Preparing with Hope February 19, 2023
disciple: someone who follows Jesus and leads others to do the same.
This "blog" is just one of many tools to help you grow as a "disciple". A disciple is someone that is following Jesus and encouraging others to do the same. So, please study the Bible with me. This is something that we all need to do. But don't stop there. Share with someone what you're learning. Let them know how you're being changed by Jesus. And encourage them to join you. Join you in studying the Bible. Join you in learning more about God.
Now, you might want to print this blog out, so that you can write and underline and study with me.
Now, you might want to print this blog out, so that you can write and underline and study with me.
Pray.
Before you do anything else...start with prayer. Start with listening to God. Take time (I usually take at least 2 minutes) to sit and quiet my mind. To listen and ask the Holy Spirit to open my ears and eyes to hear and see God. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to understand what God is saying to you. Ask God to reveal to you what He wants to say through these verses.
Observe.
Now read through the verses that we're going to use this week, February 19, 2023. We'll be studying "Confessions and Forgiveness". Not exactly something I enjoy. I don't like to confess that I have done something wrong. And then often miss out on the blessings that God wants to give us.
Read through the verses once all the way through. Circle every time you see "confess" or "forgive".
Read through the verses once all the way through. Circle every time you see "confess" or "forgive".
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Psalm 32:1-5
Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.[b]
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.[b]
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin
Acts 3:19
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
James 5:16
16 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.
1 John 5:10
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
Pause...
Now...Reflect. Observe. Ask. Answer.
Does God really want us to confess our sins? What does that mean? Do we have to confess our sins to someone else? Isn't it good enough to confess our sins to God? And really, doesn't He already know? And what if I don't sin anymore? Or don't sin that much? Does it really matter?
Now read through the verses again. Maybe try a different translation. Is there anything new that sticks out to you?
Does God really want us to confess our sins? What does that mean? Do we have to confess our sins to someone else? Isn't it good enough to confess our sins to God? And really, doesn't He already know? And what if I don't sin anymore? Or don't sin that much? Does it really matter?
Now read through the verses again. Maybe try a different translation. Is there anything new that sticks out to you?
Application.
What is God saying to you? Is there anything He is asking you to do? Is there anything God is wanting you to change? Anything to share with others?
Preparing for Sunday...
Be praying for Sunday. We will be discussing "Confession and Forgiveness." God has asked us all to confess our sins. We don't do that very well. I have a lot to learn. And He is ready and eager to forgive. So, come prepared to hear what God is saying. And experience what God is doing. Together.
Apostle's Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy universal* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy universal* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places
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7 Comments
Ah what a big subject/ lesson sin, Confession and forgiveness is in our walk with the lord. I try to remember that sin gets in between God and myself. It creates a distance between me and my savior! Keeping my relationship with God a step away, and then i commit another sin creates another step etc... Confess and Repent the sin and God ERASES or FORGIVES that sin so its no longer in between Me and God! Can't wait till Sunday!
From these verses it looks like this week will be a week to pray to see if there is any sin in my life I need to confess.
I confess God that I had focused on housework to the point that I was obsessive and I wasn't able to hear you and I wasn't able to be used as much by you. I ask you God to continue to change me completely in this area. May you make my weakness my strength.
God says in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that He hears us when we 1.Humble ourselves 2.Pray 3.Seek His Face 4.Turn from our sin. Then He will 1.Hear us 2. Forgive us 3.Bring healing to us. Psalms 32:1-5 It is a blessing to remember that God coveted my sins. I see God emphasizing the relief I will have if I just confess my sin to Him and let Him forgive me. Instead of us covering our deceit we can let God cover the guilt of our sins. Acts 3:19 When we turn to God we become refreshed! (I like that!) James 5:16 This is where having close Christian friends would help in being able to tell each other our spiritual struggles to get their prayers that God said are powerful and will heal us!! (Pastor told us he liked it when he saw Mark and I with our bibles open talking and studying. I bet he would love it if after church we were confessing to and praying for each other! So be it Lord!) 1 John 1:5-10 What a promise! If we walk in the light we will have fellowship with each other and Jesus Blood will purify us from all sin.
2 Chronicles 7:14 We have to remember to stay humble. One definition of humble is having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance. Ps. 32:1-5 Thank you God for covering my sin. Acts 3:19 Thank you God for times of refreshing. James 5:16 Stay on the right path so your prayers will be answered.
1 John 1:5-10 When we walk in the light we are having fellowship with God and with each other.
2 Chronicles 7:14 God is healing my 'land.' I've mentioned the childhood abuse I went through. It was very traumatic. I have severe PTSD, severe depression, generalized anxiety, borderline personality disorder and dissociation. Probably more. Dissociation used to be called split personality disorder. A person who goes through what I've been through developes dissociation to protect themselves and to survive. God is healing me but it takes a long time. I receive your healing God in the name of Jesus! Right now I'm stressed out with everything my body is going through with sickness and severe tireness, so this would be a time around people that it would be noticed. It's really hard on me to not know what I just said to someone, so if I say something that doesn't sound like me would you write it down and give it to me. Then I can discuss it with my counselor, thank you!
Ps. 32:1-5 Thank you God for forgiving my transgressions!
Acts 3:19 Bring on the times of refreshenings God, please!! 1 John 1:5-10 It is such a relief that there is no darkness in God!
Psalms 32:1-5 "No deceit" God takes the heaviness off our shoulders when we confess our sins to Him, leaving no deceit in our hearts!