Winning the War Within - Its Myths

So as a great problem-solving hero, how about Barney Fife? Ha! Every episode has a common thread. There is a crisis. Sheriff Andy Taylor is calm and cool. Deputy Barney Fife is over-confident, and he rushes off to solve the problem. He fails. Sheriff Andy rescues him and saves the day. The next episode repeats the cycle. So does the next, and the next after that.

Search the blog for recent posts on Civility, Modesty, Gender Surrender, and  Keys to the Kingdom (the Sermon on the Mount).

Luke 4:1-13

Do you every feel that way in your battle against temptation and sin? We all do at times.

So far in this series we have considered:

The War Within

1. Its Nature – Inner Wrestling

2. Its Cause – Competing Desires

3. Its Base – Starting Point

4. Its Schemer – Satan

5. Its Governor – God

6. Its Pivot – Prayer

7. Its Predictability – Process

8. Its Sword – Scripture

9. Its Support – the Church

Now let’s focus on …

10. Its Myths – Assumptions

Until we understand the myths of spiritual warfare – the false assumptions we may have accepted – we will continue to live by them and suffer in our struggle. So let’s expose and reject them!

The first myth we need to debunk is the idea that someone else is responsible for my decisions and actions.

Summarize the chapter about Harry S. Truman in the book, The Traveler’s Gift, by Andy Andrews. “The buck stops here.”

MYTH: We are forced into temptation by the choices and actions of others.

Gen 3; Ex 32; 1 Sam 15

Jas 1:2-18

We may try to blame God for our desires.

The devil made me do it.

Our parents, siblings, boss, circumstances …

Sin is the response we choose.

No one can make us hate, lose our temper, curse, retaliate, etc.

MYTH: We “fall” into temptation accidentally or unintentionally.

1 Tim 6:10

Jas 1:2-18

I was just walking along, minding my own business, thinking good thoughts, even praying, when suddenly the ground opened up and I fell into a hole!

Aaron: “Out came this calf!”

1 Tim 6:10 uses the phrase. But the people “fall into temptation and a snare” because they first want to get rich.

MYTH: We sin and displease God just because we are tempted.

Luke 4:1-13

Jas 1:2-4, 12

God does not tempt us, that is, entice us to fail.

God does test us and try us, that we might grow strong and pass.

MYTH: We always become weak and weary after we battle temptation.

Luke 4:1-13

Jas 1:2-4

Rom 5:1-11

Not necessarily.

Push – don’t move – the rock.

Trials mature us.

MYTH: We will cease being tempted once we are spiritually mature.

Luke 4:1-13

Rom 7

Our continual wrestling with sin is actually a mark of maturity, not a contradiction of it.

MYTH: We face unique temptations that are unlike those of other people.

1 John 2:15-17

1 Cor 10:12-13 Common to man.

Heb 4:15 Tempted in all points as we are.

MYTH: We overcome temptation by physically running from it.

1 Cor 6:18; 1 Tim 6:11; 2 Tim 2:22

Rom 12:1-2; Col 3:1-17

Fleeing from sin rescues us from sinning on that one occasion.

People run from jobs, neighborhoods, cities, churches, and even spouses!

But temptation primarily occurs in your mind.

Rom 12:1-2 God can renew our heart and mind.

MYTH: We will never get past temptation. We are doomed to fail.

Rev 21:1-8

Temptation will inevitably have the last word.

Truth – the winner is the one who is still fighting when the bell rings!

Possible hymns:

Farther Along

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

My Eyes are Dry

Humble Yourself in the Sight of the Lord

Restore My Soul

Love Lifted Me