Elements City Church
Summer at Elements - wk6: The Practice of Confession
As we follow after Jesus we are invited into some practices and habits we see in his life. We examined some of these earlier this year with our Unhurried series. This summer we're diving into more. We invite you to experiment with us, and grow in these practices -- to see which ones God might be nudging you to make more prominent in your life. How might He be wanting to use these to do more work within you as He grows you and shapes you to be more like Jesus?
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Thanks for joining us tonight!
Whether you're on-site or online, we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to you! If you're new, we'd love to have you fill out our connection card.
https://connect-card.com/yr4Y0g8VLBSqzKXeubjbA disciple is someone who
knows and follows Jesus,
is becoming like Jesus,
and is committed to the mission of Jesus.
"Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you." -Dallas Willard
knows and follows Jesus,
is becoming like Jesus,
and is committed to the mission of Jesus.
"Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you." -Dallas Willard
Tonight: Practice of Confession
I want us to explore 2 aspects of confession:
-confession as cleansing
-confession as anchoring
The Word “Confession” Means “To Agree With”
In our spiritual relationship with our Creator and Savior — confession is the practice of keeping ‘short accounts’ with God.
The practice of confession (for cleansing) is the regular habit of seeking the “Holy Spotlight”
I want us to explore 2 aspects of confession:
-confession as cleansing
-confession as anchoring
The Word “Confession” Means “To Agree With”
In our spiritual relationship with our Creator and Savior — confession is the practice of keeping ‘short accounts’ with God.
The practice of confession (for cleansing) is the regular habit of seeking the “Holy Spotlight”
It’s proposed by a scholar…“The greatest sin is to lose the sense of sin.”
We see ourselves as basically nice, benevolent people with minor hang ups and neurosis like the common lot of all humanity. YET, We can each rationalize our terrifying ability to make peace with evil and thereby reject all that is not nice about us.
The essence of sin lies in the enormity of our own self-centeredness. We all can gloss over our selfishness and rationalize the evil and brokenness within us, we can all fall into a fantasy of pretend; or comparison - the “I’m better than them” mentality that keeps sin from being personal… my own personal violation and rebellion against God, his principles, his standard, his best for us.
We see ourselves as basically nice, benevolent people with minor hang ups and neurosis like the common lot of all humanity. YET, We can each rationalize our terrifying ability to make peace with evil and thereby reject all that is not nice about us.
The essence of sin lies in the enormity of our own self-centeredness. We all can gloss over our selfishness and rationalize the evil and brokenness within us, we can all fall into a fantasy of pretend; or comparison - the “I’m better than them” mentality that keeps sin from being personal… my own personal violation and rebellion against God, his principles, his standard, his best for us.
It take humility to admit our sinfulness, our brokenness —
Perhaps one clear mark of humility is stark raving honesty.
Perhaps one clear mark of humility is stark raving honesty.
QUOTE:
“The Crucified says: confess your sins so that I may reveal myself to you as lover, teacher and friend."
—Brennan Manning (book: ABBA’s Child)
“The Crucified says: confess your sins so that I may reveal myself to you as lover, teacher and friend."
—Brennan Manning (book: ABBA’s Child)
We overestimate the cost of confession
We underestimate the cost of concealment
truth: confession > concealment
We underestimate the cost of concealment
truth: confession > concealment
Psalm 32:1- NLT
1 Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
2 Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
3 When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.
4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
Interlude
5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Interlude
1 Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
2 Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
3 When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.
4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
Interlude
5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Interlude
David begins by saying confession is for our sake.
Confessing brings blessing
Confessing brings blessing
Confession isn’t doing something about our sin;
rather, it means admitting that we can’t do anything
about our sin and brokenness.
-and that God did the something, for us.
rather, it means admitting that we can’t do anything
about our sin and brokenness.
-and that God did the something, for us.
Biblical Truth:
What we try to cover-up, God will uncover.
What we uncover, God will cover over with His grace.
confession > concealment
What we try to cover-up, God will uncover.
What we uncover, God will cover over with His grace.
confession > concealment
==The spiritual cleansing that comes from continually seeking forgiveness is CRITICAL for maintaining relational intimacy and connection with Jesus (and others)
This is more important than many of us realize, for confession is what enables our prayers to go to God unencumbered. The prophet Isaiah proclaimed to the people, "Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2).
Unconfessed, unrepentant sin cuts off our communication with God. If we tolerate ongoing patterns of sin in our lives, rationalizing them away in a refusal to repent, we shouldn't waste our breath praying unless it is a prayer of confession. …that prayer of confession is always available.
His mercies are new every morning. (see Lamentations 3:22-24)
This is more important than many of us realize, for confession is what enables our prayers to go to God unencumbered. The prophet Isaiah proclaimed to the people, "Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2).
Unconfessed, unrepentant sin cuts off our communication with God. If we tolerate ongoing patterns of sin in our lives, rationalizing them away in a refusal to repent, we shouldn't waste our breath praying unless it is a prayer of confession. …that prayer of confession is always available.
His mercies are new every morning. (see Lamentations 3:22-24)
We ALSO dare not miss the fact that David CONTINUES this prayer of confession in Psalm 32, ..not with despair, not with discouragement, not with depression or with self-doubt.
He continues with joy and victory...
Psalm 32:7
7 For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.
== He goes from a “life of hiding”- CONCEALING; to CONFESSION leading him into finding security with God & his relationship with Him being his hiding place…(home/secure/reconciled/safe)
He continues with joy and victory...
Psalm 32:7
7 For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.
== He goes from a “life of hiding”- CONCEALING; to CONFESSION leading him into finding security with God & his relationship with Him being his hiding place…(home/secure/reconciled/safe)
Jesus took our concealment attempts – our mistakes, missteps, mess-ups and covered over them with His grace and redemption.
The practice of confession - cleanses us - keeps us aligned with God’s loving heart reflected in Jesus.
INVITE THE SPIRIT TO SEARCH YOUR HEART. TO LEAD YOU INTO GOD’S CLEANSING THROUGH PRACTICE OF CONFESSION.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns.
See if there is any offensive way in me;
lead me in the everlasting way.
The practice of confession - cleanses us - keeps us aligned with God’s loving heart reflected in Jesus.
INVITE THE SPIRIT TO SEARCH YOUR HEART. TO LEAD YOU INTO GOD’S CLEANSING THROUGH PRACTICE OF CONFESSION.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns.
See if there is any offensive way in me;
lead me in the everlasting way.
CONFESSION as anchoring -- anchoring us the TRUTH of God!
Suggested Practices:
- Commit to CONFESSION AS CLEANSING -- taking time each week to practice confession for the cleansing of your soul. Learn to keep short accounts with God. Confess quickly, regularly, consistently. take time to pray Psalm 139:23-24 - let the Spirit's Holy Spotlight illuminate what you need to confess. Trust in 1 John 1:9 and the promise of God to forgive.
- Commit to CONFESSION AS ANCHORING -- taking some time in reciting the TRUTHS of God, what He speaks over you and to you. Passages like some of the prayers of the New Testament, read the Apostles Creed and meditate on it and it's implications, Read the end of Romans 8:31-39 and rest in the truth this proclaims over you as one secure in Jesus.
- Commit to CONFESSION AS CLEANSING -- taking time each week to practice confession for the cleansing of your soul. Learn to keep short accounts with God. Confess quickly, regularly, consistently. take time to pray Psalm 139:23-24 - let the Spirit's Holy Spotlight illuminate what you need to confess. Trust in 1 John 1:9 and the promise of God to forgive.
- Commit to CONFESSION AS ANCHORING -- taking some time in reciting the TRUTHS of God, what He speaks over you and to you. Passages like some of the prayers of the New Testament, read the Apostles Creed and meditate on it and it's implications, Read the end of Romans 8:31-39 and rest in the truth this proclaims over you as one secure in Jesus.
CONFESSION AS ANCHORING TO GOD'S TRUTH
APOSTLES' CREED:
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
ROMANS 8:31-39
31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? 33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
36 As it is written:
Because of you
we are being put to death all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
APOSTLES' CREED:
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
ROMANS 8:31-39
31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? 33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
36 As it is written:
Because of you
we are being put to death all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thanks for partnering with us!
To those who tithe to Elements, thank you for enabling us to be the church in our city. Your gifts help fuel the mission of Elements City Church, as well as our capacity to function as a church on a daily basis.
You can give online at the link below, or through the Elements app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/giveYou can give online at the link below, or through the Elements app.
Thanks for worshipping with us tonight! We invite you back next week as we continue our Summer @ Elements series looking at some practices and rhythms of following Jesus.
Join us this summer on-site or online every Sunday at 5pm!
Keep an eye on the Events tab in the Elements app for our upcoming events. And catch a NEW summer devotion on YouTube channel every Wednesday - watch the social channels as well.
Join us this summer on-site or online every Sunday at 5pm!
Keep an eye on the Events tab in the Elements app for our upcoming events. And catch a NEW summer devotion on YouTube channel every Wednesday - watch the social channels as well.