Day 5 - Freedom. in Confession

Well, happy Saturday.

We had an amazing kickoff last night for our United Weekend.

Tons of students were present, incredible volunteers and leaders that were making the event possible.

And we can't wait to see what the Lord does today through our United Weekend gathering together.

If you would please continue to remember praying for our students this weekend, pray for them throughout today and tomorrow morning as well, that the Lord would work in powerful ways.

And with that, we look at Psalm chapter 32 this morning, that there is freedom in confession.

Psalms 32 · chapter mention

First one says, Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight.

Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty.

When I refuse to confess my sin, my body waste away, and I groan all day long.

Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.

My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.

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.

Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the flood waters of judgment, for you are my hiding place.

You protect me from trouble, you surround me with songs of victory.

When I was a kid, it was always very clear to us that my parents valued honesty.

We were always taught that there were consequences to our actions, but there's always the promise of a lighter punishment if we confessed to our crime before the punishment was dealt.

I confess I didn't always take advantage of this, thinking that if they just continued to believe my story, that I would get away with it.

The reality is I never really got away with it, even if they believed my lies.

I was always racked with guilt, wondering if they would ever find out.

The fear of being found out was always looming.

In Psalm 32, the psalmist writes about the experience of confession, its effects and its benefits.

Confession is an act of worship.

We often fail to practice.

When we neglect it, we miss out on the freedom and the deep healing it brings.

Verses 1 and 2 describe the joy one has when they have experienced true forgiveness from their sin.

Their lives are lived in complete honesty.

Someone who is quick to confess sin is one who knows the bondage of sin.

Confession means being honest about where we are in our sin.

Verses three and four describe the effects of someone who refuses to confess their sin.

He endured not only spiritual effects, but he suffered physically too.

He says his body wasted away, all his strength was gone.

Sin offers to fill us up, makes us happy, or to be an answer to our pain, but it always leaves us empty.

We think sometimes that our sin only has repercussions for our spiritual life, only affecting one area, where in reality sin overflows into all areas.

In 1912, it was believed that the reason that for the Titanic sinking was because the iceberg created a large gash on the side.

But later, when scientists researched the wreckage, they found that only one compartment was damaged.

However, the damage from one compartment caused the rest to fill with water, sinking the ship.

In the same way, sin can begin to overflow into other parts of our lives and relationships.

But Scripture teaches us that when we confess our sin, we find freedom and healing.

Confession leads to true freedom.

Verse 5 says, Finally, I have 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.

Confession always leads to freedom through the power of forgiveness.

When we confess our sins to the Lord, we experience the freedom of forgiveness only found in Christ.

The blood of Jesus has covered our sin, and our disobedience has been forgiven.

Sin is controlling and gives the appearance of freedom and independence, but it keeps us imprisoned.

Confessing our sin removes the bondage of sin.

Confession leads to true healing and community.

The psalmist is restored when he confesses his sin.

Then in verse 6 he urges the godly to pray, that they would not drown in the flood waters of judgment.

Because of his experience through finding healing in confession, he is able to encourage others to do the same.

James 4.16 tells us to confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

When we confess and pray for one another, healing happens.

True community requires a level of transparency and vulnerability that confession gives.

When we confess our sins to one another, we can experience the kind of relationships God established with Adam and Eve in the garden.

Confession leads to a restored relationship with our Heavenly Father.

In verse 7, the author describes his relationship with God as his safe place.

Sin has a way of making us feel like we are far from God.

It makes us feel unworthy in our relationships with Him.

When I was younger, I tried to hide what I had done for my parents.

It always hindered our relationship.

But when I was honest with them, even though I still faced some discipline or consequences, my relationship with them was always better.

They were safe because I knew they loved me too much to let me carry around my guilt.

In the same way, confession restores our relationship with God because He loves us too much to let sin hold us captive.

And so this morning, spend some time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to reveal any sin that is hindering a growing relationship with Jesus.

Then ask a trusted friend to go to coffee or lunch or spend some time confessing that sin to them.

Ask them to pray for you and hold you accountable.

Be honest with yourself and be honest with the community God has planted you in.

And so, Father, we pray.

Thank you for your kindness in that you love me too much to let my sin hold me captive.

Thank you for the opportunity to confess my sin to you and for always forgiving me.

Give me a heart of humility that is quick to confess sin.

Reveal any hidden sin in my life that keeps me from a flourishing relationship with you and with others.

Thank you, Lord.

Amen.

Thank you so much for joining us this Saturday morning.

We pray that you have a fantastic day.

And again, please remember to be praying for our students this weekend for United Weekend.

And we can't wait to celebrate all that God has done tomorrow morning at church.

We'll see you then.