Confession to Compassion
Proverbs of Wisdom for Today's World • Sermon • Submitted
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· 58 viewsThe Christian and unconfessed, repented sin
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Have you ever been guilty of this?
Have you ever been guilty of this?
In your personal prayers have you done as I have done and been guilty of this line “Lord please forgive me of any sin I might have done today.” - expand on this
In this life we are going to face problems, some may say our problems are in direct proportion to our sin; but is that really a true statement? Some problems we face are a result of sin in our lives, unconfessed, unrepented, unforsaken sin. This is not just a personal problem it can be a body of Christ problem too.
In we see that, it is a drastic example but a true one.
1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. 2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.
The church was turning a blind eye, so to speak at sinful behavior that was not being addressed. But let’s back up and sin that sin for the Christian needs to start on a personal level first.
13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
I. The uselessness of concealing sin
I. The uselessness of concealing sin
The results of trying to conceal the sin is a lifestyle of lying
Pro
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
It’s not that God does not know, it’s that we need to turn to Him, trust Him and confess to Him for as it says
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
For when we don’t it may be like it was for David
3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.
and then when confessed
5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
See sin creates internal problems for you, for me when it is me when I sin and do not confess. It carries a heavy weight as David felt like he was wasting away, felt the Lord’s hand was heavy on him. Where we as Christians know
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Jesus wants us to come to Him, to confess to Him, not to burden us but to take our burden upon Himself and to forgive our sins.
Concealing sin causes estrangement from God.
18 If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;
(INSERT A SLIDE THAT SAYS: CONCEALED SIN)
It hinders our walk, it hinders our prayers, it hinders our ability to serve the Lord and be effective for His purpose and His glory.
Concealed sin is a compromise and if you compromise in one area you set a pattern to compromise in others, it produces a sinful lifestyle and can cost you your salvation. I’m not talking about a sinful event, but lifestyle of trying to conceal, hide sin.
Concealed sin keeps God’s prosperity from you.
13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
Another word for this can be blessings. Eternal, spiritual and in some cases physical blessings. It is pretty clear YOU WILL NOT PROSPER is what the scripture says. Eventhough to your eye it may seem others are “getting away with it” we don’t see the big picture, God is just and will hold each person accountable for their actions. They are not getting away with anything, for God knows everything.
But why do you think we may conceal sin in our lives?
II. The Reasons we may reason to conceal sin
II. The Reasons we may reason to conceal sin
As much as this may not be easy to take in, sin, unrepentant, concealed, unconfessed sin does not get spoken of much in main stream churches for it is not a popular feel good topic. It can hold people, it can hold a church (body of believers) back from what God want’s to do. So let’s look at a few reasons why people may try to conceal sin.
(Slide) Ignorance - Failure to realize the deadly nature of sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
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and that our sin separates us from God
2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear.
Isaiah spoke this at the direction of the Lord to God’s people, God’s chosen people to bring the Messiah into the world. They had the law they had everything they needed and yet they are sinners separated from God.
So ignorance can been seen also as a lack of knowledge , or insufficient knowledge of God’s standard
Ignorance in failing to do what we know we should do.
17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
No Sense of Need
Ever had the feeling, confidence “I’ve done nothing wrong?” - expand
Or how about the cop out “love covers a multitude of sins?”
8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
See people want to use only a part of the verse, where the whole verse tells us more
I know I did not want to take responsibility of my sin at times, for it maybe
(Slide)To painful to face
(Slide) To hard to give up
(Slide) To much pride to admit sin as sin
Have no fear, for fear is just faith that has not been revealed and now it is time to look at the solution.
III. The Answer to concealed sin
III. The Answer to concealed sin
(Slide) Motivation / Motive
(Slide) You understand sin and want forgiveness
(Slide) You are tired of the pain of suffering
(Slide) You desire to have the prosperity (blessings) God has for you
(Slide) Steps (actions) to take
(Slide) Confess; agreeing with God of “the” sin. -
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.
(Slide) Don’t make the mistake I started with today and be in general be specific
(Slide) Don’t delay, do it as soon as possible
(Slide) Forsake your sin (repent)
Remember unrepentant sin (lifestyle) is a salvation issue; so repentance is essential
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
1Cor 5:
That is who you were, not who you are or who you have to be today.
11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
(Slide) Yes there is sorrow that is involved -
10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Notice in this verse it is “God produces a repentance” - when you confess, God produces the repentance (change of direction) in you!
(Slide) God’s hand in your life just as much today as when you were saved. It produces results.
(Slide) The mercy and forgiveness is granted -
(Slide) Peace of mind, heart and soul are possible, no more being weary and heavy laden
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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We are all sinners who fall short of the glory of God; It is not just the unsaved sinner that needs to hear the word, believe the word, confess, repent and be obedient it is for the Christian too. Sin can hold back you, sin can hold back a church (body of believers) from the spiritual prosperity that God may have for them. Sin is still deadly, it can kill a person it can kill a church we cannot lose the concept of the severity of sin. Be is unconfessed, unforsaken, unrepented or a general sloppy confession of sin that holds you back from what God has for us.
17 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Sin is deceitful and can harden your heart, but God hears the faithful prayers from your heart. Go to Him specifically; go to Him often; go to Him as the Publican did
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
Lead to Invitation. (be careful on this) - not looking for people to think they need to confess to me; they need to confess to God directly