Transformative Power of Praise and Confession
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound significance of praise and the transformative power of acknowledging our weaknesses and seeking a higher power for change. Praise, often seen as an expression of gratitude, becomes a natural response when we recognize the incredible sacrifice made on our behalf. Just as a friend might stand in for another in a dire situation, Jesus stood in our place, paying the ultimate price for our freedom. This realization can evoke overwhelming emotions, leading us to express our gratitude in various ways during worship.
We delved into the journey of transformation through the lens of the 12-step program, which finds its roots in biblical principles. The first step is admitting our powerlessness and the unmanageability of our lives, as even the Apostle Paul confessed his struggles in Romans. The subsequent steps involve believing in a power greater than ourselves, making a decision to turn our lives over to God, and conducting a fearless moral inventory. These steps are not just about acknowledging our chains but actively seeking change by confessing our wrongs to God, ourselves, and another person.
The act of confession, as emphasized in James 5, is a powerful tool for healing. It involves sharing our burdens with others, allowing us to experience forgiveness and freedom. This step is not about seeking validation from others but about embracing the grace and forgiveness that God offers. The analogy of sailors unknowingly surrounded by fresh water in the Amazon River illustrates how we often overlook the solutions to our struggles, which are closer than we think. By lowering the bucket of our pride and sharing our secrets, we can tap into the healing waters of truth.
The message concludes with a call to action, urging us to pray for guidance in finding the right person to confide in and to embrace the process of confession. This journey is not just for personal transformation but also for the benefit of those around us. As we experience genuine change, we become witnesses to the power of God's love and grace, inspiring others to seek the same freedom.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Praise: Praise is a natural response to recognizing the incredible sacrifice made on our behalf. It is not about the act itself but the gratitude for the freedom and life we have received through Jesus' sacrifice. This understanding can lead to overwhelming emotions and expressions of worship. [01:45]
2. Admitting Powerlessness: The journey of transformation begins with admitting our powerlessness and the unmanageability of our lives. This step, rooted in biblical principles, is essential for recognizing our need for a higher power to bring about change. [05:29]
3. The Healing Power of Confession: Confession is a powerful tool for healing, as emphasized in James 5. By sharing our burdens with others, we experience forgiveness and freedom, allowing us to move forward in our spiritual journey. [20:31]
4. Lowering the Bucket of Pride: The analogy of sailors surrounded by fresh water illustrates how solutions to our struggles are often closer than we think. By lowering the bucket of our pride and sharing our secrets, we can tap into the healing waters of truth. [25:48]
5. Witnessing Through Transformation: Genuine change in our lives serves as a powerful witness to others. As we experience the transformative power of God's love and grace, we inspire those around us to seek the same freedom and healing. [41:04]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:45] - The Power of Praise
- [04:39] - Introduction to the 12-Step Program
- [05:29] - Admitting Powerlessness
- [06:06] - Believing in a Higher Power
- [08:27] - Conducting a Moral Inventory
- [10:24] - The Importance of Confession
- [11:23] - Historical Context of Confession
- [14:54] - Understanding Sickness and Weakness
- [16:12] - The Role of Spiritual Leaders
- [20:31] - The Healing Power of Confession
- [24:52] - The Amazon River Analogy
- [27:12] - The Danger of Secrets
- [28:46] - The Three-Way Experience of Confession
- [32:11] - Choosing the Right Confidant
- [34:53] - Experiencing Spiritual Transformation
- [41:04] - Witnessing Through Transformation
- [43:19] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Romans 7:15 - "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."
2. James 5:16 - "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
3. Hebrews 11:6 - "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Romans 7:15 reveal about the Apostle Paul's personal struggles and how does it relate to the concept of admitting powerlessness? [05:29]
2. According to James 5:16, what is the relationship between confession and healing, and how is this emphasized in the sermon? [20:31]
3. How does the analogy of the sailors in the Amazon River illustrate the concept of "lowering the bucket of pride" in the sermon? [25:48]
4. What role does faith play in the process of transformation as discussed in Hebrews 11:6 and the sermon? [06:06]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might Paul's admission of his struggles in Romans 7:15 encourage individuals to acknowledge their own weaknesses and seek help? [05:29]
2. In what ways does the act of confession, as described in James 5:16, serve as a tool for both personal and communal healing within a church community? [20:31]
3. How does the sermon suggest that recognizing one's powerlessness can lead to a deeper reliance on God, as supported by Hebrews 11:6? [06:06]
4. What are the potential barriers to "lowering the bucket of pride," and how can individuals overcome these to experience healing and transformation? [25:48]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt powerless in your life. How did you respond, and what steps can you take to admit this powerlessness and seek God's help? [05:29]
2. Consider the role of confession in your spiritual journey. Is there someone you trust whom you can confide in to experience healing and freedom? [20:31]
3. How can you practice "lowering the bucket of pride" in your daily life to access the "healing waters of truth"? What specific actions can you take this week? [25:48]
4. Identify an area in your life where you need to exercise more faith. How can you actively seek God's guidance and support in this area? [06:06]
5. Think about a person in your life who might benefit from witnessing your transformation. How can you share your journey with them in a way that inspires and encourages? [41:04]
6. What practical steps can you take to conduct a "fearless moral inventory" of your life, and how can this lead to personal growth and change? [08:27]
7. How can you ensure that your expressions of praise and gratitude are genuine reflections of your understanding of Jesus' sacrifice? [01:45]
Devotional
Day 1: Praise as a Response to Sacrifice
Praise is a profound expression of gratitude that arises when we truly recognize the incredible sacrifice made on our behalf. It is not merely about the act of praising but about the deep appreciation for the freedom and life we have received through Jesus' ultimate sacrifice. This understanding can lead to overwhelming emotions and expressions of worship, as we are moved by the realization of what has been done for us. Just as a friend might stand in for another in a dire situation, Jesus stood in our place, paying the ultimate price for our freedom. This realization can evoke overwhelming emotions, leading us to express our gratitude in various ways during worship. [01:45]
Psalm 95:1-3 (ESV): "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods."
Reflection: How can you incorporate a moment of genuine praise into your day today, acknowledging the specific sacrifices made for your freedom and salvation?
Day 2: Embracing Powerlessness for Transformation
The journey of transformation begins with admitting our powerlessness and the unmanageability of our lives. This step, rooted in biblical principles, is essential for recognizing our need for a higher power to bring about change. The 12-step program, which finds its roots in these principles, starts with this crucial admission. Even the Apostle Paul confessed his struggles, acknowledging that he could not manage his life on his own. By admitting our powerlessness, we open ourselves to the possibility of divine intervention and transformation. This step is not about weakness but about recognizing the need for a power greater than ourselves to guide us. [05:29]
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel powerless? How can you invite God into that space today to begin the process of transformation?
Day 3: Confession as a Path to Healing
Confession is a powerful tool for healing, as emphasized in James 5. By sharing our burdens with others, we experience forgiveness and freedom, allowing us to move forward in our spiritual journey. This act of confession is not about seeking validation from others but about embracing the grace and forgiveness that God offers. It involves sharing our burdens with others, allowing us to experience forgiveness and freedom. The act of confession is a step towards healing, as it allows us to release the weight of our wrongs and embrace the grace that God offers. [20:31]
James 5:16 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Is there a burden you have been carrying that you need to confess to someone you trust? How can you take a step towards sharing it today?
Day 4: Lowering the Bucket of Pride
The analogy of sailors surrounded by fresh water illustrates how solutions to our struggles are often closer than we think. By lowering the bucket of our pride and sharing our secrets, we can tap into the healing waters of truth. Often, we are surrounded by the solutions to our struggles, but our pride prevents us from accessing them. By lowering the bucket of our pride and sharing our secrets, we can tap into the healing waters of truth. This act of humility allows us to access the resources and support that are readily available to us, leading to healing and transformation. [25:48]
Proverbs 11:2 (ESV): "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
Reflection: What is one secret or struggle you have been holding onto out of pride? How can you begin to lower your bucket and seek help or support today?
Day 5: Witnessing Through Personal Transformation
Genuine change in our lives serves as a powerful witness to others. As we experience the transformative power of God's love and grace, we inspire those around us to seek the same freedom and healing. This journey of transformation is not just for personal growth but also for the benefit of those around us. As we experience genuine change, we become witnesses to the power of God's love and grace, inspiring others to seek the same freedom. Our lives become a testament to the transformative power of faith, encouraging others to embark on their own journeys of healing and transformation. [41:04]
1 Peter 2:12 (ESV): "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."
Reflection: How can your personal transformation serve as a witness to someone in your life today? What is one way you can intentionally demonstrate the change God has made in you?
Quotes
"And it's just weird for folks to stand up and raise their hands and clap at certain points, and you're like, you know, there wasn't a great guitar solo or anything. What are they clapping about? And I just, quickly, I just, praise is a natural thing when someone has done something incredible for you." [00:09:34] (27 seconds)
"Not only did he pay my debt, but because of that debt that was paid, he raised my life up from the dead. My life was changed. My life was changed because of him. An example I share in the first service, it would be like back in the 40s, and the Gestapo banging on the door of Mr. Schwartz, a Jew, and a friend being over there answering the door and understanding, when they ask for Mr. Schwartz, that they are on their way to the gas chamber. And his friend saying, I'm Mr. Schwartz." [00:43:54] (43 seconds)
"and yet it was the road to destruction and no matter how hard we tried no matter what we did we could not change until we found a power greater than ourselves and so what we're doing in this time is we're looking at there's a there's a 100 year old program if you would that has helped people find this power to change it's called a 12 -step program but here's the thing the 12 steps weren't just originated with a couple guys who sat down said hey let's come up with 12 steps to do this actually the 12 steps started in a bible study look this up called the oxford group and it was a group of people who studied god's word together because they were desperate people who who the greatest uh psychiatrist of the day could not help and and one particular famous counselor actually told a person that's how this whole thing got started i i can't do any more the only only time i've ever seen anybody get over the situation you're in is when they had a religious experience" [00:209:11] (68 seconds)
"The first principle is this. We admitted that we were powerless and that our lives had become unmanageable. There's a guy who wrote a lot of what we call the New Testament. He told a lot of folks about Christ. He's kind of a giant in the Christian faith. This is what he writes about himself in the book of Romans. He's writing to a church in Rome. He says this in chapter 7, verse 15. I do not understand what I do, for what I want to do, I do not do." [00:299:34] (30 seconds)
"Step 3 step 4 we made a searching and fearless both by the way scary words searching a fearless moral inventory of ourselves we looked inside of the deepest pockets of our soul of our hearts of our minds of our experience we went to the deepest corners and did an import inventory we just said what was there we didn't do anything else with it we just submitted it was there first John 1 9 says if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and pure us from our unrighteous but here's the key he'll forgive us our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and pure us forgive but we must confess and we kind of talked about this principle last week in step 4 you have to name the chain because we're not free we're chained you have to name the chain in order to experience change you can't be released from the chain if you don't acknowledge that it's there you got to name it you gotta be clear about what it is in order for change to happen" [00:416:55]
"That's what step five is, and here it is. We admit it to God, we admit it to ourselves, sometimes by the way that's the toughest one, and to another human being, the exact nature of our wrongs. So it's not just this is what I did, but this is kind of what I see is behind what I did, or behind what I thought, or behind the way I've lived." [00:567:67] (29 seconds)
"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other and you will be healed there's something about going to another person and saying I messed up and that person going welcome to the club aren't we both glad that Jesus did what Jesus can only do aren't we both glad that we can go before him and receive forgiveness because here's the thing about the cross it wasn't just that Jesus did this act for the forgiveness of our sins it's that that that very thing that weighs us down requires and we understand this requires if you would punishment and some of us the issue isn't whether or not God forgives us it's the issue is that we know that what we did can't just be left undone we don't want God's forgiveness because it's unforgivable we can't forgive ourselves and so we spend a lifetime punishing ourselves at the same time blaming God we punish ourselves but the thing about the cross is is that not only did Jesus die on the cross physically die but it says that the wrath of God the wrath of God is his righteousness and his mercy and his mercy and his mercy and his mercy and his righteous anger the things that we do make him mad see a lot of us we complain about this lightning bolt God but the reason we had complained about lightning with God says we have this picture in our head because we believe we deserve a lightning bolt for what we've done and God says guess what I'm a just God my lightning bolt struck but I struck Jesus on your behalf" [01:116:19] (111 seconds)
"Now, many of us are lost in the ocean of our own despair, especially when we get honest with ourselves about our chains. We have taken an inventory of ourselves, and at times we feel overwhelmed with what we see. We are parched. We are tired. We are weary. We are sick. And the irony of the situation is that the means of our salvation is close at hand. It's right there. We need only to lower a bucket." [01:551:38] (36 seconds)
"God. The 12 by 12 says it this way. At this stage, the difficulties of trying to deal rightly with God by ourselves are twofold. There's two problems with just doing this between you and God. Which, by the way, step four needs to be between you and God. You will not be ruthlessly honest if you don't do step four as if you'll never do step five. Worry only about step five once step four is completed, meaning once you get everything out. Now, though we may at first be startled to realize that God knows all about us, we are apt to get used to that quite quickly, right? If you never believe in God, you never think about it. Then once you understand he's there, you're like, oh, well, he's seen it all. And at first it might be shocking, but you get used to that. Somehow being alone with God doesn't seem as embarrassing as facing up to another person. And I'll tell you that is true in my life." [01:672:57]
"People who have done this, whether it's just a weekly kind of check -in thing or especially those who have done the longer fourth step that we talked about last week, they feel relief. They feel forgiveness. They feel healing. They're just delighted. The big book says that they can look the world in the eye for the first time. They can be alone and at perfect peace." [02:069:90] (24 seconds)
"Because they were specific and they understood. It wasn't just some general idea. Oh, Jesus died on a cross some years back, so all the thing I did, so now I got fire insurance and I get to go to heaven. It's not theological, it's not an idea. It's these specific things are real in my life. I named them. They were, I was chained by them. I confessed and I heard from another person what God has been saying to me all along, you are forgiven. Because here's the issue. The issue is not God and His righteousness and that you failed. It's not from God's side. Because He already bridged the gap. He already said, I'll take care of that. The problem is ours." [02:156:62] (40 seconds)
"Jesus said the harvest is great, but the laborers are few. Pray for more harvesters. Pray for more laborers. And then what he didn't mean is pray for more people who know the four spiritual laws. What he's saying is pray for more people who've experienced the spiritual laws, who have been freed, who will just go out in excitement that they are free. Free indeed." [02:578:09] (24 seconds)
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