Roy and Revel Hession

CONFESSION

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HUMILITY

screen-shot-2017-02-20-at-3-46-01-pm“The head must be bowed low to the dust to admit that we are no better than what Jesus had to become for us” Roy and Revel Hession (ref#100, p77).

FATHER, let me daily review my total inability to help myself. You do not help me occasionally, like picking up a just-learning-to-walk child when he falls, no, I am in the troughs of an enemy who labors day and night to devour me (1 Pet 5:8). I need to envision myself daily in the middle of a ring of fire needing You to reach Your hand down and pluck me out.

“The bedrock in Jesus Christ’s kingdom is poverty, not possession; weakness, not strength of will; infirmity of character, not goodness; a sense of absolute poverty, not decisions for Christ…(Matt 5:3)”  Oswald Chambers (ref#83, p90).

“If we grow down in humility and up in worship—leave off all sin and the diverting pleasures of this world and persevere because we desire Christ supremely—we could not fathom doing anything to grieve One so infinitely glorious—One who saves to the uttermost and ever lives to intercede one as vile as me” Dan Cummings (ref#141, April 9, 2006).

CONFESSION

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THOUGHTS IN MY HEAD–SATAN’S OR GOD’S?

screen-shot-2016-10-21-at-2-06-23-pm…FATHER, my natural inclination is when life is easy to take life easy. Thus, it often does not occur to me to be resolute in the investigating of spiritual matters. You command me to “test everything” (1 Thes 5:21). I know I have power through the HOLY SPIRIT to test everything that enters my life. Let this prayer remind me that the evil one continually hurls lies at me (ref#101, p137-138).

Conviction that is real is conviction from the HOLY SPIRIT that leads to holiness while satan’s conviction leads to discouragement because he continually accuses (ref#101, p140). Asking for the precious cleansing blood (1 John 1:9) to purify me stops all accusation. If I am still assaulted with indictments I know they are from the devil (ref#101, p139). “…the Holy Spirit never reproves further if the sin is cleansed by the precious blood and forsaken” Watchman Nee (ref#101, p140).

“If the reproof is of a nagging nature—that is, blaming, without any end to it—and if it is a vague and general reproof rather than clearly specific, then we may know it to be, as a rule, the accusation of Satan. If the reproof is clear and specific, and if we instinctively know that we have only to be willing to say yes and repent to have peace and comfort, then we may be assured that it is the voice of the gracious Holy Spirit…and we may safely obey His convictions and turn to Calvary” Roy and Revel Hession (ref#100, p96-97).

How sly the enemy is to make his convictions only slightly uncomfortable so that I can be lazy and only a bit discouraged. FATHER, too often I let accusations free to roam in my head for lengthy periods. Prod me, FATHER, that I may recognize conviction and deal with it immediately. All praise to You who conquers all Your enemies.

CONFESSION

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ANGER

Screen Shot 2016-05-18 at 10.29.55 AM“…whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17 ESV).

Anger is my announcement to myself that I am seeking my own way and not Yours, FATHER. And the announcement makes me madder—it tells me I’m failing at being righteous—the very thing I want to be known for.

You have taught me so much. I know so much of the right things to do. I’m irritated that I know so much which proclaims to me how often I fail. Ah, but anger clues me that I have fallen into the devil’s ploy of trying to be spiritually ambitions (ref#105, p68).

“The massive interest in self-esteem and self-worth exists because it is trying to help us with a real problem. The problem is that we really are not okay. There is no reason why we should feel great about ourselves.  We truly are deficient” Edward T. Welsh (ref#106, p29).

“When a man really sees himself as the Lord sees him, it is not the abominable sins of the flesh that shock him, but the awful nature of the pride of his own heart against Jesus Christ” Oswald Chambers (ref#7, March 8th).

Pride makes me angry. But how can I let my selfishness upstage CHRIST? CHRIST a continual servant—excepting life as it came—never getting His way—never.

“All He did was for others. When He came from heaven, it was for others.  When He laid down His life, it was for others….when He was raised again…it was…to justify others…the position He occupies…now in heaven is for others,…” Roy and Revel Hession (ref#100, p139).

“For every one look at myself I must take ten looks at Jesus” Edward T. Welsh (ref#106, p67). Anger begs a “time-out.” And a productive “time-out” is to squelch anger by looking to JESUS.

CONFESSION

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TWO ENTITIES–DEPRAVED FLESH AND THE SPIRIT

Screen Shot 2016-05-17 at 2.21.40 PM…FATHER, when I bow my knee and ask You to search me for sin clue me that I set two entities into motion: my natural, depraved flesh searches for sin as well as Your SPIRIT Roy and Revel Hession (ref#100, p83). Flesh brings to my mind unrighteous actions that I’ve committed; the SPIRIT reveals my unrighteous motives.

The search engine of natural flesh only finds obvious willful sins of rebellion—one or two unholy deeds. These are the sins I feel I can correct myself, with better effort.

The search engine of the SPIRIT scans the heart and finds innate rebellion—obstinate roots imbedded in my very character.

The SPIRIT brings my real fleshly self to my attention, while flesh overlooks itself and attempts to change bad actions. Flesh will not believe that its very self is bad. Therefore, FATHER, “I fall short of the purity thou requires because in thinking I am holy I do not see holiness, or, believing I am impotent, I do no more” The Valley of Vision (ref#76, p96).

Motivate me to stay on my knees past admitting a few recent sins. For if I consider my confession done I will have only met with my self—my depraved flesh—and not with Your SPIRIT. My flesh will only prompt me to deal with my symptoms not my sickness.

I wish to be obedient to You, FATHER, and wait until a thought enters my mind that requires more than my own efforts to correct.

I thank You, SPIRIT, that You will not only convict, but also correct as You give me solid directions to work beside You for accomplishing the correction. Yes, how I thank You for not only directing but also I thank You for changing my very nature day by day making me able to obey Your commands.

FATHER, in my routine of confession prompt me please to warn myself to not stumble over JESUS, the rock of offense (Rom 9:33) by listening to my flesh and attempting to eradicate sin by working at it in my own strength. Direct me to stumble onto JESUS. For He, working through the SPIRIT, is the only One able to make me righteous. FATHER, increase my faith, not my abilities (Rom 9:30-33).

ADORATION

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COVENANT OF WORKS

Screen Shot 2016-05-16 at 11.49.35 AM“Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners….” (Rom 5:19 NLT). “This divinely chosen arrangement whereby Adam determined the destiny of his descendants, has been called the ‘covenant of works,’…” The Reformation Study Bible (ref#56, p13, “The Fall”).

My natural-born condition of wanting to decide for myself what is good or bad is the reason this covenant exists. FATHER, I am prone to establish for myself a collection of activities I consider good and bad and then work to do the good. Left to myself, without Your input, FATHER, it makes sense to me that if I work at being good You will bless me; this is the “covenant of works.” My part is to be as good as I can, Your part is to bless me and invite me into heaven—I hope—if I can just do enough good to satisfy You…

 “…the human heart would much rather offer to God its works, no matter how costly, than humble itself to confess sin. That is the reason why man is always predisposed to go the way of works;…” Roy and Revel Hession (ref#100, p 80).

You, FATHER, established the “covenant of works” with Adam and Eve in the Garden. You were to be their GOD and they were to be Your people; You gave commands and they were to follow them. And You warned them about the consequences if they did not follow Your commands: “…you shall surely die’” (Gen 2:17 ESV).

The “covenant of works” requires obedience (Lev 18:5); perfect obedience leads to life (ref#63, p517). But now, as with Adam, if I break this covenant “the punishment…is still in effect…death” Wayne Grudem (ref#63, p517-518).

Since I do not have the ability to obey every one of Your commands, my only choice is to give up directing my own life and put myself under the Lordship of CHRIST. If I trust Him to fulfill all Your covenant requirements for me, then I shall live forever and never die.

For this I am humbled, LORD GOD; JESUS is my escape from the covenant of works that I cannot keep. You are Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider.

“O HEAVENLY FATHER,

Teach me to see…

that Christ does not desire me…

to live in self-confidence in my own strength…”

The Valley of Vision (ref#76, p57).

ADORATION

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GOD’S POWER

Screen Shot 2016-03-26 at 1.44.24 PM“O the depth of the wealth and wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgments, and how untraceable the paths He takes…” Kenneth S. Wuest (ref#37, p372,373, [Rom 11:33]).

FATHER, the book of Nahum declares that You are slow to anger yet great in power (Nahum 1:3). How is it that You see Your enemies yet do not rouse Yourself to wrath but hold Your anger?

Remind me, that Your power is not a power that has to prove itself over and over. It is so great that no challenge comes close to overcoming You. It is Your greatness that brings me grace and goodness (ref#34, Feb 22nd PM).

 “When Moses said, ‘I beseech thee, show me thy glory,’ God replied, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before thee’ (Exod 33:18-19). Not, ‘I will make all My power, My majesty, My holiness pass before thee’ but ’I will make all My goodness to the weak, the sinful, and the undeserving pass before thee’… His glory is His grace (Eph 1:6)” Roy and Revel Hession (ref#100, p32).

FATHER, I naturally desire You show Your power—how often have I prayed, “LORD, show everyone how great You are by miraculously healing so and so.” I always want You to exalt Yourself. But isn’t that so “I” can be proud of You? “You are ‘my’ GOD who has great power.” Thus “I” boast and in so doing “I” give myself glory.

“Glory in a man’s eyes is always that which exalts him…God’s glory consists in the very reverse—not so much in His ability to exalt Himself and humble man, but in His willingness to humble Himself for the sake of man; not so much in a mighty display of power that would break in pieces those that oppose Him, but rather in the hiding of that power and the showing of grace to the undeserving when they turn to Him in repentance” Roy and Revel Hession (ref#100, p31,32).

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite” (Isa 57:15 ESV).

GREAT GOD, You are unsearchable in Your judgments and Your paths are untraceable. Yet You make Yourself approachable!

SUPPLICATION

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GENERAL SICKNESS

[The majority of our prayers concern physical health. We all know someone who is dealing with the pain of sickness. Here is an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

A SPIRITUAL DANCE

 Screen Shot 2016-01-26 at 2.39.44 PM…FATHER, You invite me to knock and urge me to keep on knocking and if I keep on reverently knocking You will open to me (Matt 7:7). I am knocking for ____ for (he/she) is presently ill; I offer up this sacrifice of prayer for (him/her).

I thank You that You include in Your Bible stories that reveal the interaction You desire from ____. You have a man-shaped blank in Your heart (ref#100, p25) where only (he/she) will fit. Your Scriptures reveal Your desire for relationship.

Matthew, in his gospel, tells the story of a Canaanite woman who entreats JESUS relentlessly because she wants help for her daughter who is possessed by a demon (Matt 15:22). JESUS listens to her but does nothing even when His disciples beg Him to send her away.

FATHER, instead of healing immediately, JESUS delays by giving this woman reason why He is not obligated to heal her daughter, He says, …”I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt 15:24 ESV).  However, this does not deter the woman. She overlooks His words and repeats her request with more boldness because she now knows He is paying attention to her.

His response is yet another delay: “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” (Matt 15:26 ESV).  She ignores His discouraging words and continues pleading, adding logic to her request, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table” (Matt 15:27 ESV).

Because JESUS waited to heal, it brought out the creative, feisty spirit of the woman as well as the level of desire for her request to be answered (ref.#62, p189-190). This spiritual dance between JESUS and the woman deepened their relationship.

And relationship is the ultimate objective. JESUS, talking of eternal life in Matthew seven, declares to people He does not know, “Depart from me” (Matt 7:23).

FATHER, I again make my request to You for ____’s healing. Use this prayer to answer my request while, at the same time, deepening my own relationship with You. And lead ____ into an interaction with You, too. Healing and praying for healing has no value if fellowship is not obtained or strengthened.

CONFESSION

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CONFESSION ONLY THE BEGINNING OF CONFESSION

Screen Shot 2015-12-31 at 12.11.55 PM…FATHER, without Your SPIRIT I have no sense of what sin is. My natural conscience tells me that such things as murder and theft are wrong actions (ref#18, [John 16:7-15]). If I only confess my wrong action, repent of it, believing with a hoping-its-true faith that CHRIST makes me righteous again, I will remain unchanged.

And, being unchanged I will automatically use my own efforts to try to not sin in that way again. But that will only produce a merry-go-round scenario since my own efforts will fail and I’ll have to confess again, and again, and again. This circling process showcases my unbelief in JESUS. I believe my job is to stop sinning without the help of CHRIST. When I, in my own strength, attempt to change my actions my heart remains unchanged.

But, the supernatural work of the SPIRIT convinces me that the true reason why sin continues to reign in me is because I am not by faith united to CHRIST (ref#18, [John 16:7-15]). FATHER, I want to be filled with a sense of my weakness not of my own strength to overcome. Lead me away from this “repenting and resolving to do better.”

Prevail upon me to rest in the presence of CHRIST. Delay me until the SPIRIT can instruct me as to what to do during my confession time.

Without the SPIRIT, I only “act” as if I love my neighbor (Gal 3:3). Without the help of the SPIRIT, ordinary impulses control me and in that unrighteousness I attempt to demonstrate outwardly what I don’t possess inwardly. Waiting in the presence of CHRIST the SPIRIT has the ability to illuminate my heart and reveal its attitude.  He may prove to me I am jealous or have a critical spirit toward my neighbor (ref#100, p94).

“As we rest as sinners in that low place, Jesus pours into our hearts His own love for that other person, a love that will sometimes send us to that person to put things right with him, and He gives us a forbearance toward him that was never there before” Roy and Revel Hession (ref#100, p94).

FATHER, reinforce all Your will for me in confession. It is not only a time to confess but a time to be humbled and a time to rest until, in the presence of CHRIST, I comprehend the entire scope of my sin. Guide me to hold out for Your “love, patience, and victory” that will change my heart (ref#100, p94).