When We Confess He Forgives

 

Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Praise God!! That's something to shout about!! When we confess our sin to the Lord, He forgives us and not only that, but the iniquity of our sin!! Whoo! Hoo!!

Now what does that mean?

Well, I got to looking up that word "iniquity" and here is what I found:

Iniquity defined in the dictionary means...a perversion of the truth which leads to error, a perversion of intent which affects our will.


The Hebrew meaning is...twisted, to be bent or crooked. The Lord then brought up to me that Iniquity causes you to justify your actions. Whoa!!


Iniquity is knowingly doing something over and over again that is contrary to the will of God and continuing in that sin even though you know what you should do!


You ignore that still small voice that says what you are doing is wrong and you need to repent. As you continue in it, it almost becomes a part of you.


How many times have you done that? Your hearing from God and your understanding of the Word becomes dull. And you wonder why your prayers aren't being answered.


How simple it is to just say...God, I come to you with an honest heart and ask that you show me any iniquity in my heart that is blocking me from hearing You. The moment you do that and He shows you something - repent right then! He is Ever Faithful to Forgive you!!

Isn't that AWESOME?!!!
God Love You So Very Much!!! 

What Are Your Intentions?

The Lord has really been impressing upon me lately that my intentions need to be in the right place.

He has also been teaching me to praise him regardless of the circumstances around me.

As I have meditated on these two things, I have come to realize how much they are related. They both bring glory to God, and the both demonstrate that He is first in my life.

I believe, now more than ever, that God’s intention for my family is to have nothing but the best. He wants us to be in good health. He wants us to have good finances, and he wants us to enjoy the best that life has to offer.

I know why he wants these things for me. It is the same reason why I want my children to live a good life. No one wants to see their children struggle, but what I am starting to understand is that it is much more than just living a good life.

God has recently taught me that it is not possible to fully walk in His will if I am concerned with the things of this Earth.

Do you think that Pastor Keith Moore worries about how his bills are going to get paid? Do you think Pastor Kenneth Hagan worried about his health or what the people around him were up to?

Not only are the concerns of the world a hindrance to a person’s spiritual walk, but a person cannot tangible full-fill their call. If a person were to be called to be an oversees missionary, how would they be able to do so if they were struggling with their health or their finances. God wants us to be free from those worries so that when He calls us for the Kingdom we don’t have to worry about worldly affairs. Without hesitation, we are able to believe God and act.

Everyone desires good health, financial freedom, and a worry free life, but why should we desire those things?

According to the Bible, we should desire the will of God.

The will of God is also for us to have good health, financial freedom, and a worry free life so that we can be ready to act when called.

I used to want good health because I did not want to go to the doctor, and I don’t like not feeling good. I used to want financial freedom because I wanted to be able to purchase what I want when I want and go where I want when I want.

My prayer has now changed from obtaining these worldly things to: number one; believing and thanking God for them, and number two; asking God to change my heart so that the reason I desire these things is so I may praise Him, honor Him, and give Him all the glory.

I can be living what seems to be the greatest life there is, but if I am not honoring God, it is pointless. There is one thing that I know for sure. The reasons that I use to have did not bring me a blessing that I cannot contain, and until I have received a blessing that I cannot contain, I am falling short of where I need to be. And until I receive a blessing I cannot contain, I cannot be the blessing to others that God wants me to be.

Written by Christian Carlisle

The Importance of Your Confession

The Importance of Your Confession



If we are to make our faith effective (active, powerful) and enjoy the full benefits of salvation, we must learn to do what it says 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.”

God’s Word says that when we do this our faith becomes effective. You must acknowledge every good thing which you posses after making Jesus Lord of your life. Acknowledgement involves making a confession.



Our confession is mentioned three times in the book of Hebrews.

(Hebrews 3:1, Hebrews 4:14, and Hebrews 10:21-23)

Our confession is mentioned elsewhere in God’s Word. I am taking the text of Hebrews as a point of study.



Our tongue connects us to the ministry of Jesus as our High Priest. Jesus entered into a ministry as our high priest, representing us in the presence of His Father after he died, rose again, and ascended into heaven. He is our high priest on the condition that we make the right confession with our tongue.



Hebrews 3:1 “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;”



Notice what the Bible says here: “Jesus is the High Priest of our profession”. The word profession is translated in the Greek as confession or “to say the same things as.”



Jesus ministry as High Priest operates on our spoken confession not on our unspoken faith. It is important that we maintain a right confession with our mouth. When we agree with God’s Word in faith with our mouth it enables Jesus to exercise his ministry as High Priest on our behalf. His priesthood cannot operate on our behalf if there is no confession that agrees with His Word.



Wrong confession frustrates His ministry. The Bible tells us that we will give an account of every idle word that we speak.



Matthew 12:36 “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment”

Matthew 12:37 “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”



What are idle words? The word idle means “worthless”. Speaking words that are not in agreement with God’s Word. Idle words involve saying things that would contradict or exalt itself above God’s Word. Jesus cannot act on your behalf when you speak idle words.

Our confession linking us to the priesthood of Jesus is brought out two more times in Hebrews.



Hebrews 4:14 “Seeding then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.”



Hebrews 10:21 “And having a high priest over the house of God;”

Hebrews 10:22 “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.”

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



The right confession is essential for Jesus to operate as our High Priest. Faith is not exercised with idle words. Wrong confession…Jesus cannot operate as your High Priest.



Right confession is essential for salvation. There is a direct link with our heart and mouth. (Luke 6:45) Salvation depends on two things: Exercising faith in our hearts and making the right confession.



Romans 10:9 “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.”

Romans 10:10 “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”



The word “salvation” in the Bible means more than just having eternal life. It means completeness in all areas of life. When you start making the right confession that agrees with God’s Word you can start moving into the full provision of salvation.



Look at the illustration of the tongue in James.



James 3:4 “Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.”

James 3:5 “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”



What the rudder is to the ship, the use of the tongue will determine which direction you go. Examine your path. Are you experiencing good things or bad things? Use God’s word to determine if you are living the life Jesus promised in John 10:10.



Here is a simple prayer that you can pray to help with what you say.


Psalm 19:34 “Let the words of my mouth, and the mediation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”