Purifying the Church From Sin 9

For 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, (Romans 8:13—NIV)

Are you having enormous problems in your family, your job, your church? Cheer up. So are a lot of people.

As the pressures and deceptions increase, all kinds of stuff comes out of our personality. This is how God refines the sons of Levi, so to speak.

What do you do about the sins you now see in your personality?

Call the behavior by name. If you told a lie call it a lie. Describe it as clearly as you can. You are God's appointed judge and you must address the enemy.

Resolve that you want this evil gone out of your life. Reject the behavior as vehemently, as resolutely, as determinedly, as doggedly, as forcefully as you can. Yell at it. Condemn it to the Lake of Fire.

It is at this point that the issue is decided. If you waltz around the issue, not driving it from you, it will never leave. The spirits have to be persuaded that you mean business. If you are undecided, double-minded, or for one reason or another are not sure you want to get rid of it or even that you can get rid of it, you never will gain victory.

If you justify your behavior you are sunk. The sin will stay with you and accompany you to the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Many Christians can present a number of reasons why they cannot gain victory over their sins. None of their reasons are valid. The Bible tells us, Old Testament and New, that those who live according to the impulses of their flesh and mind, will die.

Sometimes victory over sin is presented as a target we shoot at, a goal toward which we press. We "ought" to do this or that. You will never get there with this attitude. The Bible does not command you to struggle endlessly with sin, it commands you to put it to death through the Spirit of God.

I heard one individual say that God leaves the demons in us so we will profit by struggling against them. It is true that our struggle against sin develops a conquering personality in us. But God wants victory, not a hopeless struggle in which you never are able to drive out the enemy.

The rewards go to the overcomers. There are no rewards assigned to the losers.

You must understand that God knows what is going on in your life, that God cares what is going on in your life, and that God has the power to help you. This after all is what faith is.

If you are weak, tender, and fearful in your heart, ask God for iron. More iron! More iron! We must have in our personality iron righteousness, fiery holiness, and stern obedience to the Father if we are to be a member of the firstfruits that will rise to meet Christ at His coming.

If you do not have iron righteousness, fiery holiness, and stern obedience in you, then pray for these. It is your Father's good pleasure to give them to you.

But if you are double-minded you will get nowhere at all.

Confess yours sins to God. He will forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Then take up your cross and follow Jesus.

Whatever you do, do not become angry with the tool God uses to get at the scum in your personality. God often uses people to bring the sin in us to the surface. If you become angry and bitter against the tool God uses you will gain nothing from the experience. Instead you will nourish a root of bitterness in your soul.

Forgive everyone without exception. If you can't forgive, ask Christ to help you forgive. He will. He has the Virtue.

Continued. Purifying the Church From Sin 10