Text: Matthew 18:15-17
Memory verse:
”But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.“ ‭‭I John‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The first consequence of sin is guilt, and this can come with additional consequences. The first step in forgiveness is admitting your guilt. You can’t receive forgiveness without acknowledging that you are guilty and accepting responsibility for your sins. The best way to ensure that you have accepted responsibility for your wrong is to confess to the person you have hurt or your accountability partner.
Confessing to one another doesn’t bring forgiveness. It is confessing to God and putting your faith in the ability of the blood of Jesus to cleanse you that brings forgiveness.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“
‭‭(I John‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬).
Once you confess in faith to God, your sins are forgiven. Sometimes, even after that, we still feel guilty. In other words, you have been forgiven, but you aren’t feeling forgiven. Telling your sins to God will bring you forgiveness, but telling it to someone else will make you feel forgiven.
Guilt creates wounds in the heart and makes you sick. This was what David meant when he said, “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.” (Psa 32:3 NLT).
Healing takes place when you reveal your feelings. We get healed in our relationship with one another.
”Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed…”. ‭‭(Jam‬ ‭5‬:‭16). The purpose of confessing to one another is “ …that you may be healed”. That is, you confess to one another to receive healing.
Someone said there are only two kinds of people in the world. The first are the people who are broken, sinful, and know it, and the second are people who are broken, sinful, and won’t admit it. There are repercussions when we refuse to be real with each other. These include fears, isolation, damage to intimacy, and all forms of sicknesses and diseases such as ulcers, cancers, migraines, arthritis, heart diseases, depression and so forth. No wonder David said in Psalms 32:3, “When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder…” (MSG). Bitterness causes osteoporosis, that is, weak and brittle bones; degenerative diseases, and premature aging.
Friends, when you are real to one another, you walk in the light and in sound health.

Prayer points
1. Father, help me to be real in all my relationships and to admit my fault, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, I confess my sins to You and to another, and I receive my healing now, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. I receive forgiveness when I confess to God, and I receive healing when I confess to another.
2. As I get real in my relationships and I admit my wrongs, I enjoy healing and health.