Sin: The Silent Thief of Overflowing Life
Sin is the silent thief of an overflowing life. It doesn’t leap onto us; it creeps in eating away our peace, joy, and connection with God.
No one just falls into sin.
It starts in the mind.
A small compromise.
A little lie.
A bit of gossip.
Before you know it, you're wondering, How did I get here?
1 Thessalonians 4:3 says, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.”
Sanctification is a process because sin has consequences.
Yes, we need to repent, but we must also allow God to restore us fully. God puts us through a process of restoration.
Without full restoration, we fall into a cycle — sin, repent, and sin again. That repetitive cycle keeps us from overflowing in the Spirit.
God's will for us is to be sanctified, to be set apart, and to be consecrated from sin.
Sin alienates us from God. It brings guilt, shame, and self-condemnation.
Adam and Eve were naked before the fall, but after they sinned, they became aware of their shame and hid from God.
Sin makes us hide. It makes us feel unworthy, like we can't approach God.
Sin also leads from shame to blame. Adam and Eve blamed each other. Today, we don’t just blame others — we blame ourselves. We let guilt fester, thinking, I can’t forgive myself.
But if God has forgiven you, who are you to hold onto it?
Let go of shame. Let go of blame. Step into the freedom Christ has given you.
Paul, in Colossians 3:1-14, gives us a powerful blueprint for walking in freedom:
Embrace your new identity in Christ
Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
The first step in overcoming sin is recognizing who you are.
Paul reminds us that if we have been raised with Christ, we are no longer tied to earthly things. Our identity is not in our past, our mistakes, or even our achievements — it is in Christ alone.
Yet, many believers still live as if they are the old person. They define themselves by their failures, their circumstances, or what others say about them.
But Paul says:
Stop looking at yourself through an earthly lens.
Stop living in regret, shame, and guilt.
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
This doesn’t mean we ignore our responsibilities — it means our hearts and minds are anchored in God, not in temporary things.
Put to death the old self
Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
Paul shifts from theology to conduct.
He says, "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth." In other words, kill sin ruthlessly.
A lot of Christians try to "manage" sin instead of eliminating it. They justify it, saying:
"It's just a small sin."
"At least I'm not as bad as other people."
"I can stop whenever I want."
But Paul makes it clear — sin is not something to negotiate with. It is something to put to death.
Why?
Because sin isn’t neutral — it actively works to alienate us from God.
Many Christians want an overflowing life, but they are still clinging to things God told them to let go of.
Paul lists specific sins that must be put off:
1. Gossip (Talking negatively about others)
Proverbs 16:28 – "A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends."
Ephesians 4:29 – "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
2. White Lies (Small, seemingly harmless lies)
Colossians 3:9 – "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices."
Proverbs 12:22 – "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy."
3. Pride/ Spiritual Pride/ and Self-Righteousness (Feeling morally superior)
Proverbs 16:18 – "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."
Luke 18:9-14 – (Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, where Jesus condemns self-righteousness.)
4. Complaining and Ungratefulness
Philippians 2:14-15 – "Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, 'children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.'"
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
5. Procrastination in Doing Good
James 4:17 – "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them."
Proverbs 3:27 – "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act."
6. Envy and Comparison
James 3:16 – "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice."
Galatians 6:4 – "Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else."
7. Harboring Resentment
Ephesians 4:31-32 – "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Matthew 6:14-15 – "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
8. Laziness and Time-Wasting
Proverbs 6:9-11 – "How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man."
Ephesians 5:15-16 – "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."
9. Flattery and Insincere Praise
Proverbs 26:28 – "A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin."
Psalm 12:2-3 – "Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts. May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue."
10. Neglecting Prayer and Scripture
Matthew 4:4 – "Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"
1 Samuel 12:23 – “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.”
Putting on the New Self
Colossians 3:10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile] circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
After putting off the old self, we must put on the new self.
Paul reminds us that we are renewed as we grow in our knowledge of who God is.
In Christ, your background, nationality, or past sins — none of that defines you anymore. Christ is all that matters.
So, what do we replace sin with?
We replace:
Anger → with Patience
Bitterness → with Forgiveness
Pride → with Humility
Gossip → with Kindness
Hatred → with Love
Practical Steps to Overcome Sin
Stay in the Word
Psalm 119:11 – Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
Pray and seek God’s strength
Matthew 26:41 – Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Walk in the Spirit
Galatians 5:16 – I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Surround yourself with godly fellowship
Hebrews 10:25 – not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Resist the devil and flee temptation
James 4:7 – Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Application: How to stop “Sin: The Silent Thief of Overflowing Life”
Set your mind on Christ – Daily seek God through His Word and prayer.
Kill sin ruthlessly – Don’t compromise with sin; confess and repent.
Replace sin with Christlike virtues – Focus on cultivating godly character.
Live in community – Encourage one another and seek accountability in the body of Christ.
Depend on the Holy Spirit – Freedom from sin is possible only through God’s Word and His Spirit.
Watch the full sermon to learn how you can cut off sin and step into the overflowing life God has for you.
