battle against sin

Romans 7:21-25 "21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Today in church, a recently married couple got up in front of church and told the testimony of their struggle against sexual sin before meeting each other and during dating. It was filled with loosely guarded admission to all sorts of shameful lusts and actions. They spoke for perhaps thirty minutes and led the way into the pastors sermon. People of God, THIS is what we need! Raw, honest treatment of sin and our weakness, yet valiant triumph over it. Not triumph brought from gritting it out and using willpower for long years, but the mercy and grace of God, humbleness, and true freedom. Above all things, knowing that God loves you extravagantly completely independent of what you've done, for the blood of Christ covers you in a measure of mercy that soaks through the blackest skin.

What follows is a list of lessons and truths to carry you along in your battle against sin. They are not in any solid order, but I have attempted to arrange them in some rough linear format.
1) Your flesh is warring against you
2) Be open, real, and humble, confessing your sins.
3)



1)
First of all, recognize that this is a battle against the flesh and Satan. This is not some normal thing. Life doesn't naturally include this. Sin is "...waging war against the law of my mind...". Your flesh is simply disobedient, and if you don't recognize this, it will keep creeping up on you again and again. An enemy you don't acknowledge will hold untold power over you. Fight! Fight, my people!
"Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." - 1 Peter 5:8 And Satan will latch onto you like a fatal parasite. Give him no ground, make no compromises. If you give into him a little, he will hold fast to that foothold and eat his way into you from there. Show no mercy!

2)
Second, be as open as possible about this battle. You are a broken person, we all are. Be strong, and take the lead in confessing. Do you want to win this battle? You have to make sacrifices. Confession is what it takes nearly all the time, and you need to do that.
Psalm 89:15 "Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD."
1 John 2:10 "Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble."
1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
When you're struggling with something, tell someone you can trust, please! I beg you! When a soldier gets wounded, or when they're surrounded, they don't keep quiet, they call for backup. Likewise you cannot do this on your own. It will be hard, but as soon as you get the first words out you will not regret it. I urge you brothers and sisters, live in grace with one another!, bearing each others burdens in love. This is real, and this is a living power greater than you have ever known. Nothing can stand against your love in this way. People! Hold fast to your Savior!

3)
Third, know that healing is ALWAYS possible. No matter how much stupid and downright filthy things you've done, Jesus paid for every last ounce of it. Did you know he died with the accumulated sin of everyone who would ever trust in him on his shoulders? Are you so arrogant as to think that your sin is worse that everyone else before you put together? Plus, if you have ever pursued Christ, he ALREADY died for your sin. It's done. He died. And he rose again. You know what that means? It WORKED. He's alive!

4)
Fourth, see attacks as attacks and victories as victories. When a bad image flashes across your TV screen, it is attack. DON'T ignore it. Turn the channel. And when you've rejected the sin, even in it's smallest stages, you've won a victory! Don't belittle that either. Our main battle on earth is sanctification, and you've just made progress in that, you are being turned into a son of the living God!
Don't get overconfident after a victory, either. You're still broken, and Satan won't rest until he's locked in the lake of burning sulfur with as many souls down there and as much pain up here as possible.

5)
Finally brothers, hold fast to Christ. Cling to the cross. Rejoice in his victory and weep for those who are lost. Pound his words and the words of God into your heart. Do not look down on those who are failing, but help them up. Look forward to the hope we have in Christ, for the coming king and the age he will issue in behind the wake of his righteous judgement and triumph.
Now to "God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen." 1 Timothy 6:15-16.