Written by Michael J. Martinez
Guiding Light Praying Ministry.
www.glprayingministry.com

?For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me? Rom.7:11. ?Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful? Rom. 7:13.

Everything that is of this world and against what the gospel speaks of, the truth, will Kill (deceive) an unbeliever who thinks he is saved and kill (hinder) the prayer life of a Christian. Why do many proclaim they are born again Christians or for that matter a Christian but do not apply the word of God to their life? Their life in return never shows a life evident of the Holy Spirit living in them, or fruit from having a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees that the outward of their life was like white washed tombs, yet their inward life was as dead bones in the grave because they only wanted to appear holy, but sin. Jesus said, ?Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men?s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness? Matt.23:27-28.?Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also? Matt.23:26.

I say this in contrast to people proclaiming they are Christians when out of their mouth spew evil (because of an evil heart and mind) and the outward never shows the fruit of Jesus Christ working in their life. If you are proclaiming this and you are praying, you are deceiving no one but yourself. You are only putting your life in jeopardy by being separated from Christ Jesus. ?For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord? Rom.6:23. The wages of sin is death, the death that is after your life here, the death that is torment, the eternal death in hell.

Sin destroys even the Christian who is not watching out, because there is one who waits for the Christian to stray away and like a weak animal he attacks. He attacks because we have become weak in our faith and stray into darkness. If you are pretending and only outwardly playing the part of a Christian but not really living it then your life will surely show it. The scribes and Pharisees knew scripture inside and out, dressed the part, prayed real loud for attention, made sure the congregation seen them tithe to the church. However, God said that they have already gotten their reward; they will not receive any reward in heaven because of their hypocrisy and probably never make it to heaven. Their sin separated them from Christ and held them back from receiving salvation. Rather they were deceived by the devil to think they where saved and their prayers where not heard by God.

?Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me? (John 14:1).

Jesus used this to show His deity and His being equal to the Father. He also used it because many, then, and even today can say ?Thank God? or ?God bless you? and many other phrases using God in it.

Nevertheless, can they use the name of Jesus in place of their phrases? In a conversation, you can talk Christianity and use the word ?God?, but in that same conversation if you start using the name of Jesus Christ things suddenly get weird. The name of Jesus would be a cause to stumble, Peter answered Jesus ?Even if all are made to stumble because of you?? (Matt.26:33). Jesus spoke to two of John the Baptist? disciples saying ?And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me? (Matt.11:6).

Today even Christians are not safe from the onslaught of the devil if they are not doing as a Christian should, and a Christian should be more alert and aware of this serious situation. Of course, a non-believer will not understand this because their life is pleasing to the devil and the devil has no need to attack them so long as they are doing his will. Sin will always be compromised and rationalized in their mind and usually is not a big deal to them, but God says what they are doing is sin.

It seems as if the world is more into the evil things and scary things than the goodness of Jesus Christ. They search for lost loved ones, pray to the dead, make scary movies, and so on. The world believes in demon possessions but cannot believe in the Holy Spirit possessing your body. It is not as real to them and is foolishness but they can believe more in the evil things of the world and seek after them.

Believe also in Me, Jesus says; when He talked to His Apostles. He also said that if He does not go the helper would not come ?Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you? (John 16:7).

In addition, we learn from scripture in John 14:26 who the Helper is ?But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.?
We are not possessed, but filled with the Holy Spirit. We are not forced to accept the Holy Spirit but willingly ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit to live within us, and dwell with us. John the Baptist said in Mark 1 verse 8 that the Lord will baptize us with the Holy Spirit. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit in Luke 4 verse 1 as the Spirit lead Him into the wilderness to be tempted, and also to help Him. Luke 11 verse 3 says to ask the Father for Holy Spirit.

We have the Holy Spirit in us to help us, to guide us, to teach us, to seal us for the coming of Christ Jesus and to protect us from our own sinful ways. ?But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;? (Acts1:8). We will have the power to overcome what opposes us, not by our power or understanding but by God revealing it through the Holy Spirit.

So in this crazy mixed up world where sin abounds, do you want the power of Jesus to help you? Do you want to trust in yourself with sinful wicked ways to guide you? Do you want the evil of this world to control you and force you through life? And if not, do you want the evil to tempt your sinful nature and lie to you, pretend to you, talk with you through your thoughts, work on you through others, and ultimately lead you astray into a dark hole of misery?

If I heard it, like that, I would say ?No?, I do not want that in my life, but sometimes life does not seem that bad, until it finally hits you. See, as long as you are doing what desires the devil has for you then he has no need to bug you.

So consider your ways and consider what judgment is. We are all guilty of sin, and need a savior, or we will face a righteous judge at the end. It is only through Jesus the messiah, that we can have forgiveness and escape the judgment. Do not wait, and listen to the world, which tells you different, come now, just as you are, with all the dirtiness that is on you and let Jesus wash you and purify you and start the sanctification process for you.

May God Bless you and give you of His peace, Amen.

Copyright? 2004-2005 GLPM ? All Rights Reserved ? Michael J. Martinez 10/13/05

Copyright ? by Access Christian All Right Reserved.

Published on: 11/08/2005

Copyright © by Access Christian All Right Reserved.

Published on: 2005-11-08 (2228 reads)