Tired of fighting your sins?

[Keith]

I've been noticing a lot of posts from people who are hurting as a result of sin. They're desperately seeking help and a way to leave those sins behind. My heart aches for my brothers and sisters racked in pain, struggling to be free. In this thread, I want to encourage them, and myself, with the sure way to fight against - and defeat - sin, and to give God the glory through it all!

This may seem "basic" to some. But that's just the point. We need to be brought back to the basics from time to time. We tend to complicate life, and Christianity, more than it needs to be. Although these things may be basic, they are foundational. What matters the most is the truth and, unless we fully utilize these resources, we will keep struggling over and over again with the same sins. Knowing something and doing it are two different things! We are held accountable for what we know.

I can know how to build a model airplane, but unless I actually put the directions and materials to use and do something about it, that model airplane will not get built. It will be a whole airplane that exists in pieces. Likewise, if we know how to defeat sin, and we don't put it into practice, we will not defeat the sins in our lives.

If you are struggling with sin (and who of us isn't?) I pray that God will speak to you as you read this. I pray that God will cause it to strike a chord in you, give you an "Aha!" moment or cause you to see this in a way that you maybe haven't before. Don't just see this as, "Yeah, yeah, same-old, same-old." Don't let it become mundane. This is God's plan of attack for us to fight sin. Let's use it!

First, we have to understand -- let me rephrase that -- we need to fully believe and trust that Jesus Christ, who lives inside of us, has overcome and defeated sin. Just understanding this isn't enough. We must believe and act on it. (That's what trust is, acting on what we know to be true.)

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." -- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." -- Romans 6:10-11

Secondly, Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit.

"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever

[mrcorey]

I say Amen to your post.

I think one of my biggest downfalls {tho' I have many} is my lack of prayer. I have difficulty praying and believing. So, what's a man to do? I have, just this past week, started thanking God for the food He provides for me. This is a habit I hope to get in to. Problem is, I live alone and 99% of the time, I just start eating. Of course, when I eat with friends {not very often}, somebody else generally says the prayer and I just say amen. I know saying thanks for food is a small thing, but I want to try to be more thankful.

Blessings;

Corey

[Keith]

I say Amen to your post.

I think one of my biggest downfalls {tho' I have many} is my lack of prayer. I have difficulty praying and believing. So, what's a man to do? I have, just this past week, started thanking God for the food He provides for me. This is a habit I hope to get in to. Problem is, I live alone and 99% of the time, I just start eating. Of course, when I eat with friends {not very often}, somebody else generally says the prayer and I just say amen. I know saying thanks for food is a small thing, but I want to try to be more thankful.

Blessings;

Corey

I would greatly encourage you to begin a prayer relationship with the Father. A consistent prayer life makes a world of difference!

God is greater than everything going on in your life. He aches to hear from you. He wants us to fellowship with Him and He cares about the things that concern you. He wants you to talk to Him and turn your troubles over to Him. 1 Peter 5:7 says " -- casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." Sounds difficult, I know! And it can be at first, but once you establish a prayer life with Him, you will find that you can't do without it! Jesus said in John, "--In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Like I said above, knowing it and trusting it are two different things.

The more you know of the Word, the greater your prayer life will become. The Bible is absolutely loaded with comfort, promises, wisdom, guidance, help and assurance! Romans 5:3-5 says, "--but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." We've all heard that and know that, but when we trust it and act on it... WOW! By bringing our troubles to Him in prayer, and trusting Him with them, we will start to see our trials and troubles differently! "God said He'd never allow more than we can bear. God knows that I can get through this! THIS! God really believes in me!" Then, instead of trying to fix everything in our own way, we leave it to Him in prayer, doing what we know to do and trust Him for the victory. And the victory will come because God will receive the glory! All of our problems, worries, anger, and guilt can be dealt with through simple faith in God's Word and a personal prayer life with Him.

We don't have to feel ashamed or condemned because God is faithful and just to forgive us when we pray and ask His forgiveness and turn away from our sin. Nothing is too big or heavy that God can't lift it and throw it to the far reaches of the deepest sea! As Corrie ten Boom (a dear Dutch sister persecuted in concentration camps) once said, "No pit is so deep, that God is not deeper still."

Our thoughts and our feelings are connected because our feelings come from our thoughts. When we change the way we think, we can change the way we feel. But this takes time and prayer. Can you see why prayer is absolutely vital? Christians are told to think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, and praiseworthy. When we do this, feelings of guilt and shame are lifted.

Prayer accomplishes so much! The Bible commands us to pray. Jesus prayed, so we ought to, too. Prayer, in part, is serving God. Prayer is a way of getting solutions to difficulties. It's part of worship. It demonstrates our commitment to God. Prayer gets God working in people's lives. 1 John 5:14-15 says "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." James 4:2 says, " -- You do not have, because you do not ask God." Of course we should ask with right motives and according to God's will. James 4:3 says, "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." But when we develop a consistent prayer life with Him, His desires become our desires and His will, our will.

It's all about relationship. When you want to develop a relationship with someone, you spend time with them. Time talking and time listening. It's no different with the Father. He yearns to be close with us! Imagine that! The God of all creation, the Alpha and the Omega, wants to have an intimate, personal relationship with you -- in spite of everything you've ever done. He knows it all and still loves you unconditionally! How can we not want to pray and spend time with Him?! Glory to His name!

"The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray." 1 Peter 4:7

[Guest yod]

Keith,

I am soooo blessed to know you as a friend.

Thanks for the time, effort, and thought that went into the labor of ministering love.

[Trinity]

Wow thanks that just gave me a lot of encouragement. I always seem to fall drifting in the crown and worries of life. lately its been work and its been hard for me to have fellowship with God, (My own doing).

Thanks for the post, i has helped me greatly!

[Mikeyjay]

you're on fire !!!

[Pilgrim7]

Good topic, Just a thought;

The Holy Spirit is the power of God also. To overcome sin we must know that we have the power of God dwelling in us. This power is the 'love of God shed abroad in our hearts' by the Spirit of Christ who dwells in us. We have the same Holy Spirit dwelling in us as Christ had dwelling in Him. Through the Spirit he had a real love for righteousness and holiness and a real hatred for sin. Through the Spirit we also have implanted in us 'a real love for righteousness and holiness and a real hatred for sin' that is stronger than our 'carnal nature' as long as we 'feed on Christ, 'keep our eyes on Christ' and 'follow Christ'. It is a real change in nature which we receive by faith. It is a 'real power' that dwells in us when self has been renounced, crucified with Christ.

2Th 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of [this] calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of [his] goodness, and the work of faith with power:

1:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

1Cor 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

1Cor 4:20 For the kingdom of God [is] not in word, but in power.

God bless and keep,

Dennis

[Keith]

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. To God be the glory for everything!