Rod & Rose

THE WORD: “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” (James 4:17 NLT)

What an amazing week it’s been! Between the North Point Church online messages that I listened to last week, the Gideon study by Priscilla Shirer that I’m in the middle of, and today’s message from Pastor Todd…there is no doubt in my mind that Papa’s Holy Spirit is moving!

In the North Point Church message entitled, “Right in the Eye,” Andy Stanley opens the series with this statement “It’s my life. I should be free to do what I want, when I want, with whom I want . . . as long as I’m not hurting anybody.” This is what we tell ourselves. But what if it’s not true? What if our desire to do what is right in our own eyes has major consequences for us, for the people with us, for the people who love us, and for the people coming after us?”

The Gideon study by Priscilla Shirer takes us through the life of a man who is no different from you and me. A man called by God, empowered by God to unite the people of God to fight against the enemies of God. However, somewhere along the way Gideon lost focus; he allowed his anger and pride to rule the day. His humility left him. He neglected his relationship with God. At the end of battles that he fought, he used the praises of man and the gold rings to create his own idol. He turned to the world and allowed the comfort of money and fame to take the place of God in his life. He returned to his idolatry.

This story…this study…begs the questions: “Is there anything in my life that I have allowed to take the place of God? Have I allowed sin to creep back in? Is there anything in my life that I’m idolizing more than Papa God?”

In today’s message from pastor Todd, the challenge was loud and clear…. “Are you willing to do whatever it takes to get unstuck?”

Rather than being willing to do whatever it takes to get free, most of us try to convince others that we’re not really stuck. We mask our “issues” with smiles and pretend that our world is just fine. We isolate and deceive ourselves into thinking that we can keep it under the radar. We tell ourselves, “If no one knows…then it’s really not ‘real,’ and I don’t have to do anything about it. I can continue in my secret sin…no one has to know.”

Little do we know that the sin is glaring like a big fat pimple in the middle of our forehead…full of puss and ready to burst! At the end of the day, the only one we’re deceiving is ourselves.

Whatever we struggle with…that “thing” that we keep shoving under the rug…is actually consuming us. Like cancer, it spreads, consumes and destroys everything and everyone around us. The longer we remain in this path of deception, the more damage we cause…to ourselves and to our loved ones.

Oh how the Devil smiles over this state of stupidity we fall into…this path we have chosen! Worse yet is the fact that we lose our spiritual “sweet spot” with Papa God. He removes his “lamp stand” from us because we have made the choice to remain in a state of rebellion. And our strength is sapped: “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night, your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.” ~ Psalm 32:3-4

Like Adam and Eve, we hide. We let the guilt and the shame override the fact that the entire time that we are in the middle our sin, God’s heart is breaking for us! He is a loving merciful forgiving Father! Just as He called out for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Papa cries out for you and me! “Where are you…why are you hiding?” Oh how He longs for our return. He does not force us; it needs to be our choice. He simply waits.

So my prayer and my call to any one of us that may be dealing with secret sin(s): Let us take time to help each other get unstuck! TODAY…not tomorrow…is the day to take the prescription of the three “R’s” seriously:

REMEMBER…the heights from which you have fallen…that “sweet spot” where you found your joy with Papa God. Remember the energy, the warmth, the pleasure you felt being in His presence! You and HIM…exactly how it is meant to be! He loves you so much and longs to be your King again!

REPENT – If you are dealing with a ‘secret’ sin, choose right now to turn around and walk away from it. Do not let the enemy win! Do not wait until tomorrow…do it TODAY!

RETURN – God is right there…waiting to gaze into your face and wrap His loving arms around you! Turn around child…run back to the Cross and fall into His loving arms.

One last thought from Pastor Todd’s message: “In God’s economy, seeking God is greater than serving Him.”

He is worth it friend! Take time today to SEEK His face and His righteousness and you will be amazed at how “all other things” will be added unto you!

“Papa God, we come before your throne today. Humble us and cause us to take inventory of our lives. Search our hearts and reveal to us anything that we may have allowed to take your place. Give us the courage to repent and turn back to you today! Help us to reach out to a brother or sister in Christ….someone that can love and hold us accountable…someone that will pray with and for us.

Father, just as You will not force us to turn back, neither can our brothers or sisters. It is our choice…our call. Help us to pour out in confession anything that is hindering our walk with you and damaging our witness. I know you love us Lord…and you long for our return. Help us to trust you. Help us to remember that in YOUR arms is exactly where we need to be! In Jesus name, I pray! ~ Amen”