Topics: confession, freedom, prayer
I. Confession needs to be specific
* Daniel identifies himself with the appalling sins of all Israel!
- We have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances . . . not listened . . . unfaithful deeds . . . sinned . . . rebelled . . . not obeyed . . . transgressed Your law . . . not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth (Daniel 9:5-13).
- When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"; and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him (Psalm 32:3-6).
II. Confession esteems God's righteousness
* Daniel distinguishes God's righteous character from shameful Israel!
- Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day - Open shame belongs to us, O Lord, to our kings, our princes and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness. . . for the Lord our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds (Dan. 9:7-9, 14b).
- But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" - that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says,"Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed" (Romans 10:8-11).
III. Confession releases supplication
* Daniel pleads for God?s merciful forgiveness and compassion!
- Review Daniel 9:17-19.
- If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8, 9)
Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins April 18th, 2021
