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Big Apple Chapel is a New Testament based church in New York City, modeled after the pattern of the early church, with a strong emphasis on following Christ as a community of His disciples.

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  • Sunday - 10:30 am
  • 520 8th Ave, 16th floor
    New York, NY
  • phone: +1 (973) 837-1041
 

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Abstaining from 7 deadly sins

2009-08-09 1 Peter 4:11

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1 Pt 4:11 Abstain from fleshly lusts... war against your soul

Suffering and Death are the Result of Sin (even in light of grace and mercy)

Independence is the Essence of Sin

NO sin is necessary for a Believer (tho’ we’re not perfect til heaven)


Consequences: separation, alienation, guilt, blame, hide & hurl, poor self-image/worth, no witness, depression, sickness, punishment, ruin, death

I. Seven Deadly (and very, very expensive) Sins

Gal 5:24 those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

PRIDE - Lust for Dominion at the cost of Communion 1Pt 5:5 all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time

Anger - Lust for Rights at the cost of Submission Mt 5:22  "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice 5:21 submitting to one anohter in the fear of God

Envy - Lust for Equality at the cost of ContentmentJs 3:16  For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 1Pt 2:1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow

Impurity - Lust for Pleasure at the cost of Love 2Pt1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,4  by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith

Gluttony - Lust for Gratification at the cost of Responsibility Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: illegitimate sensual gratification; luxurious, profligate living, acknowledging of no restraints - insolently doing whatever one's caprice suggests; 20 sacrificing for temporal things to build temporal worth; seeking power outside of God; hostility toward the godly; contentions; jealousies; outbursts of wrath/vehement exasperation; selfish ambitions; disloyal division; dissensions arising from diversity of opinions and aims; 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, heavy partying, and the like; I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23  gentleness/humility, self-control. {see  Titus 2:12}

Slothfulness - Lust for Comfort at the cost of Satisfaction  Rom 12:11  not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; (Prov  sluggard/lazy)

Avarice/Covetousness - Lust for Possessions at the cost of Stewardship  Col 3:5 put to death your…fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Heb 13:5  Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have

II. Understanding PRIDE (and company)

Js 1:14 each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16  Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

Putting your desire for Power (security/significance/vengeance), Pleasure, or Possessions ahead of Christ’s desires
Rebelling against God's Standards, Expectations, or Authority in your life: Parents, Gov'ts, Leaders/Elders, Bosses, Husbands, believers, the Word
Insensitivity to or ignorance of the real needs of others
Doing your own thing: Depending on yourself rather than the Spirit
Ego Enhancement: Looking at life through self-centered lenses: How can I benefit from this? How does it meet my needs? How will I look? What will others think of me?

III. “It Ain’t gonna reign no more

(See TOYL for DEAD ALIVE acrostic)
1. Take the first exit - 1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
2. Purpose to be Pure - Dan 1:8 But Daniel resolved (Purposed in his heart) not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
3. Reckon, Refuse and Renew - Rm 6:11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve/demonstrate/experience what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
4. Memorize Scripture -  Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
5. Pray - Mt 26:41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. (visuzalize)
6. Live by Faith - Rm 14:23 man who doubts is condemned if  eats, because his eating is not from faith; everything that does not come from faith is sin
7. Resist the Devil (by the Spirit, with the Truth) - Js 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8. Flee & Fellowship - 1 Tim 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
9. Be Accountable - 2Tim 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
10. Confess (name it and claim it) 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Questions for Discussion/Reflection/Response:

Bonus: Name twenty personal and corporate consequences of sin.
1. How do you reconcile our lack of necessity to sin with our experience of sinning? What’s the holiness God demands/expects of us?
2. What’s the difference between temptation and sin? When does one lead to the other? How can you prevent that from happening?
3. What roles do lies and deceptions play in our sinning? How about habits, “friends,” and environment? How can you protect yourself?
4. Why do we tend to minimize the consequences of sin? What’s the corrective? What resources do you have?
5. What’s the opposite of each of the seven deadly sins? Which have you studied and sought to reduce or eliminate from your life?