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When God Exposes Sin 3

James Brown

Updated: Sep 30, 2024

When Israel was near to entering the Promised Land, Moses sternly charged the tribe of Gad and Reuben (whose inheritance was in Gilead on the east of Jordan) to help their brethren possess their inheritance and the land, in Canaan, on the western side of the Jordan. He said if they were negligent to do so, they would be sinning against the Lord.


But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23) 


Notice the statement, “be sure your sin will find you out.” Moses warned that any neglect of these two tribes to help the other tribes enter into their inheritance was a sin and would come to light with consequences before the Lord. Likewise, when we do not repent and confess our sins and shortcomings before the Lord, it will have consequences.

 

God is Light, and His light will expose the very thoughts and intents of our heart (Hebrews 4:12-13). Light is no respecter of personalities, race, color, socioeconomics, or political persuasion. It will always illuminate its subject, exposing both the good and also the defects and blemishes.

 

God, in His great mercy, allows us time to come to grips with our weaknesses and sin, but the time comes when He will expose it before others so we will hopefully come to our senses and repent.


1) Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. 2) Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit, there is no deceit. 


3) When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. 4) For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah 


5) I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah 


6) For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him. Psalms 32:1-6


David realized the importance of confessing his sins early on and not hardening his heart to the conviction he felt.

He experientially knew hiding his sin only resulted in discomfort, pain, and the hand of God resting heavy upon him

in chastisement and correction. Thankfully, he also knew the forgiveness of the Lord when he repented and confessed

his sin.

 

The scandals we hear about today among Christian leaders, is the result of them not properly responding to the Lord’s private conviction, and/or their pride and refusal to seek help to overcome a besetting sin.


1) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2)  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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1 


Every one of us deals with temptations of the flesh, the world, and the devil (Matthew 4:1-11; 26:41; Galatians 5:16-17; 1 John 2:16). It’s how we deal with these that makes the difference.

 

The apostle Paul stated:


31) For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32) But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:31-32


This means we can avoid severe chastisement from the Lord by judging ourselves and repenting. God’s correction and discipline has a redemptive purpose. He wants to restore those who have fallen (Matthew 12:20, Galatians 6:1).


Kenneth Hagin consistently told the students at Rhema Bible Training Center, “Be quick to believe, quick to repent, and quick to forgive.” When we are quick to repent, God does not have to deal with us in a severe manner like He did with some individuals in scripture. (Daniel 4:1-37; Acts 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 5:1-7; Galatians 2:11-14; Revelation 2:18-23)

 

The Father’s intention is to bring us into experiential sanctification through the cleansing of His Word (John 17:17; Romans 12:1-2). If we receive His correction through the Word of God, and gentle rebukes of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we will not have to suffer the severe consequences that otherwise would befall us.

 

Several years ago, a member of the church I was pastoring went to a Bible school in a nearby state. Later, the founder and director of the Bible school held a meeting near our town. He was very charismatic, and well spoken, and moved in the gifts of the Spirit.

 

I later learned this man had gone through a divorce, became a bitter alcoholic, and turned his back on God. Individuals who knew him and his ministry prayed for him for quite some time, but suddenly sensed the Lord telling them to stop because he had hardened his heart and made up his mind. This is a horrible condition and is what it means to fall

from grace.  


4)  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5) and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6) if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 


7)  For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8) but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. Hebrews 6:4-8


This is why the scripture admonishes us to stay in fellowship with other believers who can help us stay on course.


25) not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 26)  For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Hebrews 10:25-27


As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17 


12)  Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13) but exhort one another daily, while it is called "TODAY," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:12-13


The Father and the Lord Jesus will not only speak privately to our hearts to warn us about slipping into sin, but also endeavor to correct and exhort us through members of the Body of Christ.

 

If we listen to the Holy Spirit’s conviction, or the admonition of our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will not fall into hardening our hearts or turning our back on the Lord.

 

God exposes sin when these avenues of mercy and grace are ignored, and individuals go on in known wrongdoing. He does it to bring them to repentance and restoration, and to protect His people. He is Light!


But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 


Until next time, may God our Heavenly Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who died and rose again for our sins and justification, bless, and keep you.

 

James Brown

CST 09/29/2024

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