This letter is written with a desire and prayer for God to bless you in every area of your life. Permission is granted to reprint it and give it to others.
HIDDEN SINS, DISUNITY, UNBELIEF AND LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
SEPARATE US FROM GOD'S BLESSINGS
Strong prayers bring others to Jesus and blessings to us. In order to have an effective prayer life, we must acquire godly knowledge by studying and believing God's word. Also we must confess our sins and stay in harmony with God. Hidden sins, disunity, unbelief and making the things of this world our prime focus prevents God from blessing us. Also we may cause someone else to reject Jesus because they use us as an example of all Christians.
Jesus told about the suffering which He would bear in Jerusalem and Peter, who had previously walked on water, rebuked Him. Jesus turned to Peter and said, Go behind me, Satan; an offence [hinderance] you are to me: because you think not the things of God, but the things of man. (Matt. 16:21; Greek Interlinear Bible). This tells us that the carnal mind of man agrees with the devil, not God. Obviously Peter's great idea was not in unity with God. His lack of knowledge caused him to question the works of God. This points to the fact that Jesus did not do many works in some places because of unbelief. (See Matt. 13:58). Today God's work is still hindered by men who doubt His word and rely on their own understanding.
Solomon said, He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: whosoever confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Prov. 28:13). Today, many people are in bondage to hidden sins. Some wait until deep trouble comes before they seek godly counsel. It is easy to allow fear, pride and social pressure to prevent us from being like Jesus. Pride will not admit to mistakes and/or flaws; pride will not confess failure. We must never yield to pride. (See 1 John 1:16). We need to be like King David. He said, 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. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalms 19:13-14).
The apostle James wrote, Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. This is followed by, The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. (James 5:16; R.S.V.). We confess our sins to one another so that our prayer will have a second witness. (See Matt. 18:19). Be sure that your confession is heard by someone with integrity, one who cares about you. Such a person will not probe for details of your sin. Instead they will identify your sin and pray with you. Then God will forgive you. Afterwards both you and your witness must disregard the entire event. In doing so you will exemplify Jesus. Keep away from talebearers. (Prov. 11:13). They will probe for every detail of your sin and rehash it after God has forgiven you. These are people who think like men, not God. They oppose God as they disregard the fact that forgiven sins no longer exist. Remember, no man has the right to regurgitate garbage from their mind by talking about sins which have been forgiven.
We need answers to our prayers. So we must not obstruct the Spirit of God. Answered prayer is the result of being in unity with God, withholding nothing from Him and giving all of one's self to Him. As we work and live in the world we must not neglect our spiritual needs and become like the world. There must be a balance. (Re: John, ch. 17). Clearly we must rely on God and not on the thoughts and desires of man.
Soon I will be in Olinga, Honduras, with a team of christian doctors, dentist, and lay people. We will minister to the physical and spiritual needs of that area. Because we go in the name of Jesus Christo I expect to see evidence of the Holy Spirit at work. Your prayers for the people of that area will bring the power of God and His salvation to them.
Never forget that you are an important part of this ministry. For over fifteen years people in the background have been the backbone of what is now Knowledge of Jesus Ministries. Because of this, God has done great things.
In Love,
Dean Hubbard