The Power of Confession
James 5:16: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. All through scriptures, we are advised and admonished to confess as that is the quickest doorway to redemption. I have often wondered how the world would have turned out if the first man (Adam) said “SORRY”, rather than blaming the woman and she the Serpent. What about Cain, Ham, Saul and so many others that lost their way.
The bible enumerated the importance of confessions in Psalm 51:17: “…a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Literally saying that God will not ignore you if you confess and if you do so genuinely (1 Peter 3:11-12).
Confession like baptism is an open declaration for Christ. In these acts, we shame the enemy and take back the power he had over us in that sin or transgression and give it to Christ in open surrender to His Lordship and dominion. By confessing, we are acknowledging our depravity and transgressions (Psalm 51:2-5) and saying, we cannot save ourselves. As Pilgrims on this wilderness journey to paradise, we cannot dispense with this pious act as it is our constant companion for when we are weak, then we are strong (2 Corinthians 12:9). There are a few things we can learn from the simple acts of confession.
First it is a sign of regret… We do not confess because we were caught, we confess because we renounce that act/sin, we hate it. David said, “Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee?… I hate them with perfect hatred, I count them my enemies.” Psalm 139:21,22. Job is recorded as a man that eschewed evil (Job 1:1; 1 Peter 3:11-13).
In Luke 5:5 when Simon Peter said, “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: NEVERTHELESS, at thy word I will let down the net.” He was acknowledging surrender, but much more, it signified faith and trust is the one he believed in. So what does confession do?
- It empowers us to stand tall and no longer cower in the shame of our past. The devil always makes us feel unworthy but Christ bore our shame and nailed them to the cross (1 Peter 2:24, Colossians 2:11-14, Isaiah 53:5).
- It gives us power over the enemy – That thing that the enemy accuses you with… accuser of the brethren, Rev. 12:10, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.“
- It builds fellowship and brotherly kindness – Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!“ We come in unity because we all know we are not perfect, it is the same blood that has saved us all, this is what makes us patient with the infirmities and shortcomings of others (Galatians 6:2, Romans 15:1), it is what helps us to pray for one another (James 5:16) and helps us overcome (Revelation 12:11).
- Evil thrives in secret; confession shines the light of Christ on the dark recesses of our heart and darkness cannot hold what is in the light against you anymore. 1 John 7-9, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“
- It unburdens us – “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1)
How we confess
While confession as a powerful tool that can bring about redemption, how we confess plays a big role on our finding that redemption (1 Samuel 16:7).
In the Sacred Peace Movement, we are advised to confess in the congregation. One of the reasons is so we can hold ourselves accountable. Although now, even if you do not confess in the organ, you are advised to confess one to another or even in your secret place (Personal confrontation destroys the might of satan). There are many circumstances that may hinder one from confessing in the congregation, the people being hurt/affected may be there (we are a small community) but if these issues do not pertain to you and you are truly sorry for that act and by His grace want Christ to earnestly pluck you out from it, why will you not confess?
Anyway, what we confess and how we confess whether in public or secret matters.
- Genuinely… Matthew 15:8: This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
- 1 Samuel 16:7: But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
We must understand that confessions are to God as it is Him that forgives, man may want closure, may may witness but more importantly, its is about the soul’s right standing with his/her maker. It is therefore important to confess genuinely not look at the faces of men.
- Completely… 1 Peter 3:4: “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
If confession is not complete, what is the essence of it? The word of God reminds us that once we are guilty of the least of these, we are guilty of all (James 2:10).
- With your mouth… The genius of the father is that confession must be done with your mouth. This blurs the line of unconsciousness and spotlights the choice of it all and when you consider it, It is just foolish to hold back when such great an opportunity is given us. Romans 10:9-10: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
- For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ( Romans 10:10)
Scripture narrates that “We live in a fallen world, and bad things happen…” but God in His infinite mercy has laid down a pathway to redemption and it starts with confession. Salvation is personal, relationship with Christ is personal… and confession is also personal, the decision is personal, the act is personal, and the creator is always waiting arms open to receive that prodigal son that will come back in deep regret and confession (Luke 15:11-32) that He may reveal the hidden treasures of the kingdom to him. This is an opportunity, wait no longer.
