11/04/2023
How often do we sin, then confess and ask for forgiveness only to find purity before falling back once again into that selfsame sin? How many battles must we fight with an adversary before they are at last declared defeated? Do we ask God to heal the wounds of sin, but neglect to ask that He fight them for us?
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”
James 4:8-10 ESV
We sin, not just any old sins, but the same ones that have plagued us repeatedly... ones that we can’t shake and that return to engage us time and time again. Sins like this discourage us, and are tools of Satan as he endeavors to drive doubt deep into our faith in God. It might be something large and overpowering, but most of the time these sins are ordinary in their appearance, they are things like over eating, pornography, living a lie, scheming against a neighbor, carrying a grudge... the list is long.
So let’s look at our lives and pick them out. They aren’t that hard to find. They are the things that surface and cut at our peace and joy. These are the things that make us uncomfortable in our prayer closet, and that must be forgiven before we can settle into fervent prayer. We call them nagging sins, but in fact they are sins that convict us and keep us from righteousness and holiness. These are the transgressions that keep us from looking into the eyes of Jesus.
“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 CSB
Asking forgiveness for something over and over can eat away at our faith, but our God is a long suffering God, and He continues to maintain His love and hope in us despite our failures. This doesn’t imply that He is satisfied with this behavior... only in our present remorse, and contrition. Our God doesn’t abandon us to our sins; His grace and forgiveness are boundless.
“Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Matthew 18:21-22 ESV
So as we sin, feel remorse, weep before God, ask forgiveness, and receive it, over and over, how can we defeat this enemy, or should we just resolve ourselves to our sinful lot in life? NO! What we should realize is that we can’t defeat this enemy alone. Oswald Chambers encouraged us when he wrote these words:
“Never allow the truth of God that is brought home to your soul to pass without acting on it, not necessarily physically, but in will. Record it, with ink or with blood. The feeblest saint who transacts business with Jesus Christ is emancipated the second he acts; all the almighty power of God is on his behalf.” - Oswald Chambers
So how do I turn my constant defeats into victory? How do I latch onto the almighty power of God and defeat this sin once and for all? If you are like most, then your prayer has been for God to give YOU the strength to overcome this persistent sin, and yet it continues to overpower you. Isn’t it time that you call on the name of Jesus, and place it totally in God’s hands? Isn’t it time to have faith in His deliverance? Don’t ask for strength and then go alone onto the battlefield... give the sword to God and watch as He defeats this enemy for you.
“You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you."”
2 Chronicles 20:17 ESV
I have known addicts who couldn’t defeat addiction until God went into battle for them. Many have been sober for years now, thanks to God’s victory. He will provide you with victory as well.
Interestingly, when enemy armies are defeated they often retreat; they withdraw beyond the border where you can’t get at them, but they aren’t annihilated. I knew a young lady who once told me that she would always be an addict... that she was just one drink, or one pill, away from addiction. Our sins can be like this too, they are defeated but we still know they exist in some far off place. We must always ask the Lord to defend our borders, and to provide us with His security.
Maybe our sin is gluttony, and one day we ask God to defeat this demon for us, and He takes the fork from our hand. That is the day of victory, but although defeated, the enemy still threatens us from some faraway place. We drive by a restaurant and the smell of food cooking tempts us to stop. God will man the watchtower, and will defend our borders, but we must trust in Him and continue to place our faith in His deliverance. For our part we need to stay away from the border... don’t venture into the No Man’s Land where we become vulnerable. Stay safe in the city of God... remain at peace in our own corner of Jerusalem. He will watch over us, and keep us.
“My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.”
Psalm 121: 2-3, 5-7
Today let’s pick out one of the sins that we just can’t put behind us, and that keeps coming back to wound us over and over again, and let’s pray...
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your strength in battle and your ability to defeat enemies that I can’t. I ask you Lord to take this sword from my hand and go onto the battlefield in my stead. Holy Father I am distraught and have been unable to lift myself above this sin. I have asked your forgiveness over and over again, but this temptation continues to overpower me... help me Father. I read the story of David, and how you sent him to be your champion against Goliath, Father I need a champion today. I need your intercession, your victor, your champion, your direct involvement in my battle to overcome ______________. I place this in your hands Father and trust in you. Let my prayers never cease and my praise be unto you for the great victory you win today. One sin, one victory, one day... I walk triumphantly behind you holding the hand of Jesus as you defeat this enemy for me. Now Father, with victory sealed, man the watchtowers to secure me against it forever. Praised be your name Holy Father! Great is your name always, and greatly to be praised! You are my Champion, my God and the eternal watchman over my life!
Rich Forbes