Do you want to win the battle against habitual sins of the flesh and live in victory? Its a battle with eternal stakes as Galatians chapter 5 warns believers can be lost by a continuing practice of the works of the flesh (see below). And as it says in 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." Be encouraged there is a way out of habitual sin. Jesus came to set you free and empower you to live holy. Lets see how:
1.) Repentance. It starts with acknowledging your sin and humbling yourself. He gives his grace to the humble, and he forgives the sins of those who confess them. Get real with God and He will get real with you. You must crucify the flesh daily, dying to sin , living to Christ. Repentance loosens the enemies grip. We are told to `Give no place to the devil' (Eph 4,27), so ensure to confess your sins, and close the door on them by committing your ways to change to His ways. Appropriate the work of the cross and receive the cleansing of the blood of Jesus to wash you whiter than snow.
-- Prov 28,13 "He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." and 2Cor 7,10"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted"
-- John 1,6-10: "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."
2.) Understand His grace is sufficient for you and his power is made perfect in your weakness. His grace and power are here to deliver you and empower not to sin. Through the Cross Jesus has made the way for you to be free from sins dominion, its yours by his grace. Now ask, believe and receive His grace and power into your life everyday.
-- 2Cor12,9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” and – Rom 6,14 “Sin will have no dominion over because you are not under law but under grace”.
3.) Rebuke every demon spirit related to your sins. The Lord has given us authority "in my name you shall cast out demons" (Mark16,17) so use it. Renounce them, Rebuke them and cast them out of you. Breathe out strong as you cast them out. Praise God for your deliverance.
-- 1Peter5,8-9 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith"
4.) Fast. Go on regular 3 day fasts with just water (or consuming just a small amount of juice or yogurt to keep the hard pains away). In this time you will be denying your flesh and cravings and be strengthened in the spirit. You will be surprised at the great results. Do this every few weeks for a season of breakthrough. After you have the initial victory practice fasting as the Lord leads.
-- Matt 6,17-18 "when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly
5.) Permanent fast of all immoral and worldly influences – TV, magazines, movies, bad websites, computer games etc to starve the lusts and worldliness. Repent of them, renounce them once and for all, and be free of their defilement. Read the word of God lots to renew your mind and interests. And maintain good godly fellowship with believers who are going in the right direction, even though it will often be few. Forsake those friendships that are poisoning you with compromise and worldliness, as the word says "Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” Awake to righteousness, and do not sin" (1Cor15,33-34)
-- 2Cor 7,1:"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
6.) Learn to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Read and listen to the word of God lots, know the word, meditate on His word. When bad thoughts come respond with "It is Written ..." quoting the suitable scripture for the issue. Then replace the thoughts with thinking again about what God says. As you resist the devil he will flee (James 4,7-8).
-- 2Cor 10,4-5 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ"
7.) Set yourself a true and consistent devotional life, including praying first thing everyday (for 30-60mins) with prayer and worship, and then later at night also. And determine to read/listen to around 10 chapters of the Bible a day. Obey what you read. Build a faithful and loving relationship Jesus and follow Him. The more you love Him, the more you will hate sin and it will lose its attraction. Loving God is a great cure for sinning.
-- Matt 22,37 "Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
8.) Walk in the Spirit. Set your mind on the Spirit, look unto Jesus, focus on His glory, His word, His plans and purposes, His will for your life. Be baptised in the Holy Spirit and empowered. Yield to the Holy Spirit in prayer, worship in Spirit and truth and fellowship with Him as you walk by faith throughout the day.
-- Galatians 5,16-26 "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."
YOU CAN LIVE IN VICTORY
Be encouraged that those in CHRIST have access by Faith to a continual abundant supply of Grace and Divine Power through the Holy Spirit. This is His provision to empower us to live a life worthy of His calling, in godliness, holiness, obedience, faith, love, good works, and to overcome the world, the flesh and all the traps of the enemy. Ask, receive and abide in His Spirit and power
If you put these into consistent practice you will surely see the difference and experience new freedom. Never give up, persist and yield to God. If you fall don't run from God, run to Him. Jesus came to set the captives free, and he who the Son sets free will be free indeed - be sure of that!
SCRIPTURES:
-- "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him." (Col 3,1-10)
– “To those who have obtained like precious FAITH with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: GRACE and peace be MULTIPLIED to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as HIS DIVINE POWER HAS GIVEN TO US to us ALL things that pertain to LIFE and GODLINESS, through the knowledge of HIM who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us Exceedingly Great and precious PROMISES, that through these you may be PARTAKERS of the DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2Pet1,1-4)
– “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the THRONE OF GRACE, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb 4, 14-16)
– “the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.” (Roms 8,26)
– “For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Roms 8,1)
- "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us Wisdom from God—and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord." (1Cor 1,30-31)
– “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more” (Rev 3, 10-12)
Chris Fullagar
