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Nothing Hidden

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by jim62, May 6, 2012.

  1. jim62

    jim62 New Member

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    [FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif]NOTHING IS PRIVATE OR HIDDEN[/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.: (Isa. 3:9) [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"... there is no secret that they can hide from thee." (Ezek. 28:3b) [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sin will always be exposed. God told the men of Israel in Numbers, chapter 32, verse 23, ". . . be sure your sin will find you out."[/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1. Man's delusion: [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]We may think we can close the door, pull the shades, seek the darkness; maybe nobody will know. There is need for human privacy. Some things need not be seen. [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Technology has provided miniature cameras, spy satellites, and infrared scanning to probe every nook and cranny of our activities, yet we are confident we can act in secrecy. Doesn't Satan always tell us (in the inner thoughts) that we can get by, that whatever we are considering to do won't be known? [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]There are things we can do that no other human will ever know, but Somebody is watching who sees everything we do and everything we think. [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]We may have such a vendetta against God that we do not care what He knows, but there is the statement by Jesus in the gospel of Luke, chapter 12, verses 2-3, "For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops." [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Maybe we don't often give attention to our daily thought life. Could it be that our thoughts evidence covetousness, envy, criticalness, or lust? God knows every thought! [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It is easy for any saved person to gradually allow themselves to drift into sin. Then it seems as though no one "blows the whistle," nothing bad happens and they feel smug in their actions or doings. Even though the Lord is patient and longsuffering it does not mean that He doesn't care or will not act. [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2. God will reveal it all -- if necessary; God does know all: [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Not only can we not have privacy from God, He will reveal those things that are His will to make known. It is the character of God to move against the sinful private activities in our lives. God loves us too much to allow us to continue in our way. In mercy, He brings judgment on our sin. [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews declares the ability of the all-knowing, all-seeing God in chapter 4, verse 13, "Neither is there any creature tht is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." We will give account of everything done in the body whether good or bad. That is an awesome thought and a truth we must face. (Rom. 14:12) [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Our cover is blown; God knows everything about us. [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Consider: The king of Syria was greatly troubled in his attempts to wage a successful war with Israel in the Old Testament book of 2 Kings, chapter 6. Every plan laid against Israel was thwarted. The king of Syria was sure a spy was in their midst. He called his servants to inquire which one of them was the culprit. The servants told the king in 2 Kings, chapter 6, verse 12, ". . . Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber."[/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]3. There are acts we keep private that God sees and blesses. [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In the gospel of Matthew 6:1-18, Jesus encouraged His followers to do their charitable giving privately (Matthew 6:1-4). [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jesus spoke against showy public praying for the sake of being seen by people (Matthew 6:5-6). He encouraged private praying that He could reward openly. [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It is evident that Nehemiah keep private his prayer life for the needs of his countrymen who had returned from captivity. God rewarded him openly for his burden, fasting, and supplication. The unfolding of the whole account of the Book of Nehemiah is witness to God honoring a man who sought Him privately. [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Fasting, or personal deprivation, was another activity that was to be kept between the person and God (Matthew 6:16 -18). God declared He would openly reward the one who kept their fasting private. [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]God sees the intimacy in a biblical marriage between a man and a woman and honors their privacy. God declares in Hebrews, chapter 13, verse 4, that marriage is honorable and the marriage bed is undefiled. [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]There are no private acts! God sees it all, and He has said He will expose everything we do except what He promises to keep to Himself. [/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Application: [/FONT]

    1. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Maybe revival does not come to the local church because so many of God's children are not repentant about many failures, sins in their lives. [/FONT]​
    2. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]We best live our lives like we are being observed and everything we do will be shown before all. The right private things will bring us honor; the wrong private things will bring us shame. [/FONT]​
    3. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]We literally are the writers and producers of our exposure. Let God be glorified by "life or by death!" (Phil. 1:20-21) [/FONT]​
    4. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ask yourself - "Am I living my life with the awareness that the Lord sees all?" [/FONT]​
    5. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Am I keeping private what the Lord wants kept private or am I doing things publicly for the approval of man? [/FONT]​
    6. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Are the things I am doing in private bringing honor or shame? (I Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 1:12) [/FONT]​
     
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