CONFESSION OF SINS
CONFESSION OF SINS
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ezra%2010&version=NKJV
Ezra 10:4
Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it.
Before a corporate repentance service was held, a significant person, named Shechaniah (probably a leader, someone who contributed to the spiritual revival of Jerusalem), entreated Prophet Ezra and said, “Arise, for this matter is your responsibility…” meaning to arise and address the sinful states of the people.
This teaches us that
God often impresses the pastor or elder to pray, preach, and teach on topics that
address the people’s sins so that our fellowship with HIM will not be hindered.
If a sermon, scripture,
or prayer made us feel irritable or offended, do not feel that the preacher speaks
to attack us. Sometimes the preacher did not have a premonition of the people’s
sins completely. They were only led by the Holy Spirit to share on a particular
topic. But in this case, both Ezra and Shechaniah were aware of the spiritual conditions of the people. If our spirit did convict us, perhaps God was prompting us to self-examine our spiritual life.
People leave the church
for various reasons. Some had left after listening to a hard sermon. They felt
wounded or offended by the message and mistook that they had been targeted. Avoid
thinking this way because every preacher is responsible to God in giving warnings
and releasing His Word promptly to His people.
Acts 20:28
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Even Paul, throughout his
ministry for three years, did not fail to teach and warn the people with tears.
He reminded the Ephesians Elders of his perseverance to warn God’s people.
Acts 20:31
Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
Prayer and
confession
Before the returning people
gathered for a corporate confession, in chapter 9, God first impressed upon Ezra
to confess and pray on behalf of the people.
Prayer and intercession enable God to save those to the uttermost before any worse would happen.
Hebrews 7:25
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Confession keeps us
from God’s discipline. Without it, God’s discipline will surely come.
Ezra 9:10-11
And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments, 11 which You commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land, with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from one end to another with their impurity.
And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments, 11 which You commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land, with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from one end to another with their impurity.
God is always faithful to those who are sincere in repentance. HE allows the reestablishment of a new covenant with HIM and gives a timeline for the people to repent.
Ezra 10:3 – New Covenant
Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives (pagan, different beliefs) and those who have been born to them,….
Ezra 10:8 – Timeline
and that whoever would not come within three days, according to the instructions of the leaders and elders, all his property would be confiscated, and he himself would be separated from the assembly of those from the captivity.
Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives (pagan, different beliefs) and those who have been born to them,….
and that whoever would not come within three days, according to the instructions of the leaders and elders, all his property would be confiscated, and he himself would be separated from the assembly of those from the captivity.
Every sin comes with a price. God may pardon a sin, but discipline is still inescapable. Just as the Scriptures say, “the wages of sin is death.”, and if we are not disciplined, then we are “illegitimate and not sons.”
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Dear Heavenly Father, forgive us of all our sins. We may have sinned against YOU knowingly or unknowingly. We cannot weigh the severity of our sins, but we pray for Your mercy and grace to forgive us from all our transgressions: hatred, anger, bitterness, resentment, lust of the flesh, ______. Teach us to walk in Your ways and to observe Your teachings and commandments.
NB: Above is my weekly devotion, countercheck for clarity if needed.
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