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Hebrews 12: 1, 2
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run the race with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us run fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God.”
Discipleship in 2007 will require believers who live "Above and Beyond”.
All Christians, the young and the old, the rich and the poor experience the same challenge. We have the same goal and a common enemy. We struggle with sin and have the same need for a vital relationship with Jesus Christ. All of us wrestle with ways to stay "focused and on fire”. We can find ourselves on the pinnacle or in the pit within the same twenty-four hours.
Satin, our arch enemy, manifests himself in a three fold manner; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life. This threefold attack has been very damaging to us. Jesus unmasked the devil in his disguise as the angel of light. In fact, Jesus said, "Your adversary the devil goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Christians are a tasty morsels for this rambling lion. He hides in the thickets of our lives and frequents the watering holes. The faint, the lame and the young are his prime targets.
Since he doesn’t give up, we have to stay on guard. We must be "focused and on fire.”
Our first line of defense is to know our enemy. We cannot underestimate him, neither can we overestimate him. He is a defeated foe. Jesus overcame him and destroyed him at
Calvary. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. It is accomplished, "Praise the Lord".
"Having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarming the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Coll. 2:14, 15 (NIV)
This victory is realized in our personal lives when we appropriate what Christ has done for us.
"They overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Rev.12:11, 12 (NIV).
Living in victory is an intentional act on our part. Christ has given us the power not to sin. If we do sin, we have an Advocate with the Father. No mater what the circumstances, our relationship with the Father is secure. We are most vulnerable when we do not understand the strength and the strategy of the enemy and therefore do not employ our spiritual defenses against him.
Defeating sin in our lives is our top priority. To do this successfully, we need to know its nature and course.
James tells us that sin is birthed in our desires.
"But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desires, he is dragged away and is enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; when it is full-grow, gives birth to death.” James 1:15
What desires derail you? Everyone has a different list, particular to them. What’s yours?
The key is being aware of your particular weakness and then being on guard. Too often we are too busy to take time to reflect and come to grips with what tempts us. We believe that ignoring our desires will protect us.
The opposite is true. When we lower our watch, the enemy sneaks in without being seen until it’s too late.
The formula for sin is predictable…
-Evil desires
-Dragged away
-Enticed
-Action
-Sin
-Spiritual death.
It‘s not that we don’t know the pattern of sin, it’s that we fail to see what step we are in.
Self examination is the first step to defeat a killer disease. Spiritual Examination is the first step to rooting out sin before it gets a hold on you.
Pray for awareness. Pray like David and ask God to find if there is "any offensive way in me”
Author: Rev. A.E. Batstone, earlbatstone@yahoo.ca | 
