practical changes toward purity

Why do we keep sinning in the same ways over & over again?
We know its wrong but we still do it. Why?
(mind, will, heart, flesh, nature – all working against you BUT 1Cor 10:13?!)

Provisions &
Preparation
lead to Perseverance

1.1 Ending Provisions
There are many ways that we set ourselves up to fail:

- enabling resources
o hidden stashes of your sin (alcohol, internet, money)
- enabling friends
o people who help you or want you to sin
- enabling thinking
o i.e. rationalizing
- behavioral hooks
o people, places & things that encourage or remind you

1.2 How can we defeat these enemies?

- recognize the hooks
o figure out when you fail
o figure out what makes you weak
o change your routine around the hooks
- remove the pattern of behavior
o be that friend, foe, family, money, or media
- replace the pattern with a new one
o put a proper behavior in its place


2.1 Preparing for the Storm of temptation.

- Right now you feel bad about your sin. You recognize the stupidity of what you have done and do not want to ever repeat the behavior. Thats good.
- And you know that this temptation will return – it will attack when you are weak.
- But how do we make sure that this is repentance and not just remorse?
Is there a difference?
o Remorse means you feel bad; repentance is taking action upon those feelings

You are certain to repeat the behavior if you do not make some serious changes in your life.

What are some changes you should make NOW before these strong feelings of shame, remorse and sadness leave?
(changes differ depending on you & the particular sin you are enslaved to)

2.2 How to strike when the iron is hot:
- come up with a plan
- involve others in the plan
- pray. pray like mad
- bury your mind in the Word
- memorize scripture

2.3 What about when the storm is already upon you?

- fight temptation with the truth
o what got you to this valley in the first place? (indulging in sin)
o where will it take you if you indulge? (been there before)

- fight temptation with the Word
o just like Jesus
o memorize scripture

- fight temptation with relationships
o call out in prayer
§ pray instead of indulging (start with something small)
§ pray until you are crying & then some
o call a Christ-like friend

Conclusion:
The goal in all of this is simple: Perseverance.
- Perseverance is the word that we use for ongoing victory over sin in your life.
- Perseverance is ascribed in cases of repeated success. That is what we want.

So remember the P’s to overcome sin and pursue purity.
Provisions &
Preparation
lead to Perseverance


Eph 4:17-5:17, James 1:2-5, 2Pet 1:2-9, 1Pet 1:13-16, Heb 12:1-4, Phil 4:8, Proverbs 2:4-5; 3:5-7, 1Cor 9:24-10:13