TOPIC : SECRET FAULTS AND PRESUMPTUOUS SIN
Bible Reading: Psalm 19-21; Acts 19:21-41
”Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” Psalm 19: 12-13(KJV).
The above focal scripture need to be properly examined and meditate upon. The psalmist in his dealing with God spoke in very clear terms that among those things that can hinder us from living uprightly and innocently are secret faults and presumptuous sins. For the purpose of clarity, we need to have composite knowledge of what are secret faults and presumptuous sins.
Secret faults refer to those deeply imbedded traits that have not come to the surface or manifested themselves in life and conduct. It can also refer to those secret things of life that one may be conscious of and may be hiding from public view. Secret faults are also referred to as some of our actions and activities which seems right to us, but it is not approved of God for our life. These are some of the things we indulge in and do, which our society considers normal and okay but is displeasing to God. As a child of God we must guide against embarking on an action without divine approval. We must not get involved in activities because our peers are doing it. The bible says in Proverb 14:12(KJV), “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are ways of death. ” In Ezekiel 18:20a (KJV) the bible says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
Secret faults can be quite difficult an issue which we must depend entirely on God to cure us of them. We must guide against making wrong choices. The antidote to wrong choices is the word of God and a completely submitted life to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The bible says in Psalm 119:133 (KJV), “Order my steps in thy word; and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Our steps are ordered in God’s word through the leading of the Holy Spirit. When we completely yield to the Holy Spirit, He will guide us through the word of God, which is the cure for secret faults. When we are not properly guided by the Holy Spirit we easily go astray and cannot hear or perceive divine leading and direction which consequently move us to do those things that does not delight our God. Sometimes they may seem right in the eyes of man but it is not in God’s delight. This is well spelt out in Isaiah 65:12b (KJV), “Because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before my eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.” Continuous choosing and doing those things that does not delight God can result in dire consequences.
Presumptuous sin, as the name suggests, are actions taken without faith but based purely on presumption, even contrary to divine instructions. These are willful and deliberate act of rebellion against the truth, light and conscience and can lead to the hardening of the hearts of those who commits them through the deceitfulness of sin. Woes are pronounced against such sinning in Isaiah 5: 20-21(KJV), “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them, that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” In the old testament presumptuous sins were punishable by death. “But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people” Numbers 15:30 (KJV)
My dear reader, these are very slippery spiritual terrain that requires studying of the word of God and the help of the Holy Spirit to overcome and avoid. You need the entrance of the Spirit of God in your life for you to have victory over secret faults and presumptuous sin. It is for this reason the bible stated in 1 Corinthians 10:12(KJV), “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” For us to do well in our Christian pursuit we need the continuous abiding presence of the Holy Spirit which comes by the acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
Prayer: Gracious father, strengthen me in the inner man by your Spirit to overcome the slippery terrain of self-confidence as you lead me by your Spirit.
Pastor Joel Ezeugo