InsidOut311

We just wrapped up our “Break Free” series.  I realize there was some heavy stuff each week.  We dealt with some deep issues, but y’all took everything well.  

There are times when I go through a lot of scripture and illustrations each week to make sure I really get the point across… but I know that it’s hard to take it all in sometimes.  So I’m posting here the ‘meat & potatoes’ of the last three weeks.

Of course, the main focus of the “Break Free” series was to shine some light on issues in our lives that potentially trap us into living a life away from God, away from good friends and basically leading us into a life of bondage.

Week One, we talked about THE DESIRE TRAP.  It’s an important discussion, because we often put a lot of energy into decision making, based on our desires.  We DESIRE many things – good and bad – and we will often rearrange our thoughts and reprioritize our goals based on our DESIRES.  Obviously, those desires that are based on God’s desires will lead to Godly things.  If you base your life on what He’s telling you, you’ll begin to see Him clearly direct your life and you’ll also begin to see good fruit produced in your life.  

Many of the struggles we have in life are a direct result of a decision we’ve made to follow the wrong desires, even though God perhaps told us to go the other direction.  After a decision is made, the object of our desire potentially leads to idolatry (which is, placing our own desires over desiring God).  It leads to trouble and more bad decision making.  It’s the DESIRE TRAP.

In Romans chapter one, verses 18-25, you see a clear picture of God’s view of when we are controlled by the wrong desires.

I can go on and on with this… but let’s move on to the next point.

The Second Week of the series, we talked about how to BREAK FREE from THE WORD TRAP.  In James 3:2-12, we have several illustrations of the power of the TONGUE.  

The Tongue has the power to GUIDE, the power to DESTROY and the power to GIVE LIFE.  Study the verses (and words) in James 3:2-12 and look at those examples that were used.

Our tongues are so small compared to the damage they can cause.  The words we say have the power to guide, to destroy or to give life.  Often, it’s our words that expose what we’re made of.  Our words expose what’s on the inside of us.

Week Three, we got into some heavy stuff.  Looking at Luke 7:36-50, there within the story of the immoral woman who broke the alabaster jar over the feet of Jesus, we find an illustration of how to BREAK FREE from THE SIN TRAP.

In that example, this woman did three things that allowed her to walk away from that event as a changed woman.

First, she humbled herself.  She bowed low. She acknowledged her need for grace… admitted her need for a Savior.  And Jesus was happy to receive her.

Next, she owned up to her sin and repented.  She knew that she’d be recognized by the locals.  She probably even knew they would openly call her out in front of Jesus and the other guests.  But she wasn’t just sorrowful.  She didn’t just walk up to Jesus and offer an apology for her wrongdoings.  Instead, she showed a heart of repentance.   Her tears of repentance covered the feet of her Savior.  More than showing regret, she desired change.

Then, she worshiped.  She reached out to her Savior and He responded with grace and forgiveness.  Her natural response was worship.  What else was there to do, in response to the loving grace He gave to her?  She worshiped Jesus.  

If we’re going to BREAK FREE from THE SIN TRAP and get out of that same old bondage mess that we’ve been dabbling in for years, we’ve got to make a conscious decision and acknowledge our need for a Savior.  We must humble ourselves before our Savior, confess our sin and repent, and then thank Him with a life of worship.

He deserves it.

Romans 6:12 states:  “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.”  It’s pretty clear.

We gotta make an ‘on purpose’ decision to cut sin out of our lives… and leave it out.

Remember this verse:  Proverbs 26:11… “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.”

Leave the vomit alone.  It’s gross.  ;)