Part 2 – Consequences of Sin

All sin can be placed under one of these three categories; Inherited, Imputed or Personal. Since every person commits sins repeatedly in these three areas, all of us are guilty of breaking God’s law. All of us fall short of His standards. The scriptures clearly tell us that all sin must be judged and punished. Romans 3:10, “There is no one righteous, not even one.” Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” and Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death.”

Sinning is so severe that even if we break just one of God’s laws - only one time in our life - we are considered guilty and sentenced to death. James 2:10, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” Sin places all of us under the death penalty. No matter what sins we commit, all sin leaves us in a situation where we cannot save ourselves. We need a Savior. Without divine intervention, there would be no hope or rescue.

Sin has immeasurable consequences. In this devotion, we will touch on some of the major areas that sin impacts in our lives. Here are just a few;

Sin Separates Us from God – God is perfect. He is without fault. There is nothing in Him that is corrupt or evil. The scriptures tell us that God is good. They also tell us that God is love. When we make bad choices and break God’s laws we place barriers up that weaken our fellowship with God. His holiness and justice are such that He does not tolerate the presence of evil. "Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you"(Isaiah 59:2). Unconfessed sin also hinders our communication (prayers) with the Father. Psalm 66:18, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”

Sin Creates Conflict in Relationships – "If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other.” Galatians 5:15. The negative affects of sin are devastating in relationships. Envy, strife, jealousy, bitterness, anger, rage, hatred, arrogance, uncontrolled desires, self-pity, inadequacy, etc. all stem from sinful thoughts, behaviors and emotions. Marriages are dissolved, friendships are lost, and families are divided because of sin. This is the basic reason; Godly characteristics are replaced by carnal (worldly) ones.

Sin Affects Our Entire Being – Physically, emotionally, mentally, socially and spiritually – every area of our life is affected by sin. When we do not follow after God’s will and disobey the Word of the Lord we fall prey to the attacks of the enemy. Sickness, disease, mental illness, undue stress, conflict and much more are all related to our fallen nature. Our own actions, thoughts and behaviors determine whether we are blessed or cursed. There is always a heavy price to pay for sin. Proverbs 10:16, “The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.”

Sin Makes Our Witnessing & Testimony Ineffective

For all true believers, God has called us to be witnesses for Him. We are to share the “Good News” with others. Isaiah 43:10, “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD,
“and my servant whom I have chosen.” As followers and servants of the Most High God we are to tell others about His love, mercy, forgiveness and grace. We are to lead others to Christ through our words, actions and behaviors. This is our Christian testimony, “Look what the Lord has done in my life, and how He has saved me and changed my life for the better.” 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

When we continue to sin and allow these negative behaviors to be manifested in our lives, they make our testimony ineffective. When people in the world see us, they should see Jesus Christ in us – not old sinful habits. We should be different than the rest of society. The Bible calls us a “peculiar people.” We are to be a light that shines in the darkness. Matthew 5:14, “You (believers) are the light of the world.” When we live in continual sin, we block out His glorious light.

Key Scripture Verse for this Lesson:
Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Part 3 – Practical Ways to Overcome Sin

Step 1 – Obey God

Today in our series we will begin to explore some practical ways we can overcome sin. It’s not always easy, but it is possible to live a life that glorifies God. The Bible tells us in 1 Samuel 15:22 “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice…” Obeying the commands, precepts and principles of God are absolutely vital to overcoming our tendency to sin.

When we think of God’s commandments we automatically think of the Ten Commandments that were given to Moses. The 10 commandments come to us from Exodus 20:1-17. Here are the verses:

And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
    
2. You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
    
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
    
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
    
5. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
    
6. You shall not murder.
    
7. You shall not commit adultery.
    
8. You shall not steal.
    
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
    
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Jesus gave us a perfect summation of these commandments in just two (Law of Christ); “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Throughout the Bible there are hundreds of commands (laws) from God. Basically, they can all be broken down into three main categories –

Ceremonial Laws: Those showing the Israelites how to worship God and atone for sin (the sacrificial system). This was done away with by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Messiah) on the cross of Calvary.

Civil Laws: Those intended to make the Israelites distinct from other nations (the food and clothing rules for example). Every nation, state and city has many civil laws based on the needs of our modern society to maintain order.

Moral Laws: Those showing how to love, honor, and please God. Also, how we are to love, respect and treat others.

Most of the Laws do not apply to us today. They were intended for the nation of Israel, not Christians. However, God’s moral laws are eternal and apply to all generations.

Many people think of God’s commandments (His moral laws) as being oppressive. They believe God is trying to take all the “fun” out of life. Nothing could be further from the truth. God’s commandments or laws are there to guide us to successful and productive lives. They keep us from making massive mistakes and failures. They were put in place for our benefit - to free us from the bonds of sin. They provide us with a genuine standard for moral living and personal conduct. None of us, except Jesus Christ, can completely reach this standard; however, it gives us something to aim for – in striving for perfection we may obtain excellence.

A real beginning point in our battle with sin is to obey God’s moral laws. We must know them, understand them, meditate upon them and carry them out in our daily lives. One of the reasons Jesus (God) came in human form was to be a living example for us. He lived a sinless, perfect life to show us the better way (1 John 3:5). As Christians, we are only able to achieve success and victory in this area through the power of the Spirit of God.     

Key Scripture Verse for this Lesson:

Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I (Jesus) have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

Part 3 – Practical Ways to Overcome Sin

Step 2 – Exercise your Spiritual Muscle

As human beings, we were created in God’s image. That means we have many characteristics that are God like. For example, God is a triune being (God has three distinct persons or personalities) – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is One God, but is able to manifest (materialize) Himself in three different forms. This is a great mystery and difficult for us to explain or understand. Nonetheless, He is God and quite capable of doing this. Likewise, we also are triune beings (made up of three distinct parts) – body, soul and spirit. Let’s take a moment to define each part and its role in our existence.

Body (a.k.a. the flesh) – The complete material structure or physical form of a human being. It is the corruptible (temporary) part of mankind that houses the soul and spirit. The body enables us to function in and experience the natural world. One could say it is the “shell” that houses the real, eternal person.

Soul – The nonphysical aspect of person: the complex of human attributes that manifests as consciousness, thought, feeling, and will. Feelings can be described as a person's emotional and moral nature, where the most private thoughts and feelings are hidden.

Spirit – The spirit is the eternal link between man and God. It is the vital force that characterizes a human being as being alive. The spirit lasts forever (just as God is a spirit). The soul and spirit are closely linked together.

Since the fall of mankind we have been involved in a constant battle. The flesh (carnal person) is at war with the spirit. The soul is in the middle of the struggle. The challenge is to get our soul to align with our spirit and not the flesh. The alignment that becomes the strongest will win this lifelong battle and determine our ultimate destiny.

Just as our physical bodies need the right nutrients and exercise to function properly, the same principles apply to our spiritual lives. God has given us numerous “weapons, tools or gifts” to help us in our battle to overcome sin. However, it is up to us to acquire, exercise and utilize them. So, what are these weapons? Let’s list the main ones:

Weapon #1 God’s Written Word (The Bible)

God has given us His owner’s manual for life. Just as we receive an owners manual with a new car purchase, God has provided us with a similar tool. In order to maintain our car and keep it running at optimum levels, we must follow the makers operating instructions. We must do scheduled maintenance, use good driving techniques and know the vehicles options and functions. The Bible gives us such instructions. It is the clear, consistent and trustworthy words from God Almighty on how to live a victorious, successful and purposeful life. We must read, understand, and follow its instructions on a daily basis. Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Weapon #2 Jesus Christ the Living Word

Jesus was sent to earth to be our living example of righteous living. 1 Peter 2:21, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps.” He demonstrates for us the ultimate example of a perfect human being, without sin, spot or wrinkle. 1 John3:5, “But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.” As believers, we are to pattern our lives after His. The popular phrase, “What would Jesus do?” is a very good idea to put into practice. If we determine to think, act and respond like Jesus in our daily lives, we are well on our way to defeating sin and pleasing God.

Weapon #3 The Holy Spirit

When Jesus ascended back to heaven He promised to send us an Advocate. John 14:25-26, “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” This promised was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost. As believers today, we now have the advantage of having the Holy Spirit dwelling within us (1 Corinthians 6:19). We must seek His assistance in our daily walk. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin (the world calls this action our conscience). He leads us to all truth. He draws us closer to Christ. He enlightens us in the knowledge and teachings of the Lord. When we seek and ask Him, He will be our daily guide, our source of strength; giving us victory over sin.  

Weapon #4 Christian Fellowship

The scriptures tell us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” ~ Proverbs 27:17. We need mature Christian friends in which to confide. When we are around mature followers of Christ, we become stronger in our faith. We need others to keep us accountable. We are able to confess our faults one to another. We can pray for one another. When we are down, there will be someone there to pick us up. When we begin to stray from the faith, there will be someone there to help us get back on the right path. Christian fellowship is essential to continued growth and stability.

Weapon #5 The Church

There is something special that takes place when the Body of Christ gathers together. There is strength in numbers. “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” ~ Ecclesiastes 4:12. Nothing is better than corporate worship and prayer. Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three gather in my name (Jesus), there am I with them.” When we join together there is great power and anointing. Hearing the Word of God being preached on a regular basis builds us up in the faith. Romans 10:17, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Whenever possible gather together with other believers. We will find love, encouragement, acceptance, accountability, support and strength in the body of Christ. We need all of these things to live an overcoming life in God. 

The above list is a mere handful of the weapons we have to defeat the enemy - sin. There are certainly many, many more. However, for any of them to be effective we must put them into practice. We must exercise our spiritual gifts and muscles everyday – this is walking in the Spirit. In doing so we become strong in the Lord and the power of His might. When our soul and our spirit are aligned, together they will always overcome the flesh and our sin nature. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law.” ~ Galatians 5:16-18.

Just as loving parents are overjoyed when their children listen to them and obey, God is no different. By exercising our spiritual muscle we allow Him to shape and mold us into His image. We are then assured of a blessed life here on earth and in the life to come.

Key Scripture Verse for this Lesson:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Part 3 – Practical Ways to Overcome Sin

Step 3 – Avoid Temptation

Since we live in a natural world, temptations are everywhere. Temptations fall into three basic categories; the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. 1 John 2:16, “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” Everyone is tempted in these three areas. It’s important to understand that temptation alone is not sin. It becomes sin when we entertain the temptation, mull it over in our minds, and then decide to act upon it. That’s when it becomes full-blown sin. However, it is quite clear that all sin begins with a single thought and progresses from there. Ponder these words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount;

Matthew 5:27-28, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Even when Jesus was on the earth He was tempted by Satan. Matthew 4:1, “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Of course, Jesus never gave in to these temptations. Instead, He showed us how to overcome temptation by quoting from God’s word (Matthew 4:1-11). In this story, Satan was attacking Jesus when He was weak; He had fasted for forty days. This is an excellent example for all of us on how to deal with temptation.

Let’s be clear about this one thing, Satan is the tempter and deceiver. God does not tempt us. James 1:13 says, “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;” Yes it is true, God may test us from time to time. He does allow trials and adverse circumstances to happen in our lives. In doing so, we learn to overcome these trials and become stronger, more mature in our faith.

As unique individuals, all of us have areas of strengths and weaknesses. We all have vulnerabilities. The key aspect of learning to overcome sin is to understand and recognize our areas of weakness. All people are different. One person may have a weakness when it comes to alcohol. Another may be more tempted by sexual material and situations. Still another may be susceptible to the draw of power, possessions or money. The enemy (Satan) will try to temp and exploit us in our vulnerabilities. Therefore, it’s important for us to avoid placing ourselves in unguarded situations. Here are some practical examples;

If someone has a problem with alcohol, don’t go to places that serve it liberally. Stay away from bars, drinking parties, and people that push the consumption of alcoholic drinks. If someone has a problem with sexual temptations, don’t look at sexually explicit material – Internet, magazines, movies, television shows, etc. They should guard against visual temptations. If someone has a problem with gambling, stay away from casinos, horse racing tracks, and party stores that promote the sale of lottery tickets.

We must be confident that it is perfectly fine to remove ourselves from places and persons that cause our weaknesses to be exposed and exploited. Weaknesses must not be allowed to grow and develop into detrimental spiritual strongholds. Remember the old expression, “Out of sight – out of mind.” When we are not seeing, hearing and thinking about temptations they will not be a problem. The true victory over temptation and sin will take place in the mind.

The Apostle Paul addressed these mind battle issues in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and WE TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT TO MAKE IT OBEDIENT TO CHRIST.”

Another way to keep temptation under control is to find accountability partners. These are trusted friends that are mature and strong in the Lord. We can confess our faults to them knowing they will keep it confidential, pray for us and speak the truth in love. They will not be afraid to challenge us when we are going astray. James 5:16 states “Therefore confess your faults (sins) to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

In addition, there is no greater way to defeat temptation than to keep focused on Jesus; the author and finisher of our faith. When we concentrate on Him, everything else diminishes and becomes secondary. When we keep our mind pure, thinking good and wholesome thoughts, we will then be well on our way to putting temptation in its rightful place – under the Lordship of Christ. Philippians 4:6-8, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  

Key Scripture Verse for this Lesson:

1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”


Part 3 – Practical Ways to Overcome Sin

Step 4 – Confess Christ Openly

Matthew 5:14, “You (Christians) are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”

There should be no such thing as a “closet Christian.” We are to be like a light that shines on a hill for all to see. In other words, if someone is a true believer in Jesus Christ everyone they come into contact with should know it. Not by being proud or boastful. Not by condemning unbelievers or dealing with them in harsh ways. Not by trying to push or force our Christian beliefs on them, or judging them unduly, or blasting them when declaring the truth – but by demonstrating the loving qualities of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. We should come across as loving, sweet, kind, confident, caring and compassionate individuals. In a true believer these characteristics grow, develop and move naturally to the forefront for all to see.

Certainly, the words, actions and attitudes of Christians should be different from non-believers. People should be able to see Christ manifested (exhibited) in the life of a brother or sister in the Lord. So, why is it that some people who profess to be Christians never verbalize or exhibit their faith to others? Why is it difficult to distinguish some Christians from non-believers? Here are some key reasons:

They know they are not living in a manner that is glorifying to God. They have allowed the world to influence their words, attitudes and behaviors. Instead of impacting the world for Christ, they have allowed the world to impact them. The scriptures are very clear in this matter. Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

When we are not living an overcoming life that is pleasing to God we become powerless and ineffective. We do not witness or testify. We do not reflect the character and nature of God to others. Our testimony is without validity and substance. Many sinners watch Christians closely. They look for flaws, ungodly attitudes and behaviors. If they spot Christians acting in worldly ways then they can justify their own disobedient actions. One might hear them say something like this; “You see, he calls himself a Christian and he’s doing the things that I do.” or “I don’t see how they’re any different than me!”

If we truly desire to live an overcoming life, defeat sin and be an effective ambassador for Christ, we must be set apart (sanctified) from the world. 2 Corinthians 6:17 tells us, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.” This does not mean we live isolated, completely out of touch from sinners or normal society. We are to be in the world, but not of the world. We are to be a light that shines in the darkness. Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Another reason some Christians do not openly profess their faith in Christ is this; they love the things and pleasures of this world too much. They want the best of both worlds – spiritual and natural. They want to hang on to their sins, but still have the benefits of Christ as their Savior. Basically, they are lukewarm Christians. Jesus is not the Lord (Master, Controller) of their lives. Listen to what God has to say about being lukewarm. Revelation 3:15-16, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

God is not pleased with lukewarm Christianity. He wants us to make a choice. Either serve Him wholeheartedly with honor and energy, or go back and live like the world. Divided hearts accomplish nothing. Luke 16:13, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other...” By bolding proclaiming and living for Christ we are making a solid stand. Remember, if one does not stand for something, then in reality they stand for nothing.

By choosing to openly confess Christ we let the whole world know where we stand; and our stand is on a solid foundation. A person that builds their life on this foundation can withstand any trial, storm or temptation that comes their way. Proclaiming that we are ambassadors for Christ, with everyone observing our life, will cause us to think hard about the choices we make. We will not want to do anything that brings a reproach or shame to the kingdom of God.

There is no doubt about this one thing. The sins of this world are pleasurable – but only for a short season. They are temporary with catastrophic consequences. Living an overcoming Christian life pays great dividends - now and in the future. The rewards are beyond imagination and forever. In fact, they are heavenly!

Key Scripture Verse for this Lesson:

Romans 1:16-17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. ¹⁷ For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Part 3 – Practical Ways to Overcome Sin

Step 5 – Pray Fervently

Perhaps the most essential element in overcoming sin is prayer. In the life of a Christian, nothing is more powerful or vital than continual communication with our Heavenly Father. Unfortunately, many believers fall short in this area. A lack of prayer demonstrates a lack of faith and a lack of trust in God’s Word and His promises. The Bible has much to say about prayer. In James 5:16 we are told, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Let’s be honest, prayer is not always easy, in fact, it takes great discipline and hard work to develop a consistent prayer life.

Remember what happened to the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane? Jesus asked His most trusted friends to keep watch and pray for just one hour. Jesus went away to pray and when He returned He found the disciples asleep. Mark 14:37-38, “Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” If this can happen to the apostles, it can most certainly happen to the best of us.

Prayer is almost like wanting to loose weight. The spirit wants to do the right thing, but our flesh is weak. When we know we have gained too many pounds, we need to take action to make a change. No one likes to diet and exercise. It takes a strong will to maintain a program that will give the results we desire. Once started it is important to maintain the routine (make it a habit). This is the point where many fail. There are too many distractions, too many temptations and too much sacrifice and pain. In order to overcome all of these obstacles, it’s necessary for us to keep the main goals in mind; better health and more attractive appearance.

Likewise, vigilant prayer must be stimulated by clear-cut spiritual goals. A strong desire to be used by God in greater ways, answers to prayer needs, an increased anointing, greater faith and strength, these are some positive goals that keep us moving forward. Without well-defined prayer goals or targets, prayer may become boring and seem like drudgery. If this happens, a Christian may become prayerless.  Keep this formula in mind, No Prayer = No Power.

One of the greatest benefits of prayer is that it helps us to become more like Jesus and puts us in tune with the Holy Spirit. It helps us to place things into perspective, to separate the mundane from the important. Prayer increases our spiritual discernment, especially when we are not sure what to pray. Romans 8:26-27, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

The Bible instructs us to pray as a means of overcoming temptation. Mark 14:38, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Prayer gives us the strength we need to defeat sin. Even Jesus prayed for strength from the Father. And if Jesus needed to pray, how much more do we need to pray?

We make our prayers doubly effective when we combine them with the word of God. Reading and memorizing the scriptures give us God’s direction and will for our lives. When we know God’s word, we will do God’s will.  “Meditate on it (God’s word) day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.”  ~ Joshua 1:8. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” ~ Psalm 119:11.

Developing the spiritual discipline of prayer is an essential part of our Christian walk. Open communication is a dynamic part of any relationship. If we truly desire to overcome sin and live wholeheartedly for God we must keep the communication lines open and allow God’s Spirit to flow through us.

Key Scripture Verse for this Lesson:

Matthew 26:41, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

 

Part 4 – Summary

Over the past few weeks we have discussed some practical ways to overcome sin. Whether we battle inherited, imputed or personal sin, make no mistake about it, the struggle between the spirit and the flesh is an ongoing battle. Galatians 5:17, “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

The flesh seeks to do that which is opposed to God. It lusts after self gratification. It’s in our very nature to sin. In our own strength we cannot prevail – sin will overtake us. But, through Christ we can do all things. Gratefully, when we give our hearts and lives over to the Lord He equips us to win the battle. He gives us everything we need to be victorious.

Ephesians 6:10-17, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” 

God is pulling for us, He is on our side. He calls us to be overcomers, not to trust in ourselves, but to trust in the power of His might. His desire is for us to live a life that glorifies Him and blesses others. The only way to accomplish this is to stay faithfully grounded in the Lord. Psalm 61:2-4, “ ² From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock (Jesus) that is higher than I. ³ For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. ⁴ I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.”

God will always do His part in our relationship with Him. He will never let us down. He will never leave us nor forsake us. On the flip side, we must be diligent and do our part. Our part is to do the practical, everyday things that help us to overcome sin. Let’s take a few moments to recap some of those major steps.

Step 1 – Obey God – Sounds pretty simple, but without developing spiritual discipline this will be a hard thing to do. We must actively pursue God and His righteousness at all times and under all circumstances. The enemy will look for cracks in our armor and exploit them if we are not watchful and careful.

Step 2 – Exercise your Spiritual Muscle – Do the things that strengthen the Spirit on a daily, even moment by moment basis; Read and Study God’s Word, Imitate Jesus – He is our Perfect Example, Invite the Holy Spirit to Instruct, Lead and Guide, Associate with Other Mature Believers, and Attend a Good Bible-Preaching/Teaching Church. By following these steps, growth, faith and strength will come naturally.   

Step 3 – Avoid Temptation – We should know our strengths and definitely our areas of weakness. Avoiding situations, events and people that cause us to stumble is a wise thing to do. We may have to stop doing some of the things we enjoy, and/or even break off some relationships that are not uplifting to us. God will honor any sacrifices that are made and replace them with something better and more enduring.

Step 4 – Confess Christ Openly – When we let the world know we are Christians, we are taking a stand for all to see. We then become more aware of our words and actions, realizing we are representing not just our self, but Christ. By doing so, we develop a sensitive, humble and bold spirit. The Word of God tells us to not be ashamed of our relationship with God and the Word of Truth. We are to boldly proclaim Him in a spirit of love. A strong testimony is vital to being a trusted and effective witness for Christ.  

Step 5 – Pray Fervently – Prayer is an absolute necessity to overcoming sin and living for God. It places us in tune with God’s Spirit and His will. Broken communication is followed by broken relationship. A Christian who does not have an active prayer life is on a road that is veering away from God. They are spiritually dry, weak and easily deceived. Prayer keeps us on that straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life.

Finally, every Christian has the opportunity to live a victorious life in Christ. Jesus has given us everything we need to be overcomers. The question is, “Will we choose to do what it takes to win the battle against sin?” “Will we determine in our hearts to live wholeheartedly for God – to be a shinning witness for Him and a testimony of His goodness and love. That’s why we have a free will. We have the freedom to determine our own course of action on the road of life. For those who do overcome and live for God there awaits a great inheritance. It cannot even be imagined or dreamed of by our limited perspective. But if we remain true and faithful we will one day claim the prize that awaits.

Scripture Verse for this Lesson:

1 Peter1:3-7, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 

 

 

Devotion Completed October 25, 2011