Founded by Bryant Wright, Right from the Heart is a
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Forgive Our Sins Sep 07 2008
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9
A man wandered into a rural tent revival and was greatly inspired by the energetic service. One after another, people stood and poured out their hearts. After each person publicly confessed, the congregation cheered and clapped and wept tears of joy to show support for the repentant sinners. It wasn't long before the man joined in, leaping to his feet and loudly confessing one of his more recent sins. The tent became suddenly silent as jaws dropped and eyes widened as big as saucers. The preacher leaned over and said, "Brother, I don't think I would have told that one."
Was the preacher right or wrong? That depends. Jesus clearly teaches that all sin needs to be confessed to God. Yet all sin doesn't need to be confessed to men - just to those we have sinned against to ask their forgiveness.
The man at the tent revival was right not to sugarcoat any of his sin when it came to God. For God already knew what he'd done. And God wants you to fully confess so He'll know that you know what you did! Don't try to explain it away, or make excuses, or have a victim-mindset. You might be able to fool a friend, but you can't fool God. Simply tell God about your sins and ask His forgiveness, and He will lift that burden from you. And when you wrong someone else, ask their forgiveness and seek to make things right. It may cost you, but it's worth every penny.
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5 Comments
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Yes, report it NevermindHow do you get forgiveness or even try to get over being jealous of what someone else has. Why I can't have the same thing they had. I just don't know how to get over this jealousy thing. I have tried so many times but that other person keeping on making it really hard to get over.
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Yes, report it NevermindCynthia, The Bible say "Thou shalt not covet", this is what you are doing. You need to ask God to help you with this and he will if you are serious about getting over this sin. On the other hand if what the other person has was aquired by hard work then I suggest that you start working towards acheving your own substance. Many times this is the problem, people just want something handed to them when we need to work for what we get. This is the problem I have with some of the government programs today, the Bible says if a man wont work, then he don't eat. I believe we are to take care of those who can't help themselves but we need to make a point to the lazy ones that we don't have to help them. The bible makes this clear when it says that a man who won't provide for his own is worse that an infidel. I believe in helping and I do help but I get tired of listening to those who feel like I owe them something. This may sound bad but it is how I feel.
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Yes, report it NevermindGod knows what our sinful nature is. That is why the Ten Commandments say what they say. It is our nature to do just the opposite of what He commands that we must. The ONLY hope that we have of satisfying God is through His son Jesus. I know that I struggle with envy, resentment, and materialism (idol worship) every day. That's why I need to pray every day. Cynthia, you might be surprised to know how many people would be "jealous" of what you have. It's all relative.
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Yes, report it NevermindI don't mean this as a judgement on anyone because I have been guilty of the same, but we seem to be a nation of people that are going bankrupt and at the same time a nation that has so many "things" that we have to build more and more storage buildings in which to hold them. It's just an observation that I've been thinking of lately and am in the process of trying to rid myself of so many of these "things"
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Yes, report it NevermindCynthia, I hope you didn't think I meant you wanted things handed to you, I apoligize if you felt that, I didn't make myself clear on why I said that. Christ Follower made a very good point about our nation, we have but we want more. We are like the man in the Bible who plenty and yet he wanted bigger barns to put his things in and have room for more.