Struggling With Sin

Bill Wiese

We meet many people at our meetings who share that they are struggling with sin. They tell us they struggle with things like pornography, alcohol, drugs, etc. They state that they go to church every week and pray, and ask God to help them get rid of the desire, but they are still struggling with the sin. They ask, “How do we get free from this bondage?”

We ask them, “Do you read the Bible daily?” Not one of them has ever said yes. Most don’t read it at all. King David said in Psalms 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.” It’s God’s Word in our heart that prevents us from sinning.

The renewing of our mind only comes from the word of God. James 1:21 says, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness… and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save our souls.” God’s Word renews our mind and He gives us the grace to say no to sin. Hebrews 12:28 says, “Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”

In Mark 4:15, it says that Satan comes immediately to steal the word out of our hearts. He knows that if we can keep God’s Word in our heart, we will stop sinning. How is Satan able to steal the word so quickly? Matthew 13:19 states, “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.”

So you see, it’s because they have no understanding of God’s Word. How do we get this understanding? In Psalm 119:104, David said, “Through thy precepts I get understanding.” In other words, through the reading of God’s Word. Also David said in Psalm 111:10, “A good understanding have all those that do his commandments.” We receive a good understanding if we are now a doer of God’s Word.

In Proverbs 15:32 it states, “He that hears reproof or correction gains understanding.” We have to be teachable. Correction comes through the Word of God, or it can come through our pastor or even our friends. Charles Spurgeon said, “Get your friends to tell you your faults, or better still, welcome an enemy who will watch you keenly and sting you savagely. What a blessing such an irritating critic will be to a wise man. What an intolerable nuisance to a fool.”

The Bible says that sin brings forth death. There are consequences for our actions. We have a free will and it’s our own stubbornness that gets in the way. John Bunyan said,

“Fools make a mock at sin will, not believe it has a fearful dagger up its sleeve.

‘How can it be,’ they say, ‘that such a thing so full of sweetness, ere should wear a sting?’

They know not that it is the very spell of sin to make them laugh themselves to hell.

Look to thyself then deal with sin no more. Least he who save, against thee shuts the door.”

In some cases, one has been so entrenched in a sinful lifestyle that they may have opened themselves up to demonic activity. If this is your case, it would be advisable for you to get prayer from your pastor and elders of your church for deliverance. It’s our own flesh that causes us to sin, but demons can drive us further and have a stronghold on our mind. Get rid of the demonic influence and continue reading and praying.

Romans six explains clearly that we have been freed from sin by His grace, but we are not to yield ourselves over to it. It’s not in our own strength. Zechariah 4:6 says, “…’Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

It’s in His strength that we can do all things. God is faithful to perform His word on our behalf if we will obey and trust in Him.”

© Copyright 2007-2022 Soul Choice Ministries – All Rights Reserved
By Bill Wiese, author of
23 Minutes in Hell