1 Hebrews 12:1-6 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My sons, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.

2 “Secret” Sin

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5 I. IN REALITY, THERE ARE NO SECRET SINS! Psalm 90:7-9 – 7 We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Numbers 32:23 – 23 But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.

6 Achan and His Secret Sin Joshua 6:18-19 – 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction and bring trouble on it. 19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury. Joshua 7:21 – 21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath. Achan thought he had hidden his sin, but he could not have been MORE WRONG!! –Israel was routed by Ai –The robe, silver, and gold were taken from Achan –He, his sons, and his daughters were stoned to death and their remains burned

7 Hebrews 4:12 – 13 – 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double- edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Are we trying to hide sin under our tents? We must realize that God knows, and chances are that others know of our secret sin, or likely will at some point!

8 II. SECRET SINS, IN A SENSE, ARE EVEN MORE REPREHENSIBLE THAN OPEN SINS. WHY? BECAUSE HIDDEN SINS TURN US INTO HYPOCRITES! A hypocrite is someone who pretends to be what he never intends to be. Matthew 15:7-8 – 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8 “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

9 “As long as my sins are secret, I’m not hurting anyone but myself…”

10 III. WE MUST FIERCELY BATTLE AND WAGE WAR AGAINST SECRET SINS! Hebrews 12:1-4 – 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endures such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 1 Corinthians 9:27 –No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

11 There are many ways in which we “secretly” sin, such as… Indecent television / movies Sexual Immorality Drugs Drunkenness Harming the bodily temple Internet Pornography

12 Ephesians 5:8-17 – 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Be very careful, then how you live – not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

13 Hebrews 10:26-31 – 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

14 Hebrews 10:26-31 – 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 Remember those earlier days after you had received light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.

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17 No matter how attractively packaged it is, sin is still garbage!!!

18 The Lamb of God He died for us, and only through him can we be cleansed…