#3 Habit for life

The Power of Confession

Luke 15:17–20 (NIV)

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’

20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Admit our faults without concern for our reputation.

There is something so compelling about this prodigal son’s confession.

And I think what makes it so heartwarming is the humility he demonstrates.

It’s beautiful because it’s such a picture of brokenness.

Brokenness is the opposite of pride.

It is the willingness to admit our faults without concern for our reputation.

It is the willingness to lay down our own rights and do whatever benefits the other.

It is putting the needs of the other above our own.

It lays the groundwork for reconciliation to occur.

This prodigal son acknowledged that as he sinned against his earthly father, he was also sinning against the God of heaven.

Our sins against our brothers and sisters are ultimately against our Father in heaven. As we struggle to become reconciled to one another, this is an essential part of the process.

Each of us must “come to ourselves” and own our part in this mess . . . and we must become broken about it.

Luke 18:10–14 NIV

10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Before the Lord can open your eyes to the call of reconciliation, what do you have to own?, is it anger?. we want to get even.

Some people get tired of being taken advantage of and not being able to fight back.

We can get fearful.

Fear and anger, they are barriers that keep us from reaching out.

The book of Acts shows us another beautiful picture of brokenness.

The strong willingly becomes weak.

In Acts 16:25–34, we read that Paul and Silas have been imprisoned for preaching the gospel, and at midnight they prayed.

Acts 16:25–34 (NIV)

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.

27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.

30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.

33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.

34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

God sent an earthquake to shake the very foundations of the prison.

Thinking that the prisoners had escaped, the Roman jailer prepared to take his own life.

But Paul stopped him and affirmed that none had escaped.

At this moment something incredible happens.

The Roman jailer was transformed from enemy and abuser to broken and tender healer, as he is confronted with his wrong and the power that is at work within Paul and Silas.

He falls trembling before them and asks, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

That question is pregnant with power.

The strong willingly becomes weak.

The superior willingly becomes inferior.

I realize that I have been wrong; that I have wronged you. How can I make it right?

He comes to himself and claims Jesus as Savior, and we see him washing the wounds that perhaps he himself had inflicted.

That’s powerful!

But those wounds cannot and will not be healed without first being exposed.

We must do as the prodigal did and acknowledge that we have sinned against God and against one another.

When we do that He promises to forgive us, to remove our sin as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12)

Psalm 103:12 (NIV)

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

But the wounds often remain. Often they leave scabs that have to be carefully removed . . . until all that is left is a scar.

The memory of the hurt.

They say that confession is good for the soul. I believe this to be true.

I believe that it is good for us as individuals—and that it is good for the soul of the Church.

But it’s not just good—it’s essential.

It is essential if we are to be reconciled one with another.

It opens the door for the healing balm of forgiveness to wash over us.

Let’s go there together.

PRAYER  

Lord God, help us to love you enough to humble ourselves before one another, confessing those things that we have said and done that have damaged our brothers and sisters. Help us to conquer the fears that have paralyzed us for generations; help us to wash one another’s wounds and become the healing community that you died for.