Help Me to Love You More!

Why not one she can have a couple of chicken maybe it's not the get for your family but it is the perfect gift for poor family ninja chicken can break the cycle of poverty for poor family yes chicken chickens and provide nourishment for family and they can sell mosaics at the market for income when you donate a chicken or any other gospel for Asia one her percent of what you give goes to the field and get the ball went gospel fundraiser to support family of Jesus family this Christmas and give them a six explanation or see chickens and other animals camping hello this is Matt slick from the match look like podcast right defend the Christian faith and lay out our foundational truths of God's word chosen Truth Network podcasts starting in just a few seconds. Enjoy it Sharon but most of all, thank you for listening and for choosing The Truth Podcast Network this is Truth Network encouraging prayer, God offers opening Tatian for his people to talk with him anytime about anything encouraging prayer Dr. James Banks selling and many other books on prayer provides weekly insight help you learn to mom and now you ever told God that something right after you told her maybe even moments he went back and did the very same. This is not an easy place to be and if were honest, we've all been in today on encouraging prayer were to talk about how to move beyond that with God's help write James you take it from there. Probably man. I've been there more times than I would like to admit. It's so discouraging because it can make you wonder if your faith is even real in the course our adversary the devil will get in there and use it against you. Every time there is so much hope so. Anyone they've never really struggled like this. They should consider what the apostle Paul wrote in the seventh chapter of Romans. He writes in verse 15. I do not understand what I do what I want to do. I do not do, but what I hate I do. And then a few verses later starting in verse 21 he adds this. So I find this law at work, although I want to do good, evil was right there with me for my interbeing. I delight in God's law, but I see another law at work in me waging war against the law of my mind, making the prisoner of the law of sin work within me. What a wretched man. I am who will rescue me from this body that are subject to death thanks be to God who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord. So what Paul is talking about is the struggle with our old sin nature that we all have many points us to Jesus who can deliver us exactly and in this is where we need to pay especially close attention. Robbie, this is where our faith becomes really practical Jesus forgiveness for sins isn't just some conceptual or theological thing. It is rooted in the reality of the cross and the reality of our lives. We don't have to live stock in the same old sins because he will help us but this is crucial. Notice that word related to the cross crucial. Our eyes have to be on him and not on our sense man is not true.

We talked about this before, how easy is it to stay focused on ourselves and our sense, but if we look at him. He is overcome the world and told us that he will or that we will essentially as well right in him and that brings us to a really key point about what it is for keeps us from sin and there's one take away. I hope your listeners get from today's talk. It's this it's love that will keep us from sin more than anything else.

It's love that will help us really turn to Jesus when were in the middle of temptation and find it. He is the way out to God's word tells us about first Corinthians 1013 so that we won't be tempted beyond what we can bear chance, let's talk about this more just how is it that love keeps us from getting in the sand. I mean, ones that look like practical way, great question Robbie.

You might look at it this way. If a person is tempted to be safe and faithful to their spouse. What is it that helps them in that moment. It's remembering how much they love their spouse. And because you love that person. You don't want do anything that will cause harm or pain in that relationship and it's the same way with God. After all, as part of the church where the bride of Christ. So you're saying that when we think about God and how much he loves us and all he's done for us. It helps us love him back. Really, the more we focus on him and his love and cherish them in our hearts, the more it will keep us from sinning when were actively tempted.

That's exactly right.

Listen to this comment from George Whitfield who was an amazing evangelist to call you letter he talks about the difference between repenting of our sin because were afraid of what God will do to us in repenting of our sin because we love listen carefully, because while the language is a bit archaic truth and it is really hard-hitting, Whitfield says our sorrow and grief for sin must not spring merely from a fear of wrath, for if we have no other ground but that proceeds from self-love and not from any love of God's love for God is not the chief motive in your repentance, your repentance is in vain and not to be esteemed true. Many in our days. He goes on, think that there crying to God is repentance and that God will forgive them.

As such, but indeed they are mistaken. It is not the drawing near to God with our lips while our hearts are far from him which he regards repentance does not come by fits and starts, no, it is one continued act of our lives. While I see what you mean he saying that if you're turning from sin, because you're afraid of what toggle do you. Your eyes are still on yourself. But if you did because you love God, it's real because you're turning to him from your heart right in your life will respect that this is an awesome insight is its right out of Scripture Jesus quotes Isaiah in Matthew 1517, 1576.

These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

So the real question is what do I love more Jesus or my sin in my heart is in the battle.

Just like we talked about at the beginning of this talk, what what really helps is to cry out to him and say Lord I do love you.

Help me to love you more. I found myself praying this way. Just this morning as I was tempted about something and all of the difference it makes. Just to go there to grow to love as you go to him Lord and difficult places we find that his strengths really will help us in our weakness and also those out of love like loving him back for his love for us that love will help us go the distance. Yes, it will Robbie in his strength and not our own.

We just after love amazing today. James let's wrap up with a prayer that we will just love him back. Jesus, wow I when I consider all that you've done for me in so many situations and so many things. Lord help me to focus on that love at end and turn so hard towards that but I can't see that anymore that what I see is an opportunity to see your face and to seek private almost list join in this turning to you and away from our sin and turning in love in Jesus name I pray you hear more from Pastor James by visiting the website James Banks.org or by visiting these church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you as you pray. This is the Truth Network