Confession of Faith - March 16, 2005

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 3.3.16 - #75

Words of Light Upon the Face of Circumstances

March 16, 2005

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but their God delivers them out of every one of their afflictions. The den of lions becomes a place of rest for the righteous, but for the ungodly, a den of lions is a place of judgment. I lift up my head unto the witnesses that await my defeat, for they shall be for a testimony of my deliverance. The Lord will save by his own hand and give me a testimony of his faithfulness. The lions of the den have not eaten me. I have felt as though I were in a den of lions. I hear the constant roar of angry beasts in my ears. I can envision the things that would leap from the rocks of this life upon my flesh to bring my soul down to shame. Many times I have looked upon the lions of circumstances and wondered who will deliver me out of the den of circumstances. There seems to be no rest for me in this den; however, the Lord has shut the mouth of circumstances and caused them to sleep. I can come nigh the lion of trouble and place my head upon it, for it is asleep. The roar of circumstances has diminished, and their sounds are no longer a threat unto my life, for God has silenced their roar with his words and his presence. I will wait just a little while, and the morning of my deliverance shall arrive and then he will bring me out untouched by the teeth and claws of circumstances. I shall walk out untouched, and with great joy, shall I come forth in the presence of my enemies. God has prepared a table before me in their presence, and they shall be instruments of the symphony of his praise. He shall use the mouths of my enemies to give praise unto him as he delivers me from the den of circumstances.

The Lord is Adam's creator and Daniel's rock, Ezekiel's wheel in the middle of a wheel, Isaiah's star, and David's heart. He is Abraham's father and my God. I will not worry, for everything that has happened and everything that is happening is working together for the good because I love him and am called according to his purpose. The way that I take is known of him because he has ordered my steps. Even the steps of those who do not obey him, are known of him, for he knows all things. I will not allow the oppressive things to cause me to lose my faith, for these things are mere shadows that have penetrated into my thinking because of circumstances.

I behold the angel that stands in the sun and lets his brightness radiate unto me. The angel standing in the sun is the angel of deliverance, who has brought unto me the word of truth. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He has not stood under the brightness of wrath and taken the sins of the world only to stand by and allow those whom he has redeemed to be destroyed. By his hand and by his works, he has saved me from my sins. Now there is no judgment from the courts of the princes of this world that can declare the sentence of defeat and of death upon me. Jesus has taken my sentence, and now he does declare unto me again the proclamation of victory. It is time for a celebration. God is ready to see me celebrate the reality of my faith. He is ready to take me beyond the substance of the things that I hope for and beyond the evidence of the things not seen.

I behold God's goodness with my eyes. I behold his goodness in the dimension of my understanding. As I come out of the den of circumstances, I look back to the fire that I was in. Its flames yet leap up for something to burn, yet I am still intact and not burned. The only thing that I left in the fire was the impurities of my own heart and spirit. God has used the fire of the enemy as a purifier of my flesh and of my spirit. Now I look unto the holiness of God and know of a truth, that there are new desires for holiness within me. "Holiness unto the Lord," shall be the cry from my heart, for he has placed within me a new desire to be like him, not to judge others by their outward appearance but to judge myself in this time of grace, that my own heart might be purified so that I may see him as he really is.

God has brought unto me a cleansing of the heart, and now the things that have been the entrance way of sin are closed-off, and sin is detoured. Now holiness is the avenue unto my mind and the outcome of my works. I will go with God, and he will show me that I am a new creature in him. I will go with him, and he shall show me of the strength of my God within me. I will not lean to my own understanding and then I shall see the manifestation of his holiness within me. I will not lean to my own understanding, for there is a way that seems right. God has not led me into a way that seems right, but he has led me into a path of faith. Faith is not "a seemingly right" path, but faith is the right path. I will walk in faith.

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.