08.31.11 - Out From Under The Rug

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. KJV

Biblical Accountability = Discipleship

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

9:37 AM

1. I.   Cover Up

1. a. Throughout the entire Bible, in both Old and New Testaments, we sin the struggle with mankind against his sinful nature.  We see also, in story after story, Scripture after Scripture, that man usually wants to hide and cover up his sin and mistakes. 

1. i. Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid , because I was naked; and I hid myself. KJV

1. ii. Josh 7:20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: 21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. KJV

1. iii. 2 Samuel 11:6-17 . . .this is the story of the murder of Uriah after David had gone in to Bathsheba.

1. iv. Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias , with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias , why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? KJV

1. 1. Why do you think that the first thing we tend to do when we sin is to cover up what we have done?

1. 2. What does this "reaction" say about the Holy Spirit's work in our lives to help us to know right from wrong?

1. 3. What are some of the "feelings" we experience when we have sinned?

1. a. Guilt, fear shame, condemnation, separation

1. 4. Please read Proverbs 15:11.  Based on this Scripture, what "good" does it do to try to hide our sin?

1. II. Why Clean Under The Rug?

1. a. Prov 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. KJV

1. b. James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. KJV

1. i. We are taught in both the Old Testament and the New that confessing our sin is not just a small step but a great leap towards freedom!

1. ii. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all  unrighteousness. KJV

1. 1. If we are not willing to identify our sin, and "own" it, then we cannot receive forgiveness from God.

1. 2. If we do not have forgiveness from God, then we are not cleansed from the impurities in our lives as a result of our sin.  We remain separated from God (Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you KJV)

1. a. Can you relate a time in your life when you "walked in sin" and chose to not "own" that the way you were living or the things you were doing were against the Will of God?

1. b. What brought about a change of heart in order for you to ask for forgiveness?

1. c. In what ways can we help those around us, both Christians and non, to "own" the mistakes in their lives?

1. i. See again James 5:16, prayer!

1. ii. Hebrews 10:24.  

1. iii. Hebrews 10:25.

1. III. Walking It Out 

1. a. There is power when two agree (walk) together in this life.  Christ recognized that and even dispersing His disciples to go and radically change the world with the Gospel, He sent them two by two.

1. i. Mark 6:7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two KJV

1. ii. Eccl 4:9 Two are better than one ; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. KJV

1. iii. Matt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. KJV

1. iv. Gen 2:18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; KJV

1. 1. We are not told where Adam was when Eve had her conversation with the serpent, but we can pretty much bank on if he had been there, things would have gone differently.

1. a. Think about the ways the enemy tempts you.  How often are you alone when you are tempted and how often are you with others?  

1. b. What are the benefits of having a person in whom you can confide?

1. c. Are you a loner or a people person?  How might that affect the way satan tempts you?

1. IV. Consider This

1. a. Samson and David were similar in may ways. Both from a young age were set apart by God for His work.  Both had a great anointing on their lives to lead.  Both had lust issues with women.  It is the differences though that are marked.  Samson had no one in his life that he was close to, no close friend from which he could glean advise or be accountable to. There was no one to say, "hey buddy, stay away from Delilah, she is bad news."  David however after the mishap with Bathsheba and Uriah had the prophet to get in his face and turn him in the right direction.  Samson's life ended in misery, he died in the land of his enemies, he died alone.  I'm not sure that we could call his life story a great victory for God, though it did have it's high points.  Of David it was said, even with his life's low points, that he was a man after God's own heart. He died with those who were familiar to him, those that respected him.  He did not die alone.  

1. b. Being a "lone ranger" comes at great cost.  Having those around you whom you trust and confide in comes with great comfort!