me reassure you that this is by no means a message of condemnation. God loves you; He really, really does but there needs to be a clear understanding on the power of sin especially to the person who is born again and is a believer of Christ. Sin has power to destroy somebody!
The outlook of Sin in the Old Testament is not the same as the outlook of sin in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, Sin was defined as disobedience to the law:
““But if you refuse to listen to the Lord your God and do not obey all the commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you:”
Deuteronomy 28:15 NLT
The Israelites had The Ten Commandments and a whole load of other laws and rules to abide by; the Biblical books from Exodus all the way to Deuteronomy clearly show us this.
However, you and I are the New Testament church; Jesus came to fulfill the law and we are no longer under the law.
“Sin must not be your master; for you do not live under law but under God’s grace.”
Romans 6:14 GNT
Therefore, Sin to us is not defined by disobedience to the law.
“…. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.”
Philippians 3:9 NLT
So what is sin to a New Testament believer then?
Sin is:
- Acting against God’s instructions.
- Disobeying what God has told us to do, say or think.
‘So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin.’
James 4:17 AMP
Sin is simply disobeying the voice of God. God rejected Saul as Israel’s king because of his disobedience.
“The Lord said to Samuel, “I am sorry that I made Saul king; he has turned away from me and disobeyed my commands.”
1 Samuel 15:10-11 GNT
As long as God has said it; do it!
“……Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…”
1 Samuel 15:22 NKJV
Do not misconstrue sin with natural human weaknesses. I am not talking about the latter; I am referring to the sin committed knowingly AFTER one is born again as elaborated in James 4:17.
https://twitter.com/christfragrance/status/1076748339725635584?s=21
There is a stark difference between grace, sin and righteousness.
Sadly, the message on God’s Grace has been convoluted by some juvenile believers to cover up the evil conduct in the Body of Christ.
“Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.”
Romans 6:15-16 NLT
It is unfortunate that some Christians live such a lifestyle of sin that their conscience has become numb.
“I have told you this many times before, and now I repeat it with tears: there are many whose lives make them enemies of Christ’s death on the cross.”
Philippians 3:18 GNT
The sin happening in the Body of Christ is sickening! Have a look at what happened in the Church of Corinth:
“I also received a report of scandalous sex within your church family, a kind that wouldn’t be tolerated even outside the church: One of your men is sleeping with his stepmother. And you’re so above it all that it doesn’t even faze you! Shouldn’t this break your hearts? Shouldn’t it bring you to your knees in tears? Shouldn’t this person and his conduct be confronted and dealt with?”
1 Corinthians 5:1-2 MSG
You know what? Such heinous acts did not stop with the Church in Corinth; they are still taking place today! Right here! Right now! That is why this message has to be preached with such fervency!
Obeying Satan is not only confined to doing “bad things” like stealing, killing and the like. For example;
“Then the Devil came to him and said, “If you are God’s Son, order these stones to turn into bread.””
Matthew 4:3 GNT
The devil told Jesus to turn the stones into bread -which is not a bad thing in essence- but remember, Satan is never to be obeyed regardless of what he says.
Resist the devil! Do not give Satan a chance!!
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 NLT
The only person whose word we are to follow is God and we can only follow God through the leading of the Holy Spirit and obedience to the Scriptures.
“But as for you, Christ has poured out his Spirit on you. As long as his Spirit remains in you, you do not need anyone to teach you. For his Spirit teaches you about everything, and what he teaches is true, not false. Obey the Spirit’s teaching, then, and remain in union with Christ.”
1 John 2:27 GNT
Train yourself to heed to the still small voice of the Lord.
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.”
Isaiah 30:21 NKJV
What are the consequences of the sin we intentionally commit after getting born again?
First things first, God still remains your Father (by virtue of being born again) BUT such sin gives Satan the right to rule over you. The only time Satan dominates a believer is when they sin; see below:
When one obeys Satan, God does not break His relationship with the person but it is the individual who suffers. Case in point: The Prodigal Son.
“He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!”
Luke 5:16-17
The scripture above shows us how the prodigal son suffered greatly when he became defiant and went about his own ways. He ended up tending to and eating with the pigs. Yes his father loved him immensely and was eagerly awaiting his return but the prodigal son would have starved to death had he not snapped back to his senses!
Dear reader, the consequences of sin are very dire. [Ponder on that]
“Then Jesus began to openly denounce the cities where he had done most of his mighty miracles, because the people failed to turn away from sin and return to God.”
Matthew 11:20 TPT
The parable of the Prodigal Son is a type and shadow of what happens to the children of God whenever they choose a lifestyle of sin.
When God’s children repent and turn away from their errant ways; God restores His fellowship with them.
“God designed us to feel remorse over sin in order to produce repentance that leads to victory. This leaves us with no regrets. But the sorrow of the world works death.”
2 Corinthians 7:10 TPT
Repentance is turning away from obeying Satan and repeating the same cycle of sin.
“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”
Acts 17:30 NIV
The beautiful thing about repentance is this; God always restores. Remember how Samson’s hair grew back when he earnestly prayed to God? This is where Grace comes in.
“But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing.”
1 John 1:9 GNT
Make a sombre decision to obey God.
Obeying God is not about merely avoiding sin; it is living in accordance to His will.
“Repenting from evil places you on the highway of holiness. Protect purity and you protect your life.”
Proverbs 16:17 TPT
We have been called to live a life of holiness, righteousness and purity before God. Take a look at the Scriptures below:
“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”
1 Thessalonians 4:7 NIV“Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—”
1 Thessalonians 4:4 NLT
The Word of God is best spread through your conduct, your lifestyle and how you carry yourself both in private and in public.
Each and every believer is called to preach the Gospel in their own unique way and there’s a Gospel that you can preach without speaking!
“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16 AMPC
“Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.”
Colossians 1:10 NLT
The world has heard so much about Christ but it is now time for non-believers to see the evidence of Christ in YOU!
“Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.”
1 Thessalonians 4:12 NLT
So before doing something, ask yourself whether Christ would approve of it. First of all, was it authored by Him? See, we need to remain on the straight and narrow path. Jesus Christ is coming back sooner than we think. So let’s steer clear of sin and live our lives like true children of God.
“Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.”
1 Thessalonians 4:1 NLT
Does it feel like I’ve come down on you with a sledge-hammer?
Awww, don’t feel condemned. ❤️😘
Some messages are tough and have to be delivered in a stern manner. Okay?
“Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.”
Jude 1:22-23 MSG“….But God corrects us throughout our lives for our own good, giving us an invitation to share his holiness. Now all discipline seems to be more pain than pleasure at the time, yet later it will produce a transformation of character, bringing a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who yield to it.”
Hebrews 12:10-11 TPT
This admonition applies to me too you know… so fret not. Let us continue this year in the ways of the Lord. We have the Gospel to preach and souls to win for Jesus so let’s put our lives in check.
“As for us, we have this large crowd of witnesses around us. So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us.”
Hebrews 12:1 GNT
PS: Here’s a sermon I watched two weeks ago by Pastor Heather Lindsey that I believe will enhance today’s message. Please make a point of watching it. Click here to watch it on YouTube or you could simply watch it below:
If you’re reading this post and are not born again and would like to receive Christ or re-dedicate your life to Him; please repeat this prayer aloud:
Lord Jesus, I heed to your call in my life. I denounce the devil and my evil ways and I choose You to be Lord and Savior in my life. I believe in my heart that You died on the cross to set me free. I believe that You rose again from the dead so that I may have eternal life. I receive the life of Christ in me today. I am saved. I have been set free. I am born again. Thank You Jesus. Hallelujah! In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.
🎉🎊Congratulations!🎉🎊
You’ve joined the #LitFam of salvation! 😉 Now that you’re born again; you have to be intentional about strengthening your walk with God by studying the scriptures and doing what it says.
Let’s chat more via the comments section below.
God loves you so much! ❤️
XO,
That Lady.
#SpreadTheGospel 
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