The 2nd Reason Why You Are Not Completely Delivered

The second common reason that I have observed is the failure to confess sin. Now, at this point, I want to say that God made the rules, and all I try to do is interpret them. I could be wrong, but I do it to the best of my ability. But if you don’t like the rules, don’t get mad with me because I didn’t make them. I just try to interpret the rules I find God has laid down. God requires that we confess our sins.

And let me tell you again what I said the other day: when you’ve confessed everything, you never told God anything He didn’t know already. You’ve never shocked God. God doesn’t demand confession for His sake, but for your sake. Now, it does say in the fifth chapter of James, which most Protestants have forgotten,

“Confess your sins one to another.”

This is part of the total discipline of the gospel.

It isn’t possible in a situation like this to have confession one to another, though a few people in most services will come up and tell me some specific thing that’s burdening their conscience, just whisper it in my ear. And I’m not encouraging you to do that, please notice. And I’ll tell you this, I don’t want to carry a garbage can around for anybody. When that garbage gets in my can, I tip it out just as quick as I can. I have enough problems of my own without carrying other people’s around with me.

There are times, however, when it is absolutely required by God that we confess not merely to Him, but to one another. A sentence which is not in scripture, but I believe it contains a scriptural principle is this: the confession must be as wide as the transgression. If you have transgressed against God only, then you need to confess to God only. But if you have transgressed not only against God, but against man, then your confession must include those against whom you have transgressed.

Now, this is commonest in my experience in the matter of adultery. Adultery is a very common reason why people have guilt, oppression, and demonic obsession. And lots of people are in mental homes for the basic reason of adultery. As far as I understand God, if you want deliverance, and you’ve been guilty of adultery, you do not qualify for deliverance unless you’re willing to confess it to your partner in marriage. For my part, I won’t pray for a person for deliverance unless they’ll promise to do that, if I’m aware that they’re guilty of that sin. Because the whole basis of deliverance is truth.

“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

And a person who’s been unfaithful to his or her partner, does not confess, is living in a lie. And there cannot be permanent peace or deliverance. That’s my personal conviction. If you can get God to change His mind, you’re welcome to try.

Lots of people said, “I don’t know what my husband will say.” But I know not a few marriages that have been rescued by confession. And I don’t know one that’s ever yet been broken up, unless it was already broken up before. In the last resort, you have to do what God requires and leave the consequences with God. There’s an old hymn that says, “Trust in God and do the right.” And it still applies. If you don’t want to do it, don’t argue with me. If you can get God to change His mind, fine and good. You know what I’ve found about God? He has no moods. You never catch God in another mood.

The other thing that I have learned by experience, which God often requires to be confessed specifically, is the deliberate procuring of an abortion. When a baby is due to be born, and this is prevented deliberately. Now, I’m not a Catholic, but I have discovered that God classifies this as murder. And it has to be confessed as murder. I’m not telling you that God will not forgive you. Surely, He will forgive you. But He demands that you come down to the point, name it, and bring it out in the open. You don’t have to go and tell all your family and relatives, unless they’re intimately involved in it.