Engaging the Lifelong Battle Against Sin
Summary
In this session, we delve into the ongoing battle against sin and temptation that every Christian faces. Becoming a Christian means turning away from sin, but the impulse to sin remains, necessitating a lifelong struggle. The New Testament encourages proactive engagement in this battle, urging believers to watch, pray, and actively fight against sin. God has equipped us with the Holy Spirit, empowering us to resist temptation, but we must actively participate in this fight.
The strategy for battling sin is straightforward: know it, stalk it, and kill it. First, identify your primary battles by understanding your unique temptations, which are often tied to your temperament. Recognize your most vulnerable times, such as when you're tired or when a friend has failed, and learn from past experiences to avoid repeating mistakes. Knowing your enemy is crucial to effectively engaging in this battle.
Next, stalking sin involves being aware of its movements in your life and understanding where it might lead you. Every sin has a life cycle, and recognizing the trajectory of sin can help you resist its allure. By understanding the potential consequences of sin, you can set yourself against even the smallest temptations before they grow into something more destructive.
Finally, killing sin is a process, not an event. Sin dies slowly, and the battle against it is ongoing. Every time you say no to temptation, you weaken its power in your life. Although the impulse to sin remains, its power no longer reigns over you. Progress is possible, and as you engage in this battle, you will grow and prevail over the sins that have defeated you in the past.
Key Takeaways:
- The Christian life involves a proactive battle against sin and temptation. God calls us to watch, pray, and actively fight sin, empowered by the Holy Spirit. This battle requires our active participation, as God works in us and with us, but never without us. [03:15]
- Understanding your unique temptations is crucial. Each person is tempted in different ways, often tied to their temperament. By becoming a student of your own heart, you can identify the special temptations that lurk within you and prepare to fight against them. [05:30]
- Recognizing your most vulnerable times helps in resisting temptation. Times of tiredness or when a friend has failed are particularly dangerous. By being aware of these moments, you can watch and pray, ensuring that you do not fall into temptation. [06:39]
- Sin has a life cycle, and understanding its trajectory can help you resist it. By asking where a particular sin might lead, you can set yourself against even the smallest temptations, preventing them from growing into something more destructive. [13:05]
- Killing sin is a slow process that requires constant engagement. Every time you say no to temptation, you weaken its power. Although the impulse to sin remains, its power no longer reigns over you, and progress is possible as you engage in this battle. [17:52]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:08] - Introduction to Battling Temptation
[00:26] - Engaging in the Battle Against Sin
[00:44] - Scriptural Call to Action
[03:15] - Proactive Battle with Sin
[03:52] - Strategy: Know It, Stalk It, Kill It
[04:12] - Identifying Your Primary Battles
[05:30] - Understanding Your Unique Temptations
[06:39] - Recognizing Vulnerable Times
[08:06] - Learning from Past Failures
[11:49] - Stalking Sin
[13:05] - Understanding Sin's Trajectory
[15:03] - Killing Sin: A Slow Process
[17:52] - Lifelong Battle Against Sin
[20:01] - Sin's Power No Longer Reigns
[22:36] - Encouragement in the Battle
[24:09] - Conclusion and Next Session Preview
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Mark 14:38 - "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
2. Romans 8:13 - "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
3. Colossians 3:5 - "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."
---
Observation Questions:
1. According to Mark 14:38, what are the two actions Jesus instructs us to take to avoid entering into temptation? How does this relate to the proactive nature of the Christian battle against sin? [00:44]
2. In Romans 8:13, what is the consequence of living according to the flesh, and what is promised if we put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit? [01:06]
3. Colossians 3:5 lists several earthly things we are to put to death. What are these, and why might they be considered idolatry? [02:02]
4. The sermon mentions that each person is tempted in ways tied to their temperament. What examples were given to illustrate this point? [04:28]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the instruction in Mark 14:38 to "watch and pray" reflect the ongoing nature of the battle against sin and temptation in a believer's life? [03:15]
2. Romans 8:13 speaks of putting to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. What does this suggest about the role of the Holy Spirit in our fight against sin? [03:34]
3. The sermon describes a strategy of "know it, stalk it, kill it" for battling sin. How does this strategy align with the proactive language used in the New Testament passages? [03:52]
4. The sermon suggests that recognizing our most vulnerable times can help us resist temptation. How might this awareness change a person's approach to dealing with sin? [06:39]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you were particularly vulnerable to temptation. What were the circumstances, and how might you prepare differently in the future to avoid falling into temptation? [06:39]
2. The sermon encourages us to become students of our own hearts to identify unique temptations. What steps can you take this week to better understand your own heart and its vulnerabilities? [05:30]
3. Consider the strategy of "know it, stalk it, kill it." What is one specific sin you need to apply this strategy to in your life, and what will be your first step in doing so? [03:52]
4. The sermon mentions that sin has a life cycle. How can understanding the trajectory of a particular sin help you resist its allure? Can you identify a sin in your life where this understanding might be beneficial? [13:05]
5. How can you incorporate the practice of watching and praying into your daily routine to strengthen your resistance against temptation? [00:44]
6. The sermon suggests learning from past failures to avoid repeating them. Reflect on a past failure related to sin. What did you learn, and how can you apply that lesson moving forward? [08:25]
7. The sermon emphasizes that sin's power no longer reigns over us. How does this truth impact your perspective on the ongoing battle against sin in your life? [20:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Engaging in the Battle Against Sin
The Christian life is characterized by an ongoing battle against sin and temptation. This struggle is not passive; it requires active engagement, as believers are called to watch, pray, and fight against sin with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. God works in and through us, but never without our participation. This proactive stance is essential for spiritual growth and victory over sin. [03:15]
"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:4-5, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to actively engage in the battle against a particular sin in your life?
Day 2: Understanding Your Unique Temptations
Each person faces unique temptations often tied to their temperament and personal experiences. By becoming a student of your own heart, you can identify these specific temptations and prepare to fight against them. Recognizing your vulnerabilities allows you to be better equipped in resisting the allure of sin. [05:30]
"Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire." (James 1:13-14, ESV)
Reflection: What are the specific temptations that you struggle with the most, and how can you prepare yourself to resist them today?
Day 3: Recognizing Vulnerable Times
Understanding when you are most vulnerable to temptation is crucial in the fight against sin. Times of tiredness or when a friend has failed can be particularly dangerous. By being aware of these moments, you can watch and pray, ensuring that you do not fall into temptation. [06:39]
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." (1 Peter 5:8-9, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a time today when you might be vulnerable to temptation. How can you prepare yourself spiritually to face it?
Day 4: Understanding Sin's Trajectory
Sin has a life cycle, and understanding its trajectory can help you resist it. By asking where a particular sin might lead, you can set yourself against even the smallest temptations, preventing them from growing into something more destructive. [13:05]
"But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." (James 1:14-15, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a small temptation you face regularly. What are the potential consequences if it grows unchecked, and how can you stop it in its tracks today?
Day 5: Killing Sin: A Slow Process
Killing sin is a slow and ongoing process that requires constant engagement. Every time you say no to temptation, you weaken its power. Although the impulse to sin remains, its power no longer reigns over you, and progress is possible as you engage in this battle. [17:52]
"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5, ESV)
Reflection: What is one sin you have been battling for a long time? How can you take one more step today in weakening its hold over your life?
Quotes
Now notice who's to act we are we're to watch and we're to pray Romans chapter 8 and verse 13 if you live according to the flesh you will die but if by the spirit you put to death the Deeds of the body you will live so you see who's to put to death the Deeds of the body we are. [00:59:31]
God calls you to watch and pray and fight sin and flee Temptation so when it comes to your battle with sin don't say let go and let God you got to trust God and get going because you see God has given you power the Holy Spirit lives within you God has put you in a position to fight against The Temptations that you face. [03:12:08]
The Temptations we Face are tied to our own flesh and that means that the distinctive battles that you face are to some extent rooted in your temperament all Christians are tempted but we're not all tempted in the same way so knowing yourself is a huge importance in living the Christian Life. [04:17:00]
Become a student of your own heart get to know the special temptations that lurk inside the framework of your own temperament are you the kind of person who might be tempted to control or to withdraw are you the kind of person who might be tempted to resent or to Rebel ask God to help you see what you're up against. [05:27:52]
Reflecting on your own past failures is a great way to avoid repeating them study the times when you've failed in the past when did that happen What could you have done differently that might have led to a different outcome the defense on a football team will watch the reruns of a touchdown they've conceded over and over and over again. [08:13:12]
Stalking means that you get in a position where you can see sin's movement in your life so that you're ready to take action against it now don't underestimate the importance of this if you become aware of a particular area of sin in your own life and you don't move in on it well you can be sure that it will grow. [11:59:20]
Every sin has a life cycle first it's conceived then it's born then it grows and then it brings death so when you're faced with a particular Temptation ask yourself what fruit would this bring in my life if I allowed it to grow John Owen says ask Envy what it aims at murder and destruction are its natural conclusion. [12:49:23]
Sin's expression is modest in the beginning but once it gains a foothold it continues to take further ground and presses on to Greater Heights so you've got to know what you're up against know it you got to see how it's operating in your life where it's trying to take you where it's going know it stalk it. [14:42:00]
Sin dies slowly so putting sin to death is a process not an event and the process involves weakening the power of a particular sin or temptation in your life Titus Chapter 2 and verse 11 for the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation for all people training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions. [15:41:56]
The impulse to sin will remain in your flesh throughout your Christian Life this is a lifelong battle that we're talking about now for sure the particular temptations that you're fighting against will likely change over time but the battle continues throughout all of your life in this world our battle with remaining sin well it's like pulling weeds in a garden. [17:52:00]
Though the impulse to sin remains in you its power no longer Reigns over you Paul says sin will Have No Dominion over you and for that reason he says let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body to make you obey its passions you see what he's saying sin doesn't rule so don't let it rule when you're in Christ. [19:47:44]
Progress is possible and as you engage in this battle you will grow you will prevail over the sin and Temptation that has often defeated you in the past think about the battle against sin in your life as a Warfare in which you develop a position every time you say yes to a sin you increase its power in your life. [21:02:56]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Apr 09, 2024. Do you have any questions about it?