WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH
PASTOR: TERRY VAUGHAN
SERMON TITLE: SECRET SINS
“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD; BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED. HE THAT BELIEVETH ON HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED: BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.” JOHN 3:16-18
PSALMS 19:12 -14 “WHO CAN UNDERSTAND HIS ERRORS? CLEANSE THOU ME FROM SECRET FAULTS. KEEP BACK THY SERVANT ALSO FROM PRESUMPTUOUS SINS; LET THEM NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER ME: THEN SHALL I BE UPRIGHT, AND I SHALL BE INNOCENT FROM THE GREAT TRANSGRESSION. LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH, AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART, BE ACCEPTABLE IN THY SIGHT, O LORD, MY STRENGTH, AND MY REDEEMER.”
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU A FEW MINUTES ON THAT VERSE TWELVE. I LOOKED UP THAT WORD ERRORS AND IT MEANS AN ACT OR AN ASSERTION OR THE BELIEF THAT DEVIATES FROM WHAT IS CORRECT OR RIGHT OR TRUE. OFTEN TIMES WE FIND OURSELVES DEVIATING FROM GODS WORD. GETTING OUT OF LINE WITH GODS HOLY COMMANDMENTS AND GODS HOLY WORD. IT SEEMS VERY POPULAR WITH CHRISTIANS TO PICK OUT YOUR FAULTS BUT THEY HAVE A HARD TIME PICKING OUT THEIR OWN FAULTS. IT’S VERY EASY FOR US TO SEE WHAT’S WRONG IN OTHERS LIVES BUT I WONDER TONIGHT CAN YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOUR OWN LIFE. JESUS SAID IN HIS WORD THAT WE SHOULD NOT BEHOLD THE MOAT IN OUR BROTHERS EYE WHEN WE DON’T EVEN CONSIDER THE BEAM IN OUR OWN EYE. OFTEN TIMES WE WANT TO JUDGE PEOPLE AND CONDEMN PEOPLE AND PULL PEOPLE DOWN BECAUSE OF THEIR FAULTS AND THEIR ERRORS WHEN WE’VE GOT OUR OWN ERRORS AND SIN. HOW WE’VE TURNED FROM GOD AND GOTTEN OUT OF THE WAY. SO MANY TIMES IT SEEMS WE DON’T UNDERSTAND OR SEE WHEN WE’RE DOING WRONG. THEIRS ONLY RIGHT WAY AND THAT’S THE WAY OF JESUS. HIS WAY IS ALWAYS THE RIGHT WAY AND OUR WAY IS ALWAYS THE WRONG WAY. WE NEED TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN EVERYTHING THAT WE GO TO DO. BUT OFTEN TIMES WE FIND OURSELVES LOOKING AT OTHERS MISTAKES AND WE BEGIN TO THROW THE BLAME AND CALL OUT THEIR NAME INSTEAD OF GETTING DOWN ON OUR KNEES AND PRAYING FOR THEM. RATHER THAN UNDERSTAND THAT WE’VE ALL SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD. IF I CAN’T UNDERSTAND MY ERRORS, THEIRS NO WAY I CAN UNDERSTAND YOURS. SO MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO WANT TO LIVE THAT GOOD AND PERFECT LIFE FOR JESUS. BUT WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT EVEN THOUGH WE’RE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD WE’RE NEVER BEYOND THE POWER OF SATAN AND HOW HE COMES AT US. THE BIBLE SAYS SATAN IS LIKE A ROARING LION SEEKING WHOM HE CAN DEVOUR. WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT, THE DEVIL IS AFTER YOU. AS A CHILD OF GOD HE WANTS TO STRIP YOU OF YOUR BLESSINGS AND STRIP YOU OF YOUR PEACE, AND YOUR HOPE.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND OUR OWN ERRORS AND QUIT PICKING OUT EVERYBODY ELSE’S. IF YOU CAN’T SAY SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT SOMEBODY, DON’T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL. JUST PRAY. THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY WE CAN DEFEAT SATAN TONIGHT AND THAT’S TO PUT JESUS CHRIST FIRST IN OUR LIVES. THE BIBLE SAYS TO RESIST THE DEVIL AND FLEE FROM YOU. DRAW NIGH TO GOD AND HE’LL DRAW NIGH TO YOU.
JAMES 4:17 “THEREFORE IF A MAN KNOWETH TO DO GOOD, AND DOETH IT NOT, TO HIM IT IS SIN.”
PROVERBS 14:12-13 “THERE IS A WAY THAT SEEMETH RIGHT UNTO A MAN, BUT THE END THEREOF ARE THE WAYS OF DEATH. EVEN IN LAUGHTER THE HEART IS SORROWFUL; AND THE END OF THAT MIRTH IS HEAVINESS.”
THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT’S LAUGHING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME ON THE OUTSIDE BUT I WONDER HOW YOU FEEL ON THE INSIDE. IT’S NOT WHAT WE HAVE ON THE OUTSIDE BUT WHAT WE HAVE ON THE INSIDE WHERE JESUS SAVED US BY HIS GRACE. THE MORE YOU GET IT ON THE INSIDE, THE MORE IT WILL SHOW ON THE OUTSIDE.
I WANT TO SHARE TWO VERSES ABOUT OUR WALK AND OUR DAILY LIFE WITH JESUS.
GALATIANS 3:3 “ARE YOU SO FOOLISH HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT. ARE YOU NOW MADE PERFECT BY THE FLESH” . WE START OUT SO PERFECT FOR GOD. SO MOTIVATED AND READY TO WORK AND SERVE GOD BUT WE DRIFT SO FAR. WE GO FROM THE SPIRITUAL TO THE MATERIAL AND DOING THINGS IN THE FLESH INSTEAD OF THE SPIRIT. WE DO THINGS IN OUR CARNAL MIND INSTEAD OF BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT.
GALATIANS 5:7 “YE DID RUN WELL; WHO DID HINDER YOU THAT YE SHOULD NOT OBEY THE TRUTH?” I WONDER ARE YOU STILL THE SAME CHRISTIAN TODAY AS YOU WERE YESTERDAY. HAVE YOU GROWN IN THE LORD. THERE’S NO LIMITS AS TO HOW FAR WE CAN GROW IN JESUS. WE OUGHT NOT BE IN THE SAME PLACE AND POSITION. WE OUGHT TO BE GROWING.
HOSEA 14:9 “WHO IS WISE, AND HE SHALL UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS? PRUDENT, AND HE SHALL KNOW THEM? FOR THE WAYS OF THE LORD ARE RIGHT, AND THE JUST SHALL WALK IN THEM: BUT THE TRANSGRESSORS SHALL FALL THEREIN.”
ARE YOU WALKING IN THE LORD OR FALLING? YOU CAN ONLY BE ONE OR THE OTHER. JESUS SAID HE THAT IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME. WE CAN’T STRADLE THE FENCE. YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON. WE NEED TO MAKE A CHOICE TONIGHT WHO WE ARE GOING TO SERVE.
JOSHUA 24:15 “AND IF IT SEEM EVIL UNTO YOU TO SERVE THE LORD, CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YE SHALL SERVE; WHETHER THE GODS WHICH YOUR FATHERS SERVED THAT WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FLOOD, OR THE GODS OF THE AMORITES, IN WHOSE LAND YE DWELL: BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.”
PRAISE GOD FOR THOSE MOM AND DADS WHO WILL GET THEIR CHILDREN UP ON SUNDAY MORNING AND CARRY THEM TO THE HOUSE OF GOD. THEY KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT WAY IS AND THEY INCLUDE THE WHOLE FAMILY.
IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU’RE REALLY AT WITH CHRIST...GET IN THE WORD OF CHRIST. YOU’LL UNDERSTAND THAT YOU’RE EITHER CLOSE TO HIM OR YOU’RE FAR AWAY. YOU REMEMBER WHEN THEY LED JESUS THROUGH THE GREAT HALL AND PETER FOLLOWED AFAR OFF? THAT’S THE WAY A LOT OF CHRISTIANS ARE TODAY. THEIR FOLLOWING JESUS AFAR OFF. THEY WANT JUST ENOUGH OF CHRIST TO SAY I’M SAVED AND I’M A MEMBER OF THIS CHURCH. THEY WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW AND TO SEE THEM JUST ENOUGH TO SAY I’M ON MY WAY HOME. BUT THERE AREN’T ENOUGH WORKERS IN THE FIELD. THE LABORERS ARE FEW. YOU KNOW WHAT THIS CHURCH NEEDS? IT NEEDS SOME GOOD WORKERS FOR JESUS. WE NEED SOMEBODY TO BE BOLD AND HOLY AND TO STAND UP FOR CHRIST. EVEN WHEN THE WORLD SAYS NO WE OUGHT TO SAY YES GOD AND DO WHAT HE SAYS. WE CAN’T DISCERN EVERY SIN IN OUR LIFE BUT I’M SERVING A GOD THAT KNOWS.
ROMANS 6:23 “FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.”
ROMANS 5:20 “MOREOVER THE LAW ENTERED, THAT OFFENCE MIGHT ABOUND. BUT WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND.”
SIN WILL ALWAYS GET YOU IN TROUBLE BUT THANK GOD GRACE WILL ALWAYS SET YOU FREE. ROMANS 6:14 “FOR SIN SHALL NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER YOU: FOR YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW BUT UNDER GRACE.”
ECCLESIASTES 7:20 “FOR THERE IS NOT A JUST MAN UPON EARTH, THAT DOETH GOOD, AND SINNETH NOT.” WE ALL HAVE SIN IN OUR LIVES.
ROMANS 3:23 “FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” IT’S UP TO YOU AND I TO CORRECT THOSE ERRORS THAT WE MAKE. THE BEST WAY TO CORRECT YOUR ERRORS IS TO UNDERSTAND WHEN WE’VE DONE WRONG. IF WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT’S WRONG IN OUR LIVES WE CAN MAKE IT RIGHT. LAY YOUR BURDENS DOWN AT JESUS FEET. WE’RE SERVING A FORGIVING GOD. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE WHO DO WRONG AND DON’T THINK THEY ARE. IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT’S WRONG IN YOUR LIFE IT’S BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT IN THE WORD OF GOD. ASK CHRIST TO FORGIVE YOU OF YOUR SINS. TRY TO LIVE IN SIN AND WORSHIP GOD...THAT WILL NOT WORK. YOUR SINS AND YOUR INIQUITIES HAVE HID HIS FACE FROM YOU. DON’T TRY TO COME INTO CHURCH WHILE YOU’RE LIVING A SIN FILLED LIFE AND STAND UP TELL US THAT YOU’RE RIGHT IN LINE WITH GOD. CHRIST IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF SIN OR CONFUSION. CHRIST IS NOT THE MINISTER OF SIN BUT OF SALVATION. IF YOU’VE GOT SIN IN YOUR LIFE, YOU NEED TO GET IT OUT. PEOPLE AREN’T HAPPY ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TOO MUCH SIN IN THEIR LIFE. PEOPLE HAVE NO PEACE IN THEIR LIFE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TOO MUCH SIN IN THEIR LIFE. PEOPLE CAN’T ENJOY SERVING THE LORD BECAUSE THEY HAVE TOO MUCH SIN IN THEIR LIFE. YOU CANNOT HAVE SIN AND SALVATION. THEY DON’T GO TOGETHER.
YOU REMEMBER THE HARLOT THAT GOT CAUGHT IN THE ACT AND THE PEOPLE SAID THEY SHOULD STONE HER? THEY RECOGNIZED THAT WOMANS SINS AND HER ERRORS BUT JESUS DIDN’T. HE SAID: HE THAT IS WITHOUT SIN AMONG YOU, LET HIM CAST THE FIRST STONE. THERE’S NOT ANYONE OF US THAT CAN PUT OURSELVES ABOVE ANYONE ELSE. MY WIFE ONCE SAID: THEY WANTED TO STONE THE WOMAN FOR COMMITTING ADULTERY BUT LET THE MAN GO HIS WAY. IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO SHE SAID. WHAT ABOUT HIS SIN? HE ALLOWED HER TO COMMIT IT AND HE ENTICED HER TO COME TO HIM. JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU THERE WERE MALE CHAUVENISTS BACK THEN TOO. (HA HA) SIN COMES IN THE FORM OF THE NATURAL. SIN CAN NEVER TOUCH OUR SOUL.
BACK IN PSALMS 19 I WANT YOU TO NOTICE SOMETHING. SECRET FAULTS OR SECRET SINS. THEY ARE THOSE THAT ARE UNKNOWN TO THE INDIVIDUAL. MAYBE THOSE THAT ARE UNINTENTIONAL. THOSE YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU DID. SINS YOU MIGHT NOT THOUGHT AFFECTED SOMEONE ELSE BUT THEY DID.
1 JOHN 1:8 “IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US.” WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT SIN CAN DECEIVE.
1 JOHN 1:10 “IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT SINNED, WE MAKE HIM A LIAR, AND HIS WORD IS NOT IN US.” WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT SIN WILL BRING SPIRITUAL DARKNESS IN OUR LIVES.
ECCLESIASTES 9:18 “WISDOM IS BETTER THAN WEAPONS OF WAR: BUT ONE SINNER DESTROYETH MUCH GOOD” WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT SIN WILL DESTROY.
YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SIN IS IN YOUR LIFE. BUT YOUR SINS WILL KNOW YOU.
NUMBERS 32:23 “BUT IF YE WILL NOT DO SO, BEHOLD, YE HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD; AND BE SURE YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT.”
MARK THAT WORD YOUR. THEIR YOUR SINS, NOT MINE. MY SINS AND MY ERRORS ARE MY OWN. THEY AREN’T YOURS. YOUR OWN SINS WILL FIND YOU OUT. IF I FAIL TONIGHT IT’S BECAUSE I ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN AND I’LL HAVE TO BE THE ONE THAT PAYS FOR IT AND NOT YOU. IT’S MY JOB TO ASK GOD TO FORGIVE ME OF MY SINS.
SINS CAN ALSO BE THINGS THAT GOD ASKS YOU TO DO AND YOU DON’T DO THEM. OFTEN TIMES WE SIN BY THE THINGS WE DON’T DO AND OFTEN TIMES BY WHAT WE DO.
SIN ISN’T JUST ROBBING A STORE OR KILLING A PERSON. NOT BEING THE CHRISTIAN GOD WANTS YOU TO BE CAN BE A SIN.
IN VERSE 13 IT TALKS ABOUT PRESUMPTUOUS SINS. I BELIEVE THOSE ARE INTENTIONAL SINS. SINS THAT ARE PERSONIFIED BY THAT PERSON. YOU MADE YOUR SINS DELIBERATE. YOU KNEW YOU WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO DO IT BUT YOU DID IT ANYWAY. THOSE ARE WILLFUL SINS THAT GET US IN TROUBLE.
PSALMS 69:5 “O GOD, THOU KNOWEST MY FOOLISHNESS; AND MY SINS ARE NOT HID FROM THEE.” I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOUR SINS ARE NOT HID FROM GOD. YOU CAN HIDE THEM FROM EVERYBODY BUT GOD. HE KNOWS EVERY SIN IN YOUR LIFE. GODS KEEPING A RECORD.
PSALMS 51:1-3 “HAVE MERCY UPON ME O GOD, ACCORDING TO THY LOVING KINDNESS: ACCORDING UNTO THE MULTITUDE OF THY TENDER MERCIES BLOT OUT MY TRANSGRESSIONS. WASH ME THROUGHLY FROM MINE INIQUITY, AND CLEANSE ME FROM MY SIN. FOR I ACKNOWLEDGE MY TRANSGRESSIONS; AND MY SIN IS EVER BEFORE ME.”
NOTICE HE SAID BLOT OUT MY TRANSGRESSIONS MEANS VIOLATION. WHEN I THINK OF THE WORD VIOLATION I THINK ABOUT A COP GIVING A TICKET FOR SPEEDING. WE HAVE TO PAY THE FINE FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS.
THEN HE SAID WASH ME THROUGHLY FROM MINE INIQUITY. MINE INIQUITY MEANS WICKEDNESS. WE WENT FROM VIOLATION TO WICKEDNESS.
THEN HE SAID CLEANSE ME FROM MY SIN. MY SIN IS A DELIBERATE ESTRANGEMENT FROM GOD. WHEN YOU DELIBERATELY ESTRANGE YOURSELF FROM GOD, HIS SON, THE HOLY SPIRIT; YOU BEGIN TO DO THINGS YOUR WAY; YOU DELIBERATELY ESTRANGE YOURSELF FROM GOD.
WE WENT FROM VIOLATION TO WICKEDNESS TO A DELIBERATE ESTRANGEMENT FROM GOD. SIN STARTS OUT REAL SMALL BUT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME IT GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER. ONE LITTLE SIN IN YOUR LIFE CAN TURN INTO ONE MAJOR SIN IN YOUR LIFE. PRETTY SOON YOU’RE OUT OF CHURCH, YOUR FAMILIES OUT OF CHURCH AND YOUR BACKSLID. SIN IS RULING AND IT SHOULDN’T BE. WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE SIN AND BE PARTAKERS OF THE SALVATION. YOU GIVE THE DEVIL AND INCH AND HE’LL BECOME A RULER. HE’LL STRIP YOU FROM EVERYTHING. I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY A CHRISTIAN WHO KNOWS THEY HAVE SIN IN THEIR LIFE WOULDN’T WANT TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT WITH GOD. SIN WILL SEPARATE YOU FROM GOD.
HERE’S THE FIRST STEP IN GETTING RID OF YOUR SINS. IN VERSE FOUR THE PSALMIST SAID: I ACKNOWLEDGE MY TRANSGRESSIONS.
1 JOHN 1:9 “IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS, AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.”
WE NEED TO CONFESS OUR SINS AND FORSAKE THEM. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WHO SIN ON MONDAY AND CONFESS THEIR SINS AND DO THE SAME THING AGAIN ON TUESDAY. THEN TWO OR THREE MORE ARE ADDED TO IT. THEY ACT LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG. YOU’RE D-I-R-T-Y TONIGHT. YOU’VE GOT DIRT IN YOUR LIFE IF YOU HAVE SIN IN IT. IF YOU HAVE DIRT, GET IT OUT. GOD DON’T LIKE LOOKING AT A DIRTY CHRISTIAN. HE LIKES SEEING YOU AS PURE AS YOU CAN BE.
A LOT OF TIMES OUR SINS AFFECT SOMEONE ELSE. HERE’S WHO THEY AFFECT MOST OF ALL. IN PSALMS 51:4 “AGAINST THEE, THEE ONLY, HAVE I SINNED, AND DONE THIS EVIL IN THY SIGHT...” HE WAS TALKING TO THE LORD. OUR SIN AFFECTS OUR SAVIOR. THAT’S TERRIBLE ISN’T IT?
1 CORINTHIANS 8:12 “BUT WHEN YE SIN SO AGAINST THE BRETHREN, AND WOUND THEIR WEAK CONSCIENCE, YE SIN AGAINST CHRIST.” WHEN WE SIN IT WILL ALWAYS AFFECT THE SAINTS OF GOD. NOTHING MAKES ME SICKER THAN A CHRISTIAN THAT’S A MEMBER OF A CHURCH, SAVED AND COMES TO CHURCH HALF THE TIME AND THEY DON’T EVEN CARE ABOUT THE OTHER MEMBERS SITTING ON THE PEWS. THEY DON’T CALL THEM, PRAY FOR THEM AND THEY ARE BACKSLID. THEIR SIN IS AFFECTING THE SAINTS OF GOD. IT’S NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE.
PROVERBS 8:36 “BUT HE THAT SINNETH AGAINST ME WRONGETH HIS OWN SOUL: ALL THEY THAT HATE ME LOVE DEATH.” OUR SINS ALWAYS AFFECT US. DO NOT BE PARTAKERS OF OTHER MENS SINS.
SIN AFFECTS OUR SAVIOR. SIN AFFECTS THE SAINTS OF GOD AND SIN AFFECTS US.
HEBREWS 12:1-2 “WHEREFORE SEEING WE WITH SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES, LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT, AND THE SIN WHICH DOTH SO EASILY BESET US, AND LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US. LOOKING UNTO JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH; WHO FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME, AND IS SET DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD.”
LET US PRAY: FATHER, I HAVE HEARD YOUR WORD AND I DIDN’T REALIZE THAT COULD HAVE SECRET SINS IN MY LIFE. I ASK YOU LORD TO FORGIVE ME OF MY SINS AND TO CLEANSE ME OF ALL MY UNRIGHTEOUSNESS AND MAKE ME WHOLE. GIVE ME WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW WHEN I AM ABOUT TO DO WRONG THAT I MIGHT NOT DO IT. I PRAY FATHER THAT I CAN LEAD A MORE HOLY AND GODLY LIFE. ONE THAT IS BEFITTING OF YOUR GLORY AND HONOR. IN JESUS NAME. AMEN
