If you omit the last two words of Psalm 66:18, it will read, “if I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not…” There are many applications of this principle. The truth is God is longing to do great things for every one of his children but whenever they are harboring sin in their heart God will not. You can finish the thought. The truth of the matter is God cannot and will not bless sin. As we grow in our Christian life, we learn increasingly about the sinfulness of our hearts, 2 Peter 3:18. The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9
While in this life we shall never be completely free from all sin, yet it is possible for us to regard or harbor sin in our hearts. If we do not confess and forsake sin, it will create a barrier between us and God and prevent God from blessing us. Our sin makes the Lord powerless. Our sin breaks fellowship with God. Isaiah 6:5, 59:2. We must deal with sin which is within us. It may be hidden but yet we know it's there. There are two thoughts concerning Psalm 66:18.
I. Define the Verse
1. “If” tells that the Christian is under no obligation to sin.
a. While it is true Christians will sin, we do not need to harbor sin in our life. 1John 2:1-4, Romans 6:14
b. Thank God, victory over sin is provided for every believer.
2. “I” Is the personal application of this truth.
a. We must be careful not to just read what the scripture says without applying it to our hearts.
b. Do we ever get alone in the presence of God and ask him to turn the searchlight of his word upon our life?
1) We are told to examine ourselves
2) 1 Corinthians 11:28
3. “Regard” tells us it is possible to harbor sin in our life.
a. Achan, Joshua 7:21-26
b. King David, 2 Samuel 11:2-17
c. Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5:1-11
d. 1 John 3:21
4. “Iniquity” is the thing which hinders God's blessings.
a. Refers to sin in every shape and form, 2 Timothy 2:19
b. Be holy, 1 Peter 1:16
5. “Heart” the real you. Psalm 51: 6
a. 1 Samuel 16:7
b. God never glosses over sin.
c. He always judges it and seeks to reveal it to the sinner.
6. Now the application of the verse.
II. If I Regard Iniquity in My Heart, God will Not
1. “Hear me”, my prayer is vain.
a. Why is it when we pray nothing seems to happen? Could it be a heart problem?
b. Prayer is a mockery unless our heart is right.
c. Job 27:8-9, 35:13
d. Isaiah 1:15-16
e. Micah 3:4
2. “Lead Me” we all need a God guided life.
a. But only if we acknowledge him, proverbs 3:6
b. Psalm 139:23-24
c. Fellowship is broken.
3. Nor will he “use me”
a. Is God using you?
b. 2 Timothy 2:20-21
4. In closing, apply these verses
a. Proverbs 28:13
b. 2 Corinthians 7:1
c. 1 John 1:9
