A look at your past life
Exercise:
Read these three portions of the New Testament before you proceed: Gal.5:19-21; Eph.2:1-6; 2.Tim.3:2-5
These passages of the Bible clearly show us that the ordinary life of sinning is not accepted in the kingdom of God. In fact the Bible clearly tells us that people living that way will never inherit the kingdom of God. From Galatians 5 we can make this list of non-acceptable behaviour in the kingdom of God:
fornication,
impurity,
licentiousness,
idolatry,
sorcery,
enmities,
strife,
jealousy,
anger,
quarrels,
dissensions,
factions,
envy,
murder,
drunkenness,
carousing,
and things like these: Fill out yourself:
All these sins come from the sinful nature of men, from our own hearts. Before we came to Christ, we were all trapped in a worldly lifestyle. We were following the passions and desires of our evil nature, and we were following our own thoughts. We used to believe that we were free and independent people doing what we decided to do. However we were prisoners of sin. The devil manipulated us to act according to his will, deceiving us into believing that we were free and independent people following our own minds and reason.
However, the Bible makes it very clear that it does not make sense to sin, because sin leads to death (Rom.6:23). The Bible actually says that we were dead in our sins and transgressions. We were alienated from life in God on our way to perdition. Fortunately, God intervened. He sent someone to present the good news of the kingdom, the gospel, to us and thus help us to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, so that we could be saved through the forgiveness of sin and by receiving a new life.
Let us take a closer look at 2.Tim.3:2-5 to see how the Apostle Paul describes people living in the end times/last days. Ask God to show you if you are struggling with any of these things. Ask him to show you your problems and areas of your life where you need to repent, things you need to be set free from. Underline the sins that used to be part of your lifestyle and mark the things you need to deal with!
lover of myself
lover of money
boaster
arrogant
abusive
disobedient to my parents
ungrateful
unholy
inhuman
unforgiving
slanderer
profligate
brute
hater of good
treacherous
reckless
swollen with conceit
lover of pleasure rather than lover of God
holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power
When you look at the above list, what would you say troubles you the most now? These are the things that the devil will use to cripple your life, to take away your peace and joy from your heart. If you do not radically deal with these things in total repentance, your problems will just increase more and more.
Here is a prayer you can pray each time you discover that you are struggling with sinful behaviour or habits from your old way of life. This prayer will release the power of God in your life and help you to be free from the sinful things that will hold you in bondage:
Lord Jesus Christ, you know me, and you know that I have been struggling with these things for some time (name all your sinful deeds). I have tried to better myself and to get rid of the problems but I have always failed. I realise that this is a part of me, coming from my sinful nature. I am helpless, but I want to be free. I confess these sins before you, Lord Jesus Christ. I realise that in my own strength I can’t get rid of my sins. Therefore, I turn to you, Christ Jesus. I trust in you! I believe that you have conquered sin, death and the devil through your death and resurrection, and that therefore you have the power to save me and to set me free. I ask forgiveness for all my sins, and I invite you to be Lord in all of these areas where I have been struggling. Lord, come and take control of my entire life! Thank you, Jesus Christ, that you are my Lord and Saviour. Thank you for being my Deliverer. Thank you Lord for breaking the power of sin in my life, setting me free to live according to your will! Thank you Lord Jesus Christ! Amen.
Let me in all honesty tell you that I have had to pray this prayer many times! Many times I have discovered sin in my life that I had to deal with. Every time I have prayed this prayer from an upright heart I have received help. God is a good God! “If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1.John 1:9).
Next time you are together with your teacher or guide, you should tell him about your experience after praying this prayer. Don’t be afraid to be open and honest with your teacher because he has probably been through similar things himself and received help from Jesus Christ. If you open up to him you can help one another in your walk with God.