Prison Life? Temptation and How To Overcome It

Introduction (5m)

Norman Stanley Fletcher loved prison life

Porridge - 1974-1977. BBC/UK Gold. Described as “an habitual criminal” by judge who sentences him. Sees prison life as part of life.

Most people don’t want the prison life

Most people in prison want to get out.

Those working at jobs, paying bills, eating food, having fun, etc. don’t want to go.

They love life and freedom.

And yet many people feel trapped

There is some force that encourages them to live life a particular way

To overindulge - get drunk, eat too much; to indulge sexual appetites; to accumulate more stuff; wear particular clothes; go on particular holidays, etc.

Bad habits they can’t get rid of.

Paul would say there are enslaved to sin.

Before we get too carried away about this being a problem for other people, many Christians find themselves entrapped by sin too

Patterns of sinful behaviour we can’t get out of Trapped. Christian life becomes prison life.

What is the solution to the problem? What is the key to unlocking this prison life?

Explanation (5m)

Be free from sin through union with Jesus Christ so that God’s perfect righteous holds power over you instead

Romans 6:18 TPT

And now you celebrate your freedom from your former master—sin. You’ve left its bondage, and now God’s perfect righteousness holds power over you as his loving servants.

God’s grace gives us the freedom and power to choose to be slaves to God rather than slaves to sin

Not that we will be perfect and always do the right thing/obey God’s commands.

We continue to have freedom to act in disobedience to God.

But sin no longer controls us. Righteous now has power over us. We more easily recognise that sin is enslaving and steer clear of it as much as we can in power of HS.

Paul reminds his readers that this is not freedom to do what we want

Romans 6:15 NLT

Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!

Paul recognises that to help us avoid falling back into being slaves to sin, we need a framework to live by

A framework that enhances freedom God gives us.

It involves a change of heart. Transformation from within. It is following Christ’s teaching, making that the standard, the framework, for belief and behaviour.

Application (5m)

Paul encourages us to find freedom, to overcome temptation, by staying within this framework

To walk the walk, to live for Christ, to be dead to sin.

Doesn’t happen automatically - it’s a choice to make day by day. What can help us make the right choice each time?

In context of TSA, one of the best weapons we have is the Soldier’s Covenant

Many Salvationists see this as prison life rather than freedom. Why?

What’s the first thing you remember the Soldier’s Covenant says?

Many:

I will abstain from alcoholic drink, tobacco, the non-medical use of addictive drugs, gambling, pornography, the occult and all else that could enslave the body or spirit.

We see Soldier’s Covenant as list of do’s and don’ts.

But it is so much more than that - it is a framework for freedom

I will be responsive to the Holy Spirit's work and obedient to His leading in my life, growing in grace through worship, prayer, service and the reading of the Bible. I will make the values of the Kingdom of God and not the values of the world the standard for my life.

Worship, prayer, service, and Bible study help us to grow in holiness, to ensure HS has control over every part of our lives, so we are free from sin’s control.

I will uphold Christian integrity in every area of my life, allowing nothing in thought, word or deed that is unworthy, unclean, untrue, profane, dishonest or immoral.

Upholding Christian integrity in all areas of life means we are free from prison of trying to remember all the lies we’ve told, freedom from shame, guilt, from knowing we have failed God and others.

I will maintain Christian ideals in all my relationships with others; my family and neighbours, my colleagues and fellow salvationists, those to whom and for whom I am responsible, and the wider community.

Maintaining Christian ideals in all our relationships with others frees us from the prison of hate, negativity, impatience, nastiness, faithlessness, and viciousness and gives us the freedom to truly love others, to find joy in our relationships, to live in peace instead of in constant conflict, to become more patient and kind, to treat each other gently and to retain self-control.

I will uphold the sanctity of marriage and of family life. I will be a faithful steward of my time and gifts, my money and possessions, my body, my mind and my spirit, knowing that I am accountable to God.

Upholding the sanctity of marriage and family life would mean those in our households could live in freedom from fear and worry.

Being a faithful steward means time, our gifts, skills, and abilities and our money and possessions don’t trap us but free us to do things for God.

Even this clause which is difficult for some, brings freedom rather than imprisonment:

I will abstain from alcoholic drink, tobacco, the non-medical use of addictive drugs, gambling, pornography, the occult and all else that could enslave the body or spirit.

Do you know the best way to avoid becoming addicted to alcohol? Never touch it. Do you know the best way to avoid becoming trapped into a nicotine habit? Never smoke it. Do you know how to stay away from the prison life that drug addicts live in? Never take drugs unless medically prescribed to you. Do you know how not to fall into the trap of wasting your money away on gambling? Never gamble. Do you know how to avoid the utterly mendacious prison of pornography? Never look at it.

In fact, you could use this clause to help you avoid anything that might enslave your body or spirit: too much food, to much social media, too much television, too many new gadgets, shoes, handbags, anything.

I will be faithful to the purposes for which God raised up The Salvation Army, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, endeavouring to win others to Him, and in His name caring for the needy and the disadvantaged.

Keeps us free from the prison of being self-centred and self-obsessed. Ensures we are focused on others rather than ourselves.

I will be actively involved, as I am able, in the life, work, worship and witness of the corps, giving as large a proportion of my income as possible to support its ministries and the worldwide work of the Army.

Whilst we have to be careful to get the right balance between work - family life - Army life, the more time we spend in work and worship here, the less time we have to fall into some of the traps, the prisons, out there.

And if we give as large a proportion of our income in supporting SA mission, then we have less to spend on those things that might entrap us.

We are free - we simply need to live in freedom

The Soldier’s Covenant can help us. We can commit/recommit to it today. We can leave prison life behind by being willing to obey God.

Is God calling you to make the commitment to freedom today by becoming a soldier?

Is God calling you back to the old wells? Asking you to recommit your life to him as a soldier?

Is God calling you to holiness of body, mind, and soul?

If God is speaking then we must obey:

Next Steps

Video: Obedience

Lord, I hear your knocking,

Hear your voice appealing:

'Open the door of your heart;

Let me enter in and take the centre of your life, controlling every part.

Come follow me on the way of the cross,

This is the moment you must start!’

Lord, I respond to your claims on my life

With obedience to all that you will ask;

Following you in the way of the cross,

This will be my task.

Lord, I know your prompting,

Know your Spirit’s urging:

'Be my disciple today!

Make my will your choice and heed no other voice that calls to walk another way.

Come follow me on the way of the cross,

This is the moment to obey’.

Lord, I know your presence,

Hear your call to service:

'Be what I want you to be!

Servant to your brothers, give your life for others as I did on Calvary;

Come follow me on the way of the cross,

This is the moment to be free!’

Your cross my task.

Chick Yuill/John Martin