James 5:16

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

James 1:14-15

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

1. Confess when you’re tempted.

2 Samuel 11:2-3 – Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. 3 He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”

2 Samuel 11:4

Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her.

2. Confess when you sin.

1 John 1:9

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

2 Samuel 11:5

Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.”

3. Confess when you’re caught.

2 Samuel 11:14

So the next morning, David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver.

15 The letter instructed Joab, “Station Uriah on the front lines where the battle is fiercest. Then pull back so

that he will be killed.”

2 Samuel 11:27

But the LORD was displeased with what David had done.

2 Samuel 12:7-14

Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man!

4. Confess when you cover up.

2 Samuel 12:7-14

Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The LORD, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. 9 Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. 10 From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own. 11 “This is what the LORD says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. 12 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.” 13 Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. 14 Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD by doing this, your child will die.”

I don’t NEED to say anything.

I don’t WANT to say anything.

I CAN’T say anything.

I WON’T say everything.

I’ve got NOTHING to hide.

James 5:19-20

My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, 20 you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

Luke 12:2-3

The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!