For Believers Who Have Been Struggling With Sin

Here's the scenario:  A guest speaker came to your church (or a leader you know).  He spoke about how he is now free from fourteen years of homosexuality... or how he was able to resist pornography after years of struggle.  And he's telling you that now is your opportunity for freedom.  "If you want freedom, come up to the altar.  Come on, we're all family here.  Don't think about the person next to you, or what others are going to think.  If you're struggling with (insert sinful habit here), come up to this altar and let me pray for you."   He says things like, "It's now or never," or, "Don't miss this chance.  You might never get one again," or, "Don't come to me afterwards and say, 'I should have gone up.' "


But you were too afraid.  You don't want others to identify you as "that former lesbian" or "that pornographer".  So you didn't go.  Shame was too overwhelming for you.  You don't know these people around you.  Can you trust them?  You don't know!  And you've gone up before and you're still struggling with this issue.  Why go up and go through the embarrassment, when you barely have hope for change?  I mean, you've been dealing with this for years...

Now you feel even more ashamed, perhaps cowardly, and your hope for freedom has diminished because you feel that your one chance is gone.  You didn't go up.  You didn't have that speaker pray for you.  Now what?

Your chance is not gone.  It's not too late--it's never too late for you.  Freedom is still for you.  God is not limited by that one person who spoke at church.  He or she is not the only one anointed to pray for your freedom.  The last time I checked, Christ is the one who is anointed to bring freedom, and He has already done what was necessary for you to have it.  Christ is in you; in the Christian beside you.  He is not limited by time or space.  He does not only set people free in church, in a sanctuary, after a good sermon.  Those are great places to be, but God has no limits.  He's right there with you.  He knows you. 


God is not in the business of exposing people.  Did Jesus publicly shame people?  Only those who thought they had earned their righteousness by their own actions (the pharisees).  Did he embarrass people?  No.  Jesus was loving.  To the sinners, He was forgiving, even protective.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."   Hebrews 4:15-16   "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."  Romans 8:1-2 "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children"   Romans 8:15-16 You are already a son or daughter of God.  There is no condemnation for you. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:17   "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" John 8:36 Christ died for you.  Yes, you.  Not just for unbelievers, but for you.  His death on the cross not only enabled you to take part in salvation, but He also freed you from sin.   "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!' " John 1:29   Just because you have entered into salvation, it doesn't mean now it's up to you to maintain your salvation.  It's up to Christ.  Trust in Him to do it, and stop trying to fix yourself out of your own effort.  You have no power or ability to do so.  But He has given you the ability to trust Christ to do it.  He will bring you out of every struggle, out of every sinful habit.  Those sinful things are not who you are "...he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  Phil 1:6b "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 And furthermore, there is no separation between you and God.  Not even your sin.  The only separation between you and God is in your own mind; it is an illusion.  He is ALWAYS with you "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,' even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you."  Psa 139:7-12   "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" Rom 8:35   "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:38-39   If you long to be free from homosexuality, from pornography or addiction--from sin--trust in God.  give it to Him.  Let Him take care of it.  He WILL do it.  Freedom is for you. It is God's will, and it is for you NOW.  Believe it.   **all scripture taken from the NIV