11/04/2025
How often do we commit a sin, confess it, and ask for forgiveness only to find purification before retreating 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 our sin, but neglect to ask that He fight and claim victory 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 committing just any sin, but the 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 a wedge of 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 overeating, pornography, living a lie, scheming against a neighbor, carrying a grudge... the list goes on, and is long indeed. A few years ago I wrote a poem that expounded on this thought titled “Little Hidden Somethings” ... as we read it today let’s ask ourselves how deep we bury our sins?
Little Hidden Somethings
By Rich Forbes – May 2019
My mind always wanders to certain things in my life
I try to put 'em away but they cut me like a knife
Those little hidden somethings you ain’t supposed to do
Like dirty little thoughts that keep on haunting you
My Friends say it ain’t sinning, but it sure feels awfully close
How come they’re always there; the things I want the most
A little sip of whiskey, and a tiny dip of snuff,
Temptations in my life, that I can’t bury deep enough
My Pastor says they're harmless; won’t keep me out of glory
But how fast it gets me there, well that's another story
These habits ain’t good for me, they give me sufferin pain,
So how come I’m so drawn to do ‘em all again?
My Friends say it ain’t sinning, but it sure feels awfully close
How come they’re always there; the things I want the most
A small sip of whiskey and a little dip of snuff
Temptations in my life, I can’t bury deep enough
That burning in the evening when I lay my head to sleep
The aching in my heart for someone I couldn't keep
Another silent longing for what I shouldn't have
It hurts me like a wound for which there is no salve
Yeah, my Pastor says it ain’t sinning, but it sure feels awfully close
When the Lord takes from us the things we want the most
A small sip of whiskey, and a little dip of snuff,
Temptations in our lives, buried, just deep enough
So, let’s look at our lives and pick them out. These sins aren’t that hard to find. They are the things that surface and cut away at our peace and joy. These are the things that make us uncomfortable in our prayer closets, and that must be forgiven before we can settle into any semblance of fervent prayer. We call them nagging sins, but in fact they are sins that preoccupy our prayer times, convict us, and keep us from obtaining righteousness and holiness. These are the sins that keep us from looking confidently into the eyes of Jesus and deflect our gaze down at the ground.
Asking forgiveness for something over and over again can eat away at our faith, but 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 this sinful lot in life? NO! What we should realize is that we can’t defeat this enemy alone. Pastor 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 we turn our constant little defeats into victories? How do we latch onto the almighty power of God and defeat our reoccurring sins once and for all? If we are like most, then our prayer has been for God to give US the strength to overcome this persistent sin, and yet it continues to return and overpower us. Isn’t it time that we called on the name of Jesus, and placed our struggle totally in God’s hands? Isn’t it time for us to have faith in His deliverance.. not ours? Let’s not ask for strength and then go onto the battlefield alone. Let’s call on the sword and strong right arm of God and watch as He goes before us and defeats our unrelenting enemy for us.
“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 finally went into battle for them. Many have maintained their sobriety for years now, thanks to God’s victory. He will provide us with victory against our foes as well.
Interestingly, when armies are defeated they often retreat; they withdraw beyond a border where they can’t be touched, nor annihilated, and Satan does this too. I knew a young lady who once told me that she would always be an addict... that she was just one drink, one pill, away from her addiction. Our sins can be like this too; they are defeated but we still know they have retreated and safely exist in some hidden place. So, after we have asked God to defeat our enemy on the battlefield we must always ask Him to defend our borders, and to provide us with the security that only He can give us.
Maybe your sin is gluttony, and one day you will ask God to defeat this demon for you, and He will take the fork from your hand. That is His day of victory, but although your gluttony has been defeated, you feel that it still threatens you from some faraway place. Perhaps you drive by a restaurant, and the smell of food cooking tempts you. Call on God to man the watchtower, and He and His angels will defend your borders, but you must trust in Him and continue to place your faith in His deliverance. As for your part, you need to stay away from the border... don’t venture into No Man’s Land where you become vulnerable. Stay safe in the city of the Lord... remain at peace in your own corner of Jerusalem. There He will watch over you and keep you.
Today let’s pick out one of the sins that we aren’t able to put behind us; one that keeps coming back to attack us over and over again. But this time, before we charge onto the battlefield alone, let’s pray that God will fight this battle for us and that Jesus will help us by interceding for us in prayer... then we will know the truth of God’s power, and in the lyrics of that old hymn when we sing… Victory in Jesus!
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your strength in battle and your ability to defeat the 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 particular sin. I have asked your forgiveness over and over again, but this temptation continues to return and 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 will win for me 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 forever. Praised be your Holy name Lord! Great is your name always, and greatly to be praised! Holy, Holy, Holy are you my Champion, my Great Defender, my God!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen!
Listen to the hymn Victory in Jesus performed by The Band Steele…
https://youtu.be/MN0OJGb2Pjg?si=iR2SxMPanPHL4mNH
Rich Forbes