STRIVING AGAINST SIN

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace." Romans 6:12-14.

How can someone avoid sinning? We must be doers of the Word and not just hearers, James 1:22-25. God's Word will help us avoid sin ... but only if we obey it. Evaluate yourself by the instructions listed below. Have you been doing these things? Failure to follow His instructions can result in moral failure, in times of concentrated sins, and in habitual sin. Follow His instructions. You can overcome sin.

Pray. Pray that God will direct your path away from the people, places, and things that tempt you to sin. The Lord's Prayer includes the petition, "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Matthew 6:13. Pray that God will keep you from the influences of Satan. Pray that He will deliver you from all evil influences.

Know His Word. Meditate on His Word. Study His Word. Memorize His Word. More time in the Bible results in less sin. Less time in the Bible results in more sin. "Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You." Psalm 119:11.

Walk by His Spirit. You cannot avoid sin by living a self-directed life. You must live a God-directed life to avoid sin. "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." Galatians 5:16.

Set your mind on things above ... not on the things of the world, the flesh, and the devil. "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth". Colossians 3:1-2. Your life will follow the focus and direction of your mind. "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8.

Be careful of overconfidence. Don't think that you have reached a state of immunity to the dangers of sin and temptation. "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12. Don't be self-confident in your ability to resist sin. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling." Proverbs 16:18.

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IN THE WAR 8    PAGES: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15    
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Disciplemaking 1, copyright 2003, is available free from www.MyDisciplemaker.org where you can study online or print free copies. You may copy this course, any any part of it, for free or at-cost distribution ... without change to the content ... and with this copyright policy attached. Published by www.ActsOneEight.org. Bible Quotations are from the NASB unless noted.