Issues of the Heart – Secret Sins

Aww such sweet melody, check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8gKXu6J2wE 

I am excited about writing this piece, because I lived this life and was set free from the double life that I had been living. I have talked about this before on this blog. In which I shared about a time in my life when I carried a secret sin for a very long time. At first, I didn’t want to put it away. Then when I finally was sick and tired of it and wanted to get away from it, I quickly found out the hard way, just how strong the hold of this sin was in my life.  I honestly could not break away from it. Not for a lack of not wanting to, but because the force and the hold it had on me was stronger than me. The many times that I did walk away from it, I only came back to it again and again. This madness, guilt and shame became a heavy burden and too much to carry. I was in bondage and did not realize that I was now a slave and the sin was my master.

So with that opening, I want to let you know that I understand how subtle any sin begins. It comes in many colors of fun, excitement, adventure and glamour with all the hoopla. But the truth is, that it is sin dressed up in a lie from the father of lies himself, satan!

For you folks who don’t believe that satan exists, just take a look around and you’ll see the wickedness that he has orchestrated with lies. He has many weapons and will use the one it takes to get you. As examples, he can use alcohol, drugs, prostitution (weather you are paid or not), hate, pornography, money, a harden heart, gossip, unforgiveness, etc. And that sin will hold you captive!

What is secret sin? 

SIN

God’s Word says that sin “is disobedience to God’s law.” Even without reading a bible or ever attending church or a bible study, you still have a conscience which can decide between right and wrong. So you are without excuse.

Psalm 38 A psalm of David, asking God to remember him.
O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your rage!
Your arrows have struck deep, and your blows are crushing me.
Because of your anger, my whole body is sick; my health is broken because of my sins.
My guilt overwhelms me,  it is a burden too heavy to bear.

SECRET means “things unknown to others.”

These types of sins are not like say, pride, fear, lying, etc. Those would be obvious to everyone. Secret sin would be more like the hidden things you do when no one is looking. Too many times these sins are hurting others and yourself. And when you hold on to these sins, some of the lies that satan whispers to you are:

Lie # 1.     You’re not hurting anybody

The truth is:

·        You are hurting yourself, by going against what you know is wrong. This is called guilt, and guilt will have its day in court. Guilt is a heavy necklace nicely wrapped around your neck that slowly chokes life and joy from you.  
    Proverbs 4:23
    Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life
    Proverbs 14:12
    There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. 

 Lie # 2     Nobody knows, so it is okay

The truth is:

·        Do you really believe that nobody can see your changed behavior? Can you honestly say that it doesn’t affect those relationship which are closes to you?

    Proverbs 27:19
    As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man.
     Psalm 44:21
    Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart. 

Lie # 3.  It feels right and you should be happy

The truth is:

·        You and I cannot rely on emotions or feelings in order to say that everything is okay. Doesn't even your conscience warn you that it isn't okay and tells you of the consequences that will follow.  So what a lie your heart is telling you, yet many have fallen for it. The One who created you says in His Word, that the human heart is deceitful above all else.
    Jeremiah 17:9 
   “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is   
    Proverbs 28:26
    He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.
   
The only One who can help set you free is the Lord your God. For He knows your heart better than you. A change of heart is what’s needed, and there is only One who can do it. God has done it for me and He will do it for you. Here is His promise for you to believe that He can, 
      1 Samuel 10:9 

So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him  another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.

Why would God desire to do this for you, (1) because He loves you, (2) this is His perfect plan and will for you!

1 Thessalonians 3:13

So that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life

Too many have fallen, so let us consider their story and learn from their downfall. Some examples would be Samson (lust), Joseph’s brothers (jealousy), Ananias with Sapphira his wife (lying), Cain (anger) and of course, Judas (money).  

They all had opportunities to change, but would not. Some even heard from God, and still they would not turn away from sin (Cain).

Genesis 4:6-7

So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door.

And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Sin and it’s stronghold in the lives of His children, grieves God’s heart. His desire is for you to enjoy this life abundantly with Him. But when your heart is far away from Him it brings sadness and sorrow to His heart.

Let’s look at Isaiah 29:13

And so the Lord says,
“These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their Worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by memorization and repetition. 

Heart Question

     Do you have a secret sin that you know is hurting you and possibly others, but can’t break away from it?

It is never too late to talk to God and confess your sin and shortcoming. Tell Him all about it and how you need and want His help to break this stronghold and be set free! Look at what God wants to do with that sin in your life;

Isaiah 44:22 
I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free. 

Jeremiah 31:34 
And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the LORD. For everyone from the least to the greatest will know Me," says the Lord. And I will forgive their wickedness and I will never again remember their sins."

Let Us Pray
Lord, I have come to realize that I cannot trust in myself. My safety is in learning to trust You. My desire is to come to you and talk, that you may teach me your ways and set me free from my own ways. I surrender to You, come and be the Lord of my life. Amen