Romans 13:14
“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
If you are going to stop something that is damaging things, you must cut off the supply chain that feeds it. For instance, the only way to stop the drug problem in a nation is to
cut off the supply chain that feeds it. Likewise, the only way to stop sin in your life is to cut off the supply chain that feeds it. If you don’t feed something it will die, but the more you feed it the more strength it gains and the more it will control your life.
God says in the verse above, “…make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” The word “lusts” is talking about a weakness or a besetting sin. You will never cut off the supply chain to your sin until you acknowledge that you are doing something that is destroying your life. To deny that you have a besetting sin is to bury your head in the sand to your problems. I often hear people who are addicted to alcohol say, “I am not addicted to alcohol; I just drink one glass in the evening.” However, when you talk to those around them, they will tell you that the person drinks much more than what they are saying. Though I have used alcohol as an illustration, any sin must be identified as a problem before you can overcome it.
The word “provision” means a supply chain. God says the only way you are going to overcome the lusts that your body has for a besetting sin is by not making “provision for the flesh.” In other words, God is saying you must cut off the supply chain to your sin if you are going to conquer it. To identify your supply chain, you must identify the triggers that cause you to do it. There are three things you must identify to cut off the supply chain to sin.
First, identify the situational triggers. Sometimes certain situations tempt you to do wrong. You will never overcome your besetting sin until you identify what situations cause you to run to your besetting sin. Some situations that trigger people to run to their besetting sins are arguments, job or life pressures, or financial troubles to name a few. You are going to have to do a study of your life to identify what situations trigger you to fulfill your lusts.
Second, identify the atmospheric triggers. What are the places that cause your lusts to thrive? For instance, an alcoholic must avoid being around bars, parties, or casinos because all of these have an atmosphere that promotes drinking. Whatever atmosphere promotes your besetting sin must be avoided at all costs if you want to overcome it.
Third, identify the social triggers. In other words, there are certain people who do what you are fighting, and you must avoid them if you want to overcome your sin. You may say, “But, they are my friends.” My answer to that is, how bad do you want to overcome your besetting sin? Most people must change their friends if they are going to overcome a besetting sin. You cannot run with a crowd that commits and promotes sin and compromise without partaking of their sin and compromise.
The answer to overcoming these triggers is simple; put on “the Lord Jesus Christ.” When you are tempted to do wrong, you are going to have to ask Christ for help. Flee from the trigger and then get on your knees and ask God for help to overcome the lust that is trying to feed your flesh. You will overcome your besetting sin when you cut off its supply chain.
