Confession Is A Command, Given To Every Christian

                                                      When The Door Slams

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.                                                                               James 5:13-16 

 

        Confession is God's provision to clear obstacles that hinder our relationship with God and with others. Confession is not just for those who don't mind admitting their faults. Confession is a command, given to every Christian, James advised that when we sin, it is important for us to confess not only to God but also to our fellow Christians. There is a tremendous freedom that comes as we openly acknowledge the stupidity of our actions to others.

        If confession does not come out of repentance, it is nothing else but admission, and not true confession. It is important to confess your sins specifically and not hide behind generalities. It is one thing to pray "O Lord, forgive my sin." It's quite another to identify your sin specifically in painful honesty. Whenever possible, confession ought to be made directly to those whom your sin has hurt. You are not to confess the sins of others but only your offenses. Confession is not a sign of weakness; it is evidence of your refusal to allow sin to remain in your life.  

        Think about this: James linked confession with prayer. Your prayers will be hindered if you hold on to unconfessed sin. When James promised that "the urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful," he did so in the context of confession. If you wish to have a powerful prayer life, you must regularly confess your sin. Only when there are no obstacles separating you from God and others will your prayers be effective. Pride will discourage you from admitting to others the stupidity of your heart. True Christian will  have a desire to please God, and compel you to confess your sin and rid yourself of its oppressive burden.

In the past God overlooked the times of ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given assurance of this to all men by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31).  

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness. 

                                                                    Never Rest Ministries