2009 CEFC Men’s 2009 CEFC Men’s RetreatRetreat

The Enemy WithinThe Enemy Within

by Kris Lundgaardby Kris Lundgaard

The Power of SinThe Power of Sin

►How it works…How it works…cont.cont.

►What it does…What it does…

HOOKEDHOOKED

Any Fishermen in Any Fishermen in the house? the house?

What happens What happens when you go when you go fishing with fishing with just a hook?just a hook?

How Ugly can sin make the How Ugly can sin make the heartheart

►Short essay from Ravi ZachariasShort essay from Ravi Zacharias►The diseases of the body are not The diseases of the body are not

nearly as grotesque as the diseases of nearly as grotesque as the diseases of the soul.the soul.

James 1:14James 1:14

……but each one is but each one is tempted when, by tempted when, by his own evil desire, his own evil desire, he is dragged away he is dragged away and enticed…and enticed…

What does the Bible say aboutWhat does the Bible say aboutThe flesh and its power…The flesh and its power…

Hebrews 11:25 He (Moses) chose to be Hebrews 11:25 He (Moses) chose to be mistreated along with the people of God mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. for a short time.

What does the Bible say aboutWhat does the Bible say aboutThe flesh and its power…The flesh and its power…

Gen. 39: Now Joseph was well-built and Gen. 39: Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he refused. "With me in charge," with me!" But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"wicked thing and sin against God?"

Proverbs 7Proverbs 7

With persuasive words she led him astray; she With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her once he followed her like an ox going to the like an ox going to the slaughterslaughter, like a , like a deer stepping into a noosedeer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird bird darting into a snaredarting into a snare, little knowing it will , little knowing it will cost him his life. Now then, my sons, listen cost him his life. Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. Do not to me; pay attention to what I say. Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. Many are the victims she has her paths. Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a throng. Her house is a highway to the gravehighway to the grave, , leading down to the chambers of death.leading down to the chambers of death.

How do you know when you are How do you know when you are hooked?hooked?

You Know You’re Hooked You Know You’re Hooked When…When…

Joshua 7…Achan replied, "It is true! I have Joshua 7…Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: Israel. This is what I have done: When I When I sawsaw in the plunder a beautiful robe from in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, shekels, I coveted them and took I coveted them and took themthem. They are hidden in the ground . They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver inside my tent, with the silver underneath." underneath."

How do we see those LURES for How do we see those LURES for what they truly are???what they truly are???

►How do we battle the ENEMY How do we battle the ENEMY WITHIN?WITHIN?

►So what diligence and So what diligence and watchfulness is required of us watchfulness is required of us when this ENEMY in our souls is when this ENEMY in our souls is ready to oppose every effort to do ready to oppose every effort to do good? good? (Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness)(Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness)

The mind is a terrible thing to The mind is a terrible thing to wastewaste

►We need to use We need to use our head (or our head (or mind)mind)

►The role of the The role of the mind is the mind is the WATCHMAN OF WATCHMAN OF THE SOULTHE SOUL

►Ezekiel 33:1-9Ezekiel 33:1-9

Don’t Get CaughtDon’t Get Caught

► Guard your heart (MIND.) Guard your heart (MIND.) ► You will always protect what you You will always protect what you

value the most…value the most…fix your heart on fix your heart on Jesus Christ, set your heart on Jesus Christ, set your heart on heavenly thingsheavenly things, especially the cross., especially the cross.

► Colossians 3:1Colossians 3:1► Matthew 6:33aMatthew 6:33a

Don’t Get Caught Don’t Get Caught

► how often do you day dream about how often do you day dream about the resurrection? the resurrection?

► Reigning with Christ forever? Reigning with Christ forever? ► In worship, do you ever imagine that In worship, do you ever imagine that

you are joining your voice with the you are joining your voice with the saints in heaven? saints in heaven?

► Shouldn’t such things fill and Shouldn’t such things fill and overflow your heart?overflow your heart?

The Power of ImaginationThe Power of Imagination

►What is it about the relationship between What is it about the relationship between the the imaginationimagination and the and the affectionsaffections that that makes the imagination so important to makes the imagination so important to guard?guard?

►When enticed, it works against the When enticed, it works against the Watchman and opens the gate to allow sin Watchman and opens the gate to allow sin ININ

► Joni Eareckson Tada Joni Eareckson Tada

Consent to SinConsent to Sin

The mind is dragged away from its duty The mind is dragged away from its duty as watchman, affections are enticed as watchman, affections are enticed and entangled, the will says, “I DO” and entangled, the will says, “I DO” and sin is conceived!and sin is conceived!

James 1:13-15James 1:13-15

When tempted, no one should say, "God When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; anyone; but each one is tempted but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. gives birth to death.

2 kinds of consent2 kinds of consent

► First…the non-believer, as shown in First…the non-believer, as shown in Ephesians 4:19…ignorant, hard hearts who Ephesians 4:19…ignorant, hard hearts who are separated from God…Having lost all are separated from God…Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

► Such sin is full, absolute, complete and with Such sin is full, absolute, complete and with deliberation.deliberation.

► A ship at full sail with the wind at it’s back!A ship at full sail with the wind at it’s back!

2 kinds of consent2 kinds of consent

► Second…believers who consent to sin, as Second…believers who consent to sin, as seen in Romans 7:15…I do not understand seen in Romans 7:15…I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. but what I hate I do.

► The believer is born (again) of the sin-hating The believer is born (again) of the sin-hating Spirit, thus he can never give himself to sin Spirit, thus he can never give himself to sin fully, absolutely, the way an unbeliever canfully, absolutely, the way an unbeliever can

► Like a ship sailing against the wind. The Like a ship sailing against the wind. The wind may be stiff or light, but it is always wind may be stiff or light, but it is always there, resisting the consent to sinthere, resisting the consent to sin

2 kinds of consent (cont)2 kinds of consent (cont)

The flesh The flesh can never can never completely completely

hide the hide the HOOK HOOK

Take for example…PeterTake for example…Peter

►Denied his Master 3 timesDenied his Master 3 times►Was hooked by fear of the mobWas hooked by fear of the mob►Though he was lured and consented to Though he was lured and consented to

sin…something inside hated what he sin…something inside hated what he was doingwas doing

Or Paul…Or Paul…

► Romans 7Romans 7► I do not understand what I do. For what I I do not understand what I do. For what I

want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ►When I want to do good, evil is right there When I want to do good, evil is right there

with me. For in my inner being I delight in with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, the members of my body, waging war waging war against the law of my mindagainst the law of my mind and making and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! Lord!

Secret ReluctanceSecret Reluctance

► In every sin, God’s grace fights against In every sin, God’s grace fights against the will’s consentthe will’s consent

► Just as the flesh resists every spiritual Just as the flesh resists every spiritual act, the Spirit resists every sinact, the Spirit resists every sin

Heed the WarningsHeed the Warnings

►Stanley and Dr. LivingstonStanley and Dr. Livingston►Count the Cost…Romans 8:13…For if Count the Cost…Romans 8:13…For if

you live according to the sinful nature, you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live…you will live…

Heed the WarningsHeed the Warnings

►Those who refuse to put the flesh to Those who refuse to put the flesh to death are willing to live according to death are willing to live according to the fleshthe flesh

►This is consent to sinThis is consent to sin

Heed the Warnings or Reap the Heed the Warnings or Reap the ConsequencesConsequences

► How does one lose weight?How does one lose weight? Diet and exerciseDiet and exercise Consequence for not doing it…FAT, out of shape, etc.Consequence for not doing it…FAT, out of shape, etc.

► How does one save money?How does one save money? Don’t spend all your money or money you don’t have!Don’t spend all your money or money you don’t have! Consequence for not doing it…DEBT, stress, etcConsequence for not doing it…DEBT, stress, etc

► How does one do well in school?How does one do well in school? Pay attention, study, best effort, good night’s restPay attention, study, best effort, good night’s rest Consequence for not doing it…poor grades, feel trapped in Consequence for not doing it…poor grades, feel trapped in

current job.current job.► How does one grow Spiritually and sin less?How does one grow Spiritually and sin less?

Read the Bible, pray, serve, spend time with other Read the Bible, pray, serve, spend time with other believers!believers!

Consequence for not doing it…more sin, backsliding!Consequence for not doing it…more sin, backsliding!

So what is the consequence of So what is the consequence of the believer who is enticed by the believer who is enticed by the LURE and consents to sin?the LURE and consents to sin?

Flesh’s Main ObjectiveFlesh’s Main Objective

►God created the will so that it only God created the will so that it only chooses what it believes to be good for chooses what it believes to be good for the soul (or at least better than other the soul (or at least better than other options.)options.)

►The flesh tries to lure the will into SINThe flesh tries to lure the will into SIN

What the Flesh DoesWhat the Flesh Does

► Flesh also wants to Flesh also wants to throw cold water on throw cold water on our First-Love FIRE!our First-Love FIRE!

► Song of Songs 8:6-7Song of Songs 8:6-7

7 ways that the flesh 7 ways that the flesh tries to douse our first-tries to douse our first-

love firelove fire

1. The flesh knows how to eat 1. The flesh knows how to eat an elephantan elephant

►So how do you eat an elephant?So how do you eat an elephant?►One bite at a time!One bite at a time!

2. The flesh dresses us up in 2. The flesh dresses us up in tuxedoestuxedoes

►Worship becomes a formal Worship becomes a formal affair (just a SUNDAY thing)affair (just a SUNDAY thing)

►We put more energy on We put more energy on appearancesappearances

►Heb. 12:28-29Heb. 12:28-29

3. The flesh sends us down 3. The flesh sends us down bunny trailsbunny trails

►We get sidetracked from the simplicity We get sidetracked from the simplicity of the gospelof the gospel

►2 Corinthians 11:3 I am afraid that 2 Corinthians 11:3 I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, serpent's cunning, your minds may your minds may somehow be led astray from your somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

4. The flesh turns sin into a 4. The flesh turns sin into a cuddly petcuddly pet

►Sins that we harbor in our hearts that Sins that we harbor in our hearts that we feel are too small or too big to we feel are too small or too big to take to Godtake to God

►OR we are just too attached to themOR we are just too attached to them

5. The flesh pumps up our heads 5. The flesh pumps up our heads and shrivels our heartsand shrivels our hearts

►Knowledge is useless unless it moves Knowledge is useless unless it moves the heart!the heart!

6. The flesh gets us to do our 6. The flesh gets us to do our own thingown thing

►The wisdom of the flesh is to trust The wisdom of the flesh is to trust ourselves over Godourselves over God

► Isaiah 47:10 You have trusted in your Isaiah 47:10 You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, 'No one wickedness and have said, 'No one sees me.' Your wisdom and knowledge sees me.' Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, mislead you when you say to yourself, 'I am, and there is none besides me.' 'I am, and there is none besides me.'

7. The flesh is the cat that gets our 7. The flesh is the cat that gets our tonguetongue

►The greatest destroyer of our first-love The greatest destroyer of our first-love fire is the neglect of private fire is the neglect of private communion with Godcommunion with God

► Isaiah 43:22 Yet you have not called Isaiah 43:22 Yet you have not called upon me, O Jacob, you have not upon me, O Jacob, you have not wearied yourselves for me, O Israel. wearied yourselves for me, O Israel.

No More Excuses!No More Excuses!

► Flesh…tainted by the power and Flesh…tainted by the power and deception of sin that remains in deception of sin that remains in every believer. every believer.

► It has a mortal hatred of God and It has a mortal hatred of God and tries everything to trick and turn you tries everything to trick and turn you from your Lord! from your Lord!

► The flesh cannot be ignored or toyed The flesh cannot be ignored or toyed with! with!

So what are So what are we to do?we to do?

Don’t even think about itDon’t even think about it

►Romans 13:14…rather, clothe Romans 13:14…rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. the desires of the sinful nature.

But I do think about itBut I do think about it

► I am struggling with temptationI am struggling with temptation► I keep sinningI keep sinning► I am depressedI am depressed► I feel defeatedI feel defeated

What are the LURES that draw What are the LURES that draw your heart?your heart?

►Steve Green SongSteve Green Song

►Prayerfully consider the handout Prayerfully consider the handout (individually or in small groups)(individually or in small groups)