how to stop sinning

Who cares what the devil is up to? By Alan Ballou.

Most of us are very skeptical of a door to door salesman. Even if we take the time to listen to him, we will check and test every word he says. That in itself is funny because most of the time the only proof we have is given to us by the very person who is trying to convince us to buy something.

It’s only some time after the purchase that we realize that there was something hidden that would have changed our view if we only knew what it was.

Get this! God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6), and not because the devil is an adversary. Imagine that. The things we don’t know bring about our destruction.

Who cares what the devil is up to, but only those who do not have the Lord’s protection against the devil (2 Thessalonians 3:3)? Check the verses below.

 2 Thessalonians 3:1-4

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. NKJV

Can the Lord protect us from the devil? Yes He can, but who will the Lord protect (guard) from the devil according to those verses?

Were the Thessalonians doing what they were told, or do we have evidence that the Lord will protect anyone no matter how they live? Read it again because we need to “know the truth” so that we can follow it and receive what is promised. Guessing is not a good idea.

The people who declare God is going to “do it” according to 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, never mention that the Thessalonians were obedient. The same is true with those who promise everyone that “He who began a good work in us, will carry it on to the day of completion” in accordance with Philippians 1:6. They never mention that the Philippians were always obedient (Philippians 2:12-13, 1:5).

When we use a promise in the Bible, we need to make sure that we meet the conditions in which the promise was made. For example, if we were living the way God wants us to live, then the devil would not be able to touch us (1 John 5:18).

1 John 5:18

18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. NKJV

If we were in a position to where the devil could not even touch us, why would we worry about what he was up to? After knowing the truth, why wouldn’t we teach people to position their selves in order to be protected? We don’t want to stop sinning. That’s why.

Imagine teaching people all over the world, and especially in third world countries, how to be protected from the devil rather than building something that will be torn down. Even if they find a man-made cure for AIDS next week, what is going to stop the destruction promised by the same spiritual principle that made it (1 Corinthians 6:18)? It’s like we can’t see the forest for the trees.

Our problem is that we don’t want to live like God wants us to live. We don’t want to stop sinning. That’s evident because we don’t even want to hear the verses concerning sin in the church gathering. God’s position is that no living man should complain for the punishment of his sins (Lamentations 3:39).

Get this. The devil has to seek someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). All of his fiery darts can be quenched with our shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16), assuming that we are living by faith. AIDS is no match for God, but we won’t teach His Word. We’ll send food and a Bible, but we don’t want to hear it ourselves. So how can we represent God to a dying world?

If we submit to God’s ways, and resist the devil, he will flee (James 4:7), point, blank, period. Therefore, our biggest problem is not the devil, but we don’t want to submit to God’s ways. We don’t want to deny our self.

We want to remain conformed to this world, but a friend of this world becomes an enemy of God (James 4:4). We don’t realize that we can’t sit at the Lord’s table and the table of demons without provoking the Lord’s jealousy (1 Corinthians 10:21-22).

Therefore, yes suffering is in our near future, assuming we are true sons. Anyone who can sin and not receive discipline here on earth is not a true son and will not make it in the end (Hebrews 12:8). The unrighteous store up wrath for the day of God’s wrath (Romans 2:5-11), but the people who are going to Heaven receive their due on earth (1 Peter 4:17).

1 Peter 4:17

17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? NKJV

Therefore, be careful not to slander the devil, since it is not his fault. Christians have no reason to speak against the devil since it is our own sins that takes away our protection (1 John 5:18, above). Besides, some of the sickest people I know are always speaking against the devil saying that he is doing this or that, but they really don’t know. The Bible says to never slander the devil (Jude 1:8-9, 2 Peter 2:10-12)!

Whatever you don’t know about the Christian life, in accordance with what is written in the Bible, you have to take a guess concerning it. Guessing can easily lead you into doing things in opposition of what is written.

Think about this. Right now there are things that we don’t know that would change our life and future for the better if we would take the time to learn it. How can we react to what we don’t know? We can’t. All we can do is guess, and that is what the Christian life has become for millions of church attending people today here in the Bible-belt.

Eve was deceived in the same way. The serpent said, “did God really say…?” In cases like that, if you do not know what God really said in His Word, then you are a candidate for deception which means you are also in line to experience destruction.

The devil has to seek someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). What have you done this week to make sure that you remain under the Lord’s protection? Singing in the choir doesn’t count, since singing in the choir doesn’t lead to obedience. You’ve got to make the Word of God live on the inside of you.

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Free from what? Free from sin (John 8:31-39, Romans 1:28-32). People with a sin problem need to know the truth, point, blank, period. Give them food, or whatever else you desire, but if you want to help them with sin, you are going to have to teach them the truth.

Why do I warn you about these things? Because God’s Word tells me to warn you. My instructions are to warn “every man,” striving to present every man perfect in Christ (Colossians 2:28-29, 3:16). My instructions say to see to it that no one misses the grace of God (Hebrews 12:15).

The Apostle Paul warned the Ephesians for three years straight (Acts 20:31), and all throughout the New Testament people are warned over and over again. Would a life guard watch a man drown and tell him it’s going to be okay at the same time? Even if the drowning man tells the life guard to leave him alone, would the life guard not reason with the man to try to save his life?

James 5:19-20

19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. NKJV

Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul. Praise God hallelujah! The Lord has put me in the soul saving business. I’m Alan Ballou; a servant. If you have a question or concerns please reply below.

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