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