Why God? Why? … I always have a hard time paying my bills. I have large credit card balances. My son died when only a child. My parents divorced when I was young. My husband lost his job and now our home has been foreclosed. Our automobile has been repossessed. My husband has gone back to drinking. Jane is a lovely Christian and now she has cancer. My friends had a terrible auto accident. The pastor has gotten into adultery with his secretary. The Browns are lovely Christians and their daughter has been abused sexually by an uncle. Why did my parents divorce when I was a child? Why God? Why do bad things happen?
Do bad things come from God? Why does He let them happen? Isn’t He all-powerful? Doesn’t He care? Is there a reason for bad things happening? Can we prevent them from happening?
Many scriptures show us that it is Satan, not God, who brings bad things into our lives . . .
“The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10).” “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich [total provision in every area of our lives] (2 Corinthians 8:9).”
God's plan is to bless us abundantly and for us to have a rich, fulfilling life in every area. All of us have blind spots, and hidden attitudes out of which often flow sinful actions or words. I have made many mistakes and have suffered because of them. But I am learning and making fewer and fewer. Never condemn yourself if one or more bad things have happened to you. We are all in the same boat. We are all learning. God loves each of us just as we are and is leading us step by step into a totally victorious and sinfree life. The good news is that we can keep most bad things from happening. And remember it is Satan, not God, who brings sickness, destruction, death, and other trials into our lives, and he must have open doors in our lives to be able to attack us. Let’s find out those open doors and close them!
We Reap What We Sow
“As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come . . . for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (Proverbs 26:2, Galatians 6:7-7).”
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From the scriptures above and many other ones, God’s word shows us that there is always a reason that bad or good things happen in our lives. In the world this is known as “cause and effect.” We reap what we sow—either good or bad. God's will for us is prosperity in every area of our lives. Satan is looking for an open door through which to bring sicknesses, accidents, and other trials into our lives and that of our family members (including even our unborn children).
Let’s examine some further scriptures “. . . Visiting the iniquity of the fathers (our sins) upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and the fourth generation. . . Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many (including our children!) be defiled (Exodus 34:7, Hebrews 12:15).” “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee . . . I will also forget thy children (Hosea 4:6)osea(.”
When Joshua conquered the city of Jericho, Achan disobeyed God’s instructions to the Israelites and secretly took a “Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight (Joshua 7:21).” The judgment of God came on him, his children, his wife, his property, and even on all the children of Israel. What was the penalty to Achan for his sin? “And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had . . . And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones (Joshua 7:24-25).” The judgment for sinning affects everyone close to us!
Because of a lack of knowledge, and of blind spots, many of us in the church are sinning and either don’t
know we are sinning, or don’t realize the terrible reaping that will take place. . . Jane: “I know I don't pray enough or read the bible enough. But is it really that important?” Bill: “Well, I don't tithe but I will when I can afford it. Isn’t that OK?” Marilyn: “God has been speaking to me about my overeating and lack of exercise. I am going to do something about both of these soon.” William: “I look at the wrong TV programs, and Sunday is my day to hunt.” Gerald: “The Lord has dealt with me a long time about fasting but I haven't started yet.” John: “I am not ready to forgive my ex-wife.” Patricia: “I am too busy to go to church or even to read the bible much. Later I will.” Rebecca: “I know we really shouldn't be living together, but we are going to be married in a few months and God understands!”
Are Jane, Bill, Marilyn, William, Gerald, John, Patricia, and Rebecca guilty of sin? What is Sin?
Perhaps they are simply wrong “choices?” Is denial or minimizing a sin? Or if a sin, does sin really make that much difference?
Another question? Does sin really have anything to do with sickness, accidents, financial challenges, depression, and other trials that come upon us and our family members (and even our unborn children)? These are questions, I believe you will agree, that need answers!?
Sin includes any action or lack of action, sins of omission, such as too little time in the Word or too little prayer) that goes against God’s commandments, his principles, and laws, particularly His law of love. “And he (Jesus) answering said [He commands us!], Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself (Luke 10:27).”
Jesus even commands us not only to forgive our enemies but to love them! “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you (Matthew 4:44).” To do otherwise is rebelling against God’s command and so it is a sin.
Jesus said, “For God said, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him die the death (Matthew 15:4).” Wow! We had better forgive and honor our parents!
“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are . . . He that committeth fornication (or adultery) sinneth against his own body (I Corinthians 3:17, and 6:18-19).” This also includes pornography in all of its forms!
“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (James 1:15).”
“Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee (John 5:14).”
“ . . . For if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. . . For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Romans 8: 13, 14).”
“For the wages of sin is death (and sickness and poverty), but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).”
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that he will not hear (Isaiah 59:2).”
“Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted (Psalms 107:17).”
“Be not wise in thine own eyes [pride]: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones (Proverbs 3:7-8).”
According to the above scriptures (and many others) we see it is indeed because of sin in our own lives (sins of commission or omission), including generational sin, that sickness, accidents, financial problems, and/or death come to us, our marriages, and/or our children. It opens the door for Satan to attack us!
Attempting to deny our sins imprisons us in them. … “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy (Proverbs 28:13).”
When we discover our sins and repent, we close doors through which Satan can attack us and open the door for God to bring victory in every area of our lives. Isn’t that great news? Let’s not deny or cover up our grumbling and complaining, our negativity, our lukewarmness, and for some of us—drugs, alcohol, lying, stealing, pornography, an abortion, or other secret sins. Let’s repent and prosper.
Repentance includes changing our habits and our thinking. We must be sure we do a deep work of repenting, preferably with tears or the travail (“groanings”) of Romans 8:26. See “Travail-Self-Travail” on my website at www.laughcry.org. Don’t take this lightly. It is a major key to your healing, and/or to keep your healing. It is also of great importance to your future spiritual growth and overcoming life. Through such repentance, the door will be opened for each of us to live in dimensions of peace, joy and intimacy with God and loved ones that we did not dream possible.
To be fully protected from the result of sin, which opens doors through which Satan can attack us, each of us must search our hearts and repent (includes changing) of every sin the Holy Spirit brings to our mind, particularly the ones below.
1 The Sin of Lukewarmness. dishonoring God by not putting Him first This is the root of most of these other sins. Let's each of us search our hearts and repent. Signs of “lukewarmness”: a) No daily prayer or quiet time with the Lord b) Very little studying and meditating on the Word of God c) Wrong priorities: Is our focus on prayer, the Word, church, and God's desires, or on television, sports, the newspaper, making money and our hobbies. Let's say this prayer, “Lord, I repent and from this day forth I choose to put you first in my life. I choose to honor You by seeking You with all of my heart and strength. I choose to make you Lord of my daily life—my priorities, and my decisions.”
2 The Sin of unforgiveness. Do you deeply resent, or have unforgiveness toward yourself or others? Do you still feel deeply wounded, or rejected by others? Most of us do! Make a list of everyone who has hurt you now, deeplyforgive them and let the resentments or roots of bitterness go. Be sure to forgive yourself!
3 The sin of grumbling, complaining, worry, gossiping, criticizing, and other negative words or thoughts. How do we react to stressful, negative events? How do we react to unpleasant people or circumstances? I have had to do much repenting! Even when I have had victory over my words, I often have had to repent for “grumbling, complaining” in my thoughts. How about you?
The roots of grumbling and complaining, worry etc are unbelief, pride, self-righteousness, and hurts in our lives. We complain (and worry) because we don't believe God's promises to us. “There is death (physical, emotional, spiritual and financial death) and life in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).”
Complaining can be deeply hidden and even be a way of life. It may be the greatest sin in your or my life! But we can change! A complaining or critical spirit opens the door for Satan to attack us in many areas. Thousands of the Israelites were destroyed in the wilderness by “fire of the Lord” because of complaining and the unbelief that went with it. Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart. Print from my website,“You Can Overcome Depression, Fear, Anger and Stress in Twenty-One Days.” Daily meditation on God’s word will produce faith, remove worry, and make you well. God has plans to prosper us. Let’s do our part!
Grumbling and Complaining is a powerfully form of being carnally minded, which produces death, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be (Romans 8:7).”
4 The sin of not paying our tithes (10%), giving generous Holy Spirit directed offerings, and giving to the poor. See Malachi 3:8-11. This opens a door through which Satan can cause our finances, spiritual life, relationships, health, and joy to suffer greatly. This “sin” opens the door to the next two sins.
5 The sin of sexual lust. Impure sexual thoughts, words, and/or actions are counterfeits of the holiness of marital sex, and are major sins in the Body of Christ. “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge Hebrews 13:4). It is anointed and godly to have a fulfilling passionate sexual oneness in marriage, but outside of marriage sex, even in our thought-life, is a death-sickness producing sin! When a marriage partner reveals to the opposite sex in conversation what should be reserved for their spouse, this is spiritual adultery! It will often open the door to actual adultery.
6 Generational sins. First we must repent deeply for our own sins! Then forgive one's mother and dad. Next in Jesus' Name renounce and repent for the generational sins of your family with great authority. See yourself behind the cross and the four generations, including your Mom and Dad in front of the cross. Thank Jesus for taking the curses upon Himself. Confess the sins of your family line (unto the third and fourth generation), and ask God to forgive them.
Repentance for any one or more of the above sins is more than asking for God's forgiveness. It includes changing our sinful habits and our thinking. Let’s get free through God’s help from all of these sins. It is a major key to prosperity in every area of our lives, including protection for us and our family, our healing, our finances, and for our spiritual growth. The doors that have been opened for Satan to attack us will be closed. So with enthusiasm, let's discover the sins we are committing and repent. After we finish repenting, we can then, in the Name of Jesus, command every evil spirit attacking our bodies, our minds, our relationships, and our finances to go.
If you desire us to minister in your church or home group, contact us at our address below. To purchase our materials, or give to our ministry, you may write us, call us, or go to our website.
John Chappell, The Chappell Ministries, Inc.
PO Box 172, Bartow, FL 33831
Home 863-226-2362 Cell phone 863-221-1479
Email JChap777@aol.com Web www.laughcry.org