“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” – Proverbs 28:13
Another way you could translate this verse is: The person that covers and hides his sin and error will not experience a breakthrough and prosper. But the man that will be bold and speak out about his sins, forever forsaking and refusing to live in them will obtain compassion, love and mercy.
As Steve Thompson put it, we in the church have created a “Culture of Concealment”. As this proverb teaches us, concealment inhibits breakthrough. So many Christians want breakthrough, but on their own terms. They want breakthrough without humility. By confessing and recounting our sins, we humble ourselves, admitting our weakness and our need for mercy. This actually releases the grace of God in our lives, producing breakthrough!
Sorry proud Christian, you can’t have breakthrough without humility.
In the church, we need to be comfortable with confessing and renouncing sin. Right now, the modus operandi is to conceal and cover. Take online pornography for example. Studies have shown that nearly 50% of Christian men are ADDICTED to the stuff. We aren’t talking about seeing a random image from time to time; we’re talking about consistent, daily addiction to smut. But so few men are willing to be open and honest about their sin, insuring their continued bondage!
This has severely limited our impact in the earth as is frustrates the grace of God. The Lord is NOT intimidated with our sin; He died on the cross to pay for it! Likewise, the Lord’s people should not shrink back from sin, but confront it openly and honestly. How many ministers, ministries and marriages could have been saved if at the time of temptation, people felt like they could come clean and ask for help? The grace and love of God IS available to all who need it, but God can’t and won’t take what you don’t give Him. Give it up!
LIFE LESSON?
What you defend, you keep. What you uncover, you lose!
Another way you could translate this verse is: The person that covers and hides his sin and error will not experience a breakthrough and prosper. But the man that will be bold and speak out about his sins, forever forsaking and refusing to live in them will obtain compassion, love and mercy.
As Steve Thompson put it, we in the church have created a “Culture of Concealment”. As this proverb teaches us, concealment inhibits breakthrough. So many Christians want breakthrough, but on their own terms. They want breakthrough without humility. By confessing and recounting our sins, we humble ourselves, admitting our weakness and our need for mercy. This actually releases the grace of God in our lives, producing breakthrough!
Sorry proud Christian, you can’t have breakthrough without humility.
In the church, we need to be comfortable with confessing and renouncing sin. Right now, the modus operandi is to conceal and cover. Take online pornography for example. Studies have shown that nearly 50% of Christian men are ADDICTED to the stuff. We aren’t talking about seeing a random image from time to time; we’re talking about consistent, daily addiction to smut. But so few men are willing to be open and honest about their sin, insuring their continued bondage!
This has severely limited our impact in the earth as is frustrates the grace of God. The Lord is NOT intimidated with our sin; He died on the cross to pay for it! Likewise, the Lord’s people should not shrink back from sin, but confront it openly and honestly. How many ministers, ministries and marriages could have been saved if at the time of temptation, people felt like they could come clean and ask for help? The grace and love of God IS available to all who need it, but God can’t and won’t take what you don’t give Him. Give it up!
LIFE LESSON?
What you defend, you keep. What you uncover, you lose!
Whoa.
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