Deep Implanted Sin (Eph.:10-13)
Illus. The enemy leader is in his command center discussing his battle strategy with those under his command.
The enemy is very upset about the latest move by the rebellion forces. They have been attacking in vital areas. Never before in this struggle has the rebellion force (the C) had this much power. They have been attacking with such intensity, that the enemy leader knows He must do something drastic to squash the rebellion once and for all.
The enemy leader reflects back to that fateful day when he took control of this world. He smiles with satisfaction as he remembers how easy it was to gain control. Just a few carefully placed lies and wham ,he controlled it all. It amused him to think of how easy it was to trick the inhabitants of the Garden and to steal control not only of their lives but their world as well.
The smile vanishes from his face as he thinks about the rebellion. About 2000 years ago the C , those rebels
came on the scene , How dare this riff -raff, this rag-tag group of weaklings stand and oppose him; didn’t they know his power.
He was stronger than they were because they didn’t know who they were and the power available to them. But now they were awake and were quickly learning how to fight against his demonic hoard and his un-holy host. They were quickly learning how to use that dreaded weapon “The Word” and were getting very skillful in prayer, they are in relationship with their power source
After ages of plotting , Satan is now ready to use his secret weapon “The Implanting”.
The Implanting
1. Create a diversion
2. Plant a very small sin seed in the rebel’s heart
3. Watch patiently as the sin seed grows
4. Plant a denial seed so the victim will deny the sin
5. Watch as the sin seed takes control of the victim
6. Soon the victim will lose that effective weapon he possesses “The Testimony”
7. The victory is almost here (the victim looses confidence to pray)
8. The victim no longer is in the word
9. The victim is out of relationship with his power source
Each of us—Satan sees to it—struggles with deep implanted sin. We live in a fallen world, we are born corrupted by sin, we learn bad habits, and we are deceived—aided and abetted by the devil
Surely the drug-addicted prostitute has more deeply deep sown in sin than the widow who struggles with moderate overeating. But each of us struggles with implanted sin, and it limits us from growing spiritually unless we learn how to deal with it.
Text: 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can fight against the devil’s evil tricks. 12 Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. 13 That is why you need to put on God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.
Sin is a boomerang. You throw it in pleasure; it comes back you in pain.
1.What Is an implanted Sin?
implanted sin is chronic sin that a Christian has a difficult time getting consistent victory over.
Illus: preacher and porno story
All of us have entrenched sins, though fortunately they are not usually as extreme as this one. We might be entrenched in the sin of
A. • overeating
B. • gossiping
C. • anger
D • too much or the wrong kind of television (lust? laziness?)
E • worry
F • sarcasm
G • bitterness
H materialism
I • pride
J • laziness
K . envy
L • alcohol, drugs, tobacco
Implanted sin may be anywhere from minor to life-controlling. Like a tiger in a cage, as long as you face it and control it, you survive, but turn your back on it for a moment, lose your concentration, make a foolish move, and it is there again to eat you alive.
2.How Does Sin Get Implanted ?
Sin usually gets Implanted when we indulge in small sins which gradually become bigger ones.
Sin usually gets entrenched the same way a brick wall gets laid—one brick at a time. We indulge in a small sin, thinking it won't hurt. Left to itself, it would not be so damaging. But when combined with others becomes so strong it cannot be broken. We weave and braid our sins together until they are so strong we feel powerless to help ourselves.
Regardless of how we get them, regardless of whether they are nagging, little things, or life-controlling addictions, we all have implanted sin. Satan sees to it.
3. Why Is Implanted Sin So Bad?
A. Entrenched sin is bad and that it hinders spiritual growth. All sin is ruination and destruction of good. Sin is bad not because God says so, but rather God says so because He wants to reveal it for what it truly is.
B. There are at least three major reasons why entrenched sin, or any sin, is so bad.
(1) Sin Destroys the Picture of God
God wants Christians to reflect Him, to magnify Him, and to glorify Him. But we must understand why. Certainly God is deserving of our glorification, but there is more to it than that. God is not a cosmic egomaniac who wants humans to grovel at His feet with stooped shoulders and an ingratiating grin, wringing their hands and constantly saying “yes, sir,” and “no, sir,” and “whatever you wish, sir.”
God wants Christians to glorify Him, because in doing so, we give an accurate picture to the world of what God is like. Then, people who don't know Him will want to know Him because of what they see of Him in us. We are His reputation.
When we live in sin, the world does not get an accurate picture of what God is like, and others will not want to know Him because they don't know what He is like. Sin among Christians drives non-Christians away from God. That is a terrible thing to do, and ought to make us determined either to deal with our sin, or never testify that we are Christians.
(2) Sin Destroys Human Relationships
Relationships make life worthwhile, not money, not fame, not excitement. There is nothing wrong with money, fame, or excitement in and of themselves. But they will not support a meaningful life if placed at the core of that life. Relationships are the essence of every meaningful life, and the other things must be placed around that core.
Relationships are so hard to enjoy. Why? Because sin sits on our shoulder and whispers, “Self. Self is more important. You must look out for yourself; you must satisfy yourself. It is more blessed to receive than to give. Do unto others before others do unto you. Look out for number one.”
Those whisperings sow the seeds of destruction for any relationship. The Holy Spirit sits on our other shoulder and cries, “Others. Others. Do not merely look out for your own interests, but be interested in the welfare of others. Do to others as you would have others do to you. Love your neighbor as yourself.”
When that happens, the relationship is ruptured. Only humility and skill can repair it. Sin is bad because it damages and destroys relationships, the very things that make life worth living.
(3) Sin Destroys the Sinner
Finally, sin is bad because it destroys the sinner. All sin boomerangs and strikes a lethal blow to the very one who throws it. The thief is arrested, the angry person loses his job, the lazy person cannot make ends meet, the hypocritical person loses the respect of his children, the alcoholic dies of liver disease, and on and on it goes. Sin boomerangs. Sin damages and eventually destroys the sinner.
4. How Can the Christian Gain Victory Over Implanted Sin?
The Christian can gain victory over Implanted sin by repenting and receiving the grace of God.
A. We must admit that we are entrenched in sin, we must admit our powerlessness to escape without the grace of God, and we must resolutely turn from our sin as best we can. That is step number one.
B. Beyond this, of course, one must pray. We must call on God to help and deliver us. We must flee to His arms, as it were, so that He can save us. This is serious praying.
C. Beyond those critical steps, some specific additional measures may need to be taken to bolster an individual's strength to overcome Implanted sin.
(1) Maintain the basics.
(a) Going to church
(b) Reading the Bible
(c) Praying,
(d) Spending time with other Christians
(2)Guard the environment. I heard the story of a little girl who was instructed not to eat any of the cookies her mother was baking that morning since they were for company that night, and the mother put them in the pantry. Later in the afternoon, the mother found that the little girl was missing. “Susie!” her mother called. “Where are you?”
Susie called back, “I'm in the pantry.”
“What are you doing in the pantry?” her mother asked.
Susie replied, “I'm fighting temptation.”
Now, the place to fight temptation was not in the pantry, but in the living room beside her mother. The same is true with each of us. When we do not guard our environment, we more easily fall into temptation, and after repeated occurrences, descend into entrenched sin. For example, if you are tempted by alcohol, don't keep alcohol in the house. If you struggle with smoking, don't keep cigarettes in the house. If you struggle with pornography, don't have cable television channels that put you at risk. If you struggle with anything, don't have it in easy reach. Keep the source of your temptation as far away from you as you can.
(3)Be decisive with small things. We can handle things when they are small. But small things grow when they are fed, and soon the small things become bigger than we are. We must deal decisively with small things while they are still small.
Our thoughts are the threads we use to weave the fabric of our lives. Thread by thread, thought by thought, we create our own destiny. . Any time we allow our mind to dwell on things that are not positive we are setting ourselves up for trouble.
(4)Be spiritually accountable to someone. There ought to be someone or even a small group in your life with whom you can be totally authentic and transparent. There ought to be other Christians in your life in whom you can confide and to whom you have given the freedom to ask you personal and intimate questions, especially if they notice anything suspicious. They ought to ask questions such as, “How are you doing?” and if the answers seem vague or evasive, then probe even deeper.
Here is a set of questions that friends should asked each other each week.
• Have you been with someone of the opposite sex this week in a way that was or might be seen as inappropriate or in poor judgment?
• Have you been above reproach with your finances this week?
• Have you exposed yourself to any explicit material (anything inappropriate) this week?
• Have you been faithful to spend time in the Scriptures and prayer on a daily basis this week?
• Have you spent adequate time with your family this week?
• Have you just lied to me?
What we need to do
1. Visualize the ultimate consequences. Perhaps the single most effective tool I have found in avoiding and breaking besetting sin is to visualize the ultimate end of the sinful activity, and to ask myself if I am willing to pay the ultimate price for that sin. If not, I must turn around.
Specific things that would follow by giving in to the sin.
• I would personally spit in God's face.
• I would publicly kick dirt in His face.
• I would devastate my wife and Friends
• I would lose my reputation.
• I would bury myself in guilt and remorse.
• I would discourage others from becoming a Christian.
Some implanted sin, such as addiction to alcohol, drugs, or pornography, is very obvious. Other implanted sin, such as gossip, worry, or materialism, can be much more subtle.
