Removing The Influence

One of the greatest misconceptions we can have about salvation is that it automatically takes away everything that allured us into sin prior to confessing Messiah as Lord and receiving the gift of eternal life. What we soon find out is that what tempted us before is still pretty hot and tempting. Those feelings somehow managed to stay... The only difference is what we could once freely engage in doing now stirs up feelings of guilt.  You see, what the preacher forgot to mention, when we decided to receive Messiah's invitation to discipleship, is that it's not the goal of salvation to cause the lust of the flesh and eyes as well as the pride of life (as found in 1 John 2:16) to just disappear instantly or even over time.

Wouldn't it be super easy to live holy if all the evil within us just went away like that? Why, of course, it would! In fact, we would absolutely love it because pleasing Yahweh would be a piece of cake. But there's really no power or glory in deliverance merely removing the presence of sin. Once it's gone, there is then no more need for the power and glory. It is essentially given a pink slip because it's services would no longer be needed.

The more accurate understanding is that sin will ALWAYS be present. Therefore, the power and glory lies in removing THE INFLUENCE of its presence in our lives so we can see and take the way of escape Yahweh promises us in moments of temptation (1 Corinthians 2:13). Salvation will never remove the temptation, but it opens the door for us to receive the power of the Set Apart Spirit to dismantle the attack of the adversary against our freedom as believers. Deliverance is indeed successful when it becomes part of our culture as Kingdom citizens to discern the presence of temptation, resist its influence and make our escape from its presence.

As the Apostle Paul said, "When I would do good, evil is always present." Get accustomed to sin being present, always trying to follow you around. Satan is going to and fro throughout the earth seeking who he may devour. But the people of light have no need to be fearful, for our Elohim has given us power, love and soundness of mind to combat the tactics and strategies of darkness. We are well-equipped to manifest the victory that has already been secured by our Christ!  Our enemy's defeat will not be overturned in our lives, as long as we remain consistent in handling the demonic influences that prey upon our freedom and desire to escort us back into the yoke of bondage.