“ “5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. 6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them”.”
When we come to Christ, we are granted forgiveness and reconciliation and God gives us the opportunity to fellowship with him. However, given the fact that man still lives in the flesh, there is always the tendency to deviate and do things that are not permitted in the life in the spirit. God is honest with us and has made a provision for us. There is no point hiding sin. God appreciates when we acknowledge our sin. 2 Samuel 12:13 states “Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.” God forgave David because he acknowledged his sin. As stated in Jeremiah 3:13 “Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God. You have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every green tree and have not obeyed My voice,’” declares the LORD.” It is important to acknowledge sin and state what is it so that when you ask God for forgiveness and He does, you will know exactly what you were forgiven for. Hosea 14:2 “Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.”
We must call sin what God calls it—“sin,” “iniquity,” “transgression,”
Some reasons why we confess our sins
Through Christ we are made Holy and set apart therefore, we expected to be: Leviticus 20:26 “You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own.”
Our sins separates us from God: Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
God is faithful to forgive and cleanse our sins. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
No prosperity in a sinful state: Proverbs 28:13 “He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.”
We have been given an open invitation: Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.”
Prayer points
Let us confess our sins, children, family, church, and community.
Nehemiah 1:6 “Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.”
Today, it’s shameful to even image some of the kinds of things reports about believers, but our God will remember mercy.
Ezra 9:6 “and prayed: “I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.”
Personal Reflection- what are some things- list them and ask God for mercy and forgiveness.
What is your strategy to come out of that place or habit, friends etc.
2 Corinthians 6:17 “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
What are some of the ways we the church are married the world- list them and confess. Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
It is time for the church to separate herself from all the foreigners and confess her sins to the Lord who is faithful to forgive. Nehemiah 9:2 “Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all the foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.”
Reminder: Daily Prayer line at 9pm EST via Zoom.