Have you been struggling with sin lately?
You probably have been defeated. However, defeat is not a way of life. To struggle means that you are not on the losing side of the struggle.
God warned Cain that Sin is crouching at his door. (Genesis 4:7) Sin is still the same way today; it desires to have you, hiding at the door of your life waiting to attack you.
Sin is a horribly dangerous thing to play.
I used to take sins lightly.
I praise God that He has the power to overcome evil and turn all things to work out for the good of those who love Him. I thank Him for placing the desire in me to make a deliberate choice not to play with it.
Sin has to be uncovered.
When I get into sin, I get ashamed at the things that I've done.
Guilt and shame made me want to cover up my sin because I don't want anyone to know about it. However, Sin doesn't go away like that. It has to be uncovered.
Grace is not a license to sin. The cross should rather lead us into desiring not to have anything to do with sin first and foremost. Christ on the cross is something that should be enough to make me hate sin.
Sin in a Christian's life is different.
A Christian claims to follow Christ.
Sin is more than serious.
Sin is not something that we must try to hide.
A Christian can and should confess sin.
A true Christian can overcome sin through the power of Jesus Christ.
In Him, there is success. Through Him, a Christian could succeed.
Sin is a thief that robs joy.
It takes away salvation and more!
It destroys intimate relationship with God.
Sin takes away credence.
It removes courage to stand before God.
Sin gives a sense of guilt which ruins your self-esteem.
Sin condemns.
Sin forces a person to focus on one's shortcomings.
Sin is an indelible stain on the soul.
It takes away purity and innocence.
Sin snares and enslaves.
Sin has consequences which displace comfort and makes life difficult.
Sin is a thief, wanting to catch you off guard.
Below is a CCTV video which shows how my ipad2 was stolen.
The video shows a great determination from the culprit.
The thieves were not the typical antagonist that we see in films, wearing black with masks as we expect them to be in the movies.
Same with our enemy, Satan would not show up on its red pointy overalls with horns and tails carrying its pitchfork. Satan, being the greatest deceiver, knows how to present sin in its irresistible luring form, capturing people to do His will. He is naturally wicked, opposing God, His people, and His truth. Satan is persistently in opposition to your best interest. He is relentless to the point of tempting Christ directly to compromise for worldly authority and power. (Luke 4:5-8)
Satan could easily trap anyone when caught off guard.
His deceitful nature stands in bold contrast to the truth for which Christ stands (John 8:32,44).
The great falsehood which he uses so frequently is that good can be attained by doing wrong. This lie is apparent in practically all his temptations (Genesis 3:4-5). As the great deceiver, Satan is an expert at falsifying truth (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
He brings disorder into the physical world by afflicting human beings (Job 1-2;2 Corinthians 12:7;Hebrews 2:14). Sometimes God allows him to afflict His people for purposes of correction (1 Timothy 1:20).
However do not fear.
Satan is destined to fail in his continuing rebellion against God.
His final defeat is predicted in the New Testament (Luke 10:18;John 12:31;Revelation 12:9;20:10).
The death of Christ on the cross is the basis for Satan's final defeat (Hebrews 2:14-15;1 Peter 3:18,22). This event was the grand climax to a sinless life during which Jesus triumphed over the enemy repeatedly (Matthew 4:1-11;Luke 4:1-13).
Satan probably rejoiced in the death of Christ, believing this to be a victory for him, but like all his victories, this one, too, was short-lived. When Jesus rose from the grave, Satan was once again defeated.
The final victory will come when Jesus returns and Satan is cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:1-15). Strength for a Christian's victory over sin has also been provided through the death of Christ. We have assurance that "the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).
However, such personal victory depends on God’s grace and power in our lives and our will to offer resistance to Satan's temptations (Ephesians 4:25-27;1 Peter 5:8-9).
To win this battle against Satan, God has provided the power of Christ's blood (Revelation 12:11), the continuing prayer of Christ in heaven for believers (Hebrews 7:25), the leading of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16), and various weapons for spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:13-18).
While there are some people having trouble to admit that Satan exists, his presence and activity should be able to explain the problems of evil and suffering.
Satan exists and his main job is to oppose the rule of God in the affairs of man. Allow the struggles of life to give you the ultimate meaning of life which you so desperately desire. Let it spiritually build your wisdom and knowledge drawing you closer to God and away from Satan.
Guard your heart, mind, and thoughts at all times.
Protect your most precious treasure which is your relationship with Jesus Christ.
Sin is Sin's Punishment itself.
Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the LORD your God and have no awe of me," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.(Jeremiah 2:19.)