Dec 8th, 2021.

YOU CAN RISE AGAIN. Pt.3

James 5:16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.NLT

BREAK THE STRENGTH

Deacon James was deeply involved in extra marital affairs with his secretary. He was once vibrant and useful for the Lord but his heart became cold towards the things of God and his kingdom. However, God in his mercies encountered him and he repented. His wife has always been a devoted believer whose walk with God is consistent. All through the time Mr James was cold spiritually, she employed herself as his private intercessor but she didn't know exactly what her husband was into. Seven months after, this secretary began to show interest in deacon James and she seduced him till he fell again. While praying and and asking the Lord for forgiveness, the Lord told him, "break the strength of sin by confession". It was very hard on deacon James. He had his fears and he felt it would be shameful to do so.

Months rolled on, he struggled to keep himself but he had a desire to be free totally. He fasted and prayed for 3 days but at the end, he fell into the hands of this seductive secretary again. Weeks after, he became paralyzed. While in the hospital, an angel appeared to him in a vision telling him his time was up. The angel further told him that his life would have been preserved and elongated if he had confessed his sin earlier either to his wife or pastor but the enemy had poisoned his body system through the secretary who happens to be a demonic agent from the marine world. After the vision, he saw his wife and pastor praying beside him in the hospital. Immediately, he opened up to them and they pleaded for God's mercy to preserve and elongate his life. God showed mercy and after 6 months, deacon James left the hospital partially restored. He didn't regain the full use of his limbs. When he resumed to his office, he found a note on his table saying, "mission accomplished". The secretary had left.

Dearest, if you will rise again never to fall into sin, you need to confess to someone who will hold you accountable. The strength of sin is in secrecy. The more you keep it as secret, the stronger its hold over your life. Even though we know God is merciful and loving, after He has forgiven us, He desires that we confess and confide in someone. When the devil want to destroy a man's life completely, he makes him shut his mouth in the presence of those that can help him. Sometimes, pride makes believers keep sealed lips about their struggles. The fear of being exposed shamefully is another factor that makes people withdraw. However, you have nothing to fear if you can prayerfully ask God to lead you to someone that is mature and will be a catalyst for your restoration. God still has faithful sons. Don't be a victim of secrecy, break the strength of that besetting sin now through confession and be restored.