Intimacy With Jesus || All Holds Barred

“Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend…”

-Exodus 33:11

I have been running a series on Instagram/social media for a while now; for new-born again believers.

One thing that has been a constant flow in this season that I hear is on new believers who basically find it hard to forgive themselves for the past and also find it hard to believe that God has forgiven them.

So background to this is my salvation story (Please read it HERE if you haven’t).

In my heart, the biggest sin I committed in my past life was abortions.

You see, I was hung up on that aspect of my life for years even after I gave my life to Christ. I became born again in 2011, was baptized in the Holy Ghost in 2012 but it was only at the end of 2013 that I found respite from the sin of killing the babies God had given me.

I would walk on the streets and be so joyful, then all of a sudden feel this dark cloud hanging over me with thoughts about what I have done in the past flooding my mind. Whenever this happened, I would be almost depressed; weighed down under the guilt of condemnation.. and worse I could share this with NO ONE. I thought I was the smug of the earth. Tell anyone I committed abortions before? GOD FORBID!

The fact that I can share my past story freely right now is a testimony that God wrought in me through obedience. See my struggle HERE and obedience HERE.

How did I get here where I am right now? Where I walk indeed as a new creature in Christ Jesus?

SINCERE BARE BONES RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

The day I was set free from guilt and condemnation over past sins started like every other day.

I had seen a programme at Church for a relationship seminar or so (can’t really remember) and I attended. While there, the pastor suddenly veered off into talking about those who had committed abortions previously and how God wants to set them free. Oh I cried my heart out to God. I told Him I was sorry (I had never really felt such conviction for that specific sin before), I asked for mercy. I told the Lord to take the babies from satan’s hands into heaven (still don’t understand this prayer really, but it was all Spirit led as spoken by God through the pastor). I took the shame I felt, the guilt, the condemnation and laid them down at Jesus’ feet that day and He heard me.

I left that meeting FREE to function in my new identity in Christ Jesus without the guilt of the past holding me back.

AND IT ALL HAPPENED IN ONE ENCOUNTER OF SINCERITY AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD IN PRAYER.

The reason why it takes Christians (generally) a long time to get over the hang-ups of their past life is because we tend to hide them, rather than bring them out into the open before God.

Moses understood what it meant to be bare before God..

the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend…

There was no veil between Moses and God; it was all laid bare. They spoke to one another freely as FRIENDS.

Why did Adam run from God after he fell in the garden of Eden? It was because of a lack of understanding.

If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened”

-Psalm 66:18

So God came into the garden and He asked:

”Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”

He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”

-Genesis 3:9-10

So today the Lord is asking “where are you” and so many of us are giving the answer Adam gave: “Lord my hands are stained with blood and lies and theft so I am hiding myself from you”.

No, as long as you keep hiding yourself, your guilt and condemnation shall have the upper hand.

What do you need to do then?

Lay yourself all bare before God.

One of the most important treasures a believer can ever have is a sincere and vital union with the Lord.

A union where you can come into His presence, celebrate your triumphs but also bare all your flaws and failings.

So if you are held by the guilt and condemnation of the past, you need to come to the point where you can answer the Lord with the truth when He says “where are you?”

Like I did that day in 2013, go bare before Him.

Lord, I am still struggling with this sin I committed in the past. It keeps hunting me. Oh Lord (cry out), forgive me! Have mercy! Wipe off my transgression (which He has already done when you became born again) and let me know that I stand before you a new man. Give me an assurance of your presence, renew your Spirit within me. Fill me with your joy and love in place of condemnation and guilyt. HAVE MERCY LORD, HAVE MERCY.

What you need is an assurance and an encounter that turns the trajectory of your heart around. Don’t cover your feelings before God. Go into your secret place and learn the art of speaking to the Lord face to face as a man speaks to a friend.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

-Psalm 51:7

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We are still running the “31 days to a better prayer life and intimacy with Jesus “ on the women at the well online group and Instagram. We are also fasting alongside.

If you desire and have been called to come up higher in this season. Please join us. Follow me here for the daily prayer points.

As you seek the Lord with your whole heart, you shall find Him.

Till our next #OnlineBibleStudy,

Love,

Frances

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