October 1, 2024 -- Proverbs 1:29-33 -- Confession that breaks the power of sin

Because they hated knowledge
    and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30 would have none of my counsel
    and despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
    and have their fill of their own devices.
32 For the simple are killed by their turning away,
    and the complacency of fools destroys them;
33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
    and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.
Proverbs 1:29-33 ESV

For whom is the Bible written? Is it not written to those who profess Jesus Christ and desire to follow in His ways? Yes. Look at the dire warning given to those who claim to know God, but are in fact foolish in the way they walk. Those who are in danger of falling away from the Living God. Those who have no fear of God in their hearts. The consequence is they sin without any reference to the Word of God or His judgment on sin. When someone regularly breaks a commandment the fruit of that action is a pattern of sin that becomes more and more familiar, comfortable even. Ready excuses are made for this sin. Be warned. Sin always kills. Sin will suck the life out of you.

Today’s passage reminds the believer that the LORD, the God Who is outside of time, sees every single moment of history simultaneously. Nothing is hidden from the sight of God. Nothing escapes the notice of God. This should lead the believer to fear Him. He punishes the sinful, wayward person. To claim allegiance to Jesus Christ is to swear off sin. The first step in the fight against sin requires of the sin-addict to confess his need of God: “I admit I am powerless over (name your addiction or sin), and it is controlling my life”. Sin is taking hold of you. It is ruling your desires. It must be mastered.

Sin is named and described all through the bible. It is witch-craft. It is sexual promiscuity. It is chasing the bottle, or the needle, or the pill. It is anger. It is meddling in the affairs of others. It is selfishness. It is jealousy. It is comparing oneself to others so that you come off looking good. It is complaining against God for your lot in life. Unless you recognize the sinfulness of sin, how easily it has a choke-hold on your life, you will not hate it, confess it, or turn from it. The wrath of God is expressed by allowing you to experience the ever increasing, burdensome consequences of your sinful indulgence.

The passage ends with hope. Listen to the LORD. When the word is applied to your heart and your sin is exposed, you choose to fear the LORD. Confess your sin. Hate it. Put it to death at the earliest moment you see it rear its ugly head. Find Christian friends with whom you can speak, share the struggle against sin, and pray for victory. Be warned, it is a life-long fight against the sins that so easily cling to you. Where there is one victory over sin, the LORD will, in His mercy, show you more areas in your life where you have a rebellious spirit, or pride, or some other sin which needs to be beaten down.

The cross is D-Day. Christ has established the landing site of victory in your life. The enemy is disarmed and the war is essentially won. However, there are great battles and hard-fought victories yet to be had before Jesus returns and conquers all the final enemies. Until that day, be vigilant. Fight the good fight of faith. Hold one another accountable. Expose sin so it can be thrown down and despised. Encourage one another in faithfulness.

Know that sin is powerful, but greater is He Who is in you, than he who is in the world. As often as you confess your sin, He is faithful and just to forgive you your sin and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). Note the Father applies the forgiveness that is yours in Christ as often as you confess your sin. Be assured there is forgiveness. Especially in the early days when sin is exposed, you’ll need to confess it often. You’ll have to notice and realize how readily you sin. How quickly the old sinful pattern can claim your attention, and knock you back into its power.

Look at the latter part of I John 1:9, there is cleansing from all unrighteousness. That means the Spirit of Jesus, Who lives in you, will effect healing, repairing the boundary lines of your life so that it becomes harder and harder to cross over into enemy territory and commit the same sins that used to be so easy to commit. The Spirit gives Christian friends, power in the Word, conviction in the heart, and fire in the soul, a zeal for Jesus through Whom you are one who overcomes sin; a soldier in the cause of Christ.

Faithful Father, Who is like You? You are tender in Your mercy, just in Your hatred of sin, and patience in renewing Your people in the holiness that is applied to them in Jesus. Blessed Jesus, Captain of Salvation and Victor over sin, hell, death and the grave, by Your Spirit, lead me deeper into union with Yourself. Spirit of God, let the joy of Jesus’s work which led to my adoption as a beloved son, or daughter, of the Heavenly Father, be my soul’s encouragement to stay the course in obedient-love. Triune God, teach me to hate my sin more and more and to grow in the assurance that Your righteousness is taking hold of every part of my heart, mind, and soul. Amen.

https://youtu.be/px-eU1QjQiU?si=0XtzXi-ARtNPM_aL Psalm 51 (Wisdom in the Secret Heart) Shane and Shane

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