A walk with God 1.1

 Combine all sources into a long sermon, include biblical and real life examples in and out of the original source materials

Brothers and sisters in Christ, friends, gather 'round. We find ourselves in a world that often feels disconnected, stressed, and burdened. Many of us, even those who have been in the church for years, can feel a profound sense of not being truly okay. We grapple with loneliness, work demands, disappointments, family drama, and the sheer weight of life's stresses. It's easy to get so wrapped up in our own worlds, our own problems. We often cling to independence, when what our souls desperately need is interdependence.

Think about the early Christians, described in the book of Acts. After the Holy Spirit came upon them, Luke paints a picture of a community that devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Awe came upon every soul, and they truly shared a sense of togetherness and belonging. They ate together, attended the temple together, and cared for one another, distributing possessions to meet needs. Doesn't that sound amazing? This paints a stark contrast to the busy, often isolated experience many of us face today.

This desire for Christian community, for genuine connection, is deeply felt. We need other believers to walk with us through our struggles and offer a godly perspective. The early church wasn't an exclusive clique; all were invited to experience the gospel, and there was a magnetic draw to these counter-cultural individuals. The Lord added to their number daily.

But our struggles aren't just external; they are deeply internal as well. The great Apostle Paul, someone who walked intimately with the Lord, openly discussed his struggle with sin in Romans Chapter 7. He didn't hide his humanity. He cried out, "I do not understand what I do, for what I want to do I do not do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the Law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me". He felt like a slave to sin. He knew good didn't dwell in his sinful nature; he had the desire to do good but couldn't carry it out, doing the evil he didn't want to do. This sounds familiar to many of us, doesn't it?. Paul shows us that sin can be an active power living in a person, empowering the behavior. He describes himself as "sick" with it, whether it's pornography, food, or work.

Judith MacNutt, drawing on this passage, suggests we see addiction not just as a behavior, but as a disease that involves every part of us – biological, emotional, and spiritual. Sin itself can be viewed as a disease. It stems from the original sin that lives in all of us, leaving us with a broken self, broken emotions, and a shattered will. It's a mix of this original brokenness and our own personal sins, plus the sins committed against us, that creates this struggle where we desire to do good but cannot.

Paul cries out, "What a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?". How many times does someone struggling with sin or addiction cry out, "Who will rescue me?".

But thanks be to God, there is a rescuer! Paul continues, "Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!". Jesus is the rescuer, the Savior, the Messiah, the Healer, the one who delivers us from evil and breaks generational bondage. Our hope lies in God, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are reminded to reframe in our minds who saves us from sin.

Addiction, in particular, can be understood as a disease of forgetting who we are, forgetting that we are the beloved. It's an attachment to something, often a substance or even people (in an unhealthy way, called codependency), that brings relief from pain. Our primary attachment should be to God. The goal in helping someone, or ourselves, is not just therapy or self-help, but bringing them into relationship with God. All healing is relational, and the most important prayer we can offer is to bring people to God and seal them in that relationship with the Holy Spirit, helping them walk toward knowing their identity in Christ. The two greatest needs in life are love (which God is) and belonging.

So, how do we build this stronger relationship with God?. It's like any strong relationship; it requires spending time with that person and getting to know them intimately. God is spirit, so we worship Him in spirit and truth. We spend time with the Word of God; this is God sharing His thoughts with us. It is essential to maintaining a strong relationship and is how God produces the fruit of His Spirit in us. Jesus said, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me". His words in us are spirit and life. While praying daily and reading devotions are good steps, they may not be enough on their own.

Understanding the Bible can be a struggle. But it's impossible to understand God's thoughts in His Word unless you have His Spirit. We need to ask God for His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a teacher who knows the heart of the Father. Reading the Bible helps God talk to us, teaching about Jesus and how to walk in faith. Reading consistently, reflecting, and applying what we read daily can be transformative.

Building a strong faith requires intention and discipline. It won't happen accidentally. Spiritual disciplines are simple habits and practices that help us develop, grow, and strengthen our faith in Christ. These include prayer, Bible study, meditation, fasting, confession, solitude, worship, celebration, evangelizing, helping one another, and edification. These practices aren't about earning God's approval; they are like wires connecting us to the power of the gospel. They position us for God's transformation, stretch our faith, and equip us for gospel mission. The primary requirement for practicing these disciplines is a longing for God.

Think about how we build good physical habits – brushing teeth, exercising, eating healthily. These position us for healthy results. Likewise, spiritual habits help us run the race of endurance, anchoring our faith amidst temptations and trials. Knowing what we should do isn't enough; we must be doers of the word.

To develop good spiritual habits, we need a disciplined approach. Motivation is temporary; habits are consistent actions, regardless of how we feel. Here are some steps, drawing from the sources, to get started:

•

Start simple but make a commitment. Don't try to do everything at once. Begin with one or two disciplines, like reading your Bible and praying a few times a week for 10-15 minutes. Make a commitment to doing it.

•

Define specifically what you will do. Instead of a vague goal like "read the bible," try something concrete: "During the next week, I will partake in at least 20 minutes of reading and meditating on the scriptures on [DAY] at [TIME] in [PLACE]". Starting small, even just two minutes repeated over time, can have a huge impact. Consistency is key.

•

Embrace habit stacking. Link a new spiritual habit to an existing one. The formula is: "After [CURRENT HABIT], I will [NEW HABIT]". For example, "After I read the scriptures consistently, I will pray for the day ahead...".

•

Change your identity and vocabulary. Instead of saying, "I'm going to read the bible," say, "I am a Christian who appreciates the scriptures and meditate on it regularly". This simple shift can reprogram your mindset.

•

Make habit development attractive. Link the needed habit to a habit you want to do: "After [CURRENT HABIT], I will [HABIT I NEED]. After [HABIT I NEED], I will [HABIT I WANT]".

•

Include habit tracking. After your current habit, track your spiritual habit. This reminds you to act, keeps you motivated by showing progress, and provides satisfaction.

•

Don't do it alone. Find fellow believers, "habit partners," to stir each other up to love and good works. Surround yourself with people who will support your spiritual growth.

•

Make room by letting go of something. We often say we don't have time, but we can usually find 10-15 minutes by cutting back on less important things like TV.

These disciplines are not about guilt but about helping you grow and strengthen your faith. They are worth it.

Part of this journey is learning to overcome temptation. Everyone is tempted, but how we handle it matters greatly to our spiritual health. Jesus gives us a model in Luke 4, where He was tempted after being baptised, tired, hungry, and alone in the wilderness. Temptation often comes when we are physically stressed, alone, doing good work, or in places where temptation is likely. Our response should be to resist.

How do we resist?

•

Avoid environments where you are easily tempted. Don't go down paths that lead to trouble; turn away.

•

When facing temptation, get away quickly. "Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts," just as Joseph ran from Potiphar's wife. But don't just run from; "run toward" righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. And "run with" the companionship of other believers.

•

Replace tempting thoughts with God's Word. Thoughts are often the first seed of temptation. Instead of dwelling on the temptation, set your mind on Scripture. Find verses about the temptation or about God's faithfulness. Memorise and meditate on them. Jesus Himself responded to Satan's temptations by quoting Scripture. God's Word is the "sword of the Spirit," a weapon for combat. Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise.

•

Pray for God's help. God is faithful and will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We are encouraged to come boldly to Him in prayer for help in time of need. Jesus taught us to pray for protection during temptation. Jesus understands our temptations, having been tempted Himself. Even now, He is praying for us. He is able to defeat temptation through His Spirit in us.

Integral to this spiritual journey is understanding true repentance and forgiveness. Repentance is more than just saying sorry; it's a complete change of heart and mind, turning away from sin and toward God. It's necessary for sins to be wiped out, as Acts 3:19 tells us. Repentance means admitting we need God's help.

Genuine repentance involves steps:

•

Admit your sins. Be honest with yourself and God.

•

Feel sorry for your sins. Experience genuine regret.

•

Ask for God's forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 promises that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us.

•

Make things right. If you've hurt someone, try to make amends and apologise.

•

Change your behavior. With God's help, make an effort to avoid repeating past sins.

Seeking forgiveness from those you've hurt can be incredibly humbling, but it's part of the healing process. Just as James 5:16 says, confessing sins to each other and praying for each other can bring healing. This process helped one author restore relationships damaged by past anger and pain. It taught him that no matter how much we sin, God's love for us remains, and we can always seek and receive His forgiveness through Christ. Putting away pride and ego to seek forgiveness from others is part of drawing closer to Christ and being healed.

God's forgiveness is central. When we truly repent, God forgives us through His grace, wiping away guilt and shame, giving us a fresh start. Ephesians 1:7 reminds us we have redemption and forgiveness of sins through Christ's blood. This gift should transform how we live. Just as God forgives us, we are called to forgive those who wrong us. Jesus emphasized this in Matthew 6:14. Forgiving others heals hearts and mends relationships. Daily confession and repentance keep our relationship with God strong.

Living a forgiven life involves daily practices that draw us closer to God:

•

Daily prayer to stay connected and seek guidance. Prayer isn't just asking for things; it's worship, thanksgiving, seeking rest, and building a relationship with God.

•

Reading the Bible to understand God's will and gain wisdom.

•

Showing kindness and love to reflect Christ. The Holy Spirit helps us act through love, not just emotions.

•

Seeking fellowship with other believers for growth and support.

•

Serving others to show God's love practically.

Finally, let's shift our perspective. Spiritual growth isn't about performing for God or trying to impress Him with our efforts. This works-focused approach leads to burnout. Instead, we need to shift the burden and expectations onto God. He is the one who gives rest to the weary and burdened. The power is in God's Word and His Spirit, not our own capability.

Shift your focus from what you must do to what God has already done through Christ. The gospel realities – that we are sinful yet loved and welcomed – have the power to produce character change and motivate obedience. Good works flow joyfully from a heart that knows God's favour is a gift, not earned. When reading Scripture, ask what it shows about God's actions. When praying, spend time adoring God.

Friends, God desires to be close to you. He has provided the way through Jesus and given us the Holy Spirit and the means – the spiritual disciplines and community – to grow closer to Him. It's about progress, not perfection or guilt. Press in, trust Him, and know that Jesus is enough on His own, without our striving. Acknowledge Him in everything. He will take control because you want Him to, bringing joy and peace.

May we strive to live a little more like those early believers, devoted to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. May we embrace the spiritual disciplines not as burdens, but as gateways to connect with the power of God. May we practice true repentance and forgiveness, knowing the liberating grace of God. And may we always remember that it is God who is able to keep us from stumbling and present us blameless before His glory. Amen.