Confession is an act of faith where we not only acknowledge our failures and disobedience but also embrace and declare the truths of God’s justice, mercy, and grace. It's a verbalization of repentance that leads to restoration, as we affirm God’s provision for our sin through the sacrifice of Jesus. In this way, confession becomes a dynamic interface between human repentance and divine redemption, rooted in the promises and declarations of God’s Word.
[00:00:00] Let us pray, Grant together on our knees. Let us pray, Grant together on our knees.
[00:00:14] When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, oh Lord ever will see on me.
[00:00:27] Welcome to the Bible Speaks with Elgin Carelock. The Bible Speaks is a weekly ministry of Harvest International.
[00:00:33] Our prayer is that the Bible Speaks will encourage you in your study of God's Word.
[00:00:38] You will be able to contact Elgin at the address given at the end of this broadcast. And now here's Elgin.
[00:00:46] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of our risen Savior Jesus the Christ to another edition of the Bible Speaks.
[00:00:57] And today we are privileged to have Dr. O'Vity Rulak with us who is a theologian scholar, apostle, businesswoman, inspirational speaker, and just all around the woman of God.
[00:01:14] To join me in a discussion about the ingredients of an effective prayer.
[00:01:20] And we hear that we should pray without ceasing.
[00:01:25] And there are many ways that we can do that, but what I want to talk about is what are the components?
[00:01:34] Are there things that should be in our prayer or should it always sound like I won't, I won't, I won't?
[00:01:42] Well, I'm going to give you 10 things that I have found in my research that are part of the prayer.
[00:01:49] But we're just going to discuss one today.
[00:01:52] But those 10 things for those of you who are note takers, one of my pastors that I like listen to says note takers are move makers.
[00:02:01] And so for those of you who'd like to take notes, the 10 are faith, sincerity and humility, alignment with God's will, bankfulness, persistence, repentance and confession, compassion and intercession, listening, obedience, and the name of Jesus.
[00:02:32] But today we're going to talk about confession.
[00:02:38] Confession in the context of Christian faith extends beyond the mere acknowledgement of sin.
[00:02:45] It encompasses agreeing with what God declares in his word about our sin, his righteousness and his provisions for our redemption.
[00:02:56] By confessing our sins, we're saying that we agree with God about the nature of sin and its consequences.
[00:03:03] God's word reveals that sin separates us from him in Isaiah 59 verse 2 and that the wages of sin is death, Romans 6 verse 23.
[00:03:17] But it also proclaims the good news of forgiveness and life through Jesus Christ.
[00:03:23] Found in 1 John 1 verse 9 and John 3 verse 16.
[00:03:31] The importance of confession in prayer is understood in several scriptural passages.
[00:03:37] And as I mentioned, the 1 John chapter 1 verse 9 states,
[00:03:44] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
[00:03:52] James 516 also encourages believers to confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
[00:04:02] These verses highlight confession as integral to experiencing God's forgiveness, purification and healing.
[00:04:12] This was a great revelation to me because I had always considered confession as just admitting what I did and not setting the foundation of the relationship by acknowledging God is right.
[00:04:27] And I agree and my confession is me stating that agreement.
[00:04:35] I also realize that it's reinforced in our Romans 10.9 because it starts off if we confess which now I consider as agreeing that Jesus, death, burial and resurrection was the key to my salvation, not just that I believed but I agree with it.
[00:05:00] I do not have any other reason to confess that I do not have any other reason to confess that I do not have any other reason to confess.
[00:05:09] So with that introduction, I will invite Dr. O to join in the conversation and we can just be with great anticipation.
[00:05:22] Well, thank you for the elgin for the invite today. And as I was listening to you since we're talking about confession and it is beyond just acknowledging it is becoming a conscious in other words being mindful of the things that I am doing is wrong according to the word of God.
[00:05:51] And that is so important because if we never be conscious of it, we will never see a need not only to confess that sin openly but to repent of that sin.
[00:06:07] Often times we confess it and think that's it. Well, I'm acknowledging it. I'm conscious of the wrong that I've done but now will you turn from it?
[00:06:22] And does that also apply when we think about in James 5 and 16 it says confess our sins to one another.
[00:06:31] And it's not necessarily at least in my interpretation that I need people all up in my business, but if I'm reporting to them that I am a believer in Jesus Christ and the word says that I shouldn't do this that or the other.
[00:06:45] I do and they see me or if they don't see me, I should have the humility and comfort enough to admit that you know what?
[00:06:55] I struggle with that too. Or the word says that I shouldn't do that but just as Paul said the good that I would that I do not.
[00:07:05] But how much more this iron sharpened iron when we are humble enough to confess to one another.
[00:07:15] That is truly that humbling most time the spirit of pride would not allow us to acknowledge again consciously be aware and then to acknowledge it outside of myself to someone.
[00:07:28] It is an humbling experience and it helps us because when I think about first John 1 and 9 it says if that's conditional.
[00:07:37] Yes. God has given us the choice in that matter to confess, to acknowledge, to come to be enlightened that which I am doing is wrong.
[00:07:48] And the condition is once I acknowledge and be aware of it, make that change then God comes in and say he's faithful and he's just he's going to deal with that sin according to his will and deliver me and bring me into all righteousness.
[00:08:07] Yes. Yes. And it doesn't mean that there won't be consequences either.
[00:08:11] Exactly. There are consequences too. I sent you said the wages of sinners death and that's why it's so important that once we acknowledge it, we don't stay in the acknowledgment stage. Once we confess it, we need to come beyond that and go into that change that there be a renewal of the mind and it has to come.
[00:08:32] That's where the change takes place in the renewal of the mind being able to okay, I acknowledge this yes, I'm stating I acknowledge it but the change that has to be a transformation from within that was shown on the outside.
[00:08:46] And it seems that that then changes the tone of the prayer because because now that I have that acknowledgement and I have that humbleness to place it all out there.
[00:09:00] It's not like God doesn't know right, but he wants to say it. He wants you to say it because if I'm in agreement with his word, he says his word doesn't return to him void.
[00:09:12] Okay, so when I pray and I pray his word then he is bound to fulfill it right because God is not a man that he should lie right. He doesn't make mistakes. He doesn't change.
[00:09:26] And so if I'm saying to him that I agree that what I did was wrong and father, I want you to help me create a clean heart and we really have contrition then the tone of our prayers changes it goes from me, me, me, I need this give me that to father.
[00:09:46] Order my steps, direct my path, be a light unto my footpath and not so much about the things that we get so caught up with here on earth.
[00:09:58] And that's so true you've said so much from trying to keep my mind wrapped around all that you say that I could come back and say something too but when we start talking about, you started talking about confessing our sins one through the other.
[00:10:15] I think it's always good to do that and the reason why it calls us to have accountability.
[00:10:22] And the accountability comes, I'm saying to you that I have done this that's in a disagreement to what the word of God says.
[00:10:32] So now that I make knowledge into you, I have someone that can hold me accountable to my place of repentance making that thing change and turn around so that I don't continue doing that.
[00:10:44] And I think that's good when we can confess it as you state it.
[00:10:47] No, you can't tell everybody your business because everybody is not going to hear it and everybody is not going to go for your walk, see that I'm going to walk in the healing and deliverance from that.
[00:10:59] So it is important that when we do that and then when we are able to do the acknowledge that you talked about how God's word, you're right.
[00:11:09] When we pray the word of God, he said in Isaiah 55 and 11 that my word would not go out and return void.
[00:11:16] It will do that which he pleases to do in prosper where he would have the prosper which takes me back to St. John 655 somewhere up in there where it talks about his word is spirit.
[00:11:27] So when we can, when we speak the word, when we pray the word, we're putting his word on an assignment that is going to go do that which he said it was going to do.
[00:11:37] And then he turned around and he says what I watch, he says I watch over my word to perform it.
[00:11:43] In other words when he say I got my word, I watch over it.
[00:11:47] It will manifest. It will do that which I have ordained and purpose it to do.
[00:11:53] And this when a last conversation that you and I had we talked about not only his following the word or speaking to him in his word but understanding that when we are on the same accord, when we agree with what God says then he will give us the desire our hearts.
[00:12:15] As we delight ourselves in him exactly he will grant us why because I'm I mean his will.
[00:12:24] I'm fulfilling his purpose and I'm obeying the plan that he has for me not mine but he is so definitely as I delight myself in him, he will always say that word will means he's obligated to because I am obedient to that which he's stating.
[00:12:44] I should do and therefore I can expect in his timing the manifestation of what he said or what he promised and isn't that really what what he means by he is faithful as for James being because he's faithful to his word.
[00:13:01] And if we align with his word and we agree with his well confess right then he is obligated because it's his word and you know it is wonderful if you think about it from our human terms.
[00:13:16] It's almost like God's the manufacturer and where to product right so when he put that stamp on us and send us to earth he has expectations all right and do those expectations as we better understand.
[00:13:30] Who God is what his expectations are how we bring him glory through the gifts that he's given us when we pray if that is the context then it's totally different then then maybe the way we were taught to pray.
[00:13:45] I was thinking about my younger brother when he was a little baby a little bit guy and he was used to say now I lay me down I pray to Lord my soul to keep.
[00:13:57] And then he say thank you Jesus and some of us it's not that we don't know the Lord's prayer as it is the way that we see prayer is as simple as he saw it right that he knew that that he guys going to lay him down and if he gets up in the morning.
[00:14:17] You know thank you Jesus and that's all he has but we have prayer and we treat prayer like this you know the word causes us against vain repetition right and sometimes it's just that is just a routine.
[00:14:31] That we don't really understand that it's a line of communication but that line of communication begins with us agreed.
[00:14:40] And how can two walk together except they be agreed with each other and that word agreement also mean coming into fellowship with coming into fellowship with so this is what God word does he as we pray as we make our request known it is a dialogue and not a monologue in that dialogue you know oftentimes we are so busy going to God what I want what I want what I want what I want
[00:15:09] to do is stop as a part of the opening of our prayer just praise and adoration do we acknowledge him for who he is not just for what he can give us yes for who he is you know that he is that great Jehovah Elohim the Lord God eternal the one who was who isn't yet to come he is that great Jehovah gyra the Lord God I provided that each and every knee will be met acknowledging who he is.
[00:15:38] Once we are able to acknowledge him then we talk about I talk about praise first praise in him and then we talk about the priorities Lord let thy kingdom come they will be done Lord I'm saying nevertheless not my will God but let your will what are your plans what are your purpose for me I'm seeking your guidance and your direction for that so I got my praise I got my priorities and they came them come they will be done.
[00:16:08] So we have to understand in reaching that place of a fervent effectual prayer and as I begin to think about that word factual to be operative yes to put forth power and the only way not and I say this to people all the time not that our prayers are not effective but I do believe there is a difference when I pray his word.
[00:16:38] Yes I do believe that because if his word says as we've already stated its word is not going to go out and return void if his words say that he got his word to manifest it to bring it to life to make it be real so then I gotta believe that no I can't say you're not praying right but I do believe there's a way that we could pray effectively yes and that is by praying the word.
[00:17:08] God and I encourage people all the time what situation you're going through in life and if you're praying about it go seek scriptures in the word that those scriptures and begin to pray those scriptures concerning your situation.
[00:17:26] That's right that's right and so in this context you know confession again becomes the agreement that you recognize that God's ways better you recognize the fact that he has plans for your life he says for those who are called according to his purpose and I mentioned that in the discussion that doctor and I were having before that said that ring in my ears that when it says that you were called you weren't born.
[00:17:56] You are called and if you agree with that then you understand that the expectation that he has for you to bring him glory is all about the relationship you have with him and the relationships you have with others and through that we are able to change every scenario we come into you know I heard the pastor say the other day when you walk in the room something come in what came in with you.
[00:18:24] That was awesome and so I want us to really consider the role of confession as that that just simply engenders a posture humility and dependence on God that we aren't able to attain righteousness on our own.
[00:18:47] And without his grace and forgiveness were doomed and with that I would like back to owe to close us out in prayer and I just want to say to everyone else for the remainder of the week i'm going to address those ten items that I mentioned as ingredients of effective prayer and we'll go through it again and we certainly hope that doctor will certainly come back.
[00:19:17] And just have more discussion with us because we fully understand that in order for you to accomplish the purpose that God called you here for you have to understand how.
[00:19:32] Father in the name of Jesus we thank you appreciate for this opportunity together together one more time in your name we thank you praise you father God for each and every listener father in the name of Jesus we pray right now that you bind the spirit of the hearing a naught I used to hear what the spirit of the Lord is speaking unto us in the name of Jesus and father God we pray right now that each and every need is being met according to your riches and glory we thank you today and we praise you father God in the name of Jesus that you're moving right.
[00:20:02] Now God upon every request father God in the name of Jesus we pray right now God that as we come before you Lord God you said if we confess our sins God that you are faithful and you are just and you will father God oh God heal and deliver and turn all things Lord God and bring in fourth righteousness in the name of Jesus and we thank you today for the God for your word Lord God for you watch over your word to perform.
[00:20:28] We thank you father God that as your word go forth it will not go out and return boy it will do that with you please to do and possible where we'd have it to prosper we thank you praise you Lord God for this opportunity Lord God bless strengthening heal God in the name of Jesus and we're careful today to give you the praise to give you the glory and the honor and Father God is this word go forth and go forth as a year of climbing win in the realm of spirit destroying and conquering enemies camp thank you and praise your father God there this prayer all through you.
[00:20:58] I'm going to tell you all the future prayers take on the characteristic of a divine project in the room of the spirit hitting the bulls at every time every spiritual walk fast.
[00:21:06] Regent tactic is binding by the word by the blood of Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit every spirit released from his dialog assignment has become a part of your foot so father we seal this brand the name of Jesus and covered in the blood of Jesus and we're careful to give you praise
[00:21:20] we're exploring on in Jesus name. We do pray amen amen amen amen amen amen.
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[00:22:27] Open wide, I know the love, Lord, I'm coming home.