Killing Kryptonite | Week 7

by

Week 7 | The Strength of Sin

Weather | Warm and Humid

4 Pax continued the book study at Celery Fields and Adventure Park at 6:15 for the seventh week of Killing Kryptonite. This was my favorite 2 chapters of the book so far. It was a revelation for me to understand 1 Corinthians 15:56 (NKJV) The strength of sin is the law.

The reading assignment was chapters 15-16.

The Strength of Sin

  • How do we master sin?
  • Are there things that we shouldn’t pray about?
  • What is meant by: “The strength of sin is the law.”

Chapter 15 – The strength of sin (Part 1)

Genesis 4:7 (NIV) “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”.

Genuine obedience slams the door of desire to sin.

Romans 6:16 (NLT) Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.

You become the slave of whatever you choose to obey.

1 Corinthians 15:56 (NKJV) The strength of sin is the law.

  • Is your attitude that of being restricted or confined by The Word of God?
    • People “under the law” do not passionately will to do his will.
    • We should take joy in doing God’s will. Psalm 40:8

The Story of Balaam (Numbers 22)

  • Verses 1-8 | Balaam asked God to curse the Israelites (God’s own people), yet he still had the nerve to ask God.
  • Verses 9-12 | There are some things that we shouldn’t need to pray about. If the Word of God makes something clear, why ask God for permission against it?
  • Verse 13 | Balaam responds as if he wants to help, but God is confining him.
  • Verses 14-19 | Balaam prays about the more lucrative offer, as if God would change his mind. Balaam’s desire is clear.
  • Verses 20-22 | God permits Balaam to go now. Why?

Take Action

  • When Jesus died he gave all Christians power over sin.
  • We have free access to His grace and can exercise our power over sin.
  • Repent for giving sin power over you, forgive yourself for your past failures.

Chapter 15 – The strength of sin (Part 2)

Have you ever known in your heart what God was saying, but prayed anyway hoping for a different response?

If we really desire (covet) something, and God has communicated His will on the matter (whether through His Word or in prayer) yet we still desire it, God will often give it to us, even if He knows it is not best for us and that we will ultimately be judged for it.

  • Example: 1 Samuel 8, Israel wanted a king, God answered through a prophet why a king would not be good for them, Samuel warned the people about what God had said, but they insisted on a king anyways. So God gave them one, and all the things they were warned about came true.
  • Example: Israel had manna (bread from heaven) yet still desired something more, meat. God gave them meat, rained it down from heaven, and when they ate it, God killed them.
  • Example: Prodigal son was not trusted with the money, but his Father gave him his inheritance anyways. It taught him a lesson. Do we ever do that as parents?
  • Before God created mankind, he decided to give us freedom of choice, even if those choices were against his desire and detrimental to ourselves.

The Story of Balaam (Numbers 22) Continued

  • Verses 23-33 | The donkey saved Balaam’s life.
  • Verses 34 | Balaam is blind to God’s desire. This is what happens then we feel constrained by His word.

Take Action

  • If we don’t submit our desires to God, they will lead us away from him.
  • God will give us our desires, even if they contradict His. It will not lead to the blessing we wanted though.
  • Invite the Lord to lead you according to His desires not your own.

Homework:

  • The next week’s reading assignment is Chapters 17-19.
  • Please read through Chapter 19 (no more than one chapter per day) by next Saturday 8/11.

Thought for the week:

Are you more comfortable in church than in God’s presence? Are there certain passages of the Bible that you ignore or think don’t apply to you? Or things in the Bible that churches don’t like to talk about? How can you be sure you are worshiping the true Jesus, and not one pieced together by you, or your church?