Secret sin, dangers and deliverance

Anchor text for study: Proverbs 9:17

What are secret affairs/sin?

Secret affairs are simply activities that a person engages in that are kept secret from the knowledge of others.

However, in this context, we are talking about it in relation to sin/secret sin as any entanglement that the believer would desire so deliberately to keep hidden from the knowledge of others is certainly one that is already sin or will certainly lead to sin.

Secret sin is not just dangerous to our spiritual lives but very poisonous to the soul and a killer of destiny as any activity you can conveniently hide, you can not be delivered from.

It is very clear even to the blind how that sin thrives in secrecy which is why we are clearly instructed in scriptures in James 5:16 that we should confess our sins one to another so that we can be prayed for and delivered and Proverbs 28:13 clearly tells us that he who confesses his sin will obtain mercy.

We will look at how you can be delivered from secret affairs/sin but first let us look at the dangers of secret sin according to scriptures.

*Dangers of secret sin*

Proverbs 28:13A

The above scripture clearly tells us that he who conceals his sin will not prosper as sin denies us of our privileges in God.

There are quite a lot of dangers of secret sin all centred around the devil killing, destroying and stealing from you.

Here are a few!

 *1. Sin is a destiny waster/killer*

The devil consistently seeks to steal the essence and substance of time from the believer and one way he successfully does this is by luring the believer into sin and having him conceal it so that he can not be helped.

 *2. Sin corrupts/poisons the soul*

Sin is a contamination to the soul of man as one who lives in sin can not be productive/fruitful in his mind.

 *3. Sin blocks our access to the Father*

God is Holy and whoever desires to walk with Him with unhindered access must be holy just as He is (1Peter 1:16).

Our God is too Holy to behold sin so a natural consequence of sin is that it blocks our access to Him.

 *4. Sin is a killer and a thief*

We have read that the devil who is our adversary roams about like a roaring lion looking for what/who to kill, steal and destroy but the question is, can the devil really steal from the believer?

No! he can not, unless of course he finds an access point of which sin is one of the access points so the first way he tries to achieve his aim is  by luring and locking many up in the web of sin and lies as one in sin is in darkness and can not see the light unless one who is light comes to his aid.

If you are currently living in sin, I make bold to tell you that the devil has stolen the substance of your life, however, there is hope for a tree though it be cut down but at the scent of water it springs forth again.

You can get your life back when you return and make your ways right with God.

God clearly said in 1Samuel 2:30B that they that honor Him, He will honor but they that litely esteem Him, He will despise.

Brethren, if you are living in sin, you are litely esteeming God and the natural consequence is despise.

Tell me, if God who is all sovereign despises you, who will honor you?

Honor God now with your body, heart, soul, spirit, money and all there is to you and watch Him transform your life.

Secret sins can also be very subtle and one out of many examples I would like to emphasize on is lust; lust is a very hidden sin and this makes it very dangerous as it subtly eats deep into the believer's soul if not thrown out immediately.

It can start with very subtle attractions to the opposite sex and then grow to infatuations and fantasies then boom you begin to imagine filthy and vain things.

Just as Jesus clearly tells us, as a man thinks in his heart, so is he! You might say you are not fornicating/committing adultery but just by looking at that lady/brother lustfully or imagining filthy things like the shape of their bodies and what not, I make bold to tell you that you are already deep in sin (Matthew 5:28).

*How can you be delivered from secret sin?* 

 *1. Confess your sin one to another (James 5:16)* 

 *Why should you confess your sin?*

While reading this, you might be wondering why the need to confess your sin one to another when you can just ask God for mercy and receive it.

Here it is!

 *A. Accountability* 

Many attimes, the sole reason many believers consistently fall back into a particular sin or more is because of lack of accountability.

God is all forgiving, yes and even if you fall 7 times, surely you will rise again all 7 times as long as you keep going back to him but you can not afford to keep falling in your walk with God as the devil is subtly stealing your time/substance of time and essence so it is very important to have someone who is spiritually sound, trusted and can serve as a voice of authority over you/your life whom you can share these weaknesses with so you can be accountable and properly helped.

 *B. Prayers of the righteous/so you can be prayed for by one who has gained victory over sin* 

Scriptures clearly talk about the fervent prayers of a righteous man making tremendous power available in James 5:16B.

 

The chances of people who are rightly accountable falling consistently into sin is very slim as they are not just being watched and held accountable but they are also being prayed for by someone who is a voice of authority over them in the realm of the Spirit and physically who has conquered sin.

Brethren, have you seen a man who fell into a pit, pick himself up out of that pit by himself without the help of someone who himself is not in that pit with him?

Certainly not!

That is exactly how these things work.

You need the spiritual, mental and emotional support of one who has gained victory over that sin you are struggling with in order for you to be fully delivered, restored, stand and withstand.

 *2. Flee from every appearance of sin! (1Thesselonians 5:22)*

According to the above scripture, we are urged to flee/stay away from/abstain from every kind/appearance of evil.

The scripture did not tell us to stay and fight it, actually the scripture clearly implied that the only way to successfully fight it was to abstain/flee/run and that is period!

I have met several believers who believed strongly they could fight sin through prayers alone even while lurking around it, brethren, the prayers you are praying will give you the wisdom to flee.

Take for instance, sometime ago I was trying to win a soul to Christ, I was really burdened for this young man because he was in deep sin so I began praying for him first before I began talking to him about Jesus, while I was praying for him, I would have several visions of him trying to come into my room through my window and trying to come close to me so I knew something was off but I kept praying for him so one day I saw him and was talking to him but I noticed this young man I was talking to was looking at my chest and smiling very annoyingly, first I was wondering, I am wearing a very covered cloth and he is still lusting? I knew this matter was beyond me and the oil on my head is very important/precious to me and was not up for sale at all so that was the end of it, I handed him over to God in prayers and told God to take charge of his soul and that was the end.

On several occasions, I have had matters like this but one wisdom I have learnt from God and through my spiritual father is that you can not win every soul and there are times when you must flee so your soul can remain saved.

The devil is very crafty and we choose not to be ignorant of his devices.

Brethren, you don't hang around sin/people that can lead/lure you into sin no matter how spiritually sound/strong you think you are.

There are matters that are beyond you so to retreat/step back a little is wisdom sometimes.

 *Flee!*

A lot of believers engage in illicit conversations, watch movies they shouldn't watch believing they are too strong to be lured, brethren, I make bold to tell you that many strong/mighty have fallen on that path you are threading!

Abstain/flee from every appearance of evil now!

In your bid/burden to save souls, you must be intentional about keeping the salvation of your own soul!

Many strong have fallen because they were innocently trying to win a soul to Christ.

Wisdom, they say is profitable to direct and in prayers and studying the word, God Himself gives us this wisdom to direct us.

 *3. Grow in your walk with God*

It is often said that to kill a bad habit, you must cultivate a new and good one to replace it.

Scriptures clearly tell us in Galatians 6:8 that he who sows to the flesh shall reap the fruits of flesh but he who sows to the Spirit shall reap the fruits of the Spirit.

Something/someone must lead a man so in order not to be led by the flesh into sin/death, you must be led by the Spirit into life.

Study God's word daily, pray, obey His leadership, fast, allow Him to do a thorough work in you, surround yourself with people who are passionate about God and leaving their lives to please Him.

Get committed and accountable in your local church.

Serve and follow Jesus genuinely!

Let your mind be renewed!

Grow in your walk with God!

This will greatly save and preserve your soul!

Peace be multiplied unto you!