Feeding the Winning Part and Starving the Sinning Part of Yo
Feeding the Winning Part and Starving the Sinning Part of You
December 11, 2004 and December 12, 2004
Romans 13 NASB
14/But aput on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh bin regard to its lusts.[1] /
-The word for “provision” there means forethought. We know what provisions are. If you are planning to feed something whether it be your kids or your cats; you go buy some stuff and make advance preparation to take care of its needs.
NLT
14/ But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don’t think of ways to indulge your evil desires.[2]/
NCV
14 /But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and forget about satisfying your sinful self.[3] /
NIV
14 /Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. c [4] /
Introduction
This Scripture has just come alive to me recently and I wondered if the Lord was just talking to me because I need it or if it is for you as well. I think we can all use it.
I believe our role as Christians and as ministers is to take the Word of God and meditate on it and make it applicable and doable. The Word of God is practical. Does this stuff work on Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons?
Often when you talk about sin a wall goes up because we condemn ourselves and we think God is condemning us. The truth is that God wants us to beat and master the things that hurt us. Sin is one of those things.
The Bible is very practical about how we can bring ourselves under control…the control of the Holy Spirit. That is real joy anyway. Sin is fun for a season but the joy of following God lasts forever.
We are approaching a time of examination and sifting and in order to follow God into the future we need to deal with some issues in our lives. You could call them sin.
Instead of screaming about it we need to know HOW TO PUT IT AWAY. HOW DO I CONQUER THOSE DESIRES AND PASSIONS THAT SEEM TO OVERPOWER ME?
1. Recognize the Killing Power of Sin
Romans 6 NIV
23 /For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in a Christ Jesus our Lord. [5] /
Isaiah 59 NLT
/Listen! The Lord is not too weak to save you, and he is not becoming deaf. He can hear you when you call. 2 But there is a problem—your sins have cut you off from God. [6] /
Adrian Rogers said; “Sin will take you further than you want to go/keep you longer than you want to stay/cost you more than you want to pay.
Example
I was reading again about the ringtail monkeys in Africa. The foreigners don’t know how to catch them but the Zulus cut a hole in a melon. The monkeys love the seeds in the melon and the hole is just the right size that a clenched fist won’t come out of the melon. So they get caught.
Jeremiah 5 NLT
23/ “But my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned against me and have chosen to practice idolatry. 24 They do not say from the heart, ‘Let us live in awe of the Lord our God, for he gives us rain each spring and fall, assuring us of plentiful harvests.’ 25 Your wickedness has deprived you of these wonderful blessings. Your sin has robbed you of all these good things.[7] /
-Jesus didn’t come into the world to condemn us but to bring us relief from the condemnation we were already facing.
-We have to get it right in our hearts, minds, and attitudes;
God is for us.
-You could say; yeah but I have been doing stupid stuff. God is for you still.
-He has come to deliver you from sin; not condemn you for it.
2. Realign Your Food Supply
-What are you feeding yourself?
-Most of the issues with sin have been decided before you got into the ring with it.
-You have been in a situation where it just seems like it is so hard to resist temptation. Usually that is because you have been feeding it and letting it lift weights in your basement.
-We are told to MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH.
-What does that mean in a practical way? It means that if drinking is your problem; turn off the beer commercials, don’t hang out with drinkers, etc.
-If flirting is your problem, don’t be around people you can flirt with, cut off the shows and movies that do it.
-If pornography is your problem, get rid of the unfiltered internet, don’t watch R rated movies, etc.
-We are told to put to death whatever is part of our old nature.
-How do you kill it? You starve it to death.
Colossians 3 NIV 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:/ sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. b 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. [8] /
-IDENTIFY: WHAT DOES THIS SIN EAT? STOP BUYING GROCERIES.
Romans 7 NLT
14 The law is good, then. The trouble is not with the law but with me, because I am sold into slavery, with sin as my master. 15 I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. 16 I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 But I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things.
18/ I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can’t make myself do right. I want to, but I can’t. 19 When I want to do good, I don’t. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway.[9]/
-There is nothing good in the old part of me.
-I have to isolate it and put it in solitary confinement.
-That part of me is unsociable and selfish.
-It is like you are chained to #3 in the movie “multiplicity”. This guy clones himself so he can get more done and the third time he does it doesn’t take so well. It is like that guy is an embarrassment. He is there with you until eternity. Just don’t let him talk. You have to look over at him ever so often and say “behave”.
-If you cut off your flesh and feed your heart you are already getting ready for future temptations. What you are doing today is determining how you will fare tomorrow.
-Have you ever left a movie about racing or with a lot of chase scenes and when you got into your car you wanted to dive fast and crazy? You are acting out what you have been focusing on.
-What have you been eating? What groceries are stocked in your cabinet?
A recent survey of Discipleship Journal readers ranked areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them:
1. Materialism.
2. Pride.
3. Self-centeredness.
4. Laziness.
5. (Tie) Anger/Bitterness.
5. (Tie) Sexual lust.
7. Envy.
8. Gluttony.
9. Lying.
Survey respondents noted temptations were more potent when they had neglected their time with God (81 percent) and when they were physically tired (57 percent). Resisting temptation was accomplished by prayer (84 percent), avoiding compromising situations (76 percent), Bible study (66 percent), and being accountable to someone (52 percent).
Discipleship Journal, November / December, 1992.
3. Response to Sin
James 4 Message
/So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. [10] /
- In the middle of it; pray and bring the presence of God onto the scene. Beat it with His Presence. He is a consuming fire. Light the match!
-Right in the middle of the biggest temptation just turn to God and start worshipping and invite Him. Acknowledge Him in all of your ways.
-Right when you are beginning to watch something and your heart says turn it off….acknowledge God. When His Presence shows us He will consume the temptation.
-Don’t forget who is on your side in the middle of a fight.
-God is for you. Don’t foolishly try to prove you can do it alone. You can’t and you weren’t designed to!
4. RUN
There are several good protections against temptation, but the surest is cowardice.
Mark Twain.
Example
The patient says; “Doctor, I broke my arm in two places to which the doctor replies; “stay out of those places!”
Genesis 39 NIV
6 So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.
Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”
8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
11 /One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. [11]/
-The most spiritual thing you can do is to RUN!
Judges 16 NIV
One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her. 2 The people of Gaza were told, “Samson is here!” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, “At dawn we’ll kill him.”
3 But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.
4 Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. 5 The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels a of silver.”
6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”
7 Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh thongs b that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”
8 Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh thongs that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. 9 With men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the thongs as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.
10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me; you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.”
11 He said, “If anyone ties me securely with new ropes that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”
12 So Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them. Then, with men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads.
13 Delilah then said to Samson, “Until now, you have been making a fool of me and lying to me. Tell me how you can be tied.”
He replied, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom and tighten it with the pin, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” So while he was sleeping, Delilah took the seven braids of his head, wove them into the fabric 14 and c tightened it with the pin.
Again she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and pulled up the pin and the loom, with the fabric.
15 Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.” 16 With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death.
17 So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite set apart to God since birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”
18 When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. 19 Having put him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. d And his strength left him.
20 Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”
He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.
21 Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza/. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding in the prison. [12]/
-Compare those two people. Joseph ran and Samson flirted with it.
-Who is known for his character and who is known for his weakness?
-Does that mean that Joseph didn’t have any weaknesses? Of course not. That is why he ran.
-We don’t really fall into temptation.
2 Timothy 2
22/ Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.[13] /
5. Rejoice Because You Are Getting a Reward
James 1
12 /Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. [14] /
-There is a reward for conquering and mastering your flesh.
-The crown of life is reserved for those who beat temptation.
-Your action plan is to go grocery shopping. Make provisions for the heart but not for the flesh.
-Feed the winning part of you and starve the sinning part of you.
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a Job 29:14; Gal 3:27; Eph 4:24; Col 3:10, 12
b Gal 5:16; 1 Pet 2:11
[1]New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ro 13:14). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[2]Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 1997 (Ro 13:13). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.
[3]The Holy Bible : New Century Version , containing the Old and New Testaments. 1991 (Ro 13:14). Dallas, TX: Word Bibles.
c Or the flesh
[4]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Ro 13:14). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
a Or through
[5]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Ro 6:23). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[6]Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 1997 (Is 59:1). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.
[7]Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 1997 (Je 5:22). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.
b Some early manuscripts coming on those who are disobedient
[8]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Col 3:5). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[9]Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 1997 (Ro 7:13). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.
[10]Peterson, E. H. (1995). The message : New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs (Jas 4:1). Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress.
[11]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Ge 39:6). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
a That is, about 28 pounds (about 13 kilograms)
b Or bowstrings; also in verses 8 and 9
c 13,14 Some Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew “I can if you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom.” So she
d Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts and he began to weaken
[12]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Jdg 16:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[13]Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 1997 (2 Ti 2:21). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.
[14]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Jas 1:12). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.