Developing Your Prayer LifeThe Importance of

Confession

NOT CONFESSING SIN?

Psalms 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

NOT CONFESSING SIN?

3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

NOT CONFESSING SIN?

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.

WHAT IS CONFESSION?

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I KNOW GOD FORGIVES ME; I CAN'T FORGIVE MYSELF.

GOD'S VIEW OF SIN

Leviticus 26:40 "'But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their fathers--their treachery against me and their hostility toward me,

GOD'S VIEW OF SIN

41 which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies--then when their un-circumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin,

GOD'S VIEW OF SIN

42 I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

GOD'S VIEW OF SIN

Lamentations 1:20 "See, O LORD, how distressed I am! I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed, for I have been most rebellious."

GOD'S VIEW OF SIN

Psalm 51:1-17

GOD'S VIEW OF SIN

Psalm 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2

Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

GOD'S VIEW OF SIN

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.

GOD'S VIEW OF SIN

5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

GOD'S VIEW OF SIN

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

GOD'S VIEW OF SIN

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

GOD'S VIEW OF SIN

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

GOD'S VIEW OF SIN

15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

GOD'S VIEW OF SIN

17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

THE TOWN PROSTITUTE, AN UNINVITED GUEST

Luke 7:38 …and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears…

… then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."

41 "Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty."

42 "Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts…."

… "Now which of them will love him more?"

43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."…

…"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house."…

THE EPILOGUE

…"You did not give me any water for my feet,"

THE EPILOGUE

…"but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair."

THE EPILOGUE

45 "You did not give me a kiss …"

THE EPILOGUE

"…but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet."

THE EPILOGUE

47 "Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

THE EPILOGUE

48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

THE EPILOGUE

49 The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

THE EPILOGUE

Developing Your Prayer LifeThe Importance of

Confession