STRIVING AGAINST SIN (continued)

Take aggressive action against any sin in your life. "Let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Corinthians 7:1. Put "aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness.” James 1:21. Don't get involved in any immoral behavior. Are you involved in some sexual sin? Then stop! "Abstain from sexual immorality, 1 Thessalonians 4:3. Don't let yourself get involved in any form of evil. "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22.

Abandon the battlefield. Running away from the battlefield is often the best way to win against sexual sin. Run from the people, places, and things that tempt you. "Now flee from youthful lusts.” 2 Timothy 2:22. "Flee immorality." 1 Corinthians 6:18. Abandon the battlefield of idolatry. There are many idols in this world ... things that can become false objects of worship. There are the idols of false religion. Riches and possessions can become objects of worship. Even people can become idols. Worship God and God alone. God has commanded, "You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:3. Abandon the battlefield. "Flee from idolatry." 1 Corinthians 10:14.

Remember that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. When you are tempted ... imagine the Spirit saying to you, Hey! This is My temple. Don't do that in My temple. Keep His temple clean. "Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?" 1 Corinthians 6:18-19.

Remember that you were bought with a price. Jesus shed His blood for you. "If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ." 1 Peter 1:17-19. When you are tempted ... imagine that you are looking up at Jesus from the foot of the cross. Picture His bruised and battered body. See His thorn-crowned head. Imagine the blood dripping from His nail-pierced hands and feet. Imagine Him looking down into your eyes. Hear Him say, Don't do that ... I'm shedding My blood for you. He died for you. Remember the price He paid for you. "For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:20.

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IN THE WAR 9    PAGES: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15    
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