9, April 2006
Dakota Community Church
Secret Things
Deuteronomy 29: 29
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
There are things that are secret that have not yet been revealed. That does not mean it will always be so.
As you know we are a church that is huge into the grace and mercy message.
Do we believe that lifestyle is unimportant to God?
Do we turn a blind eye to sin?
Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
To think that our lifestyle does not need to change is to ignore much scripture.
2 Peter 3:10-14
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
On that day there won’t be a list that has to be read, or memories that have to be jogged.
His presence will reveal it.
Isaiah 6: 1-5
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
Have you ever been close to someone of high standards? Someone who is health and diet conscious maybe? Even without being preachy their lifestyle brings conviction.
So then; there is no Santa Clause like list required.
The mere presence of the Lord reveals all.
He is light; there are no shadows in his presence!
Think about how Peter responded to Jesus when he realized who he was.
Depart from me I am unclean.
Everyone who has a divine encounter with God in scripture is immediately ready to fall down dead.
This is the God we will all stand before.
Romans 14:11-12
It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ’every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’ “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Have you been thinking you are getting away with something?
Why do we always want to think of these issues as someone else’s problem?
Three questions we need to ask ourselves before that day:
1. What have I secretly whispered?
Luke 12:2-3
There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
Matthew 12:36
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
I think more than anything else we underestimate the power of our words.
Have you criticized someone’s ministry?
Have you been bold behind someone’s back?
Have you ever been victimized by a “prayer chain”?
Nothing is more hurtful than walking into a room full of people who suddenly stop talking and look ashamed. It is not paranoia.
It should not happen in the Body of Christ.
2. What have I secretly withheld?
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
First of all we all need to understand that our gifts are not our own to profit from.
The gifts God has placed in the Body are for the common good of the Body.
- When I get job offers from different churches, it is not up to me.
- Jake cannot just decide he only wants to sing in bars.
- If your gift is making money, it is not for the building of your own empire.
- If your gift is teaching children, it is not for your own employment only.
Matthew 25:24-27
"Then the man who had received the one talent came.’Master,’ he said, ’I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
"His master replied, ’you wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
When we withhold our gifts it is usually because of an incorrect view of the Father.
There are people in this room who do more than their share to meet the needs of this Church.
When we have retreats cancelled because of drives needed – someone is withholding something.
When we need someone from another congregation to help run our youth program – someone is withholding something.
When I have to work part time on the side to sustain my family – someone is withholding something.
Is it you?
Do you have time, talent, or finances in your pockets that belong to the Body of Christ?
3. What have I secretly done?
1Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
On that day it will be revealed what the true motives are.
If you keep going exactly as you are now will the day of the Lord be a good day for you?
Do not let it be a day of regrets, make the changes now.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15
If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Notice that this passage is written to the saved.
Think about the things you have been doing.
When we first moved here I used to see a local famous TV Pastor at the mall regularly. I would see him at Chapters and then after he left I would stroll by to see what books he was looking at. I used to think, “I would not want to be on TV like he is because he has to live in a fish bowl.” Everyone always knowing who and what he is. Being on display in traffic, in line at the store, everywhere all the time, having to be an example.
That is how we are all supposed to live!
Are you ready for "That Day"?
Get ready!
Power Point Available on request – dcormie@mts.net
