Struggling With The Same Sin 2016.10.07

Everyone sins. As disciples, we are all aware of that. It is heavy & a great burden - often, it (and it's temptations) feel addictive & impossible to overcome: purity, self-control, anger, ... We probably think about this quite often, praying for a way out.

Examine your approach when it comes to "recurring sin" - Most of us would say (to ourselves or others) that we're "struggling" with this sin - Are we being completely honest in this statement? Look at the verb definition of the word:
Remember: a verb is an action word - are we taking action towards our recurring sin, or are we simply sitting there, letting it unfold around us?

When we say that we are "struggling with a sin", what we actually mean is that we're committing a sin even while trying not to - we mean that we were suffering from, and then gave into, the sin. Look at the definition again - Can you truly say that you were "struggling with a sin"? Or "defeated by sin"? This does not have to be our way of life - Jesus is Lord!

3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners,
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted
to the point of shedding your blood.
Hebrews 12:3-4

Recurring sin can be very devastating - It will make us think that we stink as disciples, that we have no faith, or think "this is just a sin that i'll have to live with for the rest of my life... God knows this!" - None of it is true! "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." Have we struggled (not suffered) to the point of shedding our own blood yet over this? If we are suffering from a lack of purity, how much of a fight do we put up when it comes to commercials & shows that promote lust? Music that promotes lust? The internet & how easy it is to find anything that promotes lust, all within the privacy of our confinements? Look at the definition again - Can we really tell God (or anyone else for that matter) that we tried?

Ok, let's take a break from the (easily misinterpreted) "you don't know struggle" theme... We are disciples and we will always have to deal with sin & temptation - even more so than others because we fight for purity before God, and that upsets the devil. If Jesus struggled with temptation, how much more so will we? And that's why He is the source of hope & strength, when it comes to our recurring sin. If we've lost heart because we've "given in" to our recurring sin too many times, then that's an indicator of where our faith truly is - Believe that you can & will overcome because of Him! We need to be INSANELY IN LOVE with Jesus, so much so that we'll do anything for Him.
(see a previous post on truly loving people to see it's benefits against temptation)
Stop confusing that "struggling" is the same as "sinning" - IT'S NOT! Look at the definition again. Struggling against sin means that you hate sin, and THAT doesn't displease God. We need to confess our sins to our brothers, but more importantly to God, get rid of that which holds us back, and ask God to help us love Him. He alone can help us get through our sin but only through faith.