And he hastened to take the bandage away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. Then he said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.’ ” vs42

If we don’t kill sin, then it will not be well with us. God has given us the power and the victory, but we must believe the gospel.

First, God gives us everything that we need to kill sin. Benhadad, Ahab’s enemy, was defeated by God, but Ahab made him his brother.

Then his servants said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please, let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will spare your life.” So they wore sackcloth around their waists and put ropes around their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’ ”

And he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.” vs31-32

We have no excuses. God gives the Spirit and the death of Christ, so that we can die in His death and rise in His resurrection [Rom 6:11]. He gives the promises and the word. He gives the forgiveness of sins, because no man can fight sin until God is on his side. Yet, in giving us all this, if we don’t believe the gospel, then we perish.

The archers of Ephraim

turned back on the day of battle.

They failed to keep God’s covenant

and refused to live by His law. [Ps 78:9-10]

Ahab had the King of Syria in his hands, but he decided to spare him. What is your attitude towards sin?

Secondly, kill sin because God hates it!

Then he said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.’ ”

It doesn’t matter how it feels to you: It must be exterminated because it displeases God. Therefore, we mortify the flesh, our lusts, and our passions, and we live in newness of life.

“Therefore, put to death what belongs to your worldly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.” [Col 3:5]

We walk uprightly not because we think it is wise but because God says so. We are not the lords of our life, but we GIVE UP our life for Christ’s sake. This is faith - to believe Him as Commander and Master, to worship Him as Lord.

“Lord, I believe,” he said. And he worshiped Jesus. [John 9:38]

Do not think that you can live by your own rules. We have a gospel that we must believe.

Thirdly, believing will give you the victory.

‘Because you have let slip out of your hand”

We don’t have to be doubtful here. Many think they cannot kill sin - that the power is too strong - so they twist the Scriptures, believing more in the flesh than the Spirit and denying God’s promises. Let us not be unbelieving but believing. Let us put our faith in Him.

2 Pet 1:3, “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”

Trust Him as a weakling and a sinner! Trust Him to give grace and pardon. Trust Him to send the Spirit and to forgive and forgive! God is more gracious than imagined, and it is by grace that we overcome: It is nothing of self at all. He supplies everything.