Destroy sin before sin sends you to hell fire

Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | June 14, 2023 | Matthew 18:8-11

KEY VERSE:

If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. Matthew 18:8 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

Jesus uses vivid imagery to emphasize the severity of sin and its consequences. He speaks of cutting off body parts as a metaphor for the radical actions required to deal with sin. This highlights the urgency of addressing sin in our lives before it leads to spiritual destruction. Jesus calls us to take personal responsibility for dealing with sin in our lives. He stresses the need for self-discipline and the willingness to make difficult choices to avoid sin. It requires us to be proactive in identifying areas of weakness, seeking God's help, and making intentional efforts to turn away from sin. Dealing with sin involves repentance and seeking God's forgiveness and grace. We cannot overcome sin on our own, we need the transformative power of God's forgiveness and the empowering work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is through God's grace that we are enabled to resist sin and live a life pleasing to Him. Jesus reminds us of the urgency of salvation and the reality of eternal consequences. He emphasizes that it is better to enter life maimed than to face eternal punishment. This highlights the need to prioritize our relationship with God and to deal with sin promptly, seeking reconciliation with Him through Jesus Christ. Dealing with sin requires genuine repentance, which involves acknowledging our sins, turning away from them, and seeking God's forgiveness. It also requires self-discipline to resist temptation and make choices that align with God's will. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to overcome sin and grow in holiness. The passage reminds us of the gravity of sin and its consequences and calls us to take personal responsibility in dealing with sin, seeking God's forgiveness and grace through repentance, and placing our faith in Jesus Christ. It emphasizes the urgency of salvation and the loving nature of God who desires reconciliation with His people. Through repentance, self-discipline, and faith in Jesus, we can escape the eternal consequences of sin and experience the fullness of life in Him.

HANDS AND FEET OF MESSAGE:

The word of God does not hide but confronts us with the seriousness of sin and the eternal consequences it carries. Biblical teaching affirms that sin separates us from God and leads to spiritual death. How strong do you stand in your relationship with God? What are the temptations that are lurking at your door? What small sins are you nurturing alongside your Christian life? Deal with them and kill them before they lead you to hell fire.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I come before You humbly, recognizing my need for Your guidance and strength in my life. Help me to resist temptation and turn away from sinful thoughts, actions, and habits. Lord, empower me with Your Holy Spirit to overcome the entanglements of sin and to walk in righteousness, in Jesus’ name. Amen!

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!