Is there a sin in your life that you just cannot rid yourself of? A sin that drags you down. You have tried years and years to get the victory, but the victory never happens. You have begged God to deliver you, you have pleaded on you knees for God to take a sin from you, but still you have not gotten the victory. You may even fast from time to time to show God how serious you are about the matter, but still no victory.

You start to find patterns in you life. This one event leads to another event, and then another, and finally the sin. So you pray for God to break this pattern that keeps causing you to stumble. You may even set up a little system for yourself. I notice that if "A" happens, then "B" happens next. Thus if I can stop "A" from happening, "B" cannot happen. But this fails also.

You next decide that you need to read some Christian Psychology book about the area you are haveing trouble with. You say to yourself, "certainly if one takes the best of Christianity and the best of Phychology, how can I go wrong"? The experts go into complex discussions on conflicts, co-dependant relationships, illnesses, enablers and who knows what else. None of which will do you any good. Finally you give up and decide that it is time to talk to your pastor to find out what the word of God says. The pastor may explain that this sin is a common sin that many Christians have to battle with, or that your problem will require professional help. He may then say that their is no easy answer here. Lets just pray for God to give you the victory over it. Then you get even more discouraged, since that is where you started. You knew only God could give you the victory. But that stubborn sin still exists. So now what do you do? Well I am here today to give you the complex solution to your sin problem. You do not need to wait for God to give you the victory. I was praying one day and God gave me the solution for removing stubborn sin. I say this in almost a mocking way, since the Bible truth that applys here is so simple.

We loose site on how to rid ourselves of stubborn sin because we live in a time when everyone is blamming others for their sin. "Well I was abused as a small child", or "my parents were to strict", or "I'm just too weak" are common excuses you will hear. My favorite verse for dealing with stubborn sin is one you have heard over and over. And your response might be, "yea I know that, but I still have this stubborn sin". First Corinthians 10:13 says "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will, with the temptation, also make the way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it".

So what about that stubborn sin now. God says there is no such thing as a stubborn sin for the born-again Child of God. If you are not born-again, you have no power to overcome sin. The Bible says the unconverted person is a slave to sin (Romans 6:6). He can do nothing but sin. He has no choice. His job is to sin and that is what he does. But for the Child of God, He no longer is a slave to sin. His master is no longer the devil. As long as the devil is your master, you will obey him. The Child of God no longer has the devil as his master. The child of God's master is Jesus, and we no longer are forced to obey the devil. We are free to serve Jesus. In 1 Cor 10:13, God says you are never tempted above that which we are able. So I say again what about that stubborn sin. I find calling a sin stubbon because we cannot get the victory unscriptural.

I see two possibilities for 1 Cor 10:13. Either God is a lier or God is not a lier. It is that simple. And since we know it is impossible for God to lie (Heb 6:18), 1 Cor 10:13 must be true. Amazing, I never took a class at seminary, yet I know better than some preachers who call God a lier. Many will say that this answer is too cheap, I say No! I am just telling you what the word of God says. The problem with most of us is that we are smarter then God. One of the most common responces that I hear after a Bible verse is quoted is "yea, but I don't believe that, I see it this way". Does the Devil really have such a strong hold on people that they are willing to substitute their own reasoning to counter what God says? Oh how deceptive the human heart can be. Don't trust your heart, trust God's word. We would all be so much better off if we stop telling God what is wrong with His Bible. When a Bible verse doesn't fit into you little system, don't throw out the verse. You would be better off to junk your entire system before you throw out one verse in the Bible.

First Corinthians 10:13 in not very popular today. People want an excuse for their sin. They want to justify it before God. But the Bible says "let God be true, and every man a lier" (Romans 3:4). When you say that you have a sin too difficult to overcome, you are calling God a lier.

You say the sin has a hold on you. I say you are a lier. James 1:14 says, "but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed." Admit it, you have a hold on your sin and will not let go. That is right, I said will not, this is not a cannot situation. I say let it go. God says it even stronger. "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away, It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell" (Matt 5:29). Since, God commands us not to destroy our bodies, which are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we know he is talking figuratively (1 Cor 3:17). He is saying, this sin that you are holding on to, loose the grip, cast it from you. You can cry for mercy, you can cry for grace, but God say to pluck it out and cast it from you. Until you realize that you have all you need in Jesus to battle sin, you will always be defeated. You will keep waiting for the victory, but God says you have the victory. Surely every one knows Phillipans 4:13 "I can do everything through him who gives me strength". I guess some think that verse does not apply to overcomming sin. Some continue to think they are not adaquately armed to battle sin. God says to quit your whining and obey me. You have more control than you think.

To ask God for something to battle your sin with is to tell God that Jesus's death on the cross was not complete. In effect you are saying "God, Jesus's death was good enough for most of the sins in my life, but I need something extra strenght for the big sins". What extra do you want, a 3 step formula with 5 promises to claim. Friends, Jesus's death was extra strength. Listen to 2 Cor 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." Did you hear that, "having all that you need".

The problem most of us have is that we are waiting for God to "take away" a sin that is plagueing us. We refuse to do the spiritual battle that God has ordained us to do. What we need to do is realize that God has already done all that is needed. Lets stop waiting for God to take his "turn", it is our "turn". The issue is not stubborn sin.

The real issue is that you love you sin more than you love Jesus. You can tell me you love Jesus, you can boast to me about all the visions that Jesus gave you, and you can even boast about how long you spend in prayer. Listen to John 14:21, "Whoever has my commandments and obeys them, he is the one who loves me". That's right you can give God a list of all the things you have accomplished in His name. Maybe even 70 years of faithful service. What a shame it would be on judgement day, to see all that burn up in flames. You can say what you want about your stubborn sin, I say check your love for Jesus. You will have found that it went cold. You cannot tell someone you love them, and yet cause them grief by your sin. Try telling your wife your love for her while having an affair with another women. Attempting that is ridiculas. So lets call the stubborn sin for what it is and make the necessary corrections. Shall we pray.