Change of Heart: Part 2 -- Battling the Lies

Yesterday I pointed out one of many flaws in the world's thinking. I proceeded to identify the problem, divulge the Truth, recognize the stumbling blocks, and show the result of Christians defeating the lies. This is a common 4-step process the Lord reveals to me, summarized succinctly below for you to refresh your mind.

Problem: Humans have been scorned so often they tend to believe people cannot permanently change for the better; as a result, most expect and model failure and distrust for future generations.
Truth: Humans can change by the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Read Romans 6 for one example of Biblical proof, and I encourage you to look for more verses.
Stumbling Blocks: Temptation keeps us from believing the truth and has the potential to weaken our resolve. When sin is not admitted because blame is applied, it keeps us from enjoying fellowship with Jesus, who is the Truth.
Result of Applied Truth: When believers obediently follow Christ and flee temptation, they are transformed into the image of Christ. Non-believers are then inspired by our transformation and start to wonder why we are more trustworthy than everyone else.

Today I will attempt to take a more in-depth look at the Stumbling Blocks and how we can take steps to overcome them. The Bible says we can defeat temptation and requires us to flee from it. Tomorrow I hope to address a question that naturally arises with the Result: "If you can only be truly trustworthy with Jesus, is it wise to trust non-Christians?"
Very well then, let's begin.

Temptation is nasty. The world was without sin in the beginning, but temptation came before sin. Temptation stems from the ability to obey or disobey the Law. "What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, 'You Shall Not Covet.' But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good." Romans 7:7-12

Satan presented Eve with temptation by asking her to question the only rule God had given her. What else was there for her to question? She and Adam had everything they could ever need physically, emotionally, and spiritually. There was nothing to covet, nothing to steal, nobody to commit adultery with. Adam and Eve walked with God in the Gardens. The only thing they did not have, as Satan put it, was the ability to "be like God, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:5 There was recognition of the Law, there was the temptation. And sin entered this world.

The following italicized questions are an example of every kind of frustrated excuse or complaint I had when I was in the midst of extreme temptation. The answers to my questions are an example (obviously not verbatim) of the inevitable Holy Spirit smack-down I received.

Rules, rules, rules! Why does life and Christianity have to be about following rules?! Hey, don't blame God. He tried to save humans from death by keeping them from the tree of knowledge, remember? The whole Bible is about Him planning ways to get humans back to fellowship with Him in life! Sin only causes destruction and hurt. Why do you think God hates it? These rules are for a good reason, even if you cannot comprehend it.

Well, God does not know what it is like to be faced with temptation. He's never had raging hormones and a girl/boyfriend! Actually, that is one of the reasons why God came to earth as fully man and fully God. He experienced every kind of temptation for 40 straight days with no accountability partner and no food. Jesus models for us that if you are following the Lord, it is possible to resist sin and temptation. He was even sinless through childhood and adolescence. "Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted." Hebrews 2:17-18

Yeah, but Jesus was God. Yeah, well Job was not! He followed hard after God and did not sin!

God won't care if I commit a tiny sin. He's got bigger things to worry about, like world hunger. Anyway, I've been saved, so it's okay if I still sin. What exactly separates a little sin from a big sin? Romans 1:18-19 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them." (bold mine) Chew on this for a while: "The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, graced abounded all the more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" Romans 5:20,21 - 6:1,2

It's too hard to resist! Better to sin and ask for forgiveness than be faced with unavoidable and constant temptation. Boy was I stupid. "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 No excuses there. And that whole concept of blasé "God will forgive me anyway" mentality is met with some extreme smack-down in Hebrews 10:26-27: "For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries." Fear the Lord your God indeed!

I always feel guilty when I am being tempted. I feel like I ought to be above temptation, especially when I've overcome this sin. Remember that Jesus, the sinless one, was still tempted by Satan. Temptation itself is not a sin; it is when someone entertains the temptation or acts on it that it becomes a sin. Keep in mind my dorky mantra: "Once a sinner, always tempted."

The Lord was patient over these many years and combated my ignorant lies with His Truth. Can you see the progression of my thoughts? They changed from anger to shifting blame to denial to flat out disobedience until I allowed Jesus to free me from my chains of bondage. Never once did the Lord throw up His hands in disgust and smite me (though I would not have blamed Him if He did)!

So how is it that we can overcome sin and temptation, especially in the moment? How do we successfully battle the lies? Here are some practical tips I can give you from my own walk with Christ:
1) Pray -- go to God when you are being tempted, no matter how often. This is a battle of the mind, and if you can distract your mind by talking to God, Satan's got no hold over you.
2) Read Scripture -- Battle lies with Truth. You must get rid of the faulty thinking by training yourself to recite Scripture. Carry around a Bible or flashcards if you must. Find verses that encourage you and discuss your particular temptation.
3) If you're alone, go be near people; if you're being tempted by people, get alone -- in either case, it is preferable to find a safe group of Christians to take shelter in. If it's the "Christians" who are tempting you, then you need a new group!
4) Sing and listen to worship songs and hymns -- sometimes all I have to do is sing a doxology and I can feel Satan fleeing my presence like I would flee nuclear material.
5) Avoid the place or person of temptation -- go sleep on a trusted friend's couch if you must, or block that person on facebook.
6) Find an accountability partner -- get someone who is NOT struggling with the same sin to pray with you and guide you during your difficult period. Preferably find someone of the same sex if it is a sexual temptation and get somebody more mature in their walk with Christ, somebody who will not be afraid to call you out on your sin.
7) Set up appropriate boundaries and tell your small group -- whether it's a curfew, a ban on TV, or only getting on the internet when your Christian friends are around, it's necessary.
8) Get counseling from a pastor or leader -- they will be able to help you with words of encouragement
9) Be HONEST -- seriously, stop trying to make yourself look good. Do you want to get over this sin or not?
10) Flee, flee, flee! -- if you know you are being tempted, drop what you are doing and GET OUT. God does not care how stupid you look to your friends, He cares whether you are obeying Him or not.

Friends, I know you can overcome your sin. God promises you that you will not be faced with anything you cannot handle. In all honesty, it boils down to this: Do you love sin, or do you love God?