I recently read an article about a very prominent young minister who stepped down from pastoring his church due to "moral failure," better known as old fashioned sin. This preacher, whom I have had much respect for, enjoying his books and teachings over the years, was engaged in a homosexual relationship with his youth pastor.

How could this be? I was shocked and lost for words as I began to search my thoughts and cry out to the Lord for some answers. I had known of this man and his ministry for years, he was strong and held nothing back in his preaching and had been a real example for thousands of believers.

Probably his most famous book was a collection of biographies of noteworthy 20^th century Pentecostal preachers and evangelists who had a strong impact both in the world and in the church. It pointed out their strong points and also pointed out their failures, where they had missed the mark. He was directed by the Lord to write the book so that we would be able to benefit from the knowledge of their failure, seeing where they had missed it, so as to learn from their mistakes and avoid the snare of the evil one. I'm glad he wrote the book, it has been a real blessing to me and to many others as well.

I will say that this preacher has admitted his sin, asked for forgiveness both from God and the Body of Christ and is now seeking help by placing himself in submission to certain Christian leaders and is receiving counseling as well. Thank God!

Sin is subtle. And while I do not know all the facts of the above mentioned sin, I do know how sin and the devil work. The sin of the preacher did not start when his homosexual encounter began with the youth pastor. That is simply when it was acted upon. The seeds of sin were sown many months and possibly even years before.

It first began, as it usually does, with temptation to the mind and the senses. And with a busy, busy schedule, possibly not taking the rest he needed, nor keeping himself in the freshness of the Word and hearing from the Lord, the seeds of sin began to sprout and take hold as he began to ponder and muse upon the thoughts of temptation instead of rejecting them as contrary to the ways of God.

Not only did the result of this sin affect his ministry and personal life, it affected and is affecting countless numbers of people around the world. And while there is healing and restoration available to him, it is certain that his ministry will never reach the heights nor have the impact it was meant to have.

In this, I am reminded of the story of King David that is found in 2 Samuel 11. He had gone through much in his life to become king. Now at this stage in his life his empire was vast, and he was a man of great wealth and honor. He was known far and wide. His country was presently at war, and he had fought and been victorious in so many battles. His army was mighty, highly trained and very well equipped. So he surmised in his mind that there was really no need for him to attend to such a matter; after all, he was the king. So he sent Joab to go and take his place in the battle.

One evening, unable to sleep, David arose from his bed and decided to take a little walk upon the roof area of the palace. As he walked he noticed a young woman bathing a short distance away, and the Word tells us that she was very beautiful. Instead of looking away and taking authority over his thoughts, he began to soak it in and ponder the scene with the twisted potential that it offered to his flesh, and the seeds of sin begin to sprout.

As the story progresses, he sent for Bathsheba, took her to himself and had an affair with her. From the encounter she conceived and became pregnant. And in an attempt to cover it all up, he sent for her husband Uriah to be brought back from the battlefield so that he would go in to lay with his wife and hopefully become convinced that the child was his own!

When Uriah arrived, David inquired about the battle as if this was the reason he was summoned. David then sent him to his own home to be with his wife. However, Uriah being a noble man responded, "The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing."

With the fear of exposure now beginning to rise within David's thoughts, he devised a plan to have Uriah eliminated from the picture altogether by having him sent to the front lines where the battle was fierce. The troops were then to pull back leaving Uriah exposed and defenseless where he would be struck down and killed by the opposing forces.

The plan worked. Uriah was killed in the battle and David was then able to take Bathsheba as his wife!

For a moment it appeared to David as if he would be able to get away with the whole thing. After all, no one really knew what had happened. But God knew. And the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to expose David's sin and relate the consequences of the sin to him. Know this, there is always a reaping to what has been sowed. Sin always pays a wage, and that wage is death, or the effects of death. Romans 6:23

What's shockingly sad is that all of this was completely preventable. Take a close look at the opening Scripture verse in 2 Samuel 11:1; "It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem."

All of this happened because David was not where he was supposed to be. If he would have been at the battle, the rightful place of the king, none of this would have happened - not the sin, not the adultery, not the murder, not the consequences on his family, the kingdom or his character - none of it would have occurred! Not to mention the blessing of being able to stand before the Lord and have a clear conscience.

We all have the potential to fall into sin. Not one of us is exempt. We are all residing in this body of flesh, with its constant desire to have its own way. It doesn't matter how much Scripture we have learned, how well we can teach, how many gifts of the Spirit are in operation in our lives, or how much faith we can boast about, if we do not keep ourselves humble before the Lord and in tune with His precious Holy Spirit, keeping our relationship with Him alive and fresh, we all can end up in shipwreck and ruin.

There is a plan afoot by the devil to trap the Body of Christ into the bonds of sin, so as to demean and deactivate the power of the Gospel in the eyes of the world. He wants to make it appear to the world that we as Christians are no different than those who are not, and that we really have nothing to offer at all.

Especially in today's world, where the effects of sin are taking their toll on society, someone needs to be living the Gospel as a shining beacon to the world. Proving that the Gospel is alive and that there is a Savior who loves them and wants to give to them a bright new way of life, hope for today and an assurance for eternity.

We need to remember the big picture, there are people dying and going into everlasting hell everyday, lives are at stake here! We, as born-again Christians, have a responsibility to let the light of the Gospel shine through us, to shun evil and come to a place of maturity so we can be effective in our ministry to others. (Romans 12:1-2.) The Word tells us to come out from among them and be separate! (2 Corinthians 6:17)

I want to urge you to take a moment and reevaluate your walk before the Lord today. Are you where you're supposed to be in life? Are you abiding in the true vine, getting your daily life and nourishment from Him? If not, why not make a fresh commitment and get back into the fellowship that you need so that you can begin to grow again in Him. There is a call of God on each one of our lives to impact the world around us for the Lord Jesus Christ, to be an extension of His love and grace. Let's not fall prey to the devil's schemes, remembering that: "Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay!"

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Micah 6:8

"How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word."
Psalm 119:9

God bless you as you continue in your relationship with Him, led by His precious Holy Spirit!

Dan Downey
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Dan Downey 2000