Specific Confession
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
When I was in seminary, I took a course called Missionary Preparation. We had a guest speaker one day by the name of Bertha Smith. As a retired missionary, she still had fire in her bones.
I will never forget what she said in class that day. As she walked to the front of the classroom, she wrote on the board, “S I N.” She then asked a very important question, “Boys, are your sins confessed up to date?” I will never forget that question, “Boys, are your sins confessed up to date?” My first thought was, “Lord, I'm here. I'm studying your Word. I'm preparing myself for ministry.” However, her question was probing. “Are your sins confessed up to date?”
If you want God to do something through your life, it will not happen until God does something in your life! Do you know what I did? I found a place where I could get alone with God. As a believer, as a child of God who was preparing for ministry, I said, “Lord, I really want to make sure that there is nothing between you and me. I desire to make certain that I'm not harboring anything in my life. I'm praying right now that you would reveal to me whatever needs to go. Is there any attitude, any action, anything I've said, anything I've done that is dishonoring to you, and that has broken your heart? I want my life to be clean. I want my life to be a conduit for your Spirit.”
As I began to pray, I just waited on the Lord. He then began to show me sin after sin, after sin. I had prayed the little prayer that many of us pray, “Oh, God forgive us of all of our sins.” We don't realize that God forgives us our sins as individually as they are committed. He wants us to repent of our sins just as specifically as they are committed.
Let me ask you a question: “Are your sins confessed up to date?” Don't wait any longer; you may not have another moment. This is your chance to get right with God. Would you start right now?
When I was in seminary, I took a course called Missionary Preparation. We had a guest speaker one day by the name of Bertha Smith. As a retired missionary, she still had fire in her bones.
I will never forget what she said in class that day. As she walked to the front of the classroom, she wrote on the board, “S I N.” She then asked a very important question, “Boys, are your sins confessed up to date?” I will never forget that question, “Boys, are your sins confessed up to date?” My first thought was, “Lord, I'm here. I'm studying your Word. I'm preparing myself for ministry.” However, her question was probing. “Are your sins confessed up to date?”
If you want God to do something through your life, it will not happen until God does something in your life! Do you know what I did? I found a place where I could get alone with God. As a believer, as a child of God who was preparing for ministry, I said, “Lord, I really want to make sure that there is nothing between you and me. I desire to make certain that I'm not harboring anything in my life. I'm praying right now that you would reveal to me whatever needs to go. Is there any attitude, any action, anything I've said, anything I've done that is dishonoring to you, and that has broken your heart? I want my life to be clean. I want my life to be a conduit for your Spirit.”
As I began to pray, I just waited on the Lord. He then began to show me sin after sin, after sin. I had prayed the little prayer that many of us pray, “Oh, God forgive us of all of our sins.” We don't realize that God forgives us our sins as individually as they are committed. He wants us to repent of our sins just as specifically as they are committed.
Let me ask you a question: “Are your sins confessed up to date?” Don't wait any longer; you may not have another moment. This is your chance to get right with God. Would you start right now?
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Building Men Over MembershipsAre You Encouraging Others?Committing Others To ChristSharing Your StoryFaith Beyond Your FamilyGod’s Purpose In Your PainAligned PrayersPraying with PowerA Defining EncounterA Desire To ServeA Faithful and Helpful FriendRestoring Broken RelationshipsThe Power To RestoreA Guilt-Free LifeA Hand Of BlessingA Heart Of RepentanceAllowing God To Do The ChangingAre You Feeling Stuck?Trust His HeartBe Ready For InterruptionsFull of the Holy SpiritDefeating DepressionPowerful Prayers and a BurdenThe Triumphal EntrySurrender Your Life to ChristGratitude Is The Gateway To ContentmentGratitude Is A Defense Against AnxietyDealing With DoubtFocus On The WordGiving and ServingListening Instead Of Talking
February
3 Keys To A Heavenly PerspectiveA Faith Rooted in FactA Faith That Draws or DrivesWhy Support Israel?The Danger Of Being Full Of YourselfLiving Out The Great CommissionMaking SureGod Is All-SufficientGuided By ProblemsJoy In The Midst Of ProblemsRemember Who God IsA Brand New Glimpse Of JesusA Call To God’s ChurchA Childlike FaithA Christ-Honoring EpitaphA Church On FireA Faithful and Helpful FriendA Personal AnswerA Public AnswerBe Sensitive To Your WitnessAwakenings and Quiet TimesCraving Spiritual Milk
2024
January
Building Men Over MembershipsActions and WordsPraying in God’s WillA Call to God’s ChurchFalse ProphetsJesus Intercedes for YouAre You Encouraging Others?Strengthening BelieversSalvation Is SimpleCounterfeit TeachingBe Ready for the End Jesus Understands Your PainLooking ForwardCommitting Others To ChristSharing Your StoryTaking the Time To BlessPraying for UnbelieversA Word of BlessingJesus Cares about YouThe PavementAre You Confessed Up To Date?Fighting Self-Sufficiency With PrayerBe Responsible for Your ChildrenJesus Is Standing with You The Promise of the Holy SpiritBe Aligned in PrayerI Am InnocentAligned PrayersPraying with PowerDealing with ProblemsHandling Stress
February
No Comments