Little Lamb! Little Lamb! Who hath made thee?
This is part three of our sermon series Dust Kiddies. If you missed parts 1 and 2 they can be found at the links below.
https://josephelonlillie.com/2014/09/09/dust-kiddies-pt-1/
https://josephelonlillie.com/2014/09/10/dust-kiddies-pt-2/
Now let’s get on with today’s portion of the study:
We have established in the two previous posts that spiritually we are totally unable to help or save ourselves but that God wants to help us if we will just admit our need of Him.
God wants to help us in two ways. Today let’s discuss the first.
God wants to help us overcome our weakness and our proclivity towards sin.
Dillon Burroughs writes, “The solution to our human frailty is not to try harder, but to turn Godward.”
― Dillon Burroughs, Hunger No More: A 1-Year Devotional Journey Through the Psalms
The truth is, that while your weakness may have defined who you are up to this present time it does not have to define you anymore. The GOOD NEWS of Christianity is that we can be born again! We used to sing a song when I first became a Christian that went something like,
” There’s been a great great change since I’ve been born. There’s been a great great change since I’ve been born. There’s been a great great change since I’ve been born again.”
Jesus himself said that the process of becoming a Christian is literally being “BORN AGAIN”
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,[a] you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.[b] 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.[c] 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You[d] must be born again.’ John 3:3-7 NLT
In the end of the matter, we are set free from our lives of weakness not by trying harder but being born again and we are born again when the Spirit of God comes into our hearts by our prayerful invitation.
Let’s pray together now:
Father God I realize I cannot help myself or work my way out of a life of sin. Only you can help me. I admit that. So Lord come into my life right now. Cause me to be born again. Forgive all my sin and give me a new start a new life birthed by the Spirit of God. I believe it is possible through Jesus Christ, his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead. Amen.
Hey if you prayed that prayer with me for the first time would you drop me a comment to let me know?
Lillie-Put 
Even as a born-again Believer, I spent many futile years “trying harder” to be a better person. Now I walk in His grace, surrendering myself to Him everyday–sometimes repeatedly throughout the day. This works much more effectively than trying hard in my own strength–of which I really don’t have much; so the Joy of the Lord is my strength–that’s where the Power is, In Christ. God bless you today.
Oh I am so with you in that Sis! Even after having the born again experience I still spent so many years trying to be impressive to God in my own strength. It took me a long time to accept that I really had none even after admitting it and being filled with his Spirit. Some days I still struggle with trying to do something in my own power.
Isn’t it great to be free to be transparent and honest? We are His Beloved, and we don’t need to try to be impressive–but we forget that some days.
Great post, Pastor J! Thinking about how often I have tried harder and so thankful that I can just turn to Him instead. God bless you!
Amen!
Thank you, Pastor J for sharing your message with us and even though this is the second time I have heard it God is showing me new truths this time around. I realize I need His strength to walk this whole journey not just part of it but all of it.
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Wonderful posts!
THanks Skye!