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Overcoming The Habit Of Sin Introduction: I will say that most of us have a daily routine. Time we get up, an exercise routine, shower, read newspaper, watch the news, check email, get the children up for school, etc. You probably have habits for the rest of the day also, time you eat lunch, what you eat, what you do at night, etc. We have mannerisms which can be habitual: how you hold your hands while talking, the words and phrases you use in a casual conversation. We want to notice the power of habits, and how we can overcome our bad or sinful habits. I) The Power of Habits A) Why do we even have habits? 1. Many are learned from others, our parents, friends, spouse, etc. 2. The power can be seen in that we don't actually have the think about what we do habitually. a. While moving from Jonesboro I thought about this one morning. Getting up I headed for the bathroom and instinctively reached up by the door to turn on the television. However, the television and its stand was gone. b. How many times have you done something similar? During a power outage you still flip the light switch, etc. B) Our habits become a part of our DNA, our character 1. Habit -- 1. a. A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition. b. An established disposition of the mind or character. 2. Customary manner or practice." The American Heritage Dictionary 2. They affect the way we act, react, and think -- our way of thinking can be the product of our habits. 3. What's the difference between a zealous Christian and a lukewarm Christian? Their habits 4 Habits have a tremendous impact on the quality of our lives. II) Habits Can Be Classified Into Categories A) Some are good 1. Good hygiene -- brushing teeth, getting clean, wearing clean clothes, etc. 2. Reading your Bible, having a regular routine that gets you here on Sunday morning on time, doing your homework, etc. B) Some are indifferent but can become sinful 1. Biting one's finger nails, crossing your arms while talking to someone, how you use your hands while talking, golfing, fishing, etc. 2. They can become sinful if or when they cause us to not do what we are supposed to be doing. Example: golfing is ok as long as you don't forsake your family; drinking coffee or soft drink can become enslaving, watching television can go from simply entertaining and relaxing to something we must do. C) Habits can be sinful and enslaving, 2 Peter 2.19 1. There are some that are by definition sinful: sexual lusting (2 Peter 2.14); gossip (1 Timothy 5.13); using profanity (Eph. 4.29a); covetousness (Luke 12.15); idolatry, etc. 2. Those in category 2 can become sinful because we become enslaved to the habit. We lose our self control. 3. Our liberties can become our addictions, 1 Corinthians 6.12. a. Sinful habits are not only hard to put away but often progress from bad to worse. Example: pornography, Romans 6.19. D) Habits that we control or that controls us 1. Jesus came to set us free from sin, John 8.31-36. 2. However, the new convert will still have their bad habits and will have to work to change them. a. Using profanity is habitual and must be changed. b. Going to bars, gambling, lusting, etc. 3. These do not disappear after baptism, 1 Corinthians 6.9-11; Acts 8.13, 18-24 a. In fact not doing these things may seem un-natural. b. Our comfort zone may cause us to do the bad things. 4. Completely putting away a sin habit is a step by step process that requires time, faith, and patience. III) Overcoming Habitual Sin A) Must identify your habit(s) 1. Only when we know what we are doing can we then do something about it. Being late, complaining, being sloppy, forsaking the assembling of the saints. 2. Ask others around you, your spouse B) Notice what you are and are not doing 1. It must be important enough to you to want to change. Many realize what they are doing but it is really not important to them. Ex. A drug user, using profanity, etc. 2. Pray to God for strength and help in changing, Mark 10.21-27 3. Do not excuse your habits (sins). 4. Believe in the power to change in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5.17. C) Retrain your heart (mind, thought process) 1. Some habits are performed without thinking about them (swearing, anger, impulsive shopping) a. Some habits we may use because it accomplishes what we want. Anger can be used to get what we want so we learn to be angry. b. Some habits just makes us feel good about ourselves, impulsive shopping 2. The longer you have had the habit the harder it will be to break it. Not attending services, smoking, etc. 3. We must be lead by the Holy Spirit which means being lead by the word of God, Galatians 5.25. Psalm 119.11 4. We must deny ourselves what we are used to doing, the pleasure we are used to receiving (getting drunk, sleeping late on Sunday's D) Replace bad habits with good habits 1. Habits are not broken as much as replaced. It is hard to just quit a habit. 2. Therefore, have in mind what you are going to replace the habit with so something worse does not take its place, Matthew 12.43-45. a. Not watch television -- will be replaced with???? b. Quit smoking -- replace with food, but the person gains weight and goes back to smoking. c. Stop complaining -- replace with profanity or praise 3. This takes time and practice, 1 Timothy 4.7-8 a. Repetition, athletes build muscle memory so they don't have to think. b. Cary Grant the person became Cary Grant the actor. 4. Don't fall back into the bad habit -- never let an exception occur, "just this onetime" 5. Avoid things that will trigger the bad habit to occur. Going to a bar, being around others who smoke, etc. 6. Flee from the situations that will tempt you, 1 Corinthians 6.18; 10.14. Conclusion: The main thing to remember is that when you do fail to not give up. Ask for forgiveness if it is a matter of sin, pray for strength and help, ask others to help you, and fight your battles one day at a time. Romans 6.17-18,22 (Adapted from a lesson by Mark E. Larson).
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