The second step in breaking free from our addictions is Realization. This step is quite simple. Realization is simply taking a good hard look at ourselves as God really sees us. This chapter deals with the real reason for our sin and the consequences of our actions. It will help us to take responsibility for our own actions.
ITEM 1
The reasons for your sin
Genesis 2:15-17: And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou may freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it: for in the day that thou eat thereof thou shall surely die.
3:1-6: Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field, which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, you shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
3:11-13: And he said, who told thee that thou were naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou should not eat? And the man said, the woman whom thou gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, what is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, the serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Man is by his nature sinful.
Man is sinful, and we show it in our actions and our conduct. Man is always ready to do evil. Paul says in Romans that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. When we, as children of God, are outside of His will, we are under the Divine sentence of the law; the soul that sinneth shall surely die. These things are true of men of all ages, of all nations, and all genders.
This lesson is quite simple. It is so simple that we can overlook it with considerable ease. When we sin and do not clear it up with God, we drift quietly and silently away from God, like a boat adrift on the sea. As children of God, we should never set our own will against the holy will of God. When we allow our actions to be outside of the will of God, we forfeit God’s favor and deserve His punishment. Worse than that, we lose our fellowship with God.
Lucifer influences us into sin.
Lucifer conquered Adam and Eve and drew them into sin, and Lucifer’s plan is to conquer each of us like he did them. Lucifer wants to separate us from our God and destroy any chance of us getting into heaven. In the garden, Lucifer tempted the woman, Eve. It was Lucifer’s policy to talk with her when she was alone. Lucifer took advantage of this when he found her near the forbidden tree. Lucifer will use things, people, and ideas that we are use to or familiar with to get to us. It is Lucifer’s strategy to send temptations by hands we do not suspect, and by those that have the most influence upon us. Lucifer questioned whether or not it was a sin to eat of the tree. Lucifer quoted the commandment wrong because he is a liar. It is the practice of Lucifer to speak of the Word of God as uncertain or unreasonable, so that he can draw us into sin. Lucifer will try to get us to doubt God, and then to deny the truth that we already know about God.
Our disobedience opens the doorway for sin.
As children of God, the Word of God says that we can have anything that we want. The bible says that God will give us the desires of our hearts, but we must be obedient. Before Adam and Eve sinned, they welcomed God’s gracious visits with joy. Adam had no corrupt nature within him; but he did have a freedom of choice. When Adam chose to sin, he drew in all of the rest of humanity into sin and ruin. When it was too late, Adam and Eve saw the mistake of eating the forbidden fruit. They saw the happiness and peace they once knew disappear. They saw a loving God provoked into anger. They saw His grace and favor forfeited. They soon found themselves outside the protective fellowship of God. Adam and Eve were now miserable comforters to each other!
This is the fate of all children of God that continues to live in their sins. We have more interest in saving ourselves before men, than in obtaining a pardon from God for our sins. Men make excuses to cover and lessen their sins, but all of their best excuses are vain and frivolous. It is no wonder man has become a terror to each other. No wonder God’s once perfect world is full of confusion.
The five steps downward into sin
1. We see. A great deal of sin comes in at the eye. Let us not look on that which we are in danger of lusting after, Matthew 5:28.
2. We consider. It is our own act and deed that leads us into sin. Lucifer may tempt, but he cannot force; he may persuade us to cast ourselves down, but he cannot cast us down, Matthew 4:6.
3. We participate. When Eve looked perhaps, she did not intend to take; or when she took, not to eat. It is wisdom to stop at the first sight of sin, and to leave it alone.
4. We involve others. Those who do wrong are willing to draw in others to do the same. Misery loves company.
5. They participate.
Item 2
The consequences of your sin
Genesis 3:7-10: And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Genesis 3:14-19: And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shall thou go, and dust shall thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow, thou shall bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shall not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shall thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shall eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shall thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it was thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shall thou return.
Genesis 3:22-24: And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So, he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the Garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword, which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Genesis 4:1-2: And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Genesis 4:8-12: And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, what hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s blood cries unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; when thou till the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shall thou be in the earth.
Where Are You?
Those who go astray from God because of sin should seriously consider this question. Where are you? When a child of God is lost in sin, they are far from God. When a child of God is out of fellowship with God, they are in the midst of their enemies. They are in bondage to Lucifer, and on the road to utter destruction. The lost child of God cannot be either happy or satisfied where he has strayed. We, like Adam, have reason to be afraid of approaching God, if we are covered and clothed in sin.
Our sins are revealed to us in the light of the Word of God. But instead of us acknowledging our sins, we often try to excuse our sins, and lay the shame and blame of them on others. We often say that the devil made us do it, when in fact it was something that we want to do all the time. We excuse our sexual infidelity by saying that everyone is doing it. Those who are willing to take the pleasure and profit of sin are never quite as quick to take the blame and shame of it. It is by the deceitfulness of sin that the heart of the lost child of God is hardened. (Romans 7:11; Hebrews 3:13) But though Lucifer may draw us into sin, yet this will not excuse our sin. Though Lucifer is the tempter, we are still the sinners. As sinners, we are found outside of the presence, fellowship and will of God.
Item 3
Separation from God (A look at the Ten Commandments)
God speaks in many ways to men. He speaks by conscience, by providences, by His voice, and by His Word. Anyone that says that God does not speak has not been silent long enough to listen. But God never spoke at any time like when He spoke the TEN COMMANDMENTS. This is the law or set of morals that we are all born with. God had written it in our hearts; but our sins and wrong way of thinking mutilated it so badly, that it was necessary for God to revive the knowledge of it. This law is spiritual. It takes knowledge of the secret thoughts, desires, and dispositions of the heart. Its’ grand demand is love, without which outward obedience is a mere deception. It requires perfect, unfailing, constant obedience. Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10) Whether in conduct, thought, word, or deed, to omit or to vary from the law, is sin, and the wages of sin is death.
The first four of the Ten Commandments tell us of our duty to God. These were put first, because man had a God to love before he had a neighbor to love. The first commandment concerns the object of worship, JEHOVAH, and him only. Whatever comes short of perfect love, gratitude, reverence, or worship, breaks this commandment. Whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.
The second commandment refers to the worship we are to give to our God. It is forbidden to make any image or picture of God, in any form, or for any purpose; or to worship any creature, image, or picture. But the spiritual significance of this command extends much further. All kinds of superstition, and the using of mere human tradition in the worship of God are forbidden.
The third commandment concerns the reverence and respect that we are to render to the name of God. All false oaths and all profane cursing are forbidden. The Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain.
The opening word of the fourth commandment, “Remember,” shows that it was not just given, but was known by the people before. One day in seven is to be kept holy. Six days are allowed for worldly business. On those days, we must do all our work, and leave none to be done on the Sabbath day. Christ allowed works of necessity, charity, and kindness; for the Sabbath was made for us, and not we for the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27) The Sabbath of the Lord should be a day of rest from worldly labor, and a rest in the service of God. The advantages that come from keeping of this holy day are not only for the health and happiness of man, but also for taking care of the soul spiritual well being. The day is blessed; men are blessed by it, and in it.
The laws of the last six of the Ten Commandments state our duty to ourselves and to one another, and explain the great commandment; Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. (Luke 10:27) Godliness and honesty must go together.
The fifth commandment concerns the duties we owe to our parents. The honor of our father and our mother is shown in our conduct and obedience to their lawful commands. We, as children, are to come when they call, go where they send, do what they ask, refrain from what they prohibit; and we are to do this cheerfully, and with love. We are also to submit to their counsels and corrections. We are to make an effort to comfort our parents, and to make their old age easy; maintaining them if they need our support, which Jesus makes to be particularly intended in this commandment. (Matthew 15:4-6) We must take note of the fact that a peculiar blessing is given to the obedient child, and the reverse to the disobedient child. Honor thy father and mother so that your days may be long upon the land that the Lord, your God gives you.
The sixth commandment requires that we regard the life and the safety of others as we do our own. Self-defense is lawful; but many things that are not deemed murder by the laws of man, are by the laws of God. Furious passions, murder, and all fighting, whether out of anger and malice, breaks this commandment. This command forbids all envy, malice, hatred, or anger, and all provoking or insulting language. The self-destruction of our own lives is also forbidden. This commandment requires a spirit of kindness, long-suffering, and forgiveness.
The seventh commandment deals with our faithfulness toward our spouse. We should be as much afraid of that which defiles the body, as of that which destroys it. Whatever tends to pollute the imagination, or to raise the passions, falls under this law.
The eighth commandment is the law of God in respect to the property of others. The portion of worldly things given to us by God is part of the blessings that God has given us. Imposing upon the ignorance, easiness, or necessity of others, defrauding the public, contracting debts without of paying them, or evading payment of debts break this command.
The ninth commandment is the law of God in respect to our own and our neighbor’s good name. This law forbids speaking falsely on any matter, lying, devising or designing a plan to deceive our neighbor, bearing false witness against him, slandering, backbiting, and gossiping.
The tenth commandment strikes at the root; Thou shall not covet. The others forbid all desire of doing what will be an injury to our neighbor; this forbids all wrong desire of having what will gratify us.
These laws, which are so extensive that we cannot measure them, so spiritual that we cannot evade them, and so reasonable that we cannot find fault with them, will be the rules by which the future judgment of God will be rendered. As for the present conduct of the children of God, if we are tried by these rules, we shall find ourselves being declared guilty. The knowledge of the laws of God shows our need of repentance.
ITEM 4
Playing the blame game
The soul that sinneth it shall die. Every person will be judged according to his or her position under the old covenant of Moses, or the new covenant of Jesus. We are all in the hands of God and He will deal with each of us with justice or mercy. No one will perish because of someone else sin. (Genesis 3:11-13) When God came into the garden and discovered that Adam and Eve had sinned, the first response of each of them was to blame someone else for their sin. This is still the immediate response of us today. We have a tendency not to want to take the blame for our actions. The man that has an affair blames his wife for not being loving enough. The drug addict that uses drugs blames the pressures of life. Nevertheless, each person will be held accountable for his or her own sin at the judgment seat of God.
If God would judge us according to the Ten Commandments, every child of God will be lost because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But God has provided a way for everyone to be saved. And how are we to be saved? This, too, is so simple we can very easily over look it. I John 1:9 state that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Yet, when we try to blame others and circumstances for our sins, we have not truly confessed them to God.
No matter how we may try to excuse or cover our sins, with God, we are in the wrong. God will judge each of us according to our sins. This is why we need to truly repent and take the responsibility for our actions. God does not expect us to do what cannot be done, but He insists that we do what is in our power, and to pray for what is not. God has promised help for anyone that desires to seek Him and do His will.
ITEM 5
Whose fault is it?
The decisions that we make tend to lead us down the wrong paths in life. Each person will be face with a critical decision to make in his or her lifetime. This decision will be whether to do what is right or to sin. The wrong decision will result in losing fellowship with God. When we lose fellowship with God, we have no one to blame but ourselves.
Each decision we make will result in things happening that can be for our good or for our bad. The Word of God says that all things work together for the good of those that love the Lord according to God’s purpose. Deductive reasoning states that if all things work for the good of those that love God, then all things must work for the bad for those that do not love God. And how shall we know that we love God? We will know if we keep His commandments.
There are over one million church buildings in America, and the Word of God is published in over 47 different languages. We have no excuse for not knowing what the Word of God says. We do not do what the Word of God says we should do because of our obsession with the things and ways of the world. We would, to a certain extent, break every commandment that God ever put out, rather than do the right thing. Our spouse has an affair and the first thing that we do is go and commits adultery ourselves. We, then, try to rationalize or excuse our sinful actions by saying that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. But we tend to forget that the same person that owns the goose also owns the gander. The same way one will be judge all will be judged. No one will be excused from hell because they had reason to sin.
When we fall into sin the fault lies only on our shoulders and if we go to hell, the blame lies only with us. It was said earlier in this lesson that Lucifer can try to throw us down and even will try to convince us to throw ourselves down, but only we can throw ourselves down. Paul says it like this in Romans 8: 38-39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If we are separated from God, the fault is our own and God will judge each of us separately according to what we have done.
ITEM 6
Placing the blame on Lucifer (James 1: 1-18)
Lucifer is to blame for many of the things that are happening in our world today. His influence can be felt from the White House to the Church House. In these last days, Lucifer is really putting up a tremendous fight. Yet, he cannot be blame for our sins. Lucifer can be accused of bring varies thing into our world to entice us into sin. James 3:15-16 states that “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descended not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
Temptations come from evil desires inside of us. It begins with Lucifer putting an evil thought or ideal into our thought process. When we dwell on these thoughts, they soon turn into an action. When we focus on evil thought long enough they will become a part of us. This is one of the reasons why Jesus said that if you just think about committing adultery then you have already sinned. The mind that God created for us is a very powerful and dangerous tool. Sin gets more destructive the longer we stay in it. Soon sin turns from just a one-time thing into a repeated habit. The best time to stop sin is before it gets to strong and out of control.
Even though Lucifer is to blame for introducing the evil thoughts into our minds, we still cannot lay the blame for our action on him. We are the one that committed the sin. When we try to make excuses for our sins, we are just trying to shift the blame off of us onto someone or something else. However, this will not work with God. God will judge each of us for our sins. There is an old saying that has a lot of truth in it. It says that we cannot hide anything from God because He already knows everything. God will require us to answer for everything that we do.
ITEM 7
Taking responsibility for your actions
It is easy to blame someone or even Lucifer for our sins. However, a child of God must be willing to take the responsibility for his or her sins. A child of God must confess these sins and repent of them. God has promise that He will forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Repenting of our sins means to get rid of and resist the temptation to sin. Then we must accept what Jesus has done for us and depend upon His strength to keep us out of sin. We must also read and study the word of God. The Word of God is our only road map out of sin.
Not only must we read and listen to the Word of God, we must also do what the Word of God tells us to do. As born again children of God, we are saved and free from sin because of Jesus’ death on the cross. As born again children of God, we are now free to live life as God intended for us to live. God intended for us to enjoy everything that He created for us to enjoy. God intended for us to have control and dominion over everything on the earth. God intended for us to be able to resist Lucifer.
