YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT - Rev. Fortune Nwaiwu

YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT

 

“But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” – Numbers 32:23 NLT.

 

Introduction

Brethren, today I want to tell you the certainty about our human life. Anything we do here on earth thinking that no one knows will surely be made known one day. This is true. The fact remains that there is no single sin that goes unpunished, and if you think that the ones you have committed received no punishment, you are deceiving yourself. In Romans 2:16, God through Jesus Christ shall judge all our secret lives. Our secret lives include those things we hide from others. We keep hatred secret but pretend to love one another. We hide concubines but pretend that we don't commit adultery. We cover truth with lies and harbor evil in our hearts but claim that we are Christians. Brethren, I want to tell you to be sure that your sin will find you out.

Illustration

There was a young man who broke into a widow's house and made off with the widow's precious items. As the community members had found out that he was the culprit, he fled to stay with his elder brother living in town. There, in his newly settled environment, within a two-week interval, this young man was seen sprawled on the ground and surrounded by a crowd of people who lashed him with strokes of a cane,  leaving visible bruises on his body. When I looked at him, I saw a big male goat by his side. Without being told, the goat was undeniable evidence of his predicament. When his elder brother came and saw him, he yelled out a call for him to rescue him, but his elder brother shook his head and departed.

Now, we can see that the young man's elder brother never believed that his brother could steal until sin found him out.

In Numbers 32:23, it addresses the selfish interests of the tribes of Reuben and Gad who came to plead with Moses to give them the land in the east of Jordan. This request was made when they were yet to conquer Canaan, a land God had promised to give them. Moses lectured them on the historical account of some rebellious Israelites who made God keep them in the wilderness for forty years until all of them were destroyed. Now he sensed that these tribes of Reuben and Gad had come to do what would cause the anger of God to be upon them. However, the people promised to build pens and fortify the city for their families before coming to fight the Lord's battle. They promised to help with their troops to fight the battle, and thereafter they would return to claim their land. And Moses told them if they failed to keep their word, they had sinned against God and their sin would find them out. Here, we see that if we don't keep our word, it is a sin. If we say we serve God but don't keep His laws, it is a sin. If we fail to abide by our marriage proposals, it is a sin.

People Whose Sins Found them Out

1.       Adam and Eve - Genesis 3:8-13. Adam and Eve's sin found them out when they disobeyed God's command not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. After eating the forbidden fruit, they realized their nakedness and attempted to hide from God. However, God called out to them, exposing their sin and holding them accountable for their actions.

2.       Cain - Genesis 4:8-10. Cain's sin found him out when God confronted him about the murder of his brother Abel. God questioned Cain about Abel's whereabouts, exposing his guilt. Abel's blood cried out to God for vengeance as a symbol of the injustice committed against him, demanding divine retribution for his wrongful death.

3.       King David - 2 Samuel 11:2-4. David's sin found him out when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband, Uriah, killed. Nathan showed that God knows what David had done by telling him a parable about a rich man who took a poor man's only lamb, which made David realize his own wrongdoing.

4.       Amnon's sin with Tamar was discovered when Tamar's brother, Absalom, found out about it. This is mentioned in 2 Samuel 13:20, which states, "Her brother Absalom said to her, 'Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister; he is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.'" Absalom then plotted revenge against Amon for his actions. He waited for the right moment and organized a feast where he had Amon killed. This is described in 2 Samuel 13:28-29, which says, "Absalom ordered his men, 'Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I given you this order? Be strong and brave.'" After Amnon's death, the news of his sin with Tamar became known to the rest of the family and the people. This is mentioned in 2 Samuel 13:36, which states, "As he finished speaking, the king’s sons came in, wailing loudly. The king, too, and all his attendants wept very bitterly."

5.       Judas's sin of betraying Jesus found him out when he realized the consequences of his actions. In Matthew 27:3-5, it is stated that Judas felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, acknowledging his guilt. He confessed, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." (Matthew 27:4) Judas's guilt and remorse led him to hang himself, as mentioned in Matthew 27:5. This act of self-destruction was a result of the overwhelming guilt and shame he felt for betraying Jesus. Ultimately, Judas's sin found him out through his own recognition of his wrongdoing and the tragic end he met.

6. Ananias and his wife sinned by lying against the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3 – 10) when they sold a piece of property but kept back part of the proceeds for themselves. This was revealed to Peter by the Holy Spirit, resulting in their immediate deaths as a consequence of their deceit.

5 Ways Our Sins Can be Exposed

Our sins are often exposed through various means.

1. Divine Revelations: One example of this is when King David's sin of adultery with Bathsheba was exposed through divine revelation. In 2 Samuel 12:7-12, the prophet Nathan confronts David and reveals that God knows about his sin. Another example is when the prophet Elijah exposed the sins of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. In 1 Kings 21:17-24, Elijah delivers a prophetic message from God, revealing their wickedness and the consequences they will face.

2. Personal guilt is another way sins are exposed in the Bible. After Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, he felt deep guilt and remorse for his actions. In Matthew 26:75, Peter weeps bitterly, realizing the weight of his sin and betrayal.

3. Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins and exposes them to our conscience. Jesus said in John 16:8, "And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment."

4. Through the Word of God: The Bible is a mirror that reflects our sins and exposes them. Hebrews 4:12 states, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

5. Through the teachings of Jesus: Jesus often exposed people's sins through His teachings. For example, in Matthew 5:27-28, He exposed the sin of lust by saying, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

It is important to note that while our sins may be exposed, God's ultimate desire is for us to repent, be forgiven and be restored. Are you willing to renounce your sins today and seek restoration through Jesus? Is it not better to confess them now rather than waiting for them to be exposed? As a married woman, what wicked acts do you commit and keep hidden from your husband? The same applies to you, man. Don't you  think that one day our sins will be brought into the light? It is time to turn away from your evil deeds and turn to God for healing. Sin has permeated every aspect of our lives, but it is only through Jesus Christ that we can find healing if we choose to turn to Him now.

 

Prayer Points

1. Heavenly Father, I come before you acknowledging that my sins will eventually be exposed. Help me to have a repentant heart and turn away from any hidden sins in my life. (Numbers 32:23).

2. Lord, reveal to me any areas of my life where I have been deceiving myself or others. Help me to be honest and transparent, knowing that you desire truth in the inward parts. (Psalm 51:6).

3. Father, I pray for the courage to confess my sins and seek forgiveness from those I have wronged. Give me the strength to make amends and restore broken relationships. (James 5:16).

4. Lord, I ask for your grace and mercy to cover me as I face the consequences of my sins. Help me to learn from my mistakes and grow in wisdom and righteousness. (Proverbs 28:13).

5. Heavenly Father, I pray for your protection over my life, that my sins may not lead me into destruction. Guide me away from temptation and help me to walk in your ways. (Psalm 19:13).

6. Lord, I surrender my pride and self-righteousness before you. Help me to humbly acknowledge my sins and seek your forgiveness and cleansing. (1 John 1:9).

7. Father, I pray for the strength to resist the allure of secret sins. Give me the discernment to recognize the traps of the enemy and the wisdom to choose righteousness. (1 Corinthians 10:13).

8. Lord, I ask for your forgiveness for the times I have tried to hide my sins from you. Help me to remember that nothing is hidden from your sight, and that true freedom comes from confessing and forsaking my sins. (Hebrews 4:13).

9. Heavenly Father, I pray for a heart that hates sin as much as you do. Fill me with a deep reverence for your holiness and a desire to live a life that pleases you in every way. (Romans 12:9).

10. Lord, I thank you for your promise of forgiveness and restoration when we confess our sins. Help me to walk in the freedom and joy that comes from being cleansed by your precious blood. (1 John 1:7).