04/02/2025
Title: Is It Possible to Live a Holy or Righteous Life in Our World Today?
Introduction:
Friends, I want to ask you a question today: Is it really possible to live a holy or righteous life in our world today? I know this is something many of us struggle with. We have the desire to live for God, to do what is right, and yet, we find ourselves failing again and again. But here’s the good news: It is not only possible—it is exactly the kind of life God has called us to live. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can live the victorious life that God desires for us. But why is it that so many of us struggle, even after confessing Christ as Lord and Savior? Even after committing ourselves to follow God? Let’s dig into that today, as we explore what’s really happening and what we need to do to fully experience the transformation that the Holy Spirit brings.
The Struggle: Why Do We Fast and Pray Yet Struggle?
Many of us have experienced this: we fast, we pray, we commit ourselves to living a righteous life, but the struggle still continues. After confessing Jesus as our Lord and Savior, why do we still face the same sins, the same temptations? Why is the Holy Spirit, who we know is supposed to empower us, not fully taking over and helping us in our struggles?
The answer, as we see from Scripture and personal experience, lies in one key issue: we haven’t truly made up our mind to turn away from sin. Let me say it clearly: true transformation requires a decision, an intentional turning away from sin, and true repentance. Without this, the Holy Spirit finds it difficult to fully work in our lives.
A Personal Experience: The Struggle to Overcome the Sin of Lying
I want to share a bit of my own personal journey with you, as it will shed light on what we’re discussing. I remember a time in my life when I was struggling with a particular sin—the sin of lying. No matter how much I prayed or fasted, I found myself caught in a cycle of deceit. I would tell myself, “I’m committed to living for God, I’m going to do what is right,” but time and time again, I would fall into the habit of lying.
I asked myself, Why is this so difficult? Why am I not experiencing the transformation I was expecting?
One day, after fasting and praying, I was heading home, and as I was meditating on why I was still struggling with this sin, the answer came to me: I hadn’t fully made up my mind to live differently. I hadn’t decided that, no matter what—no matter the challenges or the cost—I would turn away from this particular sin. It wasn’t until I made that firm decision, saying, “From this moment on, I will no longer go back to lying,” that I began to experience the help of the Holy Spirit in a powerful way.
I realized that true repentance isn’t just about saying, “I’m sorry.” It’s about a deep, heartfelt decision to walk away from sin and walk toward righteousness. Once I made that decision, I began to experience the strength of the Holy Spirit, and the struggle with the sin of lying became easier to overcome. The Holy Spirit began to work in me, empowering me to live the life God had called me to.
The Importance of True Repentance:
The Bible tells us that repentance is key to experiencing the work of the Holy Spirit. Repentance isn’t just about feeling sorry for our sin; it’s about a deep, intentional decision to change. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 4:17, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This means a complete change of mind, a turning away from our old ways and a commitment to live in the new way of the Spirit.
We see this in 2 Corinthians 7:10, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” The difference here is key: godly sorrow results in true repentance, which brings about lasting change. This is where the work begins. We cannot rely on prayer and fasting alone if our heart is not truly ready to make that change. It starts with the decision to repent.
Faith Without Works Is Dead:
James 2:26 tells us that “faith without works is dead.” This is important. Yes, we believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, we believe that Jesus has made us righteous through His death and resurrection. But if we do not put action behind that faith, we will not experience the fullness of what God has for us. It’s not enough to simply pray and fast. We must actively cooperate with the Holy Spirit.
When we make the decision to turn away from sin, we are putting our faith into action. We are saying, “I believe that Jesus has made me righteous, and I am choosing to live that way, by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Without this decision and action, the Holy Spirit has no space to work in us.
How Do We Cooperate with the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is always available, but we must make room for Him. Let me break this down step by step:
1. Make a firm decision: The first step is to make up your mind. Romans 6:11 says, “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” This is a decision. We have to count ourselves dead to sin. You can’t continue in sin while claiming to be in Christ. The decision must come first—no more going back to the old ways.
2. True repentance: As we discussed, true repentance means turning away from sin. It’s not just saying, “I’m sorry,” but actively choosing to live differently. This is where fasting and prayer come in. While they are powerful tools, they are effective only when paired with a true change of heart. Matthew 3:8 says, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” This means that our actions must align with our decision to repent.
3. Submit to the Holy Spirit: After making the decision to repent, we must submit to the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:13 says, “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” It is only through the Holy Spirit that we can overcome sin. But we must allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. This involves surrendering control and allowing Him to empower us to live according to God’s will.
4. Faith and works: As James 2:26 tells us, faith without works is dead. We must act on the faith we have in Christ. This is where we actively resist temptation, walk in the Spirit, and choose to live righteously. Galatians 5:16 says, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” We must walk in the Spirit, day by day, making choices that align with God’s Word.
5. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead: Finally, we must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. He is our helper, the one who empowers us to live the righteous life that God has called us to. John 14:26 tells us that the Holy Spirit will teach us and remind us of everything Jesus said. We need to follow His guidance and trust that He will lead us into all truth.
Conclusion:
So, why is it that the Holy Spirit seems to find it difficult to take over and empower us against sin? It’s because we have not fully made up our minds to turn away from sin. We haven’t fully repented. We haven’t allowed the Holy Spirit to take complete control. We cannot expect the Holy Spirit to empower us when we are still clinging to sin. The Bible makes it clear that we must actively cooperate with the Holy Spirit. Faith without works is dead. We must choose to act on the faith we have in Christ, to make the decision to turn away from sin, and to fully submit to the power of the Holy Spirit.
The transformation you are seeking, the victory over sin, and the righteous life you desire are all possible through the Holy Spirit. But it requires your active participation—making the decision, repenting, and allowing the Holy Spirit to take over. This is the life God has called us to, and with His help, we can live it.
Call to Action:
I challenge you today: Have you made the decision to truly turn away from sin? Are you ready to fully submit to the Holy Spirit and let Him work in your life? Don’t just rely on prayer and fasting. Take action. Step into the life of righteousness that God has already made available to you through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ministering: Tolulope Olowoyeye