Can’t Hide Things:

            Bring to light the things hidden:

1 Corinthians 4:5

5     Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.

            Here we are cautioned not to go on passing judgment before the time. Too many Christians pass judgment on other Christians without even knowing the entire facts. They look down on others whom they think have fallen. It has been said that Christians are the only soldiers who shoot their wounded. If someone has slipped and fallen, we should pray for them and be accessible to help in any way we can. Also, we rarely know all the facts in a circumstance. Only God, who knows not only what was done or said, but also the motives behind those things, is able to judge righteously. How would you like for other believers who think they know everything about you but don’t really know all the facts to judge you? You wouldn’t, would you? So don’t you judge others. Perhaps you have been criticized unsympathetically by others. God wants to minister to you beginning right now to bring about healing. He wants you to know that the circumstance was not His will for your life. He would say to you, “My little one. You are more precious to Me than you can ever conceive. I would never harm you in any way. My only desire for you is to feel My love, even when you slip and fall.”

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "Do not think that the things that you have done in secret have not been seen by Me. I have seen them … both the good and the bad. I will shine My light on those things at the proper time, but not to hurt you … to bring you into the joy of My obedience. Your new man has no desire to disobey Me. He desires only to do My will. I will never do anything to harm you. Trust in Me to take care of you. I know what is best for you. You are My special one, and I have no desire to hurt you. If I choose to reveal the things of the past, it is for your benefit … not to drag you down. As long as you desire to do My will, I will protect you from all harm. However, sometimes it is necessary to reveal the things you wish to hide so that you can make amends and confront your past failures. I will never do it to hurt you in any way.”

            94. When the Lord comes, He will bring to light those things for which I have been falsely accused by those around me and will disclose the motives of my heart. Then I will receive praise from God for I will only do those things that are pleasing unto Him.

Accountability

            Freedom isn’t the only thing that is our destiny. There is an accountability that is our destiny also. God will call us to account for the way we’ve lived our lives … not just what bad things we’ve done, but also what good things we haven’t done. If you know you should do something and don’t, to you it is sin. This is not a fearful thing like it is for the unbelievers. They will be called to account for not accepting Jesus as Lord of their lives. What a terrible destiny they have! 

We see that sanctification is our destiny. The legality of it is instantaneous, but the outworking of it takes a lifetime. We have to put forth effort to see sanctification as a reality in our everyday lives. It is your destiny. Don’t let this one slip away.

Does not practice sin:

1 John 3:9

9     No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

     

1 John 5:18

18     We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.

     

            Does this mean we will never sin? No. It does say the one born of God does not practice sin; i.e. does not persistently sin. It should not be part of our way of life to sin over and over with no improvement. We should be getting nearer to the image of the One who bought us. Notice that it says that Jesus, the One born of God, keeps us (continually) and the evil one does not touch us. We are protected by the power of God for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (I Peter 1:5).

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are My chosen one. You are My precious one. You are My special one. Do not let the things that you used to do dominate your thinking. You are no longer under their control, so don’t act and think as if they are. You are washed clean and do not have to bow to their power. Your inner man is made pure and has no desire to walk in the ways of the world. You have to choose to whom you will listen. You do not have to obey the lusts of the flesh. It is no longer in control, but your spirit is, and it has no desire to disobey My Word. You do not have to give in to the evil desires that once controlled you. You are My chosen one, and My chosen one does not have to disobey My Word.”

            93. Since I am born of God, I no longer practice sin. His divine seed is in me, and that part of me can no longer sin. God keeps me from all harm and protects me from the evil one.

Right to the tree of life:

Revelation 22:14

14     Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.

     

            We have washed our robes when we asked Jesus to come into our lives and take control. The robes we wore were as filthy rags. We have the right to the tree of life. Adam had that right; but he relinquished it when he ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. What he could have had, we can have. This says that we may also enter by the gates into that City. The Bible talks about certain types who do not have that right. We, the blood bought believers, have the right to enter.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are no longer filthy because of the things of the world that had contaminated you. You are clean and pure in My sight. You have cleansed yourself from the stains of the world and have been set free to follow Me. You are precious in My sight, and I have chosen you to walk in My perfection in pure white garments. Do not allow the things of the world to control you and to blemish your garments. Walk with Me in your white garments and feel My power flowing through you. You will rejoice with Me in My righteousness when I return to take you home.”

            92. I have washed my robes, and so I have the right to the tree of life in the City of God. I can enter the gates of the city with my head held high because of what He has accomplished in me.

Crucified the flesh:

Galatians 5:24

24     Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

     

            We belong to Jesus, so this says that we have (past tense) crucified the flesh. When Jesus was crucified, legally in Him we were crucified also. Our flesh with all its wants and desires, some good and some not so good, was crucified. Of course, it certainly doesn’t seem like it at times. We have to start believing that it is so, in order for it to begin happening. Our minds are programmed to do whatever it takes to satisfy any desire. It takes time to retrain it to think the way God thinks. We need to supply it God’s thoughts through His Word.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "Why do you act as though the things of the past still control you? Why do you think as one of the people who are still in the world? You are in the world, but the world is not in you. So act like it! My children are free from the things that control the world. They are free from its influences and its passions. The things that your flesh used to desire are no more as far as your spirit is concerned. So don’t let those influences control you. You are no longer subject to them. You are the one that is in control now … not your flesh. So don’t act and think like your flesh is the one who is the boss. Your spirit is if you let it. Allow My Spirit to control your life, and you will have an abundance of joy.”

            91. My flesh has been crucified with Christ along with its passions and desires. With His help I can resist the urges of the past and stand blameless in His sight.