Prayer for holiness

inquiry

Thank-you for your website...'
May I take this opportunity to ask for prayer?
I had been deeply involved in sexual sin almost all of my life (50).
Now, I have been awaked to the call of God to Holiness, and I want 
to get my life back, or should I say, I want to have a life of and 
for God.
I have been calling on Christ, but am having a hard time with how I 
feel. It still affects all that I do and think.  That really makes 
me doubt my Christianity.
I want to trust on the shed blood of Jesus Christ and nothing less.
I want to exhibit the works worthy of repentance. And  these are 
battles that I am asking God to bring me through...But
I know that it is impossible to please God without faith, so I am 
asking for petitions to the Father for that Gift, as well as the 
deliverance of sins.

Thank-you so much for "hearing" me...

first response

I am asking my small and very trustworthy email team to join me in 
praying for you. I hope this meets with your approval.

When Jesus died on the cross, He dealt with all our sins--past, 
present, and future. All we need to do is claim His forgiveness and 
allow Him to deliver us from the bondage sin brings. We do not have 
the power to free ourselves--that also is something Jesus must do for 
us. No amount of resolve or self-effort releases us from the 
enslavement of sin. Jesus has to fight this battle for us--and He 
will do so when we see the depth of our need and our helplessness to 
do anything to save ourselves.

It could be very helpful if you can join a small men's core group 
where transparency and openness can develop over time. You will find 
that your brothers in Christ have various struggles in their lives as 
well. Because we are all members one of another, and members of the 
Body of Christ, we share a common life. As Christians we need one 
another, so finding friends and accountability in the family of God 
is better than any secular counselling program.

I have found the epistle to the Hebrews has been helpful in my own 
life in dealing with deep-seated guilt and shame as well as the 
powerlessness one feels because of sinful behavior. Ray Stedman's 
online commentary on Hebrews is excellent: 
http://pbc.org/dp/stedman/hebrews2/

I sense from your email that you are in a position now where God can 
indeed set you free and move your forward on the path to wholeness in 
Christ.

"For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our 
weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, 
yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne 
of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of 
need." (Hebrews 4:15-16)

Sincerely,

second response

It is always the same with me and sin.  I invariably think I can step
off the path for a little sin and come right back.  I have had to be
rescued by Jesus every time.  Not once in my life, even as a
Christian, have I been able to save myself.  I agonize as wait for Him
to act, but it doesn't seem to make my favorite sins any less
appealing to me.  I once asked a 96 year old Christian brother if he
was any better now than when he started his walk with Christ.  He said
he couldn't tell wether he had simply atrophied or experienced some
sort of victory.  He asked me if he looked "improved" to me.  I had to
say that he actually looked like he was about to rot away right in his
shoes at any minute.  Same goes for me.  God is never going to improve
the flesh, it goes from dust to dust, them comes the resurrection into
a new body.

I hope our prayers help,