I.  Confession Keeps the Fellowship:  Ps. 32:2b

“… and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

The word for “deceit” means … to become lazy or slothful … to hold back the whole truth … a relaxing of one’s commitment and drive to grow.  When sin has been acknowledged and confessed there is a connection to the Lord in sweet fellowship that empowers us to continue the spiritual journey … to press on in Jesus name … to sense a freedom and releasing to move on!  But when sin is covered up, or ignored it has a choking value on our spiritual lives … it clogs up the channel of God’s power and brings to a halt the fellowship needed to grow, change, and be conformed into the image of Christ.  Confession keeps the fellowship connection between the believer and God engaged and the Spirit’s continued action and  impacting of our lives.

II. Lack of Confession brings Weakness:  Ps. 32:3-4

“… my bones wasted away … my strength was dried up …”

The word for “bones” means … his entire being was affected by the separation of fellowship … he was in pain all over … down to the depth of his bones he was in agony because of his unwillingness to acknowledge his sin.  When sin is ignored or attempted to be covered up it brings about great pain in our lives.  How we deal with sin is very important to our daily spiritual health.  David talks about his “strength “being impacted by his ignoring God’s conviction … as in the summer heat that completely zaps someone’s ability to work … complete exhaustion had overcome him because of the lack of confession.  Warren Wiersbe says:   ‘He became like an old man. God’s hand of conviction was heavy upon him day and night. He “dried up” like a brook in a drought.^[1]”

III. Confession has It’s Benefits:   Ps. 32:5-7

“… you forgave the  iniquity of my sin.” 

Confession should be a direct result of conviction.  Conviction in a believers life is a good thing.  For so many years I misunderstood this valuable truth.  When I became convicted about sin I misread its purpose.  I would feel bad about it and therefore would try to ignore it or run from it.  God began to show me that His conviction was to be sought after.  It was a good thing.  Without the loving conviction of the Holy Spirit in my life I could never become all that God intended for me to be.  His conviction brought clarity about truth and living.  As I received His conviction it would lead me to personal application and confession of the place I had missed the mark and as a result could experience change and development in my spiritual life.  In this passage David brings clarity to four benefits to Confession:

Forgiveness – (v. 5) “…you forgave …” to be restored … pardoned … to be lifted up … to bear up and support and to strengthen.  This forgiveness did not come because of being “sorry”, or “because he prayed” … it came because he acknowledged and confessed – to see and agree with … and sweet forgiveness is given and received.
Safety – (v. 7a) “You are a hiding place for me; …” – a place of shelter and protection.  A refuge that you can run to and escape the attack of the enemy … it is seen as a fortress that believers run to and find safety.  We are not on this spiritual journey alone.  God desires to be our refuge … our fortress … a place we can go for safety, protection, and love.
Preservation – (v. 7b) “… you preserve me from trouble …” – confession allows God to bring His protection … to guard our hearts … to keep watch for us – and in that He keeps us from trouble.  When we confess it keeps us alerted to that which is causing us to be weak and to see honestly its effect on our lives causing us to run from it and to seek His holiness.
Deliverance – (v. 7c) Joy is found in deliverance and it expresses itself in joyful shouts as a tribute to God’s faithfulness.^[2]

Take some time today to rethink the power of confession in your life.  It is key to spiritual growth and health.  The ability to let your communion with God bring about beautiful moments of pure conviction of an attitude or action and  compelling you to be honest and like David acknowledge where you missed the mark – sinned – and letting that conviction bring about true and genuine repentance is a good thing.  Look forward to today’s opportunities to learn, grow, and confess.

Two verses to also contemplate:

1 John 1:9 … “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

James 5:16 … “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

[This blog is a synopsis of Pastor Rouse’s message notes from ACTS 6.04 prayer and proclamation of God’s word on August 29,2012]

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