5 Ways To Gain Self-control Over Sin

Last Updated on August 23, 2021 by Pastor Ikechukwu Chinedum

Today we will be teaching on five ways to gain self-control over sin. Besides death, sin is the common enemy of man. The devil, having understood the nature of God long before human existence, strives to take the man away from his original position and rob him of his inheritance through sin. For the face of God is too righteous to behold sin. When sin finds its way into the life of man, its ominous aura drives the spirit of God away from a man.

Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save, Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you So that He will not hear. Sin creates differences between man and God. After God created man in His image and likeness, the scripture recorded that God will come down in the cool of the evening to chat with Adam. God cherishes the company of man, but when sin came in, the presence of God was retrieved from man, and Adam could no longer see God the way he used. Until a man can overcome sin, they will continue to be slaves to the devil.

Gaining control over sin goes beyond praying. Before we delve into ways you can gain control over sin, let’s highlight some of the adverse effects of sin in a man’s life.

3 Things That Happens When Man Sin

1. The presence of God goes farther from man

The first thing that happens when a man falls into sin is that the presence of God will go farther from man. Man will no longer feel the presence of God because of the nature of sin in his life. And when this happens, the devil becomes the closest ally of man.

Man is a spiritual being. A spirit must control him. Either he is controlled by the spirit of God or by the one from the devil. When Saul sinned against God, the spirit of God was withdrawn from him, and evil spirits from the enemy came upon him.

2. The Devil Becomes The Lord

The more a man continues to wallow in sin, the more the devil becomes lord over him. As time goes on, he will not feel the presence of God anymore. The devil will take full possession of his being.

And you need not be told what will happen when the devil becomes lord in the life of man. The consequences are pretty devastating.

3. Prayers Will Not Be Answered

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

A sin is a dividing object that separates us from the love of the father. The scripture makes us understand that the eyes of the lord are too righteous to behold. And in the book of Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save, Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you So that He will not hear.

Often, sin can cause a man to keep praying under a closed heaven.

Having known the harmful effects of sin, would it not be nice for you to know how to overcome it? I know you have prayed tirelessly, but still, you are unable to overcome sin completely. By the grace of God, we will highlight five ways you can gain control over sin.

5 Ways You Can Gain Control Over Sin

1. Confess Your Sin

Proverbs 28:13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

The first step towards gaining control over sin is the confession of sin. There is no true repentance unless sins have been confessed. The scripture says he that confess his sin shall find mercy. When you hide your sin, you give the enemy more leverage to ride you.

However, confession of sin tells the devil you are a step towards repentance. And God is merciful enough to forgive your sins.

2. Submit Yourself To The Will of God

Luke 22: 41-42 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

You must learn to submit yourself to the will of God. When Christ was about to be taken, for some moments, he thought about the pain and agony he will go through. He begged God to allow the cup to pass over him.

Christ was quick enough to know that his flesh was leading him. He resubmitted himself to the will of the father. The will of the father must be done, and you must submit yourself to that will.

3. Ask For Grace

1 Samuel 2:9 He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. “For by strength, no man shall prevail.

You can’t overcome sin by self-righteousness. The scripture makes us understand that our righteousness is like a filthy rag before God. Instead of glorifying self-righteousness, why not pray for grace. The grace of God will help you in moments of great need.

Whenever temptations arise, the grace of God will help you overcome them.

4. Stay Away From The Things That Makes You Sin

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

You must first identify the things that makes you sin. If your weakness is gossip, stay away from it. Do not go near anything that makes you sin. The scripture says let he that thinks he stand take heed unless he falls.

You must not be ignorant of the devices of the enemy to make you fall into sin. Identify it and stay away from it.

5. Ask For The Power of The Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The power of the holy spirit can not be overemphasized when it comes to overcoming sin or gain control over it. Indeed the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. However, if the power of him that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you, it will quicken your mortal body. You will have the power to overcome sin when the spirit of the Lord is upon you.