Let’s look more at the Holy Spirit’s role in our capacity to resist the temptation to sin. This is a huge component in the equation. Read Ezekiel 36: 26-27 – “Then I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”
Once we are born again, without the work of the Spirit of God dwelling in us, we are pretty much doomed to a life of continued sin, along with its frustration in our faith fight. Try as we may, our best efforts apart from the supernatural work of God’s Spirit, we might just barely hang in there, wanting to live righteous but lacking the internal power to do so. It looks like Ezekiel is saying that the main purpose of the Holy Spirit coming to reside in God’s child is to cause us to walk in God’s ways and keep His commandments. In other words, “He gives us the power to resist sin,” as Pastor Hal put it.
In his sermon on June 22, 2008, Pastor Hal addressed this beautifully, using the passage from Ezekiel 36. Up till that point I had not thought much about the main purpose of the Holy Spirit’s residence in us. I was just grateful that He was there! In addressing our need for a changed heart and God’s supernatural ability to do that, Pastor discussed the fact that we each have a moral compass. According to my note taking, he said, “This is the main reason God gave us His Holy Spirit --- to give us the power to resist sin! When we resist the truth, we weaken the conscience, resulting in sinful actions and rebellion --- a weakened conscience. We all have moral radar. It can be strengthened and can be weakened. It should be based on moral truth. If you don’t have truth in you, your moral radar will be weak. Hebrews 10:22 – ‘Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.’ As we strengthen God in our life, our moral compass is more sensitive. We have moral truth.”
He went on to give these statistics: “In 1952, 6% of children in the US did not have religious training. In 1993, 35% did not. In 2008, 4% do have religious training. Today 96% of children in the US do not have religious training!” This should explain many things about the moral code of so many children and young adults of today. Most of them have no Word in them and certainly not the presence of the Holy Spirit. We cannot expect these people to have a Christian world view and live according to God’s principles.
Pastor Hal sited Hebrews 5: 14 – “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” He went on to say, “The more solid we become, the more we grow, mature and build our lives on absolutes. ... Martin Luther said, ‘My conscience is captive to the Word of God.’ ” Quoted from Pastor Hal Adams, Radford Worship Center, Radford, VA.
Armed with a redeemed spirit, knowledge of the Truth of God’s Word, love and gratitude toward God, and having the will to serve and honor God and His Spirit residing in us, every believer really can live above sin. I have to note here that none of us will at all times live sinless lives ---- because of our human weaknesses. But the fact remains that we can overcome sin’s draw more times than not. This fact gives hope and encouragement, helping us overcome greater hurdles as we mature in the Word and in faith. This truth should take a worrisome burden off of every believer.
Jesus is the perfect example for us in every situation so let’s look at how He handled temptation. Naturally, Satan wanted Jesus to fail in His mission to restore mankind back to God, our Creator. As recorded in the Gospels--- Matthew, Mark and Luke--- Satan tempted Jesus. The ways in which our Lord was tempted represent our own human desires and weaknesses. In like manner as we are tempted, Jesus was tempted and He overcame by applying God’s Word in each situation. Every time our Lord responded with, “It is written...” or “It has been said ... .” Jesus knew His Father and He knew the things that His Father had said. After these days of great temptation, Luke 4: 14 – 15 tells us: “Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.”
God will never call us to anything that is not possible for us to attain – certainly holiness is one of them. And He knows that it will not be accomplished without Him. Yes, it’s true: Thy Word I can hide in my heart so that I will not sin against God. We must remember that the only way to take advantage of this amazing provision is to abide in the truths of God’s Word on a daily basis. Jesus said: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, You will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15: 1-11 NKJV
The word, “abide” in this passage is translated “to remain.” That is to “continuously be in.” We need to continuously be in Christ Jesus and His words. When we abide in Him, our prayers are effective (v.7), we bear much fruit which glorifies the Father (v.8), we will abide in Christ’s love (v.10) and our joy will be made complete (v.11). And oh, the troubles and heartaches believers could avoid if we would do John 15 and Psalm 119! Risikili!
My next post will begin Part 4: The Regeneratig Power of God's Word
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