Posted: 24 February 2006

Over the past couple of weeks, some of my brothers in Christ have come to me with concerns based around their sinful nature, how they have been desiring to return to their former life - the "old man." Those who have sought my advice on this subject do not realize that the desire they are experiencing is fulfilling the desires of the flesh, that part of us that Satan can have power over, if we allow him this control. I say, "If we allow him this control." This is based upon 1 Peter 5:8 which states, "...because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." The key word here is "may." The only way Satan can have control over us is if we let him.

This said, let us remember that we "all have sinner and fall short of the glory of God." There is no one sin that is any worse than any other. Sin is sin. This is how God sees it and how we must see it too. I am not led to address any particular sin in this paper, but to those who have sought and received deliverance from habitual sin and are struggling with temptations and/or desires to return to their sinful habit(s).

First, let me be clear, it has been five years since I asked the Lord to deliver me from my habitual sin. However, I still deal and struggle with the temptation of it on an almost daily basis. I have spoken with several people who have received deliverance and struggle with temptation or desire regularly. Only one man has ever stated that he has been delivered and is completely free from any temptations or desires. So, it is important not to deceive yourself into believing or thinking that deliverance from habitual sin frees you from temptations or desires. More important is not to assume that you have not been delivered because you struggle. When we struggle with our sinful nature and have victory over it, God receives glory through our victory in Christ over Satan.

When we ask for deliverance from habitual sin, we must act upon that request. Some will say, "That's not Scriptural." Look at James 2:17, which tell us: "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." If I were to ask God to deliver me from smoking, yet I continually hang out with smokers, I am not honoring my prayer request. The works that should accompany my request would be to avoid hanging out with smokers. This not only honors my prayer request, but also shows those around me that I am sincere in my desire to quit smoking.

"...evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Corinthians 15:33). This Scripture is further support of what I was just touching upon. If you have been freed of a habitual sin and you continue to hang out with "friends" who are still stuck on that sinful situation, it is easy for you to get sucked right back into the old habit. This applies to me as well. I have been freed from my habitual sin for five years, but when I get together with me who are still living in this sin, it is very easy for me to get stuck in the old talk. I have to separate myself from those who support my former habit, and you will have to separate yourself from those who support your former habit as well. If we don't do this, then we are helping Satan fuel his fire of deceit.

Ephesians 4:22-24 goes on to support this: "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." What is this saying? Put off, flee from, avoid, stay away from your former habit, or those who support it. Being around your former habit or "deceitful lusts" corrupts you, it causes weakness within your flesh and increases your desires. We must allow God to renew our mind. When this happens we will "put on the new man." We are clean at this point because the new man, "which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Did you see this? "In righteousness and true holiness." We are in rightstanding with God. He has purified us and are now clean; "true holiness," moral and ethical wholeness or perfection; freedom from moral evil.) Are you getting this? This is fantastic!!! We are in rightstanding with God and free from morel evil when we put on the "new man."

The following Scriptures are a warning, and deal with those who had come to the knowledge concerning the truth in Christ Jesus. However, those people have fallen back into the world, fulfilling the desires of their fleshly lusts. Some of these people will become teachers of false doctrines, attempting to justify their actions by twisting Scriptures to support their views. They may also try to encourage others to fall back into their former habitual sinful ways, using their version of the Scriptures.

2 Peter 2:20 reads: "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning." In this Scripture we have a person who was freed from his sin but got caught up in it again and the sin overcame him. The last part of the verse relates to Matthew 12:45 which deals with an unclean spirit returning. It says that the unclean spirit returned with seven others. So you could say that, "the last state of that man is worse than the first," meaning that in order to overcome this sinful nature again, it will be seven times more difficult.

Those "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, [Those who practice such sins are deserving of death. Did you catch that?] not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them" (Romans 1:32). This is saying that though they know the penalty for their sin, they are willing to suffer the consequences to fulfill their fleshly desire. Not only that, but being fully knowledgeable of God's truth, they approve of and possibly encourage others to practice sin.

The worst case I have heard in this area deals with homosexuality. A man teaching that when the Bible talks about homosexuality, "it is not referring to those who are born homosexual, it refers to those men who are born and live as heterosexuals and then turn to homosexuality." This is such a lie from the devil himself. In the first pace, I do not believe that anyone is "born homosexual," nor is there any Scriptural support for this. Secondly, the Bible states the word "homosexual," period! It does not say "heterosexuals who turn to homosexuality." If you consider yourself to be a homosexual, you are living in sin... There are no ifs - ands - or buts about it.

What is the end result of this worldly philosophy? Part of the answer is found in 2 Timothy 4:3-4: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." Some doctrine is essential for spiritual maturity, but not everyone will listen. They will turn their ears away from the truth and seek teachers who will tell them what they want to hear, whatever the sin may be. They let go of the truth seeking worldly wisdom (fables) that condone whatever sin, or lie they want to live.

We all struggle with the temptations and desires of our former lives. It boils down to this: God has delivered us, He has given us seven weapons to battle evil with. These weapons are: The name of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus, the Word of God, Praises to God, Prayer, Faith, and Fasting. You have a choice to make. You can step out in faith and do what it takes to stay right with God... or you can break weak and give into the temptations and desires of darkness. It is your choice. Remember through, God is "...is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Repentance means to turn from your old ways. This is my prayer for you, that you have turned from your old ways, and that you do not return to them.

Galatians 6:1 contains a warning that we need to be aware of when we minister to those who are struggling. It says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." This verse is telling us to check and know our spiritual condition and to evaluate ourselves before we minister to those who are struggling. If we don't, we could be weak and vulnerable to what they share with is: "...lest thou also be tempted."

Stay strong my brothers and keep your focus on the Lord. He is faithful and will see you through. He gives me the strength to endure and overcome temptations and desires, and He will give it to you as well. Use it!

I pray that the Lord uses this paper to encourage you in your spiritual walk and relationship with Him, and that you are able to realize that temptations and desires are part of every Christian's life today. You are not alone in your struggles. Even when another person is not present, God is there with you, and He has promised that He will never leave nor forsake you.