June 3rd, 2025
by John Kelley
by John Kelley
When I was a Sr. in Bible College, I took an internship with a church in Chesterton, Indiana. I was the youth and worship intern and had an incredible summer. One of my favorite memories of that summer was our trip with the High Schoolers to Mammoth Caves National Park. We canoed, camped out, and did all the typical touristy things. But the thing that I enjoyed the most was the cave tour.
We walked down into a tunnel that led us underground to a magical wonderland of stalagmites and stalactites. Colored lights lit up the stone walls around us, and we walked through massive halls that were carved away by millions of gallons of water. And while I loved the tour, the part that really stuck with me was when we got to one of those halls, and the guide had all the lights turned off. In an instant, we were in complete darkness. You couldn’t see your hand just inches from your face. There was an eerie feeling of discomfort that seemed to fill the area, and several gasped as the light left the room. It was after a few short moments that a single lighter was lit, and suddenly we could see everyone’s faces. How could such a small light source allow us to see so much?
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:4–5
We live in a very dark time, but much of the darkness that has been going on has been hidden from most of us, protected by fear-mongering or NDA’s (Non-Disclosure Agreements). People with money and power have been able to use and abuse people without any worry of getting caught or turned in.
That all started changing in 2017 with the #MeToo movement when Miramax co-founder and Hollywood superproducer Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual misconduct, claiming that he had abused his power in order to use women in the movie industry and on Broadway. Some of these allegations date as far back as the 1970s. What he thought he could cover up was now out in the open, and several women began to come out with similar allegations against other men in movies, sports, and other forms of entertainment. Suddenly, there was an opening of the eyes of the average person. Could it be possible that these people we idolized were dehumanizing and abusing others?
As you’re reading this, another trial with monumental consequences is happening involving the rapper/producer/record mogul known as P. Diddy. Over the course of the last 20-plus years, P. Diddy has held parties across the U.S. where celebrities from all corners of the spectrum (including one very well-known minister) would partake in fulfilling every disgusting, carnal desire that they had. Men, women, and even children were used as playthings while P. Diddy would film all of it in order to maintain power over the “guests” at his parties. It wasn’t until 2023 when his ex-girlfriend filed a suit against him that cracks started to show in his armor. In March of 2024, Homeland Security raided all of P Diddy’s estates as he was to be convicted of human trafficking.
So what can we learn from this? Why are we even talking about it? Jesus makes no bones about it.
Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
Luke 12:2–3
We read here that, no matter how hard we try, the things that we have done when no one is around aren’t really secret. No matter how much work we do to cover up our evil deeds, they aren’t hidden from God. Regardless of our efforts, God knows everything we do, and He can choose to make those things known. While many of us would see this as terrifying, instead, this should be even more of an encouragement to be of strong character and integrity. It’s not only important for people to see your public image as one of high character, but who you are when no one is looking is just as important. Proverbs speaks of integrity often.
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
Proverbs 10:9
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
Proverbs 11:3
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
Proverbs 19:1
The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!
Proverbs 20:7
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
Proverbs 28:6
So many times, we get caught up in the embarrassment of our sin that we don’t look for accountability, but that is the very thing we need. Trying to deal with sin alone rarely bears fruit. Instead, we find ourselves dealing with resentment, depression, or just simply giving up and giving in to our sin. That’s why we are told in the book of James…
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
James 5:16
Those last three words need to be imprinted on our brains. They need to be a constant reminder for us. The prayer of a righteous person works!!! They aren’t empty words spoken to the sky. They are conversations with the Most High God, and He holds them in great regard. When we bring our sins to one another in confession, and we deal with them immediately, praying earnestly to God for forgiveness, it’s in those moments that we experience God’s power to redeem us from our shortcomings. And there is true freedom when there is nothing to hide.
When we do things in the shadows, we need to keep hiding them in those shadows, because of our fear of what happens when we bring those things to life. We are constantly sowing seeds, and those seeds will bear fruit.
In Jamaica, there is a popular dish called Ackee and Salt Fish. It’s the national dish of the country. Ackee is a fruit found all over Jamaica. While it is a favorite fruit of many, it is also one of the most dangerous fruits you can eat. Until the fruit is ripe, Ackee contains hypoglycin A, a toxin that can cause seriously low blood sugar and can make you extremely ill. If it isn’t prepared correctly, you can really hurt someone who eats it.
What kind of fruit are you producing? Is it produced from seeds that are sown in dark places where the fruit that grows up is toxic, or is it the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? You can’t plant an apple tree and expect oranges to come up out of the ground. You can’t plant seeds of secret sin and expect the kind of fruit that blesses God.
I challenge you today to find someone you can trust and who can trust you. Be accountable to one another. Confess to each other. Give each other the right to ask the hard questions. Don’t leave anything hidden. It is God’s desire for us to confess our sins and be freed from the agony of hiding. No one wants to live in the dark, so let’s stop hiding and bask in the light.
We walked down into a tunnel that led us underground to a magical wonderland of stalagmites and stalactites. Colored lights lit up the stone walls around us, and we walked through massive halls that were carved away by millions of gallons of water. And while I loved the tour, the part that really stuck with me was when we got to one of those halls, and the guide had all the lights turned off. In an instant, we were in complete darkness. You couldn’t see your hand just inches from your face. There was an eerie feeling of discomfort that seemed to fill the area, and several gasped as the light left the room. It was after a few short moments that a single lighter was lit, and suddenly we could see everyone’s faces. How could such a small light source allow us to see so much?
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:4–5
We live in a very dark time, but much of the darkness that has been going on has been hidden from most of us, protected by fear-mongering or NDA’s (Non-Disclosure Agreements). People with money and power have been able to use and abuse people without any worry of getting caught or turned in.
That all started changing in 2017 with the #MeToo movement when Miramax co-founder and Hollywood superproducer Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual misconduct, claiming that he had abused his power in order to use women in the movie industry and on Broadway. Some of these allegations date as far back as the 1970s. What he thought he could cover up was now out in the open, and several women began to come out with similar allegations against other men in movies, sports, and other forms of entertainment. Suddenly, there was an opening of the eyes of the average person. Could it be possible that these people we idolized were dehumanizing and abusing others?
As you’re reading this, another trial with monumental consequences is happening involving the rapper/producer/record mogul known as P. Diddy. Over the course of the last 20-plus years, P. Diddy has held parties across the U.S. where celebrities from all corners of the spectrum (including one very well-known minister) would partake in fulfilling every disgusting, carnal desire that they had. Men, women, and even children were used as playthings while P. Diddy would film all of it in order to maintain power over the “guests” at his parties. It wasn’t until 2023 when his ex-girlfriend filed a suit against him that cracks started to show in his armor. In March of 2024, Homeland Security raided all of P Diddy’s estates as he was to be convicted of human trafficking.
So what can we learn from this? Why are we even talking about it? Jesus makes no bones about it.
Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
Luke 12:2–3
We read here that, no matter how hard we try, the things that we have done when no one is around aren’t really secret. No matter how much work we do to cover up our evil deeds, they aren’t hidden from God. Regardless of our efforts, God knows everything we do, and He can choose to make those things known. While many of us would see this as terrifying, instead, this should be even more of an encouragement to be of strong character and integrity. It’s not only important for people to see your public image as one of high character, but who you are when no one is looking is just as important. Proverbs speaks of integrity often.
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
Proverbs 10:9
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
Proverbs 11:3
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
Proverbs 19:1
The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!
Proverbs 20:7
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
Proverbs 28:6
So many times, we get caught up in the embarrassment of our sin that we don’t look for accountability, but that is the very thing we need. Trying to deal with sin alone rarely bears fruit. Instead, we find ourselves dealing with resentment, depression, or just simply giving up and giving in to our sin. That’s why we are told in the book of James…
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
James 5:16
Those last three words need to be imprinted on our brains. They need to be a constant reminder for us. The prayer of a righteous person works!!! They aren’t empty words spoken to the sky. They are conversations with the Most High God, and He holds them in great regard. When we bring our sins to one another in confession, and we deal with them immediately, praying earnestly to God for forgiveness, it’s in those moments that we experience God’s power to redeem us from our shortcomings. And there is true freedom when there is nothing to hide.
When we do things in the shadows, we need to keep hiding them in those shadows, because of our fear of what happens when we bring those things to life. We are constantly sowing seeds, and those seeds will bear fruit.
In Jamaica, there is a popular dish called Ackee and Salt Fish. It’s the national dish of the country. Ackee is a fruit found all over Jamaica. While it is a favorite fruit of many, it is also one of the most dangerous fruits you can eat. Until the fruit is ripe, Ackee contains hypoglycin A, a toxin that can cause seriously low blood sugar and can make you extremely ill. If it isn’t prepared correctly, you can really hurt someone who eats it.
What kind of fruit are you producing? Is it produced from seeds that are sown in dark places where the fruit that grows up is toxic, or is it the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? You can’t plant an apple tree and expect oranges to come up out of the ground. You can’t plant seeds of secret sin and expect the kind of fruit that blesses God.
I challenge you today to find someone you can trust and who can trust you. Be accountable to one another. Confess to each other. Give each other the right to ask the hard questions. Don’t leave anything hidden. It is God’s desire for us to confess our sins and be freed from the agony of hiding. No one wants to live in the dark, so let’s stop hiding and bask in the light.
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What Is Prayer?AdorationConfessionThanksgivingSupplicationScripture Is The Word Of GodGod’s Word Guides UsGod’s Word Convicts UsGod’s Word Connects UsGod’s Word Encourages UsWhat Is Worship?Worship In Our WorkWorship In Our FamilySunday WorshipWorship Even When You Don't Want ToWhat is Fasting All About?Giving God Our Meal TimesEmptied of Ourselves and Filled with ChristFasting Develops FocusFood Is OverratedGod Is NOT In The FireJesus Sneaks OffWe Make Our Own Noise
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We All Need SpaceGod Is Not Santa ClausWith Great Blessing Comes Great ResponsibilityCan Stewardship Be Scary?Filling the Need When We See ItIt's All His AnywayTime Is NOT On My SideWe Need Each OtherDevoted To The WordBreaking Bread TogetherGroup Conversations With GodFour Hands Are Better Than TwoLet’s Keep It SimpleOnly Take What You NeedSlow DownThe Great PurgeA Simple MessageGod’s Word Is A WeaponDo You Have A Game Plan?What You Remember Most Matters MostStart With the Basics
March
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Sin Is RealDistraction Leads to Cover-UpWandering In DisobediencePride Comes Before the FallI Do What I HateThe Beauty of RedemptionRedemption Has A PriceWe Need To Claim Our PrizeYou Gotta Have FaithEven When You Look Like a Fool….God Will ProvideTrust the ProcessI Forgive YouGrace Is Free, But It Isn't CheapI Was Wrong, You Were RightThe Mob
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