THE PRAYER OF CLEANSING
Notes
Transcript
Connecting With God
Connecting With God
and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
I. REVIEW EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE
Instead, let us test and examine our ways.
Let us turn back to the Lord.
II. REPENT OF EVERY SIN
Instead, let us test and examine our ways.
Let us turn back to the Lord.
Let us lift our hearts and hands
to God in heaven and say,
“We have sinned and rebelled,
and you have not forgiven us.
III. RESOLVE TO MAKE RESTITUTION
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.
IV. RECEIVE GOD’S FORGIVENESS
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
V. REVEAL MY FAULTS TO A FRIEND
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.
VI. REPEAT THESE STEPS REGULARLY
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
