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It’s no secret that there is a significant shift in the church today to avoid sin and repentance. God’s Word says to confront, confess, and turn from sin, whereas many encourage us to ignore, overlook, and continue in it. One popular TV preacher actually said, “I don’t talk about sin,” and was proud…

• Silence about sin minimizes the cross and makes it less offensive. But the cross only makes sense in light of the consequences of sin.

• Please don’t confuse passion with anger, and conviction with love tonight.

The Parable of the Sower: [Mark 4:14] The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

• Chuck Swindoll commenting: “It’s obvious that the first two groups are those who are not born again. They are rootless, lifeless, and fruitless. It’s obvious that the last group is born-again: submissive, active, and productive. But frankly, I’m bothered by the third group. They are Christians, because they grow and get right on the verge of bearing fruit, but their growth becomes retarded. These people hear everything the fourth group hears. But those insights and needed truths are never really accepted, never allowed to take root and grow. Why? Because thorns have come in—thorns which suffocate the normal healthy growth of each plant. Thorns like these trip us up and cause untold misery. They are killers!”

MESSAGE: If You Turn God Will Heal

Psalm 107:20 He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.

• Healing – physically, emotionally, and spiritually

Let’s be open and honest about sin: We minimize it so we feel better…

• Sin leads to damnation: “The wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23

• Sin separates us from God: Isaiah 59:2

• Sin misleads, deceives, and destroys.

• Sin leads to abuse, molestation, and the breakdown of all that God has made.

• Sin led to a blood-stained cross; a Son being separated from His Father and absorbing unimaginable wrath.

SIN IS NOT “A LITTLE VICE” . . .

Cancer is not just a little division of abnormal cells

• What makes a young adult take their life before they’ve started to live?

• What makes a spouse give up everything for a night of demonically inspired pleasure?

• What makes a person shake their infant so violently that they convulse and die?

• What makes a society call good what God calls an abomination?

• What makes a person abort their own child and say, “I’m sorry, but you came at the wrong time.”

• What makes a person live their whole life in rebellion and perish eternally?

One problem is that we are quick to quote, “BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rm. 6:23

We want to soften the blow; the enemy wants to soften the blow; the world wants to soften the blow: EPHESIANS 5:11, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”

• Many say, “Oh, I wouldn’t do that!” failing to realize that even rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.

• The “sexual immoral will not inherit the Kingdom” – Pornography is destroying lives – yet we act like it’s a little slap on the hand.

• What about critical and negative attitudes. Proverbs 6 says God hates pride and one who sows discord among the brethren and a lying tongue.

C.S. Lewis said, “The safest road to hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”

We need to look at sin from God’s view, or it really doesn’t convicted us.

• How can we justify the beatings Christ took for us. How can we justify the most horrific death a person could endure. To be separated from God for me.

Many live in deception. The only way to deal with it is to expose it.

• What doctor would say, “Lets not worry about the cancer?” Lets just talk about the wonderful weather, your beautiful kids, and the luxuries of life – lets just smell the roses EVEN THOUGH DEATH IS KNOCKING

The Power of Confession: “If they turn I will hear, forgive and heal.”

• Modern psychology says deal with your inner struggles. But how? They say let the past go. But how? They say heal the wounded child within. But how? They say just retrain your cognitive behavioral patterns. But how? They say, “Take this pill – it’s the answer.”

The root problem is sin [NOT self-esteem] – the answer is a Savior not psychology

Proverbs 28:13

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

1 John 1:7-9

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1. Physical Healing

(James 5:14-16 NKJV) Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. CONFESSION CAN BRING HEALING

HEBREWS 12:6, “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” WITHOUT PAIN, WE OFTEN DON’T CHANGE.

“It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.” – A.W. Tozer

Come Wreck Me Again!!  “Those who have been forgiven much love much.”

2. Mental/Emotional

Romans 5:1, ‘Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

3. Spiritual: Psalm 107:20 He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.

CLOSING: When my sermons are loud and convicting, they say, “Now you are preaching brother.” But when I focus on the love of Christ, they say, “You are losing your prophetic edge.”

The arms that hold the universe are holding you tonight. The voice that calmed the raging sea can calm your anxious heart. Satan has to bow to the Father; fear has to run; darkness has to flee. IF MY PEOPLE . . .