Proverb 26:11- “As a dog returneth
to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly”.
Every Christian that is not in heaven yet struggles with sin. Even Paul,
a great apostle, struggled with sin (Rom. 7:15-24) after founding churches and
a great spiritual giant. Don’t let anyone lie to you that you will not struggle
with sin after salvation. Sin is something that hinders our spiritual growth or
affects our relationship with God. They are things that bible abhors
irrespective of whether it is culture inclined or acceptable by any national
law. Habitual sin is like a dog going back to its vomit. Although it prevents
you from being closer to God, you end up going back to it- it has become addictive and a habit.
What is “habitual sin?”
It is a sin which you know to be wrong before you do it, but then choose
to forge ahead anyway. It unfolds within a powerfully defeating cycle of
temptation, decision, and guilt. Satan is a master of deception and often rules
each of these stages with surprising influence and stealth.
Some examples of habitual sin, but not limited to, are pornography,
alcohol, smoking, drugs, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, adultery,
gambling, anger, idolatry, reveling, banqueting, cheating, drunkenness, etc.
Know this before beating it
1. Prayer alone cannot help you.
2. All the sinful habits of a person do not suddenly disappear when he
becomes a Christian.
3. Completely putting away a sinful habit is a step by step process that
requires time, faith, patience, and perseverance.
Consequences of habitual sin
1. By frequent repetition, sin becomes habits that are hard to stop!
2. They are not only hard to put away, but often progress from bad to
worse.
3. Destroys your relationship with God
4. It steals your spiritual gift through constant guilt
5. It grieves the Holy Spirit
6. It isolates you from good friends or group
7. Opens you up to all kinds of demonic attacks
8. Makes you hostile to the word of God.
How to overcome habitual sin
1. Admit that you have a problem and need help.
(Proverbs 28:13). Often believers are in
denial or unaware of the habits that
they have. God can’t help you as long as you don’t
admit that you have a problem.
2. Seek
godly counseling from matured believers because these habitual sins are often
deep seated in the subconscious or firmly implanted in the heart. Trouble is,
many people don’t seek counseling because of shame. Remember, shame is the
weapon Satan uses to arrest you in your habitual sins. Psalm 119:11.
3.
Establish accountability and take stock of your life. (2corin. 13:5). You might
have already got rid of the problem but the old habits might be lurking around
with the hope of returning and regaining control over your life.
4. Remain
occupied with God’s work and not live idle.(matt. 28:29-30, Eph. 4:11-15). Remain
occupied by serving in local church, youth group etc. Develop a hobby. Jesus
said in Matthew 5:29-30, if your right eye causes you to sin pluck it out and
throw it away.
5. Guard your weaker areas carefully: Your weakest point is the
strongest point in you as long as you guard it carefully. Refrain from groups
or activities that cause you to go back to sin.
6. Resist
the devil. The devil can only tempt you
but can’t force you into sin. Therefore submit yourself to God in times of
temptation and resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
7. Prayer and fasting. (matt. 17:21). Beat the body into subjection
(1corin. 9:25-27).
8. Study
the word of God and be devoted to it because the mind or heart must be
retrained or filled with the word of God. Psalms 119:11
Finally
God has called us to a life of holiness. Without getting rid of that
habitual sin, all the promises of God will elude us. We need to immerse
ourselves in the truth of the gospel, by prayer and fasting and the conscious
effort to live in obedience to God’s word, we will overcome these habitual sins
that beset our growth in the God.
Rom. 6:23 says: “For the wages of
sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. Let’s seek God in righteousness and eternal
life shall be ours. Amen!
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