We have now reached the division of time when God will divide his overcomers from those who believe but failed to overcome. How did they overcome? Although they acknowledged and mourned their bent toward sin because of their carnal nature, they did not allow sin to rule over them. They chose not the way of Cain, but ruled over sin instead.

Remember God’s words to Cain, “And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”  (Genesis 4:6-7 KJV) Later translations depersonalize sin with readings like “its desire” and “rule over it.” But consider The Schocken Bible’s translation of these verses:

YHWH said to Kayin: “Why are you upset? Why has your face fallen? Is it not thus: If you intend good, bear-it-aloft, but if you do not intend good, at the entrance is sin, a crouching-demon, toward you his lust– but you can rule over him.”

This corresponds to Peter’s understanding of Satan. He said,

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:8-10 KJV)

Satan spiritually roams this world as a roaring lion, a crouching demon, who attempts to devour us by the lusts he creates in our hearts. So, how do we stand against him? First, Peter says be “sober and vigilant.” The Greek word translated “sober” here seems to have the primary meaning of being watchful rather then in forbidding the drinking of alcohol.  But, of course, it is wise not to drink too much alcohol because that can make one less “watchful and vigilant” and could lead one into sin. Peter then tells us to steadfastly resist the devil “in the faith.” How do we do that?

First, take the thought captive to Christ. Tell our LORD that you do not desire the thought, nor do you wish to act upon it. Then “rebuke” the thought in Jesus’ Name. Move yourself away from the particular situation if an image or a person is causing the thought. Finally, refuse to make any type of plan whereby you might act upon the thought. James taught this by saying,

Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. (James 1:12-15 KJ2000)

First, James says, “blessed is the man who endures temptation.” What? Just a sentence or two later he says, “every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.” So, does James then mean that a man is blessed when he is tempted by his own lust? Yes, he does, so long as the man endures it without sinning unto death. How does he do that? He refuses to let the lust “conceive.” He takes the lust captive to Christ, confessing his own sinful lust… “If you even look upon a woman with lust, you have committed adultery!” He acknowledges his sinful condition and expects, by faith, Christ to forgive him and bring him through the crisis of the temptation, whatever it is. He determines not to be as Cain was, he determines not to sin unto death.

In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And why slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. (1 John 3:10-12)

Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after unnatural lust, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise authority, and speak evil of the glorious ones. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil as he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke you. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. (Jude 1:7-11 KJ2000)

So, remember God’s words to Cain, “And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”  (Genesis 4:6-7 KJV) Beloved, let us cast off every sin which entangles us. Let us confess our sins and repent before our brother, Jesus, who died for our sins. Let us rule over sin. James tells us that the man who endures temptation, that is, the one learns to rule over sin by taking every thought captive to Christ, receives the highest reward of all, the Crown of Life!