The First Work Of The Holy Spirit
John 16:7b-9,12-13a (Phi) "For if I did not go away, the divine Helper would not come to you. But if I go, then I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convince the world of the meaning of sin, of true goodness, and of judgment. He will expose their sin because they do not believe in me."... "I have much more to tell you but you cannot bear it now. Yet, when that one I have spoken of comes--the Spirit of truth--he will guide you into everything that is true."
Ps 69:5 (NIV) You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.
To get an alcoholic to admit his problem is half the solution. The rest is achieved through accountability groups like AA where the alcoholic must face his fellows and be truthful about his behavior. For all of us, moving into, and remaining in the light is the only cure. In the light, we experience forgiveness, love, healing, and fellowship. To reject the light is to reject God.
1 Jn 1:5-10 (Phi) Here then is the message which we heard from him and now proclaim to you: GOD IS LIGHT and no shadow of darkness can exist in him. Consequently, if we were to say that we enjoyed fellowship with him and still went on living in darkness, we should be both telling and living a lie. But if we really are living in the light in which he eternally exists, then we have true fellowship with each other, and the blood which his son Jesus shed for us keeps us clean from all sin. If we refuse to admit that we are sinners, then we live in a world of illusion, and truth becomes a stranger to us. But if we freely admit that we have sinned, we find him reliable and just; he forgives our sins and makes us thoroughly clean from all that is evil. For if we say "we have not sinned," we are making him a liar and cut ourselves off from what he has to say to us.
James 5:16 (Phi) You should get in the habit of admitting your sins to each other and praying for each other, so that you may be healed....
The temptation is rather to reject the pain of conscience, the pain of the realization of our own sinfulness and imperfection. It seems better to just endure the pain of sin and avoid the light, the light of goodness that shows us up, the light of scrutiny that exposes us, the light of truth that penetrates our deception.
So, we confess our sins to God in secret and ask for His forgiveness. And He will forgive us, but we will likely go out and do the same again in the vicious cycle of sin. For, in fact, we need more than forgiveness; we need healing. God's word is very clear as to what is needed if we wish to really break free.
James 5:16 (NAS) Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.
James 5:16b (Wey) ... so that you may be cured.
Confession, Good For The Soul?
If God is light, we had better start getting used to Him. But, when we move into the light, it means that our deeds will be exposed. We must count the cost. He already knows, but now others will know as well.
In God's light, pride melts like wax, and the impulse of the flesh is to run for cover. But, if we resist the temptation to "darken the light", then God will illuminate the weaknesses that we "stumble over". This is part of the "truth" that will "set us free".
Ps 51:5-6,16-17 (NIV) [David:] Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place... You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are... a broken and contrite heart...
Prov 28:13 (NIV) He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Living In The Light
Luke 18:13-14 (NIV) "But the tax collector stood at a distance... and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' I tell you that this man... went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Acts 19:18 (NIV) Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.
1 Tim 5:20 (NIV) Those [elders] who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that others may take warning.
Rom 13:12 (Jer) The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon; let us give up the things we prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light.
We Belong To The Day
1 Thes 5:5-8a (NIV) You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled.
Ps 119:105 (NIV) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
2 Cor 4:2,6 (NIV) We have renounced secret and shameful ways... For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
Ps 69:5 (NIV) You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.
To get an alcoholic to admit his problem is half the solution. The rest is achieved through accountability groups like AA where the alcoholic must face his fellows and be truthful about his behavior. For all of us, moving into, and remaining in the light is the only cure. In the light, we experience forgiveness, love, healing, and fellowship. To reject the light is to reject God.
1 Jn 1:5-10 (Phi) Here then is the message which we heard from him and now proclaim to you: GOD IS LIGHT and no shadow of darkness can exist in him. Consequently, if we were to say that we enjoyed fellowship with him and still went on living in darkness, we should be both telling and living a lie. But if we really are living in the light in which he eternally exists, then we have true fellowship with each other, and the blood which his son Jesus shed for us keeps us clean from all sin. If we refuse to admit that we are sinners, then we live in a world of illusion, and truth becomes a stranger to us. But if we freely admit that we have sinned, we find him reliable and just; he forgives our sins and makes us thoroughly clean from all that is evil. For if we say "we have not sinned," we are making him a liar and cut ourselves off from what he has to say to us.
James 5:16 (Phi) You should get in the habit of admitting your sins to each other and praying for each other, so that you may be healed....
The temptation is rather to reject the pain of conscience, the pain of the realization of our own sinfulness and imperfection. It seems better to just endure the pain of sin and avoid the light, the light of goodness that shows us up, the light of scrutiny that exposes us, the light of truth that penetrates our deception.
So, we confess our sins to God in secret and ask for His forgiveness. And He will forgive us, but we will likely go out and do the same again in the vicious cycle of sin. For, in fact, we need more than forgiveness; we need healing. God's word is very clear as to what is needed if we wish to really break free.
James 5:16 (NAS) Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.
James 5:16b (Wey) ... so that you may be cured.
Confession, Good For The Soul?
If God is light, we had better start getting used to Him. But, when we move into the light, it means that our deeds will be exposed. We must count the cost. He already knows, but now others will know as well.
In God's light, pride melts like wax, and the impulse of the flesh is to run for cover. But, if we resist the temptation to "darken the light", then God will illuminate the weaknesses that we "stumble over". This is part of the "truth" that will "set us free".
Ps 51:5-6,16-17 (NIV) [David:] Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place... You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are... a broken and contrite heart...
Prov 28:13 (NIV) He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Living In The Light
Luke 18:13-14 (NIV) "But the tax collector stood at a distance... and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' I tell you that this man... went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Acts 19:18 (NIV) Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.
1 Tim 5:20 (NIV) Those [elders] who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that others may take warning.
Rom 13:12 (Jer) The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon; let us give up the things we prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light.
We Belong To The Day
1 Thes 5:5-8a (NIV) You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled.
Ps 119:105 (NIV) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
2 Cor 4:2,6 (NIV) We have renounced secret and shameful ways... For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
Comment
© 2024 Created by Raliegh Jones Jr..
Powered by
You need to be a member of Black Preaching Network to add comments!
Join Black Preaching Network