God uses stories because it’s easier for us connect truth in a story rather than a list. Today we’re talking about something we all struggle with to one degree or another….being stuck.

You know you’re stuck when you’ve heard a message and determined, “I’m going to change” but by Tuesday you’ve already blown it.

You know you’re stuck when you bargain with God. God if I don’t get caught, I’ll never do it again. And you’ve prayed that prayer multiple times.

*Movie – Groundhog Day is about a guy who gets stuck reliving the same day over and over again. At first, he tries to get out but eventually he gives up and embraces the idea, “I’m never going to get out” and he gets comfortable with the idea.

I think it’s a great analogy of how some of us live when it comes to being stuck in patterns of sin. At first we try and stop but if we fail to get unstuck we give up and say, this is just how it’s going to be” or worse….”this is who I am”.

Paul struggled with sin – Romans 7:15-18, 21-24.

Cycle/ Chain of sin…

• Thoughts – thinking is the control center for our emotions, motives, and the will.
• Emotions – Based on what we are thinking we begin to experience emotions: fear, anxiety, depression, envy, etc. Our feeling do not erupt out of a vacuum. our feelings flow out of our thinking. Our feelings flow out of our thinking.
• Motion/Choice/Action – Based on what we are feeling we being to make choices and take action.
• Habit – you do it without thinking about it…it’s your natural reaction.
• Identity – This is how I am…I am an addict etc

Barriers to breaking the cycle/chain of sin:

• We don’t take ownership of our actions: blame others.
• Under-estimate the seriousness of sin: I can change on my own! It’s not that bad…dirt vs poop.
• Overwhelmed by all the sin in our life.
• We over estimate sin’s hold on us: “I can’t change”, this is who I am.

3 Truths You Need To Know To Break Sin’s Cycle/Chain

• It begins with our identity in Christ. (Romans 7:25-8:2; Romans 6:6-7, 12-14, 18; 2 Peter 1:3) I can change because I am a child of God. The power to change comes from God NOT within myself. 
• Discipline is necessary for change. (1 Timothy 4:7-10) The problem is that although we are a new person in Christ, many of our day to day practices are done in our old person way of living. 
• The Greek word Paul uses here for “training” is where we get our English word gymnastics. An athlete becomes an expert only by years of hard practice.
• Particularly in two areas: Thinking & Actions. Transformation only happens after you’re mind has been renewed.
• Romans 8:5-8; Proverbs 4:23; Ephesians 4:21-29.
• Change can be a slow process, don’t give up!

We live in an instant gratification world. We want patience and we want it now! Real change develops upward from the roots not the surface.

Colossians 2:6-9

As God changes our thinking it begins to change our actions. Over a period of time if someone continues to have their thinking and actions transformed by the Bible, it becomes rooted in them so that is become a new habit and new habits take time.

APPLICATIONS: 

1. Are you a child of God? If so, He has given you everything you need for life and godliness.
2. What things dominate your thoughts?
3. What behaviors are in your life that you need to change?
4. What new habits need to be developed?