Watch For The Pattern

What is a pattern?

- a form or model proposed for imitation - a reliable sample of traits, acts, tendencies, or other observable characteristics of a person, group, or institution

A dress pattern

A flight pattern

Spending pattern

Behavior pattern

Sin pattern

Why does every human being tend toward a sin pattern?

Mark 10:18 NASB95

18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.

Psalm 53:2–3 NASB95

2 God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God. 3 Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

Romans 7:24 NASB95

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

So what is a sin pattern?

Sin that you practice over and over

Hebrews 5:13–14 NASB95

13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

What is the danger of following a sin pattern? (practicing sin)

1 John 3:7–8 NASB95

7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

So how do we overcome?

By following the example of Jesus and knowing The Word of God

Psalm 68:35 NASB95

35 O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!

Matthew 4:1–3 NASB95

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

Hebrews 4:15 NASB95

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.

Hebrews 2:17–18 NASB95

17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB95

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.

You overcome by seeing yourself for who you really are

1 Corinthians 10:12 NASB95

12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.

James 1:13–15 NASB95

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

Psalm 53:2–3 NASB95

2 God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God. 3 Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

A sin pattern can become a giant in your life

Lust

Pride

Greed

Addictions

You have to have a battle plan if you are going to win

The enemy that you are fighting against, is shrewd, deceitful and cunning but he is

Not Omnipotent - All powerful

Not Omniscient - All knowing

Not Omnipresent - All present

Not creative (does not have the power to create)

We tend to see giants as too big, too strong and too impossible to conquer

1 Samuel 17:3–7 NASB95

3 The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them. 4 Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 He also had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him.

You have to the right attitude if your going to win

1 Samuel 17:26 NASB95

26 Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?”

To overcome a giant in your life, you must look for and exploit his weakness

1 Samuel 17:49 NASB95

49 And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.

1 Samuel 17:51 NASB95

51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

WATCH FOR THE PATTERN

Are there any giants in your life?

1 Corinthians 15:57–58 NASB95

57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.