PORTERVILLE POST | The "RIGHT" Word © ~ with Brother Scott

| “DELIVERANCE OVER DIGNITY”

The Right Word^© - Jul 05, 2026
with Brother Scott : scott@portervillepost.com

In our last meeting, I was duly impressed and blessed by the “burning altars” testimonies of our two young brothers NJ and Micah (the very reason why we take the time to ask for testimonies and praise reports).
Listen :

If you were here, you heard them each share how in their recent attendance at a conference they were moved to understand the importance of recognizing in their lives any issues of both sin (no matter how slight it seemed to be) and the things that were worldly weights in their lives that were hindrances in their walk with the Lord.
Upon feeling the gravity of these things, they committed to taking the personal action needed of surrendering those things to be burned-up and out-of their lives based on picture presented to them of a burning altar.
They both went on to say that the wood for keeping the fires burning were the study of Word of God, prayer, and personal praise and worship of God, all the means of true fellowship with God and part of the salvation of their souls and ours.
This is a critical spiritual growth-point for these young men that will in very positive ways affect their walk before God for the rest of their lives. I later commented that the metaphor they were given of a burning altar, where sin and life’s distractions are burned up on, is a great picture and likely drawn from the Old Testament tabernacle practices—and that from Jesus forward that “burning altar” became the power of the cross that our Savior died on.

To the Lord and by His cross is now where we are to go
to be set free from sin and the bondages of the world.

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† 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 (to thwart in every direction) us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
† 1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect (have no effect, become empty of its power). 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power (Gr. dynamus: miraculous power, force; from “making something possible or abled to by”) of God.
† Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified (exposed to death to extinguish passion or selfishness) unto me, and I unto the world.

Their remarkable testimonies reminded me of someone else’s testimony that also impressed me just a few days earlier (Oh, how marvelously the Lord guides me for what He wants me to share with you!).

( Oh, how marvelously the Lord guides me
for what He wants me to share with you! )

I was listening to a 2-part message by a trusted teacher of God’s Word, when he shared a similar-type experience that set him free from a secret sin many years before. At that time being the song leader at the church he attended, a word from the Lord came forth that someone needed to repent of a certain thing.
He thought that it might be for him but how could he publicly repent being a leader in the church. But the word came forth again more strongly and our brother felt the conviction by the Spirit of God and did repent and chose freedom from that which displeased God and hindered that man from an improved relationship with God.
The testimony led him to make a summary remark that is the title of today’s exhortation: He chose deliverance over dignity (his “being worthy of esteem, respect or admiration” in the eyes of others).
That seems to be the crux of the matter with many of God’s repentance-needing children; so many of us have continuing secret sins, we know it is wrong and dirty in the sight of God, we might have even tried to get the victory over it but have failed more than once, and rather than seek the help that would cause us embarrassment and shame to admit it, we let a mental callous grow over the sin or we protect the weights that slow us down in our Christian race, and these things continue-on with our feeling less and less conviction of its sin before God.

If you’ve never considered it before, there are these 4 ways
by which we are to deal with our sin especially.

1. We are to recognize it is missing the command of holiness, it offends God and brings death at some level to us, and as believers we are supposed to respect the pain of that sin, intend to not do it again, repent of it before God and ask for His forgiveness and to be cleansed from it by the blood of Jesus, and with thanksgiving shun the temptations to do that thing again.
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† Romans 2:4 ... despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
† 1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 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.

2. If we have a recurring problem with that sin, in sincerity we must go to the Lord and ask for the power of the cross and the help of the Holy Spirit to put that tendency, addiction to certain things of the world, or unclean passions to death. Before God, we confess it as sin and expose it to the death of the cross (we “crucify the flesh”) and ask for God to put that part of our old nature to death. This is where we are to deny ourselves the temptations of that sin and not let the crucified fleshly desires come down from the cross—this is not easy but it is possible and is the prescribed antidote for sin’s nature.
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† Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself [say No!], and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (Also † Lk. 9:23, † Mk. 8:34)
† Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate (set aside, disesteem) the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. [Know this: Just as the mockers yelled at Jesus to “Come down from the cross”, so does the crucified flesh scream from the cross to let it come down to satisfy its sinful desires.]
† Matthew 27:39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

3. The third power against sin issues given each of us, those with the faith to take charge, is power over unclean spirits, which can be the underlying issue if we cannot get the victory over our sin. Yes, Christians can have a demon problem and to deny that is possible is to allow any unclean spirit to comfortably remain in the believer; its presence is usually well hidden and quiet but very influential. The first thing a Christian must do is to out loud deny the temptation to sin and then name the demon/sin (anger, rage, sexual unclean thoughts, laziness towards God, etc.), and in the Name of Jesus rebuke the demon causing the ongoing battle within you, and command it to leave. This can be effective! The true and faith-filled Christian has the power of God to cast most demons out of his or her self in the Name of Jesus.
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† John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power (exousia: authority, jurisdiction, delegated influence) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
† Luke 9:1 Then he called his 12 disciples together, and gave them power (dynamus) and authority (exousia) over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
† Luke 10:19 [To the 70 followers, Jesus said:] Behold, I give unto you power (dynamus: force, miraculous power) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
† Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe (that have faith); In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
† James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

4. This fourth thing that releases power to set the believer free from sin and other bondages is the act of confession before others for their prayer or if needed, for the work required to evict stronger evil spirit(s) behind the believer’s unsolved sin problem. This is where the issue of “deliverance over dignity” is the hardest to follow through with for a believer with an issue(s) that must be resolved before the Lord (and the brother’s testimony of his issue was not a demonic problem but nevertheless his public dealing of it was hard on the flesh but when handled became a delight for his spirit).
When a believer has roadblocks in his or her life that one will not address (it is enjoyed too much and so it is avoided or put off until some later time), or has but has been unsuccessful overcoming but is committed to get victory over (sin or worldly weights sometimes as powerful as sin) then “going public” at some level is called for. And depending on what it is about, failure to take the initiative as a sin-troubled believer can lead to the Lord’s causing it to be revealed in a public move to force positive action leading to deliverance from sin, the problem weights, or perhaps even a demon problem within the Christian.
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† Acts 5: [An example of unrepented of sin:] 1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. [Was there a slight pause at this moment allowing for Ananias to repent?] 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
† Acts 19:17 [7 unbelieving sons of Sceva and the demonized man that beat them up…] And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. [And the result was:] 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
† 1 Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian [in the case of public confession for deliverance], let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
† James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted (hardship, hardness)? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess (acknowledge, agree fully) your faults (from primary Gr. word “to fall aside, fall away, apostatize) one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

One other passage I want to use that might be helpful to a believer that is having trouble with “the weights and the sins that so easily beset us” hindering our spiritual life is something the Lord Jesus taught that a man should do when he has been wronged by another.
We will briefly look at this but in the context of choosing deliverance from sin at the cost of maybe our dignity before others, that is thinking our “being worthy of esteem, respect or admiration” will be lost.

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† Matthew 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

In our case study today of getting help and victory over the things that hinder our race as Christians, this guidance from Jesus might also be applied to such a believer.
In this respect, the trespassing brother and the one hurt by it are one in the same - we are both the carnal offender and the spiritually offended by our own sin. So ...
-A.- With the help of the Holy Spirit and by the Word we should do all that we can to resolve this between us and God with the desire that the flesh is put to death at the cross and that sin ceases.
-B.- If we should fail after meaningful attempts (including perhaps with fasting), we take ourselves to one or two spiritually mature others in confession and for their help, with the hope that it can be effective.
-C.- Should the believer still have trouble with the issue, then he takes it to the church in a public confession and for prayer by the brothers and sisters (exceptions on some issues might be wise and require the need for a man to confess in the arranged presence of all the brothers, or if a woman, with the sisters of the church).

These matters are most serious and at this level of the involvement of the several, is now for the prayerful support of the brethren with meaningful follow-up by lovingly and gently holding the one seeking victory accountable to the expected deliverance.

You can see how the title of this message applies as an
important deciding point for the true follower of Jesus Christ.

When we are faced with recurring sin or addictions of any kind that steal from our walk with God, such things must be renounced, repented of, denied and forsaken-of as a personal matter of gaining the needed deliverance—or not taking all needed steps in order to save one’s earthly dignity to avoid personal shame and embarrassment.
Before God there is no shame in taking the steps needed to get free of sin; the new creature within cannot be embarrassed, only the carnal flesh! Of course, the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the believer is to choose and pursue deliverance and trade one’s carnal dignity for freedom and joy in the Holy Ghost.
I or others I can arrange help through are available should you desire to get set free from things happening in your life that cause shame before God—because if you are not ashamed by sin-things within, you have bigger issues than you think.

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† Revelation 16:15 [Jesus declared:] Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth (is vigilant), and keepeth his garments [on and clean], lest he walk naked, and they see his shame (indecency).
† Hebrews 12:1 [And so] 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, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame (disgrace), and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.