Unpacking Prayer

Part 8: Confession, Repentance and Forgiveness

Matthew 6:9-13

“In this manner, therefore pray, Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

Prayer that starts in the right place of praise leads us to the proper place of humility when praying about relationships with others.

We see God correctly.

We see ourselves correctly.

We see others correctly.

The Role of Confession, Repentance and Forgiveness in Prayer

Humility about the plank in your own eye.

(Luke 6:41-42)

Luke 6:41-42

“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” is

Confession

Homologeo ( òμολογέω same thing, to confess.

) = to agree, to say the True confession of sin is to say the same thing that God does about a wrong. It is to denounce it as sin and agree with God about its negative effects in our lives.

Repentance

Metanoeo ( μετανοέω ) = to exchange a mindset, to change one’s mind, to repent. Repentance is not just a slight deviation from a course, but a complete 180 o change of direction.

Forgiveness

Aphiemi ( αφίημι ) = to send away, to bid depart, to release, to forgive, to give up, to remit.

1. Why do I have to forgive?

2. Who do I have to forgive?

3. What am I suppose to forgive?

4. How many times do I have to forgive?

1. Why do I have to forgive?

- Because God has forgiven us. (Eph. 4:31-32)

Ephesians 4:31-32

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

1. Why do I have to forgive?

- Because God has forgiven us. (Eph. 4:31-32) - Because it is good for us.

- Because it keeps us under God’s full protection.

2. Who do I have to forgive?

- Others - Ourselves - God (Prov. 19:3)

Proverbs 19:3

The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the LORD.

2. Who do I have to forgive?

- Others - Ourselves - God (Prov. 19:3)

3. What am I suppose to forgive?

There are as many words for “sin” in the Greek language as there are words for “snow” in Inuit.

Matthew 6:12-15

“And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

3. What am I suppose to forgive?

There are as many words for “sin” in the Greek language as there are words for “snow” in Inuit.

Debts – opheilema = in general anything owed.

Transgressions – paraptoma = the falling where one should have stood upright.

4. How many times do I have to forgive?

- Every time (Matt. 18:21-22)

Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

4. How many times do I have to forgive?

- Every time (Matt. 18:21-22) - All the time - Be a part of the solution

We should never have anyone indebted to us, not because we don’t ever loan out, but because we never require anything back.