Confession

CONFESSION

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IMITATING MY ELDER BROTHER, JESUS

screen-shot-2017-02-18-at-4-20-18-pm…FATHER, in Your Word You command many things of me. But if I look at Your commands as just something I need to do I am in the wrong frame of mind. I do not say, “I believe in JESUS” and then add hard work to my faith.

“Martin Luther’s old formula still sums things up nicely: ‘We are saved by faith alone [not our works], but not by faith that remains alone.’ Nothing we do can merit God’s grace and favor, we can only believe that he has given it to us in Jesus Christ and receive it by faith. But if we truly believe and trust in the one who sacrificially served us, it changes us into people who sacrificially serve God and our neighbors” Timothy Keller (ref#123, p123-124).

“Desire without knowledge is not good,…” (Prov 19:2 NRSV). “Sincerity and energy by themselves miss the mark (Rom 10:2)” The Reformation Study Bible (ref#56, p903 [Prov 19:2]).

“Religion operates on the principle of ‘I obey therefore I am accepted by God.’ The basic operating principle of the gospel is ‘I am accepted by God through the work of Jesus Christ—therefore I obey’” Timothy Keller (ref#123, p114).

Religion is “the default mode of my heart.” I have to deliberately and repeatedly set my heart to gospel-mode (ref#123, p114-115). I do that not by willfully doing good works but by feeding on the Gospel, digesting it so it becomes my motivating energy.

When the Apostle Paul gives a command, he doesn’t pressure directly on the will or on emotions but draws his listeners back to CHRIST and the work He did. As the hours go by in the day, if I keep thinking about how CHRIST lived out His life, I will soon realize how much His sacrificial love did for me—I will soon want to similarly sacrifice for others—be a comparable “elder brother.” In this mind-set I will complete jobs not to get them “checked off” but to do them because it is a joy to “do” for the One I love.

“Our problems arise largely because we don’t continually return to the gospel to work it in and live it out” (ref#123, p119). Let me repeat that: “Our problems arise largely because we don’t continually return to the gospel to work it in and live it out” Timothy Keller (ref#123, p119).

Looking through the lens of the Gospel my responsibilities named in Scripture become not heavy burdens but privileges to enjoy. There is no higher privilege than to work and suffer for CHRIST (ref#10, p244). It doesn’t get any better than that.

CONFESSION

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DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES

screen-shot-2017-02-18-at-3-42-25-pm…FATHER, You are not only the Maker of the world, but the Maker of difficult and frightening circumstances. My goal is not to succeed or conquer in such circumstances. Nor should it simply be to “get through it.” You have a purpose, and it is to strengthen my faith. When CHRIST comes may He find faith on the earth in me (Luke 18:8).

It’s true that I need to stand firm and see Your salvation (2 Chron 20:17), but I need to be prepared that You may make me a failure in situations; You create circumstances for Your glory, not mine. So, help me be as clay in Your hands (Isa 64:8) and content with how You present the situation and its outcome.

My human efforts always want success. Realizing my spiritual weakness and consequently submitting to You gives more glory to You than my efforts that succeed. It’s my attitude in going through the situation that glorifies You, not being successful in its challenge.

For the sake of CHRIST I resolve to be content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak , then I am strong in divine strength (2 Cor 12:10). LORD, I ask for more faith to defer to You in difficult and frightening circumstances.

CONFESSION

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STANDING BEFORE THE CROSS

screen-shot-2017-02-03-at-3-12-06-pm “…the love which Christ has [for me] presses on me from all sides, holding me to one end and prohibiting me from considering any other, wrapping itself around me in tenderness, giving me an  impelling motive,…” Kenneth S. Wuest (ref#37, p424, [2 Cor 5:14]).

FATHER, this is how CHRIST’s love moves me—controls me. In words He is able to express His love for me. In words He draws me to Himself as I desire His closeness. Reviewing CHRIST at the Cross is a place where I am reminded again of His impelling love.

“What about the Son of Man…As we stand before the cross, we should feel as if we are standing upon a battlefield, the ground still wet with blood and pain. The screams, His cries of thirst, should still ring our ears” Michael Card (ref#137, p181).

In experiencing the strength of CHRIST’s love, it’s moving enough to dwell on His physical agony, but FATHER, paint a word-picture of His emotional agony that I may have a deeper concept of His willingness to offer me His love.

Jesus cried out, “Why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt 27:46). FATHER, You separated Yourself from Him because You were too holy to look upon sin. I see CHRIST’s tear-filled eyes looking for You (ref#137, p181)…

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KEEPING FLESH INOPERATIVE

screen-shot-2017-01-28-at-3-27-12-pm…FATHER, remind me of the subtleness of my flesh (“…flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]…”) (Rom 8:3 AMP). Not only do the evil desires of my flesh need to be pushed down and subdued, but also the good desires of my flesh need to be kept from becoming active. The flesh can be nasty or righteous (ref# 33, p112).

My flesh has the potential to accomplish many and diverse Christian activities—amazingly loving acts (ref#33, p112)—at least I think they’re amazing. I am able to achieve many good deeds by my fleshly self-righteousness.

The wisdom flowing from my fleshly mind can engage in Biblical counseling, perform a myriad of Christian service projects, or even write what I’m writing right now–without any need to be absolutely dependent on the HOLY SPIRIT. Flesh is amazingly self-confident. “The old creation is willing to do anything—even submit to God—if only it is permitted to live and be active” (ref#33, p114)!

I have to watch for the appearance of pride. FATHER, send Your SPIRIT to alert me when I’m about to do good in my fleshly strength; help me distinguish the difference between actions of my flesh and the good that flows out of a new life in CHRIST.

“It is my self who can perform and does perform good without the need of trusting in the Holy Spirit, without the necessity of being humble, of waiting on God, or of praying to God” Watchman Nee (ref#33, p113).

My human nature guides spur-of-the-moment, easy acts of righteousness. So a spirit-check is needed constantly. Do I plan and arrange more than I pray? Do I need to know answers immediately? In desperate situations do I fly instantly to You or try to think things through? Do I ever really have a sense of utter dependency? Do I do what seems best to me and forget to ask Your will?

FATHER, make me super-sensitive to the actions of my flesh so I might reject them. Guide me down the path You have for me.

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TEACH ME

screen-shot-2017-01-28-at-2-53-34-pm…FATHER, if You are pleased with me, teach me Your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor with you (Ex 33:13). Give me understanding so I might put into practice Your commands with all my heart (Ps 119:34). Make me understand what you want, for then I shall see Your miracles (Ps 119:27). LORD, tell me Your ways, show me how to live, guide me in Your truth, and teach me (Ps 25:4-5).

Oh that I may grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of CHRIST (Eph 3:17-18). Flood my life with light so I can understand the wonderful future You have promised to me (Eph 1:18).

Make me stand firm, mature, and fully convinced, in complete obedience to Your will (Col 4:12). By Your power fulfill every good purpose of mine and every act prompted by my faith (2 Thes 1:1). Strengthen me with Your glorious power so I will have all the patience and endurance I need (Col l:1). May I understand the incredible greatness of Your power for it is the same mighty power that raised CHRIST from the dead (Eph 1:19-20).

Let me search for it as for a hidden treasure for in it I’ll find You, and understand and know You (Prov 2:3-5). I desire to experience the love of CHRIST—to be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from You (Eph 3:19). Draw me LORD, back to You and not to activities I might do for You. AMEN.

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THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHDRAWING HIS SENSIBLE PRESENCE

screen-shot-2017-01-02-at-3-47-19-pm…FATHER, save me from being content with a little measure of the SPIRIT, thinking that is all I am expected to have.   So often I feel His absence and act using my own human spirit. Grow in me a desire for the power of His presence all the time (ref#76, p29).

“The Holy Spirit is no temporary gift; He abides with the saints. We have but to seek Him aright, and He will be found by us. He is jealous, but He is compassionate. If He leaves in anger, He returns in mercy. Gracious and tender, He does not weary of us, but He waits to be merciful still” Charles Spurgeon (ref#34, Feb 12th PM).

Through sin and worldliness I lose the consciousness of the SPIRIT’s presence. I don’t lose You, SPIRIT, but You are behind my conscious awareness (ref#30, p115).

For instance, no matter how eager or clever I am in sharing the Gospel, it is insufficient without Your presence.  What I need is to experience continual power to be obedient to You, SPIRIT, Who alone truly teaches me (ref#33, p86).

“God is determined to have His child as pure and clean and white as driven snow, and as long as there is disobedience in any point of His teaching, He will prevent none of the working of His spirit” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, June 30th).

FATHER, sensitize me to watch for the SPIRIT. In Him is the only way I can remain spiritual (ref#101, p28).

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THE MESSAGE MUST BE PART OF ME

screen-shot-2017-01-02-at-3-17-25-pm“Christian work may be a means of evading the soul’s concentration on Jesus Christ” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, March 25th).

FATHER, I don’t want to be ambitious to win souls but to be ambitious to be accepted by You (ref#7, March 17th). I may be more of a hindrance to You than a help if my witness is just what CHRIST has done for me instead of presenting CHRIST from the vantage point of being His friend (ref#7, March 25th). Obedience is good but being the friend of the Bridegroom is more important.

Move me to maintain my relationship with CHRIST above all else, FATHER (ref#7, March 25th). No wonder “conquer” is a word used often in Scripture. It takes purposeful effort to develop a relationship with CHRIST. Obedience to witnessing can be accomplished too easily in my own strength and thus can’t even be classified as a battle conquered.

“The natural heart will do any amount of serving, but it takes the heart broken by conviction of sin, and baptized by the Holy Ghost, and crumpled into the purpose of God before the life becomes the sacrament of its message” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, March 10th).

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NURSING LAMB

screen-shot-2016-12-15-at-12-14-47-pm…O PRESERVING GOD, life has taught me that I cannot maintain a loving relationship with You unless I daily enter Your spiritual kingdom to be taught again Your precepts. I am prone to wonder from Your commandments. Oh, to maintain Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You (Ps 119:11).

Your answer to this prayer is as much life to me as life to the Israelites:

“So the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Then Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel” (1 Sam 7:8-10 NKJV).

Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it. FATHER, Your “innocent SON” is my nursing lamb. He gladly accomplished Your will so that I know You will answer my request. Remaining close to You is life to me just as routing the Philistines was life to Israel. I plead; answer me quickly (Ps 143:7).

“I have called upon You, O God, for You will hear me;…Show Your marvelous loving-kindness, O You Who save by Your right hand those who trust and take refuge in You from those who rise up against them” (Ps 17:6-7 AMP).

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YOU GIVE, I ACCEPT WITH THANKS

screen-shot-2016-12-15-at-11-40-00-am…FATHER, I thank You that You have caused me to believe so I am united to CHRIST in You, by the SPIRIT. But, my heart is not content to let just our union be the extent of my involvement. My heart longs for fellowship—You and I giving and receiving affections, delight, satisfaction… I don’t want to merely be a recipient of Your gifts, I want to interact with You (ref#35, p21).

And, not only this, LORD, but I want to be personal and emotional with You in every essence of Your Person so that I find obedience to You an honor (ref#35, p22).

“Christian obedience was of utmost importance, but it was always understood to flow out of this union and never seen as the ground for it” John Owen (ref#35, p22).

O LORD, such a desire I have to revel in the work I do because it pleases You. I want to experience Your consenting presence continually. Send Your SPIRIT to me so He might make me sensitive to when I revert back to making decisions on my own. Yes, I want my obedience to flow out of our communion. Never do I want to perform tasks to get me into communion with You. Oh, to understand and walk according to Your unilateral giving so that I am never inclined to impress You.

“We pay no attention to our own lives or the new image which we bear,…it is only to serve as a mirror for the image of Christ on whom our gaze is fixed” Dietrich Bonhoeffer (ref#10, p304).

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REVIVAL

screen-shot-2016-12-07-at-11-53-02-am…FATHER, “Sin is the only thing that hinders the revival of His (CHRIST’s) church” Roy Hession (ref#97, p62) (parenthesis mine). Show me my sin.

“Revival is just the life of the Lord Jesus poured into human hearts” Roy Hession (ref#97, p21). CHRIST, pour Your life into me.

Revival “…simply means new life, in hearts where the spiritual life has ebbed…the life of Jesus filling us and flowing through us” Roy Hession (ref#97, p68). FATHER, I confess my spiritual life ebbs; just a night’s sleep depletes me. I want filled again and again and again with JESUS.

“The willingness of Jesus to be broken for us is the all-compelling motive in our being broken too” Roy Hession (ref#97, p23). I desire to be broken as JESUS was. Bring to me the life JESUS endured from the time of His arrest to His crucifixion.

“Brokenness, however is but the beginning of Revival, Revival itself is being absolutely filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. All we have to do is to present our empty, broken self and let Him fill and keep filled” Roy Hession (ref#97, p27). Here I am, empty and broken ready to be filled.

“It will mean no plans, no time, no money, no pleasure of our own. It will mean a constant yielding to those around us” Roy Hession (ref#97, 25). I desire to constantly yield to those around me.