1. Live a life submitted to God Opposite: Rebellion against God; Ignoring God; Denying God’s word
Seeking out knowledge of God’s will
Desire to please and obey God
Willingness to do whatever it takes to submit to him and get sin out of our lives.
Vow to be faithful to God.
"God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit therefore to God.” James 4:6-7
Also, Deuteronomy 10:12-13; Micah 6:8; I Peter 5:6; Matthew 11:28-29; Mark 12:38-41.
2. Live a life devoted to loving others. Opposite: Living in selfishness; focus on one’s self instead of God or others.
Serving others.
Showing mercy to others.
Seeking God for others.
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3
Also, Leviticus 19:18;Matthew 7:12; Luke 10:26-37;Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:14-23; James 2:8.
3. Hate sin Opposite: Doublemindedness—both loving and hating sin; not acknowledging what God says is sin; taking pleasure in sin, assuming that your sin is a normal part of your life.
Knowing what God declares to be sin.
Openly admitting that sin is evil.
Not accepting any practice of it.
Disgust at one’s own practice of sin.
Regret of one’s sin itself and what it has done in your relationship with God and others.
“Seek good and not evil, that you may live; And thus may the LORD God of hosts be with you, just as you have said! Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the gate!” Amos 5:14-15
Also, Proverbs 8:13; Psalm 97:10 James 1:9
4. Confess your sin. Opposite: Hiding one’s sin.
Openness of one’s life
Confession to God
Confession to a brother or sister
“When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; And You forgave the guilt of my sin.” Psalm 32:3,5
Also, I John 1:9; James 5:16.
5. Reconcile with the one you did wrong. Opposite: Avoiding those who you need to ask forgiveness; ignoring one’s sin
Asking forgiveness
Doing what is necessary to make peace
Correcting what wrongs you have done.
Paying back any damage done.
“Reconcile quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.” Matthew 5:25-26
6. Replace the evil with good Opposite: Continuing to walk in the way of evil; attempting to avoid evil without doing good.
Doing the opposite of the evil once done.
Walking in God’s ways according to his righteousness.
“He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.” Ephesians 4:28
What to do if you are struggling with sin
1. Avoid sin and temptation with the utmost effort. Opposite: Walking into situations that will cause you to be tempted.
Learning what one needs to do in order to not sin—this could mean cutting off relationships or ceasing doing things you might enjoy doing.
Do whatever you can to avoid sin.
“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:43-44
2. Be aware of your weakness Opposite: Assume that you are strong enough; assume that God will always deliver you from suffering.
Accept the fact that, given the right temptation, you will fall.
Pray that God will not allow you to be led into times that will test your faith in Him.
Be alert that you could be tested at any time.
Be aware of Satan’s schemes to cause you to fall.
Pray to God for strength to withstand temptation.
“Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38
Also, Matthew 6:13; I Peter 5:8-10
3. Deal with ungodly thinking patterns or bondages Opposite: Accepting the old self; rejecting the work of the Spirit.
Indications of wrong thinking patterns or demonic bondage: Mental health difficulties, focus on past oppressions or wrongs; self-hatred; overreaction to anxiety or anger; bitterness; depression; desire to change for God, but unable to do so.
Asking the Spirit to deliver you from the old thinking patterns or bondages with the help of Spirit-filled believers.
Rejecting the old thinking patterns when they come in your mind.
Not allowing you to act according to those patterns
Counseling or (in special cases) medication under guidance of Spirit-filled believers.
Lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Ephesians 4:22-24
Also, Luke 13:11-16; Ephesians 4:17-21
4. When you are being tested, endure to the end Opposite: Giving in to temptations; not battling the oppressions of Satan.
Do what you need to do to not sin.
Quote Scripture
Don’t give in to Satan’s temptation
You will succeed, if only you do not give up.
(Look at sheet—What To Do Instead of Sinning)
“The one who endures to the end will be saved” Mark 13:13
Also, I Peter 5:8-9; James 4: 6-7; Mark 13:13; Matthew 4:1-11
5. When you are being tested, look for God’s grace Opposite: Assuming God isn’t going to help you; believing God is powerless to help you; believing God doesn’t care about you; believing that Satan is stronger than God.
Pray for strength
Accept strength of Holy Spirit when it comes.
Look for God’s escape route.
“God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” I Corinthians 10:13
Also, Matthew 4:11; Luke 22:43; Romans 8:13.
6. When you are being tested, ask a believer for strength Opposite: Isolating; believing that you can handle it by yourself.
Seek out a Spirit-filled believer who can help you endure.
Tell him or her the temptation.
Ask him or her to pray for you.
Listen to his or her encouragement.
“Do not forsake gathering together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another.” Hebrews 10:25
7. Keep returning to God after you sin Opposite: Allowing guilt, shame, anger, depression or despair to keep you from God; determining that God won’t give you another chance.
Believing in God’s compassion and forgiveness.
Praying to God.
Looking for God’s help to do right before Him.
Living in submission to God as you did before you sinned.
“Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity And receive us graciously” Hosea 14:1-2
Also, Deuteronomy 4:30-31;I Samuel 7:3; Isaiah 55:7; Jeremiah 4:1; 24:7; Lamentations 3:40; Hosea 6:1; 14:1-2; Joel 2:12-13; Zechariah 1:3-4; Acts 3:19
What to do instead of sinning
Memorize scripture
Quote Scripture
Hang out with a Christian friend
Invite yourself over to someone’s house
Talk it over with a counsellor or pastor.
Talk to a friend.
Read the Bible
Pray
Pray for strength
Pray for deliverance
Pray for God’s love
Pray for mercy
Pray for resistance
Pray for the Holy Spirit
Pray for armageddon
Pray for someone in greater need—e.g. persecuted Christians
Command Satan to get lost
Do something good for someone else.
Be active in something else.
Do the dishes.
Pick up your living space.
Rake the yard.
Rake someone else’s yard.
Feed your pet.
Go fishing.
Do an errand.
Ride a bike.
Play with children.
Clean up your church.
Reorganize your books or CDs.
Take a walk.
Look for flowers to pick.
Clean the bathroom
Call a family member.
Read a book that will encourage you to the Lord.
Listen to or watch a tape that will encourage you to the Lord.
Run away.
Drop whatever you are doing.
Say goodbye.
Leave.
Forget politeness.
