Introduction:

Last week, we saw the potency of our words as Christians, either to kill or give life (“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat its fruit.” – Proverbs 18:21) and that just believing God’s words isn’t enough to activate our faith, we must go on to confessing what we believe for it to work (Mark 11:23).

I found the below statement by Price insightful:

The Word for “confession” is “homologeo”, meaning “to agree with” or “say the same thing that God says. When you say what God says, you can change the circumstances of your life with His Word. You are no denying the circumstances; rather you are confessing what God says about the situation and since God cannot lie, His Word shall come to pass. In short, a Christian is breaking the influence of Satan over his/her life and forcing him to acknowledge the Believer’s authority and victory over him. A true confession of faith always agrees with the Word of God – learn to talk God talk.

We also saw the place of confession for salvation and receiving the Holy Spirit. Today, by the help of the Holy Spirit, we will address the root cause of negative confessions among Christians.

Example of key areas where believers must confess before they possess

1. Salvation: Romans 10:9-10,13
2. Receiving the Holy Spirit: Acts 2:38-39 – A Believer needs to receive the Holy Spirit, believe and confess that He has come to infill him before He gives him utterance in tongues. It is only as he opens his mouth to speak in faith that the Holy Spirit will give him utterance to speak in tongues as the immediate evidence that he has received Him.
3. Healing: Isaiah 53:4-5, Matt. 8:17, 1 Peter 2:24 – Confessing that by His stripes you are healed is important to receiving healing. The disease and its symptoms may not leave your body at once, but as you hold fast to your confession, those symptoms will leave (Heb. 4:14). We are to hold fast to our profession or confession because we know that what God has said in His Word, He is able also to perform (Rom. 4:21).

Steps that make a believer’s confession effective

As we have already stated, confession is the expression of what one believes since human beings are constantly affirming something. Sometimes the affirmations are disastrous. In other words, the effects of such words have the power to defeat the person. For example, if someone continually says s/he can't do something because s/he doesn't have the strength, the person will begin to feel her/his strength actually diminishing. Therefore s/he is left weak and full of indecision and doubt. The person’s efficiency is gone!

Step 1: Thank God for the answer

PHILIPPIANS 4:6, 7 “6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by PRAYER and SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known unto God.7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The thanksgiving comes after the asking. Once you have asked God for something, believe and confess that you have it by faith. Therefore, thank the Father for the answer. You do not need to worry or fret any longer because you have the answer.

Step 2: Take actions that correspond with your faith/confession

Faith acts! When a believer is in faith, there will always be some actions s/he can take to demonstrate her/his faith. That may be simply confessing with your mouth, "Thank You, Father. I believe I have received my petition now when I pray" (Mark 11:24). But faith always has corresponding actions. JAMES 2:14-22 (Note the word “brethren” in this passage)

It is crucial to understand that “Confession Plus Wrong Actions Equals Faith Failures”. Believers’ actions must correspond with their believing if they are going to receive from God. James 1:22 says, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

From MATTHEW 7:24-27, one observes that it is the doers of the Word of God that withstand life's storms. The same storm and wind came upon both of these houses - the one built on rock and the one built on sand. The reason the house built on sand was destroyed is that it wasn't built on the foundation of God's Word. One was destroyed and one wasn't because the wise builder was a doer of the Word and the foolish one wasn't. It isn't the storms of life that defeat us. If the storms of life defeated us, we would all be defeated because the storms of life come to all of us. Some people face the same storms that others face and yet they are not defeated, while others who face the storms are destroyed. Those who are not defeated, act on God's Word. The defeated ones may be thoroughly saved, yet they do not have corresponding actions to go along with their faith. And they have not taken time to build their faith on the solid foundation of God's Word.

Corresponding actions could also mean to stop talking doubt and failure because doing so will eventually bring defeat.

Step 3: Don’t be anxious!

As believers, we must learn to approach God on His terms - According to His Word.

MATTHEW 6:25-34

Give up worrying habits as it hinders faith. God doesn't want us to worry. He wants us to be free from worry. He doesn't want us bound by any kind of a habit. To worry is to disobey the Word. Worry is a much worse habit than the tobacco habit. Tobacco will just half kill a person smoking it but worry can completely kill a person. Worrying is foolish; worrying never accomplishes anything productive. We are supposed to cast all our care upon Him; for He cares for us (1 PETER 5:7)

Conclusion

Confession does not mean denying present circumstances but rather it looks beyond the “reality” being wrapped up in the promises of God based on His word. Also one’s actions must be in perfect fellowship with the confession of one’s faith in His Word. We must not allow the cares of life to choke the strength of God in our lives. Let us begin to make confessions in line with God's Word.

What I Confess I Possess

I confess Jesus as my Lord. Rom. 10:9-10. I possess salvation.

I confess, "By His stripes I am healed" Is. 53:5; I possess healing.

I confess "the son has made me free" Jn. 8:36; I possess absolute freedom.

I confess "The love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost" Rom. 5:5; I possess the ability to love everyone.

I confess, "The righteous are bold as a lion" Pr.28:1; I possess lion-hearted boldness in spiritual warfare.”

I confess, "He will never leave me nor forsake me" Heb. 13:5-6; I possess the presence of God each step I take.

I confess, "I am the redeemed of the Lord" Ps. 107:2; I possess redemption benefits every day.

I confess, "the anointing of the Holy One abideth in me" 1 Jn. 2: 27; I possess yoke destroying results by this anointing” (Is. 10:27).

I confess, "I am a branch of the Living Vine" Jn. 15:5; I possess Vine-life wherever I go.

I confess, "I am the righteousness of God in Christ" 2 Cor. 5: 21; I possess the ability to stand freely in God's holy presence, and in Satan's presence as a victor!

I confess, "I am a temple of the living God" 2 Cor. 6:16; I possess God dwelling in me, and walking in me!

I confess, "My God shall supply all my need" Phil. 4: 19; I possess the supply of every need.

Contributor: Akin Akande