How to Conquer Habitual Sins

  Romans 8:1-14 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. 5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.{{more}} 9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. 12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. I define your battle with the flesh as all the habit patterns that you have developed over the years to meet your needs out of your own resources. It is the Self-Life. Look at what it means to “live by the Flesh” and “How difficult it is to deal with the Flesh” But this week I want to show you How To Fight The Flesh and Overcome Sin Tendencies in our life.The 8th Chapter of Romans tells us how: Romans 8 is the “Declaration of Freedom” This Chapter in the Bible and Gods Word declares the Christians Security in Christ. As you study this chapter you will discover that the emphasis is upon the Holy Spirit, who is mentioned 19 times.So, it stands to reason, that in order to live a life free from old habit patterns and sins that try to enslave us. You must have a dependence upon the Ministry of the Holy Spirit who was sent by Jesus to help us live a overcoming life.2nd Corinthians 3:17 says, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty!” So what we are looking into this week is: How you can walk in daily freedom from sinful habit patterns by depending upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit.Why is it a problem for us to gain victory over various sins habits you might have? The answer invariably lies in one word control; who do we want to be in control of our life. We really only have 3 options in this area: God, Ourselves, and Satan. You choose who will be in control over your Mind, Will and Emotions by the daily seemingly insignificant decisions you make: How Can I Overcome Sin Tendencies in My Life?Whether it is Worry, Fear, Lust, Overspending, Anger, Control, Doubts about God or the like Romans 8 shows us Steps we can take to break our Sinful habits. Step one: Do not allow your Habits to Direct You Anymore; Romans 1:1 says, “And walk not after the dictates of the Flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.” Amen! The word picture Paul uses here is that of a commanding officer. Our flesh, our old habits would try to dictate to us to follow in the old patterns that only led into defeat, but here we are told to not walk after those commands rather to allow the Holy Spirit to direct us.Just how do we do that? When you notice that you are beginning to live according to the old habit patterns you have developed, in dealing with your problems. You need to STOP and Listen for the voice of God and quiet yourselves. Now the Flesh does not like this. It takes patience and trust and endurance to stop and listen to God. Your flesh will scream out “ We have got to do something! Now!” But you will never hear Gods voice when you are listening to your own thoughts. Amen!The First Step to Hearing From Gods Holy Spirit is to Quiet yourselves to Listen. This means that you must quiet your flesh, your tendencies to try to solve everything your way and not get ahead of Gods leading. Do not allow your old habits to direct you anymore and begin to listen to Gods voice when He speaks.Step Two: Stay in Step with the Holy Spirit.  How Do I Stay in Step With the Spirit?Galatians 5:25 says, “Since we live by the Spirit let us stay in Step with the Spirit.” You stay in step with the Holy Spirit when you make a willful choice to do things Gods way and not your way. Amen!I guarantee there will be times that this will cause inner conflict because the Holy Spirit will do things different then your old habit patterns. Why? Because when God does something in our lives He makes it clear that the answer come to us in a way that we know it can only be God! So God gets the glory.You stay in step with the Spirit by applying a little known principle found in Ephesians 4 Ephesians 4:3 3 says; “Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace.” Amen!How do we keep ourselves united in the Holy Spirit? To Unite according to Webster means to join together to become bound together. Marriage is a good example of this. We stay in Step with the Holy Spirit when we make the decision to daily unite with God in prayer and devotions. It means to start your day with your Mind, Will and Emotions submitted to the Lord and completely yielding your thoughts and attitudes to the Lord Walking with God. Step Three: is found in verses 5-6 Get Rid of Stinkin Thinkin.’ I am talking about allowing the flesh to control your mind. Stinkin’ Thinkin’ would include any negative thoughts about yourself and others, critical thoughts, judgmental thoughts, anxious thoughts, lustful fantasies, impure thoughts, vengeful thoughts and so on. The Bible tells us how to get rid of Stinkin Thinkin:Romans 12:2 says, “Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his Will really is.” Amen!Until we learn to renew our minds and allow God to help us change our way of thinking we will never really know Gods will for our life. God begins the work of changing us into the image of His Son by speaking to us by His Holy Spirit. When the Spirit of God speaks and you learn to listen then you will begin to change the way you think. You will begin to make decisions based on Gods Will and not your old habit patterns. It is then that the Bible says you will know just how perfect Gods Will for us really is by experience! Amen! How do you change from Stinkin” Thinkin’ to God Pleasen’ Thoughts? Again Gods Word tells us how to Renew our Minds: Philippians 4:8 gives us the answer: the bible says it in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.” Amen! Here is a truth: How you think shapes your mind will emotions and your Character.Think on lies and begin to believe lies! Think dishonoring thoughts and you will reap dishonoring actions. Think on impure thoughts and begin to live an impure life. Think on Gods Truth and His Promises Begin to Believe in Gods Power! Think honoring thoughts and Transform your marriage! Think Pure Thoughts and Live free from sexual addiction. Jesus said “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” Each day ask the Lord to reveal your Stinkin Thinkin and Set Your Mind Upon the Spirit. Those old Sins over time will disappear. Remember verse 6 “But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and Peace. Step 4: Learn to Live in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us a truth: You are under no obligation whatsoever to do what your Old Patterns dictate to you what you should do. If your addicted to smoking The Bible says your under no obligation to smoke you can dictate to your flesh and tell it “No.” If you have a habitual pattern of being addicted to pornography and the sexual urges just seem overwhelming so that you want to give in you are under no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do!If your Sin is Anger and you just always seem to blow up! And you cannot “control yourself” You are under no obligation to your emotions. You do not have to be a slave to your outbursts.I know what some of you are thinking right now “ Oh yeah Sure! If only it was that easy! I have tried and tried. That is the problem! You have tried it in your own power! Look at verse 13 “But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it. Now, by whose power are we able to turn from Habitual Sins? Jesus, upon leaving this earth told us, his disciples that there is a better way than “trying” to break the cycle of habitual sins based on your own effort. He said He would provide us the power we need to live in purity and holiness.·Remember, I have told you about this before. 5 “John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 8 “But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power.” Now that power is not only in Christian Witness but the Holy Spirits power is available to help the believer live a overcoming life! The very power that shaped the heavens and earth the power of God! Is able to empower you to live victoriously above the dictates of the flesh! Amen!   Stop trying in your own power and performance. Start living in the power of the Holy SpiritHow important is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit in helping us to live above old habit patterns?It is interesting to note that the last words of Jesus; according to Luke’s Gospel tells us the importance Jesus placed on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.Luke 24:49 says, “And now I will send the Holy Spirit just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” The Baptism of the Holy Spirit then is vital in the Christian’s life if we are to learn to walk in the Spirits power!It is not my intention in this message to speak on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit that is a whole different message, but you need the Spirits power to enable you to turn from Habitual Sins. But the fact remains Jesus told us the importance of living in the power of the Holy Spirit. “For apart from Me you can do nothing.” Amen! *In closing let’s review the steps that will enable the believer to overcome habitual sin patterns and old habits of the flesh.*Do not allow your habits to direct you anymore [v1]*Stay in Step with the Holy Spirit [v4]*Get Rid of Stinkin’ Thinkin’ [v5-6]*Learn to Live in the Power of the Holy Spirit [v12-14]   Remember the issue is Control. Who are you going to allow Lordship of your life? Yourself, Satan or Jesus? Only one gives life and peace. Now you know how to conquer habitual sins. Amen!,