WINNING OVER HABITUAL SINS
- Read Hebrews 12:1-12:2
In chapter 11, the writer of Hebrews takes us through a gallery. With rapid brush strokes he paints portraits of the OT saints. There hangs a picture of Enoch as he disappears into the heavens. Beside it hangs a picture of Noah, as he leads his sons to build the ark while animals gather in the foreground. Just a short ways further there hangs a picture of Abraham waving goodbye to his family and friends, when, by faith, he left all he knew to follow God to a foreign country.
Further down the hall hangs a picture of Moses as a babe, lying in a basket in the bulrushes. Beside it, a picture of him as a grown man, leading the Israelites through the Red Sea, with the water stacked above their heads on both sides. He leads us beside pictures of Samson, David, Daniel, and all the others saints of old.
Then, in chapter 12 he says, “Since we are surrounded by all of these witnesses, run the race that’s set before you.” He says, “Look, all of these guys, all of these people are witnesses. Ask them. They will tell you that there is no better way to live. These guys never had the joy of seeing Jesus Christ while they were living, some of them died terrible deaths, and yet every one of them will testify that serving God is the best thing in life you can ever do.”
You know, most of us started out believing that very thing. Do you remember when you first accepted Christ? Do you remember how excited you were? Why aren’t you as excited today?”
I believe one of the primary reasons we don’t do a better job of living the Christian life is found there in chapter 12 and verse 1. Read that with me please.
> Hebrews 12:1 Therefore since we also have such a large crowd of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
I want you to underline that phrase in the middle, “the sin that so easily ensnares us.” Every believer is surrounded by opportunities to sin. Every day we have many opportunities to sin, but each of us have sins that we are especially weak to. Some people struggle with pride. Some struggle with fear. Some struggle laziness, while others struggle with overwork. Some struggle with lust, and others struggle with food. Some struggle with spending, while others struggle with greed. If you’re like me, there are sins you’ve committed that you’ve asked forgiveness for, only to turn around and do it again. The Apostle Paul struggled with sin. He said, “The things that I want to do, I don’t do; and the things I don’t want to do, I do. Oh, wretched man that I am.”
This morning I want to look at why we struggle with these sins, and second I want to look at ways we can get out of the traps our sin has put us in.
I. WE STRUGGLE WITH HABITUAL SINS BECAUSE:
1. Sin looks good -
- Proverbs 23:31-32
Let’s face it. Sin looks good. If it didn’t look good, if it wasn’t attractive at least for a while, we wouldn’t do it. Sin can be fun for a while. …
2. Sin is powerful
> John 8:34 Jesus responded, “I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.” Who in their right mind would want to be a slave? Probably none of us. And yet, people are made slaves of sin. Why? Because sin is powerful. It is a trap that grips us. It grips our minds, our bodies, our imaginations. It is powerful.
3. Sin is sneaky
Sin sneaky. Sin can sneak up on you so quickly. Let me ask you, when you give faithfully, when you tithe, don’t you sometimes feel a little proud of what you’re doing and how you’re obeying Christ when maybe others aren’t? You ever have that sneak up on you?
You ever spend time with your children and then begin judging other people because you don’t think they’re as good of a parent as you are? You ever share a prayer request with someone and in the middle of sharing think, “I’m glad I’m not like that?” Several years ago, I went to a ballgame with my Mom because someone gave her some box tickets to a Braves game. I remember sitting there looking at the people around us ordering all kinds of food and souvenirs and thinking to myself, “I wish we could afford all of that stuff.” Man, the people in the nosebleed section wished they could sit where we were sitting, and there I was coveting someone’s hot dog. My friend, sin is sneaky. Covetousness, pride, anger, whatever; it can slip up on you in an instant.
A habitual sin can get a hold on you because sin is attractive. Sin is powerful, and sin is sneaky. So the question we must address is this. How do you escape habitual sins?
Now I know the Bible says, “Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.” We realize we can escape only with the Holy Spirit working in us, and we give all credit to God for the victory He allows us, but at the same time we have a responsibility as well. What can we do, what is the part we play in escaping sin’s snare?
II. I CAN ESCAPE HABITUAL SINS BY:
1. Realizing the seriousness of sin – My friend, one of the first things you must do to escape is to realize the seriousness of sin.
The Bible says sin can destroy and mess up a lot of things in our lives. Sin can destroy your testimony. Your sin can hurt your brothers and sisters in Christ. Your sin harms the testimony of the church. Your sin damages the testimony of other Christians.
Tell me, haven’t you been confronted by non-Christians after a prominent preacher’s fallen into sexual sin and found yourself having to defend the Gospel? Several years ago, when I just moved into the town of my first pastorate, I went to write a check at the resturant. The owner was hesitant to take my check because the previous pastor had left town owing her money. What kind of testimony is that for a Christian? Your sin will rob you of your joy and peace. It will hinder your prayers and damage your relationship with God.
> Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have made Him hide His face from you so that He does not listen.
If you want to escape the stronghold the Devil has in your life, you must realize the seriousness of sin.
2. Deciding I will not be ruled by sin –
> Psalm 119:106 I have solemnly sworn to keep Your righteous judgments.
Tell God right now, “God, I don’t want to be beaten by this sin. God, I want to beat this. I want to live in a way that will please you. God, with Your help, I will obey You. Unless you are as determined as the psalmist, you will find it very easy to slip into your sin. Tell God right now, “God, with your help, I will obey You.”
If you want to escape habitual sins, you must realize that sin is serious. You need to make a commitment to God to follow Him. Third, watch out sin’s approach.
3. Guard against sin’s approach
> Job 31:1 I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I look at a young woman? Job said, “I’ve got to watch out for the things I put in front of me. I’ve got to be careful of the things I’m around. I’m not gonna intentionally put temptation in front of me.
> Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
Be selective in the things you watch. Be careful about where you go. Watch the company you keep. Guard against the things that might cause you to fall. Maybe for you that means you can’t have certain snacks around the house. Perhaps it means you have to get rid of some of the channels on your TV. Perhaps it means you have to get some protective software on your computer. Whatever it means for you. Guard against sin’s approach.
4. Meditate on God’s Word
- Psalm 119:9-11
My friend, if you want to beat that sin, if you want to live a victorious life, fill your head up with God’s Word and meditate on it. Read your Bible. Memorize scripture. Listen to Christian tapes. Listen to Christian radio stations. Fill your mind up with the good stuff.
The more you read your Bible, the more you memorize scripture, the more you think about God’s Word, the more you will find it controlling your actions.
David said, “How does a young man keep himself pure? By filling his head with God’s Word.
5. Ask God for Help
> Luke 22:46 “Why are you sleeping?” He asked them. “Get up and pray so that you won’t enter into temptation.”
My friend. Pray. Ask God for help. Don’t settle for where you are. Don’t settle for being whipped again and again. The Bible says, “You have not because you ask not. Ask God for help.
Do you remember how Jesus taught us to pray? He said, “Pray in this way, ‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” When you start the day, ask God for help.
6. Get Friends to Help
> James 5:16 … confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, …
Get a Christian brother. Get a Christian sister. Tell him, tell her where you’re weak. Tell him about your struggle and give him permission to ask you the tough questions. Ask him to pray for you.
- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
My friend, God never intended for us to live the Christian life alone. That’s why He gave us Christian brothers and sisters, to help us, to encourage us, to list us up when we stumble. Get some Christian friends around you.
Oh my friend, you don’t have to be beaten. In Isaiah 54:17 we read:
> Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the Lord’s servants, and their righteousness is from Me. This is the Lord’s declaration.
You can win over that sin, if you refuse to give up.
An Asian warlord was defeated in battle. He was locked up in solitary confinement, discouraged, ready to give up until he saw a little ant in a corner of his cell. This ant tried to carry a kernel of corn over a wall. The kernel was larger than the ant itself. Sixty-nine times the ant tried to carry it up the wall. Sixty-nine times he fell back. On the seventieth try he pushed the grain of corn over the top.
