“He said to them, "Do you
bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put
it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and
whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If
anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." (Mark 4:21-23, NIV)
Observations:
I asked
myself what Jesus is telling those around Him.
1. For
whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed.
2.
Whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.
3. If
anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.
Interpretations/Implications:
Reading these words became very
powerful to me because it brought to my mind the concept of sin. Earlier
Jesus had told those around Him to be a lamp. A lamp gives light to
those around them. It does no good hidden under a bowl or bed. When it
comes to sin, we cannot hide in our sin for long because our sin will be
exposed.
When it comes to God, there are
no secret sins. When people do things secretively it is not like no one
knows because God is carefully watching everything we do. This can be a
blessing because when we are keen to the concept of God watching over us
and we have given our life over to God, we will be conscious not to do
things that displease Him. Even when we do them, our conscious will
prick us!
Jesus is giving a promise that
no matter what we do it will one day come out into the open. That can be
really scary especially if people engage in things that the world sees
as shameful. But, it can also be a blessing in disguise because we can
be conscious of God watching over us and knowing what we do will one day
come out into the open. Jesus does not say may or could come out into
the open but will come out. There is a definite promise here.
If anyone who is willing to
hear, Jesus wants them to take His Word very seriously.
I ask you
now dear friend, what do you conceal?
Dear friend, whatever you have
hidden and you know it is not from God, it will come out into the open.
You cannot forever keep it
hidden whether a person is engaged in pornography, masturbation,
homosexuality, adultery, prostitution, premarital sex, etc. It is very
interesting that Jesus mentions a bowl and bed in his analogy. Most sins
that I have heard that people keep secretive fall under the sexual
category. Once Satan has you in his grip in any of those areas mentioned
above, he will direct you into darkness and secretiveness making you a
prisoner to what captivates you. Jesus knows about that and is giving a
way out.
Working with students and giving
them Scriptural principles to apply, I have learned that one of the best
ways to defeat Satan in these areas is to share the struggle with
someone close to you and ask them for prayer and accountability. It is
however very important you do not share with just anybody. As long as
Satan can make you do things in secret and not be ashamed unless it
comes out into the open, he will have a grip on you that you cannot
escape.
There are times when the Lord
supernaturally takes away those desires of people so they escape Satan’s
grip all together but most of the time it involves a struggle that the
Lord wants us to work through with His help. The Lord tells us His grace
is sufficient for us. He provides help through counseling, through close
friends, accountability which all need to fall under the Word of God.
Sexual sins are not the only sins that
can be exposed but any sin. It is better to have a clear conscience and
on the side of the Lord than following the enemy.
Whatever you are struggling
through and know it is a sin, do not give up on the Lord. When you mess
up, go to the Lord in prayer asking for forgiveness and His help. Do not
let Satan condemn you to the point that you cannot go to the Lord
anymore for you always can go to the Lord. When you feel that you cannot
go is when Satan will have you in its grasp and you will
start losing your conscience and become desensitized to the sin that
overtakes you.
God tells us in His word that
sin is crouching at the door and if you do not master it, it will master
you.
I do not want that for you
friend nor do I want it for myself. I want to be following the Master
than be mastered by the enemy’s way. I want that for you too friend.
Whatever you plan to do no
matter what rationalization you get from Satan ask yourself these
questions:
-
What if what I am doing is videotaped on
hidden camera and displayed to the world to see. If it is against
the Word of God, will I be ashamed? Will it spoil my reputation, etc
-
What if what I am doing is shown in a dream to
someone the Lord chooses to bring correction in my life, will I mind
or be ashamed? Remember, the Lord has shown the sins of people to
other people in their dreams/visions to correct them. An example is
the sin of David revealed to Nathan.
-
What if my secret sin causes the lost of a
loved one? In the Bible we see that Acan’s secret sin cost the lives
of those around him. He did not think anyone would know.
I
have heard people say it is better to die than living in a sin. I tell
you that suicide is not the answer but Jesus Christ! Satan would not
love anything more than you committing suicide. That is not the way of
the Lord and is cowardly.
Most
of all whatever action you want to engage in no matter what the
withdrawal or pull of temptation, ask yourself:
-
Is this action going to bring honor and glory
to the Lord?
-
Is this action what Jesus wants a follower of
Him to engage in?
-
Is this action a result of focusing on the
Lord or on the enemy?
Secretive sins whether they are
sexual, back hand business deals, etc will cause destruction in our
lives and those around us if we become desensitized to them. There are
sins that are so hard to overcome and become addictive.
Is there a way out and is there
hope then when a person cannot seem to stop doing what they are doing?
Yes, there is and the answer is
Jesus Christ and taking the help He provides. It will not be easy but
the first step is admitting that we are powerless over a certain action
that takes over us and we need the help of the Lord.
Things that are hidden are
usually a result of temptation and God promises a way out for every
temptation. We need to want it to receive it. Whatever I am writing is not
meant to say that we can overcome anything of our own free will because
from experience I can tell you, it will not happen. Taking the help the
Lord provides and resting in Him is the best way to overcome sin.
I am reminded of a kidney
transplant patient. After a patient gets a kidney transplant, they have
a kidney again but are forever captive to medication. Without taking the
medication, their kidney will reject itself and they could die without
another transplant with medication. If they decide they do not want medicine anymore but
want to live the way they used to live, it will not work for them.
In the same way, each of us are
dying as the virus known as sin has taken over us. We will continue to
die on the inside and on the outside until we get a transplant but the
transplant comes with daily instructions to follow.
What am I
talking about?
I am talking about a heart
transplant where our sinful heart is transplanted with the heart of
Jesus. This can happen because Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to come
and reside with us when we turn to Him. When that happens He will
transplant Himself in our lives. Now our sinful heart and the blood that
flows is transplanted by the Holy Spirit and now we are covered by the
cleansing Blood of Jesus Christ that flows in us.
Just as a person needs to
sacrifice their kidney to give someone else life, Jesus sacrificed
Himself on the cross to give us His heart of love and became our Donor.
Now, we need to accept what the Donor wants to give us and let Him
surgically remove the sin in our life and fill it with His presence and
Holy Spirit so we can be restored from our dying bodies on the inside
and outside.
But this alone is not enough
because we have to follow the instructions Jesus gives us so He can work
in our lives. Just as a kidney transplant patient has to take daily
medication forever so his kidney does not fail, we have to take the
daily medication Jesus offers us forever without skipping it. His
medication is the Word of God that is medicine to our soul. We need to
not only take it but let it work in our lives daily so Jesus does the
work in us and through us through His Spirit and His Word.
A kidney transplant patient
takes medication through his mouth. We need to take the Word of God through
our ears and sight, digesting it daily, putting into practice what we
have received. Otherwise, when we go our own way, we open ourselves up
to the enemy but focusing our mind, heart, soul, and strength always on
Jesus through prayer and His Word, we can live a victorious life. I
truly with all my heart believe that and there is hope and deliverance
for all in Jesus Christ!
The Word of God says, “Walk in
the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
Being a follower of Christ is
not one day saying the sinner’s prayer and going our own way. Satan will
not make it easy for us but we have Jesus to lean on and do everything
He tells us by taking the best medication He offers from His Word. This
means following His Word and principles as you seek the Lord in prayer.
This could mean getting counseling, accountability, etc which are all
biblical concepts that the Lord will reveal to help you as you are in
prayer.
No matter what you are going
through do not give up. Our God is a merciful Lord and desires to help
you. Yes, He does! Even when we feel we are being punished, it does not
mean the Lord has left us. Do not take it as punishment but take it as
our Heavenly Fathers’ loving discipline to help us go the right path.
May we rest in the Lord Jesus
always and know His love for us realizing He does forgive time after
time as we seek Him in repentance. May you make Romans 7 and 8 your
prayer when struggling through sin!
“Concealing Offenses Now Can
Explode Always Later!”(C.O.N.C.E.A.L)/”What do you conceal?”
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, your Word is so powerful that it makes me tremble at
times because of the power of it. Thank you so much for how much you
teach us. You Oh Lord know the secret sins of people’s lives. You know
what we hide and the masks we wear. We are so sorry for our sin and ask
you to please forgive us and heal us. We cannot do it on our own but
need your supernatural help no matter what the sin is. When you talked
about hidden things, sexual sin came to mind because of hearing tons of
stories about sexual sin and its devastating effect on people’s lives.
Most pastors/priest's lives that have been destructive occurred because
of sexual sin. Even King David's life and kingdom was forever affected
by sexual sin. You can deliver us from any sin no matter what it is.
Help us to take the help you provide in humility and grace. Thank you so
much Jesus. Jesus, we need the transplant you offer us so we come to you
and ask you for it. Please cover us in your precious blood flowing
through our heart for we believe what you did on the cross and need your
help. Help us Oh Lord for the glory of your Name delivering us and
setting us free. Thank you so much with the medication you give us and
our willingness to take it, Satan cannot take over. Thank you so much
Jesus that I do not have the words to say. Thank you for paying the
price for us and becoming our Donor. We love you Lord and ask you to
live in us and work in us please. We acknowledge you as our Lord and
Personal Savior and take the medication you provide for us daily. Your
Word has become our medication to live for you and serve you. Help us
not to forget to take our medication for when we do forget we give the
enemy a footstool. Thank you so much Jesus for your help. Thank you for
being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you that you have heard us and
answered our prayer. Thank you whatever we ask in your Name it will be
done. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
Friend, if you have prayed this
prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and
all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may
feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your
new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave
you nor forsake you! Amen!
Spend time in His word and let
the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of Mark which are also
the devotionals I have been going through before the Christmas
Devotionals and hope to continue in them. Learn from
Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a fellowship you can
be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to
supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and
Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible Live Eternally!
Feel free to email me at
reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible,
pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My
number is 412-720-4579
"This is
my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work
within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)
Love in Christ,
Ramesh
NEXT DEVOTIONAL:
"What do you do with what you H.E.A.R?"
Express your view
