Learning to Fight Sin
Today I was listening to a message and heard someone described in this way, "I know of no one who fights sin harder than he does." I think I tend to try and just avoid sin most of the time, or find myself repenting of sin because I sought to avoid it in my own strength. I want to be a fighter of sin. Sin is often seen by Christians as "the good stuff that we can't do," but, it's the enemy. It's the reason that we are deserving of hell for all eternity. It is why Paul describes us as "enemies of God." Like the apostle Paul, I want to be a fighter of sin.
Here are some ways we can battle sin in our life:
1. Read, re-read, and memorize Scripture that deals with particular sins you need to battle. Scripture is our best weapon, and often the most neglected. Pick one part of Scripture and apply it to one part of your life. We shouldn't try to tackle every one of our vices- one is enough. Not to say that it is ok to ignore everything else, but zone in on certain areas that need the most attention.
2. We must daily acknowledge our inability to resist sin, and the necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives to resist that sin. Christ has already defeated sin, and we need His power to overcome it in our lives.
3. Read books that deal with overcoming sin, and the particular sin that you need to deal with. Kris Lundgaard's The Enemy Within is a great place to start. Read John Owens, the Puritans, listen to messages on defeating sin, etc...
4. This one is tough- Invite specific people to watch your behavior and help you recognize this sin in your life. Correction is not an easy pill to swallow, but a necessary one. It feels very spiritual to ask someone to call you out when they observe a specific behavior, but when that person comes to you and rightly calls you out it is anything but spiritual feeling! However, our hearts are deceitful above all else. We can't trust ourselves to recognize sin, and need the help of others. Hebrews 3:12-13 says, "Take care, bretheren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."
I'd love to hear from anyone that could share other general practices that help defeat sin in our day to day lives.
