Part 3: It shows us how to correct our mistakes
Pastor Maselo Mosomane
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
The word of God is profitable for correction. We have seen in the previous message how easy it is sometimes for one to stray away from the truth and wander out there in dry places. The word of God has taught us what to believe. We have the right doctrine. However; Satan our enemy works day and night to lead us into all error. We also have the flesh that pressurizes us to follow our sensual desires. But; praise God, the word of God is for ever present to point out all error and expose our mistakes.
Did you know that Satan leads us into such illicit behavior in order to expose us? We saw it with Adam and Eve in the Garden. He deceived them and made them eat the forbidden fruit in order to shame them. As soon as they ate, their nakedness was exposed and they ran away and hid themselves.
But God does not expose our sins to shame us. He does that so that we could see where we drifted away from the right doctrine. God wants us to know when and where we went wrong so that we can take a deliberate action to seek reconciliation with Him. God wants to restore us. This is the reason why He points out our mistakes.
Not only does the word of God expose our sins it also shows us how to make good what we messed up. What will it help to show someone that he has made a mistake if you are not going to show him how to correct it? I think if we know this; God should be knowing better. He points out our mistakes and show us how to fix them.
First; there is no reconciliation without acknowledgement of guilt and willingness to repent. God uncovers our sins in order to encourage acknowledgement and repentance. The word tells us in 1 John 1:9; “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” “If” is conditional. There is a condition to restoration. He who is to be restored must first confess his sins to God and repent.
Throughout the bible God points out His people’s sins and persuade them to repent. Solomon renders us a beautiful example in his prayer of dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. After this prayer God appeared to Solomon by night. “Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:12-14.
The word points out our mistakes and teaches us how to correct them. God says to Solomon; if my people who are called by my name shall;
1. Humble themselves (admit)
2. Pray (call upon the Name of the Lord)
3. Sick the face of the Lord (desire His presents in their live)
4. Turn from their wicked ways (repent)
These are the keys to restoration. God says, “Then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” When the word points out your mistakes; be it by the written word or by the preaching of the word; do not harden your heart and stiffen you neck. Israel hardened their hearts and rebelled against God’s council and provoked God’s anger. Their corpses were scattered in the wilderness.
“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, they always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known My ways. So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest.” Hebrews 3:7-11
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