Re: I'm ready to ask for help now!
Submitted by Ben on October 07 1999 at 07:10:37
In reply to I'm ready to ask for help now! Submitted by Brian on October 07 1999 at 00:26:23
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Brian - Let me start out with a scripture from Romans: Romans 3 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. This is not the only passage which has me completely convinced that you ARE forgiven, my brother. Your tender heart for sin is admirable and refreshing, but your depth of guilt should only service you in one area: to help you have the motivation to repent. You see, being caught up in your feelings of guilt is not necessary, because you ARE cleansed and forgiven by the blood of Jesus. But in Hebrews 10:26 it is said "...if we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left...." The issue is not that you are deliberately wanting to sin, because I truly believe that you don't want to. You and I struggle with slightly different sins I think (mine is just masterbation) but we probably are at a point where neither of us really believe that we can simply repent of this sin forever. It is a daily struggle, BUT it is one that we have to trust God to help us with. Ephesians 6 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. To me this means reading the bible DAILY and putting into my head helpful scriptures that I can use to ask God for help when I am tempted. I also turn to the brothers in my church for help, almost on a daily basis. One of the great things about being a fundamentalist (which I am :-) is the degree to which the brothers will help and support each other in their struggles. The other brothers know that I struggle with mastebation (it isn't necessary for them to know that it is about boys....they can help just the same) and many of them have their own struggles with purity and lust. Bro, you have GOT to know that you are not alone on your fight! You have also GOT to know that you ARE forgiven by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Spend less time wallowing in your guilt and wondering if you really are cleansed. You ARE! But, search inside yourself to see how committed you are to change. And lean on other brothers for help. That is how God wanted it. Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. You are not alone. Your bro in Christ, Ben |