THE CONFESSION!

“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written,
I believe, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak”
(2 Corinthians 4:13).

Did you know that our walk with God is called “the confession”? Even Jesus is called “the Apostle and High Priest of our confession” (Hebrews 3:1).

There are some people who think that their belief in God is a very private thing. Yes, it is an intimate and private relationship, but it is not real without confession. We cannot even be born again without making a confession.

Romans 10:9,10 says: “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 if made unto salvation.”

How are we born into God’s family? By believing in our heart that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died for our sins, and that He rose again. But it is not enough to believe! We must confess it with our mouth! Belief and confession equals salvation.

This is the way we came into God’s family. This is now the way we continue to walk in God’s kingdom. We believe and then we confess. Believe and confess. Believe and confess. Yes, you are getting the message! But to make sure, let’s read some more . . .

1 Timothy 6:12: “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called, and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Hebrews 4:14 (NKJV): “Let us hold fast our confession.”

Hebrews 10:23 (NKJV): “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

The word confession in the Greek is the word homologeo meaning “to publicly acknowledge, to confess, to consent to, to agree, to say the same thing another is saying.”

Our walk with God is a homologeo. We don’t live by our feelings. We agree with what God says rather than how we feel. We do not confess the negatives. Instead we speak what God says about us. It may be different to how we feel but we go with God says.

Dear mother, can I invite you to a higher plane of living? Change your speech from confessing the way you feel to acknowledging what God says about you. I know this takes faith. But are you a believer or a non-believer? We are one or the other.

Can I share with you a Scripture that changed my life? As a young mother, it lifted me up to walk in a state of victory. It is found in Philemon 1: 6: “That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”

What does this mean? It tells you that your faith will be effectual when you do something. What is it? When you acknowledge that every good thing that is in Christ Jesus is also in you!

What are some of the good things that are in Christ Jesus? Love, joy, peace, patience, longsuffering, gentleness, rest, compassion, and self-control. I know that you long for these qualities to be part of your life. But just a minute. THEY ARE IN YOU. When Jesus Christ came into your life, He came in as who He is with all these wonderful attributes.

Can you imbibe this truth? Because Jesus lives in you, they are in you too! They are not

part of your fleshly nature, but they are part of His nature, and He dwells in you by His Holy Spirit.

This word tells us that these attributes will become effectual in you as you acknowledge and confess that they are in you. Instead of crying out for patience, acknowledge that Jesus’ patience is in you. Pray out loud: “Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You live in me by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for Your patience and longsuffering that is in me too. Thank You that I can be patient with my children today because You are in me, revealing Your patience through me. Amen.”

Has your love run dry? Are you on a thin edge, yelling and screaming at your children? Begin to acknowledge God’s love in you. Pray this prayer: “Oh thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your love that is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit that lives in me. Thank you for Your love that flows from me. I am filled with love because of Your love in me. I love my husband. I love my children. I love this person who has spoken against me. Thank You, Lord Jesus, Amen.”

Are you depressed and you feel like giving up? Do you feel motherhood is too hard? Acknowledge the joy of the Lord that is in you because Christ dwells in you. Pray: ‘Thank you, Lord Jesus, for Your joy. Lord Jesus, mine has run out, but I thank You that Your well of joy never runs out. I am filled with joy because You are Joy and you live in me. Praise the Lord. My house will ring with the joy of the Lord today. Amen.’

Acknowledge these truths in prayer. Confess these truths throughout the day and in the presence of your children.

You have a choice. You can live in the flesh and give into every negative feeling, or acknowledge and confess the truth of Christ living in you! You can get up tight and yell at your children all day or you can constantly confess the truth that you are filled with patience and longsuffering and sweetness. What you confess is what you will experience. 

“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12;11).

It works. Try it. 

PRAYER:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I am tired of living by my own resources. I confess that I have not acknowledged that You live in me. Lord Jesus, I confess it now. Thank You that You live in me. Thank You for Your patience, Your longsuffering, Your forbearance, Your forgiveness, Your kindness, Your meekness, and Your mercy. Thank You that you redeemed me to manifest Your life through me to my children and to the world. Amen.”’

AFFIRMATION:

I’m exchanging my life for the life of Christ who dwells in me.

ARE YOU IN A WILDERNESS?
Part 5

“Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness,
leaning on her beloved?”
(Song of Songs 8:5).

Today we complete the 27 surprises about how God is with us in our wilderness times.

1. GOD TEACHES US TO OVERCOME IN THE WILDERNESS

Jesus won the victory over Satan in the wilderness and came forth to minister in the power of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 4:1-11) Notice that the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. He was not out of God’s will but in the very center of His will while in that desert.

2. GOD RELEASES JOY AND SINGING IN THE WILDERNESS

You don’t have to lose your joy in your wilderness experience.

Isaiah 51:3: “He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD: joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.” Read also Isaiah 32:5, 6.

Instead of giving into the gloom of your situation, step out in faith and sing. Praise the Lord. Thank Him that He is with you in your wilderness. Rejoice in His faithfulness.

3. WE LOSE OUR LURE FOR WORLDLY THINGS IN THE WILDERNESS

After being in the wilderness for 40 years, Moses went back into the pride and wealth of Egypt, but it had no hold upon him.

Hebrews 11:24-26 states: “By faith Moses, when he was come to yeas refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.”

4. WE LEARN TO WALK BY FAITH IN THE WILDERNESS

Psalm 78:17: “And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. Yea, they spake against God; they said, ‘Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?”

They did not believe God could provide for them. But God did not let them out of the desert until they learned the walk of faith. Trust God and thank Him that He is faithful in every detail of your life. And He is well able to furnish your table.

5. WE LEARN TO DEPEND ON GOD IN THE WILDERNESS

What a beautiful picture we see of the bride of Christ in Song of Solomon 8:5: “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?”

During the wilderness experience, God’s people learned to rely totally on His strength. There was no other way. Moses tried to help his people in his own strength when he killed the Egyptian, but it failed. God had to work on him for 40 years in the desert before he was ready to deliver his people from the power of Egypt.

Are you going through a difficult wilderness experience right now? Don’t despair. Remember, you are going through! There is an end! But according to your attitude to your problems you will either die (spiritually) in your wilderness or come out victorious. You will remain hurt and bitter or you will experience the sweet anointing of the presence of God upon you.

Because the children of Israel were full of unbelief, grumbled, and complained about their hardships and challenges they had to face, they all died in the wilderness. This is a great challenge to us, isn’t it? Joshua and Caleb were the only two of the generation that came out of Egypt to enter the Promised Land.

            Joshua came forth to lead God’s people into battle and to take the Promised Land (Joshua 1:6-7).

            Caleb came forth ready to take mountains and tackle giants (Joshua 14:6-15).

            David came forth from the wilderness ready to reign over God’s people, Israel (2 Samuel 5:3)

            Paul came forth from the desert of Saudi Arabia to be a mighty apostle.

            How will you come through?

The wilderness is a place of miracles.

PRAYER:

“Dear faithful Father God, help me not to look at the hardships I face, but to trust You, knowing that You will bring me through. The problems I face are bigger than me, but You are bigger than the problems. I can rejoice and sing in the wilderness, knowing that it is all Your plan and You are working out the greater plan for my life. Thank You. In the name of Jesus. Amen.”
“

AFFIRMATION:

I am coming through my wilderness leaning on my Beloved.

Did you know, I am now doing a podcast for you each week called FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS w/ Nancy Campbell? I know you will be blessed and encouraged. Go to www.aboverubies.org and you’ll see the icon. Or go to http://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com

ARE YOU IN A WILDERNESS?
Part 4

“Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness,
leaning on her beloved?”
(Song of Songs 8:5).

1. GOD MAKES A WAY FOR HIS PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS

Can you see no way out of your difficulties? It’s easy to get lost in the wilderness. There are no road signs, but keep trusting God. He will make a way for you. Isaiah 43:19 is a promise for you: “I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Do you believe God’s words? It is impossible for Him to lie. Thank Him that He will make a way for you and remember that His way is always better than your way.

2. GOD PROVED HIS PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS

Deuteronomy 8:2: “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.”

Our wilderness experience is a test to see what is really in our hearts. This is a good thing, because God is always leading us on to higher things. His purpose is to conform us to the image of His Son. He doesn’t want us to stay in our rut of sin, doubt, unbelief, and ignorance of His ways. He brings us into the wilderness to show us His ways.

3. GOD SHOWED MERCY TO HIS PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS

Nehemiah 9:19 tells us that He revealed His “manifold mercies” to them.

4. GOD KEPT HIS PEOPLE SAFE IN THE WILDERNESS

Ezekiel 34:25 tells us that “they shall dwell safely in the wilderness.” We are always safer with God in the wilderness than in the midst of comfort without God. The safest place on earth is in the will of God.

5. GOD PREPARES US FOR HIS PURPOSES IN THE WILDERNESS

It was in the wilderness, the deepest part of the desert, that Moses had an encounter with God. He stood on holy ground in the desert. God kept him in that wilderness for 40 long years, but he came out ready to deliver a nation from the tyranny of Egypt (Acts 7:30-38).

David was forced into the desert to hide from the wrath of King Saul, but while in that desert he raised an army of men and came forth in God’s time as a king, prepared to reign over all Israel (2 Samuel 5;3).

John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of the Lord in the wilderness. (Mark 1:1-7; Luke 1:15-17 and v 80).

After Paul’s conversion, he went into seclusion—into the desert of Arabia, where he met with God and heard “unspeakable words” (2 Corinthians 12:1-7 and Galatians 1:17). From his wilderness experience he came forth to fulfil his destiny and be the mighty apostle to the Gentiles.

Sometimes you feel like you are in a wilderness as you are hidden away in your home. Be encouraged, God is preparing you. He is anointing you to prepare your children to come forth to fulfil the destiny God has for them.     

6. GOD PREPARES US FOR BATTLE IN THE WILDERNESS

Exodus 13:18 tell us: “But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.” The NLT says they went forth “like an army ready for battle.”

The word “harnessed” is chamush and means “able-bodied soldiers, armed men, equipped.” In the other three passages in the Bible where this word is used it is translated “armed men.”  But where did the Israelites get their weapons? They were slaves and under the hard bondage of the Pharaoh. Some commentators believe they went forth in an organized way, at least looking like an army. I am sure that while waiting to be set free as God sent the plagues upon Egypt that Moses and the elders planned their exit, right down to the very last detail. The NKJV says they went out in “orderly ranks.”

Exodus 12:37 tells us that 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children came out of Egypt. Most commentators believe that would have been about 2. 5 million people. To tell you the truth, I believe it could have been more the way the Bible says they were populating in Egypt (Exodus 1:7-12). Perhaps three to five million? It must have been an incredible sight.

I am sure they stripped the bodies of the slain Egyptians for weapons after they drowned in the Red Sea. They faced a battle with Amalekites soon after which they won with the help of God. However, they were not yet ready to conquer the land of Canaan. They were new out of slavery. They were still fearful and bowed down in spirit. They had to learn to trust God.

Read how their fear and unbelief kept them from entering the Promised Land for another 40 years—and then only two of them got in! (Numbers 13 and 14). The next generation had to be trained for the big battle ahead.

We are also in a fight against the powers of darkness. In the wilderness God teaches us to be strong and courageous and how to fight the enemy His way, not our own way.

PRAYER:

“Thank you, dear Father, for showing me that I need the wilderness to prepare me  for what You have ahead for me. I need the wilderness to learn how to fight against the enemy. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I will not reject it but embrace my wilderness experience.

FURTHER STUDY:

David’s preparation in the wilderness:

1 Samuel 22:2; 23:14-15, 24:1; 26:3; and 1 Chronicles 12:1-15.  

ARE YOU IN A WILDERNESS?
Part 3

“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud,
to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light;
to go by day and night. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day,
nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people”
(Exodus 13:21, 22).

We have been discovering all the wonderful things God did for the children of Israel in the wilderness. “But that was just for them,” you say. “Can God do these things personally for me?”

Let’s look at more testimonies.

1. GOD FED HIS PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS

God led His people to a barren wilderness. It wasn’t long before they were crying, complaining,  and demanding food! But God did not let them down. We know the wonderful miracle of how God sent the manna to them. He didn’t send it to them for one day, but for 40 years! There wasn’t a day that God wasn’t faithful to provide food for them until they reached the Promised Land.

But they had to trust God for each new day. He wanted to teach them  that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3 and Matthew 4:).

What a faithful God we have. He hasn’t stopped being a faithful God. And even when you are going through a drought and you’ve got hardly anything to eat, you won’t starve. You may not feast, but you will eat!

During our lives, God allows us to have times of lean eating (just enough for our needs) and other times of feasting. Even Paul knew how to abound and how to be abased (Philippians 4:12-13).

Do you remember that it was also in a desert place that Jesus fed the 5,000 (Mark 6:31-44)?

2. GOD GAVE HIS PEOPLE WATER IN THE WILDERNESS

Nehemiah 9:20: “Thou gavest them water for their thirst.”

Isaiah 35:6: “In the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.”

Isaiah 41:18: “I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.”

Isaiah 43:20: “I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.”

Isaiah 48:21: “And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he cleaved the rock also, and the waters gushed out.” Are you dry and thirsty? Even in the desert God will satisfy you with water.

On two separate occasions God brought water out of the rock for them (Exodus 17:6 and Numbers 20:10, 11).

You may feel parched, dry, and desolate. Look up. Jesus is your living water, even in desert times.

3. GOD PROVIDED ALL THEIR NEEDS IN THE WILDERNESS

Can you imagine it? For 40 years their shoes and clothing did not wear out. He provided a pillar of cloud to protect them from the sun by day and a pillar of fire to give them warmth and light at night. They didn’t enjoy the mod-cons we take for granted today They had no shops. They couldn’t run down to the supermarket for an item they think they needed. They had no entertainment centers. They had no “extra” things, but God says in Nehemiah 9:21 that “they lacked nothing.” Read also Deuteronomy 2:7; 6:4; and 29:5.

You may not have all the things you covet or even think you need, but if you have food and clothing and a roof over your head, you lack nothing! We need to remind ourselves of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-34.

4. GOD REVEALED HIS MIRACULOUS POWER IN THE WILDERNESS

The children of Israel lived miraculously every day. Every day they walked out and gathered angel’s food to keep them healthy and strong. Apart from all the miracles we have been reading in the above points, they saw more manifestations of the power of God.

At the beginning of their journey they arrived at Marah, parched with thirst. But they couldn’t drink the waters because they were bitter. God showed Moses a tree which he cast into the water and they immediately became sweet (Exodus 22:26).

They saw God open up the ground and swallow up the tents and all the families of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, because they rose up against Moses. Read this breathtaking story in Numbers 16.

Another time when the people rose up against Moses, God instructed the prince of each tribe to take a rod. Moses laid their rods and his rod in the presence of the Lord. The next day Moses’ rod had budded, blossomed, and yielded almonds! The others were all dry. You can read about this in numbers chapter 17.

 Expect miracles in your wilderness experience.

5. GOD SHONE LIGHT ON HIS PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS

Nehemiah 9:19: “The pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go.” God didn’t leave them stranded. He didn’t leave them in the dark.

As we go through our wilderness season, God never leaves us in the dark either. He has given us His Son who is the light of the world and His Word which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105).

Are you in the dark and you can’t see any way out of your tunnel? Take hold of God’s Word. Clasp it to you, read it, stand on the word God gives to you, and don’t let it go. It will be your light in the darkness.

“Who is among you . . . that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon His God” (Isaiah 50;10).

PRAYER:

“I thank you, Lord God, that You are bringing me through the wilderness. Please help me to have the right attitude. Help me to see that this is all part of Your plan and that You are preparing me for Your highest purposes. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am walking through my wilderness, rejoicing that God is with me.

FURTHER STUDY:

God feeds you in the wilderness:

Exodus 16:11-36; Numbers 11;1-9; Deuteronomy 8:3; 16; Nehemiah 9:20; Psalm 78:19; and John 6:31, 32.

God gives water in the wilderness:

Deuteronomy 8:15; Psalm 78:15, 16; 105:41; 107:35; Isaiah 35:6, 7; 41:18-20; and 43:19, 20.