Sermon Central
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Part 6 Heart Surgery Series
Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Feb 1, 2026 (message contributor)
Summary: Repentance is not the only step in overcoming sin. This session explores ways to help a person once he has repented to break the cycle of failure.
For free audio or video download of this message, visit https://www.treasuringgod.com/sermons-by-scripture or my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson.
Chapter four discussed diagnosis – discovering problems in the heart. The process of heart diagnosis exposes sins in the motives, decisions, will, attitudes, desires, emotions, thoughts, and beliefs. Step one in recovering from these sins is repentance (chapter five). Repentance, however, is not the only step in overcoming sin. Unless steps are taken to defeat sin in the heart there will be a continued cycle of falling, repenting, then falling again. The purpose of this chapter is to explore ways to help a person once he has repented and is willing to change.
Don’t Forget the Basics
Thinking through all the complexities of the heart can be a daunting task and can leave both counselor and counselee overwhelmed. When this happens, remember the basics – Scripture, prayer, and fellowship. These will solve a great number of problems even when those problems are beyond the understanding of the counselee – much like food strengthens the body whether or not the eater understands the nutritional properties and digestive processes.
Imagine a person going to a doctor because he is feeling weak and lethargic. The doctor asks, “Have you been eating any food?”
“No, I have not had food in several weeks, but that’s not my problem. It goes much deeper than that. Can’t you run some tests on my hormones and blood sugar levels or do a CAT scan or something?”
That doctor will put all his years of medical training to work and tell you, “Go have a sandwich.” It is a simple solution, but it is not superficial. The way the nutrients in a sandwich are absorbed and used in the body are incredibly complex. A person could spend years of his life studying all the reasons he feels better after eating. But it is not necessary for him to understand those reasons. All that is necessary is for him to put some food in his mouth and chew it up and swallow. If he does that and still has a problem, then the doctor will examine the issue further.
A conversation like that with a doctor would sound ridiculous in the physical realm, but it happens all the time in the spiritual realm.
“I’m struggling in my Christian walk.”
“Are you attending a solid, Bible-teaching church every week?”
“No.”
“Are you involved in regular corporate prayer at church?”
“No.”
“Are you a part of a small group during the week where people can get to know you and be involved in your life and know how to pray for you?”
“No.”
“Do you spend time each day in God’s Word and prayer, seeking spiritual nourishment?”
“No.”
“Are you making any concerted effort to pursue deep Christian friendships outside of Sunday morning services?”
“No.”
There is nothing superficial about urging a person like this to focus on the basics. Sustained, long-term spiritual nourishment will result in strengthening in every area of the heart. The solutions below and in the rest of this book can be helpful in areas of particular problems that persist even after the person has been faithful to feed his soul, but the basics of nutrition are always the starting place.
Correcting Wrong Motives
When the process of diagnosis reveals sinful motives, step one is repentance. Urge the counselee to confess and renounce wrong motives and turn back to God in that area.
Sinful motives are the product of pride (the desire to gain glory for self) and selfishness (placing self ahead of the best interests of others). The solution to both is humility. Assist the counselee in seeking to learn this all-important virtue. (See below under “Correcting Wrong Attitudes”)
Like all sins in the heart, sinful motives spring from wrong beliefs. A second crucial factor in correcting sinful motives, then, is discovering what wrong beliefs underlie them. If a person has motives of self-glorification it may come from the belief that honor from men is more valuable than honor from God. If the motive is revenge the underlying belief may be that God’s justice is not reliable. If the motive is relief from suffering at all cost there may be a problem with believing what God has said in his Word about suffering.
Correcting Wrong Decisions Walk by the Spirit
When a Christian is resolved to choose what is right but finds that he repeatedly chooses what is wrong at the moment of decision it is because he is being controlled by what Paul calls, “the flesh,” and the solution is the walk by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.[1]
The “flesh” is used figuratively by Paul for that part of a Christian that sins. It wars against the believer and constantly pushes in the direction of sin. Fighting against the flesh will always be a losing battle if any method is used other than walking by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit uses Scripture to guide the believer moment by moment on where to take the next step. He uses conscience, emotional impulses, thoughts, particular insights, wise decisions – all informed and powered by Scripture to enable us to keep in step with Him as He leads us. As long as a person keeps in step with the Holy Spirit, that person will be able to resist the impulses of the flesh toward sin. Stepping away from the way the Spirit guides makes one vulnerable to the flesh.
