Fighting Sin and Temptation in Isolation (Growing in Isolation Week 6)

[0:00] Hi everybody, it's Tom here again and it's my privilege again to talk a little bit about some things that can help us in this crazy time. I want to talk about fighting sin and temptation in isolation. I mean things are a little abnormal, we don't have our regular routines, there's lots of free time and we don't have our normal things that we need to do so it's easy to be led into temptation and some stuff that we don't really want to do in areas of sin. So I want to talk about a strategy that will help us through that. It's kind of like setting some GPS coordinates if we were going to drive to Raleigh or Charlotte or something like that and so I'll just run through them. Hope these are helpful and then at the end you discuss these in your groups as well. So number one, who are we in Jesus Christ? We've got to remind ourselves of that. John 1 12 says, but to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. We're his kids, we belong to him, he's our father. Ephesians 1 5 says, he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will. We're his kids, we live in his house, we honor him and we live according to his way. That's the first coordinate. Number two, the power of sin's been conquered in our lives. It doesn't have power over us anymore. Romans 6 6 says, we know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin for one who has died has been has set us free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we also live with him. Our sin, our sin nature has been conquered. Our sin has been forgiven. The power that sin has had over us where we couldn't kind of control it. That bondage has been broken forever. The enemy has been proved to be a liar and we need to live in that. We need that coordinator as we live this journey. And then number three, we are on mission with Christ. 1 Corinthians 10 31 says, and this is one of my favorite passages of scripture, so whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Everything we do can be about mission and putting him on display and how amazing he is. And that's something you've got to decide. You get up in the morning and you decide, I am on mission with God. I am going to Raleigh.

[2:22] I'm going to Wilmington. I am on mission with God. And we will have tons of moment right through the day, sometimes right in our own home with our families, with our neighbors next door. And if we're still going to work or whatever the situation is, we will have tons of moments each day to reveal Jesus and to share others. And when we do it, we are more blessed. The Bible says when we outward looking, it's safer.

[2:47] It's more blessed to live that way than when we inward looking. When we go inward, that's when sin becomes a great danger to our lives. And then I want to talk about the Holy Spirit's prompting. When we come to know Christ, when that moment happened, the Spirit of God indwells us. He is as close as anything could ever be close in our lives. And he is this gift to us. He's with us every second of the day. And he's God's gift to help lead us and empower us to live in a way that uplifts God and glorifies God. And so Galatians 5.16 says this, but I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh. For these are opposed to each other to keep you from doing the things you want to do. And so this is what he'll lead us into. If we let him guide us each day, he'll lead us into God's truth. He will guide us away from sin. You'll hear his voice every time we want to enter into some sin. You'll hear him calling us away from that. He wants to guide us into God's purposes.

[3:51] He wants to guide us into God's will. And then be quick to repent and ask forgiveness. This is an important one. When we mess up, sometimes we will mope for days and think, well, I'm just a jerk. And how could God ever love me? That is another trap that the enemy brings our way. When we've messed up, we start with, Father, I have messed up. I repent of that. I turn away from that. Would you please forgive me? I receive your forgiveness. And I thank you for your great, gracious forgiveness that I can enjoy in this moment as I ask you. And then the last little coordinate I want to give you as we walk this journey of victory in Jesus is close out each day with worship. In the Old Testament, it talks about an evening sacrifice where they would stop at the end of the day and say, God, this day you have been our portion. You've provided for us. And Psalm 32, 11 says, be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you in upright heart. Bring in evening sacrifice to the

[4:51] Lord around the dinner table. Every day with God is a good day. And we need to acknowledge that and live in that. So that's it. My little talk for today. Spend some time discussing that and I trust that it was helpful. God bless.