Today’s Readings:
Acts 20:28-38
Psalm 68:29-30,33-36
John 17:11-19
We cannot speak of a relationship with the Holy Spirit without emptying our baggage (our sins). The reason we find it hard to connect with God is because there are sins, we are unwilling to present to Him and to let go of. As we pray for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, let us rid ourselves of any and every sin that clings tightly to us. Jesus prays that we may be consecrated in the truth and not be victims of lies—the lies we tell ourselves. The grace of God will help you break free if you allow it. Repent of your sins as soon as the Holy Spirit convicts you of it, and counselling if you are struggling with serious vice. God will set you free and whoever He sets free is free indeed.
Below are the commandments and sins against them. Time for a little examination of conscience, shall we?
“You shall Worship the Lord Your God and Him only Shall You Serve”: idolatry, divination, magic and sorcery, sacrilege (profaning things consecrated to God) and atheism (rejecting God and seeking human glory, Romans 1:18).
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain”: Blasphemy (lack of love and respect for our Creator, (James 2:7) and false oaths - making promises in God’s name and failing to keep them, (Mt 5:33,34).
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy”: Deliberate failure of Sunday obligation (you must praise God and give him thanks).
“Honour Papa and Mama” (show respect and care for parents).
“You shall not kill”: Murder (wilful homicide), abortion, euthanasia, suicide, scandal (attitude and behaviour that leads another to do evil, Mt 18:6), substance abuse (intoxication damages mental and physical health and endangers your life), gluttony, terrorism (including kidnapping and hostage-taking), extreme anger, extortion (1 Cor 6:9-10). May God deliver all those who harm others or turn to drugs to escape reality, avoid pain or deal with loneliness, rejection and emotional wounds in Jesus’ name.
“You shall not commit adultery”: Adultery (infidelity to one’s spouse), fornication (carnal union between unmarried persons), divorce, pornography, prostitution, rape, homosexual acts, incest and masturbation. Sex is a loving and unifying act between husband and wife; sexual activity outside marriage is a grave sin which attracts a curse.
“You shall not steal”: Theft, cheating, defrauding a worker of his wages, chronic betting, taking advantage of the poor (this act cries to heaven for vengeance, CCC #1867).
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbours”: false witness and perjury (lying under oath), adulation (encouraging others in evil), and lying (done to harm another). Liars are children of Satan “the father of all lies” (John 8:44).
“You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife”: Lust (disordered desire for sexual pleasure). May God help you overcome lust and replace it with Christian love and purity of heart (Matthew 9:28, 5:8).
“You shall not covet anything that is your neighbours”: Avarice (greed for wealth without limit) and envy (sadness over another’s success).
Four other sins are considered grave also. These sins not only offend God but people as well. They are called “the sins that cry to heaven for vengeance” and are likewise mortal sins:
Voluntary murder (Genesis 4:10)
Sodomy and homosexual relations (Genesis 18:20)
Taking advantage of the poor (Exodus 2:23)
Defrauding workers of their wages (James 5:4)
JUDE-MARY OWOH
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”
If you said the prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident reverend, pastor or priest.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, convict me of my sins and give me the grace to unload my baggage. Set me free that I may be free indeed through our Lord. Amen.
No one can see his errors; deliver me, LORD, from hidden faults! (Psalms 19:12).
Come Holy Spirit, reveal to me my hidden faults, help me to confront them in truth save me from my sins through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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