1) The Power of Confession: I will never forget sitting on the bed
with my mom as a little boy. We
lived in Kenya. It was one of the first times that I had experienced the con of
condemnation. The lies of darkness
raced through my mind. My mom
listened to my heavy heart and then directed me to what has become one of my
favorite verses in the Word—I John 1:9.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The emphasis of this promise
centers on the faithfulness of Christ. Since that time I have learned the power of confession
both vertically and horizontally. The con of condemnation looses its hold when
confession takes place. Confessing
our sins and transgressions before the Lord snaps the power of condemnation as
our hearts grasp the fullness of His faithfulness. He not only forgives, but He also cleanses us from the shame
and guilt that the sin left in its wake. Another key element here is confession to other
believers.
Obviously, we need to
be selective whom we include in this process. People who are mature and stable in the Lord are
essential. Mentors, pastors, and
accountability partners are a good idea.
The power of condemnation breaks when we confess to others. This is exactly what James talks about
in chapter 5 where he says we should confess our sins to one another so that we
may be healed. I will never
forget a conversation with two of my best friends in college. They could tell I
was struggling with heaviness and guilt.
I opened up and shared things I had never told anyone except my
mom. Pow! The shackle of
condemnation disintegrated as they prayed for me. I can’t overestimate the power of confessing to safe
people in your life. It takes
courage! The enemy will fight you with all kinds of mental attacks: “They won’t
understand. They will share your
dirty secrets with others. You
will loose all credibility, etc…”
Remember, that taking that step of faith is a step of obedience and
humility that breaks the pride in our lives of what other people think. God will reward us with fresh measures
of His grace to overcome condemnation.
2) The Power of the Cross: After reading the first principle, you
may be thinking, “Yes, but I have confessed….and confessed…and confessed….and I
still feel guilty. It hasn’t
worked for me. What should I
do?” This is one of the
greatest tactics the enemy uses.
He works overtime to try to invalidate the promises of God. If a believer confesses, but still
feels condemned, then this nullifies the word of God right? Wrong. I learned in Eastern Africa that the Word doesn’t depend on my feelings. Rather, my feelings must learn to
depend on His Word. If you still
feel condemned even after confessing your sin, then you need to confess
again. BUT THIS TIME, you need to
confess that you have doubted the power of His blood and the promise of His
Word. As we focus on the
cross and the sacrifice that Christ paid for our sins we realize the magnitude
and glory of this glorious gift to humanity. We stop focusing on ourselves and our own inadequacies and
start focusing on His adequacy.
His worthiness. And His
perfect sacrifice.
I found that as I
became intentional to study the cross of Christ and appropriate its promises in
my life, I began to understand that my feelings were part of the con or trick
the enemy was trying to use against me to keep me in bondage. The enemy is a master deceiver and
liar. The blood of Christ isn’t
nullified because of his deception in my life. I will never forget the joy of learning that His blood was
more powerful than my feelings. I John 3:19-20 talks about this: “By this we shall know that we are of the truth and
reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is
greater than our heart, and he knows everything.” Yes, God is greater than my feelings that condemn my heart
and the enemy’s lies that sully my soul with heaviness.
Focus on the cross. Focus on the perfect love of God
revealed there. Focus on the
sacrifice of life there. Then ask yourself why He had to suffer as a
criminal? The answer is because of
sin and the results of sin such as condemnation. I don’t mean generally, but specifically in my life; my sins and my condemnation. Then hear His voice speaking from the
cross. “If YOU (fill in your name)
confess your sins, I am faithful and just to forgive you your sins and cleanse
you from all unrighteousness.” Then see the resurrection. Remember that Jesus is no longer on the
cross. He rose from the dead three days later and ascended to heaven to assume
His rightful place of glory. In
other words, this isn’t empty talk.
He not only offers the promise, but also has demonstrated the power
necessary to make good on His word.
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