GO AND SIN NO MORE

Scripture: (John 8:11 KJV) She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

            This week I want to continue our study of the Ten Commandments. I think it is important that we first look at the big picture. If I can get you to get just a glimpse of the depths of God’s grace you will find, that much more strength to win the battles in your life. It is of paramount concern that you discover for yourself the truth that is in the word of God. There are many books that will give you good advise on how to live a successful life, but the Bible alone holds up to the sands of time and trials. As we look at and study the Ten Commandments it is necessary for you to set aside any and all doubts of the validity of the author and take a step out in faith and know that it was the very hand of God who carved these commandments in stone. We are not looking at the ten suggestions. God gave us these laws as guidelines, yes, but strict guidelines that when adhered to, we will experience a full and rewarding life. When these “guidelines” are crossed, and all of us have stepped across the foul line a time or two, the consequences are despair, confusion, disease and death. We read in Paul’s letter to the Romans how “we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” We also learn from that same letter that “the wages of sin is death.” But the free gift of God is eternal abundant life as we enter into a right relationship with and through Jesus Christ who paid the price for all of our sins.

            Some people reading these messages still have some questions that have been holding them back from totally committing themselves to the realization of the truth of the Gospel. Others have accepted Jesus as their savior yet are still not experiencing the fruit of the spirit which is “Love, joy, peace, patients, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Many of our lives are filled with lack in one area or another. Some need physical healing, others need financial blessing, still others are having some emotional instability and then there are all the relationship problems. It is easy to talk about the abundant life it is another thing all together to actually live it.

            So lets stop right here and decide to give it all over to God one more time. Maybe this is the first time your really mean it. I urge you to surrender all of your burdens, all of your care, all of your heart, soul and mind over to God through Jesus Christ His son right now and as we read the words that God gave us, let them renew your broken spirit. Let the word of God fill that empty spot. Let God’s divine word give you true hope in a brighter future than you ever dreamt possible. Because it is possible. Everything and anything is possible through Christ Jesus the Lord of Lords.

            Pray this prayer with me: Heaven Father, Creator of the heavens and the earth, You are worthy of so much more than I could ever offer. I give myself to you as a living sacrifice. I accept Jesus as, not only my savior, but as my Lord. You know the trials I am facing. I turn them all over to you and I am going to trust that You are even now makeing a way were there does not seem to be any way. I am going to stop worrying and start believing. But I am going to need your Holy Spirit. Fill me with the mind of Christ. Give me the assurance that all things are going to work out for the good. Let me know without a shadow of a doubt that You will never leave me or forsake me. Give me the strength to go and sin no more. I pray this with all my heart in Jesus name; Amen.

            Last week we looked at the first four commandments. If you did not get last weeks message, and would like a copy of it or any other message get in touch with me either by e-mail, snail mail or phone and I will be happy to send it to you. The first four commandments deal exclusively with our relationship with God. I believe that God put the commandment in the order He did as a note to us of where our priorities ought to be. God needs to come first in our lives. Yet life does not stop there. Have you ever heard the expression that someone was so heavenly minded that they were no earthly good? The rest of the commandments deal with our everyday life and teach us how to get along with our fellow man. The fifth commandment talks about honoring our father and mother: (Deu 5:16 NIV)  "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you”.

            You may have noticed, or been informed, that this was the first commandment with a promise. The fact is there is great reward in all the commandments but this one sometimes needs to be emphasized. Our parents, no matter how good or bad, are, or were, still our parents. Many people can hold great hatred for the way they were raised. Letting go of that anger and learning how to forgive our parents in many cases can be the first step in healing the hidden pain inside our hearts. Others of us need to remember our parents more often and give them back some of the love that they so selflessly gave to their families. Too often I see, being a nursing home pastor, parents who have just been left by their children. I know just as well as anyone does how busy life can get. That does not excuse any of us from not at least giving our parents a phone call or stopping by for an occasional visit. Now I also realize that this commandment is not only talking about forgiving and visiting with your parents, the word honor means to bear their burdens. It is talking about not just taking care of them in old age but bringing them glory in it. It is a shame the way we treat our elders in this country. They need to be respected and honored. There is much we can learn from this one commandment.

            The rest of the commandments read quickly:

6. (Deu 5:17 NIV)  "You shall not murder.

7. (Deu 5:18 NIV)  "You shall not commit adultery.

8. (Deu 5:19 NIV)  "You shall not steal.

9. (Deu 5:20 NIV)  "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

10. (Deu 5:21 NIV)  "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor's house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

            Isn’t it interesting how in-depth God goes into this coveting commandment? And yet we continue to have to do the old “keep up with the Jones” thing. Madison Avenue has made a fortune off of us committing this sin.

            We could go so much deeper into each of these commandments and throughout the centuries people have, but lets go forward now and have our Lord put things in a better perspective for us. When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment his answer is this:  (Mat 22:37-40 NIV) Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

            You can spend the rest of your life trying to rationalize and justify your sin, or you can get to the point where you call sin a sin and do something about it. The scripture verse that I selected for today should be familiar to most of us. The woman who was caught in the act of adultery was brought before Jesus by an angry mob. The “Law” called for her to be put to death by stoning. There was no doubt of her guilt. The people came to Jesus to see what He would do. If you know this portion of scripture Jesus stated the famous quote, “He who is without sin throw the first stone.” He then knelt down and drew something, we do not know what, upon the ground. As Jesus calmly drew in the sand the accusers walked away. Then Jesus asked the woman where were her accusers, doesn’t anyone condemn her. The rest of the conversation is recorded in today’s scripture; (John 8:11 KJV) She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. 

            God knows all of our darkest secrets. He knows the things we try to cover up, the skeletons in our closets. And it is true we have all fallen short of the glory of God. But God not only knows us, He loves us. He has made a way, that if we so choose, we can put the past behind us and go forward with new hope, a renewed vision, a real inner peace and guilt free. God knew that we would step out of the guidelines of His perfect word, so He Himself paid the price of our mistakes and now He is shining His light of love and forgiveness into your very heart and you can be clean from the past, you can see you way to a happy, prosperous future. God loves you and he is calling you to Himself. He has been calling you for so long. His arms are open wide and He wants you to know that He can work it out. Just trust in Him. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believith in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

            It all comes down to trusting Jesus. This was Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians and my prayer for all of us: (Eph 3:17-21 KJV) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.