Secrets That Kill

I am thankful to God for sending a man into my life to speak a truth to me. Sometimes we say ouch, but if we allow God to do His work in us and understand that He disciplines those He loves, we can learn and grow from it.

Of course, this brought me into some repenting and God spoke to my heart. Thank you, Jim, for pointing out what should have been the obvious, there is no protection in a lie.

Assaults come from every direction. We try to do right, but in our own strength, we cannot. In reflection, we have to ask, what is the root cause.

So, here is what I heard this morning during my quiet time with Jesus.  

John 11:39,40

³⁸ Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ³⁹ “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
⁴⁰ Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
⁴¹ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴² I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
⁴³ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Do you see it? Jesus said roll that stone away. But, he will stink, they said. Roll that stone away!

When we do a spring clean in our house, we open the windows to let the light in and to let the fresh air in to get rid of that staleness. Is it time to do some house cleaning? I am not talking about our house, I am talking about us.

What have we hid in our tomb? What secrets do we have that we do not want to expose, because it brings shame? Do we think that if we pretend it does not exist that it will eventually be forgotten? Our sins are forgiven when confessed, not with time. You have heard that time heals all wounds? In this case it is not true. Denial does not mean it does not exist. Let us not ignore the elephant in the room.

There is no place for shame (which is really pride) if we want deliverance. There can be no secrets, what is hidden must be exposed.

Hidden secrets are lies. Satan is the father of lies. Hiding in shame (pride) is partnership with the devil. Whose child are you?

We must expose the darkness. Secrets are always kept in darkness. We must let the light in. We stumble in the dark, Jesus brings light so that we can see and not stumble. We must remove the stumbling block of sin. If we hide our sins, we hide from God.

If we refuse deliverance, we do not accept the healing only God can bring.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

Even sins committed against us can be used as a hindrance to deliverance. We must release the offender to Jesus so that we can be free of injuries against us, to be healed. We must trust that God is the judge.

We cannot hold onto insult, hatred, offense, or grudge. God is the defender of the offended. He will bring recompense  We heap coals on our enemies heads when we choose to forgive and walk in love.

Sins that we have committed must be confessed. True repentance is acknowledging AND admitting a wrong (sin) and then turning away from it.

If we hide our sin, our foundation is built on a lie. What is built on a weak foundation will crumble. Confession brings healing, forgiveness brings strength and truth will set you free.

Be Free & Stay Free

Good works aren't good enough

It is not being good that will get you into Heaven. Try as hard as you may, but in your own strength and given to your own devices, this will not do it. Your goodness is not the ticket to Heaven.

Nor is:

• going to church
• singing in the choir
• taking a vow of poverty
• being wealthy
• giving all of your money to causes
• not drinking, smoking, or any other thing you view as wrong
• not stealing
• being kind
• volunteering
• working in ministry
• preaching to thousands
• being faithful to your spouse

The list can go on and on, but you get the point.

Our own righteousness is like a filthy rag Isaiah 64:6.  When we hold ourselves to the law  we will always fall short. There is no way we can fulfill the law. If we break one, we are guilty of breaking them all. There is a price for violating the law and the judge is a just judge and He can not let the guilty go free.

But there is a way!

Thanks be to God, our fine has been paid. Our debt has been paid. It is through this free gift that we can be sure of our salvation. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me."

Let everything you do be to the glory of God. Don't let your good works be for nothing.

For God so loved the world (you and me) that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Be Free and Stay Free

Freedom!

Have you ever wanted something so much that you were willing to pay any price to get it? Make any sacrifice and give all you have for this one thing? Maybe it was a relationship, an object, or a position?

When we have obtained something at a great cost, we cherish it and protect it. It is valuable to us, even if others do not see it's value.

We display it and we guard it so that it will not be lost, broken or stolen. Because we know the price that we have paid for it, we will not be convinced by anyone, or anything, that it is not worth it.

Stop! Before you continue to read this, pause for a moment and think about this.

Then read Ephesians 1:3-14.

I have wanted many things. Some I have obtained and some I haven't. I was willing to sacrifice much to take hold of what I saw as valuable. But, I was never willing, nor did I consider, laying my own life down, or the lives of my children, to receive what I thought was valuable.

Yet, this is what God did for us. He purchased our freedom through the blood of His Son, Jesus. We belonged to sin and the end results would lead us to death (or hell, if I can speak bluntly). But because of His redemption, His grace and His mercy, we belong to Him now. We are His treasures and He paid a great price for us.

Death no longer has a hold on us. Fear has been evicted. There is no more condemnation. We have only assurance that God loves us so much that He gave His only Son for us. Who the Son has set free is free indeed.

So...open your eyes and raise your hands and stand firm on this truth: I am blessed and highly favored and nothing, and I do mean NOTHING, can separate me from the love of God.

Be free and stay free!