If I may recommend the following:
[url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?viewmode=flat&order=0&topic_id=17003&forum=34&post_id=&refresh=Go] Triumphant In Temptation ~ O. J. Finch, D.D.[/url]
I know there is often a slight gasp that goes up over 'long post's' and indeed this is one, yet it is rather a small book of seven chapters that contains perhaps even an unnoticed trick in the devils arsenal itself; Too [i]long[/i] and too [i]simple[/i]. In the authors own words at one point;
[i]Such facts may seem to be so simple as to cause them to be inconsequential[/i]
The point being that in reality this little treatise is not that long at all and presents some very basic and seemingly 'simple' facts. In all honesty the matter being addressed here, namely what to do after the fact and towards being [i]overtaken[/i] in a predominant sin is not specifically noted through this. However ...
There is without this exact addressing the answer and remedy I believe within it's context. Would point out that in the scenario given at the onset of this post something that comes up frequently enough and is often overlooked and that is the [i]desire[/i] [b]still[/b] to be rid of the predominant sin, even as it seems to be having the upper hand. There is still a 'fight' however weak and fragile. If I could put it differently, a hardened heart is not concerned about it's state of hardness.
It is likewise difficult to answer this in too much specific not knowing if we are dealing with a hypothetical or a personal admission. But to revert back here to the recommendation ...
The one thing we can always do is repent, as long as we have breath there is hope and there is provision made of forgiveness and starting over. Others here have already made mention of much of this and I would carry it perhaps a bit further. What is so amazing indeed about grace is in it's very difficulty of accepting it.
Knowing what is deserved, what ought to come as a result of sin, the pain involved in failure and displeasing the very Lord and God we proclaim and profess to love by either capitulating, presuming or being 'overtaken' by strong temptation and into the outworking, [i]sin[/i], is not to lessen the one for the remedy of the other. If I may, it is to stand or rather fall at the feet of the Lord and be utterly amazed that such a sin, any sin can be confessed and forgiven. It is the [u]amazement[/u] that it can [i][b]still[/b][/i] be so.
One of the best examples that I know of is with David after the tragedy, cover up and multiple sins of premeditated murder and adultery with Bathsheba;
[i]Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, [b]The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.[/b]
[u]Howbeit[/u], because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. [b]Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.[/b]
Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.[/i] 2Sa 12:9-24
This whole discourse is so rich with understanding to isolate the one bit for emphasis I hope doesn't overshadow the context of the whole. The point I would be drawing to there is that of [i]starting over[/i] and where I would draw parallels to this recommendation of the small book linked. Know your enemy and know the power and understanding of your Saviour. Know that the [b]same[/b], [i]exact same[/i] Holy Spirit is He who resides in us who are truly His. A word about doubting here, since it was also mentioned in the original post. This whole OSAS business is gotten to be so far out into extremities as to, in my mind at least be a starting at the wrong end. Somewhere in the many continual discussions about this mentioned the absurdity on the one hand, the equivalent of telling a child in his fathers presence that he has not a parent or of punching someone in the face and asking, "Did that hurt?". The opposite extreme would be to [i]tell[/i] someone of a 'fact' not experienced by mere association or repetition of words they have something they know nothing of internally, experientially and factually. Either we have the witness of The Spirit or we don't, there is no middle, muddy ground. To be reborn is [i]birth[/i] [b]and[/b] [i]growth[/i] and [i]continues[/i], endures [i]all things[/i], is not presumptuous nor is it paranoid. Far too much is given in scripture against this whole presumptuous attitude by way of emphasis on [i]taking heed[/i], of watching ones conduct spiritually first and foremost, examining oneself and reminding oneself, endurance. Felt it very necessary to bring this to the fore here because of what doubting does on wrong lines and poor advice. There is a great deal spoken to in the little book along these lines, this great trick of the devil. I think it is far beyond the reach of the saints in most instances to be playing the devils advocate in inducing doubt rather then pressing the soul to come to it's own [b][i]known[/i][/b] conclusions. Salvation itself is this way, no one can make certain for some one else by mere statement an 'assurance' and have in large part gone and done much damage by this easy, cheap, costless 'believism' by [i]telling[/i] or making judgment that which;
[i]For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.[/i] 1Co 2:11
This always must be in the reverse of how this days 'presentation' would have it. The saved will know it and tell it, not the other way around. Having to be told and then figuring out how to live up to it or constantly being under a tossing and turning between two opinions, it is utter confusion and a diabolical matter and it does pertain very much to this whole matter under discussion.
Start over. That is the answer to all of this, hypothetical or personal as it may be. It is precisely what David did afterwords. Guilt is a tricky matter and I would say it is not to be totally dismissed. What ought to be left of the ramifications is [i]remembrance[/i], not continuance in wallowing after the failure. Surely David remembered and remembered well as he poured out his heart afterwords into the Psalms and specifically in regards to this monumental event of the past.
Some things are indeed simple, but that does not make them [i]simplistic[/i]. I fear that there is too often a glazing over or past deep penetrating matters by jumping to the concessionary end and missing he greater context and amazing understanding of love and true forgiveness. It is [i]costly[/i]. Looking through what the Lord did in this tragedy is quite incredible. It [i]cost[/i] David [i]his son[/i] need I draw the parallels to Gods own? This baby, a product of someone else's sin [i]taken[/i], in essence punished through no fault of it's own, but the greater punishment was upon David. Within that still is the paradox and beauty that [i]While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.[/i]
It is a profound and incredible thing to recognize where the child is and Davids understanding [i]despite everything[/i] his expectation to one day [i]go to him[/i].
And if all this was not enough, there is this outrageous ...
[i]And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and[/i]
[b]the LORD loved him.[/b]
Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
We must be people of the Book. My experience so far has been that temptations often get more intense and at times even completely debilitating. They can be so strong as to just baffle everything I know to do, [i]the enemy comes in like a flood[/i], [i]a roaring lion seeking who he may devour[/i]. In the heat of it it is easy to overlook the more poignant fact that he is actually coming after you ... what on earth for? If it wasn't for the fact that you have something worth destroying, then why the bother?
What this little book shows and is so greatly helpful towards is in just reminders. That we need to be on-guard [i]all the time[/i]. That we need to be in Gods will and paying a great deal of [i]attention[/i] and before all that to be ready, steadfast and mindful of the [i][b]pain[/b][/i] of past failures. It is exceedingly difficult at times I acknowledge in the throes of some of these attacks, the appealing to natural passions and fleshly, physical desires, they can be quite overwhelming. There is [i]always[/i] an out, always. We have to practice something that can come quite too easily unfortunately in our lives towards the Lord and use it against the enemy of our souls;
Disbelief!
Whatever he is promising is a lie no matter how appealing the moment would have us deceived otherwise. The result is pain and failure and remorse and regret, it is a trade off for the lesser every time and some sins will leave deep scars ... Is it [i]worth[/i] it? A good question to ask ourselves. There is much to be gleaned in this little book about the character and dealings of our Lord in His hours of great trial, of Job and Joseph, Daniel.
One last note that is a constant snare I think for many of us; Tomorrow.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Mat 6:34
Remember yesterday to the measure that it will help jostle the brain to recollection of pain of sin committed and resolve to concentrate on todays troubles, It is always to get up again and go forth after repentance, just as David did,
[i]While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept[/i]
[i]But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast?[/i]
Tomorrow will take care of itself.
Blessings.
