Galatians 5:22-25
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 

 
 
 
 
When we are successful in life and when things are going well for us, what do we think?  Do we think to ourselves, “Wow, I’m such a good athlete, or Wow, I’m such a good father, or Wow, I’m such a hard worker, or Wow, I’m just so smart?”  Is that what we think? 
 

 
 
 
 
 
As we are approaching Easter, I thought that we should take a moment and consider the reason we celebrate Easter – the Resurrection of Christ.
 
1 Corinthians 15:12-19

 
 
 
 
Luke 10:38-42
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

 
 
 
Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and money.
 
In the Bible passage, Jesus clearly tells us that we can only have 1 God in our lives.  God doesn’t want a rival with our time, our emotions, our desires, our energy, and our focus. 
We cannot serve God and table tennis
We cannot serve God and our job
We cannot serve God and our stuff
 

 
 
 
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
 
So what does God want us to do?  As this verse says…
#1 He wants us to lay aside every sin that ensnares us

 
 
Romans 10:9-10
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto rightesousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
 
 
 
 
Pastor John MacArthur remarks about this Bible passage by saying the following...
Confess

 
 
Acts 2:36-39 Peter said, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

 
 
Philipians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.