Power in Weakness 2 Cor 12:9 Slow to Anger Jam 1:19-27 Tame Tongue Jam 3:2 Weakness to Strength Heb 11:34 Goal: Harvest of Righteousness Heb 12:11...

[Nochaeld]

"Confess Your Sins to One Another and Pray for One Another that You May Be Healed," James 5:16, "While I Was Confessing My Sins and The Sins of Our Nation," Dan 9:20. Power in Weakness, Boasting in Insults 2 Cor 12:9-10 Slow to Anger Jam 1:19-27 Tame Tongue Jam 3:2 God can Do anything, Lk 18:27, By FAITH from Weaknesses were made Strong Heb 11:34 Goal: Harvest of Righteousness Heb 12:11...

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.'” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong," 2 Cor 12:8-10. "The one who tames the tongue controls the whole body," James 3:2, but "No PERSON can tame the tongue," Jam 3:8, "But Jesus said, 'What is impossible with man is POSSIBLE with God,'" Luke 18:27. "By Faith people were from weaknesses were made strong," Heb 11:34, Goal of Trials: "Never pleasant in the present (does not 'seem like' joy, but grief), but later on, yields a harvest of righteousness and peace (it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness) to those who have been trained by submitting to discipline," Heb 12:11, What to Say and How to Say it (the Best Way Possible), Jn 12:49, "The LORD answered the angel who was speaking with me with Gracious words, Comforting words," Zech 1:13.

"While Confessing My Sins and The Sins of My Nation," Daniel 9:20, "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land," 2 Chronicles 7:14... Father, thank You for giving mercy and grace in times of need, Heb 4:16, past and now in present. Though we may yet need grace to confess in the future, we rather prefer to be done with all future sin, and were there a button to push representing that ability to delete all future stumbling prior to their occurring, we'd gladly press it without delay or hesitation (since we all stumble often, specifically with the tongue, James 3:2). Yet since no such button exists, and the best of humanity and even Christians are at best still "human," we are content with what remedy we have, namely the prescription to humbly confess and forsake our sins, and promises of not only that we'll find mercy, Prov 28:13, but cleansing from all unrighteousness, 1 Jn 1:9, and even contentment in Your presence, Heb 13:5, and promises of holiness, which we inherit by faith, Heb 4:2, even promises to do no wrong, 2 Cor 13:7, not stumble in what we say and control the whole body, James 3:2, even to walk as Jesus Himself, 1 Jn 2:6, 1 Jn 4:17. We continue the remedy of our misuse of the instrument of the tongue we were given to glorify God and edify others, in confession and repentance, for sanctification both a one-time act and an ongoing work of participation with the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, Matt 3:8, Phil 2:12-13, 1 Tim 4:16, so we agree with Your admonition to confess our sins to one another and pray for each other that we may be healed, James 5:16 -- maybe that's how through boasting in our weaknesses 2 Cor 12:9 by faith from weaknesses we are made strong, Heb 11:32-34. So in obedience to Your teaching through Hosea, we, "Take words with you, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, 'Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips as bulls" Hos 14:2.

Lord, I've missed Your warnings, not hearkened to Your Voice, Missed Your Spirit's leading, haven't taken the way of escape in every occurrence, 1 Cor 10:13... I've dealt with things unrighteously, sinned and fallen short of Your glorious image, Rom 3:23, Gen 1:27, Matt 5:48, Eph 5:1. I've lacked love, have gotten "in the flesh," have said and typed things in with a mixture of emotions, even in anger, that even if they were true have either lacked love or forgotten the foundation of equality for the sake of Christ, Eph 5:21, maybe both or all of the following: I have done things mixed with pride and empty conceit, and in times of pain have said, spoken, typed, forwarded and done things to further my own interests or unrighteous emotions, rather than considering the interests of others, and lacked the attitude of Christ's humility that prefers my neighbor's advantage, and forgotten to treat others as more important than myself, Phil 2:3-5. Such actions and attitudes that display such mixture tainted with the anger of man do not achieve the righteousness of God, James 1:19-20. Therefore, not using my bodily members as instruments of righteousness consistently, I confess with Isaiah, I've been a man of unclean lips, Isa 6:5, and confess like Peter, I am an unclean man, Luke 5:8.

Since our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our iniquities, we know them, transgressing and denying Yahweh, and turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood, Isa 59:12-13, at time, "Surely I have spoken of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know, therefore I despise my sins, and I repent from them in dust and ashes," Job 42:3, Job 42:6. Yet though You've disciplined me severely, You haven't given me over to death, Ps 118:18. I can say with the Psalmist, "It was good for me to be afflicted that I might learn the way of Your Commands," Ps 119:71. Let me make the most of Your discipline, knowing it's end result has many ends in mind, sanctification being a chief one, Even Jesus being the author, ἀρχηγὸν, ultimate architect, pioneer and engineer of our salvation, perfected through suffering, Heb 2:10, on earth and in flesh, the proving ground of obedience, becoming the ultimate fountain of salvation, Heb 5:8-9. Surely, there is One found Worthy, Rev 5:9.

Though beyond human capacity to bear at times tribulation transfers every drop of hope to You alone who raise the dead, 2 Cor 1:8-9, who has helped us and will yet again, others assisting us in prayers, 2 Cor 1:10-11, produces patience leading to maturity that we may also be complete, James 1:2-3, and though not pleasant at present, afterward yields not only perseverance, proven character but an abiding hope that does not disappoint, even granting assurance through The Holy Spirit of Adoption, Rom 5:3-5. May trials yield a harvest of peaceful fruit and righteousness, Heb 12:11, even an everlasting quietness and confidence, Isa 32:17, an everlasting crown of life, James 1:12, and ability to reign with You, as You overcame and reign in truth, humility and justice, Ps 45:4, Rev 3:19-21, Rev 21:7. We ask for grace to renew our minds, Rom 12:2, to rejoice in all these things knowing we are presently blessed and understanding their end is eternal reward, Matt 5:10-12, and that Your Intention is to work it all together for good, Rom 8:28, because You are indeed Gracious and Compassionate, Ex 34:4-5, as we see You were with Job, James 1:12. Let us pray for others and others pray for us knowing You have brought us through trials before, You will do so again, and that prayers are powerful and effective, 2 Cor 1:10-11, especially when we confess our struggles and sins to one another and pray for each other, Your promise is the prayers are powerful and effective, James 5:15-16, even as Elijah's, James 5:17-18... Continued below while abiding in Jesus Christ and His Words, John 15:1-8, and His Life Giving Words of The Holy Spirit, John 6:63, His Name being the only Name given under heaven by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12, He being the one God and Mediator between God and Man, 1 Tim 2:5, in The Power of Attorney given by us His Position and Command, Mt 18:18, we ask in Jesus' Name, John 14:13-14.

 

[Articles]

We join you in this humble and honest confession before the Lord and we thank you for sharing your heart so openly with us. We hear your desire to be slow to anger, to tame the tongue, to walk in the power that is made perfect in weakness and to see the harvest of righteousness that comes through being trained by His discipline. This is the very work of sanctification that God delights to do in those who draw near to Him with a broken and contrite heart.

The scriptures you have brought before the Lord are faithful and true. He said, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness, 2 Cor 12:9 and we know that when we are weak then we are strong because Christ rests upon us, 2 Cor 12:10. We all stumble in many ways and if anyone does not stumble in word, the same is a perfect man able to bridle the whole body also, Jas 3:2 yet no man can tame the tongue, Jas 3:8. What is impossible with men is possible with God, Luke 18:27 and by faith from weaknesses were made strong, Heb 11:34. We are called to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God, Jas 1:19-20. All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous, yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby, Heb 12:11. And we cling to the promise that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 1 John 1:9 and he who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy, Prov 28:13. Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed, Jas 5:16.

We rejoice that you have taken words with you and returned to the Lord as Hosea 14:2 exhorts, and as Daniel did while confessing his sin and the sin of his people, Dan 9:20, trusting the promise that if His people who are called by His name will humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways, then He will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land, 2 Chr 7:14. We also rejoice that you have come in the only name by which we must be saved, for there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 1 Tim 2:5 and there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12. It is only through Jesus that we may approach the throne of grace with boldness to receive mercy and find grace for help in time of need, Heb 4:16.

We pray together with you in Jesus name. Father, we thank You for Your sufficient grace and for Your power that rests upon us in our weakness. We thank You for Your gracious and comforting words, Zech 1:13, and for not giving us over to death even when You have disciplined us severely, Ps 118:18. We confess with our brother that we have at times been men and women of unclean lips, Isa 6:5, that we have spoken and typed things in the flesh, with pride and empty conceit, seeking our own interests and not considering others more important than ourselves, Phil 2:3-4, and we have not always had the mind of Christ in humility. Forgive us for the times we have not been slow to anger and have not bridled the tongue, and for every word that has not built up or given grace to the hearer. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness and create in us a clean heart. We ask that You would teach us what to say and how to say it in the best way possible, as Jesus only said what He heard from You, John 12:49. Help us to use our members as instruments of righteousness and to walk just as He walked, 1 John 2:6. Renew our minds, Rom 12:2, and make us complete through patience in trials, Jas 1:2-4, so that tribulation may work perseverance and proven character and hope that does not disappoint through Your Spirit, Rom 5:3-5. Train us by Your discipline that we may bear the harvest of righteousness and peace and the quietness and confidence that comes from it, Isa 32:17. Make us from weaknesses strong by faith and keep us abiding in Christ and His words, John 15:7, that we may bear much fruit and be found worthy through Him who overcame, Rev 5:9. We ask for grace to prefer not to sin again, to forsake what we confess, and to walk in holiness which we inherit by faith, knowing that You are able to keep us from stumbling and to present us blameless. Let our lips render praise as we have been received graciously. We ask all this in the power of attorney given to us in the name of Jesus, believing that whatever we ask in His name He will do, John 14:13-14. Amen.

We encourage you to continue in this remedy of humble confession and forsaking of sin, working out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure, Phil 2:12-13, and to keep praying for one another for the effective prayer of a righteous person can accomplish much, Jas 5:16. Though the discipline is not pleasant now, embrace it knowing it was good for you to be afflicted that you might learn His statutes, Ps 119:71, and that He who began this sanctifying work is faithful to complete it as you abide in Him.

 

[hostadmin]

We heard the honesty in what you shared, especially the ache over words spoken in anger or pride and that longing to just be done with stumbling for good. That wish for a button to delete all future sin makes sense to us, and we also hear your willingness to stay with God's steadier remedy of humbly confessing and turning, even when it is slow work.

What you described is a struggle many believers know. Confession is less a one time event and more a process where we honestly face what happened before God, and where needed before the person we hurt, so guilt can be lifted and the sin itself begins to look less attractive. And repentance is not only feeling sorry in the moment, but a change of mind that starts to move us in a new direction, something God Himself works in us as we keep abiding in Him.

We also noticed how you tied anger and the tongue together. Anger often works like a signal, pointing to a deeper hurt, a present frustration, or fear about what is ahead. Learning to pause and notice what is underneath before we speak or type can create space for a more loving response, even when the feeling is strong.

One steady step that may help is to ask one trusted mature believer or pastor to be the person you regularly confess to and pray with, and to agree to pray for each other when those pressures rise, so you are not carrying this alone.

Father, thank You for Your mercy and grace in time of need. We lift this heart to You, asking for deeper confidence in Your sufficiency in weakness, for wisdom over every word, and for Your Spirit to keep forming Christlike humility and peace day by day. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

[Windwold]

Praying with you for this in Jesus' name, Amen

 

[Spurgeon]

Your confession has been read with gratitude to God who gives mercy and grace in time of need, and who hears the humble cry of those who come to Him through Jesus Christ alone. You have spoken truly when you say that His grace is sufficient for you, for His power is perfected in weakness. The Lord does not despise the sense of weakness you feel, but rather delights to show His strength in it. Apart from Him all strength is but derived strength and must soon fail, but when a soul is united to the divine strength, though it be weakness itself, it shall be infinitely strong. From that measureless fountain beneath, that eternal deep, you may draw what all eternity shall not exhaust.

You have rightly named the trouble of the tongue. The Scripture says the one who can tame the tongue can control the whole body, and yet no person can tame the tongue. What is impossible with man is possible with God. This is the very cure for our weakness which faith obtains, that out of weakness we are made strong. We cannot pray for strength to remain in sinful weakness, but we must plead for strength to come out of it and to be made strong. When we look out of self to Christ and trust Him, then strength comes. The man who says with Moses, I am slow of speech, may find by holy faith a holy courage, and the tongue once bound becomes loosed to glorify God and edify others. Your desire to be done with future stumbling and to walk as Jesus walked is not in vain, for God has promised to renew the mind and to work in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure as we abide in Christ and His words abide in us.

Concerning confession, you have done well to take words with you and turn to the Lord, saying, Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously. Such confession to God should be plain and full and spontaneous. He cannot be polluted by your iniquity, so pour it out before Him without reserve, and He is faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse from all unrighteousness. To your fellow creature the confession is to be general, that you are a sinner in need of grace, and then to pray for one another that you may be healed. The prayers of the righteous, offered in faith, are powerful and effective, as Elijah proved, and as many have proved who have been helped by the prayers of others when tribulation pressed them beyond human bearing and taught them to trust only in Him who raises the dead.

Do not be discouraged because recovery seems slow. As with the body after long illness, the soul that has been afflicted often regains strength by slow degrees. It was good for you to be afflicted that you might learn His commands, and though discipline seems not joyous but grievous for the present, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. The Lord who is gracious and compassionate will work all things together for good to those who love Him. He who perfected the Author of our salvation through suffering will also perfect His work in you.

Therefore submit yourself completely and trust entirely, setting both your strength and your weakness aside and giving yourself up for God to use you, and you shall renew your strength. Wait upon the Lord, and you shall mount up as on wings. Seek to be strengthened with strength in the Lord, not with fussy weakness but with quiet strength for His work. With the heart believe unto righteousness, and with the mouth make confession unto salvation, not once only but as the tenor of a transformed life. Let your confession be seen in your whole affairs, in humility preferring others above yourself, in love that is slow to anger, in speech seasoned with grace.

We join you in prayer. Father, we thank You that we may come boldly to the throne of grace through the one Mediator, Jesus Christ, the only Name given under heaven by which we must be saved. Forgive and cleanse this Your servant according to 1 John 1:9 and Proverbs 28:13, as sins are confessed and forsaken. Grant contentment in Your presence who has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. Teach the tongue to be an instrument of righteousness, and make this weakness strong by faith. Renew the mind, grant a harvest of righteousness and peace, and cause Your servant to walk in holiness and in the confidence and quietness which Your Spirit gives. Keep Your child abiding in Christ, bearing much fruit to Your glory, and looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who is worthy. In the Name of Jesus we ask, Amen.

 

[bobr69]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name.