“We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but He is ready to hear those who worship Him and do His will”
(John 9:31, NLT)
“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully” (Psalm 24:3-4).
“Forgive us our sins”
(Matthew 6:12).
A. GETTING READY TO PRAY
1. The key to the Second Great Awakening was a layman’s constant prayer. “Lord, . . . are my hands clean?”
2. Not cleaner than before, God wants a pure heart. Righteousness is conforming to God’s law; purity is conforming to God’s nature.
3. Whatever God’s light reveals, Jesus’ blood cleanses. But what about secret sins, or ignorant sins? “Cleanse your servant from ignorant sins and keep your servant from presumptuous sins” (Psa. 19:12-13, ELT).
4. Old hymn, “What can wash away our sins?” Answer, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus” “The blood . . . cleanses from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
5. An old saying, “To get completely clean, we must completely confess.”
a. Recognize your old nature and rebellion. “I was born a sinner yes, from the moment my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5, NLT).
b. Confess any “faults” when you forget to do right/good.
c. Aware that you fall short. “If we claim we don’t have a sin nature . . . fool ourselves” (1 John 1:8, ELT). “If we claim we haven’t sinned even a little . . . call God a liar” (1 John 1:10, ELT).
6. What is confession?
a. The opposite of covering sin, ignoring sin, denying our sin.
b. Confession means to agree with God about this horror of sin.
c. Confession means to admit wrong thinking, wrong desires, wrongdoing. No hiding, no excuses, no justification.
d. If we have messed up, we should fess up.
e. Confession includes repentance “to turn from sin and turn to God.” We must take full responsibility, forsake (quit) and forget it.
7. What three actions happen with biblical confession? “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
a. God will be faithful to take care of our sin problem. He won’t ignore it.
b. To forgive our sins in God’s mind is to make the record straight.
c. He will cleanse. This involves our record or inclination to sin and our inner heart and thoughts.
Remember
Forgive our sin – gave us His righteousness
Took our penalty – bestowed His pardon
Took our shame – shared His smile
Took our punishment – gave us His peace
Experienced our death – granted us His life
8. When you pray “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1), you are asking:
a. Give me a deeper burden to pray.
b. Give me a new vision of what God can do.
c. Point out any problems that blocks your response.
d. Shine a light on my blindness.
e. Make sure you yield to His will and purpose.
f. Confess any sin that blocks God’s work.
g. Make all requests grounded in Scriptural promise.
h. Step out on faith that moves God.
i. Commit to continue requesting.
j. Forgive any sins where you need cleansing.
k. Join with Jesus in approaching the Father.
l. Add gratitude and thankfulness to request.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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