The first resource given to our efforts to overcome sin is the Holy Spirit. God has given us the Holy Spirit so that we can be victorious in the Christian life. God explains the difference between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:16-25. In that passage we are told to walk in the Spirit. All believers already receive the Holy Spirit, but this passage tells us that we must walk in the Spirit, accepting His control. It means choosing the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our lives rather than following the things of the flesh.The difference the Holy Spirit can make in the life of a believer is demonstrated in the life of Peter, who, before being filled with the Holy Spirit, denied Jesus three times—and then he said he would follow Jesus to death.

 After being filled with the Holy Spirit, he spoke openly and powerfully before the Jews on the day of Pentecost.We walk in the Spirit when we do not try to quench the Holy Spirit (as stated in 1 Thessalonians 5:19) and instead seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-21). How is a person filled with the Holy Spirit? 

First, as in the Old Testament it is God’s choice. He chose people to do the work He wanted and filled them with the Spirit (Genesis 41:38; Psalm 31:3; Numbers 24:2; 1 Samuel 10:10). In Ephesians 5:15-21 and Colossians 3:16 there is evidence that God chooses to fill those who themselves are being filled with the word of God. 

Which leads us to the second source.God’s Word, the Bible, says that God has given us His word to train ourselves for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It teaches us how to live and what to believe, it enlightens us when we’ve taken the wrong path, it helps us get back on the right path, and it helps us stay on that path. Hebrews 4:12 says that the word of God is alive and powerful, able to pierce to the very root of our hearts and overcome the deepest sin of heart and behavior. 

The author of the hymn collection speaks of the life-changing power of depth in hymn collection 119. The key to Joshua’s victory over his enemies was not to forget the source of his success, but to meditate on it day and night and to obey. This he did, although when God commanded him that was not in a military sense,The Bible is one source we take for granted. We bring it to church as a symbolic service or daily devotional or reading a chapter a day, but we remember it, meditate on it, apply it in our lives, confess the sins it reveals, praise God for the gifts He has given us. We fail. When it comes to the Bible, we are either very weak or vice versa. We either feed on the word that keeps our spiritual life alive (but cannot digest enough to be a healthy, progressive believer), or we come to the food but never meditate on it enough to get spiritual nourishment from it. 

This is important, if you have not made it a habit to study and memorize God’s Word daily. You start making a habit of it. Some started as a daily aid. Don’t make it a habit to leave the Word alone until you’ve written down anything you’ve gained from it. Some write their prayers, asking them to bring about change in their area, about which they have previously prayed. The Bible is a tool used by the Spirit in our lives (Ephesians 6:17), one of the main weapons God has given us to fight our spiritual battles (Ephesians 6:12-18). He said this to them to bring about a change in their area which they had previously spoken about in prayer. 

The Bible is a tool used by the Spirit in our lives (Ephesians 6:17), one of the main weapons God has given us to fight our spiritual battles (Ephesians 6:12-18). He said this to them to bring about a change in their area which they had previously spoken about in prayer. The Bible is a tool used by the Spirit in our lives (Ephesians 6:17), one of the main weapons God has given us to fight our spiritual battles (Ephesians 6:12-18).A third important resource in the battle against sin is prayer. Again, this is a resource that Christians often pay lip service to but rarely use. We have prayer meetings, prayer times, etc., but we don’t use them like the early church (Acts 3:1; 4:31; 6:4; 13:1-3). He repeats how Paul prayed for those he ministered to. 

God has given us beautiful promises regarding prayer (Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 18:1-8; John 6:23-27; 1 John 5:14-15). And Paul included his prayer in his paragraph preparing for spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12-18).How important is prayer to overcome sin in our lives? We have Christ’s words to Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane, spoken before Peter’s denial. As Jesus prays, Peter is asleep. Jesus wakes him up and says, “Watch, pray, and do not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). You, like Peter, want to do what is right but are not able. We need God’s warning so that we keep seeking, crying, asking—and He will give us the strength we need (Matthew 7:7). 

Prayer is not a magic formula. Prayer is generally about revealing our own limitations and God’s indestructible power and turning to Him for what He wants us to do, not what we want to do (1 John 5:14-15).A fourth source of warfare for victory over sin is the church, fellowship with other believers. When Jesus sent his disciples out, he sent them two by two (Matthew 10:1). When the apostles’ evangelists did not go out at the same time, but went in two or more groups. 

He commands us not to forsake meeting together, but to use that time to encourage one another in love and good works (Hebrews 10:24). He tells us to admit our faults to one another (James 5:16). In Old Testament literature, we are told that as iron sharpens iron, so one sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17). There is strength in numbers (Ecclesiastes 4:11-12).Many believers have found that having an accountable partner can be very beneficial in overcoming stubborn sin. 

A speaker who can communicate with you, pray with you, encourage you, and even rebuke you can be of great value. Trials are common to all of us (1 Corinthians 10:13). Having an accountable friend or group can give us encouragement and inspiration by which we can overcome stubborn sin.Sometimes we can quickly gain victory over sin. While other times victory comes very slowly.

 God has promised us that when we use His resources, He will bring about progressive changes in our lives. We can persevere in our efforts to overcome sin because we know that He is faithful to His promises.