Audio:
https://soundcloud.com/walking-as-christ/the-christian-confession
Video:
https://youtu.be/rUK8XeH8TJM
Acts 19:13-20 KJV
13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 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.
20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
Acts 19:18-19 AMP
“Many of those who had become believers were coming, confessing and disclosing their [former sinful] practices. And many of those who had practiced magical arts collected their books and [throwing book after book on the pile] began burning them in front of everyone. They calculated their value and found it to be 50,000 pieces of silver.”
What does it mean to Confess?
to tell or make known (something, such as something wrong or damaging to oneself), admit.
to acknowledge (sin) to God
to disclose one’s faults; specifically : to unburden one’s sins or the state of one’s conscience to God
Luke 19:1-10 KJV
And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
What does it mean to Repent?
to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life
to feel regret or contrition
to change one’s mind
Luke 3:1-14 KJV
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
Confession and Repentance
Matthew 6:9-15
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
1 John 1:9 KJV
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Daily
*When have you Known what God wants and Freely chose to do something else?
*Go into Prayer unto God the Father with the Help of the Holy Spirit.
-Go over your day thanking God for each time He has helped you to say YES to Him and deny your own will. The Victories of the day. Thank you Lord!
-Go back over your day and consider each time that you knew God’s will but then chose to go your own way instead. Confess that you were wrong unto God. Ask Him for His forgiveness and Ask Him to help you to next time Obey His will.
Examine Your Conscience Throughout The Day
*After everything you do, after everything you say, simply consider was this right by God or not? Did I Obey the direction of the Holy Spirit in this situation or not?
James 5:16 KJV
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
John 8:34-36
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Confessing our sins unto the Lord and asking Him for help to overcome in the name of Jesus is Freeing! Many times people live a life so burdened down, likely because they are carrying around a bunch of sin. They know they have done wrong AND they continue in their wrong. Let that NOT be the testimony of the people of God. Jesus is at the right hand of God advocating for us unto God the Father. Ask forgiveness in the name of Jesus and the Lord is Faithful to forgive. We may not just be Free, but Free Indeed. Truly free. Not free to continue in sin, but free to Overcome every sinful way with the Help of the Holy Spirit of God that dwells within us.
Let us confess our wrongs, our transgressions, our shortcomings, our sins unto God and Trust that HE is able to keep us from falling ever again.
We have the Power through the Lord to be Perfect and Holy as God has called us to be. We are called to be Saints and with the Lord’s help we can exactly who He called us to be. Keep progressing in your walk with the Lord. Make and Keep the Lord as the Center of everything that you do. Everything we do, say, and think should be Holy, in agreement with the ways of the Lord.
Be serious about bringing your errors unto the Lord. Be serious about overcoming with the Help of the Lord. Jesus is soon to Return. Let us be found as Faithful servants, imitating His ways and upon His return we may be counted as;
Faithful servants who lived a life pleasing to our Father in Heaven by Faith
AND
enter into the Everlasting Kingdom of Heaven in the presence of our Lord Forever.
Proverbs 28:13 KJV
“13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”