OVERCOMING SIN AND TEMPTATION IN THESE LAST DAYS.

  

Topic:  OVERCOMING SIN AND TEMPTATION IN THE LAST DAYS. 

Bible Text: James 4:7-8

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded

You will agree with me that living a  life of Holiness and righteousness is almost impossible in this world today..

Why? Because there is so much filt in the world today. As we approach the second coming of Christ, the world is becoming more and more like Sodom and gomorrah,  the world is almost like in the time of Noah..

We are living in an era where almost everything we see, do, or watch have been corrupted.

Look at the Television, it has been corrupted with ponography, images of nude women and men.

The music industry the same thing,  you hardly watch any music without seeing nude women everywhere..

The Internet is loaded with filt( for those who are searching for filt)

No more   endurance; the young people wants to make money by all means..they don't want to wait for God.

Many new generation churches no longer preach Holiness and righteousness, it's all about prosperity.

It is now a world of the survival of the fittest,  only very few follow the teachings of Christ: forgiveness,  humility,  gentleness,  merciful, long suffering (patience endurance ) faithfulness  etc..

Many preachers tell their congregations that if they keep the commandments of God that they're under bandage, this has resulted to the multiplication of sin in the world today even inside Christendom. 

These people believe they can live their lives anyhow,  and some how somehow,  (maybe by miracle) still make it to heaven, because grace has covered them and their sins.

"Those who believe on Christ and obey His commandments are not under bondage to God’s law; for to those who believe and obey, His law is not a law of bondage, but of liberty. Everyone who believes on Christ, everyone who relies on the keeping power of a risen Saviour that has suffered the penalty pronounced upon the transgressor.

 *Everyone who resists temptation and in the midst of evil copies the pattern given in the Christ life, will through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ become a partaker of the divine nature*( Hallelujah!!) 

*Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust*. *Everyone who by faith obeys God’s commandments will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression"*  - HP 146.5

KJV 2 Peter 1:3 - 4

3 *According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue*: 

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: *that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust*.

So, my brothers and Sisters,  we  can see that we can,  through the help of the Holy Spirit overcome the sin and corruption that is in the world today.

In a world that has no  virtue, the Lord has called us to be virtuous ( exhibiting high moral standards that the world doesn't have; to be different from the world)n

We can still live the kind of life that the Lord wants us to live in this world, even though  the world  has gotten  a deplorable state..

*What about Daniel*?

Daniel 1:8

8 *But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself*.

Did we see that?

*Daniel made up his mind* that he wouldn't defy himself with the Babylonians  foods and drinks*..

Friends we have to make up our minds not to  be like the world, even though we are on the world.

The bible says, though we are in the world, but we are not of the world.

Daniel was in Babylon he did not act like the Babylonians,  he didn't worship the gods of Babylon,  even when a decree was made forcing all,  both great and small to worship the the king's  image, but Daniel refused to bow.

Daniel made up his mind not to drink from the wine of Fornication  in Babylon. 

He didn't make up excuses, that "Lord you understand,  because I am  in Babylon that's why", No!

Today,  we can make up our minds even in this wicked world to live a Holy life and a virtuous life,;we can be the light of the world..

*HOW CAN WE ACHIEVE THIS*?

1. Making up our minds that we want to overcome  sin: if we believe nothing can be impossible for us to do,  you shall decree a thing and it shall be established. 

Say no to the  bondage of the Devil. 

Sin is a bondage, the devil is the Father of Sin, if we are living in sin, then we are the servants of sin(the devil)

Romans 6:16

"*Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness*"?

2. Trusting in God's  provision to gtant us the enablement/  to overcome Sin. 

The bible says, ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find.( Matthew  7:7)

It is not by power nor by might, but by the Spirit of God. ( Zachariah  4:6)

We can't make it without the help of the Holy Spirit,  ask for His help, allow Him in to your life. ( Luke 11:13)

Remember He convinces and convicts us of our sins..(John 16:8)

He is the law of God written in our hearts..( Jeremiah  31:33, Hebrews 10:16)

 3. *Dwelling In The Presence  Of God Always*.

How do we dwell in the Presence of God all the time?

Exodus 25:8

*And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them*.

The Lord says that He dwells in His Holy temple ( the physical building dedicated for worship of God) 

They are to make this temple so that when ever they come to the temple,  they come before the Presence of God and God is among them and inhabits their praises.

But God has even come closer to us than it was before..He is not only dwelling in the physical temples, but dwelling in us.

2 Corinthians 6:16 

*What agreement has the temple of God with idols? *For we are the temple of the living God*; as God said, *I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people*.

Ephesians  3:16-19

*That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God*

 *What Do We Do In The Temples*?

Pray

Study

Sing songs of praises(worship)

Keep the place clean all the time.

We shouldn't wait until when we get to the Church before we can pray, worship, or study.

This should be a daily habit.

When we do so regularly, we are dwelling in the presence of the Lord.

David says, that I may dwell in the house(Presence)of the Lord forever. Psalms 23.

 PRAYER

The bible says pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5

17)

Luke 22:46

*Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation*."

We can avoid falling into temptation when we pray all the time.

When we pray we talk to God, it brings us closer to God, it keeps the Spirit of God in us active.. the Spirit of God alerts us, when ever temptation comes, and we already know how to overcome it.  If we don't pray, then we are sleeping and can fall Into sin.

Daniel  prayed 3 times  a day.

Do you think he would have been able to stand the test, to escape the temptations  and not fall without not always abiding in the Presence of God?( always praying)

 STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD AND OTHER INSPIRED CHRISTIAN BOOKS

when we study the bible, we hear God speak to us, we know what His mind and will is for us.

We get to know the truth that sets us free through studying the word of God.( John 8:32)

We are sanctified by  His word ( John 17:17)

 

We overcome temptations, sin, discouragement etc..by the word of God.

Revelation 12:11 

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, *and by the word of their testimony*; and they loved not their lives unto the death".

Jesus overcame  the devil with the word of God.

But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'”

The word of God  is the Sword  of the Spirit by which we fight the enemy, if we don't have anything stored up, how do the Holy Spirit remind us of his words?.

3. SONGS OF PRAISES(WORSHIP)

We should always listen to good music, and enga5in singing good gospel songs..instead of listening to worldly corrupt musics that corrupt the mind.

KEEP THE TEMPLE HOLY

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

*Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you*? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

Roman's 12:1-2

 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to *offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship*.

 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind*. *Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect wil

We are not to only to  appear Holy in the Church because we believe that God is there..we are to appear Holy, and live Holy, and avoid whatsoever that will  corrupt our minds or make us unclean.

Since our body is God's  temple we must mind:

a. What we watch /what we see

b. where we go

c. what we eat and drink

d. What we wear

e. What we hear.

d. What you think

It is very difficult to live according to the will of God, and to be  heaven bound,  you have to forsake many things for the sake of Christ. I have said before  it is not by chance, you must work out your salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12)

You must be sure of your salvation,  (assurance of salvation) just like Paul was sure of his.

They're some things we need to avoid,  if we say we want to make it and keep our hearts pure; we must avoid  such things..

a. What we watch/see/ hear:  The devil has set his snare everywhere waiting to catch his prey (Christians)

He is achieving this through the entertainment industry: movies, music, fashion. 

We should be careful what our eyes see..because what we see affect our thoughts and even actions to  large extent.

The movies and music industries have been polluted  seriously, you can't watch any scene  without seeing  nudity there, or immoral scene.

  Personally, I have stopped watching movies,  except for Christian movies and music..

Fashion: you see half naked girls walking  in the  streets, on the road, to avoid this, quickly remove eyes...

The best  is to FLEE...

Joseph fled from Potiphar's wife who wanted to seduce him..if you find yourself around such women,girls, or men, just flee.

Flee from ungodly conversations, FLEE from listening to worldly music's, they contain  subliminal messages.

2 Timothy 2: 22

*Run from temptations that capture young people. Always do the right thing. Be faithful, loving, and easy to get along with. Worship with people whose hearts are pure. 

Matthew 5:28

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

1 Timothy  6:11

"But as for you, *O man of God, flee these things*. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness"

FLEE from movies, music, that doesn't edify us, FLEE from indecent women, FLEE from bad friends..don't think that a miracle will happen and God will save you from the temptations while you are in their midst?

That would be tempting God.

b. Where we go to

 we can't claim to be heaven bound Christians and yet visit some places, like the night club, or some worldly shows..places that would lure us into sin rather than edifying us.

c. What we drink/ eat.

We should have self control,  and not eat like the world, just like Daniel  purposed in his heart that he wouldn't defy himself with the drink or meat of the king.

Isaiah 5:11

Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them!

Your body is a temple, take  care of it  by minding what you eat.

Bad Thoughts

: If we don't guard our thoughts, it  can lead us to sin.

Satan throws darts at us, he brings evil  thoughts to our minds, sometimes it's what we have *seen or heard* before that is playing in our minds.

 We don't have to meditate on those thoughts..we don't have to nurture them, or dwell on them; rather we should rebuke those thoughts  from our minds.

When we are in the Church we don't  meditate on evil thoughts because we believe we are in the Presence of God,  we don't engage in evil conversation, we don't dress inappropriately  because we believe we are in the Presence of God, forgetting that we are carrying the presence of God in us..

When we do all these things, then we are always in the Presence of God, and we cannot continue to live in sin.

John 3:9-10 NIV

9No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God*. 10This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: *Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

 Conclusion:

ONLY THOSE WHO OVERCOME SIN THROUGH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL ENTER INTO HEAVEN

A TIME IS COMING WHEN CHRIST WILL LEAVE THE MOST HOLY PLACE,  HE WILL NOT CONTINUE TO ATONE FOR OUR SINS FOREVER..A TIME IS COMING WHEN PROBATION WILL CLOSE, AND IT WOULD BE TOO LATE TO REPENT THEN.

Revelation  22:11

 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

WHEN YOU DROP DEAD NOW(IN SIN) YOUR OWN PROBATION HAS CLOSED..THERE IS NO REPENTANCE IN THE GRAVE.

It is my prayer that the Lord will grant us the strength to overcome sin  in Jesus mighty name. Amen

Ephesians  6: 10-18..

Put on the WHOLE ARMOUR  don't lose your guard.

We are entering into difficult times.. always call upon God for help during difficult times and temptations, He will never leave us alone.