One thing I have come to understand is that 'suffering might not necessarily be as a result of a lack of provision, but as a result of a lack of understanding.' Many persons are carrying a guilt-gripped with them for a long time now, some for years—they committed a sin at some point, and they've not been able to get over the guilt in their heart (conscience); some are in the constant prayer to God for forgiveness of their sin, while some have accepted the pain as their fate, and they live in the struggle of the guilt all day long—their hearts are heavy, they can't breathe, they are frustrated by it, they've been literally destroyed by this guilt but they don't know what to do. Uhmmmm! This is not because God wants them to suffer; this is not  because God did not hear their prayer; this is not because God has not forgiven them their sin, but this suffering is as a result of lack of understanding on how forgiveness (healing) is received into the heart (conscience).

Let's look into the Bible:

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1 vs 8 - 9 {King James Version}

  • If we say that we have no sin

This statement already shows that God is on our side. Here, we understand that our shortcomings and errors are already acknowledged by the Word. Meaning, our sins or errors cannot come to God as a surprise; in the wisdom of the Word, our sins, errors, and shortcomings are already acknowledged! Note this. He said, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves". The verse also says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." So, now that we know that our sins, errors, and shortcomings cannot come as a surprise to God, in that the Word already acknowledges that we have sins, then why should a person hide his sins from God? Why do you hide your sin from the One who already acknowledged that you have sin (weaknesses and shortcomings)? Think about it. Let's learn from David right now, see what David said:

"There was a time when I wouldn’t admit what a sinner I was. But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration. All day and all night your hand was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water on a sunny day until I finally admitted all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, “I will confess them to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone." - Psalms 32 vs 3 - 5 {The Living Bible}

Beautiful! Let me break down to you David's words in this scripture:

  • There was a time when I wouldn’t admit what a sinner I was
  • my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration
  • All day and all night your hand was heavy on me
  • until I finally admitted all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them
  • I said to myself, “I will confess them to the Lord”
  • And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone

You see... Until David admitted to God that he had sinned, his heart was heavy with guilt! Let me say something to you, "guilt is a disease that is destroyed by exposing sin!" As long as sin is concealed, guilt cannot go away.

"If you cover up your sin you’ll never do well. But if you confess your sins and forsake them, you will be kissed by mercy." - Proverbs 28 vs 13 {TPT}

  • If you cover up your sin you’ll never do well

You see, guilt thrives on the concealment of sin. John the Apostle says to us:

"if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing." - 1 John 1 vs 9 {The Message Bible}

  • if we admit our sins, if we make a clean breast of our sins

You see... sin must be uncovered, sin must be admitted—you must admit before God that you have sinned! Don't make excuses for the sin, don't explain yourself out of responsibility for that sin, no! never! Don't do that. The Word says, "make a clean breast of your sin"—meaning, own up! Own your sin! That's the way out of guilt. Think about it.

Let's take wisdom from Paul:

"It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife." - 1 Corinthians 5 vs 1 {KJV}

Someone had messed up in that Church, and the news was brought to Paul the Apostle over that church. Now, let's hear what Paul said should be done to that person:

"And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 
For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." - 1 Corinthians 5 vs 2 - 5 {King James Version}

  • he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you
  • deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh

Firstly, Paul says 'take that person away from among you.' What does that mean? It means Isolate that person from the congregation. Which can be carried out by 'suspension from his or her responsibility(s) in church, making him or her sit at the back sit in church gathering, instructing the church not to have dealings with him or her for a period of time. Why this? So that the sin which that person committed is exposed, to bring about healing and restoration of that person. Waow! So this act of isolation is actually for the good and benefit of the brother or sister. You see... The point here is that, the sin must be exposed! Read carefully and pay attention.

Also Paul said, "deliver such an one unto satan for the destruction of the flesh." What does Paul mean by delivering a person to satan? Can a Christian be delivered to satan by his pastor to be destroyed? No! Let me explain to you what Paul said here. That word 'satan' used in the verse was translated from the Greek word 'satanas', which is the Greek word for satan, and it also implies 'accusation'. So what Paul said in that verse to the church is, "Don't shield such a person from the accusation of men." You know, when a Believer has committed such a shameful sin of sleeping with his father's wife, there are high chances that the church will want to hide the matter from the public, they don't want people to know what happened because the act is so shameful, so the Pastor and church leaders might want to conceal the matter from public hearing and even from the church. But Paul says no! Deliver such an one unto satan—meaning, deliver him to the accusations of men; don't shield him from the disgrace of people's comments about what he has done; bring him out of the congregation, let the whole church see him, let the whole church know what he has done; don't shield him from people's harsh comments. Why? Because this is the only way the pain can leave him or her; this is the only way that brother or sister can receive healing and restoration for his heart, when the sin is exposed! Are you getting it now? Yea.

Now, not all cases of sin involves the church—there are sins committed that the church is not aware of, they are personal to you, and the guilt of that sin is ravaging your heart. What should you do in such a case? It's simple, you admit it! And one very fast way to expose sin and be free from its guilt is to confess your sin to another person. Sometimes, you need to do this in critical cases—you tell what you have done to another person (maybe a brother, a sister, or your Pastor):

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." - James 5 vs 16 {KJV}

  • Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed

"If you have sinned, you should tell each other what you have done. Then you can pray for one another and be healed. The prayer of an innocent person is powerful, and it can help a lot." - James 5 vs 16 {CEV}

  • If you have sinned, you should tell each other what you have done. Then you can pray for one another and be healed

"So then, make a statement of your sins to one another, and say prayers for one another so that you may be made well. The prayer of a good man is full of power in its working." - James 5 vs 16 {BBE}

  • So then, make a statement of your sins to one another, and say prayers for one another so that you may be made well

You see... There are such times when you have cried to God concerning your sin, you have admitted to God that you've messed up, you've stated to God the sin you have done, yet your heart is still breaking. What you should do in such a case is to expose that sin to a man—either a brother, a sister, or your Pastor—look for someone who is matured in Salvation and tell that person what you have done, and let that person pray for you. The healing is instant. Trust me on this! But it's not about me, what I have shared with you is simply the wisdom of the Word, and I have showed you everything from the Word.

So the point is, Don't hide sin, expose it! By exposing sin the heart is free from guilt.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Jenning Uweye
Teacher,
Global Bible Study Community

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