JER 15:19 Therefore this is what the LORD says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them. 20 I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you," declares the LORD.
I am flying to Colorado to be the speaker at a men’s retreat at the end of the month. I am preparing my four messages for the weekend and all but one has been given before. The one I am currently working on is entitled “No Secrets”. When it comes to secrets my assumption is that we all have some hidden struggle that is kept from most people whether it be spending, lust, gossip, deep resentments, hidden addictions, a critical spirit, or any other of the “Big Three” sins of 1 John 2:16, “the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does...”
The fight against our dark side is a battle for “self control” (Galatians 5:22) and is evidence of the Spirit at work in our lives. To not struggle with sin is to not care about sin. To care about sin is to struggle with sin. The things that we celebrated as men prior to experiencing Jesus we are now ashamed of and embarrassed to talk about.
Years ago a friend made a public statement that, “We all have a dark side.”
From this, questions every man should ask are, “Who knows your dark secrets of struggle, sin and temptation? Who knows what very few know about you? Who knows your dark side?”
We all have a dark side.
If so then the Christian response is to expose it to the light (1 John1:5-7). When we expose our secrets to the light they are; uh, no longer secrets! Subsequently, they are no longer in the dark recesses of our hidden life.
Not speaking for you or others I find this true in my life. In the midst of loving and serving Christ we battle against sins such as lust manifested through the media, internet, thoughts of pre-Christ encounters, and looking at women other than Shanna (I think that covers most of it).
The war against darkness must be declared believing 1 Corinthians10:13, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
One means to “stand up” is to expose it through honest confession to Christ (1 John1:9) and enlisting the prayers of trusted men, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)”
Another method I use is to simply RUN (2 Timothy 2:22)! Stay away from anything that may trigger temptation. Give to God before you give to anyone else. Cut those credit cards. Get rid of HBO and Sin-to-the-max. Find accountability on your computer through XXXChurch or Covenant Eyes. Stop telling that woman about your marital problems. Stop complimenting that female co-worker. Hunt, fish or watch sports after you go to church not instead of.
Are you getting my point?
