The Missing Chapter

Almost five years ago, I walked across the stage and received a Doctorate of Ministry. My project was the development of a spiritual growth program for men. I developed a week-long retreat that was to be integrated in the local church's ministry, held the retreat three different times to three different groups of men. Taught through the lessons two different times in our local church. Presented it writing to several for proofreading, evaluation and recommendations.

But I missed a whole chapter - at least.

I missed a chapter on the importance of confession and repentance. An admission of guilt and a turning from sin.

Three years ago, I heard a sermon on the demon-possessed man, who had spent years living in the tombs, unchained, unclothed and uncontrollable. No one would help him. No one could help him (Mark 5).

But then Jesus came.

Jesus came into this man's life and changed him in an instant. Jesus did what no one else could do.

Jesus changed this man's life forever. He is clothed and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus, wanting to go with Jesus.

When I realized that Jesus had changed this man's life, I called out to Him and called out to a friend to help me.

It hasn't been an instant change, like the demon-possessed man, but change has taken place.

It hasn't been an easy change. Over the last three years, I have walked through some difficult times. But I've never walked alone. Jesus has always been there. My friends have been there when I've called out to them. Sometimes they have walked beside me. Sometimes they have pushed me. Many times they have prayed for me.

But I'm thankful for God's grace in allowing me the opportunity to change. And I'm thankful for God's grace in giving me true friends who have helped me along the way.

And a major component of the change has been confession and repentance. As I confessed my sins, the burdens were lifted off my shoulders. As I let others look into my life, the fear of rejection faded. As I repented, turning from sinful choices of decades, I experienced victory over temptation like never before.

I'm thankful that I did the work for the doctoral project.

But I will have to add another chapter, if I teach it again.

And if you're stagnant in your spiritual growth, maybe unconfessed sin is holding you back.

God is gracious and ready to forgive. And you'll be surprised that there are others ready to help you.

Think you've got problems?

Let me introduce you to a man.

He was crazy. No, it wasn't that he was a lot of fun. Or that everyone thought he was crazy. He was insane.

No one could control him. He was so strong that the strongest restraints could not hold him. He would just break them to pieces.

He lived in the cemetery. That's creepy.

He was a cutter. All day long. Every day.

He screamed. He moaned. He wailed. Night and day.

From the cemetery. Imagine a funeral procession. A widow coming to her former husband's grave.

And the crazy man is screaming and wailing just a few feet away.

Wild hair.

Oh, and he was naked, too.

What would you do? What could you do?

All sorts of methods have been used. For years.

Everyone had given up on him. No one was even trying to help him anymore.

It looked hopeless.

But then Jesus came.

Jesus came and cast out the evil spirits that had controlled this man for a very long time.

Imagine what people saw then.

The man was sitting. That was something completely different than what they had ever seen him do. He was at rest.

The man was clothed. They had never seen him like that.

The man was in his right mind. No more screaming. No more wild look in his eyes. No more sharp rocks in his hands. Maybe even a smile across his face.

This man who had been controlled by demons for a very long time was changed in an instant.

Because Jesus came.

His life was a mess. It couldn't have gotten much worse. It had been that way for a very, very long time.

But then Jesus came.

Your problems may seem as bad as this man's. Or maybe not. Maybe you've been struggling with a problem for a very long time. It seems to have control over you. You see no hope. All you see is that it has control and you're just living day to day.

But then Jesus will come.

Just like this man, Jesus can solve your problems. Only Jesus can.

You've tried everything else already, right?

Let Jesus take care of your problems.

He can do it.

I know.