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Confession – Good For The Soul

Romans 10:9 
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

 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.

In 1993,  Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, two inspirational and motivational speakers, collaborated on writing their first book from the many stories from their audience members.  This book has gained in popularity and is now grown into many more books.  The first book was titled, “Chicken Soup for the Soul”.  Maybe you have seen these in bookstores or others places where inspirational books are sold.

While these are helpful to many in areas of motivational need, there is another book, The Bible, which helps in the area of eternal need.  Thus the thought from God’s Word on “Confession – Good For The Soul”.

In our society today it is commonplace for people to never admit guilt of anything therefore, no need for confession.  To confess is to admit a wrong, to acknowledge our sin, to be in agreement with God about our sin.

There must be Confession for Conversion which is our new birth into God’s family as is given in our first verse, Romans 10:9.  Then after salvation there is also Confession for Cleansing which after birth becomes a daily need.  Every one that is saved must be clean to be in fellowship with God as taught in First John  Chapter 1.

What does confession do in the life of a believer?

First, confession Reveals Character.  In our day there is a great lack of character found in people.  John said, “If we confess”. The emphasis is on us as believers.  Billy Sunday said, “Your reputation is what people say about you. Your character is what God and your wife know about you.” Oh that we would see character in the lives of God’s people.

Second, confession Requires Cutting.  It is one thing to hear that you need surgery and another to admit that you will have surgery.  No one likes to be cut open to remove that which is our problem for physical health yet we allow it.  We also must be willing to let the Great Physician cut open our lives to remove the problem of our spiritual life.  Let God use His Word to cut into our souls as the writer of Hebrews 4:12 said, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ”

Third, confession Restores Communication.  When the believer sins against God it breaks the fellowship that we have with our Savior.  That fellowship is based upon our communing with Him and He with us.  Sin causes us to not be on speaking grounds with the Lord.  The only way to restore that communication is to confess (agree with God) our sin and ask for forgiveness with a promise never to do it again.  The Lord then cleanses our soul and it opens the line of communing with Him.  When our phone service is disrupted we are need of a service person to fix the problem and restore the service.  God has given us the Holy Spirit to be our service person to diagnose our problem, reveal our problem and to remedy our problem.  Our problem is between us and God the Father.

Confession is really good for the soul of every believer.  We are not perfect just forgiven.

Lord, please use thy Word and the Holy Spirit in my life to reveal when there is sin in the camp.  Then help me to confess that sin so I can be cleansed and live in sweet communication with Thee.

 

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Faith Under Fire

James 1:2-3 
2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
James is writing to fellow believers in Christ concerning many various and differing tests or trials of our faith.  Each test is different from the other yet they all have a single purpose – to prove our faith is a consistent daily living faith.
.As we consider these verses we find first Our Response to the tests.  James said to, “count it all joy”.  Here he is writing a word of expectation and encouragement.  You say how can  you have joy when entering a testing zone.  Your testing zone may be as a student when you have tests on the subjects you are studying.  It may be in the workplace when a boss requires you to do things that don’t fall necessarily under you job description.  It may be like mine in the physical health realm.  Forty years ago I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease which for the next twenty years led to four major operations the last of which left me without a colon and having to use other means.  Two years ago I was diagnosed with a fatty liver disease which was caused by the stress and trauma of Crohn’s.  Now I’m waiting for a liver transplant.  How can this be since I’ve never drunk alcohol or smoked a day in my life. Yet, through all of this God has taken these tests and opened doors to speak with people, some I know and some I have never met personally, about the goodness of the Lord and His faithfulness.  Because of Him I’ve been able to be joyful as it opens new horizons to grow and share my faith.

Second, we see Our Reminder for the tests.  In verse four James begins with these words, “Knowing this”.  As you read and study God’s Word, the Bible, you will find that we are taught to be prepared for these tests because they will come.  The Apostle Paul penned some words of instruction in Romans 5:3,4.
3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  
Here instead of the word temptations you have the word tribulation which speaks of applied pressure.  This reminds me of how an irritation in an oyster produces a pearl.  God is wanting to produce something special in us for His glory.  He desires that we be conformed to the image of His dear Son, Jesus Christ.

Third, we see Our Result produced – patience.  You’ve probably heard someone speak of another person as having, “the patience of Job”.  I like to believe that truly God wants to produce the patience of Christ in us.  You might ask what is the patience of Christ like.  To this I would direct you to I Peter 2:21-24 which reads:
21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 

How do you handle it when your Faith is Under Fire?

Dear Lord, help me today to shine for you as my faith is tested by pressures of this life knowing that with joy I may glorify thy name.  Strengthen my faith as I study your Word that my faith roots go deep into thee.  Help me when I falter to get back up and learn from my failures. As Thou art my strength so shall my strength be.  In Jesus’ worthy name I pray.  Amen