SCRIPTURE:
“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)
The other day, I learned about what Jesus was saying regarding a lamp
and the function of the lamp. Today, I decided to look at the second
half of the passage.
Observations:
I asked
myself what Jesus is telling those around Him after asking them 2
questions?
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 sins that others may see
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 in life?
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, cheating, lying,
idolatory, etc.
All you have to do is follow the recent news of what happened to New
York Governor Elliot Spitzer and the prostitution scandal he has been
associated with, dishonoring his family, his constituents, and most of
all the Lord. In the process, he had to resign from his position as
governor. Not only that, but this scandal has affected the life of a
22-year old call girl, he was involved with though he has a wife and 3
children.
Going back to the passage, it is very
interesting that Jesus mentions a bowl and bed in his analogy. This has
no direct relation to 'bowl and bed' but 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. Friend, Jesus said it is the sick that need the doctor
and not the healthy. Jesus wants us to come to Him in our sickness of
sin and not stay away. There are those that believe everything needs to
be alright between you and the Lord for you to come before Jesus. That
is far from the truth. Jesus wants us to come to Him in our weaknesses
so He can work in us and through us, making His strength and power
enable us to do His will, bringing Him honor and glory!
God tells us in His
Word, "sin is crouching at the door and if you do
not master it, it will master you." (Book of Genesis)
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 loss 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 self?
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. Otherwise, without
taking the medication, their kidney will reject itself and they could
die without another transplant & 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 and is pumped 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 eyes, digesting it daily, putting into practice what we
have received. Otherwise, when we go our own way, we open ourselves up
to the enemy! Instead when we focus 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.
In closing, I would like to share a counseling poem with
problem-solution that I wrote for students and non-students struggling
with a addiction.
Altering Addiction Through Another Alternative
By Ramesh C. Reddy
Addiction to _______ you cannot quit?
You are going down the pit?
Addiction eating you bit by bit?
You are suffering a fit?
Making addiction no myth?
Cause addiction to ________ hits your brain?
Your immunity to stress it did drain?
Cannot yourself train?
Cause addiction is in reign?
Addiction to ________ did your life bake?
Making addiction into a poisonous cake?
Cause your life's control it did take?
Everyday giving you problems when you awake?
Addiction to ________ gave your brain a burn?
Making you mourn?
Cannot rehab able to learn?
Everything will be ok, when to Jesus you turn!
(Jn 14:1)
Addicted to JESUS is the right Way!
(John 14:6)
Without any withdrawals each day!
(Col 1:27)
This is what you should say!
(Isaiah 43:1-4)
Whether addiction is in any month such as May!
(Heb 4:13)
Your addiction to _________, Jesus will cast!
(Heb 2:18)
And in time, you will feel better atlast!
(Phil 4:13)
Cause Jesus will give you therapy that's the best!
(Ephesians 1:8)
That can pass any test!
(Rom 8:28)
And give you a healthy rest!
(Matt 11:28-30)
Covering you with a healing vest! (James
5:15)
All you gotta do is turn to Him!
(Psalm 34:4)
Even when your chances are slim
(Mark 9:23)
He will make you win! (James
4:7)
And save you from all your sin!
(Matthew 20:28)
Jesus love for you is so deep!
(Eph 5:2)
That even addiction to _______ cannot you keep!
Instead from addiction trouble, you can leap!
Giving addiction to _______ a tearful weep! (Rev
7:17)
AMEN!
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 C.O.N.C.E.A.L in life?”
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 our 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. We even see the affect of sexual sin in some of the
nations' leaders lives. 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!
ANALOGY OF INVITING PEOPLE TO THE GREAT PHYSICIAN:
We are like an ambulance taking
sick people to the
hospital. People are dying and there is an emergency because of an
epidemic virus. The ambulance takes the initiative to go to the place
people are dying and bring them to the hospital. They are not dead yet
but there is no time to wait. The ambulance needs to get to the hospital
for that virus to be treated. The virus has infected the mind, body, and
soul spreading rapidly. You and I cannot do anything to heal our friends
of this virus except be the AMBULANCE taking them to the HOSPITAL where
the GREAT PHYSICIAN waits.
Once at the hospital, there is a GREAT PHYSICIAN that waits. The sick
are gathered from all corners of the earth and come to this hospital.
This hospital is called CALVARY OF SALVATION and the EMERGENCY WARD is
called GOLGOTHA.
The GREAT PHYSICIAN is not like other doctors who can only treat
patients with physical ailments but this GREAT PHYSICIAN is much
more and knows He has to stay 72 HOURS for every dying person there to
be healed.
He knows what He has to do! This GREAT PHYSICIAN knew that only His
BLOOD can wipe away this epidemic VIRUS, so for you and me He went to
the blood transfusion room where people were about to die. There He lay
down on the bed made of wood.
The surgeons walk into the room. They turn this GREAT PHYSICIAN on
His back. Instead of using an IV, a WHIP with sharp glass, etc is
used to draw out the BLOOD from the GREAT PHYSICIAN'S back! It does not
stop there but to elevate the head on the bed of wood, a CROWN OF THORNS
is used which draws more BLOOD.
As the head is elevated, the GREAT PHYSICIAN's hands are stretched
wide on the wooden bed. Then the feet are bound together. This is done
for the BLOOD transfusion to begin. Instead of using an IV, NAILS and a
HAMMER is used. The NAILS are pounded through the hands into the wooden
bed with a HAMMER so the BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. The NAILS
are pounded through the feet into the wooden bed with a HAMMER so more
BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. As the BLOOD continues to flow from
the GREAT PHYSICIAN's body, the GREAT PHYSICIAN flat lines. Then the
surgeons insert a SPEAR into the heart to make sure all the BLOOD is
out. All the BLOOD is out!
Now, the GREAT PHYSICIAN is moved into the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE
being guarded by security.
Now the CALVARY OF SALVATION hospital has a BLOOD DONOR whose BLOOD
can be used to save everyone there from this EPIDEMIC VIRUS.
Those dying need to be taken there to receive the BLOOD transfusion
that is available. However, the BLOOD will not be forced upon those
dying! THE PUREST RED ANTIDOTE is only given to those that are willing
to receive the BLOOD TRANSFUSION so they could LIVE.
All that accept the BLOOD are being CLEANSED of this EPIDEMIC VIRUS
in their system that is infecting the mind, body, and soul. This
BLOOD goes into the dying person's mind, body, and soul and eats away at
the virus cleaning them and making them pure. This VIRUS is known as
SIN. The BLOOD is the PRECIOUS CLEANSING BLOOD OF THE GREAT PHYSICIAN,
JESUS CHRIST.
The WOODEN BED is the CROSS OF CHRIST where the dying need to be led
too.
72 HOURS LATER, there is a commotion at the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA
MORGUE. THE GREAT PHYSICIAN is not there anymore and the ANGELS that
visit tell loved ones who came there, that THE GREAT PHYSICIAN IS ALIVE
and will save all that come to Him.
It is true even to this day, for all that come to the HOSPITAL OF CALVARY come to realize that His CLEANSING
BLOOD shed on the WOODEN BED (CROSS) will never run out. Anyone infected
who wants to be healed of their sickness can accept what Jesus did for
them and be covered in His precious CLEANSING
BLOOD.
I have done that friend and know that at the foot of the cross where
Jesus died shedding His precious cleansing blood for my sin and the sins
of the world, I can find forgiveness and grace.
Thanks be to God that Christ's death on the cross was temporary to
remove all His precious cleansing blood for our sake but after He was
buried, Jesus came back to life to save.
To this day, all who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved when
they acknowledge what Jesus Christ has done for them and what He can do
for them.
Friend, Jesus loves you so much and if you were the only one living
on earth, Jesus would have done the same for you. What I shared with you
was an analogy but in real life it has happened. Jesus went to the cross
for you and me and His precious cleansing blood was shed so you and I
could have life. Jesus came back to life 72 hours later and is alive but
His blood continues to heal people on every corner of the earth to those
that accept Him.
May my spoken words and
unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my
Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)
If you would like to invite Jesus
Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can
this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises
for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His
wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to
the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in
your heart. You can invite the GREAT PHYSICIAN right now as you make this your prayer.
Dear Jesus,
thank you for healing the paralytic after forgiving his sins. You set him
free to go home. I want to be free. I don’t know
everything about you. I still have a lot of questions. What I do know is
that you died on the cross for my sins. When it comes to sin, I am a
paralytic Oh Lord. I am infected with this deadly disease known as sin.
I am not perfect but a sinner who needs your cleansing blood to clean me
of my sin. I confess to you my sin and repent of my sin. I know
you have forgiven me when you died on the cross. I want to accept that
forgiveness. Thank
you for shedding your cleansing precious blood for me. You were nailed
to the cross because of me. It is like I actually held the hammer and
pounded the nails so I could be free. Thank you for willingly dying for
me Jesus. Thank you for taking the shame and pain for me. Thank you for
doing that to set me free. I come to the cross and ask you for your
healing in my life. Thank you for the power of your Blood to redeem
humanity. Thank you for coming back to life to save us and give us
Eternal Life as we yield to you. Your blood can heal us where we are. I
love you Jesus. I want you Jesus. Even with my questions, I come to you now and accept you
into my heart. Please Jesus come into my heart and make my heart your
home. Give me a transfusion of change. Live in me Jesus and I will live
for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I thank you Jesus
for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for
living in me Jesus. I acknowledge you now as my Lord and Personal
Savior. Please be the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank you for being my
Lord and Personal Savior Jesus and because of what you have done for me when
God looks at me, He now sees me covered in your blood and His judgment
passes over me. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me.
Thank you for being with me Lord. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit.
Thank you Jesus I now belong to you and never need to be alone! You will
always be with me and have given me Salvation. In Your Name I Pray
Jesus! Amen!
May my spoken words and
unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my
Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)
