Monday, May 4, 2009

Killing Sin

5 Gospel truths to meditate on in order to kill sin:

1. Believe the Gospel promise of the Spirit…he doesn’t promise just to forgive you and declare you righteous…he sends His Spirit to give you new life…he resurrects you from the dead…he is gracious enough to bring to completion what he has started. Believe it! Stop saying I don’t have the resources…and start employing the Resource he has given you already! 2 Pet. 1:3-5a,

In fact, if you don’t believe this and practice them…2 Pet. 1:9

2. Focus your eyes on the truth that your battle is confirming the reality of an eternal reward. 2 Pet. 1:10-11

3. Don’t take your sin too lightly, but Realize you are uniting Jesus to your sin and grieving the Holy Spirit who indwells you when you cease fighting! Your sin is more damaging than just how it wreaks havoc in your life! Eph 4:30, 1 Cor. 6:15-16

4. Do not dwell on your sin so long that you become introspective and lose sight of God’s promise of forgiveness. 1 John 1:9

Robert Murray McCheynne…For every one time you look at your own sin…look 10 times at Jesus!

5. Remember that you are a child of God and not an enemy. His discipline means he loves you and wants your good. Romans 8:14, Hebrews 12:5-6

7 Actions to participate in to kill sin:

1. Meditate on the Word. Renew your mind with the Word. The sword of the Spirit is your greatest weapon for killing sin when temptation comes. Romans 12:1-2, Eph 6:17.

2. Pray for God’s help. You have to plan for this. Matt. 26:36-41…esp 41.

3. Ask other believers to help you carry the burden. Matt. 26:38, Gal. 6:2

4. Cut off sin at the point of temptation. Refuse to entertain it. James 1:14-15

5. Take extreme measures to deal with sin in your life. Ex: If you are given to pornography…get rid of your computer if you have to! Matt. 5:29-30

6. Discipline yourself in pursuing righteousness and avoiding sin. Godliness does not come accidentally…we have to work at it by the power the Spirit is working in us. 1 Cor. 9:24-27

7. Cease immoral behaviors and attitudes and start practicing moral behaviors and attitudes. This may be the most obvious and seemingly impossible…but it is not if the Spirit is in you. Romans 8:13

2 comments:

Jason Sexton said...

Dude, where'd you get this stuff?!?! This should be a sermon evangelical PhD students should listen to... about once a week.

Chad Vegas said...

I wrote this stuff for my coming sermon.