What if I've already sinned so much that it's impossible to change?

Many Christians let their past failures accumulate to the point where they have a hard time resisting temptation. They think, "What difference would one more sin make?"

There's a way to beat that. 2 Cor 5:17 says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."  That's a beautiful statement, but God alsosays, "you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Rom 6:11)

We ARE new creations. We ARE dead to sin. But we have to actually believe it—we have to consider it, buy into it, and act in faith on that. Do you really consider yourself as dead to sin? If not, start today. 

Spiritual Mathematics: The Sin Wave.

BQ:  Have you ever seen a sin/sine wave? It's something in math that looks like the attached picture above.



Notice that there are ups and downs, but the average value is zero.

This can happen in the lives of Christians, too. They cycle between the world and Christ, bouncing back and forth, which results in an average growth of...none at all. Stagnancy.

In order for us to claim that we have a personal struggle with sin, we have to actually be fighting it.  If we don't, there's no struggle involved. How do we begin to get out of this endless wave of horror?

1 John 1:9  helps us begin saying, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

BQ: In order to get out of a stagnant cycle where we're run between Christ and the world seemingly ceaselessly, we first have to confess our sins. This is deeper than just saying, "I have an issue." In fact, it's taking a full-on look at exactly where we are...and also exactly what we're doing to get out of that place.

Without that, we often slip back into the mindset of, "Well I sinned really, really bad, God's grace is there again."  This is a very true statement, but it lets in the subtle notion that we can sin all the more, and grace will simply increase, which God doesn't want us to have. 

You see, God doesn't want us to say, "This is something that I just can't beat." He doesn't want us to say, "Well for this issue, I'm just always going to need a bucket of grace, because I can't kick it."

NO! God wants us to say, ""No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." (I Corinthians 10:13).

BQ: You see, God does not want us to have the attitude of someone who has been conquered by some sin that we can't overcome. He doesn't want us to accept a sin wave as the ultimate reality of our existence!  In fact, He wants us to know that such a stagnant thing can kill us, and warns us in James 1:14-15 saying,

"But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death!"

If you let the poison of the world keep coursing through your veins, eventually that sin wave will not even be a wave anymore, but will accomplish death! That's why God not only said verses 14-15, but with 16 warned us, "Do not be deceived, my beloved brethern!" 





BQ: We can't let Satan deceive us into thinking that we've tried our hardest and it wasn't enough. If we've tried hard by ourselves and can't shake some sin, it's time to enlist a brother or sister in helping! Alcoholics Anonymous uses a buddy system, so that when you're struggling, you can call on someone else to help you shake it.

We can't be too proud to do the same! Instead of pushing away those who would help and hiding our sin, we need to not only admit it, as God says, but to pester a brother or sister to help us put distance between that darkness and ourselves! 

DON'T HIDE YOUR PROBLEMS! DON'T TRY TO FIGHT IT ALONE! Ecclesiastes 4:12 begs us, saying, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

If you try to go lone-wolf, the world may overpower you. And if you're already in a sin wave, the fact is, you're already overpowered, because that which is not growing, is ultimately dying. Enlist a brother or sister to help defend against Satan!






BQ: God tells us, "For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."

When we're stuck in a sin wave, that help that God provides comes from multiple places, but much of it is from our brothers and sisters. There is a spiritual war going on, and Satan is a supernatural evil who has only lost once. But that failure was utter and complete, and now God has made us "an exceedingly great army." (Eze 37:10)

To all of my spiritual family, there is a horrible war going on, and we are part of an army of magnitude. But if we decide to run off onto the battlefield alone, without all of that power going with us, Satan will win.

If you are struggling, reach out to your brothers and sisters. Apply the sword of truth to yourself.  Removing cancer is never fun, and often painful, but we have the best physician with the best helper and the best support group. Embrace them. Embrace life. Embrace a trajectory that is ever upward. 


"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) He has overcome, and so can we.

Hurt for trying to help?

BQ: Sometimes, people who are spiritually sick will even lash out at you and hurt you when you want to help. If you've seen a trapped, injured animal, this is common when you're trying only to release them from something which is killing them. Do you give up and let Satan take all the way over?

Luke 11:5-8 has a take on a situation in a different light, but the concept is sound. A man goes to someone's house at midnight to ask for a meal for a traveler, and the following happens:

‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs."

Without persistence, nothing good will be accomplished.  If you want to free someone, you need to never give up. 






BQ: I mentioned that people suffering from sin will also lash out when you try to help them. God knows this, and that's why he describes those as suffering from sin as in 2 Pet 2:20-22,

"For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.  It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit.”

And in verse 12, He wrote, "But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed..."

When we're enslaved to sin, we can be like unreasoning animals, lashing out at those who help. But in sin, we indulge the flesh, fornicating, drinking in great excess, and never stopping, much as animals do. 






BQ: We saw that in helping free someone from sin, we can accomplish nothing if we decide that, well, we have to give up. 

In Deut 31:6, God said, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

When people you're trying to help hurt you for your efforts, don't be afraid of them, and don't get caught up in the cruelty. But at the same time, God refuses to leave and forsake us, so do not totally write the injured off. 





BQ: When you try to help someone who is spiritually ailing, it's not always sugar and spice and everything nice. Sometimes a person will instead turn on you and tear you down.  

Is this anything new?

No. Jesus came and was perfect, the embodiment of love. For that, He was crucified. We, too, have to expect backlash every now and then, and like Jesus, even from people who at first profess their love for us. 

What do you do if that happens?

A good example is from Acts 16 with Paul and Silas. A crowd of those Paul and Silas wanted to help instead rose up against them, and they were beaten and thrown in prison. Sometimes, when a friend hurts you, you'll feel like this emotionally. I love the response from both Paul and Silas, though, who after this happened, "were praying and singing hymns of praise to God." (Acts 16:25)

When you've been hurt, giving some praise to God with a brother or sister, studying the Bible, and dwelling on Him really help. It always helps me.  I am blessed to know many who build me up when I'm down. Having a spiritual support network is better than anything the world could ever offer. 




BQ: When helping a friend out of sin, it can hurt that individual. They can feel bashed or embarrassed.  Do not say, "You bad person, you! You're a liar and nothing but," but rather, "You're a great person who needs help fixing this issue. Let's work on it together."

The writer of Hebrews came down pretty hard on the audience of the letter for their flaws, but in Hebrews 6:9 said, "But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way." 

We have to make it clear that, though we are speaking in this way, that we are convinced of the excellence within them.

Secret Sin: Can You Keep It Hidden?

Food for thought and the stout of stomach:

I have personal reasons to address this heavy topic today, but it is my hope to prick your hearts and dampen the power of evil that has so strong a hold on too many souls in this world. And so I ask:

What dark secrets are you hiding?

How long do you think you have before they will be discovered?

It really doesn't matter how clever you are, how carefully you cover your tracks or how masterfully you might be able to manipulate those around you. No matter how hard we try, we cannot conceal our sin from God, and He has the power to reveal it to anyone, at any time.

"Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops." Luke 12:2-3

Are you ready for that?!?

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption..." Gal 6:7-8a

Sin reaps corruption! That's a harsh saying and a hard truth, isn't it? Some sin is easy to confess and some sin is so shameful, so utterly vile that we might rather die than to speak it aloud, but even that sin is forgiveable.

What do we do?? For one, we could repent and confess of our sins (which means STOP IT! and FIX IT!) letting Christ wash it away OR continue in our delusion that we are in control and will never be found out.

Choosing the first, we can continue in Galatians to see that:
"...the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." 8a-9

Trade the physical for the Spiritual! Do GOOD, have patience, and be determined never to give up! The reward is beyond any fading lust or pleasure we experience here-- it is eternal life in paradise!

Still don't think you're touchable? Still think what you're doing isn't hurting anyone? What they don't know won't hurt them, isn't that the saying? If you've got the idea you are just fine, consider the warning of Titus:

"To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work." Titus 1:15-16

If you aren't obeying God, if you refuse to fight your sin, beware, lest you go so far down the path of destruction that you develop a defiled conscience that cannot guide you back the right way. If you are unfit for any good work, what are you fit for?

No pity parties! No excuses! Your sin hurts those you love and it is your choice to change that path. . . . 

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER your Savior waits for you with love and open arms, He will forgive you. He's pretty awesome like that.