People have asked me as to why I talk about sin and judgment so much, to which my usual response is because lately it seems that there are few who do. I love people and want them to go to heaven and not hell and that is why I share the truth of scripture. There are many Pastors who are more concerned about filling up their pews by having a circus to entertain the goats instead of teaching doctrine, theology, and the basic tenets of the faith to the sheep to fill them spiritually. The Lord Jesus didn’t use carnival gimmicks when speaking the Sermon on the Mount, and they did not play modern day rock music and call it worship, because this is not what God desires. Many churches have developed a nightclub scene with smoke and lights to attract the worldly people but does little to prepare the saints for the ministry, and definitely does not glorify the Lord Jesus. With all that being said I am going to ask you a simple question, “Do you love God more than you hate your sin?” Before you answer, I really want you to think about it. I want you to contemplate all that goes on in your heart, through your mind, and in the actions you do every day. There are some sins that I struggle with regularly, I am not talking about the “big” sins, I am talking about the others, the ones that many Christians stumble over, fall into, and repent. Pride, selfishness, lust, anger, wrath, and the list goes on. I am not sure the exact details of what the Apostle Paul struggled with but I relate to certain verses that he wrote in a deep way, like what is written in *Romans 7:15 For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity].* I feel his struggle as I strive to live right before a Holy God. Paul continues in *Romans 7:24 Wretched and miserable man that I am! Who will [rescue me and] set me free from this body of death [this corrupt, mortal existence]?* As Paul shared his brokenness, I feel shattered and discouraged by my own sinful nature and seem to be feeling the effects deeply. I am thankful for the words following Paul’s confession written in *Romans 7:25 Thanks be to God [for my deliverance] through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind serve the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness, my sinful capacity—I serve] the law of sin.* It seems that there are few who really comprehend their wretchedness before a Holy God these days as if it’s not a big deal at all to sin and are comfortable living in a lifestyle that is contrary to God’s word mostly because they don’t know God’s word. Charles Spurgeon said, “Look to the cross, and hate your sin, for sin nailed your Well Beloved to the tree. Look up to the cross, and you will kill sin, for the strength of Jesus’ love will make you strong to put down your tendencies to sin.” Brethren, may we strive to live lives that are pleasing to God in every way, and have confidence in what is written in *Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.* I pray for all who hear these words, that you consistently walk according to the Spirit and not the flesh so that the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus will overshadow every aspect of your life, Amen. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

To any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support for the ministry activities that God has entrusted to me at pastord.blog@gmail.com