2 Cor. 13:5; 2 Chr. 20:1-13; Examine Yourselves (3)

v Stage 3: Learning from the test.

·        Remedy for the sinner.  If, like David, we have chosen the wrong path, even a terribly wrong path, we must seek God’s remedy.

o   Confession (I John 1:9; Psalm 51).  We must come to terms with the  truth about our action, agreeing with God that it is sin.

o   Forgiveness (1 John 2:1-2).  Then we must accept God’s forgiveness.  We do have an Advocate, Jesus Christ the Righteous One.  It is not godly to continue to wallow in guilt as if it makes us better Christians.

o   Repentance (Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:5-9).  We must put off the old way of life.  And we must be serious about it, putting to death the very way of thinking and acting that led us to disobey our Lord.

o   Restitution and reconciliation (Mt. 5:23-24).  As much as possible, we must do the tangible things that will restore relationships.

·        Preventative techniques.  However we handled our trial there is a question that should be front and center: how can we prevent sin?

o   Keep the control center (the mind) occupied (Psa. 119:11; Phil. 4:8; 2 Cor. 10:5).  Jesus’ mind was filled with Scripture; with every temptation He answered from the Word.  He did what we are to do: hide God’s word in our heart so we do not sin against God.  And He had brought every thought into captivity to the obedience of His Father.

o   Send an SOS in prayer (Matt. 26:41; 1 Thess. 5:17).  Prayer in the closet should be a regular part of our lives.  But we also must condition ourselves (ask God to remind you by His Spirit; He will do it) to turn to the Lord when the trial or temptation first arises.

o   Flee testing situations (1 Cor. 10:14; 2 Tim. 2:22; 1 Tim. 6:11).  In examining ourselves we are not to put ourselves in a situation where we know there will be temptation to immorality or covetousness or pride.  We should pray as Jesus taught: lead us not into temptation/trial.

o   Discipline yourself (1 Cor. 9:27).  On the other hand, there will be these trials and temptations.  We must have a discipline with what we may call small or easy situations, not giving in to anything sinful, lest we allow Satan a foothold in our minds and hearts.

o   Remove encouragement to sin (Rom. 13:14).  The key is not to focus on the sin we want to avoid but to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and in that way make no provision for the flesh.

In the following posts we want to return to 2 Corinthians and apply this procedure to sins faced by that fellowship of believers.