Remove Barriers Between You and Him

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  (Hebrews 4:12)

Commit to follow His commandments/ways

• We were originally created in God’s image – Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden and we have sinned ever since.
• Jesus took on the image of Sin on the cross to so mankind could be redeemed  in God’s image.
• If we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we can shed our sinful nature and be Born Again

In practical terms: 

• We are born with human nature – Our natural tendency is to focus on earthly / physical priorities – survival, success, reputation, pleasure.
• God needs us to focus beyond ourselfs. It requires education and discipline, and is counter to earthly priorities
• He provides Two big rules – Love God with all your heart and Love your neighbor as yourself
• Those rules must guide how you think, what you choose to do, and how you choose to treat others
• You have a choice between Blessings or Curses. Follow God to receive blessings. (Deuteronomy 30:20)
• Not following the commandments is a sin – in Greek “amartia” (ha-mar-tia). “to miss the mark.”
• Not loving Him with all your heart is a sin
  • Pride is putting yourself above anyone else… another person, or God
  • The most common Pride Sin is ignoring HIM :  Thinking YOU are doing anything yourself – without HIM – even breathing!
  • Idolatry is focusing on anything to be more important than God (Wealth, Knowledge, Higher Education, Fancy Car, Politics)
• Sin has consequences – Separation from God is the biggest
  • “… your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear” (Isaiah 59:2)
• When you separate from God you open the door to attack – He can no longer protect you
• The devil will attack: Either internally through your thoughts, urges, and decisions, or externally by setting up bad things to happen to you, or both.
• Once you start, you become a slave to sin – Fighting temptation, Guilt for failure, Fearing consequences. (John 8:34)
• Negative consequences accumulate until you become desperate and ask God for help.
• Jesus died so that you have no barriers to God
• Accept Him as Lord and Savior, invite him into your life, learn about Him and his Ways, pursue transformation, and you will be changed.  

Commit and Actively work to improve

Recognize Progress and Thank Him

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