1. Before there can be healing, there must be an admission of sickness.
One crisis of individuals is that we fail to acknowledge our tendency towards sin as a sickness that must be confessed to God. Without confession, there cannot be forgiveness nor healing (First John 1:9). Further, without confession, one sin leads to another. David's covetousness towards Bathsheba led to the establishment of an adulterous relationship, which then led David to enlist other persons as unwitting participants in his murder of Bathsheba's husband Uriah, a man who had done nothing to deserve death.
A second crisis is that we, in some cases, prefer sickness to wellness. Pastor Althea mentioned several cases in which we, by our silence, indicate to God that our love for sin exceeds our love for Him. King David, in writing Psalm 51, is an example of a man whose love for God eventually moved him to prefer wellness over sickness.
A third crisis is the absence of contrition. King David spent several months opting to go on with his life as if it were "business as usual", seemingly untouched by his sins of covetousness, adultery and contract murder. At the point of confrontation by the prophet Nathan, David had a change of heart and was truly sorry for having sinned against God.
2. Extended grace does not preclude severe chastisement.
The silence of God is an extension of grace. God has amazing patience. We see His patience even in the building of His church. The Scripture says that in eternity a Bride (the church) will be presented to Christ, without spot, blemish, or wrinkle. In the present, He loves us in spite of our flaws and urges us to continue to draw near to Him, so that we might become more like Him each day.
The silence of God is never a condoning of habitual sin. Psalm 50 is clear in revealing what the Lord says concerning His silence: You have done all these wicked things, I have kept silent, and in your audacity you think that I am altogether like you. You are wrong. I will strike you down, and there will be no remedy. Serve me and love me now, while you have a chance, and run far from sin.
The silence of God is the warning that judgement is at our doorstep. Let us continue with the example of King David. God did not send a prophetic word to David for almost a year. During this period, David was going about his life as if everything were normal. But at the point of confrontation by Nathan, after David's confession, the Lord sent a word: Yes, David, you have confessed and I have forgiven you, but judgement is not suspended: the sword will never leave your house. The latter years of David's life were horrendous, and he suffered indignity and embarrassment as his favorite son (Absalom) made a public display of wickedness and betrayal for all of Israel to see.
Fast-forward to 2013. There are questions we must ask and contemplation we must engage in light of this word:
- Are there areas of habitual sin in my life that I know break the heart of God? If so, why am I choosing to continually grieve God?
- Having read the Scriptures, am I genuinely interested in doing what pleases God and actively avoiding whatever displeases God? Or am I choosing to no longer read the Bible? Why or why not?
- Am I silent about my sins, or am I daily engaged in confession and repentance?
- Do I believe that God is powerful enough to keep me from always falling into the same sin day after day? Have I asked Him to send His Holy Spirit to help me live for Him every day?
- Do I understand that when no further prophetic word of warning is given to me, it means that judgement is on my doorstep?
Sadly, there are many of us who continue to feed pet sins without recognizing (or without caring) that we are breaking the heart of God and damaging His witness in the earth. But our pastor gave a clear word. We would do well to heed the word of the Lord.
Lord, give us grace to hear You speaking, and to obey before Your judgement falls.
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