Besetting Sin

This Sunday we spoke about besetting sin in light of our continued study of Genesis.  (Hebrews 12:1-2) We’re in chapter 20 of Genesis where, once again, Abraham has told that familiar half-truth: “Sarah is my sister”.  Of course, she WAS his half-sister, but that kernel of truth was overshadowed by the fact of his attempt to deceive because of his fear of what men might do to him.  Here is a man who willingly, by faith, picked up and moved his entire family to a strange land because God had bidden him, yet he could not trust God to protect him in this matter.  It seems incongruous to us at first blush, but just as Paul had noted (Romans 7:15-20), we too fail to do that which we would, and continue in that which we wouldn’t.

I do not pretend to have left besetting sin entirely in my past, but will share with you a three-pronged strategy to do battle; in addition to regular Bible reading, prayer, and worship; that should help one find reasonable hope of victory.

First, we need to lay aside the weight.  Simply put, we need to put that sin from us.  Ask God to help.  Be honest and humble, owning your sin and asking His help to forsake it, putting forth earnest effort.  1 Corinthians 9:24  Build in safeguards.  Break habits and routines that facilitate the sin, while developing habits and routines that defy that sin.  Loose yourself from the entanglements of that sin. Romans 13:14

 

Next, endure the trial that it is sure to be.  Just as a good soldier endures hardship, we, as soldiers of Christ need to endure this too.  2 Timothy 2:3-5 We need to willing do the uncomfortable thing.  Our will must be submissive to His.  James 4:7

 

Finally, we need focus on Jesus with a desire away from the flesh and mindful of spiritual things.  Romans 8:5-6  If we are focused on our Lord, He can do so much more with us. And, of course, He will provide top notch management of your life!  Isaiah 26:3  After all, He is the author and finisher of our faith and has begun a good work in you and He will be faithful to complete it!  Phil 1:6

Complete Obedience

 

We’re in Genesis chapter 17 this week and talking about Abraham’s complete obedience.

Though he had some weak moments in is his faith such as his trip to Egypt and his deception there, (Egypt usually representing the world or worldliness) and a particularly bad lapse:  his procreation through Sarah’s handmaiden (an Egyptian), Abraham is now completely obeying God.  God had promised BIG things to/through Abraham, but his spotty obedience created consequences that we can witness to this day.  It is vitally important that we obey God completely.

Complete obedience can be manifested and observed in a variety of ways.  This is not an exhaustive list but as few highlights.

First of all we need to obey God in His authority, but obey those earthly authorities appointed over us.  Not blind followers of any who would presume themselves leaders, but those rightly appointed especially those who have tended to our spiritual upbringing and nurture. Hebrews 13:7

Next, we need to plan to finish well.  We need to well consider what that means to our daily walk.  In the parable of the two sons, we see examples with a stark contrast. Matthew 21:28-32  The one son initially refuses, but ends up in obedience, while the other son gives lip service, but, in the end, is not obedient.  This second response, I’m afraid, is all too prevalent in our churches today.  We make a fine show of believing and obeying, but when we walk at those doors into our work-a-day world, obedience is more scarce than our “show” on Sunday would seem to promise.

Finally, we need to do the whole job.  When Jesus pronounced His “woes” upon the Scribes and Pharisees, He admonished them for seeing to the outer cleansing, but failing to complete inward cleansing.  Matthew 23:23-28  Of course there is much talk these days about God “looking on the heart” and not necessarily the outward man, but that, lately, is nearly universally grievously miscarried.  For the inward man is the author of the outward man.  We ought to have done the inward and not left the other undone.  It is not enough to do the outside and not the inside as the Scribes and Pharisees, nor is it any bit more acceptable to claim the inward man is in order while the outward man is ignored or excused.  If the inward man WERE in order, the outward would also be in order.

We, like the Scribes and Pharisees before us, suffer from “incomplete obedience” which is silly talk for disobedience.  In the first chapter of the book of James, we’re admonished about our obedience:   

 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

We MUST be doers of the Word in all things and in all ways.