Questions to ask while you are fighting sin

While we are alive, we are being sanctified and there are times when we start fighting with particular sins that leech unto us in a more frequent way. As we navigate the christian life, we are at times left clueless on how to navigate our fight with sin. We do not know where to start our fight with sin. 

I want to offer a series of questions that you can ask yourself as you navigate your fight with sin with the intention to help you fight better. And this will have scripture that will aid you to navigate these questions in a more practical manner. 

If you are struggling with sin, ask yourself the following questions: 

1. Do you like it? (Romans 3, 7: 14 - 25) I think this is a question where we need to be honest and for some may be an obvious duh, but for some others may be a time where you feel confused because you are trying to avoid this. The purpose of this question has to see the root of your desire towards this particular sin. The drive for sin is sometimes because we have entertained thoughts that have merged into temptations. Acknowledging our enjoyment of sin helps us to see that something is twisted in our thinking, which leads us to our next question.

2. Why do I like it? (Jeremiah 17: 9 - 10, Ephesians 2: 1- 3) We tend to run to sins that we like because we have believed a lie about something. Most sins are the distorted expression of something good that God has provided. The reason for our enjoyment of sin, helps us discern what we really believe about God and His word or ourselves. Maybe we have bought into the lie that we deserve our sin or we victimize ourselves into it.

The purpose is to identify the scam within your heart. You like it because you have been scammed, just like at times some articles may be overpriced on the internet or you may have thought that you bought something and something else arrives. In the same way we are lured into deception by the lies of the enemy. This does not exclude our responsibility but it helps diagnose the heart which leads us to the next question

3. What should I be believing instead? (John 17: 32 Timothy 3: 16 - 17) Identifying the lie will lead you to the Scriptures which will pierce your heart into conviction. Maybe you are believing the lie that God is indifferent to you and your desires because you do not see an answer to something good you want. Or maybe someone whom you looked up sinned against you and now you feel that you deserve to retreat in your sin. Maybe you feel that there is no hope for you and that God is not truly merciful to you. 

This question should lead you to let the word of God speak truth into your life. This could be a time of confession where you can go to other brothers and sisters who can help you navigate God’s word better. And this should lead us to the next question 

4. How can I fight? (Ephesians 6: 10 - 20, Colossians 3: 1 - 11) This question should begin by always leading you up to the Gospel, you begin fighting your sin in light of your identity. You begin reflecting on what Christ has accomplished for you, how this is something you could have never accomplished and how you should live in light of it. 

 But at the same time you start acknowledging your weaknesses and avoid the sins that you are drawn to. You put filters on the internet, you block numbers, you avoid certain kinds of places; the purpose of avoiding is to cut any avenue where sin or temptation may be a possibility. You put off sin in order to put on Christ. Which leads us to the next question.

5. What could I be enjoying? (Psalm 37: 3 - 4)Fighting sin is not just about losing our sight for the things of the flesh but enjoying the good things that God has put before us: creation, His word, prayer, music and more. Do not just grow in your distaste for sin but also grow in your fervor for godly things that nourish you. Enjoy God and His presence in prayer, enjoy spending time with brothers and sisters who are also running the race and fighting the good battle. 

Do not underestimate the power of God in your life to change your affections in order to enjoy other things. But when we are steering towards enjoying God there is another unavoidable question that follows.

6. How can I be serving? (Romans 12: 10, Galatians 5: 13) Maybe you will not have a particular title or a teaching rep but there are many areas in your local church where you can serve: holy supper, childcare, greeting and more. Sin leads us towards self-service, Christ leads us to serve others. The way in which we serve others will help our hearts to grow warmer towards others and towards God. God will use this to remind you of the Gospel as you serve but also as you live life with those whom you serve with. 

Serving can materialize into sacrificing things where dying to our flesh becomes more normal since our mind is set to put our life for others. 

Sin is deceiving and one of the ways that you can see it's through the hopelessness of those who are chained to him. But praise God that we have a Savior who has freed us from His chains, who gives us a new identification in order to live for something greater than ourselves. May the Lord help us.