In his book, Sexual Sanity for Men, David White has stirred my thinking to a variety of new concepts related to victory over sin. It's a book that every man should read, even if sexual sins are not the current struggle. The principles are the same whether you are struggling with pornography or gluttony or bitterness - besides, I don't think God makes a distinction.
The "new idea" of this past week has been the teaching that confession to others is part of God's plan for victory over sin. And he's not talking about confession to those whom we have offended through our sinful actions, although that topic comes up in other sections.
1 John 1:9 is a common verse which talks about confession: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Usually, we read it, "If we confess our sins to God, He is faithful..." But that is not what the verse says.
If you look at the context of 1 John 1:5-10, John is talking about walking in the light, which includes fellowship with other believers.
Look at verse 7 :"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."
Consider also Proverbs 28:13, "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." We can't hide our sins from God who sees everything. We can, however, keep them hidden from others.
And James 5:16 states, "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."
When we choose to sin, we not only wish that God would not see us, but we work very hard to keep it hidden from others. We keep our distance. We lie. We make excuses. We talk about other problems, but not the temptations that are keeping us from obedience and joy. We do good things to compensate for the bad. We are extremely creative in covering up sin.
Think of the freedom that can be had when you confess your sins to others!
You now longer have to hide from them. You may have driven some away from you, but you will know which people are truly brothers and sisters who are praying and encouraging you.
The hunger that you have for close fellowship and help will be there. God created us to have fellowship with Him and with others. If our fellowship with others is just fun and food, we might as well join the golf club.
But our hidden sin builds a barricade to that kind of brotherhood.
As the sin that has been weighing you down for years is exposed, you will experience a release from the pressure of hiding. You will be able to cry out to others for help. You will gain a team of prayer warriors.
Part of God's plan for healing, restoration and victory over sin includes other people. But YOU have to make the first step, confessing sin and crying out for help.
Showing posts with label 1 John 1:9. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 John 1:9. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
"Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24).
David undoubtedly knows that there were "grievous ways" in his heart.
Like the rest of us, he was aware of his sinful thoughts.
He knew about the sins in his life that no one else knew about.
And, like us, he knew that god is omniscient. He knows about those sins, too.
So what does David want god to do?
I think he is asking God to expose his sins.
He wants God to tell him, "These are the things in your life that grieve Me."
He wants to make sure that nothing is hidden between himself and his God.
But he is also calling out for redemption.
"I know You'll find sins, but lead me in the way everlasting. I want to deal with those sins. I want Your forgiveness. I want Your righteousness applied to my sinfulness."
What a glorious hope!
We can't hide our sins from God. And even though He knows about all the sins that no one else even imagines, He is able to forgive them and lead us into the way everlasting (1 John 1:9).
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24).
David undoubtedly knows that there were "grievous ways" in his heart.
Like the rest of us, he was aware of his sinful thoughts.
He knew about the sins in his life that no one else knew about.
And, like us, he knew that god is omniscient. He knows about those sins, too.
So what does David want god to do?
I think he is asking God to expose his sins.
He wants God to tell him, "These are the things in your life that grieve Me."
He wants to make sure that nothing is hidden between himself and his God.
But he is also calling out for redemption.
"I know You'll find sins, but lead me in the way everlasting. I want to deal with those sins. I want Your forgiveness. I want Your righteousness applied to my sinfulness."
What a glorious hope!
We can't hide our sins from God. And even though He knows about all the sins that no one else even imagines, He is able to forgive them and lead us into the way everlasting (1 John 1:9).
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Having trouble forgiving?
We've all been hurt. None of us make through life without someone stepping on our toes or knocking the wind out our sails.
It might be an unkind word that someone said.
It might be a parent who abandoned you.
It might be getting a cold shoulder from someone at church.
It might be a spouse who was unfaithful.
It might be a husband who didn't get the hint that you wanted to go on a date with him.
It might be a child who has turned his back on his family.
In any case, God calls us to forgive.
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you" (Eph 4:32).
The Bible is a book about forgiveness.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
God is willing to forgive you for every sin that you have ever committed, or even thought about committing. He is able to forgive you, because His Son, Jesus Christ, paid the penalty for all of your sins on the cross.
"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross" (Col 2:13-14).
God has forgiven you for all of your sins.
Every lie. Every bad thought. Every hateful word. Every lustful glance. Murder. Adultery. Robbery. Incest. Cheating.
No matter what it was, God is ready to forgive you. Even if no one else knows about it.
So why is it hard for you to forgive others?
Could it be that you haven't experienced God's forgiveness?
God paid the complete price to pay the penalty for all of your sins. He forgives you completely. And commands you to do the same.
"...forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you."
If you're having trouble forgiving someone, maybe it's because you haven't experienced God's forgiveness.
If you're holding a grudge against someone, if you're bitter, if you're angry - whatever the evidences of your unforgiving spirit may be - perhaps you need to trust God that He has forgiven all of your sins.
Then you'll be able to forgive others even as God has forgiven you.
It might be an unkind word that someone said.
It might be a parent who abandoned you.
It might be getting a cold shoulder from someone at church.
It might be a spouse who was unfaithful.
It might be a husband who didn't get the hint that you wanted to go on a date with him.
It might be a child who has turned his back on his family.
In any case, God calls us to forgive.
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you" (Eph 4:32).
The Bible is a book about forgiveness.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
God is willing to forgive you for every sin that you have ever committed, or even thought about committing. He is able to forgive you, because His Son, Jesus Christ, paid the penalty for all of your sins on the cross.
"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross" (Col 2:13-14).
God has forgiven you for all of your sins.
Every lie. Every bad thought. Every hateful word. Every lustful glance. Murder. Adultery. Robbery. Incest. Cheating.
No matter what it was, God is ready to forgive you. Even if no one else knows about it.
So why is it hard for you to forgive others?
Could it be that you haven't experienced God's forgiveness?
God paid the complete price to pay the penalty for all of your sins. He forgives you completely. And commands you to do the same.
"...forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you."
If you're having trouble forgiving someone, maybe it's because you haven't experienced God's forgiveness.
If you're holding a grudge against someone, if you're bitter, if you're angry - whatever the evidences of your unforgiving spirit may be - perhaps you need to trust God that He has forgiven all of your sins.
Then you'll be able to forgive others even as God has forgiven you.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Are you a hooker or a lover?
God commanded Hosea to "love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress" (Hosea 3:1). Hosea goes to the market and buys her for less than the price of a slave.
Nobody wanted her. She had been abused and rejected. She didn't even bring the price of a cleaning lady.
Though there is some debate as to whether this was Hosea's wife, or another woman, it seems that it fits the picture better to say that it was Hosea's wife. Following God's command, Hosea had married a prostitute. He had provided for her, even when she continued her prostitution.
It's a picture of God's relationship with Israel. God redeemed Israel making her His bride. He chose her. He clothed her. He provided for her needs. Even when she continued to worship other gods.
Can you imagine what Hosea's wife thought when her eyes met the eyes of her new owner, her husband?
The Bible doesn't tell us how this relationship developed, other than Hosea's continued provision and protection.
But think about your relationship to God. If you are His child, He has redeemed you. He paid the price with the blood of His Son, Jesus. Yet every time you worship something or someone other than God, you are committing adultery against Him. Every time you sin, you choose to go your way rather than His.
And every time, He continues to provide and to protect. The blood of His Son is still there to pay the price and to cleanse you (1 John 1:9).
So rather than acting like a hooker, we should act like a lover. Rather than chasing after all the other gods, we should be chasing after God, who truly loves us.
Get to know your beloved by studying His Word. Follow your beloved by doing what He expects you to do. Communicate with Him by praying to Him.
Stop chasing the others, looking for satisfaction.
Chase God. He alone will satisfy.
Nobody wanted her. She had been abused and rejected. She didn't even bring the price of a cleaning lady.
Though there is some debate as to whether this was Hosea's wife, or another woman, it seems that it fits the picture better to say that it was Hosea's wife. Following God's command, Hosea had married a prostitute. He had provided for her, even when she continued her prostitution.
It's a picture of God's relationship with Israel. God redeemed Israel making her His bride. He chose her. He clothed her. He provided for her needs. Even when she continued to worship other gods.
Can you imagine what Hosea's wife thought when her eyes met the eyes of her new owner, her husband?
The Bible doesn't tell us how this relationship developed, other than Hosea's continued provision and protection.
But think about your relationship to God. If you are His child, He has redeemed you. He paid the price with the blood of His Son, Jesus. Yet every time you worship something or someone other than God, you are committing adultery against Him. Every time you sin, you choose to go your way rather than His.
And every time, He continues to provide and to protect. The blood of His Son is still there to pay the price and to cleanse you (1 John 1:9).
So rather than acting like a hooker, we should act like a lover. Rather than chasing after all the other gods, we should be chasing after God, who truly loves us.
Get to know your beloved by studying His Word. Follow your beloved by doing what He expects you to do. Communicate with Him by praying to Him.
Stop chasing the others, looking for satisfaction.
Chase God. He alone will satisfy.
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