A closer walk by overcoming sin

Sin, its a killer!

We become a Christian we have our sins forgiven (Act2:38) They are washed away by the blood of Jesus (Rev1:5); removed as far as East is from the West (Ps103:12).

Yet sin is still at large and as Christians we still sin

Turn to

1 John 1:8 “8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” then read

1 John 1:10 “10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”

Satan even though he is a defeated foe still tries his best to cause us to sin - Ref, summarize

1 Peter 5:8 “8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

So, we, as Christians, who wish we could be sinless, need to learn to sin less can know this,

TURN TO

1 John 2:1–2 “1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

So, this morning, in my time I want to look

How sin develops

How to overcome sin

How Sin Develops Picture Here

Enticement /desire (Jm1:14)

James 1:14 “14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.”

A strong desire for something, a lust for something. 1Jn2:16 says, lust of the flesh, reflecting back to Gen2:6 saw that the tree was good for food, there was the enticement.

Temptation (Desire + opportunity) look there are the cookies in the cookie jar.

Even Jesus was tempted yet did not sin

PARAPHRASE

Hebrews 4:15 “15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”

Then when Temptation takes root it can, will become sin. Temptation is not sin, repeat it, temptation is not sin, what you do with it is.

Temptation gives birth to sin

Turn to and read

James 1:15 “15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”

It becomes the act of sin, and the wages of sin is death when we act on it.

Sin = separation from God (Isa59:2)

Those in this state without Christ die eternally in eternal punishment, second death (Rev21:8) for there is no forgiveness

SIN ITS A KILLER SLIDE HERE

Sin, it needs to be stopped in its tracks.

God has made us to be more than conquerors

Romans 8:37 “37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” - yes, that is sin

He has given us ways to stop the development of sin before it gets to the action of sin that leads to death.

How to overcome Sin Picture here

Change our desires

By renewing our minds (Rom12:1-2)

By crucifying the flesh (Gal5:24) - - - - just summarize it

Galatians 5:24 “24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

How? Glad you asked

Put God’s word in

Psalm 119:11 “11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”

Summarize Matthew 4:3–4: man cannot live on bread alone but by word of God

God’s word can change our desires

Reminds us of our salvation, God’s mercy and desire to serve (Ps116:12-14)

Reminds us of where we were, who we were, damned (PS119:104)

When we know, study God’s word we are more likely to change our desires and to sin less.

When we change our desires, we sin less and we nip the desire in the bud!

Next, limit our opportunities to sin

Remember first was desire + opportunity so we need to cut off the opportunity. We are working on changing our desires, we cut off the opportunity to sin

Ask for God’s providential help (Summarize)

Matthew 6:13 “13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’”

Avoid dangerous situations that can bring wrongful desires (TURN TO)

Psalm 101:3–4 “3 I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me. 4 A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know no evil.”

I love what Job said (quote) Job 31:1 “1 “I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin?”

(READ PS101:6-7 you are already there)

Psalm 101:6–7 “6 My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; He who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me. 7 He who practices deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who speaks falsehood shall not maintain his position before me.”

Paul gives a warning too (just quote)

1 Corinthians 15:33 “33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.””

If we are honest, we cannot remove every desire, we cannot avoid every opportunity, so we need to exercise self-control, our next way to overcome sin.

Self-control

Self control is taking desire+opportunity and not allowing it to be put into action; in other words allowing it to become sin.

Remember self-control is part of fruit of the Spirit (Gal5:22-23)

Oh, and it is not our fruit, it is the Spirits fruit, fruit, Given when you were saved (Act2:38).

That Spirit strengthens us (summarize)

Ephesians 3:16 “16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,”

So, by the power of the Spirit, strength given to put to death the deeds of the body (Rom8:12-13).

Do you believe that? Think of this

(quote)

Ephesians 3:20 “20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,” - - - - talk about self-control, that is God control, giving us the ability for self-control so not to loose control, and give into sin because of the desire+temptation+ opportunity+action= sins which leads to death.

We are not fighting alone, we have the Spirit as just mentioned, but also see these verses, turn in your bibles to

(HAVE EVERYONE TURN TO PHP2:12-13)

Philippians 2:12–13 “12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

We, as a Christian have no excuse to yield to sin. God gives us a way out

turn to and read

1 Corinthians 10:13 “13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

OVERCOMING SIN PICTURE HERE

God has equipped us to be more than conquerors over sin

His Word, His Son, His Forgiveness, His promises

God has equipped us by His power by

The word of His power

It will guard you and protect you (2The3:3)

Provide you a means of escape (1Cor10:13)

The Spirit

And when we fall short look at (turn with me to 1Jn2:1-2) as a reminder

1 John 2:1–2 “1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

Remember we were dead, separated from God (Isa59:2) but God (Eph2:5) made us alive in Christ by grace through faith (Eph2:8).

Don’t forget who you were, don’t forget who is out there trying to put desires before you, to temp you, that is why he is called the tempter at times, the deceiver! Don’t be led away by him. Grow closer to God by these simple tools we have talked about today. Continue to walk in victory over sin each and every day from the first day of victory

(put baptism picture previously used here) - do invitation here)