How To Pray

Confession

Confession is without a doubt the most important element in prayer.

1 John 1:9 NASB95

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Continual confession is an essential characteristic of true holiness.

Forgiveness and cleansing are also continual.

As believers continually confess, God continually pardons and purifies.

This is where it is important to understand the significance of justification.

God’s complete forgiveness of sin is assured.

We are freed from the guilt of our sins and clothed in the perfect righteousness of Christ.

It is an accomplished fact.

Romans 8:1 NASB95

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

So why are taught to pray regularly for forgiveness?

two aspects to forgiveness

judicial forgiveness of justification makes us right with God as our judge…this is what guarantees we will never be eternally condemned.

John 5:24 NASB95

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

familial forgiveness is the remedy for God’s fatherly displeasure when we sin.

Look at

As long as we live in a sin cursed world with bodies that have sinful tendencies, we still need daily cleansing from the defiling influence of sin.

Examine

Bathing illustrates the forgiveness of justification…we do not need to be justified a second time, but we still need to deal with the daily contamination of sin.

We need God’s fatherly forgiveness when we displease Him.

Psalm 51:3–4 NASB95

For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.

Psalm 51:12 NASB95

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.

He asked his joy be restored, not his salvation…sin grieves our heavenly Father and so we must seek to restore our relationship to Him.

True Confession

as we look at what David does here, true confession is not just admitting you did something wrong but that your sin was against God and in defiance of Him personally.

Confession is agreeing with God that we are helplessly guilty…Greek word for confession means to say the same thing…we must say the same thing about our sin that God does…God’s perspective on sin is the only perspective on sin that matters.

We must also turn away from the evil thought or action…you haven’t truly confessed your sins until you have longed to be rid of them…brokenness that leads to changed behavior.

Modeled Confession

We must come into God’s presence acknowledging that we are sinners who deserve judgment.

Daniel 9:16 NASB95

“O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all those around us.

Lamentations 3:22 NASB95

The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail.

It is only because of God’s mercy and grace that we survive the encounter with God.

Purpose of Confession

It provides a reminder that we don’t deserve anything God gives us.

Isaiah 66:2 NASB95

“For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,” declares the Lord. “But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.

When we confess our sin, God can discipline us without us thinking He is unfair…we know we deserve the correction.

Joshua 7:19 NASB95

Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I implore you, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give praise to Him; and tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me.”

When God disciplines us, it is to make us better children…confession helps us glorify God even in our troubles.

Elements of Confession

Turn to

A Right View of Sin

A Right View of God

A Right View of Self

A Right View of Sin

sin deserves judgment —

taking personal responsibility for our sin advances us into maturity.

Sin requires cleansing —

Take full responsibility —

It is our nature to sin —

A Right View of God

Recognize God’s holiness —

Recognize God’s authority —

God would do a thorough job of cleansing…this requires trust.

Recognize God’s compassion —

the imagery here is that of a shepherd who sometimes has to break the legs of a wayward lamb to keep them from straying…until the leg heals, the shepherd has to carry the lamb…once the lamb heals, the lamb usually will follow the shepherd everywhere.

Recognize God’s mercy —

He knew God had the power to pardon sin

A Right View of Self

Live a godly life for three reasons..

To help others be converted —

To glorify God —

God delights in a broken and contrite heart…be sensitive to your sin.

For the sake of other believers —

You can’t effectively intercede for others if you are not in a right relationship with God.