When You Mess Up - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

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When You Mess Up

1 John 1

·       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 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

QUOTE: Being human is bad; being a carnal human being is just plain messy.

As children of God, we mess up.

·       We get it wrong.

·       We do the wrong thing.

·       We say the wrong thing.

·       We think the wrong thing.

·       We respond the wrong way.

·       We treat people wrong.

·       We listen to the wrong people.

·       We take the wrong advise.

·       We make wrong decisions.

If anybody can get themselves in a mess, it’s us.

·       We have the unique ability to mess up anything.

·       We have the gift and ability to destroy a perfect day.

·       We can mess up a good marriage.

·       We can mess up a good relationship.

·       We can mess up a good church.

            A. The Plan

·       1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.

The plan is quite simple; God wants us to live our lives holy, in obedience to Him and His Word.

His desire is for every child of God to walk in the Spirit and seek to please God in all we do.

He has given us multiple ways to accomplish this plan.

1. We have been given power over sin.

No longer can you and I say, “The Devil made me do it.”

·       Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

We are no longer under bondage to sin.

·       Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

2. We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

·       Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

3. We have the Word of God to tell us how to live.

2 Timothy 3

·       16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

·       17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

            B. The Provision

·       1 John 2:1 And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

ADVOCATE: Greek: PARAKLETOS - summoned, called to one’s side, esp. called to one’s aid; one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate; one who pleads another’s cause with one, an intercessor

            C. The Prescription – 1 John 1:9

• 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

What do we do when we mess up? Is there hope? Is there a second chance?

Let’s dissect this “prescription” and see what God’s Word says about what to do.

I. Acknowledge the Failure

• 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,

The main reason why many people never get out of the mess they’re in is because they won’t admit they are in one.

Some of the most painful days in the life of a believer is a result of their unwillingness to say, “I have sinned.”

ILLUSTRATION: The prodigal son came to himself, and then he got honest.

·       Luke 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

            A. Don’t Deflect It

This is the default response to being confronted with our mess.

Adam blamed Eve.

Eve blamed the serpent.

Playing the blame game is as old as planet earth.

            B. Don’t Deny It

In Genesis 4, Cain killed his brother Abel.

When confronted by God about it, his first response was to play dumb.

·       8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

·       9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?

            C. Don’t Defend It

In 1 Samuel 15, King Saul was commanded to completely destroy the Amalekites.

·       13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.

·       14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

·       15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

            D. Don’t Diminish It

We have all kinds of names for it.

We call it having a bad day.

We call it getting up on the wrong side of the bed.

We call it a misunderstanding.

We call it anything but what God calls it.

God calls it faults.

God calls it weaknesses.

God calls it sin; iniquity; transgression.

NOTICE David’s acknowledgement in Psalm 51.

·       3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

·       4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

·       5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

II. Ask for Forgiveness

The humility and honesty that is demonstrated in asking forgiveness is a big deal.

READ Psalm 51:1-10

Key aspects of David’s prayer to the many ways to ask for forgiveness.

·       1 have mercy

·       1 blot out my transgressions

·       2 wash me throughly

·       2 cleanse me from my sin

·       7 purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean

·       7 wash me and I shall be whiter than snow

·       9 Hide thy face from my sins

·       9 Blot out all mine iniquities

·       10 Create in me a clean heart

·       10 renew a right spirit within me

James said it like this:

·       James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

III. Appreciate the Faithfulness of God – vs. 9 he is faithful

Once forgiveness has been granted, be thankful.

The faithfulness of God is something to be thankful for.

Lamentations 3

·       21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

·       22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

·       23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

IV. Aim to Fortify the Weaknesses

·       Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

·       Revelation 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

·       Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

·       Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

V. Attempt to Fix the Wrong

When you mess up, others are often affected by it.

The right thing to do is to go back and try to undo the damage that you caused by your actions.

If you borrow something that belongs to someone, and you break it, you should replace it or fix it.

If I accidentally drive through the front wall of your house, I should fix it.

If you make a mess, you clean it up.

If I spill my drink on the floor, I clean it up.

You don’t just say, “My bad” and walk away.

If you are truly repentant, you will do everything you can to clean up your mess.

You will apologize to those that were hurt.

You will attempt to repair the damage to your testimony.

You will do everything within your power to CLEAN UP YOUR MESS!

Restoration is an important part of getting right.

Biblical restoration involves getting right with those you’ve hurt and making restitution.

TURN to Exodus 22:1-12

·       1 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.

·       5 If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man’s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.

·       6 If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

When Zaccheaus got saved, he immediately tried to make it right with those he had defrauded.

The Bible says:

·       Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

Paul commended the Corinthians for the sincerity they showed when they repented and got right.

·       2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

 VI. Aspire to Follow God’s Word

·       Psalms 119:101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

·       Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

2 Corinthians 10

·       5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

·       6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

·       James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.