BBD 12.02.19 Growth through Confession (Classic)

#1 · December 2, 2010, 10:10 am

Quote from Forum Archives on December 2, 2010, 10:10 am
Posted by: edwrather <edwrather@...>

Visit the Burning Bush websites:

www.theburningbush.net
www.theburningbush.org

The Burning Bush websites have received visits from more than 170 countries. Celebrating 11 years online since January 31, 1998. Since June 8, 1998 the Burning Bush Devotional has been spreading the truth of Gods Word to more than 11,000 subscribers across the world.

Please join the Burning Bush Prayer Group. The group began in 1998 and is made up of over 300 prayer warriors. Send prayer requests and receive prayer requests. To join send an email to: bbpg-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

If you love to send and receive inspirational emails then the Burning Bush Inspirational Group is for you. To join send an email to bbinspire-join@welovegod.org

You can now leave comments/feedback about the devotionals at www.theburningbush.net.

The Burning Bush Devotional
Welcome to the 2747 new subscribers since January 1, 2010!!
There were 1367 new subscribers during 2009!!
Classic from 2002

12.02.10

Growth through Confession

And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. - Luke 18:13-14.

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

It is always necessary for us to confess to God our sins, if we have sin in our lives, before further growth can occur. But before that confession can occur in a meaningful way, we must understand, and agree that we have sinned. If you remember King Davids sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12), you will also remember that God did confront him with his sin through the prophet Nathan. As a result of that confrontation, and David finally comprehending that he had sinned, we have his Psalm of confession, Psalm 51. David pleads, "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight(Psalm 51:1-4)."

A friend of mine once came to me concerned about whether or not he had salvation. My friend had been in church all of his life, and said that he had given his heart to Jesus long ago. However, it seemed for several years, that at times, he would doubt his salvation. As we talked, and prayed together, I suggested that he should search his heart over the next few days to see if there might possibly be some unconfessed sin hiding in his heart. A few days later George came to me, and said that it had been revealed to him. He shared that years before, when he was working for a company, that he would use their tools after hours when he would have an opportunity to work for himself. He told me he had sent a check to his former employer, which he believed would be the cost of rental on the tools. His former employer unknown to George, then gave the same amount as a donation to Georges church.

George no longer doubts his salvation, and has moved forward with His Lord, growing more and more conformed to His image. If you have stopped growing, and your growth as a Christian has become stunted; I would encourage you to examine your heart, asking God to search your heart, and reveal to you any unconfessed sin. If you find sin that you need to confess and repent of, I would encourage you to follow the examples of King David, and my friend George. Confession and repentance is not easy, but oh how much better we feel when everything is right between us and the Lord. How much easier it is to pray, read His Word, and be around other believers when all is well in our hearts.

Copyright © 2002-2010. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent. Ed Wrather began writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of these first devotionals was primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent to prison facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

For information about how to hear my testimony in your church visit this link: www.theburningbush.net/pages.asp?pageid=22160

Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer Request page. You can also post your prayer requests there and they will be forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer Group (Of course, I am always in need of prayer - please pray for me.).

If you are not my friend on facebook or myspace you can be, just add me. The devotionals are posted in my blogs on those two social networks and you can leave comments, feedback about them there. There are other social networks designed just for Christians, however, this is an outreach project to reach those who may not know the Lord or may have wandered away. You can help me reach out to them.

If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may subscribe by sending a blank email to burningbushhtml-join@welovegod.org

Two videos of my sermons are posted on Godtube at: connect.tangle.com/Wrather

You can listen to services at my son, Clark Wrather's church (First Baptist Church of Broken Bow, Oklahoma) live on Sunday mornings at 10:55am CST www.kkbifm.com/

There is a complete devotional archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here is the URL: www.theburningbush.org/33.html.

You may SUBSCRIBE to the html text group by sending a blank email to burningbushhtml-join@welovegod.org and you may UNSUBSCRIBE by sending a blank email to burningbushhtml-leave@welovegod.org and then respond to the confirmation email. If the link does not work, copy and paste the link.

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To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: burningbushhtml-leave@welovegod.org

Posted by: edwrather <edwrather@...>

Visit the Burning Bush websites:

http://www.theburningbush.net
http://www.theburningbush.org

The Burning Bush websites have received visits from more than 170 countries. Celebrating 11 years online since January 31, 1998. Since June 8, 1998 the Burning Bush Devotional has been spreading the truth of Gods Word to more than 11,000 subscribers across the world.

Please join the Burning Bush Prayer Group. The group began in 1998 and is made up of over 300 prayer warriors. Send prayer requests and receive prayer requests. To join send an email to: bbpg-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

If you love to send and receive inspirational emails then the Burning Bush Inspirational Group is for you. To join send an email to bbinspire-join@welovegod.org

You can now leave comments/feedback about the devotionals at http://www.theburningbush.net.

The Burning Bush Devotional
Welcome to the 2747 new subscribers since January 1, 2010!!
There were 1367 new subscribers during 2009!!
Classic from 2002

12.02.10

Growth through Confession

And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. - Luke 18:13-14.

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

It is always necessary for us to confess to God our sins, if we have sin in our lives, before further growth can occur. But before that confession can occur in a meaningful way, we must understand, and agree that we have sinned. If you remember King Davids sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12), you will also remember that God did confront him with his sin through the prophet Nathan. As a result of that confrontation, and David finally comprehending that he had sinned, we have his Psalm of confession, Psalm 51. David pleads, "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight(Psalm 51:1-4)."

A friend of mine once came to me concerned about whether or not he had salvation. My friend had been in church all of his life, and said that he had given his heart to Jesus long ago. However, it seemed for several years, that at times, he would doubt his salvation. As we talked, and prayed together, I suggested that he should search his heart over the next few days to see if there might possibly be some unconfessed sin hiding in his heart. A few days later George came to me, and said that it had been revealed to him. He shared that years before, when he was working for a company, that he would use their tools after hours when he would have an opportunity to work for himself. He told me he had sent a check to his former employer, which he believed would be the cost of rental on the tools. His former employer unknown to George, then gave the same amount as a donation to Georges church.

George no longer doubts his salvation, and has moved forward with His Lord, growing more and more conformed to His image. If you have stopped growing, and your growth as a Christian has become stunted; I would encourage you to examine your heart, asking God to search your heart, and reveal to you any unconfessed sin. If you find sin that you need to confess and repent of, I would encourage you to follow the examples of King David, and my friend George. Confession and repentance is not easy, but oh how much better we feel when everything is right between us and the Lord. How much easier it is to pray, read His Word, and be around other believers when all is well in our hearts.

Copyright © 2002-2010. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent. Ed Wrather began writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of these first devotionals was primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent to prison facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

For information about how to hear my testimony in your church visit this link: http://www.theburningbush.net/pages.asp?pageid=22160

Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer Request page. You can also post your prayer requests there and they will be forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer Group (Of course, I am always in need of prayer - please pray for me.).

If you are not my friend on facebook or myspace you can be, just add me. The devotionals are posted in my blogs on those two social networks and you can leave comments, feedback about them there. There are other social networks designed just for Christians, however, this is an outreach project to reach those who may not know the Lord or may have wandered away. You can help me reach out to them.

If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may subscribe by sending a blank email to burningbushhtml-join@welovegod.org

Two videos of my sermons are posted on Godtube at: connect.tangle.com/Wrather

You can listen to services at my son, Clark Wrather's church (First Baptist Church of Broken Bow, Oklahoma) live on Sunday mornings at 10:55am CST http://www.kkbifm.com/

There is a complete devotional archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here is the URL: http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.

You may SUBSCRIBE to the html text group by sending a blank email to burningbushhtml-join@welovegod.org and you may UNSUBSCRIBE by sending a blank email to burningbushhtml-leave@welovegod.org and then respond to the confirmation email. If the link does not work, copy and paste the link.

--
To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: burningbushhtml-leave@welovegod.org