Tag Archives: public

Christian, Inspirational

Discernment vs. Denomination

Well, I’m back attending the Church of Christ. That is where my mom wants to go and it’s just easier to go there with her.

No changes – they still think singing acapella will get them to Heaven while ignoring the Ten Commandments.

In one breath the preacher says everything is biblically based and in the next he’s proffering false doctrine about sin being either public or private and how you only need to come forward if its public.

I tell you, if you believe this you are likely to die in your unconfessed “private” sin. The bible tells us that if we seek forgiveness after water baptism – we need to confess ours sins. 1 John 1:9. It doesn’t say we need to confess publicly, but God surely already knows. This implies communication to another person. That person may be clergy, a friend, or a spouse. It could be written or spoken, but confession does imply communicating with another.

James 5:16 KJV
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

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Christian, Inspirational

Tell and Turn

1 John 1:9 KJV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

This is a promise.

Proper baptism covers past sins, but what do we do if we sin after baptism? First and foremost we should fear God and strive not to sin. We have to value Jesus’ sacrifice. 

There are those that preach a difference between public sin and private sin and intentional and unintentional sin. These preachers do great damage to the Kingdom of God. One preaches 1 John 1:9 doesn’t apply to private sin another says 1 John 1:9 is not for intentional sin. I know from past experience how hard it is to confess. These preachers make it harder. There is darkness and death in silence.

I once typed a page with my sins, printed about 30 copies, and handed it out at church because I could not find the courage to speak it publicly. I also called the police once and confessed to them for a past deed that troubled me greatly. It is both scary and difficult to confess, especially if you are denied a forum.

What are the requirements of confession? 

What is the purpose?

I believe confession is made to another, not just praying silently to God for forgiveness. James 5:16. He already knows them, so where is the act of confession, if this is all we do?

The purpose of confession is to tell and turn, to bring darkness to light, death to life. Repentance walks hand in hand with confession. We are sorry for our sin and we will quit the sinful activity. 

Don’t die in your sins. Tell and Turn.

Proverbs 28:13 KJV He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

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Christian, Inspirational

Prayer

For public prayer in modern churches you really need to go back to the Old Testament.

Isaiah 56:7 KJV Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

Technically I cannot think of a publicly led prayer in the Temple. Solomon led a prayer outside of the Temple and Daniel prayed three times a day towards Jerusalem. In Matthew 6:5, Jesus talks of those praying in synagogues and streets, but overall his comment is not favorable.

There are many verses in the New Testament referring to prayer. The first part of James 5:16 is often overlooked.

James 5:16 KJV Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

I firmly believe the men who get up and pray should pray Matthew 6:9-13. I cannot think of a time in any church where I have heard this prayed, but it is how our Savior, Jesus Christ, instructed us to pray. When listening to another pray in their own words I have to pause and consider if I agree. There have been times when I just pray Matthew 6:9-13 silently during public prayer.

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Christian, Inspirational

Thy Kingdom Come

Why is there such resistance to praying Matthew 6:9-13?

I suppose because Jesus asked us to.

Many claim Jesus’ Kingdom is already come. Has it? Are you face to face with Jesus or the Devil? You can claim Jesus’ Kingdom came when he died and was resurrected or you can claim Jesus’ Kingdom came on the Day of Pentecost, but the truth is that it will not come to fruition until immediately after Judgment Day, after the last foe which is death is defeated.

The Lord’s Prayer refers to the Father’s Kingdom which technically isn’t different than Jesus’ Kingdom. Has Jesus received his bride, has the wheat been separated from the chaff?

Thus I pray … thy kingdom come thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven…, and I encourage you to do the same. Matthew 6:9-13. 

May it be prayed more often as the public prayer in churches rather than men finding their own words!

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