Exposition # 3. How does God forgive and cleanse believers? Series: Developing a powerful prayer life. Exposition # 3. How does God forgive and cleanse believers? Pastor Yaciel Toledo.

Content Type of Prayer II: Confession. Two Examples of a confession prayer: bad or good? What the Bible tells about confessing our sins. Confession, repentance, and conversion.

Type of Prayer II: Confession. Confession: to disclose one’s faults, acknowledgement of sins to God. Consistent confession is the primary way we receive God’s forgiveness and maintain a Spirit-filled life. It is impossible to maintain a Spirit- empowered life without a consistent pattern of daily confession and repentance. Consistent confession represents the primary way we grow and become conformed to the image of Christ.

Type of Prayer II: Confession. Failure to practice regular confession completely blocks the flow of answered prayer. For confession to be genuine, it must also be thorough. We often race through a confession time so we can quickly get to our list of wants and needs.

Two Examples of a confession prayer: bad or good? God, is there anything wrong in my life? Is there anything I need to change? I guess not, let me give you my prayer list. -----No one could walk in God’s fullness with such a shallow practice of confession and cleansing.

Two Examples of a confession prayer: bad or good? Neh 1:1  The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel,  Neh 1:2  that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem.  Neh 1:3  And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” 

Two Examples of a confession prayer: bad or good? Neh 1:4  As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.  Neh 1:5  And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,  Neh 1:6  let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. 

Two Examples of a confession prayer: bad or good? Neh 1:7  We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.  Neh 1:8  Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples,  Neh 1:9  but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.

Two Examples of a confession prayer: bad or good? Neh 1:10  They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.  Neh 1:11  O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king. 

What the Bible tells about confessing our sins. We should acknowledge our sin to God and He will forgive our iniquities (Psa 32:5). The one who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but confessing and forsaking them will make us obtain mercy (Pro 28:13). 1Jn_1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

What the Bible tells about confessing our sins. We should not only confess our sin, but our people’s sin also Dan_9:20  While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the LORD my God for the holy hill of my God, Confessing our sins to one another and praying for one another, will make the sick heal (Jas 5:16).

Confession, repentance, and conversion. We should bear fruit in keeping with repentace (Mat 3:8; Luk 3:8). Jesus came to call sinners to repentace (Luk 5:32). No repentace leads to perishment (Luk 13:3, 5) Luk_13:3  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Confession, repentance, and conversion. Jesus mentioned that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents that over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance, Luk 15:7. We need to repent and turn back, so our sins are forgiven, Acts 3:19 Act 3:19  Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out. 2Ch 7:14  if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Confession, repentance, and conversion. Signs of fake repentance: No change. No remorse. Justifying your sins. Repeating the sins. Looking for others to side with you in your sin. Blaming the one you hurt. Pro 28:13  Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.  Act 26:20  but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 

Exposition # 3. How does God forgive and cleanse believers? Series: Developing a powerful prayer life. Exposition # 3. How does God forgive and cleanse believers? Pastor Yaciel Toledo.