Embracing Healing Through Confession and Community
Summary
In our journey through the principles of Celebrate Recovery, we have reached a pivotal point where we must openly examine and confess our faults. This principle, rooted in the Beatitude "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God," challenges us to redefine what it means to be pure in heart. It is not about being unblemished or without mistakes, but about being willing to confront and confess the damage sin has caused in our lives. This journey is not easy, as it requires us to face the pain, guilt, and shame that we often try to hide. However, it is through this process of confession and examination that we can truly experience healing and see God more clearly.
The story of the woman at the well illustrates this beautifully. Jesus did not shy away from addressing her sin, but instead, He brought it to light, offering her living water and a path to true freedom. Similarly, we are called to bring our hidden sins and pains into the light, not just before God, but also before a trusted person. This act of confession is crucial for our healing, as it allows us to break free from the chains of secrecy and shame.
We must be willing to pray the prayer of Psalm 139, asking God to search our hearts and reveal any offensive ways within us. This requires courage and vulnerability, but it is essential for our spiritual growth. We must also make time and space for this process, writing down the damage we have caused and the damage done to us. It is only by acknowledging and confessing these things that we can begin to heal and move forward.
As we continue on this journey, let us remember that we are not alone. We have a community of believers who are ready to support us, and a God who is faithful and forgiving. Let us embrace this opportunity to come clean, to confess, and to celebrate the healing and freedom that comes from being pure in heart.
Key Takeaways:
1. Redefining Purity of Heart: Being pure in heart is not about being without mistakes, but about being willing to confront and confess the damage sin has caused in our lives. This openness allows us to see God more clearly and experience true healing. [25:54]
2. The Power of Confession: Confession is a crucial step in our healing journey. By bringing our hidden sins and pains into the light, we break free from the chains of secrecy and shame, allowing God to work in our lives. [29:18]
3. Facing the Damage: We must be willing to face the damage caused by sin, both in our lives and in the lives of others. This requires courage and vulnerability, but it is essential for our spiritual growth and healing. [38:24]
4. Community Support: We are not meant to walk this journey alone. We have a community of believers who are ready to support us, and a God who is faithful and forgiving. Embracing this support is vital for our healing. [49:52]
5. The Role of Prayer: Praying for God to search our hearts and reveal any offensive ways within us is a powerful step in our healing journey. This prayer requires courage and vulnerability, but it is essential for our spiritual growth. [47:04]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [25:54] - The Journey of Celebrate Recovery
- [27:13] - Facing Sin and Its Damage
- [28:05] - The Struggle with Past Pain
- [29:18] - The Woman at the Well
- [38:24] - Confronting the Damage
- [39:30] - The Challenge of Letting Go
- [42:14] - The Meaning of a Pure Heart
- [47:04] - The Importance of Prayer
- [47:58] - Writing Down the Damage
- [48:41] - Overcoming Fear
- [49:10] - Bringing Sin into the Light
- [49:52] - The Necessity of Sharing
- [50:40] - The Role of Community
- [51:58] - The Power of Confession
- [53:47] - Embracing Healing and Celebration
- [56:15] - Worship and Response
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 5:8 - "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
2. John 4:13-18 - The story of the woman at the well.
3. Psalm 139:23-24 - "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
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Observation Questions:
1. In the story of the woman at the well, how does Jesus address her past and what does He offer her instead? ([29:18])
2. According to the sermon, what does it mean to be "pure in heart" as described in Matthew 5:8? How does this differ from common perceptions of purity? ([42:14])
3. What role does confession play in the healing process, as discussed in the sermon? ([49:52])
4. How does Psalm 139:23-24 guide us in the process of self-examination and confession? ([47:04])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the interaction between Jesus and the woman at the well illustrate the importance of confronting our past sins and pains? ([29:18])
2. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between vulnerability and spiritual growth? How does this relate to the concept of being "pure in heart"? ([42:14])
3. Why is community support emphasized as crucial in the journey of confession and healing? How does this align with the teachings in James 5:16? ([50:40])
4. How does the prayer in Psalm 139 encourage us to be open to God's examination of our hearts, and what might be the challenges in doing so? ([47:04])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the need to hide your faults. How might openly confessing these to a trusted person change your perspective and aid in your healing? ([49:52])
2. Consider the concept of being "pure in heart" as willingness to confront and confess sin. What steps can you take this week to embrace this definition in your own life? ([42:14])
3. How can you create a safe space for someone else to share their struggles and confessions with you? What qualities make you a trustworthy confidant? ([50:40])
4. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to pray the prayer of Psalm 139. What might be holding you back from doing so, and how can you overcome this barrier? ([47:04])
5. Think about a past hurt or sin that you have not yet confronted. What practical steps can you take to bring this into the light and begin the healing process? ([38:24])
6. How can you actively seek and embrace community support in your journey of recovery and healing? What role can you play in supporting others in your community? ([50:40])
7. Reflect on the sermon’s message about the power of confession. How can you incorporate regular confession into your spiritual practices, and what impact do you hope it will have on your relationship with God and others? ([49:52])
Devotional
Day 1: Redefining Purity of Heart
Being pure in heart is not about being perfect or without mistakes. Instead, it involves a willingness to confront and confess the damage that sin has caused in our lives. This openness allows us to see God more clearly and experience true healing. The journey to purity of heart is challenging, as it requires us to face the pain, guilt, and shame that we often try to hide. However, by embracing this process, we can begin to heal and move forward, seeing God more clearly in our lives. [25:54]
"Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully." (Psalm 24:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to confront the damage caused by sin? How can you begin to bring this into the light today?
Day 2: The Power of Confession
Confession is a crucial step in our healing journey. By bringing our hidden sins and pains into the light, we break free from the chains of secrecy and shame, allowing God to work in our lives. The story of the woman at the well illustrates this beautifully, as Jesus did not shy away from addressing her sin but instead offered her a path to true freedom. Similarly, we are called to bring our hidden sins and pains into the light, not just before God, but also before a trusted person. This act of confession is essential for our healing. [29:18]
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)
Reflection: Is there a trusted person in your life with whom you can share your hidden struggles? How can you take a step towards confession and healing today?
Day 3: Facing the Damage
We must be willing to face the damage caused by sin, both in our lives and in the lives of others. This requires courage and vulnerability, but it is essential for our spiritual growth and healing. By acknowledging and confessing the damage, we can begin to heal and move forward. This process involves making time and space to write down the damage we have caused and the damage done to us, allowing us to confront it honestly. [38:24]
"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific area of damage in your life that you need to confront? How can you create space to acknowledge and address it this week?
Day 4: Community Support
We are not meant to walk this journey alone. We have a community of believers who are ready to support us, and a God who is faithful and forgiving. Embracing this support is vital for our healing. By sharing our struggles and victories with others, we can find encouragement and strength to continue on our journey. This community support helps us to break free from isolation and experience the healing and freedom that comes from being pure in heart. [49:52]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively seek support from your community of believers this week? What steps can you take to encourage and be encouraged by others?
Day 5: The Role of Prayer
Praying for God to search our hearts and reveal any offensive ways within us is a powerful step in our healing journey. This prayer requires courage and vulnerability, but it is essential for our spiritual growth. By inviting God to examine our hearts, we open ourselves to His transformative work, allowing Him to lead us in the way everlasting. This ongoing process of prayer and reflection helps us to maintain a pure heart and experience the fullness of God's presence in our lives. [47:04]
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me." (Psalm 51:10-11, ESV)
Reflection: What specific area of your heart do you need to invite God to examine today? How can you incorporate this prayer into your daily routine?
Quotes
"Hopefully it's felt that way for you. If you've been doing the work of this, if you've been listening in, if you've been taking the intentional time to pray and write and reflect and sharing that with somebody, that is something to celebrate. And so we want to welcome you back to that. If you have missed the last three weeks, if you haven't been here, I'd love to encourage you to go back and watch the last three weeks of our sermon series that we've been in. We've been going through the eight principles of Celebrate Recovery, which is a ministry that's been going on for a long time. And we're going to be starting here at our church. And we've been talking about how these eight principles that are embedded in the words of Jesus Christ are really a description of a journey that we take with him." [00:24:27]
"I don't know about you, but actually, I think sometimes I wish those were the next things because I don't want to deal with the sin and the damage that came from it. You know, that sin that we repented of, it caused damage in our lives, right? And maybe it's not just the sin that we did, it's the sin of others, that caused damage in our lives. And as much as we might want to skip it, it doesn't work that way. Then maybe that damage has caused some hurts. Maybe we have some resentments. Maybe we have some broken relationships. Maybe we have some people in our life that we just can't seem to talk to anymore or even think about." [00:27:30]
"Maybe there's some past pain we just can't get over. Maybe it caused some habits. Maybe there was something that you started doing that you just can't get over. Maybe there was something that you started doing while you were in your sin that you just can't seem to stop. No matter how much you want to, no matter how much you cry out for it, you just can't seem to find the light switch to flip it off. Maybe that damage caused some hangups. Maybe there's some guilt or some shame or some depression or some anger or some anxiety or some cloud of emotion that you just can't seem to see through." [00:28:17]
"Well, our title this week is coming clean and maybe that makes you a little nervous our principle is principle four and it's the o in recovery and it's openly examine and confess my faults to myself to god and to nobody else no and to someone i trust why don't you read with this with me read this with me read this with me read this with me read this with me read this with me read this beatitude with me blessed are the pure in heart for they will see god i don't know about you when i've read this statement in the past i've seen it as an as a as a disqualifying statement right like like in my mind for somebody to be pure at heart is somebody that can pull the excalibur sword out of the stone or somebody that can pick up thor's hammer it's somebody that doesn't have the baggage that doesn't have the brokenness somebody that hasn't made all the mistakes and hasn't hurt so many people and where i can relate to mourning i can relate to feeling poor in the spirit i can relate to feeling meek sometimes it's hard for me to relate to being pure in heart because maybe that ship has sailed for me and what we're going to look at this morning is the idea that maybe jesus christ's definition of this idea of pure in heart is different than this never been blemished never made a mistake never made a mistake untouched perspective that we have sometimes" [00:29:18]
"Jesus answered everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst indeed the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life the woman said to him sir give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming back here he told her go call your husband and come back I have no husband she replied Jesus said to her you're right when you say you have no husband the fact is you had five husbands and the man you have now is not your husband what you've said is quite true and this part of the conversation has always gripped me because what Jesus does here is so far from what I would have done I should have agreed to message you really come to just give me this water" [00:35:58]
"I think all of us love the idea of this prayer creating me a pure heart oh god but we don't want to go to we don't want to go through the car wash to get it it's too painful it's too hard we just want him to come and give us a new heart and we don't want to go to the car wash to get it clean it up so we can move on but when we try to hide a piece of our pain we prevent healing to the whole person" [00:42:14]
"Jesus says blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God and that's not a statement about people that have never had mistakes that's not a statement about people that have never caused damage that's not a statement about people that don't have baggage what Jesus is saying there is oh congratulations man here's your shovel we're gonna start digging you and I we're gonna dig out of your life and your past and your memories and your heart all of the stuff that's keeping you from being pure oh it's gonna be great we're gonna work all the stuff that you've been holding back that's been weighing you down that's been keeping you captive captive we're gonna dig it out even the stuff that you've forgotten about the stuff that that caused damage and you've been living because of that damage but you don't even remember where it came from oh we're gonna get it we're gonna dig it out and you're gonna see me you're gonna finally see me past the shame past the guilt past the condemnation you've been feeling you're gonna finally see who i am for you that i'm not somebody that just comes to clean up your messes i'm not somebody that just whitewashes your tomb i'm somebody that wants to give you a pure heart no matter how long it takes" [00:42:44]
"but it takes time it takes a willingness a willingness to let him in a willingness to let him in to let him work our principle this week is openly examine and confess my faults to myself to god and to someone i trust we've been putting the same four next or same three next steps in front of you each week during this series and those three next steps are perfectly encapsulated in this principle openly examine and confess my faults to myself through writing to god through prayer and that's it unfortunately no and to someone i trust" [00:44:44]
"this is hard i think the two that we probably do the easiest are the first two somewhere along your your journey you really lean into the reality that god sees it all you're not hiding anything there's no spiritual closet that you can keep set aside that's like got led around it and he can't see through it that's not a thing he sees it every dark corner and cranny that you feel ashamed of and worried about he already knew about before you ever accepted him and before he ever offered himself to you and he still he still did that there's nothing that's surprising him in your life there's nothing that's making him second guess or question he's all in he was all in from the get -go but it's hard it's hard to let him all in amen it's hard to write about it and celebrate recovery we call this a moral inventory and the first part of our moral moral inventory is you have to be willing to pray this prayer out of Psalms 139. Search me, God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts." [00:45:37]
"See if there's any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. You have to be willing to pray that prayer. You have to start there. The next thing, you have to make time for it. You have to make time for it and you have to make space for it. I love to go work on stuff at coffee shops and in public places. Don't go work on this at a coffee shop. Because you're going to need some private space. If you're really going to do it, if you're really going to work it, I would encourage you to bring some tissues. Because it's hard. You have to write down the damage that you've caused to yourself and to others. You have to." [00:47:04]
"You have to write down the inverse. You have to write down the damage that's been done to you. You have to. You can't be afraid of it. You're going to be afraid of it. Both of these. But you can't let it stop you. You have to write it down. You have to get it out there. It can't keep being the boogeyman in your closet that's harassing you and keeping you up, keeping you in shame. You have to get it out there. I know you don't want to. I know what it's like to sit in a pew in a row with a secret sin that I feel terrified for people to know. I know what it's like when you bring it into the light. I know what the next day feels like when you realize, oh, they weren't going to judge me after all. There were all these people that loved me, that will help me." [00:48:41]
"The Lord is faithful 100 % of the time. Never let you down 100 % of the time. There is always forgiveness 100 % of the time. And he himself is the one that commands us to share it with other people. Because he knows we have to. We've looked at this verse recently, James chapter 5. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." [00:50:05]
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