Talk

The Spiral of Sin + Temptation – part 1

Louie Giglio
March 1, 2020

Thoughts that go unchecked long enough in our minds cause us to stumble and sin against God. It’s the enemy’s plan to let these thoughts fester and grow. However, we must remember that the work of Jesus is FINISHED. Not only has Jesus established a beachhead for us to launch into victory—he has provided us with blueprints of the enemy’s plans. In the power of the Holy Spirit and the knowledge of how the enemy operates, we defend our thoughts and break the cycle of sin and temptation.

Key Takeaway

There is a very specific pattern that keeps us in the spiral of sin. If we don't know where we are at in it, we are helpless to get out of it. God has given us everything we need for life and to walk in righteousness, but first we have to be honest with ourselves and willing to make the hard changes that the Holy Spirit reveals to us.

A simple snapshot of how we end up sinning: a thought comes into our mind, temptation comes into our life, but we let it sit there and give it time, and eventually, we do what we were thinking about. Next, you become frustrated that you did it, so you promise never to do it again, but you return to it again and again.

The spiral of sin goes round and round, leaving us thinking there's either something wrong with us or something wrong with the Gospel. People either bail out at this point or keep showing up, but they are living in defeat.

Remember 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. You're in hand-to-hand combat, but you're meant to live in victory. We've been given the power to demolish strongholds and take every thought captive.

Do you really want to live a different life? Do you want to live free?

Steps of the Spiral of Sin

1.The temptation from the enemy enters our minds. It's contrary to God's best for you. James 1:13-15 says that we are pulled away, dragged, and enticed- lured away. It's specific to us, just like a lure is specific to the type of fish you're trying to catch.

  • We are not free agents on earth. We are on a battlefield, and we are targeted by the enemy. The enemy's plan is to bury you and anything God focused on in your life.

2.You can't think the enemy is behind every bad thing that happens, but you also can't walk around with blinders on. You need to know about him.

  • The enemy is crafty. Genesis 3:1

  • Daniel describes him as full of wisdom and light. He was a high-ranking, brilliant angel.

  • He is a created being that fell from Heaven.

  • He often masquerades as an angel of light.

  • He sneaks in through the side door.

  • He challenges God's truth. Genesis 3:1

  • Asks you, "Did God really say?"

  • He attacks God's character and intentions. Genesis 3:4-5

  • Tells you God is holding out on you, you can't trust Him.

  • He promises something he can't deliver. Genesis 3:5

  • He appeals to basic human needs. Genesis 3:6

  • Eve saw that the fruit was good for eating.

  • Our most common basic needs are acceptance, worth, satisfaction, fulfillment, and happiness.

  • He uses others to encourage you in your hasty choices. Genesis 3:6

  • Adam was with her and also participated.

  • You may have to change your circle if your circle is right there with you rolling out the red carpet for you to do dumb things. They don't care about you; they just want company in their dysfunction. They want you to be doing what they are doing.

3.We act on the temptation and sin.

  • We let that thought pitch a tent and start a fire in our minds.

  • YOU sin. No one made you do it; it's no one else's fault.

4.There is usually momentary pleasure.

  • It is fun for a moment. There's a reason you desire it.

  • Proverbs 14:12-13, the way seems right, but it leads to death. The end of a good time often leads to sorrow.

5.We discover sin's hook. Genesis 3:7

  • Adam and Eve both realized that they were naked. Instant shame.

6.We are met by feelings of frustration, guilt, and shame.

  • Adam and Eve knew it all on their own. They didn't have to be told. You can't blame the effects of sin on the culture. God created your heart, and you innately know when you missed the mark.

7.The enemy shifts to a new tactic-accusation and condemnation.

  • The enemy took you from enticing you, promising everything that you desire to accusing you, telling you that you are the worst Christian on the planet; you are so far gone from God's grace. This plays on repeat in your head. And we let him! We agree instead of telling him to shut up.

  • Condemnation is the ultimate blow. It says there is no more value, purpose, future, or worth in you. And then he tears you down.

  • God doesn't condemn you, He convicts you. Conviction is from the Holy Spirit and makes you recognize the need for a change.

  • Next, people want to rededicate themselves to God. The problem with rededicating is it's all about our promising God what we're going to do. Victory only comes when we surrender and trust God, allowing the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and make the changes needed to take our life out of the spiral. Jesus's finished work is enough.

  • The enemy wants you to rededicate your rededication so many times that you become hopeless.

8.We find ourselves vulnerable, weak, isolated, and longing.

  • Whatever the longing was that got you into this place is exposed again...acceptance, worth, fulfillment, satisfaction, and happiness.

  • This is where the enemy comes right back with the very same temptation...and the spiral starts all over again.

Jesus has already established victory for you and invites you to stand with Him. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says he helps us endure.

“
We are not free agents on earth. We are on a battlefield, and we are targeted by the enemy. His plan is to bury you...Jesus has established the victory and invites you to stand with Him.
”
Louie Giglio

Discussion Questions

  1. What was the snapshot description of sinning that Pastor Louie gave?
  2. When you get trapped in a spiral of sin, do you think something is wrong with you or the Gospel? Do you bail or keep showing up but live defeated?
  3. How does Proverbs 14:12-13 play our in everyday life?
  4. James 1:13-15 describes how we are pulled away and where sin leads. What specific lure does he use for you?
  5. Which attribute of the enemy do you struggle with the most? There were six mentioned in the message.
  6. Our common basic human needs are acceptance, worth, satisfaction, fulfillment, and happiness. Which does the enemy most often tempt you with?
  7. Looking at Genesis 3:1-10, identify the spiral of sin and the enemy's approach with the six steps outlined in the message.
  8. Can you explain the difference between condemnation and conviction?
  9. Many times, people will rededicate their lives to God. Why does this so often prove fruitless? What is the only way to gain victory?
  10. What is the promise and encouragement found in 1 Corinthians 10:13?

Scripture References

1Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the
Lord
God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,
3but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ”
4“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.
5“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the
Lord
God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the
Lord
God among the trees of the garden.
9But the
Lord
God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
13When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
14but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
12There is a way that appears to be right,

but in the end it leads to death.

13Even in laughter the heart may ache,

and rejoicing may end in grief.

13No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it.
1Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the
Lord
God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,
3but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ”
4“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.
5“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the
Lord
God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the
Lord
God among the trees of the garden.
9But the
Lord
God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
Louie Giglio
Louie Giglio
Louie Giglio is the Visionary Architect and Director of the Passion Movement, comprised of Passion Conferences, Passion City Church, Passion Publishing and sixstepsrecords, and the founder of Passion Institute.