Confronting Hidden Sin: A Call to Confession
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound impact of hidden sin in our lives and its potential to disrupt not only our personal relationship with God but also the community around us. We began by discussing the upcoming events at our church, including Gather 25, a global night of prayer and worship, and the next session of Alpha, which offers a space for those exploring faith to encounter Christ. These events are opportunities for us to engage deeply with our faith and community.
We then delved into the story of Achan from Joshua 7, drawing parallels between the hidden sin in his life and the unseen dangers that can erode the foundation of our spiritual lives, much like the sinkhole that swallowed the Corvettes at the National Corvette Museum. Achan's story serves as a stark reminder that hidden sin can have devastating consequences, not just for the individual but for the entire community. His actions led to Israel's defeat at Ai, illustrating how personal sin can hinder the collective mission of God's people.
The narrative challenges us to confront our hidden sins, recognizing that they can weigh heavily on us, both spiritually and physically. We are reminded that God sees all, and His desire is for us to bring our sins into the light, where they can be dealt with through confession and repentance. This is not a call to shame but an invitation to experience God's mercy and forgiveness, to move from hiding from God to hiding in God.
As a community, we are encouraged to be a confessing community, one that is not without sin but without secrets. This openness allows us to experience the fullness of God's grace and to move forward in the mission He has for us. The call to action is clear: to confess our sins, to seek God's mercy, and to support one another in this journey of faith.
Key Takeaways:
- Hidden sin, like a sinkhole, can erode the foundation of our spiritual lives and community. It is crucial to address these hidden issues before they cause significant damage. The story of Achan reminds us that personal sin can have communal consequences, affecting the mission and effectiveness of God's people. [40:38]
- Our actions, even when hidden, impact those around us. In a covenant community, like the church, we are interconnected, and our sins can bring consequences upon the entire body. This interconnectedness calls us to live with integrity and transparency. [52:55]
- God sees our hidden sins and desires for us to bring them into the light. The weight of guilt is a mercy from God, prompting us to confess and seek His forgiveness. This process leads to freedom and restoration, moving us from hiding from God to hiding in God. [01:06:30]
- The allure of sin can be enticing, but it ultimately leads to destruction. We must choose the hope of freedom over the temporary pleasure of sin. Achan's story warns us of the danger of valuing sin's gain over God's presence. [01:10:26]
- A mature Christian community is one that practices confession. By being open about our struggles, we create a space for healing and growth. This transparency allows us to experience God's mercy and to support one another in our journey of faith. [01:17:09]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [16:20] - Introduction to Alpha
- [40:38] - The Sinkhole Story
- [44:16] - Hidden Sin in Joshua 7
- [47:19] - Consequences of Achan's Sin
- [52:55] - Interconnectedness of the Church
- [56:42] - The Impact of Hidden Sin
- [59:42] - God's Call to Consecrate
- [01:02:31] - God's CT Scanner
- [01:06:30] - The Weight of Guilt
- [01:10:26] - The Allure of Sin
- [01:14:38] - Invitation to Confession
- [01:17:09] - A Confessing Community
- [01:19:33] - Responding to God's Call
- [01:27:54] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Joshua 7:1-26
- Psalm 32:3-5
- 1 John 1:8-9
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the specific sin that Achan committed, and how did it affect the entire community of Israel? [44:16]
2. How did God reveal Achan's hidden sin to the people of Israel, and what was the process used to identify him? [01:02:31]
3. In the sermon, what analogy was used to describe the impact of hidden sin on our lives and community? [40:38]
4. What was the response of Joshua and the elders of Israel when they realized the consequences of Achan's sin? [47:19]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of Achan illustrate the interconnectedness of a covenant community, and what implications does this have for the church today? [52:55]
2. Why might God allow the weight of guilt to rest on us, and how can this be seen as a form of mercy? [01:06:30]
3. What does it mean to move from hiding from God to hiding in God, and how does confession play a role in this transition? [01:17:09]
4. How does the allure of sin compare to the hope of freedom in God, and why might individuals struggle to choose the latter? [01:10:26]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when a hidden sin in your life affected those around you. How did you address it, and what was the outcome? [52:55]
2. Consider the analogy of the sinkhole used in the sermon. Are there any "sinkholes" in your spiritual life that you need to address before they cause significant damage? [40:38]
3. How can you cultivate a practice of confession in your life, both personally and within your community? What steps can you take to ensure you are part of a confessing community? [01:17:09]
4. Identify a specific hidden sin that you feel God is prompting you to bring into the light. What practical steps can you take this week to confess and seek forgiveness for this sin? [01:06:30]
5. How can you support others in your community who may be struggling with hidden sins? What role can you play in fostering an environment of grace and transparency? [01:14:38]
6. Reflect on the allure of sin in your life. What are some ways you can remind yourself of the hope and freedom found in God when faced with temptation? [01:10:26]
7. How can you ensure that your actions, even those done in private, align with the integrity and transparency expected in a covenant community? What changes might you need to make? [52:55]
Devotional
Day 1: The Erosion of Hidden Sin
Hidden sin acts like a sinkhole, slowly eroding the foundation of our spiritual lives and community. Just as a sinkhole can suddenly collapse, causing significant damage, hidden sin can have devastating consequences if left unaddressed. The story of Achan in Joshua 7 illustrates how personal sin can affect not only the individual but also the entire community. Achan's hidden sin led to Israel's defeat at Ai, showing that our actions, even when concealed, can hinder the collective mission of God's people. We are called to confront these hidden issues before they cause significant damage. [40:38]
"For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light." (Luke 8:17, ESV)
Reflection: Is there a hidden sin in your life that you need to bring into the light today? How can you take the first step towards addressing it?
Day 2: The Interconnectedness of Our Actions
In a covenant community like the church, our actions, even when hidden, impact those around us. We are interconnected, and our sins can bring consequences upon the entire body. This interconnectedness calls us to live with integrity and transparency, recognizing that our personal choices can affect the mission and effectiveness of God's people. The story of Achan serves as a reminder that personal sin can have communal consequences, urging us to live in a way that honors our commitment to one another and to God. [52:55]
"For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Romans 12:4-5, ESV)
Reflection: How can you live with greater integrity and transparency in your community today? What steps can you take to ensure your actions align with your commitment to others?
Day 3: The Mercy of Guilt
God sees our hidden sins and desires for us to bring them into the light. The weight of guilt is a mercy from God, prompting us to confess and seek His forgiveness. This process leads to freedom and restoration, moving us from hiding from God to hiding in God. By acknowledging our sins and seeking His mercy, we can experience the fullness of His grace and the freedom that comes from living in the light. [01:06:30]
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!" (Psalm 51:1-2, ESV)
Reflection: What guilt are you carrying today that you need to bring before God? How can you embrace His mercy and forgiveness in this area?
Day 4: Choosing Freedom Over Sin
The allure of sin can be enticing, but it ultimately leads to destruction. We must choose the hope of freedom over the temporary pleasure of sin. Achan's story warns us of the danger of valuing sin's gain over God's presence. By choosing to follow God's ways, we can experience true freedom and avoid the destruction that sin brings. This choice requires us to prioritize God's presence and the hope of freedom over the fleeting pleasures of sin. [01:10:26]
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8, ESV)
Reflection: What temporary pleasure are you tempted to pursue today that might lead you away from God's presence? How can you choose the hope of freedom instead?
Day 5: The Power of a Confessing Community
A mature Christian community is one that practices confession. By being open about our struggles, we create a space for healing and growth. This transparency allows us to experience God's mercy and to support one another in our journey of faith. As a community, we are encouraged to be a confessing community, one that is not without sin but without secrets. This openness enables us to move forward in the mission God has for us, experiencing the fullness of His grace together. [01:17:09]
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)
Reflection: How can you contribute to creating a confessing community in your church? What step can you take today to be more open about your struggles with others?
Quotes
"Unbeknownst to the museum workers, for years, the rainwater had been improperly flowing down below the bottom of the museum and below the structure. And over time, what had happened is that water slowly eroded the bedrock of the soil underneath the museum over the course of many years. And so, around 5 a.m. on that February morning in 2014, the ground below the museum began to crumble out. It began to fall apart down into a cave that was down below. And in a matter of seconds, a massive sinkhole, 40 feet wide by 60 feet long, opened up and it swallowed eight classic Corvettes." [00:40:59] (30 seconds)
"Listen, the main thing that will destroy your relationships in your life, the primary thing that will dampen the Holy Spirit's voice in your life, the thing that will undermine God's mission for you is hidden sin. And if you've been harboring that inside, if you've been holding it, if you've been keeping it in the tent of your heart, the bedrock of your secret life is crumbling and like a sinkhole, the collapse is imminent." [00:43:11] (23 seconds)
"See, here's what we don't understand in our individualized society. Israel was in a covenant community with each other and with God. And before God, what he saw was that they were members of one community. They were tied together and bound together so that everything that was done in that community, everyone was accountable for. They were all affected. They were all wrapped together. They were all falling under the consequence of one person's sin throughout the entire nation. And here's the first reality that you want to see this morning. Your hidden sin, my hidden sin, burns others around us." [00:50:49] (33 seconds)
"See, hidden sin, it seems innocuous to us. We think, I do it in secret. You know, it's not hurting anybody. Nobody has to know. It's just a little gossip, you know? It's just a little gossip in my life. It's just a little greed. It's just a little lie. It's just a little complaining. It's just a little anger. It's just a little lust. It's not going to hurt anybody but me. Like, I'm the only one that's going to be affected by what's happening here. But what happens is that in the reality of our world, one little spark consumes an entire community." [00:52:01] (28 seconds)
"Now, you might say, no, I got a personal relationship with Jesus. It's just me and him. Like, we just roll together. And when I sin, I can go to him. It doesn't really affect anybody else. I just have to get it right with him. But what the Bible teaches is it would say that we bring consequences on the rest of our community when we sin. When I sin and when you sin, what happens is that it actually brings this larger community under God's hand." [00:53:24] (27 seconds)
"Earlier in 1 Corinthians 5, Paul's writing to the church in Corinth, and there's this man in their church who's actually having a sexual relationship with his mother-in-law, or sorry, his stepmom. And Paul tells the church, he says, you need to deal with this. And here's why. He says, because do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? In ancient times, they would take a little fermented dough from the previous week, and they would bring it, and they would meld it in with the new dough for the new week. And over time, that fermented dough would mix in with the new one, and it would spread throughout. And Paul's point is obvious in this moment. A little sin and a little pride in the community, if left unchecked, will silently spread throughout the church." [00:56:43] (40 seconds)
"How many times has God wanted to do powerful works and accomplish things in our city through our church, and yet he doesn't because it's undercut by buried brokenness? After the defeat, Joshua, their leader, is unnerved. He goes before the Lord, and he falls on his face, and he cries out. He says, how did this happen? God, why would you let us fall like this? Why would you let us fail? You brought us out here to take the victory and take the land in your name. Why would you let this be? And what does God tell him? Do you remember the words we read together? He says what? Get up." [00:58:17] (34 seconds)
"See, guilt is actually a mercy from God. That moment when God begins to press down, it's a mercy from him, a signal from him to say something's wrong here, but we can get it right. And David says, For day and night your hand was heavy upon me, and my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. See, God has a CT scanner on our heart. He sees the deepest places of our spiritual life. He knows what we do in secret. He knows what we think about in the dark. And he's closing in this morning on those things that we've been hiding." [01:08:05] (34 seconds)
"I believe that God was slowly peeling back his hidden sin and giving Achan an opportunity to confess before it came to light. And you may be feeling that conviction of the Holy Spirit this morning for a hidden sin, for things that you've harbored inside. And this is your pathway this morning. This is actually the pathway to walk out from under that weight and to walk to the Lord for mercy. And God's giving an invitation. He's giving an invitation to each of us, to me included, to confess, to not hide anymore, to not keep it in, to see the sin that he's exposing and to bring it out in the open." [01:09:23] (33 seconds)
"To Achan, the pleasure of his sin was better than the nearness to God. And before we scoff at Achan's foolishness, I want us to look at this honestly. I want us to look at this as humans. This was not a small bag. This was not just a little bit that he got. If you combined what Achan took, it would have added up to a worker's wages for their entire lifetime. So this isn't just a little haul with the gold and the silver and the shawl and the garment that he got. Achan has actually gained a fortune in front of him." [01:11:30] (26 seconds)
"Israel deals with the sin, and in the next chapter, if we were to read on in chapter eight, they actually go back up to I, and they have the victory again. They begin to move forward on the mission, and I believe that for our church, Freshwater, we are being led into a new season of mission that God has for us, and one of the things that will derail this mission, it will derail our church, it will hijack our callings, is hidden sin, and today is the day that as a church, not just an individual in here, but actually as a corporate body, we begin to bring our sin before the Lord." [01:13:37] (30 seconds)
"Proverbs 28, 13 says, whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. 1 John 1, 8, and 9 says, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. See, a mature Christian community is a confessing community and so that's what we're going to do this morning. We're going to offer ourselves to the Lord." [01:18:07] (30 seconds)
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