Daily Huddle - Wed Feb 3, 2021 Most Verses

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  Most verses.  Some verses I don’t like as much.  I’ve heard in history that some kings actually had scriptures removed from the Bible.  I would never do that… I would never tear them out of the Bible… I just don’t read them very often, or ignore the parts I don’t like as much – so I don’t think about not doing what He said.  Have you ever noticed some parts of God’s Word, that you tend to skip over, while other parts you accept as gospel truth?   We are not talking about some verses in the Old Testament.  The ones which are clearly a part of the Old Covenant, that no longer apply, because with Jesus – came the New Covenant.  We obviously no longer need to offer animal sacrifices to pay for our sins, because Jesus became the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  We’re not talking about those things that have been replaced by a new and better Covenant, we’re just talking about those things that still apply, but we don’t pay much attention to.  Sometimes it can even be a part of the verse that we prefer over another.  I have quoted many times – the fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  (The passionate, God-directed prayer of a person who is in right standing with God – makes a big difference.)  But have you ever noticed the whole verse?  James 5:16 – Therefore confess your sins one to another and pray for each other so you may be healed.  The fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  The second half I’m well familiar with, the first half not so much.  Have you ever confessed your sins one to another?   When was the last time you did that?  We are more familiar with I John 1:9 - “If we will confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  That means if you sin – which means - commit an offence against God (fall short of His commands or expectations,  “to miss the mark and so not share in the prize.”) Then we need to confess those faults to Him.  Homologeo – the word for ‘Confess’ used here - comes from “homo-same as” and “logos-something said.”  It literally means when it comes to confessing our sins to God – we are to admit what we did, and then say the same thing that He says about it – come into agreement with Him about it… No excuses - It’s not right!  We are to admit our faults – so He can forgive us – and He will surely do it – it says it in the same verse… because He is faithful and just.   (I always got the faithful part of His forgiving me, but not the just part.  Because I don’t deserve it – so justice would be me getting what I deserve, and it’s certainly not His forgiveness.)  But His Son does deserve it – that’s the ‘just’ part – because of what Jesus did in your place – 'just' is what Jesus did for you so you can get what He deserves - if you have placed your trust in Him for Salvation.  And then God is faithful to remember - His Son already paid the price for it.  So if that’s the case why bother confessing?  Because God tells us to… I John 1:9 – If we will confess… God will forgive…  The price has already been paid which makes it possible, but the confession and forgiveness are necessary.  Just because you know your Husband or Wife will forgive you, doesn’t mean you don’t bother asking.  It’s about you admitting, and turning, and then God makes it right based on the forever sacrifice of Christ.  Praying that you will take the time today to review the PRISM Topic – Forgive.  Repent – think differently (no more excusing it – God says that’s wrong) then turn – stop doing it.  Don’t do it any longer.  Instead do what is right before God, and before men.  That’s I John 1:9 – but James 5:16 – isn’t talking about confessing to God, it’s talking about confessing to others.  Certainly God is saying – if you have wronged someone, confess what you did - seek their forgiveness so the relationship can be restored, and then turn from that wrong, and do right from now on.  Confess in this verse – about confessing to one another is the word – exomologeo <ex-om-ol-og-eh’-o> to acknowledge, agree fully, (admit) – what you did, and that it was wrong.  The context of this verse wasn’t having wronged someone, merely having sinned.  They may have been affected or not, but to admit to another your sins, and let them pray for you so you will be fully restored and be made whole – which comes from God.  Personally, I confess my sins before God whenever I realize that I’ve done something to displease or disappoint Him, I always want to keep short accounts with God, so I can be blameless before him.  Proverbs 28:13 – Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.  Yet I find, I much more rarely confess to one another – when God tells us to do so.  Even in this - there is wisdom needed, the Holy Spirit will give you this when you ask.  The prayer of another - helps you grow in the grace of God, and becomes part of the iron sharpens iron process of walking close enough to bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.  (Galatians 6:2)  This morning God put James 5:16 into my spirit – though I haven’t thought about it in a while.  That’s how I knew God was telling me to confess a sin to my wife.  It wasn’t against her, but indirectly affected her. (Actually, everything I do affects her, if it impacts my character, it impacts her.  The sin was not obeying something God directly told me to do.  I had an excuse, it was really a good one… but that didn’t erase the disobedience.  No excuse for sin ever does.  First I confessed before God, actually in her presence, and asked Him to forgive me (which He did because He promised! Praise God!) Then asked her to forgive me for the part that affected here, and also to pray for me.  God instantly reminded me of why He told us to do this.  Her prayer was powerful – it was the Holy Spirit praying through her – over me.  It’s what God has for us – exhort one another daily, and admonish one another daily, and pray for one another daily.  (Daily Call is a great opportunity for this.) Have you ever wondered why most people are less experienced with this command to confess your sins one to another, and pray for each other that you may be healed…   1st because if we confess our sins to someone – they may think less of us – and we don’t want that… but God said everything will be uncovered and laid bare eventually.  What has been done in secret will be shouted from the rooftops, so might as well deal with it now – why keep yourself from prospering?  2nd because if we confess to someone – that means it’s not a secret anymore and we will have to stop doing it – or it will be even more embarrassing.  Sometimes we don’t confess, because we’ll just try not to do it again on our own, and if we fail again, at least no one else will know it.  (Often times they know anyway, and God certainly knows – which should be our greatest concern anyway.)  Praying today that you will ask God if He wants you to confess any sin to someone – so they can pray for you.  Let the Holy Spirit lead you.  Do what He says.  He does not want you confessing your sins to a gossip, or someone who doesn’t understand or walk in humility and obedience themselves.  God will show you – Only do what He says.   Praying that you will be lead by the Holy Spirit of God in every thing you do, that you will choose His grace to say No to anything less than His best, that you will be blameless before God, and an encouragement to others.  So God can establish you in His Good, and in the Favor of the LORD! 
 
Love you all,
dad