Hidden Struggles Manifest into Hidden Sins

ME:

For those in the church we all understand the contrast between Dark and Light.

Dark is the representation of EVIL

Light is the representation of GOD

As a parent we have used this thought as we raised our kids ...

I have told my children that “nothing good happens after midnight.”

This is why I expected them home before Midnight.

One of the things about the dark is it’s easier to hide things.

(Example: Hide and go seek)

Metaphorically, the same is true.

Keeping things hidden (in the dark) is easy at first.

As human beings we all have struggles and for some of those we try to hide them.

I want to clarify something .... Not all struggles are sinful or will lead to sin!!!!

But some struggle can and will lead to sin if not spiritually dealt with.

Something that you were trying to keep hidden and now it is out in the open.

This is where the phrase “Coming out of the Closet” comes from.

Here is what is understood today .... in reference to those struggles than can lead to sin .....

Hidden struggles eventually manifest into hidden sins.

WE:

I think its safe to say that this understanding of hidden struggles will eventually turn into hidden sin ....

If it’s not acknowledge, dealt with, or freed from it will eventually turn into hidden sin.

And lets be honest ..... it will become public sin.

Even if no one else sees it ...... Jesus does!

Case in point ....

Hillsong Documentary

Not trying to be critical or throw mud at another church or another pastor

Pastor in N.Y City

He was becoming a big thing and all the Hollywood stars as well as young pop stars liked him

Found out that he had some Hidden struggles

Approached a young lady in the park and started up a relationship (he was married)

This became an extra-marital relationship.

Hidden struggles became Hidden sins

And eventually became Public

This doesn’t just happen in churches .....

Just recently we had a Correctional officer in Alabama help an inmate escape.

I would be safe to say that she had some hidden struggles in her life.

Those hidden struggles caused her to cross the line and so those hidden struggles became hidden sins.

And as we have seen over the last few days .... all of this has become Public Sin.

I want us to remember, we are up against an opportunistic ENEMY.

He will take those hidden struggles ....

.... and if they are not dealt with ....

He will cause them to become hidden sins.

AND THEN HE WILL PUBLICIZE THEM.

GOD:

There is a story in scripture of this very thing we are talking about.

John 12:1-8 “Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.””

What do we see ....

Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem.

Right after this story, in scripture, we find the triumphal entry.

He is going to be betrayed and crucified

He has this stop planned to see Lazarus, Martha and Mary.

The one who he raised from the dead.

Good friends of His.

John reveals 5 people in this story:

Jesus - Son of God / The healer and resurrector of the dead.

Lazarus - The one raised from the dead / The miracle

Martha - Servant / serving dinner to everyone

Mary - the worshipper / anoints Jesus feet

Judas - the complainer / John calls him the thief

John tells us what takes place at this dinner:

They are resting and tomorrow they will complete their journey (2 miles from Jerusalem)

They are having dinner at the house of His good friends

During the course of the dinner Mary anoints Jesus feet with very expensive perfume and wiping it up with her hair.

Judas complains about Mary’s actions (more so about the cost of the perfume) and states that they could have sold it and given it to the poor.

Judas knew exactly how much they could have received for this perfume (300 Denarii’s) which was about a years salary for a person during those days.

Judas try’s to justify his complaint by stating they could have given that money to the poor.

In Johns recording he states Judas character: he was a thief, Judas was in charge of the money and he had been taking money from the moneybag.

We hear Jesus say, “Leave her alone”

“leave alone” - Aphiemi which means “to let alone” or “to permit an action”

Jesus is saying, “Let her worship me.”

What we can say about everyone that is mentioned is Lazarus, Martha, and Mary are focused on Jesus.

Everyone but Lazarus!

I believe it was at this very moment the Enemy said, “AHA! Thats how I am going to do it.”

He witnessed Judas’ hidden struggle and said, “I will get him to betray Jesus and have Him crucified, all for money.”

The enemy decided this was the way to do it.

Why?

Because Judas was dealing with a hidden struggle?

Judas had a problem with money.

YOU:

We have got to realize that even with being in the presence of Jesus, if we don’t acknowledge and deal with these hidden struggles ..... they can become hidden sins which will eventually become public.

This is exactly what happens with Judas and, if we are not careful, this is what can happen to us.

Look at Judas ....

Was walking with Jesus for a couple of years.

Was given the responsibility for the group.

All the while dealing with some hidden struggles. Not acknowledging them.

The enemy, traveling with him, all the while watching and waiting for the right time to move.

And at that right moment, convinced Judas to take this hidden struggle and move to the category of hidden SIN.

And a few days later it would become “PUBLIC!”

You might be thinking, “I don’t have a problem with money.”

This is not about money but about hidden struggles.

For Judas, it was money, but for others it might be something else.

Attitudes

Anger

illegal substance

alcohol

pornography

sexual fantasy

relationships

As I stated at the beginning of our time together, “I would be safe to say that most of us in this room deal with struggles.”

Most of those struggles are not necessarily “in your face” moving toward the aspect of sin.

But some of those struggles might eventually move toward SIN.

WE:

Knowing the struggles we have, the worse thing we can do is, if the Holy Spirit is revealing them to us, is deny them.

I believe Judas denied the fact that he had a hidden struggle with money.

We see how this turned out for him.

Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal those hidden struggles and stop them from becoming hidden sin because those sin will become public.

If you are sitting there right now and you are going .....

..... I have struggles but none are moving toward sin, or

...... better yet, you have dealt with them and received victory over them ..... PRAISE THE LORD!

I believe in the transforming power of the HOLY SPIRIT.

2 Cor. 3:16-18 “But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

I think this message this morning is for some of us who have been dealing with some hidden struggles .....

..... Let’s not be like Judas and not deal with them. Let’s surrender them to Jesus, asking for the Holy Spirit to gives us victory over them.

But there might be some here this morning who have allowed those hidden struggles to manifest into hidden sins.

...... Let’s not be like Judas and surrender to them. Let’s ask Jesus to forgive us and then let them Holy Spirit to remove it from our being.

Like Paul stated .... “there is freedom” here this morning!

Better yet .... There is Victory here this morning.

And We can start living in this today.