Beware of the Influence of Sin

Sin
Sin comes from separation from God = root of sins
Consequences and influence of sins --> going against evangelism.
Sin is satan's strongest weapon against evangelism 
Know how to overcome sins -> Holy Spirit 
But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.” (Joshua 6:18, 19 NIV)

When god put you into a service and you fall flat! remember that god will never put you there and let you die! go to him and wrestle with Him, don't sink in self pity, for satan doesn't appreciate  nor have compassion for you

But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord ’s anger burned against Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?” The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them. (Joshua 7:1-13 NIV)


Sins always creep into you and hide in you


When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15 NIV)

  1. Sin at its root
      • Keep away from devoted things if not it will bring destruction 
      • The ways satan works is always against the instruction and promPting of The Lord 
      1. Each man is tempted by his own evil desires that are against what god has instructed 
        • Your heart first heard the prompting of God. Then satan comes to tempt you to believe what you want is the best first. It is not even lusting or hating first, but own selfish desire first 
      2. State of his spirit 
        • When you are in this state, you are not in a state of loving God
        • The state of spirit is now = the world appeals to him (this is when sin creeps in, vs instruction of god! give you an incline cation toward your desire eg taking words of god lightly)
          • More interested in what man says than what The Lord says
        • When this kind of thought comes to you, get down on your knee and don't let it continue dwelling 
      3. It influences 
        • When a man is influenced and absorbed into the world, the wife will be influenced 
        • Eg Adam and Eve 
      4. Stronghold at it's roots
        • If god didn't deal with him at a hard way, they will not be able to overcome for it will take its root
        • Satan will use it to accuse you 
        • That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them. (Joshua 7:12, 13 NIV)
    1. Because we sin, we fear. We tend to be captured by fear than love . We no longer able to love 
    2. If you want to overcome sin you have to become a new person. 

  1. Regeneration (I.e new birth/ born again life in Christ)
    • We are created to love and follow God joyously. 
    • Unless it is by love, there will be no conviction 
    1. Christ had bore all sins (Romans 8:1) - hence there is no room satan can condemn you for you are redeemed by god 
      • When you come to god, you don't come by feelings but truth 
    2. Has new desire => to keep knowing and seeking god
      • Everything is driven by love 
      • Fear doesn't bring you to God, but contriteness brings you back to his love, again and again
      • It is the new desire that enables you to be sanctified again and again
      • No regeneration, HS can't work through you
      • A new desire that comes from a heart belonging to god - that you don't want to live another way but His way. For there is no other way (out of love, not out of fear) 
    3. Pursue a holy living in Christ 
      • A natural occurrence for a regenerated Christian to pursue a holy living
      • A child knows that Father loves Him, he will want to live in love
      • Salvation does not come from holy living 
      • But if you are born again, you will yearn to live a holy life
      • It is god driven, not out of our own zeal (not your decision to accept Christ)
      • Live before creator - He is your god,   you have a personal r/s with Him, because of Him working in you, you want to pursue holy living 
      • It is a whole new yearning arising from the HS working within you
      • Holy living = denying self (crucified Christ, now live by faith)
      • Kingdom driven 
      • New found desire to love man, to share gospel with people (you realize you won't grow tired, you seek his way

  • 3. Experience the strength of repentance 
    • What is repentance? If things are bothering you, making you hard to confide in man, trying to hide, and it is influencing you and others --> deal with it by repentance 
    • Repentance is a lovely thing 
    • Achan's problem - not because of their sin But NO heart of repentance (many lives lost, but no repentance)
    • If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:9, 10 NIV)
    1. Be in agreement with god about your wrong 
    2. Nail the sin at its roots - don't superficially confess. Ask why did it come to you at this stage? Why have my heart turn dark toward god? Nail it at its roots. It is your heart. “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. (Joel 2:12, 13 NIV) - it has to do with the depth of prayer 
    3. Turn from your wrong - correct the wrong God had convicted you
      • Repent till you turn from your wrong
      • May take days, months
      • Change of lifestyle? Change of heart? Change of my wanting 
      • God had interfered with your life to make you do away certain things eg clubbing 
    4. Live for evangelism. You can only testify about god when you walk in sync with Him 
    5. Get the assurance of forgiveness
      • Peace in your heart
      • Driven by love to obey God (willingness)
Go into humility when they sin/ feel accused 
God is fully approachable by repentance 
He is forgiven much, is loved much