Message Library

The Consequences of Sin

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The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Matthew 5:28

The consequences of sin can impact both our eternal and worldly lives. Because Christians fight sin and seek forgiveness from Christ, we are forgiven with no eternal consequences. We will look at David’s sin with Bathsheba, and even though God forgave David he experienced many years of difficult worldly consequences.

This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you (2 Samuel 12:11). God told David what would happen in his future as a result of his sin. David’s son Absalom tried to become king forcing David and his men to flee, and later there was war and Absalom was killed against David’s orders. David suffered the loss of his son’s love, as he forced David to flee; David also suffered the death of his son. We should learn from David’s example how our sins can affect others as well as the consequences we may have to endure later in life.

Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me (Psalm 119:133). Satan wants to control us through sinful behavior and his goal is to turn a sinful behavior into an addiction. Almost 21 million Americans have at least one addiction, yet only 10% of them receive treatment” (www.addictioncenter.com). Satan will use anything to pull us away from God, ranging from heartless religion to drugs and alcohol.

Overcoming Satan’s attacks requires prayer in advance in which we ask the Lord to give us victory over our known temptations, and to avoid putting ourselves into situations that contain temptations whenever possible. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4). Through the Holy Spirit we have power over Satan and his demons, but the Spirit only speaks what he hears; therefore, to enable God’s divine power we pray and the Lord responds through the Spirit. It is a blessing when we learn how to use the power the Lord has given us.

Today know that sin can have worldly consequences even if we are forgiven by the Lord. Fight sin and treat it as toxic; treat it as a disease from Satan. Remember, you have the power of God through the Spirit to overcome any temptation from Satan.

Prayer: Lord, help me to hate sin more and more every day, and to know that I have your power to be victorious in Christ. Guide me to surrender my will to your divine will because my will can lead me to sin. It’s only through your power that I can be victorious in Christ. In Jesus name, Amen