Accept Christ

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans‬ ‭10:9)‬‬

The Gospel is simple. Christ died for our sins and rose to set us free from the bondage of sin. That’s it. He was the only and ultimate sacrifice that could completely eradicate the sins of mankind. There was no sacrifice, no action, no atonement that could cover and completely eradicate our sins – Except through The Blood of Christ. It is through the Blood of Christ that we are free from the bondage and power of sin.

It is through Christ that we are washed clean and made whole in Him. In Him you are set free. In Christ, you are delivered from the stain of sin – when you accept Him. The entanglement of sin is broken in Christ. Jesus Christ – The Anointed One, breaks the yoke of every bondage. When you surrender to Christ every chain is shattered and has no power over you. It’s weight has no effect. In Christ you are free.

Entanglement Is A Choice

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians‬ ‭5:1)

When Christ has set you free, it’s your choice to accept the freedom that Christ has given or return into the bondage of your past. In Christ you are new. In Christ you are set free. Christ freely forgives. Christ sets you apart and remembers your sin no more, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”( Psalms‬ ‭103:12‬)‬‬. According to Proverbs‬ ‭26:11 when you pick up your your past sin and choose to entangle yourself in that bondage again, it’s “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” Are you choosing to willfully turn back to your old sin? Or are you seeking a new future in Christ? Choose Christ.

Swept Clean

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” (Matthew‬ ‭12:43-45)

Seek God and stay clean. God wants you to seek Him with all of your heart. He wants your whole heart. When God sweeps you clean from the old and puts His Spirit in you, it’s your choice to surrender and choose God’s way or return to your old way of doing things. Character is a choice. “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” (Psalms‬ ‭24:3-4‬)‬‬

Every hidden and dark place that God has cleaned out, decide to fill yourself with God’s Word faithfully. Be intentional to spending time with God and get filled up with with His Word and His Holy Spirit. When you neglect to feed yourself with God’s Word regularly your “spiritual immune system” starts to decay. When you are “spiritually malnourished”, You become exposed and vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy.

When you are spiritually lazy, you become like the man in Proverbs‬ ‭24:30-31‬: “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.” When you Repent and turn your heart back to God, submitting to His Word and precepts, He protects the garden of your heart. When you allow His Word to prune out and pluck up any weeds or thorns that’s entangled in the ground of your heart, you’re allowing God to cultivate the ground of your heart. When you allow God’s Word to saturate the ground of your heart you’re actively allowing Him to prepare an environment that’s fertile and ready to produce His Fruit.

His Heart Requires My Submission

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” ‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭51:10)

When you repent the cycle of the past is broken and your new future in Christ starts. When God creates in you a clean heart, He transforms you completely. No matter of the mistakes of your past, God will transform you. He will clean you up and restore you into your rightful place. You are His Child. He wants to make you Whole and New in Him. He wants you to be more like Him. You belong to Him. When you walk with Him, surrendering your heart, you’ll become a reflection of His Love, Power, Integrity and Character. Follow Him and He will not lead you astray.

If you feel like you’re in a pit or a spiritual prison and you need God to unlock the doors and lift you out, pray this prayer:

Father God, in the Name of Jesus, I Thank You for sending your Son Jesus Christ to die for my sin. I repent of my sin. Father, I turn to You. Through Christ’s Blood I am forgiven and set free. Lord, I thank you for forgiving me and cleaning my heart to forever turn to You. In Jesus Name. Amen.

This article was written by Vance Jackson who serves on the leadership team of Word of Life Christian Ministries in Detroit, MI. Vance is a successful businessman, speaker and writer and leads Bible studies on topics ranging from Marriage to Faith, Family, Business, Stewardship, Emotional Healing and Leadership.