Confession of Faith - June 1, 2004

SCRIPTURAL VERIFICATION

The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

(Romans 10:8-10)

CONFESSION

Series 2.6.1 - #153

June 1, 2004

I have not come unto a thundering mountain of terror. I have come unto spiritual Mount Zion. I have come unto the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. There is an innumerable company of angels present with this church of the firstborn. I do not fear, and I do not quake before him. He is the Lord, my God. The blood of sprinkling is speaking. It has not cried out for vengeance. It has spoken peace unto me. It has spoken with the voice of mercy. The voice of his blood has not cried from the ground and said, "Why have you shed me upon the earth?"

His blood has spoken and commanded peace and mercy in the earth. His blood now speaks from heaven and declares reconciliation. His blood speaks better things than the blood of men. I hear the voice of his blood. Jesus says, "Grace, grace unto my mountains." Though many adversaries reproach me on different sides, I know assuredly that I have received a kingdom that cannot be moved. I will be fully persuaded to seek those things that cannot be shaken, for only those things will remain. I have grace. By the grace given, I may serve him acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Jesus is both Lord and Christ. I will go and preach who he is, and I fear not their faces. His word is in my tongue. I will go and declare this truth, and they will be pricked in their hearts.

The love of many is waxing colder. He is a consuming fire. He is a consuming fire of love. Those who love like the apostle Paul are in the true bride of Christ. Paul loved with such a consuming love that he wished that he were accursed from Christ for his brethren, his kinsmen according to the flesh. He knew that Christ was God blessed forever. I will not love like Paul until I know him as Paul knew him. He had a relationship with God that soared high above his confidence in the flesh. He counted the things that were gain to him loss for Christ. He wanted to know him, the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings. He wanted to attain unto the resurrection of the dead. I will not pass from death to life if I do not love my brethren with a fervent love. The cold love of the hour will not carry me across the bridge that goes from death to life. I must be baptized with the fire of love. Only by the fire of love is the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus illuminated and desired. Only the consuming fire of God's love can destroy the confidence that I have in the flesh. I give God my confidence that I have in the flesh, and he will grant me a baptism of love. Only then will I know him the way that he desires me to know him. When I meet the hatred of this world, I will not know what to do if I have not journeyed across life's bridge. I know that I have passed from death unto life because I love the brethren. If I do not love my brother, I abide in death. Love will compel me to lay down my life for the brethren. I perceive the love of God because Christ laid down his life for me. I will lay down my life for my brethren when I have this world's good and see my brethren have need and will not shut up my bowels of compassion from them. I will love with God's love. I must love in deed and in truth, not in tongue and word. I seek a baptism of love and that love will work faith unto total victory and the miraculous. God desires me to experience miracles as though they were as common as the exploits of humanity. Yes, I desire to possess love that is more prevalent than the human exploits of this world's icons. God desires me to know him with his love flowing through me. His love flows to others. Those who truly know him shall be strong and do exploits. The sufficiency of grace shall supply the desire, the ability, and the power. I believe.

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.