The power of sin. I can’t overcome it in my own strength.
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Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
If we hate sin, and do not want sin, by the Spirit we can abstain from sin, but the Spirit will not lead anyone unless they put forth the effort to want to abstain from sin, for we know we are not forced to abstain from sins, so then it is initiated by us first before the Spirit will lead us.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
If we hate sin, and do not want sin, by the Spirit we can abstain from sin, but the Spirit will not lead anyone unless they put forth the effort to want to abstain from sin, for we know we are not forced to abstain from sins, so then it is initiated by us first before the Spirit will lead us.
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Many verses have helped me with those pesky sins that seem to have me at their mercy, ones like...
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 NASB
I think liberty for me has been found best in finding healthy non sin things that can help replace the not so good ideas. This leads me to one of my favorite verses...
Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.
Jeremiah 15:16 NASB
Listen, let your heart burn as the Holy Spirit shows you the scriptures and explains them to you. Pray, call on His name, trusting that your not in this alone. If you are lacking faith in your ability, than trust in His, for with Him nothing, including not sinning, is impossible. We all fall short, but we should be falling less. All hope is in Him. Praise His Holy Name!!!
I'll be praying for you.
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 NASB
I think liberty for me has been found best in finding healthy non sin things that can help replace the not so good ideas. This leads me to one of my favorite verses...
Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.
Jeremiah 15:16 NASB
Listen, let your heart burn as the Holy Spirit shows you the scriptures and explains them to you. Pray, call on His name, trusting that your not in this alone. If you are lacking faith in your ability, than trust in His, for with Him nothing, including not sinning, is impossible. We all fall short, but we should be falling less. All hope is in Him. Praise His Holy Name!!!
I'll be praying for you.
T
for any specific sin, pm to me
for general
Romans 7 can relate to your struggle
but first, start by being thankful that God gave you the desire to overcome sin
there is almost nothing I can do to shrink the heart's craving for sin (I can use economic analysis to prove this if you want)
but whatever you do, don't let sin make you paranoid
and we should learn to wean our focus off sin, and shift toward something else
for general
Romans 7 can relate to your struggle
but first, start by being thankful that God gave you the desire to overcome sin
there is almost nothing I can do to shrink the heart's craving for sin (I can use economic analysis to prove this if you want)
but whatever you do, don't let sin make you paranoid
and we should learn to wean our focus off sin, and shift toward something else
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T
read this prayer dialogue, in this prayer, God feels very real and alive to me, like a stern but loving father, and this is pretty much my prayer during the midst of my struggle against sin,
messageofthecross, may you be blessed (there's scriptures to help you as well)
me: I don't want to delete sin
God: because you worry that if you backslide you don't know what to turn to?
me: yes
God: and the all consuming obsession of your sin, you don't know where to vent to?
me: yes
God: and you worry about "missing out on sin" if you walk away from sin?
me: yes
God: and you worry that the urges of sin will last so long you mind as well sin?
me: yes
God: go read 1 corinthians 10:13 and tell me if God will provide a way out for you
me: yes, God will provide a way out for me
God: if you will miss out on the pleasures of sin, go read Revelation 21:4, will I not take out the sadness from your heart, will I not wipe away the tears from your eye
me: you will, according to the bible
me: I will not be happy without sin
God: how would you feel when your salvation is assured?
me: happier and relieved
God: based on 1 John 5:13, "ye may know that ye have eternal life" is it a sin to know that you have eternal life
me: no
God: have we concluded that happiness can exist without sin
me: yes
God: In Luke 10:20 - rejoice that your names are written in heaven
me: I see
God: If you worry where to vent to when you backslide, go read 1 John 1:9 and tell me what I will promise to do if you confess your sins to me
me: forgive my sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness
God: I know that you will obsess over sin, who died for your sin
me: Jesus
God: did Jesus know that you will obsess over sin?
me: yes
God: you need Jesus because you can't overcome your obsession over sin, do you agree?
me: yes
God: can you give me a reason on why you keep sin that doesn't sound like a reason that came from a defeated Christian?
me: um …
God: no, and when Jesus died for you, did Jesus not give you the victory?
me: Jesus gave me the victory
God: is the victory temporary or eternal? tell me
me: eternal
God: tell me, who created you
me: Jesus
God: who knows of your likes and dislikes
me: Jesus
God: do you know that sin is just a corrupt version of good
me: yes
God: Adam and Eve wanted instant gratification, do you think it's worth it for them?
me: no
God: was the Garden of Edens beautiful?
me: yes
God: Did Adam and Eve ignored the blessings of God's creation for sin?
me: yes
God: did we prove how ridiculous the flesh it, ignoring beauties of God's creation for the sake of sin
me: yes
God: did sin brought ugliness to the world?
me: yes
God: do you know that I hate sin
me: yes
God: I hate sin so much, I die to see to it that sin is destroyed, and I love you so much
me: …
God: You are worth more than the value of planet earth to me
me: ok
God: you worth more than this sinful universe to me
me: um …
God: want proof? I will burn up this sinful universe in an all consuming fire and rapture you to spare you from the wrath of my fire
messageofthecross, may you be blessed (there's scriptures to help you as well)
me: I don't want to delete sin
God: because you worry that if you backslide you don't know what to turn to?
me: yes
God: and the all consuming obsession of your sin, you don't know where to vent to?
me: yes
God: and you worry about "missing out on sin" if you walk away from sin?
me: yes
God: and you worry that the urges of sin will last so long you mind as well sin?
me: yes
God: go read 1 corinthians 10:13 and tell me if God will provide a way out for you
me: yes, God will provide a way out for me
God: if you will miss out on the pleasures of sin, go read Revelation 21:4, will I not take out the sadness from your heart, will I not wipe away the tears from your eye
me: you will, according to the bible
me: I will not be happy without sin
God: how would you feel when your salvation is assured?
me: happier and relieved
God: based on 1 John 5:13, "ye may know that ye have eternal life" is it a sin to know that you have eternal life
me: no
God: have we concluded that happiness can exist without sin
me: yes
God: In Luke 10:20 - rejoice that your names are written in heaven
me: I see
God: If you worry where to vent to when you backslide, go read 1 John 1:9 and tell me what I will promise to do if you confess your sins to me
me: forgive my sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness
God: I know that you will obsess over sin, who died for your sin
me: Jesus
God: did Jesus know that you will obsess over sin?
me: yes
God: you need Jesus because you can't overcome your obsession over sin, do you agree?
me: yes
God: can you give me a reason on why you keep sin that doesn't sound like a reason that came from a defeated Christian?
me: um …
God: no, and when Jesus died for you, did Jesus not give you the victory?
me: Jesus gave me the victory
God: is the victory temporary or eternal? tell me
me: eternal
God: tell me, who created you
me: Jesus
God: who knows of your likes and dislikes
me: Jesus
God: do you know that sin is just a corrupt version of good
me: yes
God: Adam and Eve wanted instant gratification, do you think it's worth it for them?
me: no
God: was the Garden of Edens beautiful?
me: yes
God: Did Adam and Eve ignored the blessings of God's creation for sin?
me: yes
God: did we prove how ridiculous the flesh it, ignoring beauties of God's creation for the sake of sin
me: yes
God: did sin brought ugliness to the world?
me: yes
God: do you know that I hate sin
me: yes
God: I hate sin so much, I die to see to it that sin is destroyed, and I love you so much
me: …
God: You are worth more than the value of planet earth to me
me: ok
God: you worth more than this sinful universe to me
me: um …
God: want proof? I will burn up this sinful universe in an all consuming fire and rapture you to spare you from the wrath of my fire
[for me anyway] it is by the Lord Jesus Christ's first command to us, namely to "Repent" (Mat 4:17) when He begun His ministry, and this first step never changes from generation to generation, though now in this present time many are falsely taught that they have no need to repent. Beside this, if you are looking for a plain spoken instruction from the Lord about what to do about sin, then He tells us plainly in (John 8:11) saying "Go and sin no more". Yet this is up to us, for continuing in sin is voluntary just as repenting is voluntary: for the Lord looks for who is actually sincere toward Him, and knows those who are, and those who are not.
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T
I made a thread on the topic of sin
https://christianchat.com/bible-dis...th-of-self-righteousness.180470/#post-3751890
would you like to take a look?
https://christianchat.com/bible-dis...th-of-self-righteousness.180470/#post-3751890
would you like to take a look?
How do I get victory over sin, the world, the flesh, and the devil? You told me what to do, but how do I do the what to do these post ask of me to do?
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Gal. 6:1-2
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Gal. 6:1-2
T
ok troops, let's fight, but know that you need God will be your army intelligence for spiritual warfare.
a general rule of thumb: if the strategy of repentance or repentance technique requires excessive amount of willpower, I will fail that technique no questions asked, and I have practical reasons why, because you will not have the strengh to keep fighting with that kind of failing strategy.
clearly, we want to "work smarter, not harder" for this
a general rule of thumb: if the strategy of repentance or repentance technique requires excessive amount of willpower, I will fail that technique no questions asked, and I have practical reasons why, because you will not have the strengh to keep fighting with that kind of failing strategy.
clearly, we want to "work smarter, not harder" for this
T
if I were to guess why we desire sin, it's most likely coveting, in the sense that sin falsely promises things like "order", "beauty", or "the feeling of rare pleasures", that can lead to addictions, and God is allowing "the law of desensitization" to take effect so that the same amount of doses will be less and less desirable at every turn.
imagine, even a boatload of sin is not enough to satisfy the sin craving, that withdrawal symptoms have been miserably stalled but inevitable, it's a pre-programmed God's wake-up call to tell you that sin ultimately doesn't satisfy, because we've be corrupted by deceitful desires
in light of this, we can think ahead and prep before we hit the point of worse withdrawal symptoms, and this is where the strategy to hopefully help maximize our chance of success will come in, this is where we can better spend whatever finite "willpower" we may have.
in short, we can practice with weaker versions of withdrawal symptoms, knowing that "withdrawal" of some form is an inevitable guarantee, it's believable, practical, and that is the battleground where we choose to fight.
imagine, even a boatload of sin is not enough to satisfy the sin craving, that withdrawal symptoms have been miserably stalled but inevitable, it's a pre-programmed God's wake-up call to tell you that sin ultimately doesn't satisfy, because we've be corrupted by deceitful desires
in light of this, we can think ahead and prep before we hit the point of worse withdrawal symptoms, and this is where the strategy to hopefully help maximize our chance of success will come in, this is where we can better spend whatever finite "willpower" we may have.
in short, we can practice with weaker versions of withdrawal symptoms, knowing that "withdrawal" of some form is an inevitable guarantee, it's believable, practical, and that is the battleground where we choose to fight.
T
a small version of withdrawal symptom can feel like depression or deprivation because it's like the idea of "giving up sinning" and the flesh wants it.
the idea of giving up sin can lead to feelings of deprivation, and here's a secret Satan doesn't want you to know: treat that lowly feeling of deprivation, as if God is humbling you, take the opportunity, and ask God to help your heart love and obey God, this will take resolve and consider this "surrender the past, because the past is gone" the past is dead, the present is alive, forget the past, and now is all that matters
and don't forget to rest in God's love as well
think of what is it like to see the world through the eyes of a child
here's my guess: before even the ability to think in comparisons (or analogies), it's most likely fascination with this new things that probably feel "unique" (no child would ever like to stare at a blank wall) or whatever it is that's unlabeled (I call this, "unlabeled difference", childrens like to make up phrases)
and, the mind is unable to think in words yet
for the child, generalization is good enough
no need of any OCD-like specifics (which sin can sometimes insist to tempt with cravings, which will lead you pursuing sin)
being ok with generalization, can free you from the OCD like effects of sin, in a way
and secondly, when you are tired, your mind vents, when your mind gives random images that's "more pure" flow with that, many times, the image while resting can be vague, undefined randomness, while recovering, and the feeling of physiological recover can feel nice in a sense
Assure the flesh that there's alternative, that sin is not necessary, and that can hopefully maximize our chance for spiritual success
the idea of giving up sin can lead to feelings of deprivation, and here's a secret Satan doesn't want you to know: treat that lowly feeling of deprivation, as if God is humbling you, take the opportunity, and ask God to help your heart love and obey God, this will take resolve and consider this "surrender the past, because the past is gone" the past is dead, the present is alive, forget the past, and now is all that matters
and don't forget to rest in God's love as well
think of what is it like to see the world through the eyes of a child
here's my guess: before even the ability to think in comparisons (or analogies), it's most likely fascination with this new things that probably feel "unique" (no child would ever like to stare at a blank wall) or whatever it is that's unlabeled (I call this, "unlabeled difference", childrens like to make up phrases)
and, the mind is unable to think in words yet
for the child, generalization is good enough
no need of any OCD-like specifics (which sin can sometimes insist to tempt with cravings, which will lead you pursuing sin)
being ok with generalization, can free you from the OCD like effects of sin, in a way
and secondly, when you are tired, your mind vents, when your mind gives random images that's "more pure" flow with that, many times, the image while resting can be vague, undefined randomness, while recovering, and the feeling of physiological recover can feel nice in a sense
Assure the flesh that there's alternative, that sin is not necessary, and that can hopefully maximize our chance for spiritual success
Hey! MessageOfTheCross... PTL!
The power of the New Covenant over the Old is that the Lord writes his laws into our hearts and minds. Babes in Christ are to devote themselves to the milk of the word of righteousness, until they have laid a foundation of the oracles of God, which refers to repentance from dead works. The reason repentance is what's being referred to here is that faith and baptism are one time events and are never required to be done a second time. laying on of hands speaks to ministry, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment refers to our burden for the lost.
Babes in Christ and those who have gone back into sin have need all over again to have their senses exercised by the word of righteousness until they are able to discern both good and evil. So, how does having the Lord's laws and commandments written into our hearts and minds deliver us from our lusts and cravings? The effect of having the Spirit put the Lord's laws into us, is that our consciences are being renewed to perceive sin as Jesus does, more and more. The end result of this process of renewal is that we become convicted for things that were once a delight to the senses. Guilt begins to ruin the enjoyment of that craving that the Lord is dealing with, until the guilt becomes so great that the knowledge of its misery enables one to turn away from their sins. After a a babe has become able to discern both good and evil with their conscience in this way, the Holy Spirit will then provide illumination for the strong meat of the word that is reserved for thos who are full age or mature spiritually.
While this is occurring, the Spirit applies the blood of Jesus to our consciences which purges them from dead works to serve the living God. We are therefore able to draw near to the Lord with a clear conscience as the blood of Jesus empowers us to even forgive our own selves and sleep the sleep of the innocent.
Heb 10:16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and into their minds will I write them."
Heb 5: 12-6:2 "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principals of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore leaving the principals of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."
Heb 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who by the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God."
Heb 10: 1, 2 "But the law having a shadow of good things to come and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because that the worshipers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."
Is 28: 9, 10 "Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little."
1 Pet 2: 2 "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:"
2 Tim 3:16, 17 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction. and for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
Maranatha!
The power of the New Covenant over the Old is that the Lord writes his laws into our hearts and minds. Babes in Christ are to devote themselves to the milk of the word of righteousness, until they have laid a foundation of the oracles of God, which refers to repentance from dead works. The reason repentance is what's being referred to here is that faith and baptism are one time events and are never required to be done a second time. laying on of hands speaks to ministry, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment refers to our burden for the lost.
Babes in Christ and those who have gone back into sin have need all over again to have their senses exercised by the word of righteousness until they are able to discern both good and evil. So, how does having the Lord's laws and commandments written into our hearts and minds deliver us from our lusts and cravings? The effect of having the Spirit put the Lord's laws into us, is that our consciences are being renewed to perceive sin as Jesus does, more and more. The end result of this process of renewal is that we become convicted for things that were once a delight to the senses. Guilt begins to ruin the enjoyment of that craving that the Lord is dealing with, until the guilt becomes so great that the knowledge of its misery enables one to turn away from their sins. After a a babe has become able to discern both good and evil with their conscience in this way, the Holy Spirit will then provide illumination for the strong meat of the word that is reserved for thos who are full age or mature spiritually.
While this is occurring, the Spirit applies the blood of Jesus to our consciences which purges them from dead works to serve the living God. We are therefore able to draw near to the Lord with a clear conscience as the blood of Jesus empowers us to even forgive our own selves and sleep the sleep of the innocent.
Heb 10:16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and into their minds will I write them."
Heb 5: 12-6:2 "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principals of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore leaving the principals of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."
Heb 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who by the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God."
Heb 10: 1, 2 "But the law having a shadow of good things to come and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because that the worshipers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."
Is 28: 9, 10 "Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little."
1 Pet 2: 2 "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:"
2 Tim 3:16, 17 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction. and for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
Maranatha!
T
maximizing-likelihood-of-success-for-spiritual-warfare-against-sin
https://christianchat.com/bible-dis...tual-warfare-against-sin.180562/#post-3757156
https://christianchat.com/bible-dis...tual-warfare-against-sin.180562/#post-3757156
@MessageOfTheCross
You are not in Christ yet and that is why you cannot gain victory over sin. And in order to be in Christ, you must be willing to forsake everything which most believers will not do. and so they walk in the flesh and have a seared conscience so they think they are okay. You know it is not okay so you are in a blessed place, but the Saviour will not wait forever and will walk on by if you do not respond.
I have a book that will help you by Francis Ridley Havergal called The Royal Invitation with which our dear Lord has deemed you blessed to receive. No, I am not saying you are not a believer. You obviously are, but there is something further necessary and that is baptism of the Spirit which will give you a pure heart and will enable you to obey in all things. PM me.
You are not in Christ yet and that is why you cannot gain victory over sin. And in order to be in Christ, you must be willing to forsake everything which most believers will not do. and so they walk in the flesh and have a seared conscience so they think they are okay. You know it is not okay so you are in a blessed place, but the Saviour will not wait forever and will walk on by if you do not respond.
I have a book that will help you by Francis Ridley Havergal called The Royal Invitation with which our dear Lord has deemed you blessed to receive. No, I am not saying you are not a believer. You obviously are, but there is something further necessary and that is baptism of the Spirit which will give you a pure heart and will enable you to obey in all things. PM me.