7. Comfort of warning – keeps us from presumptuous sins
What are presumptuous sins and how do we avoid them?
Well the Second Epistle of Peter clearly exposes presumption on the part of evil doers and lists the types of sins that creep into people’s thinking and behaviour. It is worth a read to do a self-check and repent read!
But basically this scripture summarizes it:
2Pe 2:10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,
And this is what one needs to guard against:
2Pe 2:3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words;
You need discernment that only comes from being immersed in the Word of Jesus Christ. It will cut between what is spirit, soul and body and help you evade the exploitation of presumptuous people.
In my experience in ministry, I have found that many disputes can be settled when presumption is explained to the other person. They will say things like: “O I never knew you felt that way,” or, “Well that was never my intention.”
However, protocol exists in the spiritual realm and when there is no understanding of mutual submission, presumptuous sins set in and defile relationships that have been built up long term. A simple acknowledgment of the presumption is the easiest way to resolve and reconcile. Repentance is not always just saying you’re sorry the other person feels a certain way about your behaviour! That is not a repentance. True repentance removes presumptuous sins!
Here the words of King David:
“Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.”
8. Comfort of Rewards – helps us to please God – Hebrews 11:6
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Believing that God exists gets you into the walk of faith, knowing and understanding that He desires to reward those who believe in Him is the next level. He wants to reward His children versus us trying to gain his favour. This helps us walk from a place of acceptance and gives us an expectation that no matter what we face, He will reward us in ways that we understand. And it is different strokes for different folks! Noah obeyed God and his household was saved and he became the heir of righteousness which is according to faith. Later Abraham entered that reward system the same way. That pathway is open for you and anyone who believes in Jesus Christ as Lord.
9. Comfort of understanding – cleanses from secret faults
Now we get to secret faults – the word speaks of: covering up (H5641).
What did Adam and Eve do when they disobeyed God? All of a sudden they thought they needed to cover up, while before that everything was naked and open before God and each other. That is a key to restoring the relationship God intended between husband and wife and indeed between God and man – He assess everything anyway – be real and stop covering things up before God! The deception is actually ridiculous to think God does not see! When you see the absurdity of a cover up, you will confess to God and He will forgive your secret sin and cleanse you of all unrighteousness. It’s not Him it’s you!
It’s impossible to cover things up in the light of His presence. Personally, when we read the Bible, we can allow that light to search the thoughts and intents of our hearts.
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Note that the context of cleansing here is fellowship and walking in the light. Cleansing is not just a personal process – by fellowship in Christ in the church, a cleansing takes place on a corporate level because we are part of one body.
1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “LOVE WILL COVER A MULTITUDE OF SINS.”
The Love that covers a multitude of sins is necessary because we are walking in the light. When we see each other’s strengths and weakness so clearly exposed we need God’s love more than ever. That is why the Holy Spirit needs to cultivate the fruit of love, long suffering, kindness, gentleness, goodness and self-control alongside joy, peace and faithfulness. Someone might be strong on faithfulness and not have the kindness and gentleness with those less faithful. Here love steps in and covers what is lacking – or where the mark is being missed in faithfulness – and all the while there is a development of that missing fruit by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the context or nurturing love in a mentoring situation in the local body of believers the church.
That’s why I don’t believe people who say they are part of the global church and do not need to submit locally. It doesn’t work and the lives often bear fruit of rebellion and self-seeking – just read before the fruit in Galatians 5 and you will see the opposite of the Spirit’s fruit – works of the flesh.
It is not enough to say you hear what someone says when they disciple you in Christ – you have to do it and get evaluated in the process over time. How will you know that you are making progress if there is no one to testify or witness to the milestones you overcame and the mistakes that you had to learn from?
Accountability is a wonderful way to grow and overcome hindrances to your spirit’s journey.
We see how understanding – better still: the Spirit of understanding helps to cleanse us from secret faults. God is so faithful and His Spirit is so comforting – His word settles long term inner disputes of our soul and solves problems we have been carrying around with us for ages! Thank you Jesus!