At times you may be wondering if it’s even possible to have true freedom and victory in your daily life. Maybe it seems that no matter what you do, that sneaky sin which routinely trips you up is always looming nearby. Maybe you feel like you’re on a hamster wheel; sinning, repenting, and repeating. Maybe you feel hopeless, stuck in this never-ending cycle.
I know that feeling. For years that’s how I lived. Whether it was my secret battle with lust and self gratification or not granting forgiveness to those who’d hurt me, I couldn’t figure out how to have true victory. Until, that is, I found out who I really am.
The secret to my daily victory and freedom was found in my identity in Christ. And that’s where you’ll find yours too. Knowing who I was helped me choose the right actions. You see, what you believe about yourself precedes the actions you choose to take.
If I think that I’m still in bondage to sin, I’ll never have victory. If I think I’m not strong enough to win against my temptations, then that is exactly how I will live. In fact, if this is my pattern of thinking, there will be times when I’ll knowingly and willingly choose to sin because it feels like it is simply inevitable, like there’s just no way around it. This is the way I used to live.
But is that the truth for the Christian?
Is sinning really inevitable?
I’d be so bold as to say that sinning is not inevitable.
We don’t have to sin.
Once we are in Christ, there is nothing compelling us to sin any longer. In fact, the Word tells us that “the love of Christ compels us.” Just go read the book of Romans (it’s only 16 chapters!), and you’ll see that you are…
Dead to sin……………………………………………………………………………..……………..Romans 6:1-5
Alive to God………………………………………………………………………………..…………Romans 6:10
Not a slave to sin any more……………………………………..……………………Romans 6:14
A servant of the one you obey……………….……….………….………….….Romans 6:16
Not under condemnation……………………………………………….…………..Romans 8:1
Free from the law of sin & death………………………………………………Romans 8:2
Full of life and the Spirit…………………………………………………………………Romans 8:9-14
And that’s just a few of the truths about who you are because of Jesus! If you want more on this topic, stay tuned, in the coming weeks I’ll be sharing a whole blog series about identity in Christ. You can also download my three day identity devotional by signing up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/ib8EqL
Maybe you feel like all of this is still out of your reach? That’s a normal feeling to have, which is why knowing the second thing I’m going to share with you is so very important. Even if you “know” the above truths, you can’t change how you live without the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13-14 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
The Holy Spirit seals us at salvation. He’s the “down-payment” of our eternal life in heaven. But, we are called to be more than sealed by Him, we are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18 “And do not be drunk with wine, which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.”
We can be saved, but walking around “empty.” Just as when you are filled with alcohol, you are drunk, and your behavior is altered; as believers, we are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit and act accordingly. The Holy Spirit is a person, and He is the one who empowers us to obey Jesus.
But what does ‘dissipation’ mean? It means to be “reckless, wasteful, excessive.” God does not want us to behave recklessly with alcohol or any other substance. This verse is about who and what you’re submitting to.
You can’t expect to “submit” to alcohol, weed, or another substance, and also submit to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to fill you. You must make a choice about where your allegiances lie.
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” – Matthew 6:24
We must choose whether the point of our lives will be for God or for ourselves.
If we are not submitting to the Holy Spirit, we will continue to struggle with sin. Submitting to the Holy Spirit and knowing who you are in Jesus Christ are the two crucial steps of walking in daily freedom and victory over sin.
Maybe you ‘know’ these things in your mind, but still haven’t experienced them day to day. If this is you, then I encourage you to ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Luke 11:13 says, “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” God is the giver of all good gifts (James 1:17), and the best gift He could ever give us is Himself!
Invite the Holy Spirit into your daily life, He’s not going to barge in on you and change you against your will. He will transform you into the image of Jesus Christ only as you submit to Him day by day.
For more on the Holy Spirit – I recommend reading the book ‘Forgotten God’ by Francis Chan
Sarah Louise 