September 10th 2022.

SIN SHIELDS FROM DIVINE ENCOUNTER

Isaiah 59:1-3 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken falsely, and your tongue mutters wicked things..NIV

Pastor E.A. Adeboye told the story of a lady who prayed that God should use her. She spent time in prayers and her desire was to have a definite encounter with God.

On a certain day, she went to the toilet to ease herself. The first toilet was messed up, she opened the next one, it was the same.

God spoke to her that her life has been dirty like those toilets. That was why she had not gotten an answer to the request of her heart. God will not pour his power and glory into a dirty vessel.

Some may confuse the grace and mercy of God as being permissive of sin. No, He is not.

His eyes are too pure to behold iniquity: "But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil. Will you wink at their treachery? Should you be silent while the wicked swallow up people more righteous than they?" (Habakkuk 1:13 NLT).

The reason divine encounter has eluded so many today is because their heart is filled with all manner of wickedness.

You see, God knows us better than we know ourselves. For instance, a brother in the church may appear to be hungry for God and His power but the purpose of asking for power may be to outshine other ministers.

Some persons stay long on the waiting line of divine encounter not because of big and bogus sins like adultery but because of hidden sins and impure motives.

If you have been desiring a definite encounter with God, please check your life again. Your prayer should be that the Holy Spirit should purge you of everything that can make you miss God.

Often, we emphasize on prayer, faith, diligence and others as prerequisite for encountering God but we fail to realize that living in sin nullifies all other effort.

Holy living is a producer of power. It sets a man on a platform that makes divine encounter accessible.

You cannot be swimming in sin and still expect God to show up. This message may seem outdated to this generation who believe grace covers for all but it is relevant for all ages even if it is not popular.

We pray so much for revival but we permit carnality in different shades of colours. We ask for power but compromise seems not far from us. God is not arbitrary. His standard doesn't change. We either accept it or leave it.

Paul says, "Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?"( Romans 6:1-2 NLT).

Someone who lives in sin will not behold the glory of God. Never.