MARY ADGER

Iniquity – Participating in Sin

According to Psalm 66, a prayer barricade exists. Cherishing, nurturing, and holding on to sin – hinders a person’s prayer life and changes God’s response.

16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. 17 I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Psalm 66:16-18

See the relevance – UN-confessed Sin, known Sin, and Willful Sin.

Un-confessed sin hides, and suppresses truth. UN – confessed sin makes the flesh accountable and liable for damages to the heart. Sin fights a consistent blood flow (blockage) and the heart becomes unhealthy.

UN –Confessed Sin

David committed adultery with Bathsheba. 13 Thou shalt not kill. 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15 Thou shalt not steal. Exodus 20:13-15

David submitted to his own authority instead of God’s Sovereignty. He used his position and power to trap a woman in lust and sin. Also, he had her husband Uriah killed – because he fathered a child with Bathsheba.

God confronted David’s sin through Nathan the Prophet. As a result of David’s sin – the child died and God spoke wrath upon David’s household.

The story of David and Bathsheba – 2 Samuel 11:1-27 & 2 Samuel 12:1-24

Known Sin – Ananias and Sapphira sold land and lied about the purchased price. Thou shalt not steal. Exodus 20:15

The early church was at a high point in unity, worship, and adding souls to the church. All the people put their possessions toward one common goal assuring no lack among the people.

Ananias and Sapphira sold land and – decided to keep part of the money. They lied about its worth. They both died for lying to The Holy Spirit.

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. Acts 5:1-10

Willful Sin – Jonah disobeyed God’s instructions and pursued his own path. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3

Jonah had the opportunity to bring an entire nation to repentance and salvation. Instead, he allowed his hardened heart to deviate from God’s perfect will.

Sin motivated Jonah to rebel against God. He refused the oath of a Prophetic warning – one that would spare lives. At the moment, Jonah disobeyed – he began to serve the master of sin.

1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. Jonah 1:1-3

In the examples of UN-Confessed Sin with King David – the sentence was death to the child conceived in adultery.

In the example of Known Sin with Ananias and Sapphira – the sentence was death to both husband and wife.

In the example of Willful Sin with Jonah – God brought swift judgment and punishment.

I cannot say with a certainty – why God did not sentence Jonah to death. I do know that Jonah presented a strong case of repentance before the Lord. Jonah 1:1-10.

I know the Lord forgives sin. I know the Lord is faithful and just.

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts 2:38-41

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:8-10

Let us all repent and confess our sin while there is still time.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Romans 1:16-32

Iniquity – /iˈnikwədē/

Iniquity means gross injustice, wickedness, or a serious sin. It describes deeply immoral behavior, a wicked act, or a complete lack of fairness and righteousness.

• Wickedness: Extreme moral corruption or a deliberate choice to do evil.
• Injustice: A grossly unfair or unequal situation.
• Sin: A major violation of a moral or religious law.

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Psalm 66:18