Killing Forbidden Sexual Desires
Tim Conway teaches that by faith and reliance on the Spirit of God, believers can overcome and kill forbidden sexual desires through a continual focus on Christ and His power.
This sermon emphasizes the power of the Holy Spirit to help believers overcome sinful desires, particularly in the realm of sexual immorality. It delves into the necessity of tapping into the Spirit's power through faith in Christ, highlighting the importance of aligning our desires with God's will and finding strength in Him to resist temptation. The key lies in glorifying Christ, trusting in His work on the cross, and allowing the Spirit to work in us as we fix our eyes on Jesus.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Power of the Spirit to Kill Sinful Desires
- The Spirit has power to overcome illicit sexual desires
- Believers have no power on their own but rely on the Spirit
- The necessity of tapping into the Spirit’s power
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II. How to Access the Spirit’s Power
- Faith in Christ is the key to receiving the Spirit’s supply
- Living the Christian life is by faith, just like initial salvation
- Faith means beholding and trusting Christ, not self-effort
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III. The Role of Desire in Spiritual Victory
- Wrong desires must be killed; right desires must be made alive
- Love for Christ and right desires overpower temptation
- Fences and rules are insufficient without Spirit-led desire
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IV. Walking in the Spirit Continually
- The Spirit rejoices when Christ is glorified and trusted
- Faith is a continual gaze on Christ and His cross
- Trying to fight temptation without the Spirit leads to failure
Key Quotes
“The Spirit of God has power to kill every single sexual, illicit sexual desire you have. Undoubtedly.” — Tim Conway
“Faith is looking somewhere. Not at yourself. It's looking at Christ.” — Tim Conway
“If you try any other way to fight this battle, you'll miserably fail.” — Tim Conway
Application Points
- Rely daily on the Holy Spirit’s power through faith in Christ to overcome temptation.
- Cultivate a love for Christ that surpasses all other desires to weaken sinful attractions.
- Avoid relying solely on rules or self-effort; instead, focus on beholding and trusting Jesus.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I overcome forbidden sexual desires?
Tim Conway emphasizes that overcoming comes through the power of the Holy Spirit, accessed by faith in Christ and continual reliance on Him.
Is self-effort enough to conquer temptation?
No, self-effort or rules alone are insufficient; victory requires walking in the Spirit and beholding Christ.
What does faith mean in this context?
Faith means looking away from self and trusting in Christ’s power and beauty, continually focusing on Him.
How does the Holy Spirit empower believers?
The Spirit supplies power to believers as they glorify Christ and live by faith, enabling them to put sinful desires to death.
Can the Spirit’s power be tapped repeatedly?
Yes, the supply of the Spirit’s power is ongoing and accessed by faith, not just at conversion.