-Gavin Aleogho
In the past, I have had the experience of falling into sin or what you may call a habit of sin which I don’t want to be entangled with. Even after praying and confessing the sin, I keep finding myself going back to it. But thank God for the continuous victory over sin that I am enjoying presently.
It is the devil’s agenda to keep you down when you fall. But it is God’s will for you to get back in line. Whatever the case, be aware that as an individual, you have a part to play; whether you want to remain down or get back up in line.
When a believer falls into sin, the Church may not be aware of the spiritual state of the man. However, God knows and even the devil is very much aware. Thus, the devil does all he can to keep the man on the ground by making the believer keep the sin secretive. Because not until such is brought to the light, the man may never get a total victory over that sin. And if the man decides to cooperate with the devil, he is held captive to keep continuing in that particular sin.
My experience in counseling shows to me that many believers are not really happy remaining captive to the sin that so easily besets them. They want total freedom from such captivity but they don’t know how to get themselves free.
Truly speaking, a drowning man cannot save himself. He needs external help. He needs someone to stretch out a hand of rescue to him. In the same vein, if you are not willing to involve a third party concerning that issue, you may never get your deliverance.
Are you a captive of illicit sexual relationships and you are trying to get out of such an immoral relationship? Have you done something shameful and you are imagining the disgrace you will receive if it is let out? Are you a captive of occultism or satanism and you don’t know how to come out? Have you been trapped in an illegal business deal but can’t get out? I have good news for you; there is a way out of that mess.
Let me show you a key (among other ways) on how to get your total deliverance from a verse in James chapter 5.
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16
The key from the above scripture is to involve a trusted third party who is mature in the faith and with some experience. This could be a Pastor, Deacon, or a matured believer. All you have to do is to let the cat out of the bag. Confess your sin, tell the mature believer what you did.
You must have prayed and asked God for forgiveness; He has definitely forgiven you. But the devil will not want to let you off his hook of guilt and self-condemnation. However, when you involve an elder in the faith, you don’t just receive forgiveness only, you also receive healing from guilt, self-condemnation, and from going back to the vomit, through the godly counsel and prayers you will receive.
And for the counselor who is being talked to, you must learn to keep such information confidential. That is the ethic of a good minister of the gospel.
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
James 5:19-20 NIV
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