Coming Clean"
Part 4 of "The Path for Healing and Redemption"
17For the Lord says, “I was angry with them because of their sin and greed, and so I disciplined them. But they were stubborn and kept on going their own way. 18 I have seen how they acted, but I will heal them. I will lead them and help them, and I will comfort those who mourn.” – Isaiah 57:17-18 (GNT)
Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. 2 Happy is the one whom the Lord does not accuse of doing wrong and who is free from all deceit. – Psalm 32:1-2 (GNT)
23 Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover my thoughts. 24 Find out if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way. – Psalm 139:23-24 (GNT)
The BIG Idea:
The 4th step on a path for healing and redemption is for us to openly examine and confess our faults to God, to ourselves, and to someone we trust. The reason this step is necessary for the journey is because guilt destroys our confidence, damages our relationships, and keeps us stuck in the past. God’s Word gives us a basic guide on how to take this needed step on the path for healing and redemption. The forgiveness of God makes us spotless through the blood of Christ Jesus.
The First Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y: (The REALITY Step)
REALIZE I am not God. I admit I am powerless to control my tendencies to do the wrong thing and my life is unmanageable. Our “sin nature” is the cause of our challenge(s).
The Second Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y: (The HOPE Step)
EARNESTLY believe that God exists, that you matter to God, and that God has the power to help you recover. It is important for us to acknowledge God exists, to understand the true character of God, and to accept God’s offer to help me. We must plug into the power of God. We must believe and receive.
The Third Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y: (The COMMITMENT Step)
CONSCIOUSLY choose to commit all my life and will to the care and control of Christ. When we surrender to Christ, we experience freedom. Freedom is choosing who or what controls us. When we give our lives to Christ Jesus, He sets us free!
The Fourth Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y: (The HOUSECLEANING Step)
OPENLY examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust. The forgiveness of God makes us spotless through the blood of Christ Jesus.
Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. 2 Happy is the one whom the Lord does not accuse of doing wrong and who is free from all deceit. – Psalm 32:1-2 (GNT)
The reasons to examine and confess faults:
You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; then God will show mercy to you. – Proverbs 28:13 (GNT)
How do we examine and confess our faults?
Let us examine our ways and turn back to the Lord. – Lamentations 3:40 (GNT)
23 Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover my thoughts. 24 Find out if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way. – Psalm 139:23-24 (GNT)
The Lord gave us mind and conscience; we cannot hide from ourselves. – Proverbs 20:27 (GNT)
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there is no truth in us. – I John 1:8 (GNT)
But if we freely admit that we have sinned, we find God utterly reliable and straightforward—he forgives our sins and makes us thoroughly clean from all that is evil. For if we take up the attitude “we have not sinned”, we flatly deny God’s diagnosis of our condition and cut ourselves off from what he has to say to us. – I John 1:9-10 (Phillips NT)
The Lord says, “Now, let's settle the matter. You are stained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow. Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool. – Isaiah 1:18 (GNT)
So then, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you will be healed. The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect. – James 5:16 (GNT)
23 everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence. 24 But by the free gift of God's grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free. – Romans 3:23-24 (GNT)
God forgives instantly! God forgives freely! God forgives completely!
There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus. – Romans 8:1 (GNT)
Questions for Reflection:
Why do you think it is so difficult for us to see ourselves?
What do you dislike the most about this 4th step known as the “Housecleaning” step?
Why do you think humankind is so prone to hiding our sin from others?
Why do you think Jesus wants us to be open with Him about our sin?
Celebrate Recovery compares confession to housecleaning and the relief we often find in living in a clean and uncluttered environment. What has been your personal experience once you confessed your personal sin and experienced the forgiveness of a loving God?
Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. 2 Happy is the one whom the Lord does not accuse of doing wrong and who is free from all deceit. – Psalm 32:1-2 (GNT)
23 Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover my thoughts. 24 Find out if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way. – Psalm 139:23-24 (GNT)
The BIG Idea:
The 4th step on a path for healing and redemption is for us to openly examine and confess our faults to God, to ourselves, and to someone we trust. The reason this step is necessary for the journey is because guilt destroys our confidence, damages our relationships, and keeps us stuck in the past. God’s Word gives us a basic guide on how to take this needed step on the path for healing and redemption. The forgiveness of God makes us spotless through the blood of Christ Jesus.
The First Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y: (The REALITY Step)
REALIZE I am not God. I admit I am powerless to control my tendencies to do the wrong thing and my life is unmanageable. Our “sin nature” is the cause of our challenge(s).
The Second Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y: (The HOPE Step)
EARNESTLY believe that God exists, that you matter to God, and that God has the power to help you recover. It is important for us to acknowledge God exists, to understand the true character of God, and to accept God’s offer to help me. We must plug into the power of God. We must believe and receive.
The Third Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y: (The COMMITMENT Step)
CONSCIOUSLY choose to commit all my life and will to the care and control of Christ. When we surrender to Christ, we experience freedom. Freedom is choosing who or what controls us. When we give our lives to Christ Jesus, He sets us free!
The Fourth Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y: (The HOUSECLEANING Step)
OPENLY examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust. The forgiveness of God makes us spotless through the blood of Christ Jesus.
Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. 2 Happy is the one whom the Lord does not accuse of doing wrong and who is free from all deceit. – Psalm 32:1-2 (GNT)
The reasons to examine and confess faults:
- Guilt destroys my confidence.
- Guilt damages my relationships.
- Guilt keeps me stuck in the past.
You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; then God will show mercy to you. – Proverbs 28:13 (GNT)
How do we examine and confess our faults?
- Take a personal moral inventory.
Let us examine our ways and turn back to the Lord. – Lamentations 3:40 (GNT)
23 Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover my thoughts. 24 Find out if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way. – Psalm 139:23-24 (GNT)
- Accept responsibility for my faults.
The Lord gave us mind and conscience; we cannot hide from ourselves. – Proverbs 20:27 (GNT)
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there is no truth in us. – I John 1:8 (GNT)
- Ask God for forgiveness.
But if we freely admit that we have sinned, we find God utterly reliable and straightforward—he forgives our sins and makes us thoroughly clean from all that is evil. For if we take up the attitude “we have not sinned”, we flatly deny God’s diagnosis of our condition and cut ourselves off from what he has to say to us. – I John 1:9-10 (Phillips NT)
The Lord says, “Now, let's settle the matter. You are stained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow. Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool. – Isaiah 1:18 (GNT)
- When we ask forgiveness from God, we are not to beg, bargain, or bribe. God simply asks for us to believe.
- Admit my faults to another person.
So then, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you will be healed. The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect. – James 5:16 (GNT)
- Someone I trust.
- Someone who understands the value of what I am doing.
- Someone who is mature enough that they are not going to be shocked.
- Someone who knows Christ well enough that they reflect His forgiveness.
- Accept God’s forgiveness and forgive myself.
23 everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence. 24 But by the free gift of God's grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free. – Romans 3:23-24 (GNT)
God forgives instantly! God forgives freely! God forgives completely!
There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus. – Romans 8:1 (GNT)
Questions for Reflection:
Why do you think it is so difficult for us to see ourselves?
What do you dislike the most about this 4th step known as the “Housecleaning” step?
Why do you think humankind is so prone to hiding our sin from others?
Why do you think Jesus wants us to be open with Him about our sin?
Celebrate Recovery compares confession to housecleaning and the relief we often find in living in a clean and uncluttered environment. What has been your personal experience once you confessed your personal sin and experienced the forgiveness of a loving God?