There are some things we think, do and or say in our lives that make others wonder if we have ever met The LORD. When we look at these actions, we ourselves get concerned about our commitment to The MOST HIGH. We get uncomfortable and we get desperate to be back on the right path.
Here is the good news: our FATHER is merciful and forgiving. So the first step is always confessing our sins and turning away from them. Beloved, there are no two ways about it. We must turn away from our sins. But you cannot turn away from what you cannot identify and confront.
But first, let us look at what I am calling inner rubbish. I borrow this term from Dr. Olukoya who uses it to refer to the hidden internal evil nature. Scripture tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD. Romans 3:23. The same scripture also tells us that we must be holy /perfect like our FATHER is perfect. Matthew 5:48. The bridge here is dealing with this sin that makes us fall short of the glory of GOD. This calls for identifying the areas in which we fall short, confronting the shortness and turning away from it.
Of course, my assumption here is that you are already born again and fighting the good fight.
Now, back to turning away from sin. As said earlier, you cannot turn away from what you have not identified and/or confronted.
This calls for personal in-depth analysis. Analyze yourself using the mirror of scripture and adjust. Look at your behavior. Look at your heart. Look at your words and utterances. Take a look at your thoughts. What do you do, say or think, that makes you yourself cringe? Identify it now and deal with it or else one day for sure it will rear it’s ugly head in public and I assure you will not like the result and in addition, your enemies will have a field day with your reputation and the reputation of the Kingdom in which we serve.
So, Beloved, identify this sin, this still present darkness that you have not allowed the light of the gospel to shine on, then put it away. How will you know you have put it away? When in previous circumstances that would have made you present that character and behavior you react differently.
For example, our great ancestor David in a series of events killed to hide his actions caused by hidden inner lust, but later when he was given Abishag for free , he did not even touch her. 1 Kings 1:4. It can even be inferred that he was not for the whole Abishag idea. Suffice it to say, our Beloved King David had learnt his lesson , the lesson of self control , the lesson of “ thou shalt not covet. But alas, what an expensive lesson. He was for The LORD, loved The LORD, praised The LORD, served The LORD, lived for The LORD but inside there was a monster residing, there was a mound of rubbish so big. Its exposure, removal and consequences still causes shock and ripples.
As one preacher said, deal with sin or it will deal with you. If it dealt so with David whose book we use for prayer, what about you, puny man, puny woman?
So, Beloved, what are some of the results of hosting and enabling inner and hidden sin?
i. The world at large is looking to the children of GOD for light and direction. The day this inner sin is exposed, the enemies of GOD mock and ridicule the kingdom. 2 Samuel 12:14. Further, potential entrants into the kingdom are left re-questioning their desire to enter this kingdom. So, Beloved, deal with this and do not, as long as it is up to you, allow the Kingdom of GOD to have any negative publicity.
ii. When you host and enable inner sin, you are more prone to make wrong choices especially in the area surrounding your sin. For example, if you struggle with envy and jealousy, and you are in ministry and eventually you have to select leaders and other heads, you consider the qualified and the called, then envy raises its head and instead of appreciating and rewarding the ready children of GOD and doing what Jonathan did , you start doing what Saul did, chasing the anointed all over the place, making them sing the psalms of David while you install the unworthy. And then you wonder why your ministry is not moving forward and why we have sub standard work in the vineyard of The LORD. Stop wondering! Deal with your inner rubbish.
iii. In the vineyard of The LORD , when you host and enable inner sin, you will be used by The HOLY SPIRIT but you will not reap the full benefits of HIS using you. For example, Saul, the king, was used by GOD to fight the enemies of GOD but he himself ended up disastrously.
iv. Such unyielded areas are likely to become a stronghold and/or a habitation of evil spirits and may need the time and intervention of other children of GOD to cast out or remove.
v. Further, harboring sin makes one stubborn, haughty and resistant to The HOLY SPIRIT. Now, if you are fighting with The HOLY SPIRIT what exactly is your problem? You know you can’t win and worse still if you keep annoying HIM ,HE will leave you to your own devices and you will regret it for sure.
vi. Further harboring sin makes you a candidate of developing and promoting evil habits/evil lifestyles. We have all had of former children of GOD who left the Kingdom and went on to terrible lifestyles and even “invented” new methods of sinning.
So, Beloved, what are some of the things The LORD may do if you do not confront and turn away from hidden inner sin , hidden inner rubbish?
i. The LORD will outwait you. You have limited time here on earth. The LORD is beyond time, eternal. HE is The MOST HIGH forever and ever AMEN. Time is HIS tool. HE made it. One day the time allocated you will run out. Then what will you do?
ii. The LORD may also allow the sin to find you out in order that you;
a.) Finally confront and deal with it
b.) use it as a lesson to others
c.) showcase HIS mighty power, ability and omniscience
iii. If you totally fail to address this issue, your reward in heaven may be reduced or worse still you may find yourself in hell, then what will you do?
So, my fellow Beloved, worker in the vineyard of The LORD, wake up and do the necessary. See Ephesians : 1-5, Hebrews 13:16; and of course Romans 12:1.
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Beloved, the scripture informs us, "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15.
Do you want to know JESUS as your personal Lord and Savior? Your eternity is at stake! JESUS has opened the door of salvation to every person. But there is coming a day when the door will be closed. Today is the day of salvation. Choose to be in the family of GOD. JESUS died so that we can spend eternity in Heaven with HIM. Don't delay! And if you want to begin a relationship with GOD or resume a broken one, say this: O GOD, I come to YOU today. I know I am a sinner. I believe that JESUS died on the cross to save me and HE resurrected on the third day. I repent of my sins and forsake them. I confess JESUS as my LORD and SAVIOR . I invite JESUS into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank YOU JESUS for saving me and making me a child of GOD. Amen
