Confession
of Faith - #101
I
have suffered. The Lord has heard my crying and seen my tears.
I am learning obedience by the things that I have suffered.
Suffering shall usher me into his presence to prepare me to
reign with him. He is the author of eternal salvation unto all
them that obey him. The servant is not greater than his master.
I will take patiently the buffeting that has come. This is acceptable
with God. I determine to endure grief and persecution. I choose
to not revile because others revile me.
Jesus
is the Shepherd and Bishop of my soul. I am as a lamb led to
the slaughter, and I will follow his example and proceed in
his steps. He is my example. Now I do as he has done. I call
him Lord and Master; therefore, I do as he has done, for he
has given me a proper example. I must be conformed to his image,
the image of the Son. All things are working together for good.
I love him, and I am called according to his purpose. I will
speak no more of all the things that are happening except to
say, "If God be for you, who can be against you?"
He
did not spare his own Son. He delivered him up for all. If he
gave his son, he will surely give me all things. He justified
me. None shall lay anything to my charge. There is no one that
can condemn me. It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is
risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also
maketh intercession for me. No one can separate me from the
love of Christ. I am fully persuaded that nothing shall be able
to separate me from the love of God that he has shed abroad
in my heart by the Holy Ghost. I walk in love just as Christ
has loved me. He gave himself for me as an offering and a sacrifice
to him for a sweet-smelling savor. By the power of his offering,
his sacrifice, his life, and words of my testimony, shame is
banished. Joy that was set before me has strengthened my faith.
Joy has placed me before the throne of grace in holy boldness.
I rejoice. He has made me glad.
Confession
of Faith - #102
I
did not ask for the gift within me. God gave it to me. Now I
do not despise the pain that comes with it. I am taking these
things for him. If I suffer for righteousness' sake, happy am
I. I rejoice, and I am glad. The light of the word shines brighter
in times of persecution. He was scourged for my sake. I come
and view the crimson stream of blood again. I look into the
Spirit, and I behold his hands and feet dripping blood. His
flesh was bathed in his own blood as he trod the winepress alone.
The grapes of wrath spewed the juice of redemption. The wine
of atonement has been poured into earthen vessels. I was chosen
to drink the fruit of life's vine. The wine of the living vineyard
is supplied for my peace. I drink the fruit of his vine, and
I know the joy of redemption. I offer praise for fresh wine.
I drink from the fountain of new wine. The wine will make me
merry, and my tongue shall be glad. With a glad tongue and a
merry heart, I confess my trust in the living God. I drink the
living wine. The life in it will lift my heart and my spirit.
I drink and satisfy my thirst. Here is bread. He is filling
me with fresh bread and fresh wine. I taste and see how good
he is.
Confession
of Faith - #103
I
allow the inspiration that is in me to flow freely without the
hindrances of my own understanding or philosophies. God is in
me, and he speaks. He is my Father, the spirit that speaks in
me. He has written in my heart and in my mind. His mind is in
me, and now by the mind of Christ Jesus, I am as Adam when he
was without sin. I am as he, the second man Adam and the Lord
from heaven. I will not resist this that is happening unto me,
for he has placed himself in me, and he speaks and gives me
inspiration. It is not me that speaks but the spirit of my Father
who speaks in me. I will not frustrate his grace by my own thinking,
but I am relaxed, and I rest in this grace, which has abounded
toward me. I am thankful, for he has been good to me. His mercy
will never stop enduring for me and toward me. The hand of the
enemy once held me in the palm of his hands and tormented me
with his big voice. Now in Christ Jesus, I am in the hand of
the good shepherd who redeemed me from the hand of my enemy.
I speak aloud and say what I have experienced. I have experienced
the mighty act of redemption. Now I say so.
Confession
of Faith - #104
It
is the Lord Jesus who gathered me unto himself. I once was a
wanderer. When he found me, there was no place to go. I was
dwelling in the pits of this world, wandering from one pit to
another. I ate the vomit from the pits of this life, and my
soul was starved, hungry, and thirsty for the good food of life.
When I cried out unto God from the pits of distress and despair,
he delivered me and brought me into this narrow path, which
is the right way. A city of refuge has now become my habitation.
I choose to continue to praise him for his goodness and then
will I see his presence come as a giant earthmover and move
my mountains of trouble. I won't wait until my longing soul
is satisfied to praise him. While I am yet hungry and thirsty,
I will praise him, and he will surely satisfy my longing soul
and fill my hungry soul with his goodness. I remember the pit
where I once sat in darkness and in the shadow of death. I was
bound there in the chains of sin and distress. Panic was the
expression of my countenance, and the sins of my life were the
bars on the windows of my soul. I had ignorantly served a cruel
slave master and dwelled in the tents of wickedness. No friend
could come to my rescue, for all were barred from my prison
house, and there was none to help. When I cried unto God from
my pit of sin, he heard my cry and saved me. I no longer dwell
in a prison house, and I do not make the bars of sin my window.
I do not dwell in the darkness of this life, but I come forth
unto the light of grace. I hold forth my heart, and he will
cut asunder all of my chains. He has come with deliverance in
his hands. The gates of evil and the gates of mistakes and misfortune
cannot bar him from me. He loves me, and he has come with plenteous
redemption. He has forgiven all my sins, and now he will not
be afflicted because of my transgressions. He will deliver me
out of all of my troubles and distresses. Sickness has plagued
me and tormented me for years, yet it has not consumed me. Its
threat is void of power, and its effect has failed in its expression
to manifest defeat. I have been weak, and I have been worn,
yet I am not defeated, nor destroyed. He sent his word and healed
me. Destruction must now look for another avenue of expression,
for he closed the pathway of my life and barred out sickness
and destruction.
Confession
of Faith - #105
The
Lord has received my praises for his goodness and his wonderful
works unto me. When I praised him and brought thanksgiving unto
his feet, it was a sacrifice well pleasing unto him. The brokenness
that followed was not of me but of him, for I was void of the
right sacrifice. When he brought his works of the past unto
my mind, then did thanksgiving flow freely. Without God's grace
and his mercy, I would not have seen the great light of gratitude,
but he shined the light of mercy and grace, and I did see and
think with a grateful mind. Many will awaken unto the dark chambers
of ingratitude and unthankfulness. He knows, but I do not know.
I lift up my eyes unto the place where I now reside and know
that the stormy wind and the mighty waves of destruction passed
me by because of his love. I am grateful, and I rejoice, for
Jesus brought me to a heavenly place and did not allow me to
sink into the depths of ruin and despair. Many have no place
to go today, and many do not have a family. Many are homeless,
and many stagger with the sicknesses of this world. He has responded
toward me with goodness. Now I give thanks for the calm sea
of life that is all about me. He has brought me quietness, blessed
quietness. There is no storm round about me; therefore, I am
glad, for he has chosen this day to express his love and make
me glad. My barn overflows, and my pockets are not empty. My
soul is free, and my family dwells with me. I give thanks, and
I am glad, for he has brought me unto a haven of goodness. I
am determined to continually give thanks and be an example of
his goodness in the midst of the people. I will not allow despair
to come from behind me and stir me unto the tornado of doubt
and unbelief, but I will give praise at all times. Even when
I journey through a wilderness, even when I journey through
dry places, even when I do not seem to be fruitful, even when
things stalk me with uncertainty, I will continue to give thanks
for his goodness unto me and his mercy which endures forever.
Confession
of Faith - #106
The
mighty have fallen by the sword, and the redeemed have been
led away into bondage by their own lust. Doubt and unbelief
have turned the songs of Zion unto pity and mourning. Self-righteousness
has turned the fruitful unto barren trees of covetousness and
pride. Vain deceit has brought the elect to the door of the
harlot with inquisitive minds of lust after her beauty. The
mighty have fallen while looking back, even when they had a
Savior to hold them up in the presence of royalty. I know of
a truth, that many are fulfilling these things as he speaks
unto me because they have put their hands to the plow and have
looked back. I do not discount his word and think that he does
not count disciples unfit for him and the kingdom of God. He
is a jealous God; therefore, I love him with all my heart, mind,
soul, and strength. He will not share me with another, neither
will he give his glory to another. He brings encouragement to
those who love him. However, those who do not love him will
find this word displeasing as it pricks their hearts with conviction
and rejection. He rejected Saul, and he is rejecting many today
because they love him not. Many are fallen by the wayside because
they do not receive the love of the truth that they might be
saved. I hear the voice of the Spirit, and I am blessed by the
sound of redemption. The sound of redemption sounds in my ears
and greets me with the melody of grace. Grace speaks in my ears
and teaches with the hymns of love. Upon my bed last night,
he showed me the folly of turning my back on him. The melody
of grace teaches me respect for him and honor of his word. There
is no void in his word.
Confession
of Faith - #107
Many
sing from the strange lands of alienation today. They cannot
sing the songs of Zion. I cannot sing the new songs of redemption
and grace in the strange land of sin. I am determined not to
go to the rivers of the world with the soldiers of lust and
pride. I will not be taken by the captors who search for cold-hearted
believers. Those who are taken into captivity will sit down
beside the rivers of the world and remember the joy of the church
and not be able to return. They will weep when they remember
Zion. They will hang their spiritual harps of joy on the weeping
willows of the world. The occupants of the world will ask me
to sing a joyful song, but I cannot sing the Lord's song in
the strange land of sin. It would be better to lose the functions
of my right hand than to forget God and his grace. It would
be better to be an invalid whose awareness is just as real as
mine, yet not able to function with normal mobility than to
forget the Lord and his mercy. I behold the invalids of the
hour and reflect upon their agony. I behold those with strokes
and reflect upon their torment. They are tormented day and night
as they hear every sound, yet cannot communicate or activate
their desires and wills. I count all my pains joy, and I rejoice
in my salvation, for the Lord, my God, has blessed me with abundance
of grace and goodness. I come and praise the Lord with my whole
heart before the gods of the world as they seek my praise and
adoration. I worship in the body of Christ and praise the name
of God for his lovingkindness and his truth. He has magnified
his word above his name. In the day that I cried unto him, he
answered me and strengthened me with strength in my soul. Every
tongue shall swear, and every knee shall bow unto him. All the
kings of the earth shall praise him; therefore, I will let those
who gather around to take me captive hear the words of my mouth
in praise. I sing in the ways of the Lord, for great is the
glory of the Lord. He is high and mighty, yet he has respect
unto the lowly. It is the proud that must know from afar off.
I humble myself unto him, and when I walk in the midst of trouble,
he will revive me.
Confession
of Faith - #108
Jesus
will stretch forth his hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and his right hand shall save me. He will perfect that which
concerns him, so I do not fear, neither am I filled with dismay.
His mercy endures forever; therefore, I do not forsake the works
of my own hands for him. I continue in his goodness, and I am
not weary. Due season is here, and I shall reap. I lift up my
voice and sing a new song. He has placed a gift within me. I
lift up my voice and speak faith unto the body of Christ. I
will go and say, "Your Redeemer lives. He lives within you and
shows great strength unto the weak. He revives those who expect
his grace to save them. He lifts the lowly from their pits of
despair. Be lifted in your souls, for the Lord, your God, surely
cares."
Confession
of Faith - #109
A
crimson stream of blood paves an access to the Lord's throne
for me. I have entered into the joy of life by precious blood.
I lift up my voice in triumphant praise in his presence. Fullness
of joy awaits me on his right hand where pleasures are kept.
The right hand of his presence brings to me comfort and blessed
assurance. Spiritual beasts do not chase me today. The safety
of his hand is a powerful refuge for my soul. His hand is a
green pasture with living water. The guilty stains of sin are
cleansed, and the echoes of the voices of worry are silenced.
A space for rest is provided for me. I have come and lay down
in his hand. He has embraced me with the security of love. In
the quietness of the morning, grace has filled me with desire
to be here. I have allowed the throne of grace to serve as a
resting place, and I have fallen upon the foundations of mercy.
His throne is held up by mercy. Love found me upon my bed and
brought me here for fellowship and communion. His love is perceived
by his action on the cross. Now I give thanks that I hear the
voice of communion. I open my ears to this voice of comfort
and peace. He has summoned me here to assure me of the faithfulness
directed to those who believe in his voice. The Lord came walking
in the garden in the cool of the day. Adam looked forward to
hearing his voice. The Lord appeared unto Abram. He opened his
ears to hear his voice. My ears are opened, and my eyes are
not closed. He has opened my understanding so that I might understand
the scriptures. He has brought me into the throne room to eat
the bread of the morning and to drink the water of peace. The
words that he speaks unto me are spirit. They are life. I am
ministered unto by his Spirit. I lie down in his presence with
the foundations of mercy as my pillow. He is ministering unto
me; therefore, I rest in his love.
Confession
of Faith - #110
Jesus
is the minister of the sanctuary. I am a sanctuary of worship
and praise. My sanctuary is a temple of the Holy Ghost. There
is the fire of trial in the temples of God. My adversary has
sought God's sanctuaries as shrines of temptation, jealousy,
bitterness, and wrath. I am filled with his Spirit, and I am
always ready to forgive and suffer for his name. I was called
to suffer for righteousness' sake. When I am reproached for
his name's sake, the consuming fire of love shall be my defense
and my refuge. I do not sell my relationship with him in exchange
for bitterness and revenge. I do not choose the venom of revenge
as an answer to suffering that is inflicted upon me by others.
I am marked for alienation and loneliness. Though these things
stalk me and threaten me, I know of a truth, that he will never
leave me or forsake me. I draw nearer to him, and the power
of our relationship shall nullify unforgiveness and bitterness.
The power of our relationship shall give me love for others
when they fail and grow weak in faithfulness and loyalty. He
has ministered love, conviction, and abundant grace unto me.
I am assured that the ministry of the Spirit has done more than
reveal things unto me. He has supplied all that I need to be
an overcomer.
Confession
of Faith - #111
God
has taught me by many means. I lift up my eyes unto the teachings
of nature and behold how grace has saved me from shame. The
natural production of grace has given me a new lineage in a
heavenly place. I behold the declarations in the heavenly dimensions
of life. The heavens declare God's glory, and the firmament
shows me his handiwork. I have not looked to the heavens lately
to learn of the declarations being declared. God's glory is
being declared even now. I will listen to the declaration of
the heavens. The days are a constant reminder of a language
that is foreign to many, but to those who have understanding,
yesterday and today have spoken clearly the language of time.
The nights are a constant reminder of a knowledge that is laid
out for even the simple. I open up my heart and hear the voice
of the heavens, the days, and the nights. I behold the writing
of the heavens. I behold the alphabet of the day and the night.
The words that these fashion for man are from one end of the
world unto the other end. Throughout the earth, the voice of
day and night has spoken unto me. I rise up and become as a
sun in time. I purpose to come out of my chamber of romance
and rejoice with the stars in their victory. Night does not
end the reign of the stars, neither does day prevent their glow.
Their glow is just as glorious in the background of the day
as it is against the background of the night. Though their glow
is not seen clearly by the human eye, they are not stripped
of their glory. I am determined to rise and shine as the stars
of the heavens, and the heat of my experience shall shine and
bring many souls out of hiding. God is my shield and my exceeding,
great reward. I am Christ's seed; therefore, I am Abraham's
seed and an heir according to the promises. God has broken the
bondage of barrenness and given me souls in my bowels. Abram
looked toward the heavens and saw the stars, yet if he could
have numbered them, he could have told the number of his seed.
Though he could not fathom the number, he yet believed, and
it was counted to him for righteousness. I believe in the promises.
I have looked to the heavens and beheld the glory of my God.
Confession
of Faith - #112
The
Lamb was slain before the foundations of the world. The horror
of great darkness fell upon the Lamb before I was created. Before
the world was and before there was a sun, God was the smoking
furnace and the burning lamp that passed between the torn pieces
of the Lamb. Now he is the promiser who is fulfilling the promise
declared by the sacrifice of the Lamb. The slaying of the Lamb
before the foundations of the world was enough for my insufficiency
today. Now I believe that I shall have spiritual children because
of his promise. Fulfillment shall come because of promise, not
because of my works. I am not worthy of the least of all God's
mercies and of all the truth that he has shown me. I must stop
looking at my efforts and look again to the promise made to
me. I believe the promises, and I will not faint in the face
of the coming perplexities and fears. I cannot buy the enemy's
favor. I will not attempt to give him the gift of compromise
for his favor. His wrath is perpetual and deadly. My gifts will
not change his mind. He has only one intent and that is to destroy
me. I look no longer at this intimidating foe, but I look to
Jesus, and I accept the blessing that he has already poured
into me by his spirit. God has made me a prince who has power
with him and with men. It was given by grace and not by my works;
therefore, I rise up and present the banner and emblem of praise,
which testifies of my blessings. I look and behold God's glory
in the face of my brothers and sisters. I look and behold the
power of the Lord God in their faces. He is the miracle worker
who has transformed their lives and made them glad. I will be
glad, for he has made me a coat of many colors. I am free to
dream his God-given dreams of victory and power. I am free to
live out the dreams of the Church, and I behold their reality
in the presence of my enemies. I lift up my eyes from the pits
of unbelief, the prisons of lies, and the distress of rejections.
The reality of my God-given visions has dawned upon me. Now
I lift up my voice in praise, and I receive the power of God
to make my visions a reality.
Confession
of Faith - #113
My
past should be sealed in the book of profitability and only
read and learned from so that the same mistakes are not committed
in the future. Some of the things that I have experienced were
because of other people's mistakes, but some bad things experienced
by others are because of me. I determine to cease balancing
the books of the past, and I will go on to the joyful things
of today and tomorrow. How someone else could have done what
they did to me, is not the issue today, but how I responded
to what they did, will be an issue tomorrow. I may choose by
my obedience or my disobedience as to what I will regret or
enjoy. I choose to worship the God of life and then will I wish
and pray to live. If I worship the god of self or the god of
this world, then I will wish and pray to die. The god of this
world is ugly and cruel, but Jesus is kind and compassionate.
He did not mean the things in my life for bad. He meant them
for good. I must learn to bring sweetness out of the bitter
things of life and good out of evil. I have grown in the knowledge
of God, yet I wrestle with what's fair and what's wrong. When
I have won Christ and an excellent knowledge of him, then will
I count all the bad things that I suffer joy rather than sadness.
When I worship God and live for him, then all my sufferings
are for his name's sake and not for doing evil. I am sad because
I am reaping the crop for my evil planting. I arise from my
bed of regret, and I will go to the harvest field of future
joy. I can go there and plant the seeds of good. I determine
to be patient, and I will have a harvest of fruit that is a
great consolation to me.
Confession
of Faith - #114
God
is the God of honor; therefore, I do not charge him with allowing
things to happen as a punishment to me. Grace is teaching me.
I am learning. If I do not go through the hard times, then I
am going to cast the lessons of great value into the pits of
this world. I will have suffered in vain if I do not learn from
my pains. What I expected during the harvest of my evil sowing,
was an erroneous expectation. I cannot expect a celebration
of victory when I have sown the seeds of mourning and grief.
The crop of deception was sown long ago. Now I eat the bitter
seeds of my sowing and then joy will come because of godly endurance.
I will not be deceived. God is not mocked. Whatsoever a person
sows, that is what that person will reap. Jesus ate the bitter
herbs and drank the bitter cup of my sins for the joy that he
set before him. Now I come to him, and he will help me eat and
drink of my bitter experiences that the horror of their reality
is dulled by God's mercy and grace that he will give to me.
I may eat it alone, but he offers me his companionship. Jesus
ate and drank from my bitter lot alone. Those wrong shall taste
of bitterness. No one was available to eat and drink with the
right. There is pleasure in sin, yet only for a season. I remember
my pleasures while I sinned, and I learned that all the pleasures
enjoyed in the bread and wine of sin are not worth the judgment
and cost of these sins. The pleasures are gone now. The remembrances
of their gratifying feelings are gone. I behold a better way,
the way of the cross where emotions are crucified with Christ.
I will go to the cross and live with a cross borne upon me then
will I enjoy the victory of discipleship.
Confession
of Faith - #115
Sin
is deceptive. When it is finished, it will mock me. Though sin
hides behind the face of beauty, it is ugly when exposed and
finished. When sin is finished, it will send me into a rage.
My rage will not receive an answer from sin when I question
the tabernacle of its dwelling. Silence will be its answer,
and ignorance shall be its expression when I inquire to find
out the why to the pain that produces the rage of insanity.
Wisdom writes with the pen of pain. Wisdom draws with the paintbrush
of rage. The chaotic expression that wisdom has drawn is not
a disorderly design without any meaning, but its dark and empty
form is the picture that depicts the only results that sin can
bring. I cannot pay my debt. Jesus paid for me to live righteously,
godly, and soberly, not to live and continue in sin. Grace will
not abound if I continue to live in sin. Grace will teach me
in spite of what I think about the consequences. The consequences
of sin yield a great harvest of pain and sorrow, but the blessings
of obedience and grace yield the greater harvest of joy and
success. A kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies then
it brings forth much fruit. In place of the lonely kernel, I
have an abundance of fruit. I choose the blessings of abundance
in righteousness, which comes from my time alone in fellowship
with God. I do not choose the curses of abundance in unrighteousness,
which comes from my time alone in fellowship with sin. I will
choose this day what I shall reap. The scheme of deception has
an evil ending. The drama of its script sounds good, but the
cost of its production is enormous. I will pay in the end. After
sin is finished, the horrible scheme is revealed according to
its true value. God's word brings light so that I might see
the end of sin's entire plight. I am not an exception who would
escape the burns of the fire carried in the bosom. I am not
an exception whose feet will not be burned from walking on hot
coals of fire. I have walked in the wrong places. Now I learn
from my travels and become a teacher of righteousness then will
my sufferings have real value. I cannot teach others if I am
not acquainted with the devices of evil. Many are ignorant of
the devil's devices. I elect not to remain ignorant after suffering
so much. The only good that can come out of my sufferings is
the lessons in righteousness and wisdom that are learned by
me. These lessons must be taught to others that their obedience
may be exchanged for their love toward God. He will reward them
that my children and their children might be spared from my
defeats. I will go and make a new covenant with God, and he
will show me how the ugliness of this experience shall become
the embrace of beauty and understanding.
Confession
of Faith - #116
I
purpose to embrace the arms of regret and despair no longer.
I will stop halting between my own opinions and God's realities.
If I continue to squeeze regret's arms as a lover in the time
of misunderstanding, then regret will squeeze the desire to
live from my bosom. I will go to the arms of eternal love and
allow the embrace of holiness to blow the fresh breath of life
within me. God has allowed me to keep the spirit that he gave
to me. I choose not to allow my soul to live in misery. Truth
paints a picture that brings pain and exposure to that which
is wicked. I ask truth not to lie for me, for it does not know
how to lie. It can only tell the truth that it is. This is truth's
picture of my life. Now I allow God to change this reality by
the transformation of his righteousness upon this ugly scene.
I look at this ugly scene again. I do not like what I see. The
pleasures I remember are not worth this scene filled with the
death of efforts, dreams, and visions. I will bring the Lord
this ugly scene, and he will create a new life as he created
a good world when the first one became ugly, dark, and without
form. The world of chaos did not resist the moving of his spirit
upon its face. Now I cease my resisting, and I break under the
power of God's actions upon the face of my life. He will create
a new life for me and make things inside of me brand new then
will the old scene of defeat and wasted efforts be buried in
the chambers of an old, hard heart of sin. The Lord will take
away the stony heart and give me another heart of flesh. I will
go and receive of the transformation on high. I will go, for
he has beckoned. Now I go and will be changed forever.
Confession
of Faith - #117
Jesus
is the Lord. He does not change. He is the same from everlasting
to everlasting, for he is the Everlasting God. He touches me
this morning with a fresh anointing of his spirit. He will do
a thing in my life that I will not believe. He is, and because
he is, he will reward me according to his lovingkindness. He
will touch me this morning. I believe. He touches my soul. He
touches my mind. He touches my spirit. No one can touch me the
way God can touch me. Jesus is the Living Savior, the God of
the whole earth. He has come with an abundance of his mercy.
This mercy shall make a way for me through the fog and the weakness
I have felt in the last few weeks. Mercy has picked me up with
the compassion of his nature. With all gentleness, has the Lord
allowed his mercy to pluck me from the hands of the devourer.
Now I rest in the hands of his mercy. Mercy shall carry me through
all the areas before me that have appeared dark and hopeless.
I can lean on the arms of mercy as goodness grants me the good
things of God's spirit and his provision. Goodness shall take
back all that was stolen from me. Goodness shall bring forth
changes in the complexion of the impossibilities before me.
I ask, "How will I make it in the future?"
God
says, "How have you made it this far?"
By
the same grace, by the same goodness, by the same mercy, by
the hand of the same Lord, I will make it. He has not brought
me this far to allow an enemy to trample me while I seek the
truth concerning him. I lift my hands and worship Jesus, the
Living God, the Eternal Spirit, the only Lord God. He has blessed
me with the blessing of his goodness. Now I believe as Abraham
believed. I determine to get up from my own struggles and endure
to the end where these impossibilities are over. I know of a
truth, that all things are possible to me because I believe.
I purpose to stagger not at these fogs of misunderstanding through
unbelief. I will only be strong in faith as I give glory to
God. He will grant me the victory and will place it in my hands
and in my innermost being. I believe.
Confession
of Faith - #118
The
Lord is granting me joy, unspeakable joy, in the midst of the
storm of confusion. He is not the author of confusion. He is
not the author of strife. He is not the author of misunderstanding.
He is the author of peace; therefore, I embrace the Prince of
peace within my life. Jesus is the peace-bringer. He is the
prosperity-bringer. He shall show forth his love in dimensions
that I have not imagined. He shall show forth the glory of the
revelation of himself, and the fire of the revelation shall
bruise the head of trouble and conspiracy. The Lord has already
made a way through the deserts of my life. He has already made
a way through the low places in my deserts of life. He has provided
a table here. This table is filled with fresh bread, meat, water,
and wine. This is my table of victory. Now I prepare to eat
from Victory's table. In Jesus' name, I have this victory. I
choose not to allow uncertainty to rob me of my peace of mind.
I look not upon the emotions felt in my body or my spirit, but
I will be focused upon Jesus, the Lord of all. I must focus
my eyes upon him and the peace that passes all understanding.
When I do not understand, I need to remember that God has given
me the bread of peace. I will eat this bread of peace, and my
entire body, soul, and spirit shall feel the calm of his Holy
Spirit. Though I feel like giving up, there is peace in him.
Though I feel like giving up, there is comfort in God. Though
I do not see the way out, there is grace in him. The Lord has
given me the shield of faith. Now I receive of the activation
of this shield against the furious blows of strife and confusion.
I lift up my voice and behold the victory in Jesus. Victory
is in him. All that I need, all that I want, and all that I
have prayed for is in him at the table of victory. Though it
seems as though it is a long way off, I will remember that God
is walking with me. I will remember that he is in me to do exceeding,
abundantly, above all that I am able to ask or think according
to his power that works in me.
Confession
of Faith - #119
I
have reached out for God's hands. They are stable and immovable.
I called on him. He heard my cry even in my weakness he heard,
and he has replied. I know of a truth, that he has replied.
God demonstrates the volume of his loud voice, which shall speak
on my behalf. I do not fear. He will speak for me. He has ways
of speaking that I have not heard; therefore, I will listen
for the sounds that I have never heard. He shall send forth
a clear, directional sound and all who eat from the table of
victory shall have ears to hear this clear sound of victory.
I must hold fast to the substance of the things that I hope
for. Hope will not make me ashamed. I talked to God in prayer
in the time of my problems. Now he will speak through events
and surprises that shall spell in simplicity, the power of his
love for me. By faith, I will hear the voice of events that
shall declare the Lord's faithfulness in the trying times of
this hour. I walk on by faith. There is no task too difficult.
There is no warrior from this valley that shall slay the arms
of my faith. God has strengthened my muscles of faith. Now I
behold how he has worked out the things that seemed impossible.
Faith in God will not fail. Faith in God will stand in the midst
of scorching air and wind of this valley of impossibilities.
The cloud of love has come to bring me the shade of my faithfulness.
Now I behold the cool breath of peace during this hot time of
persecution and subtle attacks. God will confirm his love and
his promises. He has not promised and denied his word to me.
He has embraced his promises in his own bosom and has drawn
me nigh to the bosom of my Father. I know of a truth, that God
has worked out the complexities left by broken promises and
seemingly wasted dreams. The promises that the Lord made to
me have not failed, neither has he forgotten what he promised
me. Men may lie to me and change their minds, but Jesus is the
Lord, and he does not change. He has not granted me faith to
trust him and then drawn back his promises. I trusted as a child.
Now God will reward me according to that child-like faith. By
faith, right now, God demonstrates his faithfulness to his promises.
He has started a good work in me, and he will finish what he
has promised and started. I allow him, the resurrection, to
work through me, and he will show me the magnificence of his
spirit. He has expressions that I have never seen, poems that
have never been penned, words that the gainsayers cannot resist,
songs that ears have not heard, and letters that have never
been written.
Confession
of Faith - #120
I
purpose to allow God to lead me into dimensions that the church
has never ventured into. I allow him to lead me into the future
glory for his church. Human reasoning has stepped before his
throne to present its case. The Lord shall thrust out the spirit
of man's way and bring his church to the dimensions of light
in this evening time. I must open my heart up to him and leave
the past in the past where it should be. The past belongs in
the land which is forgotten. I praise God with a loud voice
today, and he will show me the power of the resurrection in
my today and my tomorrows. I will not be distressed by the things
that are taken away from me. Man cannot take away anything from
God. Only that which is man's will be taken from me. God has
sent a flood of his spirit in the midst of the people. This
flood of his spirit shall drown the things of philosophy and
man's reasoning. I determine not to be intimidated by what is
directed toward me. God is greater inside of me. He will buffet
all these things, for he has bought me with his blood. I will
not complain because of the incidents of the hour, but I count
all these things joy. I think on the things that are of a good
report, and I will be in tune with the glow of God's spirit
and not the vibrations from the graveyards of the hour.
Confession
of Faith - #121
God
is a Spirit; therefore, I worship him in spirit and in truth.
He has not brought me here to die by the hands of confusion.
The strength of peace has lifted me and brought me to his table
of fresh bread. I determine to eat this bread with my mind at
peace. I cannot assimilate this spiritual meal if my nerves
and emotions are slashed with the sword of confusion. I purpose
to eat and be glad in the presence of evil. I shall be filled
with his goodness, and I shall behold the victory over my imaginations.
Assumptions have attempted to trip me up, but the Lord has sent
his word and cut away the cords and the hands of assumptions.
I stand, but I take heed how I stand. I determine not to think
that I am standing in my own pride but to know of truth, that
I stand because of his grace and his mercy. God's love has left
me standing as many are falling in this hour of great grace.
I count not myself to have apprehended, but I know of a truth,
that it is possible for all to fall without his grace. I determine
not to trust in my own ability, neither my mind that will contend
to be religious and speak through my unbelief and carnality.
I trust in him, and he will allow the spirit of wisdom and of
revelation to speak through me and for me. I cease wrestling
to obtain and keep things and positions. The Lord lifts up one
and casts down another. I cannot keep what he does not keep
for me; therefore, I relinquish all that is mine to him, and
his security will keep the things he has promised me. Now he
will keep that which he has promised me. I will eat the bread
of plenty and be strengthened in my faith and my love. I love
him, therefore; I believe all things promised me, for he is
faithful.
Confession
of Faith - #122
The
royalty and majesty of an eagle is not full of glory when it
lowers itself to stand and walk in the low places of the environment.
I was not chosen to stand on the straw and brush of carnality,
but I was chosen to soar in heavenly places in Christ. The enemy
will corner me if I walk after the flesh and not after the spirit.
Though the enemy gives tactics that are wise in the eyes of
man, these tactics and their results can be defeated by man.
I choose spiritual tactics and spiritual weapons rather than
carnal methods of living. I will beware of the strategies of
the enemy. He will accuse and draw me into the line of his fire
as I seek to justify myself. I purpose not to fight the enemy's
accusations with my own words, neither with a compromise of
the spiritual principles given me. I determine to fight the
enemy's accusation with a silent heart and a silent tongue.
I remember, the Lord is my defense and my avenger. I trust,
and now I will not be ensnared in these subtle devices of the
devil. I purpose never to choose revenge as a defense. My barrage
of words in my own defense will escalate with every expression.
Words are easy to pick up, yet hard to put down. I determine
not to pick words from the wisdom of man and carnality, for
they are snares used by my enemy to bind me up. I listen to
the voice of the spirit and not to the voice of revenge. Revenge
is bitter. It is never sweet. Though the taste of revenge tastes
sweet to raging emotions, it is bitter to the belly and my future.
I do not taste it lest I develop a taste I cannot control.
Confession
of Faith - #123
Many
have allowed themselves to be exiled in the corners of their
own kingdoms, subjugated and enslaved by their own actions of
self-justification and revenge. I remember that there is no
earthly heritage worth preserving at the expense of my spiritual
inheritance. Many have lost their spiritual heritage because
they have chosen to fight with carnal methods rather than submitting
to the ways of the Lord. His ways are spiritual. I determine
to fight the good fight of faith and understand what that means.
The weapons of my warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty
through him to the pulling down of strongholds and every high
thing that exalts itself above his knowledge. The Lord's knowledge
will not fail, for there is no failure in him. He is compassionate,
and he has my good in mind. I allow him to fulfill that which
he has chosen for me and not seek the things I have set as earthly
goals for myself. I purpose to seek the counsel of godly men,
for there is safety in a multitude of counselors. I determine
to learn to rule in peace and then will I never be harsh with
orders from laws, but the spirit of the law of God shall rule
and abide unto effective leadership. If I use laws instead of
grace, I will force others to fight. If I force others to fight,
I will be defeated because I cannot fight and win. The Lord
will not defend me in the fights I author by my own schemes.
I will follow after God and then the leading of his spirit will
show me the way to fight by the vengeance of the Lord and not
the vengeance of man. He has settled all wars at Calvary. Peace
was won by the violence accepted against the Prince of Peace.
Peace is never won in war, but the effects of war's results
are escalated by war. War is the language of death. If I want
my ears to hear the melody of peace, I will not speak the language
of death. The melody of peace is not sounded by the instruments
of war. The melody of peace is not sung with the words of war
from a sharp, witty tongue. The melody of peace is not written
with the pens of self-defense, neither with the breath of revenge
on instruments of violence. The pens of self-defense and the
breath of revenge design and play the funeral songs of the mourners
and the actors of regret. My children will sing the melody of
defeat and death if I write the melodies of carnality and revenge.
These melodies merely bring me tears that I did not have to
shed and broken hearts that will never heal. These melodies
will bring me pain that I cannot heal. These melodies will bring
to my door the dance of grief whose rhythm is too slow for joy
to enter into. Revenge will blow its hot air across the instruments
of hurt, but the sound from the instrument will be cold in the
ears of those who wait on peace. Peace will take flight like
an eagle and fly high above my self-made storm. War will engulf
me and bring unwanted death and shame to the unwise summon sent
by rebellious warriors of ignorance; therefore, I write and
sing the melodies of peace.
Confession
of Faith - #124
The
unwise and the carnal only look at the satisfaction sought by
the belly of revenge. They do not look to the suffering that
their actions will bring to their families and those who are
innocent. I purpose not to follow those who act out of pride
and wounded egos, for they are dangerous and full of contagious
spiritual disease. There is no god that will defend them successfully.
The god of death and the father of lies will not defend them
against death itself. The house of death will not divide itself
in its effort to destroy the ignorant. It knows the weakness
of ignorance and those who reject knowledge. I come aside from
the entrapment of the enemy and abide in the house of faith
and of peace. Those who abide outside of peace will not survive,
for only those who follow peace will see the Lord as their defense.
There is no trap in peace. The enemy's only effective trap is
in war against one another. It would be ridiculous to continue
war among ourselves. If we bite and devour one another, we will
simply be consumed one of another. I determine to learn of the
war of the Lamb of God upon the kingdom of the darkness. By
the laying down of the life of the Lamb of God, he has destroyed
the workings of the devil and made all who believe righteous
by faith. I accept this righteousness that is imputed to me,
and the effect of the war by the Lamb shall be my victory. I
have not gained anything if I win a victory over flesh and blood,
yet lose the war against principalities, powers, and rulers
of the darkness of this world. I accept the victory of the Christ
who has destroyed the workings of the devil. He has given me
that victory, and it overcomes the devil, the flesh, and the
world. I glory in his victory at the cross, for it is real and
eternal. Now I set my affections on things above and not on
things below. I set my heart in heavenly places with treasures
laid up in his kingdom in the places above.
Confession
of Faith - #125
I
cannot manage my own life without God's guidance. Many have
lost complete control of their lives because they have attempted
to govern themselves. I have seen the wicked prosper but that
does not mean that their end will be prosperous. The good things
that happen to them do not mean that they will arrive in heaven.
A life managed by self is destined to crash and fall short of
the kingdom of God. I determine to make my calling and election
sure. I will work out my own salvation with fear and with trembling.
Mental instruments cannot guide me to heaven. There is no spiritual
stability in my life without the Lord. Without him, I can do
nothing. Without righteousness, the kingdom of God will not
profit me anything. I decide to seek the kingdom of God first
and his righteousness and all the other things shall be added
unto me. I cannot obtain righteousness unless it is imputed
unto me. The Lord does not count anyone righteous if they do
not believe in him. Abram believed his promise to him, and he
counted it to him for righteousness. I will take heed unto myself
and make sure that the foundation of my belief is not in myself
or man. My righteousness has not gotten me anything. I will
beware that I do not make an image of myself by considering
my own achievements, neither to allow others to fashion me as
an idol. I purpose to hide myself in him and give all glory
unto him, the Lord, my God. He will not share his glory with
another. Those who glory in themselves have turned their lives
upside down and are plunging toward destruction. I leave the
controls of my life in his hands, and I offer all praise unto
him and then will my life be stabilized.
Hebrews
10:22 - 23
Let
us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having
our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies
washed with pure water. Let
us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;
(for he is faithful that promised;)
Ephesians
2:8-9
For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
