There are two ways to attack our sin nature. The first way is useless. It involves trying to stop doing the sin. It is equivalent to picking the fruit off of a bad tree in an attempt to kill it. That, of course, is silly, but that is what trying to use will power to stop sinning is analogous to. The other way to to attack our sin nature is to lay the axe at the root of the tree and start going for the kill. If we kill the root the tree will die. I would rather think of what we are attempting to kill as weeds rather than a fruit tree, but you get the idea.

11 You, O Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me;
Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.
12 For evils beyond number have surrounded me;
My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see;
They are more numerous than the hairs of my head,
And my heart has failed me.
13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;
Make haste, O Lord, to help me. Psalms 40:11-13 (NASB)

As we saw in Part 1, the first step in mortifying our sin is to attack it habitually. That means that as we take each step through each part of each day we habitually take each thought capture to the Holiness of God. We compare what our hearts are attempting to pursue for gratification with God’s standards, the Law and the commands of our Saviour. This is the first step in our declared war on the root of sin in our hearts. There are two ways to attack our sin nature. The first way is useless. It involves trying to stop doing the sin. It is equivalent to picking the fruit off of a bad tree in an attempt to kill it. That, of course, is silly, but that is what trying to use will power to stop sinning is analogous to. The other way to to attack our sin nature is to lay the axe at the root of the tree and start going for the kill. If we kill the root the tree will die. I would rather think of what we are attempting to kill as weeds rather than a fruit tree, but you get the idea.

This habitual attack takes focus. I’m sorry, but there is no other way to accomplish this. We must focus on what is actually being pursued by our hearts. Remember, our hearts are deceitful and dark. They lie to us. They are the very thing that separated us from God before salvation. Since salvation, the thing is still hard at work trying to pursue as much fleshly gratification as it can. It assumes that we are ignorant of it and what it is doing. It appeals to our emotions. It appeals to our past. It tries to manipulate our wills. Therefore, we must get into the pit with it. We must habitually fight the thing with prayer, fasting and devotion to the Holiness of God. As we stop each sneak attack from our sin nature, we often think that much has been accomplished. This causes us to take a break in our vigilance. Of course, that is the opening our wicked hearts are looking for in order to draw us into sinful pursuits.

One more thing before we look at step two. I hope this offends no one, but for the Christian, it is a sin to seek fulfillment from any other source other than God. That’s right. If we seek fulfillment from fleshly pursuits we are actually guilty of idolatry. Idolatry is the activity that our hearts love and it always leads to darkened minds and hardened hearts. Is it a sin to seek fulfillment from our marriages or our children or grandchildren? It is if it takes the place of our devotion to the Lord. On the other hand, if we relish our spouses and our families in the Lord then what a blessing! If we see all that we have as blessings from God then we will enjoy them all as an act of worship with a grateful heart towards our Lord. I don’t see this as legalism. Legalism would be demanding no fun anytime for anyone outside of church stuff. Sorry, but I don’t want that either. I find that genuine regenerate Christian walk as joyous not a burden.

Step one in this battle is an habitual weakening of the sin. Step two is In constant fighting and contending against sin. Here is the text from John Owen. I will try to explain the detail after each paragraph. Take your time. I understand that 17th Century English is tough to read, but it can be done.  It takes concentration and patience.

(2.) In constant fighting and contending against sin. To be able
always to be laying load on sin is no small degree of mortification.
When sin is strong and vigorous, the soul is scarce able to make any
head against it; it sighs, and groans, and mourns, and is troubled, as
David speaks of himself, but seldom has sin in the pursuit. David
complains that his sin had “taken fast hold upon him, that he could
not look up,” Ps. xl. 12. How little, then, was he able to fight
against it! Now, sundry things are required unto and comprised in this
fighting against sin:–

John Owen uses David’s example from Psalm 40 to show how sin can bring us to despair. It can drive us to our knees (not a bad place to be) and leave us helpless before our Lord. Have we ever considered that perhaps God is using this battle to humble us and bring us to total dependence upon Him?

[1.] To know that a man hath such an enemy to deal withal, to take
notice of it, to consider it as an enemy indeed, and one that is to be
destroyed by all means possible, is required hereunto. As I said
before, the contest is vigorous and hazardous, — it is about the
things of eternity. When, therefore, men have slight and transient
thoughts of their lusts, it is no great sign that they are mortified,
or that they are in a way for their mortification. This is every man’s
“knowing the plague of his own heart,” 1 Kings viii. 38, without which
no other work can be done. It is to be feared that very many have
little knowledge of the main enemy that they carry about with them in
their bosoms. This makes them ready to justify themselves, and to be
impatient of reproof or admonition, not knowing that they are in any
danger, 2 Chron. xvi. 10.

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