Sermon Part 5: Deploy the “Sin Killer” and Thrive in the Work of the Ministry!
Introduction
Good morning Saints, thus far, we have examined two of three major weights Satan, seeks to use to set born-again Christians back from participating in the Great Commission. These weights work to erode and dismantle born-again Christians' confidence in God working through them to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and do miracles. Again, confidence is the key ingredient needed in working miracles. (Heb.10:35)
Please take a moment and ask yourself whether you have confidence in God working through you to do miracles? If not, why not? Could it be that your lack of confidence is due to this third and final weight we will examine today: "Feelings of Unworthiness."
#3 Feelings of Unworthiness Erode Born-Again Christians' Confidence in God Working Miracles Through Them.
The Apostle Paul wrote that we are Ambassadors for Jesus Christ, and that God makes His appeal to Mankind through us in hopes that all persons would be reconciled to Him. (II Cor. 5:20) Yet, I would venture to say that the vast majority of born-again Christians do not think of themselves, as Ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, strategically placed and planted in parts of America, and around the world, to:
- Proclaim salvation to every person through the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12)
- Perform the works of Christ and greater works. (miracles, signs, and wonders) ( John 14:12)
- Prepare converts for discipleship and lead them into perfection in Christ Jesus (spiritual maturity) (Matt. 28:19)
Oh yes, Saints of Exousia Ministries and its partners, God has placed us here together in fellowship, not by coincidence. Rather, it is by divine assignment, as God has made numerous appointments for us in 2023 and beyond, to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ and His supernatural good-works to people in Maryland, the nation, and the world. Yes, God has authorized and empowered you to win the lost to Christ, to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out devils, and do many other miraculous works never seen or heard of before.
However, many Christians shoulder the weight of “feelings of unworthiness” to serve as Christ’s Ambassadors. They suffer from “low godly esteem,” and elect to disqualify themselves from Service with “faithless” confessions about their Christian walk.
For example, many Christians routinely say things about themselves like this: “I am not holy.” “I’m no Saint.” “I'm just a sinner saved by grace.” “I'm trying to make heaven my home.” “I'm not perfect.” “I'm only human.” “I'm not what I want to be, but I'm not what I use to be.” On and on with negative confessions they go. In fact, many Christians are so trapped in feelings of unworthiness, that they cannot even greet fellow Christians by saying, “Praise the Lord.” Instead, they opt for greetings, such as “hello,” “hi,” or “hey.” The thoughts and words expressed from our mouths, determine the course our lives will travel. (Prov.18:21 & 23:7) We must be mindful of what we say. If you think “you are sinner” saved by grace, then you are as you say, “still a sinner.” But praise God, you are saved, so say about yourself—you are “Saved!”
Tell me, why can’t born-again Christians just believe, say, and live by every Word of God? (Luke 4:4) The Bible says as Jesus Christ is, so are we in this world—as Jesus is seated at the right hand of the throne of God the Father so are we on earth—we are kings, lords, and priests of God! (I John 4:17) Why is it so hard for Christians to believe and say, “I am just like Jesus—I am identical to Jesus Christ?”
In fact, it is rare to find a born-again Christian who is willing to believe and say out loud—that “God, through Jesus Christ, has made them equal with Himself.” (Rom. 8:17 & Phil.2:5-7) If as Christians we are unwilling to embrace who we are in Christ, then we will never truly believe in, nor perform, the miracles Jesus performed and the greater works we are predestined to do. (John 14:12)
Most Christians do not believe they are identical to Christ because they base their holiness on their personal behavior and performance. Thus, when it comes to doing the work of the ministry; like healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out devils—they think and say things like, “I’m not anointed and have no power to do miracles.” “Praying for the sick is not my thing.” “I am not Jesus Christ or an Apostle.” “Only Pastors and Church leaders can pray for healing of the sick.” Or, “I’m not even sure I believe in miracles!”
Look at the trick of the enemy. Jesus Christ commanded that all believers in Him go and preach the gospel, and that signs and wonders would follow afterwards. (Mark 16:15-20 & Acts 1:8) Yet, the average Christian in response to the Great Commission, in effect says, “Lord, I’m not worthy to do what you have called me to do.” I call it the “Moses Syndrome”—as at first, Moses made excuses to God for why he was not qualified to deliver the children of Israel out from the bondage of Egypt. (Exod. 3:10-14, 4:10-17)
But, the candid truth why many Christians have “feelings of unworthiness” to participate in the Great Commission, is because they continue to dibble, dabble, dribble, and even abide in secret Sin. Please, once again, let us examine Hebrews 12:1, it reads:
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
The principal device Satan uses to induce feelings of unworthiness, is to tempt born-again Christians with sin. Not just any sin, but "The Sin" Christians have chosen to hold onto, hide, and commit over and over until it turns into iniquity.
Notice that the writer of the Book of Hebrews does not tell us to lay aside the "sins." Rather, we are to lay aside, "The Sin." Meaning the habitual practice of the same sin. Just as weights Christians carry, “The Sin,” can easily set us back from running our race to be like Jesus Christ and do His works.
When born-again Christians commit sin, Satan takes the opportunity to attack us in our thought-life (brain) with accusations of being ungodly and unworthy of having a relationship with God. (Rev.12:10) For every sin committed, Satan can’t wait to tempt you with feelings of blame, shame, and condemnation. His goal is to bring the heaviness of guilt on you; such that you feel afraid and runaway from God, just as Adam and Eve fled in the Garden of Eden after committing sin. (Gen.3:8)
Moreover, Satan wants you to “go to bed” with “The Sin.” He wants you to hide and cover up sin because it stops the flow of prosperity in your life—physical, financial, and spiritual growth with God. (Prov. 28:13) With secret sin in your life, you cannot push forward and run your race effectively in Christ, as sin makes you self-conscious of The Sin. When you are reminded of sin in your life, it erodes your confidence in doing the work of the Ministry.
You see, when the opportunity comes for you to preach the gospel and win a soul to the Lord, or pray for the sick to be healed, Satan will be right there reminding you of your poor past performance. Saying to you, what right do you have to tell a sinner about salvation, when you are sinning yourself? And, “What makes you think God’s listening to your prayer for a miracle when you just sinned last night? “The Sin,” in your life makes you “feel unworthy,” and Satan steals your confidence in God working through you to do miracles. Thus, rendering you fruitless before God. (John 15:5)
Let’s be even clearer here. Every born-again Christian, (including you and me) has a—“The Sin"—in their lives that must be overcome. Yes, I said you have a “The Sin!” We know this is so, because the writer of Hebrews says, “let us lay aside” The Sin. You can’t lay aside anything that you have not come in direct contact with. At one time, or another, in our Christian walk, we all have been confronted with “The Sin,” yielded to “The Sin,” and you can be certain that Satan will try again in the future to tempt you with “The Sin!”
“The Sin” is an area of your behavior (thought-life, imaginations within the brain) where the residue of sin remains from your past, called a "stronghold." The Sin is an evil thing you use to indulge in when you were a sinner in the world, and after you got born-again, you either continued to practice The Sin, or discontinued it for a while, and then picked The Sin back up.
The Sin, the stronghold, must be stripped off and taken away for it will only spread like a cancer! It must be killed and done away with. (II Cor.10:5) Like weights, “The Sin” has no power over the born-again Christian. The Sin is not holding on to you, rather you are holding on to it. (Rom. 6:11-14, I Cor. 6:12 & I Cor. 10:13)
Now that we are in Christ, there is no sin we commit that warrants guilt or shame. The Bible tells us so. We must understand, that in Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation (guilt, shame or judgement for sin). For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made us from all sin and death. (Rom 8:1-3)
We have already been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, and made kings and priests unto Him. (Rev.1:5) We have a New Covenant of forgiveness of sins and iniquities, in which God remembers our sins no more, as well as an inheritance of forgiveness! (Heb.10:16-17 & Eph. 1:7) Therefore, we are slaves unto righteousness, and not unrighteousness. (Rom. 6:11-18) God has given you the power to beat-up “The Sin” in your life so bad—that it regrets the day it ever attacked you! If you should sin, know that any guilt, shame, or unworthiness felt are just thoughts from the devil, and not from God! Then, take action to deploy, what I call “The Sin Killer!” (More on this in a moment.) Every time you successfully lay aside The Sin—the stronghold in your life, God rewards you multiple times in favor with life and peace, and the miracle working power of God is free to flow through you! (II Cor.10:5 & II Tim. 2:19)
Deploying the “Sin Killer” Destroys Feelings of Unworthiness to do the Work of the Ministry
As born-again Christians, we must come to the place where we refuse to tolerate sin in our lives. We are dead to sin, and thus, it’s a complete waste of time to engage in the practice of sin. (Rom. 6:11 & Col. 3:3) God has given to us “The Sin Killer,” so we can walk free of the bondage of sin, and run our Christian race to be like Jesus Christ with great grace, faith, and patients. See Galatians 5:16 as follows:
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Wow! Glory be to God! The Apostle Paul says as we walk (practice living) in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh (a carnal mindset contrary to God and His Word resulting in the commission of sin). In living the Christian life, we look to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. (Heb.12:3) Jesus Christ said that His words are “Spirit and they are life.” (John 6:63) Therefore, if we practice doing what Jesus Christ commanded and taught—we are walking in the Spirit—and, as we walk in the Spirit, the Spirit kills the practice of sin in our lives.
I believe one of the greatest illustrations in the Bible of how we lay aside “The Sin” in our lives, along with the feelings of unworthiness, is given to us in the story of the encounter between Jesus Christ and Peter after the Lord had risen from the dead. (See John 21:14-17). This was the third-time Jesus had shown Himself to the disciples after His resurrection.
After they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Peter directly, three-times, if he loved Him. The first time Jesus asked Peter if he loved Jesus more than the other disciples loved Him. Each time Peter replied that he did, and with each response, Jesus instructed Peter to feed His sheep. In their conversation, Jesus never mentioned Peter’s denials and disowning of the Lord during His passion, as He had predicted Peter (as well as the other disciples) would do. (Matt. 26:31-35)
Nevertheless, Peter’s actions had to have haunted his thought-life/conscious during the Lord’s passion, and even after His resurrection. During Jesus’ Ministry, he had warned Peter that Satan desired to own and sift him like wheat. (Luke 22:31) Recall that after Peter denied Jesus the third-time, he wept bitterly and uncontrollably—Jesus apprehended by the militia of the High Priest looked on Peter as He passed by. (Matt. 26:69-75) It was Peter, even more than the other disciples, who had been adamant that he would never betray the Lord, and even swore he was ready to go to prison and even die with Jesus. (Luke 22:33)
So, at the breakfast meeting with Peter, I believe Jesus’ inquiry of Peter’s love for Him, was intended to restore and strengthen Peter by giving to him a powerful tool for laying aside “The Sin” in his life. Jesus was giving to Peter “The Sin Killer” that would enable him to move forward with the plan of God for his life—to become an Apostle, first preacher of the gospel, founding member of the Church of Jesus Christ, missionary, miracle worker, soul winner of thousands, the first bishop, and sufferer for Christ’s name sake. Peter the rock on whom Jesus Christ would build His Church, and the gates of hell would not prevail! (Matt. 16:18)
I believe Jesus wanted Peter to recognize for himself that the “depths of his love for Jesus” was exceedingly superior to his betrayal of the Lord. That even though he had failed and fallen in denying and disowning the Lord, that Christ’s triumph over the cross and death was an act of love for Peter that he could place his faith in. The Lord was teaching Peter that no matter the sin committed, Jesus loved Him, and that Peter was free without restraints to love Jesus. For love covers a multitude of sins. (I Peter 4:8) As such, Peter could lay aside “The Sin” and move forward into his calling—to feed the Lord’s sheep—to serve as one of the Lord’s Shepherds.
In running the Christian race, Jesus Christ wants every born-again Christian to deploy “The Sin Killer” to lay aside “The Sin” in their lives. We can do this by asking ourselves the same question, Jesus asked of Peter:
DO YOU LOVE JESUS MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE DOES?
You see in my heart, there is no person who loves Jesus Christ more than me. This is not a competition among us, rather because I believe in Jesus, and He is my Savior and Lord, God has “apprehended my heart” (spirit, soul, and mind of the soul). God, who is Love abides in me, and the love of, and for, Jesus Christ is beyond human knowledge and understanding. (I John 4:15 & Eph. 3:18-19) In my heart, it’s not possible for anyone else to love Jesus more than me—because my love for Jesus is beyond human comprehension!
For the same reason, if you search your heart right now, you will find that there is no one who loves Jesus Christ more than you. This knowing of your love for Christ, purifies your conscious and all your thoughts of “The Sin!” As you focus on how much you love Jesus, you are walking in the Spirit, and the Holy Ghost takes control and keeps you from fulfilling the lust of the flesh—“The Sin.” The power of the love of God, spoken from your heart, literally kills and destroys the commission and future desire to commit “The Sin” you use to yield to and practice. Glory be to God!
The love of Christ takes your focus completely off “The Sin” and onto Jesus (the Person) who died for your sins and rose again, whose blood washed away your sins, and forgave all your sins. Begin practicing walking in the Spirit now. Say out-loud and from the depths of your heart:
“I LOVE YOU JESUS MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE DOES, AND MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD!”
When your thoughts are centered on your love for Jesus, observe that there are no thoughts or feelings of unworthiness, guilt, or shame for past sinful behavior and performance. Rather, there is only Christ’s response, telling you how much He loves you, and commandment to go and participate in the Great Commission—preach the gospel, work miracles, and make disciples.
Closing Thoughts
From this day forward, let us walk in the Spirit—the Words of Jesus Christ. We love Jesus Christ because He first loved us. (I John 4:19) Expressing our love for Jesus Christ more than any other person, and anything in life, should become a holy anthem for every born-again Christian. Our love for Jesus Christ is “The Sin Killer” that enables us to lay aside The Sin. And, because we love Jesus, we must also love every person and move quickly to forgive “The Sin” in their lives, as the Lord forgave ours. Remember I Peter 4:8, which says:
Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].
When we are free of “The Sin” we always win. Now, God can freely channel his love and power through us as vessels of honor to do miracles. (II Tim. 2:19-20). There is no sin we have committed in the past, present, or future that should make us feel “unworthy, guilty, or ashamed” of our vocation in Christ, as His Ambassadors. We now have “The Sin Killer”—our unfeigned love for Jesus Christ—as a weapon to tear down any stronghold or weight that seeks to set us back from running this Christian race to become more like Jesus.
Amen for the preaching of the Word, receive it gladly and with meekness of heart.
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