male announcer: This
presentation is brought to you
00:00:02.43\00:00:03.77
by the friends of the
Amazing Facts Ministry.
00:00:03.87\00:00:06.43
Pastor Doug Batchelor:
The heighth of your spiritual
00:00:14.51\00:00:16.61
experience is going to be in
exact proportion to the depth
00:00:16.64\00:00:21.72
of your repentance
and your confession.
00:00:21.75\00:00:23.99
Now I always like to use a story
as a springboard, and I'm going
00:00:27.89\00:00:30.86
to turn to one that I think
you'll find familiar, it's in
00:00:30.89\00:00:33.06
the Gospel of Luke,
chapter 15, verse 11.
00:00:33.09\00:00:36.93
And Jesus said, "There was a
certain man that had two sons.
00:00:36.97\00:00:41.20
And the younger of them said to
his father, Father, give me the
00:00:41.24\00:00:44.44
portion of goods
that falls to me.
00:00:44.47\00:00:47.14
So he divided to them his
livelihood, his inheritance.
00:00:47.18\00:00:50.61
And not many days after,
the younger son gathered all
00:00:50.65\00:00:53.78
together, and he journeyed to a
far country, and there he wasted
00:00:53.82\00:00:58.12
his possessions with
prodigal living," sinful living.
00:00:58.15\00:01:02.16
"But when he had spent
all, there arose a severe famine
00:01:02.19\00:01:04.63
in that land, and
he began to be in want.
00:01:04.66\00:01:08.06
And he went and he joined
himself to a citizen in that
00:01:08.10\00:01:10.37
country, and he sent him out
into his fields to feed swine.
00:01:10.40\00:01:14.57
And he would gladly have filled
his stomach with the pods that
00:01:14.60\00:01:17.04
the swine ate, and no
one gave him anything."
00:01:17.07\00:01:20.38
Now, living a life of sin, this
young man realized that he had
00:01:20.41\00:01:24.35
squandered his opportunities,
he had squandered his father's
00:01:24.38\00:01:27.05
blessings, and every sinner
ultimately will realize that
00:01:27.08\00:01:30.22
before they repent.
00:01:30.25\00:01:31.55
That God has given me so many
opportunities and blessings and
00:01:31.59\00:01:34.32
time, and we
waste all selfishly.
00:01:34.36\00:01:37.39
And then
there's always a payday.
00:01:37.43\00:01:39.39
Eventually the pleasure is gone,
sin stops satisfying, it leaves
00:01:39.43\00:01:44.77
you feeling empty, and he starts
to think about when he was back
00:01:44.80\00:01:48.17
in the father's house.
00:01:48.20\00:01:49.90
It says, he came to himself.
00:01:49.94\00:01:51.24
It's almost like it's describing
sin as a form of insanity, and
00:01:51.27\00:01:54.68
suddenly he got his sanity back.
00:01:54.71\00:01:57.75
And he said, "How many of
my father's hired servants have
00:01:57.78\00:02:00.48
bread enough to spare?
00:02:00.52\00:02:02.35
My father's servants eat to the
full and I perish with hunger!"
00:02:02.38\00:02:06.99
Why did Jesus come?
00:02:07.02\00:02:08.62
Whoever believes in
him might not perish.
00:02:08.66\00:02:11.23
This young man
realized he's perishing.
00:02:11.26\00:02:14.00
If you are not converted
and saved, there's only one
00:02:14.00\00:02:16.16
other option.
00:02:16.20\00:02:17.50
You either have everlasting life
through Jesus, and a new heart
00:02:17.53\00:02:20.34
being born again, or perishing.
00:02:20.37\00:02:23.04
And God does not want us to
be lost, he wants to save us.
00:02:23.07\00:02:27.48
He said, I'm
perishing with hunger.
00:02:27.51\00:02:29.78
You know what satisfies that
hunger for bread, it's the Word
00:02:29.81\00:02:32.45
of God.
00:02:32.48\00:02:34.08
"I will arise and go
to my father's house."
00:02:34.12\00:02:37.15
Notice what's happening here.
00:02:37.19\00:02:38.49
He's making a decision
to go towards his father.
00:02:38.52\00:02:41.76
Now, the promise is, in James,
if we draw near to God, James
00:02:41.79\00:02:45.29
chapter 4--or James chapter 2
verses 4 through 7, he will draw
00:02:45.33\00:02:49.86
near to us.
00:02:49.90\00:02:51.67
And so we want to
be drawing near to God.
00:02:51.70\00:02:54.44
He said, "'I will go to my
father, and I'll say to him,
00:02:54.47\00:02:57.77
Father, I have sinned against
heaven and before you, and I'm
00:02:57.81\00:03:01.31
no longer worthy
to be called your son.
00:03:01.34\00:03:03.88
Make me as one of
your hired servants.'
00:03:03.91\00:03:06.65
So he arose," he's got
this speech of confession in his
00:03:06.68\00:03:09.35
mouth, and he arose
and he comes to his father.
00:03:09.38\00:03:13.05
"His father saw him a long way
off, he had compassion, and he
00:03:13.09\00:03:16.76
ran and he fell on his
neck and he kissed him.
00:03:16.79\00:03:19.56
And the son said, 'Father, I
have sinned against heaven and
00:03:19.59\00:03:22.43
in your sight, and I'm no longer
worthy to be called your son.'"
00:03:22.46\00:03:26.17
As soon as he confesses,
the father reacts by completely
00:03:26.20\00:03:31.17
embracing and adopting him back
into the family, says, you are
00:03:31.21\00:03:34.98
my son.
00:03:35.01\00:03:36.24
Calls for his servants, and he
says, "Bring out the best robe
00:03:36.28\00:03:39.28
and put it on him, put a ring on
his hand," meaning that he was
00:03:39.31\00:03:42.25
now going to have the authority
of the family, "and sandals on
00:03:42.28\00:03:45.49
his feet.
00:03:45.52\00:03:46.82
And bring the fatted calf here
and kill it, and let us eat and
00:03:46.86\00:03:49.36
be merry, for this my son was
dead and he's alive again, he
00:03:49.39\00:03:53.09
was lost and he's found."
00:03:53.13\00:03:55.16
And they began to be merry.
00:03:55.20\00:03:56.43
And I'm not gonna even go into
the part about the other son,
00:03:56.46\00:03:58.47
because the point of the story I
wanted to emphasize, this young
00:03:58.50\00:04:01.94
man came to himself, he
repented, but then he realized,
00:04:01.97\00:04:04.94
I will say to my father.
00:04:04.97\00:04:06.91
There was
something he needed to say.
00:04:06.94\00:04:09.74
Everybody is going
to confess someday.
00:04:09.78\00:04:13.08
You can read where Paul says, in
the book of Romans chapter 14,
00:04:13.11\00:04:16.12
"For it is written: 'As I live,
says the Lord, every knee will
00:04:17.05\00:04:20.49
bow to me, and every
tongue will confess.'"
00:04:20.52\00:04:23.19
Tonight we're gonna talk very
specifically about an important
00:04:23.22\00:04:26.80
part of the Christian
experience, the conversion
00:04:26.83\00:04:29.26
experience, that has to
do with sincere confession.
00:04:29.30\00:04:33.67
Now, don't be afraid of
confessing to God, because God
00:04:33.70\00:04:36.71
knows everything.
00:04:36.74\00:04:38.04
You know, we're living in an
interesting time in the world's
00:04:38.07\00:04:40.38
history where it seems like no
matter where you go now, cameras
00:04:40.41\00:04:44.28
are rolling.
00:04:44.31\00:04:45.65
And, you know, people can even
go to websites where they can
00:04:45.68\00:04:49.15
look through satellites and see
what's happening on the earth
00:04:49.18\00:04:51.79
from space all over the world.
00:04:51.82\00:04:54.89
Sometimes Karen will come in the
office, she'll see that I'm on a
00:04:54.92\00:04:57.43
program called Google Earth and
I'm looking all over the world
00:04:57.46\00:05:00.76
to see if I can
find deserted islands.
00:05:00.80\00:05:03.26
I just love looking at maps,
I'm just intrigued, I'm a very
00:05:03.30\00:05:06.87
visual person.
00:05:06.90\00:05:08.34
But everywhere you go now,
everything, it seems like, is
00:05:08.37\00:05:11.14
being recorded.
00:05:11.17\00:05:12.51
And, more than ever, you know,
in the cities for security, we
00:05:12.54\00:05:16.04
just installed a video doorbell
so that whenever anyone comes to
00:05:16.08\00:05:20.75
our door, I know it's old
technology for most people, but
00:05:20.78\00:05:23.15
it was very interesting for
me, whenever anyone comes to our
00:05:23.18\00:05:25.99
doorbell, and they ring
the door, we get an alert on
00:05:26.02\00:05:29.09
our phone.
00:05:29.12\00:05:30.46
The funny thing is, every
time Karen goes to get the mail,
00:05:30.49\00:05:32.43
every day, I get an alert.
00:05:32.46\00:05:34.60
Caesar, our son, goes out to
jog, and I see him out the front
00:05:34.63\00:05:38.30
yard, he's stretching and I'm
going, this is interesting, they
00:05:38.33\00:05:40.30
don't know I'm watching.
00:05:40.34\00:05:41.74
But it's like
there's cameras everywhere.
00:05:41.77\00:05:44.01
And God has had
cameras for a long time.
00:05:44.04\00:05:47.58
There are angels that
record everything we say.
00:05:47.61\00:05:51.01
Jesus said, in the judgment
you'll give an account for every
00:05:51.05\00:05:53.48
idle word that you speak.
00:05:53.52\00:05:56.25
God sees everything we do.
00:05:56.28\00:05:58.05
Let me give you a
few verses on that.
00:05:58.09\00:06:00.92
Jesus says, in Luke chapter 12
verse 2, "For there is nothing
00:06:00.96\00:06:04.59
covered that will not be
revealed, nor hidden that will
00:06:04.63\00:06:07.73
not be known.
00:06:07.76\00:06:09.06
Therefore whatever has been
spoken in the dark will be heard
00:06:09.10\00:06:12.13
in the light, and whatever you
have spoken in the ear in the
00:06:12.17\00:06:15.07
inner rooms will be
proclaimed on the housetops."
00:06:15.10\00:06:18.57
Ecclesiastes 12 verse 14, "For
God will bring every work into
00:06:18.61\00:06:22.81
judgment, including
every secret thing."
00:06:22.84\00:06:25.61
We think nobody knows.
00:06:25.65\00:06:27.65
Everything we'll
give an answer for.
00:06:27.68\00:06:29.68
And you may have sinned and
thought, well, I got away with
00:06:29.72\00:06:31.95
that, nobody will know, I
don't need to say anything.
00:06:31.99\00:06:34.79
You don't get
away with anything.
00:06:34.82\00:06:37.06
Everything that's done in secret
will be ultimately proclaimed
00:06:37.09\00:06:40.50
from the housetops unless
it is confessed, repented of,
00:06:40.53\00:06:44.70
forsaken, and you want
it under the blood of Jesus.
00:06:44.73\00:06:48.84
You know, one reason I became
a Christian is because I saw,
00:06:48.87\00:06:52.94
providentially, you don't
ever get away with anything.
00:06:52.97\00:06:55.48
I was a thief, and I
realized I never really got away
00:06:55.51\00:06:59.41
with anything.
00:06:59.45\00:07:00.85
And I just became convinced
there must be a God, because it
00:07:00.88\00:07:04.32
seemed like, we started calling
it karma, seemed like something
00:07:04.35\00:07:08.69
always went wrong when
you try to do the wrong thing.
00:07:08.72\00:07:12.03
And you know what they say on
the streets is what goes around
00:07:12.06\00:07:15.73
comes around.
00:07:15.76\00:07:17.07
It'll catch up with you.
00:07:17.10\00:07:18.40
Nobody ever really
gets away with anything.
00:07:18.43\00:07:21.60
And so I'm sharing this sort
of as a background, why it is
00:07:21.64\00:07:24.64
important to confess, because
you'll never really get ahead by
00:07:24.67\00:07:29.41
doing wrong or
by disobeying God.
00:07:29.44\00:07:32.21
Hebrews chapter 4 verse 13,
Paul says, "There is no creature
00:07:32.25\00:07:36.35
hidden from his sight, but all
things are naked and open to the
00:07:36.38\00:07:40.09
eyes of him with whom
we must give an account."
00:07:40.12\00:07:43.36
Now, I wonder how people would
behave if they knew that God is
00:07:43.39\00:07:47.30
always recording.
00:07:47.36\00:07:49.33
You know, we had a little church
up in the hills, and it had the
00:07:49.36\00:07:52.37
strangest sound system, just had
an inexpensive Radio Shack sound
00:07:52.40\00:07:57.24
system, and something about
the length of the wires to the
00:07:57.27\00:08:00.04
speakers, they weren't shielded,
and whenever any airplane flew
00:08:00.08\00:08:04.35
over or an ambulance went by,
I've never run into it before,
00:08:04.38\00:08:07.98
it seemed to pick up
their frequencies, and it would
00:08:08.02\00:08:10.35
broadcast it in the church.
00:08:10.39\00:08:12.25
So while you're in there, in the
church, and you're preaching,
00:08:12.29\00:08:15.16
all of a sudden you would hear
the ambulance drivers talking on
00:08:15.19\00:08:18.59
the radio.
00:08:18.63\00:08:20.06
And sometimes what even
ambulance drivers say to each
00:08:20.10\00:08:22.66
other is not appropriate
to broadcast in a church.
00:08:22.70\00:08:26.57
And I wondered, if they
only knew that what they think
00:08:26.60\00:08:30.17
they're saying just on the
radio to the dispatch is being
00:08:30.21\00:08:33.27
broadcast in the local church.
00:08:33.31\00:08:35.34
How much more
careful would they be?
00:08:35.38\00:08:38.01
Well, everything is naked
and open to the eyes of him with
00:08:38.05\00:08:41.72
whom we have to do.
00:08:41.75\00:08:43.35
There is a judgment day coming,
and everybody is going to give
00:08:43.39\00:08:46.82
an account for everything.
00:08:46.86\00:08:49.12
And that's why it's so crucial
for us to not wait until we
00:08:49.16\00:08:52.56
kneel with the devil
outside of the New Jerusalem.
00:08:52.59\00:08:55.20
Everybody will ultimately bow
before Christ and confess that
00:08:55.23\00:08:58.13
Jesus is Lord.
00:08:58.17\00:08:59.77
But to confess while the
doors of mercy are still open,
00:08:59.80\00:09:02.74
that would be now.
00:09:02.77\00:09:04.07
You can't wait, friends.
00:09:04.11\00:09:06.91
male announcer: Don't forget to
request today's life-changing,
00:09:06.94\00:09:09.24
free resource.
00:09:09.28\00:09:10.61
Not only can you receive this
free gift in the mail, you can
00:09:10.65\00:09:12.91
download a digital copy
straight to your computer or
00:09:12.95\00:09:15.45
mobile device.
00:09:15.48\00:09:16.82
To get your copy of today's free
gift, simply call us and ask for
00:09:16.85\00:09:20.46
the offer number
shown on your screen.
00:09:20.49\00:09:22.79
Or visit the web address
and download a digital copy.
00:09:22.82\00:09:26.23
And be sure to select the
digital download option on
00:09:26.26\00:09:28.80
the request page.
00:09:28.83\00:09:30.17
It's now easier than ever
for you to study God's Word with
00:09:30.20\00:09:33.30
Amazing Facts,
wherever and whenever you want.
00:09:33.34\00:09:36.30
And most important,
to share it with others.
00:09:36.34\00:09:39.01
Pastor Doug Batchelor: So,
with that little background,
00:09:40.98\00:09:42.44
I'm going to go through my
ritual of having five or six
00:09:42.48\00:09:45.38
points we're gonna
cover about confession.
00:09:45.41\00:09:47.75
And I'll start
with, why do we confess?
00:09:47.78\00:09:50.05
Why would we confess?
00:09:50.09\00:09:52.19
Jesus said, your heavenly
Father, and this is Matthew
00:09:52.22\00:09:54.39
chapter 6 verse 8, he knows what
things you have need of before
00:09:54.42\00:09:58.23
you even ask.
00:09:58.26\00:09:59.56
So why tell him?
00:09:59.59\00:10:00.93
Well, confession isn't
for the benefit of God.
00:10:00.96\00:10:03.80
You know, when I was a
baby Christian, I heard about
00:10:03.83\00:10:05.77
confession, you know, I just,
in my mind I had it like, all
00:10:05.80\00:10:09.90
right, Lord, you better sit
down, there's somethin' I gotta
00:10:09.94\00:10:11.67
tell ya.
00:10:11.71\00:10:13.01
And then I
realized wait a second!
00:10:13.04\00:10:14.74
God knows everything.
00:10:14.78\00:10:16.08
I'm not going to
fill in the Lord.
00:10:16.11\00:10:17.65
So when you confess, it's
not like you're sayin', brace
00:10:17.68\00:10:19.78
yourself, Lord, I've got some
heavy things to share with you.
00:10:19.81\00:10:22.88
He knows more about you
than you know about you.
00:10:22.92\00:10:25.65
So you're not
confessing to fill him in.
00:10:25.69\00:10:28.89
One very important thing that
happens when you're confessing
00:10:28.92\00:10:31.86
is you are recognizing in
your own heart what you're doing
00:10:31.89\00:10:35.00
is wrong.
00:10:35.03\00:10:36.36
You're giving freedom, then,
of the Holy Spirit to give you
00:10:36.40\00:10:39.03
victory in that area, 'cause
you're admitting it's wrong and
00:10:39.07\00:10:41.87
you want change.
00:10:41.90\00:10:43.24
The other thing is, once
you admit it's wrong, something
00:10:43.27\00:10:46.17
happens within you mentally.
00:10:46.21\00:10:47.84
Then you realize
there's consequences and
00:10:47.88\00:10:49.78
you're accountable.
00:10:49.81\00:10:51.18
People don't like confessing,
it can sometimes make them
00:10:51.21\00:10:54.18
uncomfortable, but it's
actually good for you because
00:10:54.22\00:10:57.02
it's liberating.
00:10:57.05\00:10:58.45
"If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us
00:10:58.49\00:11:02.96
our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness."
00:11:02.99\00:11:06.76
Now we're gonna talk
about the what of confession.
00:11:06.80\00:11:08.73
What do you confess?
00:11:08.76\00:11:10.50
Confess means, this is a
definition, it means to disclose
00:11:10.53\00:11:13.67
something that is damaging or
inconvenient to one's self, to
00:11:13.70\00:11:17.67
admit, to acknowledge.
00:11:17.71\00:11:19.74
As someone said, confession is
good for the soul but it's bad
00:11:19.77\00:11:22.24
for the reputation.
00:11:22.28\00:11:23.78
And the Bible says, Proverbs
28 verse 13, "He that covers his
00:11:23.81\00:11:27.75
sin will not
prosper, but whoever confesses
00:11:27.78\00:11:31.29
and forsakes them."
00:11:31.32\00:11:33.46
You know, I remember, even years
after I became a Christian,
00:11:33.49\00:11:35.96
something came to me.
00:11:35.99\00:11:39.13
I was in Miami Beach, where
I used to go to school, used
00:11:39.16\00:11:41.83
to work, and I just went
for a visit to the family.
00:11:41.86\00:11:45.67
And while I was in Miami Beach,
I remembered I had worked for
00:11:45.70\00:11:49.50
a
Baskin-Robbins ice cream store.
00:11:49.54\00:11:51.21
I got to work there and
they told me, you can eat all
00:11:51.24\00:11:53.44
the ice cream you want.
00:11:53.48\00:11:54.78
And it was a dream
job for me, 'cause I did.
00:11:54.81\00:11:56.44
They said,
you'll get tired of it.
00:11:56.48\00:11:57.78
I never did, I ate a lot of
ice cream while I was there.
00:11:57.81\00:12:00.55
And he trusted me.
00:12:00.58\00:12:01.92
I was just 14, 15 years old, but
I was a good worker, I'd been
00:12:01.95\00:12:04.55
in the military school, I kept
everything clean and organized.
00:12:04.59\00:12:07.22
And eventually he gave me the
keys, and he had me, Mr. Scott
00:12:07.26\00:12:11.66
was his name, he had me open the
place and close the place and do
00:12:11.69\00:12:15.03
the accounting and put the money
in the freezer, and when I got
00:12:15.06\00:12:19.00
ready to run away from home when
I was like 15 years old, I had
00:12:19.03\00:12:22.54
made myself an extra key.
00:12:22.57\00:12:25.21
And I went into the Baskin
Robbins late at night, and I
00:12:25.24\00:12:28.04
went into the freezer, I knew
where the key freezer was, and I
00:12:28.08\00:12:30.41
stole just enough cash where
he would have never known it
00:12:30.45\00:12:33.68
was missing.
00:12:33.72\00:12:36.02
Years later that came to me.
00:12:36.05\00:12:38.22
And I thought, you know,
I need to make that right.
00:12:38.25\00:12:42.26
And so I went back to that
Baskin-Robbins, which I think
00:12:42.29\00:12:44.96
it's still there today after all
those years, on Lincoln Mall.
00:12:44.99\00:12:48.53
And I went back in and I went
in and I started asking for Mr.
00:12:48.56\00:12:51.00
Scott, and they said, oh, he
sold the place years ago, and,
00:12:51.03\00:12:55.37
you know, I just felt this
tremendous burden come off my
00:12:55.40\00:12:58.17
shoulders by going in there.
00:12:58.21\00:12:59.54
I wasn't worried about the $15
or $20, I just wanted to make
00:12:59.57\00:13:02.98
things right
with the Lord and God.
00:13:03.01\00:13:04.81
The biggest struggle for me was
going and telling him, 'cause he
00:13:04.85\00:13:07.92
trusted me.
00:13:07.95\00:13:09.25
I said, well, do you
know how I can contact him?
00:13:09.28\00:13:11.05
They said, no, we
have no way to contact him.
00:13:11.09\00:13:13.02
And God just took the burden off
me 'cause he wanted to know, are
00:13:13.05\00:13:15.76
you willing?
00:13:15.79\00:13:17.09
And once I got to the place
where I was willing, you know,
00:13:17.13\00:13:19.73
I just felt real peace.
00:13:19.76\00:13:21.30
And so he may
reveal things to you.
00:13:21.33\00:13:23.03
Now, someone might be thinking,
well, I robbed a bank, what do
00:13:23.06\00:13:28.67
I do?
00:13:28.70\00:13:30.24
If I confess, I
might go to jail.
00:13:30.27\00:13:32.47
I've had a lot of people that
have come to me and they said,
00:13:32.51\00:13:34.58
if I tell my boss what I've
been doing, he's gonna fire me.
00:13:34.61\00:13:37.78
I said, trust the Lord.
00:13:37.81\00:13:39.55
And I'm sure there's exceptions,
but almost every time I know of
00:13:39.58\00:13:42.58
when a member or somebody comes
to me and says, I'm convicted, I
00:13:42.62\00:13:46.45
need to go talk to my boss, I've
been cheating or doing something
00:13:46.49\00:13:48.52
dishonest, I said, you go to
them, if you tell them before
00:13:48.56\00:13:51.89
you're caught, they'll know that
there's a change in your heart.
00:13:51.93\00:13:55.10
"Search me, O God, and know me,
try me, know my thoughts, see if
00:13:55.13\00:13:59.17
there be any wicked way
in me, and lead me in the
00:13:59.20\00:14:01.64
way everlasting."
00:14:01.67\00:14:03.00
And it says, in Job 13:23,
"How many are my iniquities and
00:14:03.04\00:14:06.98
my sins?
00:14:07.01\00:14:08.31
Make me know my
transgression and my sin."
00:14:08.34\00:14:10.48
I'd like to make a suggestion
that, get by yourself, if you
00:14:10.51\00:14:15.58
want this revival to really make
a difference, then do something
00:14:15.62\00:14:18.02
tangible, go off by yourself.
00:14:18.05\00:14:21.56
Might be harder if you're home
sequestering right now, but find
00:14:21.59\00:14:24.96
a room, find your closet of
prayer, and get on your knees.
00:14:24.99\00:14:28.06
Tell the Lord.
00:14:28.10\00:14:29.33
You may not even feel anything,
but do it because you know it's
00:14:29.36\00:14:31.37
the right thing to do,
and watch what happens.
00:14:31.40\00:14:33.77
Get on your knees, say, Lord,
I want to repent of my sins.
00:14:33.80\00:14:36.07
I'm choosing to
repent of my sins.
00:14:36.10\00:14:38.71
I know I've sinned
all through my life.
00:14:38.74\00:14:40.94
I'm guilty of many things.
00:14:40.98\00:14:42.48
You can't remember everything
you've ever done wrong, but get
00:14:42.51\00:14:46.11
a piece of paper.
00:14:46.15\00:14:47.82
Don't let anyone get
ahold of that piece of paper.
00:14:47.85\00:14:49.98
Get a piece of
paper and make a list,
00:14:50.02\00:14:52.32
and start with
the Ten Commandments.
00:14:52.35\00:14:54.49
Have you ever
worshiped other gods?
00:14:54.52\00:14:56.69
Or taken God's name in vain?
00:14:56.73\00:14:59.26
Have you, well, I've never
committed adultery, but have you
00:14:59.29\00:15:01.76
thought impure thoughts?
00:15:01.80\00:15:03.60
Spiritual adultery.
00:15:03.63\00:15:04.93
I've never committed murder,
have you been angry with your
00:15:04.97\00:15:07.10
brother without cause?
00:15:07.14\00:15:08.77
Lying?
00:15:08.80\00:15:10.11
The Bible says, "Let your
yes be yes, and your no be no."
00:15:10.14\00:15:12.54
Have you ever been misleading?
00:15:12.57\00:15:14.21
And go through the Ten
Commandments, and then pray that
00:15:14.24\00:15:17.18
prayer that David says, search
me, Lord, try me, see if there
00:15:17.21\00:15:20.52
be any wicked way in me, and
lead me in the way everlasting.
00:15:20.55\00:15:23.79
The Holy Spirit will
bring things to your mind.
00:15:23.82\00:15:26.19
There may be friends, family,
could be a spouse, a loved one
00:15:26.22\00:15:30.03
that you are at odds with and
you need to right those wrongs.
00:15:30.06\00:15:33.50
Make a note of that.
00:15:33.53\00:15:34.83
Confess it first to God,
then go to that person next.
00:15:34.83\00:15:38.63
After you make that list, and
don't rush through it, look at
00:15:38.67\00:15:43.00
it and say, Lord, if I'm
forgetting something, show
00:15:43.04\00:15:44.64
me later.
00:15:44.67\00:15:46.01
He will.
00:15:46.04\00:15:47.34
Then claim the promise, "If we
confess our sins, he is faithful
00:15:47.38\00:15:50.45
and just to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all
00:15:50.48\00:15:53.82
unrighteousness,"
said 1 John 1:9.
00:15:53.85\00:15:57.75
And he makes a promise.
00:15:57.79\00:15:59.09
He'll cleanse you from how much?
00:15:59.12\00:16:00.79
All unrighteousness.
00:16:00.82\00:16:02.72
Now, if he's cleansed you from
all unrighteousness, when you
00:16:02.76\00:16:04.93
get off your knees, is
God gonna keep his promise?
00:16:04.96\00:16:08.26
Don't say, oh but, Lord, I don't
know how well I'm going to live
00:16:08.30\00:16:10.37
as a Christian today.
00:16:10.40\00:16:11.70
At that moment, he
gives you eternal life.
00:16:11.73\00:16:13.87
That will then
affect your behavior.
00:16:13.90\00:16:15.74
You start becoming righteous
by faith when you believe
00:16:15.77\00:16:19.17
his promise.
00:16:19.21\00:16:20.54
He then can give you the spirit
and you'll be surprised, moment
00:16:20.58\00:16:22.54
by moment, how you start living
in a different kind of life.
00:16:22.58\00:16:25.48
So try going
through those steps.
00:16:25.51\00:16:27.58
God will bring
things to your mind.
00:16:27.62\00:16:29.88
Romans 10:10, "For with
the heart one believes unto
00:16:29.92\00:16:33.19
righteousness, and
with the mouth confession
00:16:33.22\00:16:35.82
is made unto salvation."
00:16:35.86\00:16:38.19
Then what about
the when of confession?
00:16:38.23\00:16:40.73
When's the
right time to confess?
00:16:40.76\00:16:42.76
You know, one of the most
beautiful prayers in the Bible
00:16:42.80\00:16:44.97
is in Daniel chapter 9, where
Daniel is reading the Bible.
00:16:45.00\00:16:49.37
And in reading the Bible, he
reads the prophecy of Jeremiah,
00:16:49.40\00:16:52.91
and he knows that God wants
to bring his people back, and
00:16:52.94\00:16:55.08
Daniel becomes convicted
that he has not been praying
00:16:55.11\00:16:57.65
for his people.
00:16:57.68\00:16:58.91
And the Bible tells us, if you
read in Daniel chapter 9 verse
00:16:58.95\00:17:01.45
9--verse 3 through 6, 'Then I
set my face towards the Lord and
00:17:01.48\00:17:07.02
made my request by prayer
and supplications, with fasting,
00:17:07.06\00:17:11.39
sackcloth, ashes.
00:17:11.43\00:17:13.03
And I prayed to the Lord
my God, and made confession."
00:17:13.06\00:17:16.50
Notice what happens.
00:17:16.53\00:17:17.87
He's reading the Word, then
he feels impressed to confess.
00:17:17.90\00:17:22.50
And while he's praying and
confessing, Daniel 9 verse 20,
00:17:22.54\00:17:26.54
"While I was speaking, and
praying, and confessing my sin
00:17:26.57\00:17:29.54
and the sin of my people Israel,
and presenting my supplication
00:17:29.58\00:17:33.01
before the Lord my God of the
holy mountain of my God, yes,
00:17:33.05\00:17:36.35
while I was speaking in prayer,
the man Gabriel, whom I had seen
00:17:36.38\00:17:40.06
in the vision at the beginning,
being caused to fly swiftly,
00:17:40.09\00:17:43.02
reached me about the
time of the evening offering."
00:17:43.06\00:17:46.39
So while he's
praying, God sends an angel.
00:17:46.43\00:17:49.83
When does Daniel confess?
00:17:49.86\00:17:51.53
As soon as he is
impressed about his sin.
00:17:51.57\00:17:54.74
Go back to Psalm 32, I want you
to notice something about the
00:17:54.77\00:17:57.11
best time to confess.
00:17:57.14\00:17:58.74
"I acknowledged my sin to you.
00:17:58.77\00:18:01.48
And my iniquity
I have not hidden.
00:18:01.51\00:18:03.45
I said, 'I will confess my
transgression to the Lord.'
00:18:03.48\00:18:06.41
And you forgave
the iniquity of my sin.
00:18:06.45\00:18:09.08
For this cause everyone who
is godly shall pray to you in
00:18:09.12\00:18:13.59
a time when you may be found."
00:18:13.62\00:18:16.59
"Call on him," Isaiah says,
chapter 55 verse 6, "seek the
00:18:16.62\00:18:20.76
Lord while he may be found.
00:18:20.80\00:18:22.10
Call upon him why he is near.
00:18:22.13\00:18:24.20
Let the wicked forsake his
way, and the unrighteous man his
00:18:24.23\00:18:27.50
thoughts; let them return to
the, Lord and he will have mercy
00:18:27.54\00:18:30.94
upon them, to our God, and
he will abundantly pardon."
00:18:30.97\00:18:34.04
So, you don't
want to wait too long.
00:18:34.08\00:18:36.48
Call upon him while he's
near and he hears your prayer.
00:18:36.51\00:18:41.02
During this series, we're hoping
that you go through these steps
00:18:41.05\00:18:43.99
of salvation, and repent of your
sins and confess and come to
00:18:44.02\00:18:47.59
the Lord.
00:18:47.62\00:18:48.92
Who do you confess to?
00:18:48.96\00:18:50.86
Well, James 5:16, it says,
"Confess your trespasses to one
00:18:50.89\00:18:56.33
another, and pray for
one another, that you might
00:18:56.36\00:18:58.83
be healed."
00:18:58.87\00:19:00.27
If I've offended
somebody, I'll confess that sin.
00:19:00.30\00:19:03.74
If you have a close friend
you can trust, it's good to have
00:19:03.77\00:19:07.48
accountability with people.
00:19:07.51\00:19:08.74
If people are struggling with
different things, it's good to
00:19:08.78\00:19:11.18
have a friend who knows how to,
Proverbs says, conceal a matter,
00:19:11.21\00:19:14.62
meaning keep a confidential
trust, that they can pray with
00:19:14.65\00:19:17.75
you about something
you're struggling with.
00:19:17.79\00:19:20.19
But you want to be really
careful about confessing private
00:19:20.22\00:19:22.89
things to people because, well,
you know, sometimes they say, if
00:19:22.92\00:19:27.23
two people know a secret,
it's not a secret anymore.
00:19:27.23\00:19:31.33
And so, the sin against
God should be confessed to God.
00:19:31.37\00:19:35.60
Public sin should
be confessed publicly.
00:19:35.64\00:19:38.14
Private sin should
be confessed privately.
00:19:38.17\00:19:41.21
You probably heard the story
about the three pastors, they
00:19:41.24\00:19:44.45
decided they needed to take a
little vacation together, and so
00:19:44.48\00:19:46.88
they all went out fishing.
00:19:46.92\00:19:48.32
They're all off in the middle of
a lake, and they're fishing, and
00:19:48.35\00:19:50.32
things are going fine.
00:19:50.35\00:19:51.65
Now one of the pastors breaks
down and he starts to cry.
00:19:51.69\00:19:54.46
And it's kind of awkward for
the other two, they hadn't done
00:19:54.49\00:19:56.29
anything, they don't
know what's come over him.
00:19:56.32\00:19:58.26
And he said, you know, we're all
alone out here, I feel like I
00:19:58.29\00:20:00.36
can finally confide in somebody.
00:20:00.40\00:20:02.10
Says, I've got a
really big problem.
00:20:02.13\00:20:04.00
He said, I'm
cheating on my wife.
00:20:04.03\00:20:07.57
And the other two looked at him
and said, well, brother, you got
00:20:07.60\00:20:09.54
to make that right,
but let's pray with you.
00:20:09.57\00:20:10.97
And while they're praying,
another pastor starts crying.
00:20:11.01\00:20:14.78
And they said,
what's the problem?
00:20:14.81\00:20:16.88
He said, well, my brother here
inspired me, I need to open up
00:20:16.91\00:20:19.51
and let you guys know of it.
00:20:19.55\00:20:20.85
I've got a
problem, I'm a kleptomaniac.
00:20:20.88\00:20:22.98
I steal all the time.
00:20:23.02\00:20:24.32
Little things.
00:20:24.35\00:20:25.69
Don't need to, I
just can't help myself.
00:20:25.72\00:20:28.39
And they said,
well, we'll pray for you.
00:20:28.42\00:20:29.76
So they're praying, and the two
of them look at the other guy
00:20:29.79\00:20:31.73
who had been strangely quiet.
00:20:31.76\00:20:33.56
They said,
anything you want to share?
00:20:33.60\00:20:35.60
He says, well, yeah,
but I can't, it's too awful.
00:20:35.63\00:20:38.57
They said, well what could
be worse than what we described?
00:20:38.60\00:20:41.30
You can trust us.
00:20:41.34\00:20:42.97
He said, well, my sin is gossip,
and I can't wait to get back
00:20:43.00\00:20:46.07
home and tell everybody.
00:20:46.11\00:20:48.14
So you want to be really careful
about confessing your sins
00:20:48.18\00:20:51.71
to people.
00:20:51.75\00:20:53.11
You want the private
sin to be confessed to God.
00:20:53.15\00:20:58.59
The where of confession.
00:20:58.62\00:21:00.66
Public sin should
be publicly confessed.
00:21:00.69\00:21:03.73
Sometimes there's something
that's very obvious and you may
00:21:03.76\00:21:05.93
want to actually share it
publicly, if you're in a public
00:21:05.96\00:21:09.13
position when you
commit those sins.
00:21:09.16\00:21:11.43
Peter publicly denied the
Lord with swearing and cursing.
00:21:11.47\00:21:15.77
And, you know after the
resurrection, then Jesus asked
00:21:15.80\00:21:18.74
him to identify that, and three
times he said, Simon Peter, do
00:21:18.77\00:21:24.58
you love me?
00:21:24.61\00:21:26.05
Do you love me? Do you love me?
00:21:26.08\00:21:28.75
When you do confession, you
want to do the whole confession.
00:21:28.78\00:21:31.79
Isaiah 6 verse 5. Isaiah was
being specific, he said, "Woe is
00:21:31.82\00:21:36.19
me, for I am undone!
00:21:36.22\00:21:38.36
Because I am a
man of unclean lips.
00:21:38.39\00:21:40.80
And I dwell in the midst of a
people of unclean lips, for mine
00:21:40.83\00:21:44.20
eyes have seen the King."
00:21:44.23\00:21:45.87
You notice what happened is,
when Isaiah said, "I'm a man of
00:21:45.90\00:21:48.60
unclean lips and I dwell in
the midst of a people of unclean
00:21:48.64\00:21:51.57
lips," the angel then takes a
coal from the altar, and where
00:21:51.61\00:21:54.98
does he put it?
00:21:55.01\00:21:56.44
Puts it on his lips.
00:21:56.48\00:21:58.68
God, when you identify with the
specific problems are, you're
00:21:58.71\00:22:02.18
then giving God permission
and power to help you in those
00:22:02.22\00:22:05.15
specific areas.
00:22:05.19\00:22:06.96
And people are
saying, well, how often?
00:22:06.99\00:22:09.32
Doesn't God get tired of hearing
me confess to him over and over
00:22:09.36\00:22:12.83
about the same thing?
00:22:12.86\00:22:15.10
I think that you will get tired
of confessing a lot sooner than
00:22:15.13\00:22:17.83
God gets tired of hearing.
00:22:17.87\00:22:19.83
If you ever come to the Lord and
you are sincere and sorry about
00:22:19.87\00:22:23.91
your sin, then he is sincerely
willing to forgive you.
00:22:23.94\00:22:28.48
Peter asked the Lord, "How often
shall my brother sin against me
00:22:28.51\00:22:32.58
and I forgive him?
00:22:32.61\00:22:33.92
Seven times?"
00:22:33.95\00:22:35.28
And Jesus said, "70 times 7."
00:22:35.32\00:22:36.99
And Jesus said, "If your brother
comes you seven times in one
00:22:37.02\00:22:39.69
day, and says, 'I
repent,' forgive him."
00:22:39.72\00:22:43.29
Now, is God asking us to do less
for each other than he's willing
00:22:43.32\00:22:47.46
to do for us?
00:22:47.50\00:22:48.86
Don't get discouraged, friends,
and think that God is not
00:22:48.90\00:22:51.83
willing to forgive you.
00:22:51.87\00:22:53.17
The reason Jesus came into
the world is to seek and to save
00:22:53.20\00:22:56.60
the lost.
00:22:56.64\00:22:57.94
He is very earnest
about wanting to forgive us.
00:22:57.97\00:23:00.48
That's his supreme desire, that
was the mission of Jesus in the
00:23:00.51\00:23:03.91
world, is to
come and to save us.
00:23:03.95\00:23:07.35
So, there is a risk that some
will wait and confess too late.
00:23:07.38\00:23:12.95
You know, Judas confessed.
00:23:12.99\00:23:14.89
He says, I have
betrayed innocent blood.
00:23:14.92\00:23:17.23
But at that point, he had
grieved away the Holy Spirit.
00:23:17.26\00:23:20.06
And the pharaoh, he confessed,
and he repented, but he waited
00:23:20.10\00:23:24.60
until he had grieved
away the Holy Spirit.
00:23:24.63\00:23:27.57
And there's a danger
that you can wait too long.
00:23:27.60\00:23:30.14
It's so important that
when you hear God call.
00:23:30.17\00:23:32.77
Today is the day of salvation.
00:23:32.81\00:23:34.78
The Bible says now is the
appointed time, today, if you
00:23:34.81\00:23:38.01
hear his voice.
00:23:38.05\00:23:39.38
When Jesus calls people,
whenever he called the apostles,
00:23:39.41\00:23:42.92
he said, follow me.
00:23:42.95\00:23:44.29
They dropped what they were
doing and they followed him.
00:23:44.32\00:23:47.06
And if you're hearing
the Holy Spirit speak to you
00:23:47.09\00:23:49.86
about something now,
listen to the Spirit.
00:23:49.89\00:23:51.86
God is not wanting to take away
your joy, he's wanting to give
00:23:51.89\00:23:55.00
you joy and peace.
00:23:55.03\00:23:56.56
He says, "I've come that
you might have life and have it
00:23:56.60\00:23:58.50
more abundantly."
00:23:58.53\00:23:59.87
But before God can lift you up,
the Bible says, we must humble
00:23:59.90\00:24:03.14
ourself before the Lord,
and then he will lift us up.
00:24:03.17\00:24:06.64
Now, years ago I heard about
a coal mine accident, I was in
00:24:06.68\00:24:11.25
Kentucky somewhere, and this was
a long time ago, and these men
00:24:11.28\00:24:14.48
were trapped.
00:24:14.52\00:24:15.82
The regular shaft that took them
up the elevator and out of the
00:24:15.85\00:24:18.72
mine was completely
imploded, and they thought it
00:24:18.75\00:24:20.96
was hopeless.
00:24:20.99\00:24:22.32
Gradually they saw that their
lights were growing dim, which
00:24:22.36\00:24:25.16
made them worry that they
were running out of oxygen.
00:24:25.19\00:24:27.76
But there was one old miner
there, and he said, you know, I
00:24:27.76\00:24:30.63
think there's hope.
00:24:30.67\00:24:32.50
They were in the dark,
but he felt a light breeze.
00:24:32.53\00:24:35.80
And he said, we had an old
ventilation shaft that went from
00:24:35.84\00:24:39.41
this chamber to another
chamber, but you've gotta crawl
00:24:39.44\00:24:42.94
for almost a quarter mile.
00:24:42.98\00:24:44.48
It's gonna be dark, you're gonna
have to just be on your belly,
00:24:44.51\00:24:47.98
you can't take
any gear with you.
00:24:48.02\00:24:50.12
He said, follow me, and I
think we've got a way out.
00:24:50.15\00:24:53.69
Well, they had to get
down and crawl for a while, and
00:24:53.72\00:24:56.52
eventually the shaft, the
air duct shaft was open and they
00:24:56.56\00:25:00.16
were all able to escape.
00:25:00.20\00:25:01.76
But they all had to unload, and
they had to get down, and they
00:25:01.80\00:25:04.70
had to crawl.
00:25:04.73\00:25:06.07
You know, there's a way to
freedom, there's a way to the
00:25:06.10\00:25:07.97
light, but we have to humble
ourselves before the Lord.
00:25:08.00\00:25:11.71
If we will humble ourselves
and pray, the Bible tells us, he
00:25:11.74\00:25:16.14
will then hear our prayers.
00:25:16.18\00:25:17.85
It's sometimes hard for people
to say they're sorry, and,
00:25:17.88\00:25:21.28
you know, even in the closest
relationships, sometimes I find
00:25:21.32\00:25:24.25
it's harder for couples to
apologize to each other than it
00:25:24.29\00:25:27.89
is for a person to apologize to
his work associates or somebody
00:25:27.92\00:25:32.83
in public.
00:25:32.86\00:25:34.56
You have to admit your humanity,
admit your weakness, and that
00:25:34.60\00:25:37.47
requires that we
humble ourselves.
00:25:37.50\00:25:40.64
But Jesus says, if we
will humble ourselves,
00:25:40.67\00:25:43.20
he will then lift us up.
00:25:43.24\00:25:45.24
male announcer: Don't forget to
request today's life-changing,
00:25:49.11\00:25:51.41
free resource.
00:25:51.45\00:25:52.68
Not only can you receive this
free gift in the mail, you can
00:25:52.71\00:25:55.08
download a digital copy
straight to your computer or
00:25:55.12\00:25:57.62
mobile device.
00:25:57.65\00:25:58.99
To get your digital copy of
today's free gift, simply text
00:25:59.02\00:26:02.26
the keyword on your screen to
40544, or visit the web address
00:26:02.29\00:26:06.96
shown on your screen.
00:26:07.00\00:26:08.33
And be sure to select a
digital download option on
00:26:08.36\00:26:10.93
the request page.
00:26:10.97\00:26:12.30
It's now easier than ever
for you to study God's Word with
00:26:12.33\00:26:15.37
Amazing Facts
wherever and whenever you want.
00:26:15.40\00:26:18.44
And most important,
to share it with others.
00:26:18.47\00:26:21.18
male announcer: Deep within the
pages of the Bible, stories of
00:26:23.24\00:26:26.68
great heroes, heroes of
great deeds, great love and
00:26:26.72\00:26:34.59
great sacrifice.
00:26:34.62\00:26:36.96
But behind them is another Hero,
hidden in plain sight, amid
00:26:36.99\00:26:42.33
the shadows.
00:26:42.36\00:26:44.90
He was there from the beginning
and He'll be there until
00:26:44.93\00:26:49.90
the end.
00:26:49.94\00:26:51.87
Discover the golden thread
of a Savior woven throughout the
00:26:52.14\00:26:56.04
entire Bible tapestry.
00:26:56.08\00:26:59.91
"Shadows of Light: Seeing Jesus
In All The Bible," a new book by
00:26:59.95\00:27:06.22
Doug Bachelor.
00:27:06.25\00:27:07.96
Get your copy today by
calling 800-538-7275 or
00:27:07.99\00:27:13.33
visit AFBookstore.com.
00:27:13.36\00:27:15.43
Once again, to purchase
your copy of "Shadows of Light,"
00:27:15.46\00:27:18.07
call 800-538-7275.
00:27:18.10\00:27:21.84
announcer: You can become a
Bible expert with the Amazing
00:27:22.90\00:27:25.61
Facts Storacles of
Prophecy Bible study experience,
00:27:25.64\00:27:29.38
now available in 18 languages.
00:27:29.41\00:27:31.75
These 24 easy-to-read lessons
will give you confidence about
00:27:31.78\00:27:34.95
what the Bible really
says about Last Day prophecy,
00:27:34.98\00:27:37.99
the afterlife, and so much more.
00:27:38.02\00:27:40.39
Even better, it's absolutely
free at storacles.com.
00:27:40.42\00:27:44.89
Don't miss out, get
the answers you need
00:27:44.93\00:27:47.23
for a happier,
healthier life today
00:27:47.23\00:27:49.46
at storacles.com.
00:27:49.50\00:27:51.97
¤¤¤
00:27:54.90\00:27:58.54
male announcer: Don't forget
to request today's free offer,
00:27:58.57\00:28:01.04
it's sure to be a blessing.
00:28:01.08\00:28:02.74
And thank you for your continued
support as we take the gospel of
00:28:02.78\00:28:06.11
Jesus Christ to the world.
00:28:06.15\00:28:08.22
We hope you'll join us next
week as we delve deep into the
00:28:08.25\00:28:11.49
Word of God to
explore more amazing facts.
00:28:11.52\00:28:15.39
¤¤¤
00:28:15.42\00:28:23.53
male announcer: This
presentation was brought to you
00:28:23.57\00:28:24.90
by the friends of the
Amazing Facts ministry.
00:28:24.93\00:28:27.60