"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living
according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me
stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I
might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:9-11).
The Word is God. The Scriptures are not God but the spirit that
breathes through the words is God. We must be transformed into
holiness and from the patterns of this world by the renewing of our
minds (Romans 12:2), which is by hiding God's word in our hearts. We
must set our hearts and minds on heavenly things (Col. 3:1-3). We
are also taught to "put off your old self, which is being corrupted
by it's deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your
minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true
righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24). Col 1:21 says that
when we were alienated from God, we were enemies in our minds
because of our evil behavior. That is why the mind is a primary
battlefield. The essence of who we are is in our thought life.
Each of us needs to stockpile in our minds as much of the Word of God
as we can. We are called to abide in Him, not just visit with Him.
Col. 3:16 says, "Let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you." It
is important to not let the Bible take a back seat to devotionals or
sermons. It is the "Word of Christ" which needs to dwell in us, not
the word of man. We are ever learning but often not coming to a
knowledge of the truth (2 Tim. 3:7). It is the job of the Holy
Spirit to "guide you into all truth" (John 16:13) and apply the Word
of God to your life. The Word is like the manna, which was sweet to
the taste, protected life, needed to be gathered daily
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will
know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).
Once the Holy Spirit is able to break the power of deception in our
lives and tear down the
strongholds
which are setup in our minds (2 Cor. 10:4,5), He can break the power
of sin. Remember, we are commanded to "put off your old self, which
is being corrupted by it's deceitful desires; to be made new in the
attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be
like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24).
Sin is deceitful (Heb. 3:13) and it is a process whereby "each one
is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and
enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin..."
(James 1:14-15). That is why Jesus told us to pray, "Lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matt. 6:13). God
promises that "when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out
so that you can stand up under it" (1 Cor. 10:13). He "is able to
keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious
presence without fault and with great joy..." (Jude 24). The process
of deception can be hard to recognize. It is subtle and stealthy.
The enemy's lie enters our minds in whispers, not shouts; it walks
in darkness, not light. It is a lot harder to see things in darkness
than in the light.
Sin is tempting because there is enough pleasure in it to make it
attractive to you. It is also the pleasurable side of sin which
deceives us. God is not the enemy of pleasure, He is only against the perversion
of it. Who wants a perversion, a counterfeit, when you can have the
real thing? Plus, the real thing is much better, costs less, and
doesn't have all the consequences. In fact, you will feel better
knowing you have the real thing and it pleases your Creator and
heavenly Father. Don't be deceived, there are consequences for every
sin.
Let me give you an example from my personal life and be very
transparent. The area of greatest
struggle in my life has been in the area of sexual sin. I was
already well educated and knew about the risks of pregnancy and sexually
transmitted diseases, but I thought I was safe as long as I used a
condom. I got saved at the young age of 16 and never had sex until
after I was a Christian and knew better, yet I got talked into doing
it by a girlfriend (another deceived Christian) and didn't think
there would be consequences. I was clueless (as
most Christians are) what I was really doing and what the consequences
would be. Thankfully I didn't have those consequences
(pregnancy or disease) but I
continued to sin, and that sin opened me up to a whole host of other sins
and consequences.
Let me point out just a few:
I struggled more and more with lust, porn, masturbation and fantasy
the more I sinned sexually.
The relationships I was in never worked out because it is
impossible for two Christians living in disobedience to God to
have a happy and successful relationship.
I still have the consequences of my disobedience
through memories, sexual thoughts and dreams, and have to be
disciplined to "take captive every thought make it obedient to
Christ" (2 Cor 10:5).
I have to continually crucify my flesh and deny
it because I let it rule and reign too much and too long.
I am now weaker in this area since I allowed
myself to "sin against my own body" (1 Cor. 6:18) and allow the
disease of sexual sin to permeate my body, soul and spirit. This
is regardless of being forgiven or even being a new creation
with a new heart. When you give yourself over to a sin,
especially sexual sin, you have to be very careful, recognizing
you will be more likely to do it again than if you never had.
I grieved the Holy Spirit and was "...crucifying
the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public
disgrace" (Hebrews 6:6) as the Bible declares. Can you picture
Jesus crying over your sin? Perhaps you need to. Ask God to help
you see sin as He sees it and you won't want to.
I missed the blessings of God on my life.
I didn't have the favor of God.
He couldn't hear my prayers because my sin
separated us (Is. 59:1).
It was harder to hear His voice (Again, sin
separated us).
There was not a visible consequence
such as pregnancy or a disease, but definitely a scar on my heart and
soul which severely impacted my walk with Christ.
I did not have the same umbrella of protection
from the Lord.
But praise God He can keep us from temptation and when we are
tempted he will always provide a way out. Praise God He gives us the
strength to endure temptation and flee. Praise God for His Holy
Spirit which guides us, teaches us, and gives us
power! Praise God
for His Word, which renews our mind (Romans 12:2).
There are reasons why God talks about sexual sin so much in the Bible.
Did you know that Paul talks about sexual sin more than any other
sin, and that he addresses sexual sin in nearly everyone of his letters? Why
would God, spend so much time with this one sin? One of the reasons
is because there are severe consequences! "All other sins a man
commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against
his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit who is in you whom you have received from God? You are not
your own: you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with
your body..." (1 Cor. 6:18-20). This is why it is satan's
primary temptation. It will also always take you further than you
want to go and cost you more than you want to pay. Look at what
resulted from King David's glance at Bathsheba! (2 Samuel 11). It
brought him down and ultimately led to even murder, yet David was a
man after God's heart (2 Samuel 13:14), much more than you or I!
David
knew the Lord intimately and saw the miracles of God. He was full of
faith in the Lord (remember his defeat of Goliath?). Sexual sin also
caused the fall of Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, someone
who saw the glory of the Lord in His temple. So what makes us think
we can't fall? And what makes us think there will not be devastating
consequences for allowing this disease into our hearts and minds?
The Bible says a lot about this. There is a reason why Job said "I
made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl" (Job
31:1). Job continues, "For what is man's lot from God above, his
heritage from the Almighty on high? Is it not ruin for the wicked,
disaster for those who do wrong? Does He not see my ways and count
my every step?" (Job 31:2-4) Job understood the consequences and so
should we.
Thus, we must diligently take "every thought captive to the obedience
of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5). The heart of the Lord toward sin is plain.
We are commanded, "Confess your sins to one another" (James 5:16);
our attitude must be to renounce "the things hidden because of
shame" (2 Cor. 4:2). Confession and exposure bring sin to the light.
They break the power of deception.
We are not going to rule over sin and the devil until we are first
submitting to God's rule over us. All victory comes from seeking God
until you find Him, and once you find Him, letting Him rule.
"He must become greater, I must become less" (John 3:30).
"Without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14). Are you
having a hard time seeing the Lord or sensing Him in your life? I
suggest you pursue holiness and if you do, you will see Him. God
promises, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all
your heart" (Jer. 29:13). But your heart has to be pure.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8).