How to develop Strong & Overcoming Faith Pt 5

How to develop Strong & Overcoming Faith Pt 5

www.victory.net.nz 23.09.2018

Sub-title: Our Confession unto Faith versus our Confession of Faith

Hebrews 12:1–2 (NLT) … we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith …

Last week we focussed on Jesus’ statement when He said: Only Believe!

“Only believing” means we resist thoughts of fear and doubt, and hold fast the confession of our original faith-filled words.

Today we will discuss the Confession unto Faith versus the Confession of Faith.

1. Jesus Christ is the Apostle and High Priest of our Confession

Hebrews 3:1 (NKJV) Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.

Confession – Greek: homologia – homologeo

• to say the same thing as another
• to agree with, to declare
• a verbal acknowledgment of the truth

Jesus Christ is the Apostle sent from God       to represent God before man.

Jesus Christ is also the High Priest                  to represent man before God.

Christianity is also called “The great Confession”.

Based on our confession of Jesus’ Lordship over our lives, Jesus represents us before the Father in heaven as one of His own.

Romans 10:8–10 (NKJV) But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

The moment we believe in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and confess Him as Lord of our life, we are saved.

Even though we may believe the truth of Jesus’ Lordship with our heart, we cannot receive salvation until we confess Him as Lord with our mouth.

Once we are saved:

• God calls us blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3)
• God calls us redeemed from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13)
• God calls us free indeed (John 8:36)
• Etc.

To receive everything that God promised us, we need to confess, or say the same thing that God says about us.

Make it a daily habit to confess God’s promises over your life, because, confession brings possession.

1. Two different Types of Confession

The Bible discerns between two different types of confession:

1. Confession of sin (verbally acknowledging our sin)

2. Confessing or verbally acknowledging the truth of God’s Word

Whilst confessing our sin is important and necessary if we have sinned, by far the greater portion of our confession should be the confession of God’s Word.

Our mouth should be a constant well-spring of the Word of God.

Hebrews 10:23 (KJV) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Keep speaking what the Word of God says!

Hebrews 4:14 (NKJV) Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God,let us hold fast our confession.

Let us hold fast our confession of what?

• Hold fast the confession of our faith!
• Hold fast our confession of God’s Word!
• Say the same thing that God says!

1. Our Confession “unto” Faith

When we first start confessing the Word of God regularly and habitually, we believe the Word of God in principle, but many times we do (not yet) have faith in our heart concerning the individual promises of God.

Romans 10:8 (NKJV) But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach).

Notice, the Word of God is first in our mouth, and then in our heart.

As we consistently and habitually confess the Word of God out aloud, our heart hears it. As our heart hears the Word of God from our own mouth over and over, it receives faith as the Word is firmly deposited in our heart.

Once the Word of God is planted in our heart, our confession changes from a confession unto faith to the confession of faith.

Mark 11:23 (NKJV) For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Hebrews 13:5–6 (NKJV) …For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

1. Conclusion:

1. What is an area of big need in your life right now?
2. Find a Promise in God’s Word that addresses your need
3. Start to confess that Promise over and over, until faith rises in your heart
4. Then, speak that Promise with faith and authority and you will have what you say
5. Obtain a copy of the booklet “The Victory Programme” to assist you in your daily confession of God’s Word

Small Group Discussions:

Last Sunday’s message was about the Confession of our Faith.

Hebrews 3:1 (NKJV) Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.

Confession – Greek: homologia – homologeo

• to say the same thing as another
• to agree with, to declare
• a verbal acknowledgment of the truth

Hebrews 10:23 (KJV) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Once we are saved:

• God calls us blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3)
• God calls us redeemed from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13)
• God calls us free indeed (John 8:36)

To receive everything that God promised us, we need to confess, or say the same thing that God says about us.

Discovery Questions:

1. What did the Holy Spirit emphasise to you during Sunday’s preaching? What point or aspect of God’s Word stood out to you the most?

____________________________________________________________

1. Can you remember an instance when your “confession unto faith” changed into a “confession of faith”?

____________________________________________________________

1. Is there an area of your life where have you received a breakthrough recently as a result of confessing God’s Word consistently, boldly and confidently? __________________________________________________________

Putting it into Practice:

1. What is an area of big need in your life right now?
2. Find a promise in God’s Word that addresses your need
3. Start to confess that Promise over and over, until faith rises in your heart
4. Then, speak that promise with faith and authority and you will have what you say
5. Obtain a copy of the booklet “The Victory Programme” to assist you in your daily confession of God’s Word