Wednesday, January 13, 2010

"Confessin' The Blues", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

There are many forms of confession. From self pitying crocodile tears we saw ex-baseball star Mark McGwire portray before the nation over the last two days, to wave the magic wand once a week ease your guilt type religious confession, to true bible based Holy Spirit led God sanctioned confession.

Only one works.

The human response to wrongdoing (sin) is often to deny it and hide it. Our first parents did just that, but God exposed them.

Our sin is eventually exposed by God.

This is why from the Old Testament to the New Testament, cover to cover, we are encouraged and often admonished to confess.

Using McGwire as an example again, I don't think there is any doubt he is remorseful for what he did in using steroids and then lying about it. However, he sprinkled his public confession with tears, self pity, and far fetched excuses as to why and how he took them.

Lies mixed in with truth with a few tears thrown in for effect does not constitute an honest confession.

God knows the difference if no one else does.

I hope McGwire has made his peace with God over this. Then and only then can he honestly stand before his peers and fans and experience true peace, if not the release of forgiveness.

It's not just about media superstars. It's about us.

Millions of regular lives like ourselves are caught in a web of lies on a daily basis. Fortunately we are not paraded across the media for public scrutiny.

A smaller percentage understand the forgiveness available from God and have taken advantage of it.

There within is the real freedom.

I made that decision 24 years ago, and that was the day I really started to live.

Confession is two fold in my opinion. First there is the contrite heartfelt pouring out of the soul to God, and the lifting of the burden of guilt.

Romans 10:9
"Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Second is the joyful acknowledgment of the life forgiven and changed by God.

Psalm 118:21
"I will confess, praise, and give thanks to You, for You have heard and answered me; and You have become my Salvation and Deliverer."

Psalm 86:12
"I will confess and praise You, O Lord my God, with my whole (united) heart; and I will glorify Your name forevermore."

This is why we praise and honor Him!

He has done a supernatural and great work in us.

If you are not experiencing everything you ought to be as a disciple of Christ, then perhaps you have some pent up unconfessed sin that is eating at your spirit like a cancer.

That will do it you know. It could be the very thing that is upon you like a huge burdensome weight.

Perhaps it's something that you just don't see any good coming from bringing it to the light of day.

Trust me. It will change your life ultimately for the better if you air it out before God.

It will further liberate you if you are withholding truth from your loved ones as well.

Clear the air surrounding your life. Get out from under guilt and shame and allow God to heal you thoroughly!

Then and only then will you really begin to live.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

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