Finding Freedom from Perpetual Sin

If you’ve never sinned, you’ve never had to hide anything from anyone, and you've never felt ashamed, you can kindly stop reading here because this blog isn’t for you. 

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Okay, Glad you’re still here.

Me too.

God's Heart Toward Sin

Sin keeps you immature in spirit and character, leaving you unable to receiving the blessings (and with it, responsibilities) that God wants to extend. Do not think God is accepting of your sin. The cross is a clear example of how much he hates it- he crucified his own son and it pleased Him, because that's how much he hates what sin does to your relationship with Him. Christ is so fiercely in love with you that he wants to devour everything that stands between you two.

Intimacy with God is the ultimate goal, and Holy Spirit does a great job of keeps us from sin. But when you're in a position of trying to get free from sin, and don't yet have the intimacy with God or sensitivity to the Holy Spirit that you'd like to have, intimacy with the body of Christ will help get you there. Today I'm going to talk about accountability that will change your life, and fighting temptation on a spiritual level with biblical principals.

By the way: These tools are not meant to be a self- help process. These tools are simply your way of applying your desire to live and walk in the Freedom Christ died to give you when you're at your weakest.

Being set free vs. Living set free

Scripture says "Who the son sets free is free indeed." (John 8:36) The problem is, people often take this scripture out of context to see “freedom” as a lifestyle that we have been promised, when it is actually described here as an opportunity to apply the power of Christ, which leads to a new lifestyle separated from sin. Therefore, being set free from sin in this particular scripture simply means you have been provided a way out. Like a bird trapped in a cage, "freedom" happens when someone opens the door. But you're not living in true freedom unless you step out of that cage.

We Need Sanctification

Sanctification means the spirit within you is working daily, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to put your flesh to death. Essentially, Sanctification is the Holy Spirit's way of helping us "step out." That is what Jesus means when he says "take up your cross daily and follow me." (Matthew 16:24) From Jesus' own words it becomes clear that sanctification is a process, not a program. It is a process by which we are becoming more like Jesus, through the Holy Spirit. Sanctification deepens your intimacy with Christ, while self-help processes keep you self-dependent and therefore self-destructive. Sanctification is not self-help. It's God's help. It starts with believing Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and it continues for the rest of your life through walking in relationship with the Holy Spirit, the one who lives in you when you put your faith in Jesus Christ.

Finding freedom

Scripture provides us with a beautiful process that God himself has designed, to set you free and sanctify you in Him.

Here's what that process looks like:

1.Confessing and being accountable (1 John 1:9, James 5:16)

2.Obeying God's commands through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 15:14, Romans 1:5)

Confession

Confession, like repentance, is not simply admitting your sin. Confession was meant to be an accountability process.

James 5:16 says "Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

Confession is meant to bring others into your struggle who will encourage you, pray for you and with you, and hold you accountable. The end result that Christ promises to those who submit to this process is clear: "they will be healed." God created you in a way that makes few things possible or lastingly fruitful, without community. With every step you take to be accountable to those you confess your sin and struggles to, you are taking one step out of the grips of sin and into the life of freedom that Jesus has called you into. Confession isn't so that you will be forgiven, it's so that you will be healed.

The reason confession and accountability brings healing is because you will quickly realize you are not weird (see Proverbs 28:13). Those who submit to the process of accountability for the first time are often shocked to find the responses of those they entrust their secrets to is that of compassion, understanding, and often, "me too." Accountability breaks the yoke of fear and shame, shedding light on the brokenness of our human nature, and saturating our frailties in hope that Jesus can work in us the way he has worked in others.

Call up your accountability partners when you are feeling tempted, and allow them to speak life into you. It is not their job to ask you how you are doing- if you want help, you must be the one to go to them first- and not after your sin, but right in the middle of contemplation. Allow your accountability partners to remind you of why you were never truly satisfied with the sin you are tempted to commit. Allow them to pray with you and fight for you. Yes, it will take vulnerability. Yes, it will take a heck of a lot of guts. But every time you do it, you crush the devil under your feet. And when you crush the devil under your feet, you will be filled with clarity, and able to better discern the Holy Spirit's leading in your life. Surely, that will be worth it.

Obedience

As you submit to the process of sanctification (through confession and accountability), fix your mind on Christ and be diligent to flee from temptation.

Ephesians 6:10-12 puts it perfectly:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Surely this sheds light on Jesus' message when he told us to cut out our eye if it causes us to sin (Matthew 18:9). Although most biblical commentaries agree Jesus was not being literal here, the promptness, the commitment to pain over pleasure for the sake of everlasting life, and the responsibility of the sinner to cut off any opportunity for sin from their lives is all evident and applicable today.

Take sin seriously. Often times, you don't realize what it's stealing until you've already been robbed.

Remember, however, that God doesn't expect you to do this in your own strength. James 4:7 says "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." There is a direct correlation between submitting to God and resisting the temptation of the devil and the flesh. For all who submit to the Holy Spirit in times of temptation, there is a promise of victory.

Give God your "Yes" as he guides you into victory, and help yourself remain in a pattern of submitting to confession, accountability, and obedience, by equipping yourself in these two ways:

1. Meditate on His word.

Reading God's word is a foundation for every good thing, and when it comes to overcoming sin, reading the Word will help strengthen your spirit, renew your mind, and remind you of why you are confessing and submitting obediently to Christ. The Holy Spirit is your help, and he will remind you of God's word in times of weakness (John 14:26). But if you are not reading that word, and the well of your heart is empty, Holy Spirit has nothing to draw from. Prepare yourself to be used by Him in this way. Not only will this bless you by helping you flee temptation, it will make you more available to be used by God to speak into the lives of others as well.

2. Pray in times of weakness.

Obeying Christ's commands means removing yourself (“fleeing,” as 2 Timothy 2:22 says) from the situation that is tempting you to stumble. Going to God in prayer, running to His word, and removing yourself from the situation that is tempting you is necessary. But you will never be free by doing this alone. Lean on the Holy Spirit, who promises His strength in your weakness (2 Cor. 12:9) and lean on your accountability partners. When you don't know what to pray, remember that the Holy Spirit intercedes for you (Romans 8:26).

I had a friend who was stuck in a place of watching pornography for two years straight, still showing up to church on Sunday and genuinely wanting a deeper relationship with God, but never finding true freedom by simply saying to themselves "That's not who I am in Christ." That friend submitted to this process of accountability with a few friends in similar situations, learned to fight their battles through prayer, and have been happily free for two years now. They recently told me their entire mindset has changed, and now all they feel is compassion and Jesus's love for the people in the pornography industry. They also mentioned that the very thought of what used to entangle them breaks their heart to imagine now, and they can't see themselves ever going back. My prayer for you is that in offering yourself up as a living sacrifice to Jesus in this way (Romans 12:1), you too will receive the same intimacy with Christ, His heart for the world, and the life of freedom Christ longs to walk with you in.

Would you Pray with me? 

“Holy Spirit, address in my heart the issues that keep me going back to my sin and the issues that keep me enticed by the false comfort I find in things that keep me distant from you. As you reveal my weaknesses to me, I ask that you would fill me the grace to surrender. Your word says that in my weakness, Your strength is made perfect. I admit that I am in constant need of your strength, Lord, and I am trusting in you to lead me and strengthen me in every moment of my need. Help me today to reach out to others, confess my sins, and find accountability partners who will encourage me to walk closer with you. Thank you for your forgiveness that has given me a way out of sin, and for your Holy Spirit who helps me every day to find all that I need in you. I surrender my emotions, my weaknesses, every motive, and every sin to you, and I ask you to deliver me from all unrighteousness, and fill me with your Spirit afresh. Give me discernment over sin and temptation, and fill me with your joy for the victory I have found in you.

In Jesus name. Amen.”