28 Sep The Restraining Work Of God
Pastor Vincent - 17 October 2013
Beware Of The Influence Of Sin
Man often understand sin loosely. To many, sin is committing adultery, telling lies, taking drugs, murdering and more.. But sin is more than just the action of committing the wrong doings, it is the spiritual problem inside man that slowly creeps into us, without us knowing, that drives us away from the truth of God. It takes away our wanting to approach God fearlessly and stripping away our desire to come to Him. Sin is Satan's strongest weapon against evangelism. Because the moment you separate from the love of God, you lose the conviction in testifying for God. As a result, the world attracts you for it fulfills the desires inside you; the word gives you pressure and make you feel accused, for you know the truth but you cannot do it. Slowly, we are captured by fear than love. One day, we even lose the ability to love self and others. In fact, the most frightening thing in this world is not sinning but the unconsciousness of sins. It is through regeneration in Christ (born again) that one comes to realize the depth of our sins and the immense power of the finished work on the cross. If you want to overcome sin, you have to become a new person, born again in Christ. With a new life, there will be birth of new desire - and that is to seek God always and pursue Holy Living. Come to Lord and tell Him about your sins. Taste the sweetness of repentance today and leave Satan with no room in your heart to accuse you and toy your emotions. For Satan drives you away from God using the sins, God is still loving you and waiting for you to return, just like the prodigal son. Those forgiven much, love much. A person who has tasted the immense depth of God's love will hate sins and yearn to be in sync with God and testify for Him.
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God restrains us because of LOVE
We cannot have absolute freedom because of:
(1) Our fallenness ⟹ Self-destruct, and will never choose God.
(2) Our Weakness due to existing sinful nature ⟹ Helpless in doing good.
(Martin Luther – Christians are justified and yet a sinner at the same time).
Yet, do we embrace this “restrained freedom” in our lives?
Verses to Read:<Eph 4:26-27, 31-32>
God “gave them over” = The doctrine of Reprobation
The restraint by God in 4 ways
1) God restrains cosmic events
2) God restrains Satanic activity
3) God restrains sinners
4) God restrains His children (out of His eternal love for them)
<1 Sam 25:38-39>. About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died. When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise be to the Lord, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal’s wrongdoing down on his own head.”
Restrained, so as to be great instruments of God
1) Know that our greatest enemy is within us (i.e. our sinful nature).
2) Embraces God’s restraining work.
* <Ps 23:3>: He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
3) Through continual confirmation of God’s Word
* <Rn 12: 2>: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
How about deep wounds and grievances?
God restrains us so that HE will not have to keep restraining us indefinitely.
* “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” <Jn 15:15>.
* “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” <Jn 15:7>.
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