26/09/2023
I was at a gathering where someone was asked to lead us in prayer.
Hmm...
'Let us thank God for keeping us alive....'
I was enjoying this...
But I was shocked when I heard....
'Now, let us ask God to forgive us all our sins...because we are all sinners....and the Bible says...ALL have sinned and come short of the Glory of God....'!!!
Wow!!!
Those words hit me on the wrong side!!!
Now I guess some of you are wondering what is wrong with that prayer point!!!
Now listen carefully: MANY things are wrong with that prayer point!
Hmm.....
The problem with many believers is that we don't take time to study the Scriptures in context!
Every believer knows Romans 3:23.
'For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God'!
Hmm....
Listen: that verse was not quoted by Paul in order for you to use it as a prayer point for confession of sins!
In fact, that verse was quoted so that you will stop seeing yourself as a sinner before God!
The whole book of Romans 3 was written so that you will STOP seeing yourself as a sinner before God!
Hear this: If you can quote Romans 3:23 offhand ....but you cannot quote Romans 3:24 offhand......then you are seriously under LAW!
(Lol....I guess many of you are trying to remember what is in Romans 3:24)
'Being justified FREELY by His GRACE through the REDEMPTION that is in CHRIST JESUS'! (Romans 3:24)
Wow!
Listen: you think you are pleasing God when you are praying and then you say:
'Lord, have mercy on me, for I am an unworthy sinner...cleanse me for your word said...all have sinned....'
Hmm...
Hello....if you are a believer....that prayer actually DISPLEASES God!
It only pleases God if you are an UNBELIEVER!!!
As a believer....you are supposed to say:
'Lord Jesus...I am grateful for your RIGHTEOUSNESS that has exchanged for my sinfulness.....I am worthy to stand in Your Presence because your blood keeps me clean in God's presence! Thank You for the ETERNAL redemption that you bought for me....and I therefore tap into this power ...to GO and SIN NO MORE'!!!
That is the prayer that pleases God!!!
Hmm....
The Bible puts it clear that Jesus...
'...obtained ETERNAL REDEMPTION for us'! (Hebrews 9:12)
Wow!
Who has 'bewitched' you to think that you have lost your salvation because of your sins!!!
That was the question Paul asked the Galatians! (Gal 3:1-5)
Hmm...
Now listen carefully: stop praying as though Jesus had not died for you!
I am not against confession of sins!
It is good to confess your sins....but not in a BEGGARLY way!!!
Not by saying...'Lord I am unworthy....I know I am a sinner....etc...'
That is an insult to Jesus' finished work for you!
Hmm...
How about praying this way:
'Lord,...I noticed I have a propensity to lust or tell lies these days...while I'm so grateful that there is no condemnation for me because I am in Christ Jesus....help me Lord to live that life that shows forth to the world that I am your son....and remove this sinful habit from me in Jesus name'!
Wow!
How about that!
That is how you should approach God!
With that kind of prayer, you are making God feel like a 'FATHER' and not a 'MASTER'....while you are also positioning yourself as a 'SON' and not a 'SERVANT'!
Hmm....
Don't just use David's confession in Psalm 51 as a reason to disprove all I just said...because David was a man under LAW!!!
Listen: Did you know David himself said something very important concerning those who will believe in Jesus?
Hmm...
'Even as David also describeth the BLESSEDNESS OF THE MAN (a believer in Jesus), unto whom God IMPUTETH RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHOUT WORK....saying, BLESSED ARE THEY WHOSE INIQUITIES ARE FORGIVEN,...blessed is the MAN (believer in Jesus) to whom the Lord WILL NOT IMPUTE SIN'! (Romans 4:6-8)
Wow!!!
David was practically ENVYING we believers today!
Stop putting yourself in the same class with David!
The Lord DOES NOT and WILL NOT impute sin into a believer in Jesus Christ!
Not because God approves of sin...but because it is UNJUST for God to judge you for your sins after He has ALREADY judged JESUS for the same sin on the Cross of Calvary!!! (Romans 3:26)
That is called the Law of DOUBLE JEOPARDY!!!
Hmm....
Now listen carefully: there is no sin you are confessing to God today that JESUS was not punished for on your behalf 2000years ago!
Jesus did not die for His sins!
He had NO sins!
He died for your sins!!!
Therefore pray as a believer with FAITH that Jesus has ALREADY taken away ALL your sins..PAST, PRESENT....and FUTURE!!!
'For without FAITH (in the finished work of Jesus)...it is IMPOSSIBLE to PLEASE God'! (Hebrews 11:6)
Hallelujah!
Never forget: if you are a believer, it is UNJUST for God to judge you for your sins after He has ALREADY judged JESUS for the same sin on the Cross of Calvary!!! (Romans 3:26)
There is no sin you are confessing to God today that JESUS was not punished for on your behalf more than 2000years ago!
Therefore, pray to God as a 'SON' to a 'FATHER'....and not as a .....'SERVANT' to a 'MASTER'!
Amen.
