Flee From the Occasions of Sin!
To be victorious over sin, we must flee from its occasions and turn away from the temptation.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the critical need to avoid even the slightest appearance of evil, urging believers to shun occasions of sin as they would avoid a serpent or poison. He warns that attempting to pray for deliverance from temptation while engaging with sin's occasions is futile, akin to playing with fire. Brooks asserts that true victory over sin requires a conscious effort to turn away from its temptations, as those who flirt with sin are likely to be ensnared by it. He reminds the congregation of their past struggles with sin when they did not heed this warning, encouraging them to flee from sin's occasions to achieve spiritual victory.
Text
Whatever has the least appearance of evil, shun it, as you
would do a serpent in your way, or poison in your food.
To venture upon the occasion of sin, and then to pray,
'Lead us not into temptation,' is as to thrust your finger
into the fire, and then to pray that it might not be burnt.
There is no conquest over sin, without the soul turning
from the occasion of sin. It is impossible for that man to
get the conquest of sin--who plays and sports with the
occasions of sin. God will not remove the temptation to
sin, except you turn from the occasion of sin. It is a just
and righteous thing with God, that he should fall into the
pit--who will adventure to dance upon the brink of the pit;
and that he should be a slave to sin--who will not flee
from the occasions of sin.
As long as there is fuel in our hearts for a temptation,
we cannot be secure. He who has gunpowder about
him had need keep far enough away from sparks!
To rush upon the occasions of sin is both to tempt
ourselves, and to tempt Satan to tempt our souls!
It is very rare that any soul plays with the occasions
of sin--but that soul is then ensnared by sin!
It is seldom that God keeps that soul from the acts
of sin, who will not keep off from the occasions of sin.
He who adventures upon the occasions of sin, is as he
who would quench the fire with gasoline!
Ah, souls, often remember how frequently you have
been overcome by sin, when you have boldly gone
upon the occasions of sin! Look back, souls, to the
days of your vanity, wherein you have been as easily
conquered as tempted, vanquished as assaulted--
when you have played with the occasions of sin.
As you would for the future be kept from the
acting of sin, and be made victorious over sin,
oh! flee from the occasions of sin!
Sermon Outline
- I. The Dangers of Sin
- A. The appearance of evil should be shunned
- B. Venturing into sin and then praying for protection is futile
- II. The Conquest of Sin
- A. Turning from the occasion of sin is necessary for victory
- B. Playing with the occasions of sin leads to slavery
- III. The Consequences of Sin
- A. God will not remove temptation unless we turn from sin
- B. Fleeing from sin is necessary for security
- IV. The Folly of Sin
- A. Rushing into sin is both self-temptation and Satan's temptation
- B. Playing with sin leads to ensnarement
Key Quotes
“It is impossible for that man to get the conquest of sin--who plays and sports with the occasions of sin.” — Thomas Brooks
“He who adventures upon the occasions of sin, is as he who would quench the fire with gasoline!” — Thomas Brooks
“As you would for the future be kept from the acting of sin, and be made victorious over sin, oh! flee from the occasions of sin!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- I must turn from the occasion of sin and flee from it in order to be victorious over it.
- God will not remove temptation from me unless I turn from the occasion of sin and flee from it.
- Playing with the occasions of sin leads to slavery and ensnarement.