What Do I do about Habitual Sins?
Romans 8:1-17
Introduction
Subject: What I’m talking about is The Fight with the Flesh.
Compliment: How Can We Overcome Sin Tendencies in our life?
In Romans 7:14-25 98% of the text describes Paul the Apostles struggle with sin. Instead of depressing us this should encourage us because Paul faced the same daily battle in his mind, will and emotions that you and I face – and he was used to write 2/3 or the N.T.!
We’ll first have to understand the problem each and every one of us struggles with each and every day – Our Flesh.
Flesh is our nature while here on Earth. It is developed within us by the ways we tried to meet our needs out of our own resources
Often, as Christians, when we think of “the flesh” we think in terms of the Results of living after the flesh.
Galatians 5:19-21, (NLT) 19When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
To Sum up what the flesh is: It is all of the habit patterns that we have developed over the years . It is the Self-Life. It is how I handle things without the Spirit’s direction in my life.
We are dealing with the subject of “How to conquer Secret Sins--Habitual SINS!
IN Romans 8 is God’s direction for us on how to be free from these sins.
As we study this chapter – we will discover that the emphasis is upon the Holy Spirit, who is mentioned 19 times.
So, it stands to reason, that in order to live a life free from old habit patterns and sins that try to enslave us – We must have a dependence upon the Ministry of the Holy Spirit who was sent by Jesus to help us live a overcoming life.
II Cor 3:17 tells us “ Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty!”
Subject: So what we are looking into this morning is HOW WE CAN WALK IN DAILY FREEDOM FROM SINFUL HABIT PATTERNS OR WAYS BY DEPENDING UPON THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
[ Understanding Sequence ]
Q – Why is it a problem for us to gain victory over various sin Habits we might have?
A – The answer invariably lies in one word CONTROL – who do we want to be in control of our life.
We really only have 3 options in this area:
GOD – OURSELVES – Devil
We choose who will be in control over our Mind – Will and Emotions by the daily decisions we make.
How Can I Overcome Sin Tendencies in My Life?
Whether its Worry, Fear, Lust, Overspending, Anger, Control, Doubts about God or the like…Romans 8 shows us Steps we can take to break our Sin Bents.
I. Don’t Allow Your Habits to Direct You Anymore
Romans 1:1
[Amp] “ And walk not after the dictates of the Flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.”
A. The word picture Paul uses here is that of a Army officer.
1. Our flesh (our old habits –Our old self without Christ)
would try to dictate to us to follow in the old patterns
a. The old patterns that only led into defeat but here we are told to not walk after those commands – rather to allow the Holy Spirit to dire
B. Just How do we do that?
1. When we notice that we are beginning to live according to the old habit patterns we have developed, in dealing with our problems – We need to STOP and listen for the voice of God and quiet ourselves.
Now – the Flesh doesn’t like this. It takes patience and trust and endurance to stop and listen to God.
1. Your flesh will scream out “ We have got to do something! – Now!” But you will never hear Gods voice when your listening to your own thoughts.
Step 1 in hearing from the Holy Spirit is…
I. To Quiet Ourselves and Listen to the SPIRIT
A. This means that we must quiet our flesh – our tendencies
to try to solve everything our way and not get ahead of
Gods leading.
1. Don’t allow your old habits to direct you anymore – begin to listen to Gods voice when He speaks
II. Stay in Step with the Holy Spirit
How Do I Stay in Step With the Spirit?
• Galations 5:25 “Since we live by the Spirit let us stay in Step with the Spirit” [ NIV]
A. We stay in step with the Holy Spirit when we make a willful choice to do things Gods way and not our way.
1. There will be times that this will cause inner conflict because the Holy Spirit will do things
different then our old habit patterns.
2. Why? Because when God does something in our lives He makes it clear that the answer come to us in a way that we know IT CAN ONLY BE GOD! So God gets the glory.
B. We stay in step with the Spirit by applying a principle found in Eph 4
Ephesians 4:3 Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace. 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
1. How do we keep ourselves united in the Holy Spirit? (ask the congregation)
To Unite (according to Webster) means to join together – to become bound together. Marriage is a good example of this.
2. We stay in Step with the Holy Spirit when we make the decision to daily unite with God in prayer and devotions.
2. It means to start your day with your Mind – Will and Emotions submitted to the Lord.
3.. Completely yielding your thoughts and attitudes to the Lord – Walking with God.
Steps in hearing from the Holy Spirit
I. Quite ourselves and listen to the Spirit
II. Stay in step with the HOLY SPIRIT
III. Get Rid of WRONG Thinking
Rom :5-6 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what the sinful nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires
A..I’m talking about allowing the flesh to control our mind.
Wrong Thinking would include negative thoughts about yourself and others, critical thoughts, judgmental thoughts, anxious thoughts, lustful fantasies, impure thoughts, vengeful thoughts …and so on. The Bible tells us how to get rid of WRONG THINKING!
• Romans 12:2 (NLT) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. (NLT)
B. Until we learn to renew our minds and allow God to help us change our way of thinking – we will never really know Gods will for our life.
C. God begins the work of changing us into the image of His Son by speaking to us by His Holy Spirit.
1. When the Spirit of God speaks – and we learn to listen – then we will begin to change the way we think.
2. We will begin to make decisions based on Gods Will and not our old habit patterns.
3. It is then that the Bible says we will know just how perfect Gods will for us really is – by experience!
How do I change from WRONG THINKING to Gods Thoughts?
THE WORD TELLS US TO RENEW OUR MINDS
• Phil 4:8 gives us the answer: (NIV)Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
(KJV)8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
How We Think Shapes our Mind-Will-Emotions…our Character
1. Think on lies – begin to believe lies!
2. Think dishonoring thought – reap dishonoring actions.
3..Think on impure thoughts – begin to live an impure life
4. Think on Truth—Promises--Begin to Believe in Gods Power!
5. Think honoring thoughts – Transform your marriage!
6. Think Pure Thoughts – Live free from pornography and sexual addiction
– so is he. JESUS SAID, "AS A MAN THINKS IN HIS HEARS.....!
Each day ask the Lord to reveal your WRONG THINKING and Set Your Mind Upon the Spirit – Those old Sin THINGS (Over Time) will disappear.
V-6 “ But if the Spirit controls your mind, there is life and Peace.
Steps in hearing from the Holy Spirit
I. Quite ourselves and listen to the Spirit
11..Stay in step with the HOLY SPIRIT
III. Get Rid of WRONG Thinking
IV. Learn to Live in the Power of the Holy Spirit
V-12-14 Rom 8:12-13 (NLT) 12. “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters,£ you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13.For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature,£ you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children£ of God.
V-12 (NIV) Paul tells us a truth: We are under no obligation whatsoever to do what our Old Patterns (LIFE) dictate (Or tell us) to us what we should do.
A. If your addicted to smoking – The Bible says your under no obligation to smoke – you can dictate to your flesh and tell it “No”
B. If you have a habitual pattern of being addicted to pornography and the sexual urges just seem to overwhelming so that you want to give in – You are under no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do!
C. If your Sinful urge is Anger and you just always seem to blow up you cannot seem to “control yourself” Your’re under no obligation to your emotions – You don’t have to be a slave to your outbursts –
D. I know what some of you are thinking right now “ Oh yeah Sure! If only it was that easy! I’ve tried and tried.
1. That’s the Problem!
You have tried it in your own power!
Look at verse 13….
• But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it…
Rom 8:12-13 (NLT) “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters,£ you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.
13For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature,£ you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children£ of God.
E. “But if through the power of the Spirit, you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature—YOU will LIVE!!”
1. Jesus, upon leaving this earth told us, his disciples that there is a better way then “trying” to break the cycle of habitual sins based on our own effort.
He said He would provide us the power we need to live inpurity and holiness.
Acts 1:5 Jesus said, “Remember, I have told you about this before. 5 John baptized with£ water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
• 8 But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power
1. Now…that power is not only in Christian Witness…but
the Holy Spirits power is available to help the believer
live a overcoming life!
2. The very power that shaped the heavens and earth –
the power of God! Is able to empower you to live
victoriously over the direction of the flesh!
Stop trying in your own power and performance
V. Start living in the power of the Holy Spirit
A. You ask the question “ How important is the
Baptism in the Holy Spirit in helping us to live above old habit patterns?
1. It is interesting to note that the last words of Jesus (according to Luke’s Gospel) tells us the importance Jesus placed on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Luke 24:49 “ And now I will send the Holy Spirit just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
B. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit then is vital in the Christian’s life if we are to learn to walk in the
Spirits power!
1. It is so important to lived in the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
“ For apart from Me – you can do nothing”
Conclusion:
In closing – lets review the steps that will enable the believer to overcome habitual sin patterns and old habits of the flesh
1. Don’t allow your habits to direct you anymore (Verse 1)
2. Stay in Step with the Holy Spirit [v4]
3. Get Rid of Stinkin’ Thinkin’ [v5-6]
4. Learn to Live in the Power of the Holy Spirit [v12-14]
Remember the issue is CONTROL. Who are you going to allow Lordship of your life? Jesus? – Yourself? – or Satan?
Only One gives life and peace.
(Thanks to Pastor Michael Schwer for excerpts from his sermon "How to Conquer Habitual Sins."
