SIN UNSEEN
I want to thank the Lord for all of the hard work that has been done this past week. You may look around and see where the walls are unfinished. A little bit of paint here and a little there. Some have wondered - Why is it not finished? There is a very good reason.
It was necessary to patch a few holes and crack lines before we have it painted. Consequently, the workers have been in here most of the week patching and sanding all over the sanctuary. If you were here Wednesday evening, you would have seen all of the patchwork. But this morning, those patches have been painted over with a coat of primer to make ready for the final coat of paint later this week.
(Be sure to thank John and Connie Miller for all of their hard work.)
When I walked in here on Wednesday afternoon, I was amazed at how many places had to be patched. Frankly, I had no idea that the walls were in as bad of shape as they were. I knew we had a few places needing repair, but I hadn’t realized what bad shape this was in.
On Wednesday, it was easy to see each of the places where John and Connie had plastered and sanded. While praying that evening, I began to realize this is the House of God that was in bad need of repair.
The average person would not have noticed all that was wrong. But to the trained eye of someone like John and Connie, it was obvious we had a real mess on the inside walls of God’s House.
Suddenly, I began to wonder what the inside of my sanctuary must look like. I asked the Lord, “Are there holes and cracks on the inside of our hearts, also? Is it possible that we have been so busy that we have overlooked our personal sanctuary?”
In the Spirit, I was reminded of the story of the Prophet Samuel and King Saul. Saul had been given specific instructions, from the Lord, in leading the children of Israel by the Prophet Samuel. But Saul willfully disobeyed the command of God and did what he wanted to do.
Text: I Samuel 15:17 thru 23
Listen carefully saints. The cracks and holes on the inside of our heart are the result of the sin in our lives. Sin is very easy for any of us to overlook.
I shared a meal with a man in Akron, OH, this week. He had told me that he had given his heart to Christ many years ago when he was a teenager. He went on to tell me of how for years he had decided to do with his life what he wanted - rather than totally surrendering his life to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The Good News is that he recently recommitted his life to Christ.
And since that time, he had sensed the very real presence of the Lord in his life most everyday.
This was all very good, but he told me that he was also struggling with sin everyday and (in his words) “just couldn’t seem to get it right.” He wanted to live a more righteous and holy life, but felt defeated most of the time.
I told him that he was not alone. All Christians who are transparent and honest with them selves have felt this way at one time or another. It’s a true sign of humility to come to the point of need and reliance on the Lord to fight your battle with sin.
I don’t know what you are thinking this morning, but (personally) I cannot make it without God’s help. We all battle with sin and temptation daily. Amen?
Question: What does it mean to tell God, “I’m sorry,” and admit that when we have sinned?
Our text today is a great case of what confession is or isn’t.
Samuel confronted Saul about his sins that he had committed. Samuel reminded Saul of where he had come from in serving God.
17 And Samuel told him, "When you didn’t think much of yourself, God made you king of Israel.
(TLB)
The Prophet Samuel then explained to Saul just how he had betrayed God and God’s people.
It really is hard to say for sure why Saul responded the way he did. Was he trying to justify his actions to Samuel? Or, did he not see the sin he had committed?
Here is what we do know (in reading this).
Read verse 24.
Saul admitted that he had sinned but he said it was because he “…feared the people and obeyed their voice.”
I would suggest that this is a very real problem for Christians living in the 21st Century. Many believers struggle with the fear of what other people say instead of what of what God has already told them.
In our story, Saul was the most powerful king in all the world. He was in charge of God’s Army. He had no reason for being afraid of anyone.
Saul may have been the King over Israel, but he must have been very insecure with his relationship with the Lord. He denied that he had done anything wrong. Saul could not see the cracks and holes within his own heart. Left to his own way of thinking, Saul was destroying himself and jeopardizing the spiritual well being and safety of the children of Israel.
Saul needed to repent and find forgiveness of his sins. He did just that, but the consequence of his sin would now cost him being the King of Israel. Saul’s heart was not holy and obedient enough to continue being the King of Israel and leading God’s children.
My friend this is what can happen when we leave sin unchecked and uncorrected. What do I mean?
It is time we make sure our holy temple is in good repair. We need to look for the cracks and holes in the plaster of our own hearts. I am thankful that we are cleaning things up and getting the walls repaired in the house of God. Because it is time to get the House of God in order.
The condition of the inside of your temple and your heart is also important. We need God to show us our faults and failures. We may be like Saul and we don’t see them. Or maybe we don’t realize how important the condition of our heart is to the Lord and to His people.
Let me speak to you today as I think the Prophet Samuel would speak to you.
17 And Samuel told him, "When you didn’t think much of yourself, God made you king of Israel.
(TLB)
What do I mean?
My friend when God saved you – “…you didn’t think much of yourself”, God gave you authority over the enemy. Even though “…you didn’t think much of yourself”, God conquered your enemy – the devil.
God conquered sin, disease, death and the grave for you. He made you a joint heir to the throne of the King – King Jesus. And now – God wants you to obey His voice and simply do what he tells you.
Not what you want to do.
Or what you think is best.
My friend – stay true to the voice of the Lord in your life. Don’t worry about what the people will say. Just listen to what the Lord is telling you to do.
Question: What things do you need to confess before God? What areas of your life do you need to examine as to whether you are following God’s ways?
I John 1:8-10
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
We all together on this…
The Lord delights in forgiving the repentant sinner and/or the sinners.
It is important that we all are repentant and receive forgiveness for our sins.
We are in this together.
Saul’s repentance was important not just to him, but to the children of Israel as well. Likewise, your repentance is also important to the rest of us.
This is called Corporate Confession
The Book of Lamentations gives to us an example of corporate confession. Jeremiah speaks in terms of personal sin and sorrow: “I rebelled.… Behold my sorrow” (Lam. 1:18). Likewise, “I have been very rebellious” (1:20). Clearly Jeremiah was identifying with his people. He was speaking of what the nation of Judah as a whole has done.
God’s people today also bear corporate responsibility for confession and forgiveness.
We may not have been involved with sinners or a particular sin, but we must confess and seek healing for what “we-as-a-people” have done. As well, we have to recognize the consequences that may still be with us as a result of past sins.
We also must be careful how we live our own lives, knowing that today’s choices may affect our children and our children’s children.
Let’s clean up the House of God from any sin we can find. Just because we do not see it does not mean that it is not there.
Question:
How should we tell God we are sorry for something we have done (or not done), or that we need His help? Is there a right way or a wrong way to come before Him?
Perhaps we can find the words to say to God from –
Psalm 130:1-8
1 O Lord, from the depths of despair I cry for your help:
2 "Hear me! Answer! Help me!"
3 Lord, if you keep in mind our sins, then who can ever get an answer to his prayers? But you forgive! What an awesome thing this is!
5 That is why I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for he has promised.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord; for he is loving and kind and comes to us with armloads of salvation.
8 He himself shall ransom Israel from her slavery to sin.
(TLB)
My friend - God gives ear to the honest prayers of brokenness and failure. They also provide a model for how we might express ourselves to Him.
• Psalm 6: A plea for help in the midst of illness.
2 Pity me, O Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, for my body is sick,
3 and I am upset and disturbed. My mind is filled with apprehension and with gloom. Oh, restore me soon.
4 Come, O Lord, and make me well. In your kindness save me.
• Psalm 51: A confession of sin and plea for cleansing.
2 Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again.
3 For I admit my shameful deed-- it haunts me day and night.
4 It is against you and you alone I sinned and did this terrible thing. You saw it all, and your sentence against me is just.
5 But I was born a sinner, yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 You deserve honesty from the heart; yes, utter sincerity and truthfulness. Oh, give me this wisdom.
7 Sprinkle me with the cleansing blood and I shall be clean again. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
(TLB)
Perhaps these words from the Book of Psalm seem very strange to you. They shouldn’t. They were written (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) by simple and humble people just like you and I.
If we are ever to see the goodness and greatness of the Lord, it will be when each of us humble ourselves under the hand of the Almighty One Who can save us form our sins.
God delights to hear His people call upon Him. He is not embarrassed by our troubles or failures.
In fact, He invites us to make a sincere confession of sin.
Close with (1 John 1:5–10).
We have nothing to gain by denying or hiding our spiritual needs or by delaying to come before God. So what prayer do you need to pray to Him right now?
