Confession of Faith - February 20, 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

OF FAITH

Series 3.2.20 - #51

Words of Light Upon the Face of Dangerous and Deceitful Spirits of Hatred and Betrayal

February 20, 2005

The light of love has marked a path for my feet. It is a lamp along the treacherous paths of a world lying in gross darkness. Through dangerous and deceitful spirits, this light has laid out a clear way and kept darkness away from my heart and mind. As a plague, darkness has covered the whole earth. This is a devouring darkness. It has been sent forth to darken the hearts of many. I know God. Now I glorify Jesus as God, and I am thankful lest I become vain in my imaginations, and my heart becomes darkened with the foolish that think that they are wise.

God's tender mercies have followed me. He did not hide his face from me when I was in trouble. He heard my cry unto him and turned his lovingkindness toward me when my enemies fired arrows poisoned with reproach and shame. Dishonor was in the design of shame that was forged against me. When my comforters left me at the table of alienation and enemies in friends' clothing approached my face, the Lord sent mighty justification as meat and deliverance as drink. He caused the table of my enemies to become a snare unto them. The things that they planned for their own welfare became their traps. He darkened their eyes so that they could not see. He made their sides shake. His wrathful anger has taken hold of them, and salvation has set me up on high.

I praise the Lord Jesus with a song. I magnify him with thanksgiving. This is better than all the vain testimonies of the self-righteous. I will be poor in spirit and contrite in heart. The Lord has heard me and held my hand as darkness growled and roared in vain. As a father walking with a child, he has led me through deceptive loneliness and treasonous beasts. Now as a husband walking with his new bride, he is comforting me in the strong arms of complete confidence and absolute faithfulness. With the silver cord of love, he has bound himself to me. This silver cord will not be loosed, for his commitment to me is eternal. He has given me the sure mercies of David and called me blessed.

While his right hand of judgment prepares to swing with wrath and fierce anger to lay the land desolate, his arms are lifting those who are his unto his bosom for departure. The Lord is preparing to turn off the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof. They shall not give their light. The sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. He will punish the world for their evil and the wicked for their iniquity. He will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and he will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will be content to dwell in his bosom and in his arms, for he will set his bride out of reach of his wrath before he shakes the heavens and removes the earth out of her place. I will take heed that no man deceives me and draws me away from this relationship. I will not allow the discreditors of the hour to shake my faith in his voice. The Lord's sheep know and hear his voice, and they will not follow the voice of another. I seek to walk closer with him. I seek to please The Lord. If I do not please him, then I will not escape the hands of deception.

The darkness of deception shall not find me if I please God. When the great day of his wrath comes, he will hide me with his bride as he positions her as kings and priests. Grace has come to me. Now I follow the light of it into new dimensions of submission and love for God. He is teaching me how to love him. He is teaching me how to please him. By faith, Enoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found because the Lord translated him, for before his translation, he had this testimony that he pleased God. His covenant of life and peace is with me. I will not be haughty or high-minded, but I will fear the Lord, my God and keep his commandments. This is the whole duty of man.

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.