Phase 1 Week 10 The Corporate Discipline of Confession March 23-29

[Steve Smith]

What is true confession? 

2.  James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for 

each other so that you may be healed.” We are told to confess our sins 

to each other; our healing is also tied to the prayers of each other. 

When we confess we allow God’s light to shine in the dark areas where 

we struggle. How will you approach this in your ministry practice?

3.  The discipline of confession helps believer grow into mature manhood, to the measure of the statue and the fullness of Christ, (Eph. 4:13).

4. According to Alphonsus Liguori, for good confession what three things are necessary? Comment briefly on each.

Stay the course; I pray that you will finish strong!!! 

 

[joscelyn cameron]

 Here are my comments re the above:

(1)  True confession comes from a contrite heart that allows such confession to flow. This will result as an evidence of love, mercy and grace.

A true confession acknowledges one's sins, who genuinely brings them before God seeking for His forgiveness, then forsaking the sins and allowing a spiritual transformation to occur within. (Refer to (Luke 15:18-24)  (The Prodigal son and his father)

(2)  In practice, I would not encourage the individual but welcome him or her to freely confess their sins before me and anyone else they desire to be present. The individual would be put at ease and allowed to pour out from his or her heart that which has held him or her bound. I would prayerfully listen without interruption except to gain clarity. Laying a hand upon the individual, I would pray that God would release him or her from the sin and weight that held him or her bound.

I would encourage the person to pray and read the scriptures daily with particular references to God's love, mercy, forgiveness and grace. I will always bear in mind that the contents of the confession is of a confidential nature.

(3)  When the believer has hidden un-confessed sins, it puts him or her in a state of defeat. There is no assurance of forgiveness and their efforts to gain spiritual progress is blighted. 

Believers do grow in the measure of the statue and fellowship of Christ when we discipline ourselves to confess our sins and seek forgiveness: to God first and then to those we have offended. (refer the Prodigal son)

(4) (a) In examining one's conscience, there will be either a clear path to one's actions or condemnation. We must have a conscience clear before God and our fellow men.(Acts 24:16)

     (b) There must be a godly sorrow and a real sense of unhappiness for your sins. This shows that the individual has a contrite spirit and wants to be forgiven. (Psalm 34:18)

     (c) The believer must determine in his or her heart that they abhor sin and will avoid falling into sin at all cost. This cannot be achieved all by their own efforts: but by putting their trust in God for their deliverance.

Blessings everyone!

(JLC126)

 

[Dwight Lamar]

Amen 

Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus

Minister Dwight Lamar

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[Anish Kuriachen]

Dear All,

Please see my response below.

With Prayers

Anish

On Sun, Mar 22, 2015 at 10:36 PM, Steve Smith <youth...@gmail.com> wrote:

What is true confession? 

Confession involves an objective change in our relationship with God and a subjective change in us.It is a means of healing and transforming the inner spirit. Healing is happening in confession because we are submitting ourself to God and accepting our sins to Him. His precious Blood cleanse our sins. As we read from Bible [ He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee,standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God,be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14 )] Unless God gives the grace, no genuine confession can be made. But it is also a Discipline because there are things we must do. It is a consciously chosen course of action that brings us under the shadow of the Almighty.

 

2.  James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for 

each other so that you may be healed.” We are told to confess our sins 

to each other; our healing is also tied to the prayers of each other. 

When we confess we allow God’s light to shine in the dark areas where 

we struggle. How will you approach this in your ministry practice?

According Foster “People of God are first a fellowship of sinners, we are freed to hear the unconditional call of God’s love and to confess our needs openly before our brothers and sisters. We know we are not alone in our sin. The fear and pride that cling to us like barnacles cling to others also. We are sinners together. In acts of mutual confession we release the power that heals. Our humanity is no longer denied, but transformed.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes, “Our brother… as been given to us to help us. He hears the confession of our sins in Christ’s stead and he forgives our sins in Christ’s name. He keeps the secret of our confession as God keeps it. When I go to my brother to confess, I am going to God.”

My understanding with James 5:16, James saying rather confessing our sins to God, confess our mistake that we did it with others. Also forgive mistake done by others. This will results our mind clear and we can pray to God with peaceful heart for getting forgiveness from Him. Paul saying in Acts 24:16 “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.”

 

3.  The discipline of confession helps believer grow into mature manhood, to the measure of the statue and the fullness of Christ, (Eph. 4:13).

Confession is a continual process where our lives are conformed to His way so that every area is transformed. Daily we keep submitting our ways and will to Him that it will result in maturity and spiritual growth. His grace will extends to us to give us the ability and the discipline that it requires to lead a life of continued confession of our wrongdoings and be accountable also. This means all our motives, values, goals, aspirations and plans are about seeking God and standing firmly in His will.

 

4. According to Alphonsus Liguori, for good confession what three things are necessary? Comment briefly on each.

A.    “An examination of conscience.”* This is a time, as Douglas Steere writes, “where a soul comes under the gaze of God and where in His silent and loving Presence this soul is pierced to the quick and becomes conscious of the things that must be forgiven and put right before it can continue to love One whose care has been so constant.”

B.    “Sorrow” is necessary to a good confession. Sorrow as it relates to confession is not primarily an emotion, though emotion may be involved. It is abhorrence at having committed the sin, a deep regret at having offended the heart of the Father. Sorrow is an issue of the will before it is an issue of the emotions. In fact, being sorrowful in the emotions without a godly sorrow in the will destroys the confession.

C.  “A determination to avoid sin” is the third essential for a good confession. God will help us to live a holy life; He will show us the path. Always remember we should enter through narrow gate, and also we are travelling through a narrow way.

Stay the course; I pray that you will finish strong!!! 

 

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Thank You

Best Regards
Anish