FOR CHRISTIAN YET IN BONDAGE OF SIN

Just think, before you were saved, you were a slave to your sin,
then Christ made you over again!
But you stuck to your old ways, to your lusts you're still a slave--
why keep causing yourself all of that pain?

What's captured your soul, on your spirit has a hold?
Keeps you falling again and again?
Stop acting at Satan's discretion, from the Holy Spirit take direction,
Begin living like a new man.

You no long have to suffer, GOD's provided you a buffer,
You're more than a conquerer, you know.
You can push Satan away, his will no longer obey,
And his wicked plans for you overthrow!

Now, have you really put up a fight, or tried resisting in your new might,
Or like a lamb are you led to the killing?
GOD is able to keep you from falling, just on HIM keep calling,
HE'll deliver you as soon as you are willing.

Just what is your excuse for all of this self-abuse?
You're a temple of GOD in the making!
How can Christ get the glory--You and your tired, old story--
It is sin you should now be forsaking!

And sin is hard, never easy, but you can give up living sleazy--
Learn to walk away from it like a champ!
You now have the Son and the victory has been won,
And a host of angels around you encamp.

I know the sin's no longer fun--I, too was overcome!
I, also, know whereof it is I speak!
Just purpose in your heart to follow after GOD
And stop living like you are so weak!

You've got to make up your mind to leave the Old Man behind--
He's dead, anyway, can't you see?
Why haul him on your back? Let Christ take up the slack--
C'mon, Brother, live with the free!

You see, who the Son sets free is truly free, indeed
So live abundant life with others of the fold.
Why bother eating with the swine, you can return home anytime--
Trade in your pebbles for nugguts made of gold!

Your are raised in HIS resurrection, you are a new creation--
It's for folks like us our living Saviour died!
Aren't you tired of HIS chastening, all the precious time you're wasting--
In Christ Jesus you can now rest and abide.

Look you might as well come clean, haven't enough punishment you've seen?
This isn't what HE meant by being saved.
Just heed our Saviour's voice and stay your runner's course,
I promise you will see just what I mean!

See, Christ forgave me of my stain, rescued me from all of that pain,
Said, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come on you!"
But I clung to my old life, all it did was cause me strife--
Fell to freebasing coke and tore my life in two!

And then I lost my little home, and then my job--my heart did moan--
But HE had to let me go to the Prodigal's Trough!
But now, Praise GOD, my body is clean, and not on coke, but Christ I lean--
You see, at some point you have got to cry, "ENOUGH!"

You're not the only one, my friend, overtaken by a sin!
HE'll deliver when you're ready to be free!
You can trust HIS holy Word, the things about HIM you have heard,
Begin to take the power of GOD seriously!!

Now, you're in for quite a shock--Galatians Six says GOD's not mocked!
A man will reap exactly what he sows.
If you sow to your sinful nature, let me paint for you the picture--
You'll reap destruction and a life that's full of woes!

But if you sow, the Spirit to please, you'll have life for eternity,
and earn a good reward when Jesus comes.
Work out your salvation seriously, HE's coming back for you and me,
And HE's taking us to our heavenly homes.

Like folks keep saying, "You have a choice!" Start harkening to the Spirit's voice.
HE Who indwells you is HE Who's the Holy Ghost!
Christ suffered just like us, you see, and knows all of our infirmities--
Get with it and stop acting like you're lost.

It is for sinners that Christ died, our sinful natures crucified,
And with it sinful passions and desires.
So keep in step with the Spirit, do all you can to stay near HIM,
and you'll grow to love the GODliness HE inspires!

Don't "dis" your brothers when they come to restore, for your lifestyle GOD abhors,
we're to recapture those taken by Satan at his will.
In meekness they are to restore you, take hold of your life and pull you through,
And when they do this they our Saviour's will fulfill.

Don't be like Adam when he blamed his mate, or like Eve when she dimed on the snake--
Be responsible for the mess made of your new life!
GOD's ready to forgive you your transgression when with sincere heart you make confession--
So cast your cares on HIM so HE can set things right!

The Old Man's battling for his life! You must let the New Man into the fight!!
This struggle's the reason for your spirit feeling torn.
Reckon the Old Man as being dead, your life in Jesus Christ now hid,
You can do it, too, now that you've been reborn!

Listen, the victory has been won and you now can overcome.
For those in Christ there's now no comdemnation!
What shall we say then, shall we contiue in our sin?
GOD forbid, by no means, check your salvation!

It's because of sin that Christ died, beat beyond recognition, then crucified--
Thus you can't keep treating sin lightly as you do!
The Scriptures have a word for those that trample underfoot our LORD--
suffice it to say, "Brother, woe unto you!!"

Get yourself under sound teaching, listen to what the Pastor' preaching,
It's time you learned to wear the whole armor of GOD!
Now open up your Bible, have a good, old-time revival--Get out of the sand--
plant you feet on solid sod!

There is no need to wait, in your shoes I'd not hesitate,
You've got to get these handles off your life.
Now, I do pray your worth your mettle, Christ died so these things could be settled,
So, forget what's behind--just press toward your prize!

Be a tree planted by streams of water, behave the way a Christian ought to,
Let you delight be in the Law of the LORD.
The you will yield your fruit in season and will prosper for this reason,
Meditating day and night upon HIS Word.

Be not like the wicked blown away like chaff or hewn down hay,
GOD watches over the righteous and his way.
Stand not in the way of the sinner, don't you want to be a winner?
Blest is the man whom the LORD's will he'll obey.

Just think--if Christ should come today, would you want to be found this way?
HIS return's imminent--morning, night, or noon!
Take off the garment stained, go back to where your faith began--
I'm telling you the LORD is coming soon!

Your coronation will be sweet standing at the Bema Seat,
A crown of life won for temptations overcome!
HE's the image of the Invisible and from HIM you're indivisible!
And it's in our LORD our victories are won!

Remember to HIM you are wed! HE's the Lifter of our heads,
Go on and run your race out to the end!
Behold, your Old Man has been slain and with the King of kings you'll reign--
Now take off running and with the LORD you'll win!

Valerie Ann Withers c2000