Chapter 7 "How To End Your Struggle - Two of Me, the Struggle with Sin" by David Wilkerson, founding pastor of Times Square Church, New York City

A leader of the Gay Coalition in San Francisco wrote the following about this author: "Mr. Wilkerson is a fanatic who strangely concerns himself with the private and personal sexual preferences of others. He is a reactionary who is narrow-minded, and the most laughable thing is that he has the ludicrous notion that homosexuals want to become straight because they have another 'evil' self inside them, making them perform unholy acts. I am a very happy homosexual with no guilt feelings or 'evil' influences consuming me from inside. People with guilt are just not stable people to start with—they would have problems whether they were gay or straight. Only total weaklings talk of so-called 'healing.' "

I have nothing but pity for the sinner who no longer admits to an inner struggle with evil. They no longer struggle because they have surrendered to their evil passions. The Bible refers to such people as being "dead in trespasses and sins." Paul said of them,

They live in a word of shadows, and are cut off from the life of God through their DELIBERATE IGNORANCE of mind and sheer hardness of heart. THEY HAVE LOST ALL DECENT FEELINGS AND ABANDONED THEMSELVES TO SENSUALITY, PRACTICING ANY FORM OF IMPURITY WHICH THEIR LUST CAN SUGGEST (Ephesians 4:17-19 Phillips).

The person God is interested in is the one who battles heroically against his evil shadow self and who feels sorrow and guilt after giving in to temptation. The struggle itself is proof enough that the heart is still crying out to God for help. There is hope for one who is experiencing an inner battle. The struggle against sin in the life of an honest person is evidence that he or she refuses to give in to its power. The difference between a sinner and a Christian is how one views sin. The Christian hates sin; the sinner excuses and justifies it.

God's supernatural help is promised to those who thrash about in the deep, dark womb of evil, struggling to be free. And the surest sign that new life is springing up in the sinner is the URGENCY TO CRY OUT. All newborn children cry as soon as they come to life. Those who cry are really on the verge of a new life.

The first step toward ending your inner struggle is to learn how to cry. Are you tired of all the emptiness, loneliness, the despair and restlessness? Then let the tears flow unashamedly. Cry out all the pent up desperation. Humble yourself and let the hurts and grief caused by your sin pour out of your innermost being. The Bible urges you to cry out to God in your hour of distress. The cry of desperation is the key to all freedom from sin.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and CRIED unto my God: He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry came before Him, even into His ears (Psalm 18:6).

This poor man cried and the Lord heard him, and delivered him out of all his troubles (Psalm 34:6).

He heard my CRY....He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the mirey clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings (Psalm 40:1,2).

Your CRY came to me at a favorable time, when the doors of welcome are wide open. ...Right now God is ready to welcome you. ...Today He is ready to save you (2 Corinthians 6:2 Living Bible).

The second step is to cultivate a sorrow for your sins and confess them to Christ. When you cry out to God, He draws near to you with His awesome holiness and love. You will know, without a doubt, when God and you are closing the gap between you. His holy presence growing stronger in your life will produce a grief and sorrow for all the sins, selfishness, and pride you have been guilty of. The closer you get to God, the more you feel the pain and guilt for past sins. But that guilt and sorrow is a wonderful thing; don't try to run from it. Let it become even more intense, because that is the only path to true repentance and forgiveness. The Bible says,

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow produced in you...an eagerness to clear yourself... alarm (2 Corinthians 7:10,11 New Int. Version).

A heart that is truly sorry wants to be forgiven. Paul said, "You sorrowed to repentance" (2 Corinthians 7:9). In other words, "You were sorry enough to confess and forsake your sins." You will discover a peace you never thought possible the moment you lay down your sins and accept forgiveness and mercy.

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whosoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy (Proverbs 28:13).

Repentance is more than just saying, "God, I'm sorry! I feel pretty badly about all the evil things I've done."

That is sorrow, but not repentance. When God says repent of your sins, He really means: Turn your back on them. Learn to hate the things you once loved, and learn to love the things you once hated. That is a complete turnaround, a willingness to forsake old friends and habits for a new life in Christ. He is not trying to change you just so you can conform to the social values of others, but rather that you may experience the total joy and indescribable freedom known only to those who surrender to Christ. Self-conquest is possible only through surrender and devotion to Christ. We are to "yield ourselves" to Him.

None of you can be my disciple unless he forsakes everything he has and follows me (Luke 14:33).

Next, accept your forgiveness by faith and shut your hears to all the roaring lies of Satan. Study the following Scriptures; believe they are meant for you; and do what God asks. Here is the truth that can set you free and help you to forever end your struggle.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God (I John 4:15).

If you declare with your lips, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For we believe in our hearts and are put right with God; we confess with our lips and are saved. The Scripture says, 'Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.' This includes everybody....Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:9-13 Today's English Version).

Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: the old is gone, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17 New Int. Version).

Now, pray the following simple prayer and expect God to hear it and forgive and cleanse you from all your sins.

"I here and now confess with my mouth that Jesus
Christ is Lord—that He is the very Son of God. I
repent and admit I am a sinner. I confess to Him
all my sins. I am sorry. I believe in Him with all
my heart. By faith, I accept forgiveness for all my
sins, and do now acknowledge that I am a new
person, born into the family of God. By faith I am
reborn, and this is the first day of my new life
serving Christ as a free person."

One final word: Don't ever again be afraid of any evil presence in your life. Enter into the rest God has promised you—and from this day forward, KEEP YOUR MOMENTUM.

The most important thing I can say to a believer who is sincerely battling a secret sin is: Keep your momentum! No one has ever drowned when swimming upstream toward Christ. No one is left bleeding by the wayside if he is wounded in his struggle to be free.

When you fall or when you are face to face with an addiction that won't let go, God draws a line right where you are. He says, "Get up; confess; and keep moving on. Don't cross back over the line. Don't go back to slavery. Keep coming to Me. You have been emancipated, so keep your momentum toward your freedom, by faith."

The most important move you ever make, as a believer, is the move you make right after you fall. Satan whispers, "You are rotten to the core, sensuous, childish, immature. You will never be holy; you will never be anything in God. So quit! Give up. It's useless to try. Go back! God is too high and holy; it's too complicated and difficult; you'll never figure it out. It's all over!"

Lies—all lies! So you sinned after you confessed and believed? So you thought you had freedom and lost it? So you think people will call you a phoney? So you sinned with your eyes wide open—knowing better—with the Holy Spirit screaming in your ears? So you never thought you could do such a vile thing again? So what? Is there godly sorrow in you now? Are you determined to get up and move on? Are you humbled, shamed, and repentant? Your fall is not fatal. Once again, confess and accept God's forgiveness and regain your momentum! You are still His child. You are not a slave to sin. His loving kindness is greater than all your sins. Look up, rejoice, and take heart!

Stop your everlasting introspection. You won't find victory, probing around the garbage dump of your evil nature. That would be like a losing general, crossing the enemy lines to consult with his foe, asking, "Can you please tell me what I'm doing wrong? I want to defeat you, but I can't seem to make headway. What am I doing wrong?"

Right direction doesn't come by understanding the wrong. It comes only by understanding and claiming the bountiful promises of God in Christ Jesus. So quit looking inward; look up to Him who loves you at all times. Stop trying to figure yourself out, and rejoice in His restoring, healing love.

For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants (Philippians 2:13 Living Bible).

There still exists a full and complete rest for the children of God...and he who experiences this rest has [quit the struggle] and is resting from his own works....Let us be eager to know this rest for ourselves...and beware that we do not miss it through falling into unbelief (Hebrews 4:9-11 Phillips).

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Used with permission granted by World Challenge, P. O. Box 260, Lindale, TX 75771 USA.

Two of Me

The Struggle with Sin

Presented in 7 Chapters
by David Wilkerson
_____________

Times Square Church Information | New Reader Information

Two of Me

The Struggle with Sin

Presented in 7 Chapters by David Wilkerson _____________

Times Square Church Information | New Reader Information

Presented in 7 Chapters
by David Wilkerson
_____________