You the same sometimes

Introduction

I want to start this off with a statement. As believers we need both the authority of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to walk out our lives as God intended.

In Greek we see these two words exousia which means authority and we see dynamis which is power. It is also where we get our word for dynamite.

Let me give you an example. I want to give you an analogy of a police officer. A police officer needs both authority and power to carry out his job successfully. He can’t just be coming into an active crime scene with one of these without the other.

If he comes into the crime scene with just authority he can try to tell the criminals to stop, but he has no power to do anything. If he comes in with just power he is using force without authority which makes him just another criminal.

As believers we have power and authority

Now what I want to do is bring this down to us.

A lot of people in church and that means here today doubt their salvation often because they struggle, stumble or fall to their temptation

Just because we are saved doesn't mean all of the temptation is thrown of of us. It doesn’t mean that we won’t fall to our temptation sometimes, but we now have the power to decide who Christ wants us to be.

wants us to be.

I have been in the Church my entire life and one theme I have seen repeatedly is we too often beat people up when we see they are struggling or in bondages or give into their temptation.

they are struggling or in bondages. That isn't the purpose of the church we need to

That isn't the purpose of the church we need to be place of encouragement and prayer.

be place of encouragement and prayer.

There is no power in our condemning. It is innefective and in fact it is harmful to us.

Here is the thing. No one gets condemned into transformation.

Romans 2:1–4 NIV

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Truthfully we have too many condemning people in the churches and then we wonder why more peopel aren't coming to Christ.

We don't need more mean holy people in the church. You know who I am talking about often times sitting in the pews looking like a rattle snake. "Praise the Lord".

Furthermore we just plainly need to be honest with ourselves. Sometimes we just pick pet peeve sins and those are the ones we talk about and then we ignore the sins that are in our lives.

We talk about drinking and smoking and immorality without any concern over the people struggling while we are drinking tea and coffee and eating 4 pieces of cake and 17 chocolates. Somehow we are ignoring the gossip and gluttony that is going on in our picture.

Let me give you an example. We are so hasty to belittle our struggling relative for their poor decision meanwhile we tell people not to talk to us until we have had our coffee. Now I am not saying coffee is sinful although it could be. I am saying we hold ourselves to a bondage of coffee and condemn others for their bondages. Why is it that we need coffee before the fruit of the spirit starts showing in our lives?

we talk about and then we ignore the sins that are in our lives.

tell people not to talk to us until we have had our coffee. Now I am not saying coffee is sinful although it could be. I am saying

slip completely out the window in our thoughts and conversations.

we hold ourselves to a bondage of coffee and condemn others for their bondages. Why is it that we need coffee before

What does this mean for us?

Listen condemnation is never right. I am a child of God there is no condemnation in me, but there is conviction.

the fruit of the spirit starts showing in our lives?

"Praise the Lord".

In fact when we condemn what we are saying is that God’s loving kindness, his patience, his love is no good. We belittle and put it down. That is what Paul was trying to tell the Jews as they looked at the gentiles.

What am I trying to say here today? We all fall short. We are all imperfect and we all need the power of the Holy Spirit and the blood of Jesus Christ.

and the blood of Jesus Christ. This needs to be humbling for us drive us constantly to the cross of Jesus.

This needs to be humbling for us drive us constantly to the cross of Jesus.

Now as believers we receive the authority of Jesus Christ and we receive the power of the Holy Spirit and we need both of these to constantly die to ourselves and crucify our flesh and break that temptation and bondage that comes our way.

these to constantly die to ourselves and crucify our flesh and break that temptation and bondage that comes our way.