OVERCOMING THE NATURE OF SIN

Matthew 12:43-45 “43When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation”.

Being Delivered through Christ's Salvation

Whenever someone is delivered from bondage (the state of being a slave) or a burden that weights so much on them; they have been made empty (FREE). It’s also symbolic to participating in a race or challenge which you have no idea of its end yet you have to keep going or running hoping to get to the end point soon, all the strength within you are gone yet the end cannot be determined so you keep pursuing till you finally take a sharp curve which brings you to the end of the running and struggling. You will notice that, the moment you stop! You feel a burden lifted or you become empty of strength. This feeling is an example of the salvation of Christ when one receives it.

THE EMPTINESS AT THE END OF A RACE

  Still in Bondage

Many of us are running the race (sin and guilt) of addictions, fortification, stealing, lying, deceit etc. (Galatians 5:19-21,19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.)
Within a short period we find ourselves back in the chains of sin and guilt of which I can relate. They are the most frustrating times of life which even causes some of us to doubt the potency of Christ’s salvation.

BEING LOCKED UP IN SIN

How to overcome the nature of SIN

Looking at the opening scripture from the verse 43- 44 we will notice what happens after we have been delivered from the Chains, therefore it’s expected to fill the empty space with the Holy Spirit. The empty space in our lives is meant for the Holy Spirit to abide and occupy till Christ comes. (Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”) When Christ was taken away from the disciples on the third day, they became empty in their ministry and personal life. Without Christ, they couldn’t do anything, than to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon them before they went about preaching the gospel.
Before we can be totally delivered from Sin, we need to first receive the Holy spirit into our lives then by his power we begin to bear the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23, “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law”.) It’s by the fruits of the spirit that we will be able to overcome the sin of the flesh.

FILLING THE SPACE WITH CHRIST

Total Victory

When the demons of bondage (sin and guilt) returns to occupy in double folds, and comes to meet Self-love, Joy In Christ, Peace Within, Forbearance For Others, Kindness Towards Others, Goodness of character or behavior, Faithfulness In Worship To God, Gentleness Towards Others And Self – Control over Sin and guilt, they (unclean spirit) will disappear because of what is said in; John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”.
To be able to overcome a sinful nature is by allowing the light of Christ to shine in your darkness (John 8:12, “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”) without looking back into it.

TOTAL FREEDOM