Be diligent and watchful day and night to keep yourselves pure from sin, resisting temptations at every turn because the devil is in hot pursuit to tempt and destroy those who desire to do it in God’s way. Remember, the devil is after those who follow the path of righteousness. There is no other group that he would love to see fall than the people of the Lord.
In reality, following the Lord is the most arduous path of them all. Yes, the right way God has laid before man is the hardest. Through the narrow gate and on the narrow road is a rough road. But with the difficult journey comes great rewards.
If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it. Genesis 4:7 For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:14
You must understand that if you do not live God’s way, it is a sin, and sin is breaking God’s Law. It is going against His commands. It is rebelling against His word, and you have become a criminal in His eyes. But He has promised to set you free and give you the power to resist the devil’s schemes through His Holy Spirit. You can not just sit around and expect everything to happen for you. You must seek to live in righteousness, walk, and resist the devil and evil desires in your daily life.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18
You must keep awake to the influence of the evil one. Do you realize that the devil continually sends his demons to tempt, torment, and taunt you, to turn you away from God? You must resist the devil and his demons at every turn; then, they will flee.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:12-13
If you could see the battles between good and evil around you, as angels fight demons, you would understand why you struggle so greatly to do what is right. But you must believe this is happening by faith, submitting yourself to the Lord to resist the devil firm in your faith even though you can’t see them.
Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:7-8
The evidence that you have been saved and sanctified by God is that the Holy Spirit Himself will work through you, restrain you, and keep you from doing what your flesh desires. He will not allow you to fall if you give control to Him, and through His correction, He will set you on the right trajectory.
But if you dive into sin, disregarding the convictions of your conscience, you are denying Christ. Don’t lie to yourself and God. Be honest and look at yourself in light of the Law of God. Look closely and see you are not doing good but evil. And know that judgment is coming for those who do evil. What you need is Jesus, humility, and forgiveness.
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:2-4
Be very careful to examine yourself daily. Make short accounts with God. Stay walking in the Spirit and not in your flesh. Do not hesitate to repent quickly for every sin. Listen carefully when the Holy Spirit brings conviction to your soul. He understands your weaknesses. He knows your thoughts and motivations. He will reward you for your faithfulness and diligence in obeying His command. He loves you, loving those who follow and obey His ways.
This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:5-9
The Soul Sower 