Confession & Declaration 29

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Zephaniah 3:14-17 Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice, be in high spirits and glory with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem [in that day].15 [For then it will be that] the Lord has taken away the judgments against you; He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, even the Lord [Himself], is in the midst of you; [and after He has come to you] you shall not experience or fear evil any more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not, O Zion. Let not your hands sink down or be slow and listless. 17 The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing.

Why on earth is Jesus singing and exulting over Israel? And why is He making such a spectacle of Himself in rejoicing and exulting? For rejoicing means that He is being joyful, and bright with great gladness, and to exult is even more undignified than this. For it means to dance, leap for joy, and spin around. What’s even more startling is that we are grafted into these words to Israel. Thus the promise of Jesus being undignified among us is equally true. But why? Why is He singing, rejoicing, and dancing over us? What’s the point and why the celebration?

Well there are several things that are listed in the passage above: the Lord has taken away the judgments against you; He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, even the Lord [Himself], is in the midst of you; [and after He has come to you] you shall not experience or fear evil any more.

WE see reason for rejoicing and celebration in four ways. (1) The Lord has taken away the judgments against you. We know from these declarations that through Jesus’ Blood He has most assuredly taken away our judgments and done imaginably more than that. (2) Another reason to party is that He has cast out our enemy. A party which drives satan himself, away. (3) Thirdly, Jesus has walked into our midst as Immanuel – God With Us! His Omnipresence is always with us and He promises to manifest His Presence. That’s powerful. But Guess what else He has done? (4) When He walked into our hearts, Love entered. When Love entered – fear had to go. Fear has to go in the Presence of Perfect Love! Fear, anxiety, worry, and all it’s kin and kindred – they have to go!

Yet there is another powerful reason that Jesus is singing over us. That’s how He awakened the dawning of creation. He sang it into existence. Now that’s my personal opinion, but I’m sure in the farthest reaches of the studies I’ve done that I could actually make a compelling point for this from Scripture – our Source of All Authority! But I digress. Let us simply make the argument from Moses to the prophets, to modern day rabbis. That in their tradition there is the practice of singing the Word of the Lord. Modern day synagogues would call these rabbis – or cantors. What’s even more interesting is that the people would participate by singing it back to them. Thus Jesus is singing over us, awakening us, by His Prophetic Word. That’s powerful. He is awakening in us the new creation that we are called to be. Pause and think about that.

But there is one more thing. A thing that is as mysterious and old as the Ancient of Days. In Ezek. 28:13 is a prophecy about satans’ origins: Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

This passage goes on to explain that before the fall, or rebellion of satan, that he was a cherubim who led the worship of Heaven. That his body was an instrument in and of itself. He literally sang, and played melodies with the musical instruments built into his body. (Talk about a one man band.) When satan fell he took that aspect of worship with him leaving an empty place. Now that sounds sad but God can never be outdone and always has a plan. Guess who God had waiting in the wings to take his place? You and I. You are His song. That’s one of the reasons we praise Him. That’s why our songs, dance, and expressions of delight are so important to Him. He is singing and dancing to awaken the song and the dance of delight in us. Why? He wants us to join Him in both. That makes me smile, laugh and cry all at the same time. What an awesome God we serve.

Thus we overcome the judgments, fear, emptiness, and our enemy through singing, rejoicing, and dancing. We become the worship leaders of Heaven. How about that? Jesus invites us to join Him in the celebration. Now do you see what’s missing in the modern church? We’re droning on singing songs of worship as funeral dirges – while our Savior is celebrating with singing, dancing, spinning, laughing, and joying – in you. He joys in you.

So, how can you sit there? Are you going to dance with Your Savior and joy in Him – or not?

Declaration 29: Hallelujah Praise Your Name my Precious Jesus! I lift my songs of praise to You! I glorify, and magnify You with all that I am. You have sung me to life. You are my Song, and my Reason to dance. My heart leaps before You and rejoices. Hallelujah You have driven out satan – my enemy and Yours. You have beat back the judgments I was due. You have conquered my fears overthrowing them with Your Perfect Love. Oh how I love You Jesus! Oh, how I worship you with the angels and saints gone before me. Oh, how I twirl, dance, and spin about You with the planets, moons and stars. I lift my voice in praise to the only One due the praise joining my voice with all creation. You have overcome and I have overcome through Your Song; through Your Dance! Sing louder Lord Jesus. Dance faster, Catch us up in the song and whirling love of Your Presence. Grace to my brothers and sisters in Jesus to join You. Grace for me to rise up, shake off my self centered self, and celebrate You. Grace to sing like nobody is around. Grace to dance with furious, and passionate love. Grace to let go. Thank You Almighty God. Sing Your Words over me. Sing over me, and these – in Jesus Name!

Who’s Your One? Day 26 – Friday, February 7

Confession & Declaration 28

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Psalm 56:8 You number and record my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle—are they not in Your book?

It is believed by scholars that this Psalm was written by David when he was fleeing from King Saul. After gathering up the sword of Goliath he flees to the Philistines. But his flight resembled the proverbial jumping from the fire into the frying pan. 1 Samuel 21:10-15 records the events: David arose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.11 The servants of Achish said to him, Is not this David, the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in their dances: Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?12 David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish king of Gath.13 And he changed his behavior before them, and pretended to be insane in their [Philistine] hands, and scribbled on the gate doors, and drooled on his beard. 14 Then said Achish to his servants, You see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? 15 Have I need of madmen, that you bring this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?

Things had gotten so hopeless, and dark that David pretended to be a crazy man in order to keep from being killed by the Philistines. He records his troubles in Psalm 56:1-2, 5-6: Be merciful and gracious to me, O God, for man would trample me or devour me; all the day long the adversary oppresses me. 2 They that lie in wait for me would swallow me up or trample me all day long, for they are many who fight against me, O Most High!…. 5 All day long they twist my words and trouble my affairs; all their thoughts are against me for evil and my hurt. 6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they watch my steps, even as they have [expectantly] waited for my life.

Note that David says: all the day long the adversary oppresses me. The book of Revelation records that David’s adversary is not man, but satan himself. What did David do to combat the oppression of his adversary, satan? What did David do with the oppression and the fear of death? he trusted and he praised: Psalm 56:3-4 What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You. 4 By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me?

David then proceeds into victory after processing the Truths of Who God is. Psalm 56:9-13 declares his triumphant words: Then shall my enemies turn back in the day that I cry out; this I know, for God is for me. 10 In God, Whose word I praise, in the Lord, Whose word I praise, 11 In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render praise to You and give You thank offerings. 13 For You have delivered my life from death, yes, and my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life and of the living.

Thus David is declaring that because his confidence is in the Lord – not man; because his confidence is in God’s Word, his wanderings recorded – and his tears saved in a bottle – he can rise in victory. Why? Davids recollection of God putting his tears in a bottle is not some sentimental fancy to comfort David while he felt sorry for himself. No not all. He is reminding himself that he belongs to God. That he is precious to God. He is reminding himself that God’s prophetic promise had yet to be fulfilled. He had yet to see the realization of his being crowned king of Israel. He knew, and was persuaded, that though men were plotting to kill him no man could kill God’s Promise. He would rise from it all.

The take away for you is that you are God’s promise. Even your tears are precious to Him. No man can destroy God’s Promise. Why? Because God’s Promised One lives in you. So rise up and praise Him with David. Rise up in spite of your circumstances and praise Him with the angels and saints gone before you. The Promised One Rises within you.

Declaration 28: Holy Father I join my voice, with David in declaring Your Truth – Your Promise. By the Blood of Jesus I am His promise. By the Blood of Jesus the Promised One lives and abides in me. What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You. 4 By the help of God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me? … This I know, for God is for me. 10 In God, Whose word I praise, in the Lord, Whose word I praise, 11 In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?…I will render praise to You and give You thanks. 13 For You have delivered my life from death, yes, and my feet from falling, that I may walk before You in the light of life and of the living. Thank you Jesus I am alive by the Resurrection Power of Your Spirit! I am alive by the Precious Blood of the Lamb. I am alive because the Author of Life dwells in me. Thank You Jesus for breaking me free from the oppression of my adversary putting him under my feet! Thank You Jesus, satan is under my feet! Hallelujah!

Who’ Your One? Day 25 – Thursday, February 6

Confession & Declaration 27

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Revelation 5:8 And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves before the Lamb. Each was holding a harp (lute or guitar), and they had golden bowls full of incense (fragrant spices and gums for burning), which are the prayers of God’s people (the saints).

This scene occurs in Heaven’s Throne Room. What’s phenomenal to me is the last part of verse 8: golden bowls full of incense (fragrant spices and gums for burning), which are the prayers of God’s people (the saints).

Think on that: Golden bowls of incense which are the prayers of the saints. We have no idea how precious we are to God. Yet here in this passage it is so beautifully illustrated. Your prayers, and my prayers are mingled with the prayers of all the saints, from all the ages. Can you imagine? Your prayers are mingled with Noah’s, Abraham’s, Isaac’s, Jacob’s, Joseph’s, Moses’, and Joshua’s. They are mingled with the prayers of the prophets, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel. Crazier still? Our prayers have been mingled with the prayers of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. That should cause you to pause.

Now you might ask, What does this have to do with overcoming the enemy? The answers are varied but ultimately you should be getting a picture of what a treasure you are to God. The enemy wants to remind you of your frailties, and failures. He wants to accuse and condemn you. What you need to see is that there’s a reason why that is. Do you remember the meditation regarding being co-heirs with Christ? Do you remember that all things that belong to Jesus – belong to us? Well guess who Jesus owns? All the angels and demons. And Jesus shares that ownership with you. The devil hates you because Jesus Christ so valued mankind that He chose to share the stewardship of the entire universe with us. In comparison to angels we are frail, puny, weak men, and women. Yet God shares the stewardship of the universe with us – entrusting us – through our prayers. Prayers which move the heart and hand of God. Prayers, which are led by the Spirit of God, lifted before the Father, through Jesus. Your prayers shape world events. Your prayers move through the universe ushering in the Kingdom of God. Thus, you overcome the accuser through the prayers of the Spirit lifted before your Intercessor Jesus. And God the Father? He answers with thunder, power and wonder.

Declaration 27: Holy Father I stand amazed and awed by Your great love and the mystery of choosing man to co-labor along side of You. Thank You for including us in the stewardship of the world. Thank You for choosing me to know You. Thank You for praying through me – intermingling my intercessions with those of the Spirit, Jesus, and the saints. Thank You that I am a co-heir with Jesus, through Jesus’ conquering resurrection. Through Your Resurrection and Ascension Satan is defeated, and death has lost its sting! Thank You Jesus that Your coming back and that I will reign with You! Grant me Grace and the Power of Your Spirit to add more and more prayers to the golden bowls before Your Return. Grant me Grace and the Power of Your Spirit to pray in Your Spirit, from my spirit, as I abide in Your Word – let Your Words abide in me. Hallelujah I thank You Jesus that the Living Word of God dwells in me and that I am seated in heavenly realms with You!

Who’s Your One? Wednesday, February 5, Day 24

Confession & Declaration 26

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Today is Day 23 in your prayer journal for “Who’s Your One?” Which means you are 7 days away from sharing the Gospel with your “one.” The question is, What’s your strategy for sharing? Are you going to use The 3 Circles Gospel presentation, or a witnessing tract that you can walk them through? Or are you simply going to share your testimony – what your life was like before you came to Jesus, how you came to Jesus, and what your life is like now that you have accepted Jesus? Will you simply share your love and concern for their life? That quite frankly you really love and like them and want them to spend eternity with Jesus and you. Will you ask the 2 Diagnostic Questions attempting to discern where they really are in their relationship with Jesus; helping them to discover it for themselves? What are the 2 diagnostic questions? The very first is, Have you come to the place in your spiritual life where you know for certain that you have eternal life? The second question is even more telling because you ask what their assurance is for eternity. This second diagnostic question asks, If you were to dies today and stand before God and He asked, “Why should I let you into My Heaven?” What would you say? If their answer is dependent upon themselves you know where their assurance lies. Even if they say that they prayed a prayer, received baptism, joined a church, or tried to be good people – you know exactly where they actually put their trust. That is the key difference: TRUST. Often people believe all the right things but they have not translated their beliefs into trust. They’ve simply become converted. They’ve exchanged their ideas and opinions for another set of ideas; changing sides, turning over a new leaf. Unfortunately for them their center is still SELF. Which brings me to todays declaration and confession. 1 John 5:11-12 And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.12 He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life.

If you have met God’s covenant requirements – then you have been born-again of the Spirit. Converts have no idea what this term means. Nor do they understand what it means to have Jesus, or eternal life. Jesus defined eternal life totally different than what we’ve been taught or heard. Jesus’ definition was all about relationship. John 17:3 And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.

The AMPC does a great job of breaking down the meaning of knowing. Knowing in the original language means that you are experiencing the individual, getting acquainted with them, understanding them, perceiving and recognizing who they really are. It’s progressive, personal, and intimate. It means that there is a co-sharing of personhood. If I co-share with another then there is going to be a give and take of feelings, and thoughts that are verbally expressed. It means that my sharing will be personal, vulnerable, honest, sincere, reflective, experiential, emotional, risky, trusting, loving, and respectful. If this is going on – I have Jesus. I have eternal life.

Now stop and process that. Through the Blood of Jesus you now have access to the Godhead, in a give and take of thoughts and feelings, that are personal, vulnerable, honest, sincere, reflective, experiential, emotional, risky, trusting, loving, and respectful. With the Godhead. With the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. You have Jesus. You have His heart, and He has yours.

In other words, you become like spouses that really love one another. When you apply that concept to your relationship with Jesus it means that Jesus loves, and likes you. He desires to be with You. Jesus wants to hear all of the details of your day. Jesus desires to hear you talk about all of these things. Even more amazing than that. He wants to express His words, thoughts and feelings to you.

It never dawned on me till this morning that Jesus has been waiting on me not to pray through my list of the needs of others. He doesn’t want me to simply read a devotional thought, or the Bible, and walk away. No, no, and absolutely not! He wants me to slow down, and connect with Him. I realized I had reaped what I had sown. What do I mean? For the past several years my focus has been on obedience. But in the process I have neglected co-sharing. As a result of my focus I had reaped what I had sown. Yet recently I broadened my focus to include practicing His Presence, and taking the time to talk with Him about concerns, struggles, and thoughts. Guess what has happened? He has started co-sharing with me. With that in mind, why don’t you take this time to make this declaration and draw near to Him.

Declaration 26: My Precious Father Jesus. Again and again, thank You! Thank You for Your Precious Blood that has made this possible. I have You, and You have me. I am yours, but greater than that – You are mine. Through Your precious Blood I now have the assurance that I have a relationship with You. I have eternal life. Through Your Blood I can now crawl up beside You and pour my heart out. Thank You that You also pour out your heart to me. Thank You that through these truths I can see that I need to broaden my focus to sow into Your life my words, thoughts and feelings that are personal, vulnerable, honest, sincere, reflective, experiential, emotional, risky, trusting, loving, and respectful. Through Jesus’ Blood I can crawl up in Your lap Father. I can wrap my arms around Your neck and hug You. Thank You that from Your Throne and Your Lap – I can see things from Your perspective, and be still and quiet. For You are My Rock, Refuge, and Safety. I love You for loving me. Thank You that I have Jesus, and He has me.

Confession & Declaration 25

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1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, 20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.

Scripture records that in our salvation Jesus’ Blood is recreating us to be His Temple. But there’s more. John 14:21, 23 states: The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.].…23 Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him.

Because you are His Temple, and His Word is finding its home in you, Jesus promises that He is going to reveal Himself to you (make Himself to be clearly seen). Not only that, His Temple is His Home. The Godhead are making their Home in little ol’ you!

Pastor Matthew Redder amply stated: Have you ever shopped at Home Depot? Lowes? Or some other home repair-improvement type store? If you have you’ve inevitably seen the piles of lumber tossed aside that are broken, cracked, warped, crooked, or just plain look bad. These piles of lumber go ignored as faithful builders go for the ‘perfect’ building materials. After all, who in their right mind would ever use “bad” materials to build a house? You just don’t do that – you don’t start with a bad foundation because you know it won’t last. So it’s funny that Jesus builds a very different way. He uses the crooked sticks, the broken sticks, the lame lumber, the stuff that everyone else is looking past and in many cases tosses aside. It’s almost like he DELIGHTS in using materials that everyone else thinks are ‘useless’. It’s almost like he’s loading up his proverbial cart with all the crooked, broken, and warped wood that he can and he’s parading it around – inviting others to question his decision making. “How are you going to build a house with THAT!?!” “Are you blind? That wood is warped, you’ll never pass inspection!” “There is a huge pile of perfectly good material over there, use that.” You can almost hear Jesus’ voice, “No, I’m going to build my house. And nothing is going to stop me.”… “These crooked, warped, broken pieces of wood are perfect and they’re are all mine.” And off he goes, building the spiritual house, one broken stick at a time. One warped 2×4 at a time. One rotten floor joist at a time. And believe me, IN CHRIST we will all pass the inspection as we stand redeemed and justified in HIM alone. What a beautiful picture of the grace of God through the redemption of His son.

“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 2:4-5

Declaration 25: My Great High Priest I come before you clothed in Your Priestly garments offering to You my spiritual sacrifice of praise and worship. By and through Your Precious Blood I have been made holy but even great than that Your Kingdom exists inside of me. I am Your Temple, and Your Spiritual House. Thank You Jesus that as I align my life with Your Word in Obedience You make Yourself Known to me. You become real to me. You said in Your Word that if the people didn’t praise You that the rocks would cry out. Well now its my turn as Your living stone to cry out. I cry out that, “I have been made worthy by the Blood of the Lamb to be His Temple!” I cry out that, “I am Jesus’ priest forever!” I cry out that, “The Godhead resides within me!” I cry out, “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world!” I cry out, “Jesus chose a crooked, rotten, broken, cracked and plain life like mine to build His House in!” I cry out, “I have passed inspection as I stand redeemed and justified in Jesus alone!” I cry out, “Nothing is stopping my Master Builder Jesus, as He raises His House in me!” Nothing is going to stop Him! Nothing can stop Him. I am His and He is mine! I cry out, “Hallelujah, thank You Jesus! Thank You Jesus!”

Confession & Declaration 24

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Romans 8:17 And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.

A few months ago I was intrigued by a promise repeated five times in the 37th Psalm:

Psalm 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait and hope and look for the Lord [in the end] shall inherit the earth.

Psalm 37:11 But the meek [in the end] shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Psalm 37: 22 For such as are blessed of God shall [in the end] inherit the earth, but they that are cursed of Him shall be cut off.

Psalm 37:29 [Then] the [consistently] righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.

Psalm 37:34 Wait for and expect the Lord and keep and heed His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; [in the end] when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

I knew that in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount that He repeats this promise in Matthew 5:5 Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!

But after my discovery in Psalm 37 I had to say, Lord, all I really want is to be with You. I could care less about inheriting the earth. But my question for You is, Why is this such a big deal? The first thing He reminded me of was that to be on earth during the Millennial Reign of Christ is to be with Him. But the second thing He showed me was that which is in Romans 8:17 “…heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]…”

We need to understand something. In Hebrews 1:2 it states: “…has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;…”

Jesus is Heir of all things. In the Greek “all” means “ALL.” So everything belongs to Jesus – the earth and all it contains; the heavens’ and all they contain; the seas and all it contains; the universe, with its stars, planets, milky way, asteroids, comets, and moons. All of these things belong to Jesus. We belong to Him. Angels and demons are His. He owns it all. But guess what? Because He has made us His children, we have full rights to receive His inheritance. According to Matthew 25:34; Galatians 3:29; Colossians 1:12; and 3:24 – we are His beneficiaries. Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those at His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father [you [a]favored of God and appointed to eternal salvation], inherit (receive as your own) the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Galatians 3:29 And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham’s Seed], then you are Abraham’s offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise.

Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.

Colossians 3:24 Knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [real] reward. [The One Whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ (the Messiah).

The payoff of the “blessed’s” found in the Psalm 37, and the Matthew 5:5 passages, is that we get to be with Jesus in Heaven. We get to be with Jesus during the Millennial reign. We get to be with Jesus in the New Heaven and New Earth. Oh yeah, and by the way, we inherit everything that belongs to Him!!!! Jesus is setting things back to the way they used to be. Have you ever thought about that? When God the Father placed Adam and Eve here that the entire universe belonged to them also? They got to co-steward it all with the Godhead. (Now you can understand why the devil hates your guts so bad: you own him!) Wrap your head around that. Even crazier is the idea that the earth and all it contains; the heavens’ and all they contain; the seas and all it contains; the universe, with its stars, planets, milky way, asteroids, comets, and moons. All of these things belong to you too. You don’t have to buy a star and put your name on it; all of them are your inheritance. When Paul speaks of the riches of our salvation he wasn’t joking. We had no idea we really are royalty.

Declaration 24: Father, I’ve often pondered the admonition: Be still and know that I AM God. I’ve also puzzled over the silence in Heaven in the Book of Revelation. But now I’m stunned. I’m stunned, humbled, and prostrated spiritually before You – groveling with my face to the ground. What words can express the measure and depths of Your love? The praise and worship You are worthy of? “Thank You’s” fall to the ground sounding hollow, and cheap. Words really can’t express my sincere and humble gratitude, and admiration. It all requires the fullness of all that I am to give You the worship You are due; to provide You with an eternity of service. But now I rise. Lord Jesus I rise above the sin and shame. I rise above the failures and rebellion. I rise above memories of my disobedience and my treatment of such an amazing salvation. I rise and stretch my hands towards You in Praise. I rise and raise my voice as thunder to You. I rise lifting the fullness of my soul – mind, will, emotions, and personality – and I pour it all out to the One Who is Worthy. Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain before the foundation of the world! Worthy is the Lamb, the Conquering King Victorious! Hallelujah I shout Your praises joining my voice with all the Voices that know this full well. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! How can I be quiet any longer? How can I be still? Crown Him with many crowns is my anthem now! Crown Him forever more!

Who’s Your One? Saturday, February 1, Day 20

Confession & Declaration 23

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Romans 8:9 But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God].

The point I want you to see from this passage is that you are Jesus’ purchased possession. You can know that you belong to Jesus because of the indwelling Holy Spirit. How can we know for sure that we have the Indwelling Holy Spirit? The internet site, Got Questions, gives us a list of 12 things the Holy Spirit does for a believer:

As the Holy Spirit lives in the believer, He brings about some life-changing results:

1) The indwelling Spirit comes to a soul dead in sin and creates new life (Titus 3:5). This is the new birth Jesus spoke of in John 3:1–8.

2) The indwelling Spirit confirms to the believer that he belongs to the Lord and is an heir of God and fellow-heir with Christ (Romans 8:15–17).

3) The indwelling Spirit gives spiritual gifts (God-given abilities for service) to the believer to edify the church and serve the Lord effectively for His glory (1 Corinthians 12:11).

4) The indwelling Spirit helps the believer understand and apply the Scripture to his daily life (1 Corinthians 2:12).

5) The indwelling Spirit enriches the believer’s prayer life and intercedes for him in prayer (Romans 8:26–27).

6) The indwelling Holy Spirit empowers the yielded believer to live for Christ to do His will (Galatians 5:16). The Spirit leads the believer in paths of righteousness (Romans 8:14).

7) The indwelling Spirit gives evidence of new life by producing the fruit of the Spirit in the believer’s life (Galatians 5:22–23).

8) The indwelling Spirit is grieved when the believer sins (Ephesians 4:30), and He convicts the believer to confess his sin to the Lord so that fellowship is restored (1 John 1:9).

9) The indwelling Spirit seals the believer unto the day of redemption so that the believer’s arrival in the Lord’s presence is guaranteed after this life (Ephesians 1:13–14).

10) The indwelling Holy Spirit reminds the believer of things that Jesus has said, and teaches them all things (John 14:26)

11) The indwelling Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus to the believer (John 15:26)

12) The indwelling Holy Spirit will guides the believer into all truth, telling them of things that will happen in the future. (John 16:13, 14)

When you accept Christ as your Savior (Romans 10:9–13), the Holy Spirit takes up residence in your heart, bringing with Him an entirely new life of love, relationship, and service to the Lord.

Because you belong to Jesus the Holy Spirit builds God’s Home in You and fills it with Him – the Spirit of Truth!

Declaration 23: I thank You Jesus that I overcome the accuser of the brothers through Your Blood and the Indwelling Holy Spirit. Because of His Indwelling Presence I know that I belong to You. Through Him new life has been created in me, and I have died to sin. Through Him I have His Inner Witness that I belong to Jesus and He belongs to me. Through the Holy Spirit I have access to the Gifts of the Spirit resident in Him. Through Him I know I belong to Jesus because He prays through me. I know that I belong to Jesus because the Holy Spirit leads me to righteousness, empowering me to yield my life to daily surrender to Jesus. I know that I belong to Jesus because the fruits of the Spirit manifest through my life, especially when I desperately need them. I know that I belong to Jesus because the Spirit reminds me of things that Jesus has said, and teaches me the meaning of God’s Word. I know that I belong to Jesus because the Holy Spirit helps me to know Who Jesus is, leading me into all truth and even revealing to me things that will happen in the future. Thank You Jesus! I am Yours and You are mine! Thank You that we belong together!

Who’s Your One? Day 19, Friday, January 31

Confession & Declaration 22

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Romans 8:3 For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],

One of the benefits of the Blood of Jesus and our salvation through Christ is that Jesus has done something for us that we could never do – not in a billion lifetimes. Like the movie “Groundhog Day” – there would never be enough “do overs” to reach the level of perfection required to achieve our own salvation. Imagine if you and an Olympic swimmer were on the beach in California and decided to race to Hawaii. Which one of you would win? That’s right neither of you. He would probably go further, but both of you would drown. It is humanly impossible to swim from California to Hawaii.

When we think of sin, many times we think only of robbery, murder, adultery, etc. The Bible tells us that sin is anything that doesn’t please God or is a transgression of His law. Sin is anything we do that we shouldn’t, like losing our temper or stealing – these are sins of commission.    Anything we should do but don’t like failing to pray or read the Bible, or to truly love our neighbor – these are sins of omission. There are not only sins in deed but also sins in word and thought like lying, cursing, lust, pride, and hatred.  The Bible says these are all sins. Suppose a person sinned only ten times a day or even just five? Imagine if no more often than three times a day did he think unkind thoughts, or lose his temper, or fail to do what he ought towards God and man – he would be a pretty fine person, wouldn’t he? Yet, even if he were this good, he would still have over 1,000 transgressions a year! Now I’m 56 years old, so that would mean I would have 56,000 sins on my record! Now, If God were like a traffic court judge, and those sins were like driving tickets, I would hate to think of what would happen if I appeared in a traffic court with 56,000 tickets against me. The judge would throw me under the jail for life. If a human judge would have to do that regarding our traffic tickets how much more would a Holy and Righteous God have to punish your sins? God the Father had Himself a dilemma: He loves you but hates your sin and has to punish them. How did He solve this dilemma? He sent His Son Jesus to pay the penalty for your sins, dying in your place, receiving the sentence and punishment you were due.

Declaration 22: I thank You Jesus that You have done for me what I could have never done. I thank You Jesus that You were punished in my place so that I didn’t have to receive the punishment I deserve. Greater than that You didn’t just leave me as I am. You have come into my life and now You are living Your Life through me. Thank You Jesus! By Your Grace and Blood I now have Heaven’s Power to become who I’ve always wanted to become. Thank You for Your Blood washing over me, and Your Grace and Spirit surging through my veins supplying me with the strength to become like Jesus. I praise and worship Your Holy Name! I overcome the accuser through the fact that this isn’t my fight. Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of My salvation. Even when I fail miserably I’m covered by the Blood of Jesus Who empowers me to declare, Jesus has won! Sin is defeated! I am forgiven, cleansed and made new! I can get back up to fight again, and again as I am being washed continually in Jesus. I can get back up because Jesus empowers me for Salvation and Victory!

Confession & Declaration 21

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Romans 8:1 Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.

The word “katakrima” (condemnation) is often misunderstood; many take it to mean no more conviction for sin for believers. F.F. Bruce has well defined it as “punishment following sentence – in other words, penal servitude. There is no reason for those who are in Christ Jesus to serve sin as if they had never been pardoned and never been liberated from the prison-house of sin.” In other words you have been delivered from the condemnation and the bondage of legalism through the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. Positionally we are in Christ through the new birth of the Spirit; through becoming His Body; and through trusting in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. There is now no more condemnation because I have been hidden in Christ through His Blood.

Robert Robinson was a wild young man who came to repentance listening to a George Whitefield sermon. He later became a pastor and wrote a couple of hymns, particularly the famous, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”, which was written in 1757. Later in life, Robinson wandered from the Lord and apparently felt he could not return. Perhaps as the story of Pilgrim’s Progress, when Christian and Hopeful were captured by Giant Despair and taken to Doubting Castle, he too fell prey to the devil’s lies and forgot for a time the Promises of God. For those who aren’t familiar with Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian and Hopeful escape Doubting Castle when Christian realizes he has a key called Promise, which will open all the doors and gates of Doubting Castle. It is said that Robert Robinson also found that he had a key called “Promise” when years later, he was riding in a stage coach with a young woman who did not know who he was but actually quoted the hymn, Come Thou Fount, to him. He replied, “Madam, I am the poor, unhappy man who wrote that old hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to enjoy the feelings I had back then.” It is said that she responded by telling him “Sir, the ‘streams of mercy’ are still flowing.”

Declaration 21: Lord I come to You through the valley of death and despair. Yet even here You have prepared a table for me in the midst of my enemies. As I look for Your Table I see that there is no more condemnation for me. You have given me Your promise – becoming Promise for me. Thank You Jesus that through You the streams of mercy are still flowing for all who find themselves in doubts prison. I insert the key of trust in Your Promise that I have been released from the servitude to sin. I am no longer it’s slave. Sins’ shackles have been broken. Thank You Jesus I have been released from the prison house of sin and I have been pardoned. I thank You Jesus that I can tell the devil of hell that Your Blood has secured my pardon, opened hell’s gates, and set me free to be in You! Thank You Jesus!

Who’s Your One? Day 17, January 29

Confession & Declaration 20

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If the Bible had a Hall of Fame, Romans chapter eight would have been inducted a long time ago. For many scholars Romans eight is seen as the “go to” chapter on the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is mentioned nineteen times in this chapter and for good reason. Throughout this chapter we discover the benefits of the Blood of Jesus, and who He has made us to be. The Holy Spirit is the Dynamite to Jesus’ salvation and promises. This chapter lists at least 50 benefits to being washed in the Blood providing us with the needed power to see our thinking transformed to be conformed to the Truth – Jesus. Another Title used for the Holy Spirit is Grace. When Grace has been explained it has often been watered down from the Dynamite it (or He) actually is. Grace is the empowerment to do the will of God. Romans 8:2 makes mention of it, though it doesn’t actually use the word: For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.

The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is just another way of referring to Grace. We sing songs about Grace and we even memorize an acrostic about Grace but very few understand the role Grace plays in the believers life. The acrostic for G.R.A.C.E. = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. When I learned the acrostic as a teen I was satisfied that I could use it to define what Grace was. Unfortunately it took me years before I began to grasp it’s significance. Scripture actually exhorts us to grow in Grace in 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)!

As we grow in Grace we actually grow in the Holy Spirit. If we are growing in the Holy Spirit we will be growing in knowing, experientially, Who Jesus is. In our growing in knowing Who Jesus is we grow in the things that Jesus does – ALL of it. This requires us to agree with the urgings and leadings of the Spirit, or Grace. As we grow – we know!

Charles Stanley tells the story of a professor who wanted to teach his students a lesson about grace. There is a great article that illustrates the concept of grace written by Charles Stanley. “One of my more memorable seminary professors had a practical way of illustrating to his students the concept of grace. At the end of his evangelism course he would distribute the exam, and caution the class to read it all the way through before beginning to answer it. This caution was written on the exam as well. As we read the test, it became unquestionably clear to each of us that we had not studied nearly enough. “The further we read, the worse it became. About halfway through, audible groans could be heard through out the lecture hall. On the last page, however, was a note that read, “You have a choice. You can either complete the exam as given or sign your name at the bottom and in so doing receive an A for this assignment.” “We sat there stunned,” Stanley said. “Was he serious? Just sign it and get an A? Slowly, the point dawned on us, and one by one we turned in our tests and silently filed out of the room. “When I talked with the professor about it afterward, he shared some of the reactions he had received through the years. Some students began to take the exam without reading it all the way through, and they would sweat it out for the entire two hours of class time before reaching the last page. “Others read the first two pages, became angry, turned the test in blank, and stormed out of the room without signing it. They never realized what was available, and as a result, they lost out totally. “One fellow, however, read the entire test, including the note at the end, but decided to take the exam anyway. He did not want any gifts; he wanted to earn his grade. And he did. He made a C+, but he could easily have had an A.” Andy Cook for Lifeway writes: Romans Chapter 8 is the last line on the test of life. All who read the words here and believe them pass God’s test with flying colors. They get an A, so to speak. Some hear about God’s holiness, and give up ever trying to make the grade. Some of those spend an entire lifetime angry at the God who desires to give them grace. And of course, a lot of people depend upon morality and good deeds to get them into heaven, and they do their best to work their way into God’s approval. Unfortunately, nothing less than a perfect score will do – and only by God’s grace can any of us achieve a perfect score. Like Charles Stanley’s professor, God makes an offer that seems to be too good to be true. But the truth is, it’s the only question that ultimately matters. Would you take the Grace of God, or reject it?

Ready to make a declaration? Declaration 20: Lord Jesus, I praise You today for making me an overcomer through Your Precious Blood and by the indwelling Power of Your Holy Spirit. He is Grace for me – empowering me to do what I could never do. I thank You that I overcome the accuser of the brothers through the Empowerment of His Grace enabling me to live Your life through the Law of the Spirit of Life. Thank You Jesus that the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the Law of Sin and of Death. What I was powerless to do through the works of my mind, will, emotions and personality the Holy accomplishes through His Personality lived through me. Thank You Jesus You live in me and I in You. The fullness of the Godhead dwells in me! Thank You Jesus that by and through Your Holy Spirit I receive an “A” on the Final of Life! Your Grace seems too good to be True – yet it is true because You are Truth! You make me smile on the inside Lord as I think about Your great Love and the Treasure that You are to me. The Treasure of Knowing You through salvation is beyond my comprehension. I love and praise You!

Who’s Your One? Day 16, Tuesday January 28

Confession & Declaration 19

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Just as a review. We have learned how we overcome satan the accuser, through the Blood of Jesus and the word of our testimony. This testimony of what the Blood has done reveals how we overcome satan as the devil, dragon, serpent, seducer, and accuser. 

Next we have been learning how the Blood secures for us cleansing – which is continually washing away your sins – past, present and future; propitiation, and atonement, having been brought near to the Mercy Seat of Jesus; justified – made as if you’ve never sinned, guiltless, innocent, and you’ve been freed from the power of sin; fellowship with the Godhead, and a co-sharing with all They are; you’ve been brought into the Eternal Now where your past and future have been severed by the Now of the Blood of Jesus; redeemed, ransomed, and purchased back from satan, death, hell, sin and the grave. You’ve been let go from imprisonment, and your debt has been paid; brought near and into His embrace reconciling you to do the good works Jesus does, brought into Israel’s covenant promises, tearing down the dividing wall between you and Him; Peace, and harmony have been restored between God the Father and you. You have  been reconciled to God, and now have entered God’s Shalom and Rest; your conscience has been cleansed and purified. All your guilt, shame and condemnation has been washed away; you have entered into a covenant with Jesus which has been sealed by His Blood, a new creation, and a living scroll or letter of the covenant you’ve made; you enter the Father’s Presence through holding fast your confession about the Blood; you are being saved (sozo) in mind, body, will and emotions; and you have been made complete – strengthened, perfected, and the way you ought to be. 

Now let me introduce you to a new thing which has happened as a result of Jesus’ Precious Blood: Hebrews 13:12 Therefore Jesus also suffered and died outside the [city’s] gate in order that He might purify and consecrate the people through [the shedding of] His own blood and set them apart as holy [for God]. 

At this point we need to be reminded you of two things: we are to be transformed in our thinking, and overcome the enemy through our confessing. The two things: transformed thinking and communication. Proverbs 23:7 states: For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. And that is our problem. What we think in our heart comes out of our mouths sealing the deal. What’s even scarier is the devil and his demons believe this more than you and I. You and I have to get our thinker and feeler to coincide with the Truth. Remember Truth is a Person! His Name is Jesus.

My goal has been to write these confessions, and declarations in order that you might reset your thinking, and talking. To get you back to the Garden. Back to who God made you to be in the first place. You were made for more and you haven’t understood the treasure you are to Christ. We need to begin fighting forward to the Victory that has already been secured by Christ and His Blood.

Thus along with all the other riches found in our salvation – you have been made sanctified or holy. This is really amazing you’ve been rendered sacred, hallowed, and consecrated to God. You and I have been separated from the common things and have been dedicated to Jesus – for His purposes. Involved in this meaning is the word reformed. You have not only been reborn – you have been reformed, cleansed, washed clean and made holy. You are holy. I dare you to say that out loud. Say: I am holy by the Blood of Jesus!  Doesn’t that feel weird in your mouth? Let’s declare it.

Declaration 19: Almighty God, and Righteous Savior, again I stand amazed. How could you love me this much? Yet, You went to the cross for me to make me appear before You holy. I am holy by the Blood of Jesus – my Lamb, and my God. I am holy. It sounds so weird to say it but yet you are transforming me even as we speak. You are “metamorpho- sizing” me. You are changing me into Your image. Thank You Jesus! You have sanctified, consecrated, hallowed and made me sacred to You, for your purposes. I overcome the accuser of the brothers through this fact that I belong to Jesus, and He is using me for His purposes. I’ve been separated from all that is common and ordinary – dedicated to Jesus. I am holy by the Precious Blood of the Lamb! And Lord Jesus I rededicate my self to You. Grant me Your Grace and the Power of Your Spirit to rise above the ordinary, and mundane; to be uniquely different from all that is average, ordinary, and plain. I don’t want to go through the motions any more. I don’t want to be a casual Christian. Baptize me afresh, and anew in Your Spirit so that I burn with Holy Fire. Be the Fuel to my flame. I love You Jesus. Thank You so much. Again, and again, thank You!

Who’s Your One: Day 15 Monday, January 27

Confession & Declaration 18

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Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Blood of the Everlasting Covenant has made us, and is making us complete. In the Greek this means to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be. Through Jesus Blood I am being restored to the way I ought to be. He is making us complete, whole, and perfect.

Very few take the time to realize the richness found in the words of the original writers of the awesome Word of God. But one word stands head and shoulders above so many and that word is the word for salvation. The Greek word for salvation is “sozo.” It means a saving of mind, body, will, and emotions. The Greek word used in this passage from Hebrews echoes this truth. We are made complete, perfect, whole, and we ought to be. Our Father, and Savior are so rich towards us. God’s generosity knows no bounds. Though, we being poor have been made co-inheritors with Jesus’ Salvation – should cause us to sing His praises till our hearts burst. Our Lord and Friend calls us into His Eternal Now to declare that we belong to Him, and He belongs to us. He is our Beloved and we are His. Through His Blood we ascend to make His praises known. Through His Blood we are conformed to His Image becoming like Jesus. Through His Blood we become whom we always knew we were to be. That we have been made for something more, and this world is not our home. Listen, listen for the sounds of Heaven. Listen, listen for the glorious call. Lift up your heads, and raise your voices, to declare.

Declaration 18: Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain before the foundations of the world. Worthy is He Who is Holy and Set Apart from the mundane. Hallelujah, Praise the Lamb of God. Hallelujah, Praise and Worship the King of kings and the Lord of all lords. Lift up your heads, and raise your voices and worship with all creation. Join in the Song of the Lamb. Join in the Song of the Ages. Glory to God in the Highest. Hallelujah, thank You Jesus! Thank You Jesus that I am being made complete, whole, perfect in Your sight. Thank You Jesus for saving me mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Thank You that I am being restored to who I ought to be. Thank You that You have made me for more than dying and going to Heaven. Thank You that I am being conformed to Your Image. Hallelujah I praise You!

Who’s Your One? Saturday, January 25 

Confession & Declaration 17

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Hebrews 10:19-23 Therefore, brethren, having boldnessto enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 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. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Isn’t it interesting the connection between entering God’s Presence through the Blood of Jesus and holding fast your confession? In the Greek the phrase hold fast is actually one word that means: keep secure, keep firm possession of, keep in memory. This is how we enter the Presence of God, or His Throne room. Your profession or confession comes from a root word which means to give assent, or agreement to. When you profess or confess you are declaring it openly; speaking out freely. It is something that you are convinced is true. 

Polycarp was a 2nd-century Christian bishop of Smyrna. He died a martyr, bound and burned at the stake, then stabbed when the fire failed to consume his body. When it came to holding fast his confession it is recorded that he said before his death: “Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and Savior? You threaten me with a fire that burns for a season, and after a little while is quenched; but you are ignorant of the fire of everlasting punishment that is prepared for the wicked.” Polycarp’s crime? He refused to burn incense to the Roman Emperor. On his farewell, he said: “I bless you, Father, for judging me worthy of this hour, so that in the company of the martyrs I may share the cup of Christ.” 

Now that is standing on your confession! Are you standing on your profession or confession in Christ? Are you declaring who you are, and whose you are through the Blood of Jesus? 

Declaration 17: Holy Father I draw near to You through the Precious Blood of Jesus. I praise and thank You that You have made a new and living way. Thank You that the veil has been torn away and I can now enter boldly into Your Throne Room. Thank You that my heart has been sprinkled by the Blood, cleansing my conscience, and washing me clean. Thank You that I no have something to stand on and proclaim. By Your Blood I rise, even when I fall and fail You. I rise through the Blood Of Jesus and conquer the enemy. I rise up declaring my confession boldly: I am Washed in the Blood Of Jesus! I belong to the Lamb! I am a child of the Most High! I  am ransomed, washed, cleaned, and purified! I stand and I proclaim! I rise because You rose and defeated death, hell and the grave! Hallelujah I praise You with the Heavenly Hosts. I praise You with the saints who have gone on before me. Thank You Jesus!

Who’s Your One? Friday, January 24 

Confession & Declaration 16

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You’ve come a long ways in your confessions and declarations. Yet, I will say, I am getting so much out of this study. It has been such a blessing. But my hope is that God’s Spirit is using these truths to transform your thinking. May they change the way you relate to our Lord.

Today we discover how our covenant with the Godhead has been put into effect through Jesus’ shed Blood. Which reminds me of a story: A man was in the hospital, near death and couldn’t talk, so the family sent for his pastor. As the pastor stood beside the bed, the elderly man’s frail and pale condition grew worse, and he motioned frantically for something to write with. Lovingly, his pastor, handed him a pen and piece of paper. Old Fred, the elderly church member, worked up his last ounce of strength to scribble a note, placing it in his pastors hand before breathing his final breath. His family was visibly moved by Old Fred’s expression of endearment for his pastor. Heads bowed in reverence, they wept silently, shuffling nervously around the room. Not wanting to appear insensitive, the pastor discreetly slipped the sacred note into his jacket pocket promptly forgetting about it. Several days later, at Fred’s funeral, the pastor began delivering his eulogy describing the man’s journey through life, his accomplishments, and the sweetness of having pastored and known him. Half way through the eulogy he remembered that he was wearing the same jacket he had worn the day the Fred had passed. Digging into his pocket he retrieved the folded note and continued, “You know Old Fred handed me a note just before he died. I haven’t read it, but knowing Fred, I’m sure there’s a word of inspiration there for us all.” As the pastor unfolded the note he read aloud the sacred notes contents, “You dummy you’re standing on my oxygen tube!!”

When it comes to overcoming the accuser of the brothers quite often we are not allowing it’s truths to flow freely thus cutting off the life those truths provide. Let’s delve deeper into the Testimony of the Blood of the Lamb: Hebrews 9:15-20: [Christ, the Messiah] is therefore the Negotiator and Mediator of an [entirely] new agreement (testament, covenant), so that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfillment of the promised everlasting inheritance—since a death has taken place which rescues and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions committed under the [old] first agreement. 16 For where there is a [last] will and testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established, 17 For a will and testament is valid and takes effect only at death, since it has no force or legal power as long as the one who made it is alive.18 So even the [old] first covenant (God’s will) was not inaugurated and ratified and put in force without the shedding of blood. 19 For when every command of the Law had been read out by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of slain calves and goats, together with water and scarlet wool and with a bunch of hyssop, and sprinkled both the Book (the roll of the Law and covenant) itself and all the people, 20 Saying these words: This is the blood that seals and ratifies the agreement (the testament, the covenant) which God commanded [me to deliver to] you.

When a person dies many times they will have a written will describing the earthly possessions they wish to leave with their loved ones. Officially the will is known as the “last will and testament.” Our Bibles are divided between Old and New Testaments. God’s Last Will and Testament for His people. In the Old Will and Testament the lives of animals were sacrificed to insure forgiveness of sin. Yet, in our New Will and Testament, Jesus became our sacrifice, securing for us more than forgiveness but eternal life. Freely surrendering His life so that we could come to life. Yet, as we are discovering, Jesus’ Blood did more than wash away our sins. His Blood ratified the covenant. In other words, His Blood sealed the contract, or more correctly, the covenant. A contract is a legal document which in many ways is similar to a covenant. Yet there are big differences.

Chris and Lisa Cree, bloggers for New Creations, wrote: “With a contract, if one agreeing party does something in violation of the contract then it is considered broken. The whole contract becomes null and void. With a covenant, both parties agree to hold up their ends regardless of whether the other party keeps their part of the agreement or not. A violation of a covenant by one party doesn’t matter.”

One of history’s more recent covenants has been the Declaration of Independence. The Cree’s continue to blog when they write: The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men who all understood they were committing high treason against the British government when they signed the document. Benjamin Franklin famously highlighted that reality at the time, “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” The concluding sentence of the Declaration states, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” To the signers it didn’t matter if any one of their confederates broke or switched sides. They were still committed to their course of action regardless, even if it cost them their lives.“

But the question remains, What are the differences between a contract and a covenant?

  • A contract is an agreement between parties while a covenant is a pledge.
  • A covenant is an agreement you can break while a covenant is a perpetual promise.
  • You seal a covenant while you sign a contract.
  • A contract is a mutually beneficial relationship while a covenant is something you fulfill.
  • A contract exchanges one good for another, while a covenant is giving oneself to the other.
  • You can opt out of a contract while a covenant is about having the strength to hold up your part of the promise.
  • One can stop paying in a contract when one party is not fulling their part in a deal. However, in a covenant, the party not getting their needs met supports the failing party so that they can meet their obligations.

Obviously the weight of our covenant with Jesus is on Jesus. We are simply recipients of its benefits. There’s an account in the Old Testament of when God cut covenant with Abram. The narrative describes what was involved in the ancient custom. Genesis 15:8-10 states: But he [Abram] said, Lord God, by what shall I know that I shall inherit it? 9 And He said to him, Bring to Me a heifer three years old, a she-goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.10 And he brought Him all these and cut them down the middle [into halves] and laid each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not divide.

In the ancient middle eastern custom of “cutting” covenant, participants would dig a trench, preferably on a hill, allowing the blood of the sacrificed animals to flow freely down its middle. The covenant was sealed when both parties would walk through the trench barefooted allowing the blood to soak their feet. Participating in this practice was with the solemn understanding that if anyone broke covenant a similar fate would be visited upon the covenant breaker. What’s powerful about Abram’s covenant with God is that Abram never walked through. His was not the sacrifice to make. That would come through the Father who Promised His Son – Jesus, our Messiah to seal the deal.

Even more sobering than this is the fact that 2 Corinthians 5:17 states that we are new creations, and 2 Corinthians 3:3 defines what kind of new creation we are when it states: You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. In other words, you’ve become Jesus’ living scroll, the written covenant, written by the ink of the Spirit, and sealed by Jesus’ Precious Blood. You’ve done more than enter into a Covenant you can’t keep, with an Eternal God, you can never equal in a thousand lifetimes. You are being transformed into His Living Scroll – sealed by His Blood. Thats powerful. Are you ready to overcome the accuser through declaring Jesus’ Truth and Praise?

Declaration 16: Precious Father, when I draw near to You to declare Your covenant Truths, I am humbled to tears. Abba, all I can bring to our covenant is my life, my heart, and my all. I freely, and willingly surrender it at the Feet of My Lamb Who filled the trench with His Blood to seal our agreement. You have made me a new creation, a living scroll, sealed by Your Blood. I could never in a thousand lifetimes qualify as a second party. Yet You embraced me, bringing me to the Family Table, making me Yours. Thank You for surrendering Your Life so that I could come to life. Thank You that You have brought me to life, raised me from sin, flooding me with Light. Praise Your Name for Your Glorious Light! For in it I see. I can see, and hear the sweetness of Who You are, and whose You’ve made me to be. Embraced by Your Light, and Grace, I stretch forth to embrace You in return. Thank You for the day to come, when my feet find themselves before You, my legs fail me for the weight of Your Glory, and You lift me into Your embrace. My heart aches for the day. Thank You, thank You, Jesus!

Confession & Declaration 15

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Hebrews 9:14 How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living God?

Conscience is defined as an inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one’s behavior. The Greek goes a little deeper in its definition describing it as the the soul that distinguishes between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other. Conscience in the Greek is defined as a consciousness of right and wrong. Before a person is born-again of the Spirit the conscience could be defined as the battle between two egos in opposition to one another. One ego values goodness, truth, beauty, etc. and is affirmed and is to be affirmed. It contains within itself the “I should do this or that.” The opposing ego destroys the good order by falsehood, evil, and disorder. Ultimately both stem from the soul – mind, will, emotions and personality – and are powerless to rid you of the growing weight of guilt and wrongdoing. A conscience has the power to carry you only as far as the will is able to stay strong. Once the will has been weakened the body of our sin nature collapses under the force and weight of the temptations.

Through the Blood of Jesus this load of guilt, shame and condemnation is washed away. Jesus lifts it from us and continues to do so. As often as we ask He cleanses our conscience from the dead works of attempting to make ourself right before Him. He washes us from the need to obtain His approval through our performance, dead works, and religious legalism. He frees us to obtain the righteousness of Christ through simple faith, child-like obedience, fueled by His Spirit and Grace.

His Blood frees me from the lies of the enemy that I must meet certain standards, or have the approval of certain others in order to feel good about myself. Now that my conscience is clean I no longer have to fear punishment nor punish others. I am now free from blaming others and myself for personal failures. The drive to succeed to avoid punishment has now been replaced by gratitude. My drive to obey is empowered now by a desire to say, Thank You, through my actions. This freedom of a cleansed conscience has released me from the bondage of withdrawing from God and others. My conscience freed can now serve the Living God not religious externalism or legalism.

David, the Psalmist, sums up our position before the Father when he writes: Lord, how they are increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.2 Many are saying of me, There is no help for him in God. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. (Psalm 3:1-3 AMPC)

With the weight of shame, guilt and condemnation gone I can now experience the Lord lifting my head. I am in the Eternal Now. I am washed in the Blood of Jesus – made perfectly clean in His Presence.

Declaration 14: Lord many memories, have I, of my guilt, and shame. Many witnesses have seen and heard of my wickedness. Yet, my Lord and my Savior, though they increase to trouble, and rise up against me; though they proudfully assert, There is no help for him in God. I can rise up through Your Blood. I can stand. For You are my Shield, my Glory and the One who lifts my head. You have cleansed, are cleansing, and will cleanse my conscience from the weight, and stain of sin. You have washed me, lifted my head, and ushered me into Your Presence. You have freed me from the lies that I must meet certain standards, or have the approval of certain others in order to feel good about myself. Through Your cleansing Blood I no longer have to fear punishment nor punish others – because my conscience has been cleansed. You have freed me from blaming others and myself for my personal failures. Through Your Blood I can even accept the choices I made which led to their consequences. The drive to succeed to avoid punishment has now been replaced by gratitude.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Jesus! Let all heaven and earth join in the Praise. Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain before the foundations of the world! Worthy is my God and King to receive all Glory, Honor, Power, and Riches! Praise Him sun, moon, stars and planets! Praise Him all you His angels. Let everything that has breath praise the Living God and Supreme Master of all things.

Freedom has cleansed my conscience releasing me from the bondage of withdrawing from God and others. Freedom has a Name and His Name is Jesus! Praise You Jesus, I have been freed from religious externalism, legalism, and the approval of man. I have all the approval I need through You and by Your Precious Blood. I weep before Your Feet in joy and gratitude at the excellence of Your Sacrifice. I had no idea what a wondrous treasure it is. Now, by Your Grace, I can see and receive the Good News of Your Gospel! Hallelujah!

Confession & Declaration 14

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Colossians 1:20 And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross.

The implications of this statement by Paul is similar to the ones made regarding Declaration 13 yet there is a subtle, often overlooked message found in the use of the word peace. The Greek meaning for peace simply means “to make peace, and establish harmony.” That is powerful enough by itself and I will return to it in a few minutes but first I want you to see something else. In John 20:19 Jesus appears to His Disciples: Then on that same first day of the week, when it was evening, though the disciples were behind closed doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace to you!

When I read that passage I usually end up chuckling. The reason for my humor is that I am typically reminded of an old translation of the New Testament known as the Cotton Patch Version of the Bible. The “Cotton Patch” Gospel is a colloquial translation of most of the New Testament by Southern Baptist minister Clarence Jordan. Jordan’s goal was to communicate the New Testament in the idiom of the South so that “plain folks” could better understand it. To do this, Jordan, who worked from Greek texts, changed both the setting and the language of the New Testament. For example, John the Baptist conducts baptisms in the Chattahoochee River, and Jesus is born in Gainesville. Also, Jesus makes such statements as “Come to me, all of you who are frustrated and have had a bellyful, and I will give you zest” (as opposed to the Matthew 11:28 verse, traditionally translated from the Greek as “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”). All of that to say when I read this passage I typically imagine Jesus saying, Shalom ya’ll! Shalom being the Hebrew word for Peace and a much richer word in meaning than that which we have in Greek. The Hebrew meaning for peace means: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace; completeness (in number); safety, soundness (in body); welfare, health, prosperity; peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment; peace, friendship of human relationships with God especially in covenant relationship; peace (from war). The popular Scripture Jeremiah 29:11 states: For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. This popular passage utilizes the idea of Shalom. This is why Hebrews 4:11 states: Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the same sort of disobedience. Thus we are to strive to enter the fullness of His Peace (Shalom) – while knowing it has already been accomplished through the blood of Jesus.

Now let’s return to the other aspect of the Greek meaning for Peace: “to establish harmony.” Zephaniah 3:17 states: The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing.

When Jesus brought us into His Peace – He brought us into His Song. The Hebrew word for “rejoice” means to leap, spin, to be joyful. I love this picture of Jesus. He brought us into His Peace with singing, leaping, spinning, and joy. You are His Joy! You make Him sing! How powerful is that? If that won’t get your praise on I don’t know what will.

Declaration 14: I praise You Lord Jesus that You have brought me into Your Peace with singing, and dancing. I am humbled and filled with joy because I am Your Song. I cause You to dance. Today and forever, I say to You – You are my song! You cause me to dance and sing your praises. You cause me to rejoice with You as You bring me to life. Thank You for singing bringing me into harmony with You. Thank You for Your Shalom that has and is making me complete, and sound. Thank You Jesus that Your Shalom brings for me welfare, safety, and soundness in mind, body and spirit. Thank You Jesus that through Your Shalom You have healed and are healing me. Thank You that through Your Shalom I am to prosper and succeed. Thank You that Your Shalom has brought me into a covenant of friendship with You, the Father and the Holy Spirit. Thank You that the battles are Yours and I am just called to enforce the Victory. Hallelujah! I worship and glorify You. I love You. Give me ears to hear the Singer’s Song. Give me feet to dance in Your Peace – to Dance through Your Peace!

Who’s Your One: Monday Day 8

Confession & Declaration 13

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Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

The Greek word for “brought near” comes from a root word which implies to “take into the arms and embrace.” But the fullness of the verse and what Christ actually did doesn’t really share the depths of what He actually did. You have to back up and begin in verse 10 and proceed through verse 16. Check this out. It’s really amazing: Ephesians 2:10-16 For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. 11 Therefore, remember that at one time you were Gentiles (heathens) in the flesh, called Uncircumcision by those who called themselves Circumcision, [itself a mere mark] in the flesh made by human hands. 12 [Remember] that you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ [excluded from all part in Him], utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the [Messianic] promise [with no knowledge of or right in God’s agreements, His covenants]. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near. 14 For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us, 15 By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace. 16 And [He designed] to reconcile to God both [Jew and Gentile, united] in a single body by means of His cross, thereby killing the mutual enmity and bringing the feud to an end.

When Jesus brought us near – the moment we trusted in the shed blood of Jesus – several things were activated at once: you were recreated to do the works Jesus does; brought into the rights of Israel’s covenant promises; we came into His Peace – Shalom; the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile was torn down – the separation was ended; He annulled the affects of the consequences of breaking the Law; one new man was created; we were reconciled in relationship with God; He destroyed the enmity between us; and He brought the feud to an end.

This act is powerfully demonstrated in an Old Testament prophecy found in Ezekiel 37:16-24 Son of man, take a stick and write on it, For Judah and the children of Israel his companions; then take another stick and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and all the house of Israel his companions; 17 And join them together into one stick that they may become one in your hand.18 And when your people say to you, Will you not show us what you mean by these? 19 Say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph—which is in the hand of Ephraim—and the tribes of Israel his associates, and will join with it the stick of Judah and make them one stick, and they shall be one in My hand.20 When the sticks on which you write shall be in your hand before their eyes, 21 Then say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations to which they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land.22 And I will make them one nation in the land, upon the mountains of Israel, and one King shall be King over them all; and they shall be no longer two nations, neither be divided into two kingdoms any more.23 They shall not defile themselves any more with their idols and their detestable things or with any of their transgressions, but I will save them out of all their dwelling places and from all their backslidings in which they have sinned, and I will cleanse them. So shall they be My people, and I will be their God. 24 And David My Servant shall be King over them, and they all shall have one Shepherd. They shall also walk in My ordinances and heed My statutes and do them.

Remember Joseph is a prophetic symbol of Gentiles or nations, and Ephraim was his son, whereas Judah is a symbol of Israel and the Jewish people. In essence the prophecy is stating that the two sticks will become one stick. This prophecy is even more powerful when you recall that Jesus is referred to as the Branch, or Rod, and then Jesus refers to us as branches. Jesus is the Nazarene (the Branch). In the Ephesians passage Paul states that through the Cross of Jesus the two houses have become one. Now we need to stop and ask, How many trees were in the Garden? You could say there were two sticks in the Garden – could you not? But it get’s better than that. The cross was made up of how many “sticks?” Jesus has taken the horizontal bar and the vertical bar and brought peace between man’s horizontal relationships with man and his vertical relationship with God. Even more profound is that the two sticks were designated with some names: Israel which means “God is Upright!” Jesus was upright on the cross drawing us to Himself. Judah means “Let Him Be Praised!” Joseph means “increase, or may He add.” And lastly there is Ephraim, which means, “two-fold increase, doubly fruitful.” The two sticks have been brought together to make One New Man. From the Jews the Nations or Gentiles have been born, and from the Gentiles, the Jewish people will be provoked to jealousy to embrace Yeshua (Jesus) as their Mashiach or Messiah. How powerful is that? We have been brought near – embraced by the Godhead to be covenant sons and daughters.

Now if that’s not something to marvel in amazement at I don’t know what is. Let’s get our praise on and begin declaring His Truth for the universe to hear.

Declaration 13: My Almighty, Mysterious Savior and Lord, I praise and worship You. Thank You that through Your precious Blood You brought me near. Not until now have I paused long enough to see the wonders of Your Love and the Power of Your Word. Through Your Blood I’ve been recreated to do the works Jesus does. Through Your Blood I’ve been brought into the rights of Israel’s covenant promises. Through Your Blood I have been embraced by Peace, and brought into the Fullness of Your Shalom. Through Your Blood You have torn down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile and that separation was ended. Through Your Blood You annulled the affects and consequences of my breaking the Law. Through Your Blood I’ve been made into one new man. Through Your Blood I’ve been reconciled in my relationship with Father God. Through Your Blood the enmity, hatred and hostility that existed between us has been abolished. Through Your Blood the feud has been brought to an end. Yet the sweetest thing of all is how on the Cross You stretched out Your Arms in an Eternal Hug revealing the answer to the question the world’s been asking for centuries: God do You love me and if so, How much? And You stretched out Your Arms, took me into Your Embrace, using the two trees from the Garden. Through two sticks You brought that which was horizontal in me to live again vertically. Hallelujah! Lamb of God You are Worthy of My Praise! I exalt and lift You high! I run into Your Embrace. I love You My Precious Savior, Lord and God. You are Matchless and Worthy of all my Praises!

Confession & Declaration 12

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Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor,

Thus far we have covered 5 aspects of how the Blood of Jesus empowers us to overcome the accuser of the brothers. Those 5 ways are: cleansing, propitiation, justification, redemption, and communion. Now that’s pretty impressive but there’s more. In fact we are jut getting warmed up. Ephesians 1:7 points out that through the Blood of Jesus we have remission, or forgiveness of sins. What does that mean? It means release from bondage, or imprisonment; forgiveness, remission, and pardon – as if they had never been committed. Literally it means “letting them go.” For example when I forgive someone I now have the understanding that I am “releasing them from the debt that I think they owe me.” The Godhead did that with ALL our sins. He released us from the “debt we owed Him.” In other words, He “let us go.” Before Jesus breathed His last breath the Bible records 2 things that made that final breath. One Gospel writer records that He simply said, “It is finished.” Another records, He shouted. In my personal opinion those were two of the same event. I believe that at Jesus’ last breath, He pushed up on HIs nail pierced feet, took in a deep breath, and shouted, “It is finished!” Now in the Greek that phrase is simply one word, Tetelestai. Tetelestai is an accounting, or banking term, which means, “the debt has been paid in full.” Jesus took the record of our sins, wrongdoings, transgression, trespasses, intentional, and unintentional sins and closed our account. He remitted the payment. Now when someone has a debt they can’t pay and its cancelled or remitted, someone still has to absorb that debt. Someone has to pay what hasn’t been repaid. That’s what Jesus did for us. He absorbed our debt, taking it upon Himself; transferring it to His account. That’s a sobering truth. The root word for remission or forgiveness is even better. It literally means “to send it away.” Not only has Jesus absorbed our debt, forgiven, pardoned and remitted it – He has sent it away. Now it would be really tempting at this point to say, Well Robert that takes care of my past sins – but what about the sins afterwards? Remember yesterdays confession and declaration? Remember 1 John 1:7? Your salvation and mine are continually abiding in the Eternal Now. Jesus’ Blood is continually washing away my sins – in the present. In Jesus, there is no past or future, just Now. He has adopted you and I into Him. For example if you were able to take a sheet of paper and record all of your sins on it, and then take a larger sheet of paper writing, “Jesus,” on it. Take that larger sheet of paper (Jesus) fold it down the middle, and place your smaller sheet of paper (a record of all your sins) – in the middle of “Jesus.” What would you see? Only Jesus. We have been enfolded into Jesus. That’s powerful. Let’s tell Him so and let us be transformed by the truths of Jesus. Let us forsake the lies the enemy has spoken about us. Let us embrace who He has made us to be. This is the Gospel!

Declaration 12: Heavenly Father I humbly bow before You slowly beginning to make sense of what You did for me at the cross. Yet I still cannot fathom the depths of Your Love and Mercy. I never will be able to. Thank You. Forever and ever I will thank You! You have forgiven, remitted, and pardoned my sins. You have closed my account of sins’ debt. You have released me from that debt and You have sent it away – forever away. Thank you for absorbing my debt and enfolding me into You. Thank You that all the Father sees is You. I have been hidden in You! Thank You Lord that my salvation is always in the present – in Your Eternal Now. I am always hidden in You. Hidden in Your Blood, forgiveness, washing, cleansing, healing, and freeing. I love You and I thank You for the Great Price You paid to secure my salvation. With You I shout, tetelestai! My debt has been cancelled, paid in full, and sent away! Thank You Jesus!

Confession & Declaration 11

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1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing [of wine at the Lord’s Supper] upon which we ask [God’s] blessing, does it not mean [that in drinking it] we participate in and share a fellowship (a communion) in the blood of Christ (the Messiah)? The bread which we break, does it not mean [that in eating it] we participate in and share a fellowship (a communion) in the body of Christ?

Just so you know – we are on Friday, January 17, confessions and declarations. Fellowship is a word that has devolved over the years especially in the church. As a child I had a peripheral involvement with the local church at best. Yet, whenever a fellowship was announced, it was always understood to mean, food and mostly meaningless conversation. Now don’t get me wrong. I love connecting with people, and lite conversation, but this is not what the New Testament word meant at all. It was, nor has it ever been, the intention of the New Testament writers to minimize the word or its multiple concepts. On the surface, the only similarities that our popular definition has with the original meaning, is that of joy and celebration. What the Bible means by the word fellowship is a co-sharing of Jesus. Now when I was loosely involved in the life of the church, I would have dumbed down this definition with a reinterpretation. My new definition would be that “fellowship” is a sharing of information you had learned, or read about, regarding Jesus, or the Bible. Yet my definition was still information or knowledge based. But that is not what the Greek word for “fellowship” means. Its very similar to the “food and fun” aspect of the word but it’s missing the depth and richness of the meaning. The Greek meaning of the word “fellowship” means that there is a mutual sharing of experiences that you were having or had. Obviously the Bible is the best place to look for understanding and when it comes to the term “fellowship” we needn’t look any further than in 1 John 1:3 for insight and understanding. It states: What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Fellowship as used in this verse, and throughout the New Testament, references experiences that the Apostles had, and might add – were having, with Jesus. What we have seen and [ourselves] heard,… This fellowship was experiential. A casual reading of this passage would lead one to conclude that the fellowship of experience was based on previous memories of Jesus. But pay attention to what John says next: And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a distinguishing mark of Christians]…It’s an ongoing and active thing. The experiential knowledge is not of something in the past, though that is part of it, but it’s ongoing. One must also conclude from this verse that this experience is not restricted to the Apostles only. It was to be a distinguishing characteristics of all Christians. The average Christian was to have this experience also. Interestingly enough this fellowship is specific and unique. Christian fellowship with the Godhead involved a knowing that there were, and are, times when there was an awareness that the individual was communing with the Father, or at other times, with the Son. Now that is a mind blower. The Godhead is “Three In One” but separate and distinct. And just to put your mind at ease, the fellowship is not everyday, but at particular moments in time. It has been my personal experience, yours may be different, that most of my relations with the Godhead have been with the Holy Spirit. Not to appear as if I am boasting, but that is pretty much an everyday thing. Why? Because of God’s Grace and Mercy, and my desperate need for Him. Next in line, in my relational context, will be Jesus, followed by the Father. That kind of fellowship – co-sharing – is made possible through the Blood of Jesus. Again, my personal opinion and my experience has been, that the encounters I have with the Father or Jesus are typically related to God-sized assignments that He has for me. For example Moses’ burning bush encounter with the Godhead had to be so dramatic and profound in order to match the challenges he was going about to experience. In other words, the experience was so undeniable, that later, when the going got tough, he wouldn’t chalk it up to his imagination – and flee in the opposite direction.

What’s really powerful is that this “rabbit hole” goes deeper. Several days ago, on Day 9, I had you declare what justification has and is doing for you. Embedded in that mediation was something so profound Im just now beginning to glimpse the depths of its meanings. It was a quote from The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. The quote was: “The eternal character of the justifying event of salvation prevents any severing of past and present. The act of salvation is a continuing present.”  Pay attention to that last sentence: The act of salvation is a continuing present.” Our salvation through the Blood of Jesus isn’t a past or future event. It’s always in the preset tense. I believe that the Lord gave me a phrase by which to label this concept. I believe that He called it, The Eternal Now. It only stands to reason that the Godhead is outside of time. His proper Name is Yahweh: “I AM! It’s not I was or I will be – it IS…I AM. Thus, through the Blood of Jesus, I have been brought into the Presence of I AM. This means my salvation is in the present tense. Which means that I have access to fellowship, or experiential relationship, NOW! I have been positioned in the NOW. More specifically, in the Eternal Now. Now that is not only mind blowing, but quite exciting. You see we overcome the accuser of the brothers through abiding in His Blood which transfers us into the Eternal Now. This is only activated through faith, and a constant turning of our consciousness towards the Eternal Now. This is how we live from the Eternal Now: Faith, Obedience, and Setting Our minds. Now remember that our minds are one aspect of our souls. Thus what you are doing is shifting the reign of your spiritual life from a soulish perspective to one that is spiritual. You are bringing all aspects of your person into alignment with the way God intended: Spirit, Soul, Body. Our salvation (Greek word is sozo) involves our entire person: Spirit, Soul, and Body. It’s the Divine Alignment. Our mind, properly related to our spirit, acts as the translator, or the decoder, for all that God’s Spirit is whispering into our spirit. The mind, in submission to the Spirit, is able to act in accordance with the Words of the Spirit. Why? Because we are in the Eternal Now – through the activation of the Blood of Jesus. This activation is only made possible through trust and obedience. As we trust and obey (for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus) – we experience Fellowship with the Godhead, and with the Blood of Jesus. (And science fiction thinks it has something on Christians).

So let’s activate the Blood of Jesus towards communion, and fellowship with the Godhead. Are you ready? Remember do this aloud.

Declaration 11: My Precious Treasure, my Beloved, Your ways astound and amaze me. I bless Your Name for such a marvelous, awe-inspiring, salvation. Thank You Jesus for the invitation to walk with You and Know You. I thank You for such a great, and treasured gift, as my salvation. Thank You Jesus that now I have been invited into the Eternal Now. I turn my heart, mind, soul, and personality to You. I worship You. I am before the Great I AM continually. Continually I am saved. Continually I am forever knowing You. Continually I am forever washed clean, justified, and all my sin is gone. Thank You, thank You Jesus. I love You so much for loving me. I love You so much for inviting me into the Eternal Now. I praise You for Your Blood! Oh Father, I praise You for giving me Your Son. I praise You Jesus for clothing me in Your Holy Spirit. I praise You Holy Spirit for revealing to me Jesus. I praise You Holy Spirit for all the many things You do: leading me into all Truth, giving me revelation from the Word, speaking to me, whispering to me what Heaven’s thoughts are. Thank You, thank You, thank You!! You are my God and I am Your child. I’m blown away and captivated by your Great Love! Simply grant me Your Grace and revelation to continually abide in the Eternal Now.

Don’t forget “Who’s Your One – Day 5″ – Scripture Reading = Rom. 6:16-18

Confession & Declaration 10

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Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor,

The Greek word for redemption means a liberation or release from imprisonment that has been affected by payment of a ransom; a deliverance from the penalty of transgressions has been enacted; and to buy back with the purpose of restoring – breaking off the enslaving yoke of the enemy.

In the book titled The Prodigal God, its author Timothy Keller expounds on the extravagance of our God: “The word “prodigal” does not mean “wayward” but, according to Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, “recklessly spendthrift.” It means to spend until you have nothing left. This term is therefore as appropriate for describing the father in the story as his younger son. The father’s welcome to the repentant son was literally reckless, because he refused to “reckon” or count his sin against him or demand repayment. This response offended the elder brother and most likely the local community. In this story the father represents the Heavenly Father Jesus knew so well. St. Paul writes: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses.”(2 Cor. 5:19 – ASV) Jesus is showing us the God of Great Expenditure, Who is nothing if not prodigal toward us, His children. God’s reckless grace is our greatest hope, a life-changing experience…”

Jesus gave His all to ransom you and I so that we could be restored to whom He made us to be. Even better than that is to imagine you and I being ransomed from the demons that used to torment us. It reminds me of a song that was popular back in the 70’s titled The Victor. Here are the lyrics: Swallowed into earth’s dark womb, And death has triumphed, That’s what they say, But tried to hold Him in the tomb, The Son of Life rose on the third day.

Chorus: Just look the gates of hell they’re falling, Crumbling from the inside out, He’s bursting through the walls with laughter (Hah!) Listen to the Angels shout: It is finished, He has done it, Life conquered death, Jesus Christ has won it.

His plan of battle, You know it, He fooled them all. They led Him off to prison to die. But as He entered Hades Hall He broke those hellish chains with a cry. Just listen to those demons screaming. See Him bruise the serpent’s head. The prisoners of Hell He’s redeeming (Oh!) All the power of death is dead. It is finished. He has done it. Life conquered death Jesus Christ has won it!

Just look the gates of hell they’re falling crumbling from the inside out. He’s bursting through the walls with laughter (Hah!) Listen to the Angels shout! (Listen, oh, listen)

It is finished. He has done it. Life conquered death. Jesus Christ Has won it!

Jesus has redeemed you -with laughter and delight! He paid your ransom, restoring you back to who He made you to be. He has purchased you from satan, death, and hell and you are no longer their possession. You belong to Jesus. You are His Prized Treasure. 

Declaration 9: Mighty Campion of God – Lord Jesus Christ – I praise and worship You. I declare that You have won it. You have conquered satan, hell and death ransoming me for You. Jesus I am Your treasured possession. I am Your Pearl of Great Price. You have paid for my release through the extravagance of Your Life and Love. You have broken me free from the enslaving yoke, restoring me back to life and Destinies Image. I belong to Jesus. I belong to the Father’s Kingdom. I am no longer my own but my Beloveds. He is mine and I am His. Hallelujah He has paid my dowry, and my ransom, making me His Bride forever. Hallelujah He has brought me into His Father’s House to be a member of His Forever Family. Thank You Jesus I have been redeemed by Your Precious Blood! Thank You Jesus for the riches of Your Mercy!

Confession and Declaration 9

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Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and the One Who was seated upon it, from Whose presence and from the sight of Whose face earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 I [also] saw the dead, great and small; they stood before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is [the Book] of Life. And the dead were judged (sentenced) by what they had done [their whole way of feeling and acting, their aims and endeavors] in accordance with what was recorded in the books. 13 And the sea delivered up the dead who were in it, death and Hades (the state of death or disembodied existence) surrendered the dead in them, and all were tried and their cases determined by what they had done [according to their motives, aims, and works]. 14 Then death and Hades (the state of death or disembodied existence) were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.15 And if anyone’s [name] was not found recorded in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire.

Imagine having to stand before God to be judged on the merits of your entire life. All the ways you thought, felt, and acted were put on parade before God. Your motives, aims, and works were brought out into the open to be exposed by God, before Him, His Saints, and His Holy angels. The event becomes even more terrifying as you consider that you will be judged for ALL your sins. Sin being defined as anything that doesn’t please God or is a transgression of His Law. Sin being the things I know I should do, like loving God with ALL my heart, soul, mind and strength or loving my neighbor as I love myself. Things I failed to obey, like witnessing, making disciples, going to the nations, caring for the poor, or visiting those in prison. The things I know I shouldn’t do like criticizing others, being self-centered, prideful, taking God’s Name in Vain, lying, or not obeying the authorities and their laws (like speeding). Even more terrifying is the fact that you are being held responsible  for the things you weren’t even conscious or aware of doing – like causing other people to stumble away from God because of your actions or inactivity. What a terrifying thought: you are being held responsible for the things you were ignorant of. With that definition in mind imagine standing before a Holy, Righteous, All-Seeing, All-Knowing, All-Powerful God. How many books would have to be opened to account for all of your sins, failures, short-comings, rebellions, and stubborn rejections of commands you chose to disregard, ignore or dismiss? You wouldn’t just be sentenced to hell – you would deserve to go. In fact you would deserve to go below hell. You are guilty in the Courtroom of Heaven and God is the Judge. Far more terrifying is the fact that you are not being judged by the opinions of others but on your very thought life, feelings, motives, aims, goals, and actions. Add to this terrifying scene, satan, as the prosecuting attorney. He not only knows what you did he remembers and recalls all the ways he lied, seduced and enticed you to be this way. He knows you better than yourself. 

There it all stands: a perfect record, account, and eyewitness testimony of all of your sins. You are guilty deserving of the harshest of penalties. You have wasted the life God had given you living it for yourself and your self-centered pursuits. What can you do? What chance of hope do you have in this life or the life to come? There is none unless God makes provision for your acquittal. But what can He do? He is honor bound by His Righteous Law to prosecute and punish you to the fullest extent of Heaven’s Holy Law. He is in a quandary. He loves you as your Heavenly Father. You were made in His image, but you’ve marred that image. His heart has broken for you as He watched you dismiss His Truth, and reject His Grace. He is Holy and he is Loving. How can Almighty God save you? Who Can Save you?

Jesus! That’s the Answer.He’s your Provision! – Romans 5:9 states: Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God.

What does this word “Justified” mean? It means to make righteous; to become sinless; to be pronounced as righteous, and sinless. Not only are you acquitted of sin, you are made as if you never did anything wrong, and you are freed from the power of having to serve sin. Along with that is the fact that you have now been restored back into a right relationship with God. Even more powerful is the fact that it’s always in the present tense! The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament states it this way: “The eternal character of the justifying event of salvation prevents any severing of past and present. The act of salvation is a continuing present.” 

In other words, as you stand before God Almighty, the Holy and Righteous Judge of the Universe, you are in a constant state of justification; a constant state of being not guilty. Do you get this? Because of your trusting in Jesus’ sacrifice for your sins – you are always being declared, Innocent. You are always being seen as innocent. Why is the Gospel called the Good News? Figure it out. Why do Christians fall on the ground in defeat, condemnation, and shame – when the Price has already been paid. The verdict has already been pronounced. To believe anything to the contrary is to confess that Jesus’ Life, Suffering, Crucifixion and Death – were not enough. If you believe that you need to participate in this declaration. Say it out loud to all who are listening – seen and unseen.

Declaration 9: Oh Holy God, I weep as I think of all the times I have believed more in the lies of the devil than in the Truths of Your Word. I weep as I think about what I’ve done with the life and grace you have freely bestowed upon me. You are so Good. You are Good, Righteous and Holy in all of Your ways. I have been an undeserving, wretched, wicked sinner. But Papa, Praise Your Holy Name, that one day You came and found me. You washed me clean, and stood me up. With Love in Your eyes You – the Righteous, and Holy Judge of the Universe – sent Your Holy Son Jesus to stand up in the Courtroom of Heaven and state, I will take their place. I will receive the punishment they deserve.” Thank You that He overcame so that I can overcome. I now pronounce and proclaim that I have overcome the accuser of the brothers, the prosecuting attorney of Heaven, by the Blood of Jesus. By Jesus’ Blood I have been declared justified, righteous, and sinless, as if I’ve never done anything wrong. Holy Lord I praise You that through the Blood I no longer have to serve sin. The power of sin has been broken off of my life. Thank You Holy One, My Precious Father, Savior, and Lover of my soul that You see me in the Present Tense – because You are Timeless, living in the Present Tense. You see me not as someone who has been saved but as someone who is saved. I am someone who is innocent before God by the Blood of Jesus. I choose to live in the Present – in His Presence – where I am justified, clean, righteous, holy, and free. By the Blood of Jesus I am justified. I declare it to the Heavens. I am justified and not guilty by the Precious Blood of the Lamb of God!

Scripture Reading for Who’s Your One? – Don’t forget your reading for the day: 

Day 3 – Matthew 11:28-30

Confession and Declaration 8

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Romans 3:25 Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.

We overcome the accuser of the brothers through the Blood of Jesus. Yet many of us do not understand the full implications and ramifications of the great gift Jesus has given unto us. Often this simply is the result of ignorance on our part, and poor teaching on the part of us pastor’s. The word “propitiation” is a case in point. What is propitiation?

The word was used concretely to refer to the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant. Why is this significant? Once a year the High Priest would come before God to make atonement for the sins of Israel through sprinkling the blood of the sacrifice on the Mercy Seat 7 times. Also the Mercy Seat was to be the place where God promised that He would meet with whomever was the High Priest: Exodus 30:6 You shall put the altar [of incense] in front and outside of the veil that screens the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony (the Law, the tables of stone), where I will meet with you. Thus we can draw the conclusion that through Jesus’ Blood we are brought near to the Throne of God’s mercy in order to meet with God. But there’s more. Propitiation in English simply means to ease the anger or disturbance of; changing resentment, anger or bitterness to good will; ending an estrangement and settling the differences. Thus Jesus’ Blood accomplishes all of these things and more.

Another word used to describe propitiation is expiate. Expiate implies extinguishing the guilt incurred. Scripture records: “Disaster shall fall upon you, which you will not be able to expiate. That ominous biblical prophecy (Isaiah 47:11, RSV) shows that expiate was once involved in confronting the forces of evil as well as in assuaging guilt. The word derives from expiare, Latin for to atone for, a root that in turn traces to the Latin term for “pious.” Expiate originally referred to warding off evil by using sacred rites or to using sacred rites to cleanse or purify something. So we can also conclude that the Blood confronts the forces of evil, and renders us pious.

The Greek derivative for “propitiation” means to make reconciliation for. Another Greek word, hilasmos, is used for Christ as our propitiation in 1 John 2:2; 4:10; and in the Septuagint (Leviticus 25:9; Numbers 5:8; Amos 8:14). The thought in the OT sacrifices and in the NT fulfillment, is that Christ completely satisfied the just demands of the Holy Father for judgment on sin, by his death at Calvary. Did you catch that last part? Christ completely satisfied the just demands of the Holy Father for judgment on sin, by his death at Calvary. Christ completely satisfied! Let that sink in when you doubt God’s willingness to forgive. When you believe that you hadn’t said, “I’m sorry enough. When the enemy helps you to recall the seemingly unforgivable things you have done. Jesus completely satisfied the Father’s demands.

Jesus’ Blood is the Mercy Seat for overcoming the accuser of the brothers. Do you get that? Ready to begin declaring and making confession?

Declaration 8: Merciful Father I come before Your Throne of Mercy by the Precious Blood of Your Son. What a great and precious gift You have bestowed upon me. How can I thank you enough? Your Love and Mercy has no bounds. You are worthy of all my praises. You are worthy to receive every breath I breathe as a token of thanks and praise to You. Thank You my Jesus that You have become for me the Mercy Seat of God. I now can enter boldly the Father’s Throne Room not because of my performance but because of Your Great Gift and Sacrifice. I Praise You that through Your Precious Blood you have eased the Holy and Righteous Anger of the Father. You have reconciled us back together. I no longer have to see the Father as punishing me or angry with me – because now I come standing on You – my Mercy Seat. You have extinguished my guilt – past, present and future. You have warded off the evil one, and replaced my guilt with your piety – making me pious. Hallelujah! You have purified me doing it perfectly and completely! I love You Jesus for loving me even when I was still Your enemy. Thank you again and again. And for a thousand life times I will thank You again and again!

Confession and Declaration 7

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Yesterday you were challenged to clear your spiritual vision, and break up the fallow ground of your heart through asking, “Who’s your one?” In addition, the confessions and declarations you’ve been participating in should be renewing, and transforming your mind by the Truth of God’s Word. Revelation 12: 11 states that “they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their testimony…” The question is what is their testimony, and how do you overcome the enemy through it?

One of the ways that we overcome the enemy through our testimony is through declaring what Jesus’ Blood has accomplished for us. Let’s begin with 1 John 1:7: But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

In the last part of that verse the Amplified translation does a great job of bringing out the original language’s nuances of the word “”cleanses.” It is removing us from all sin and guilt. It has removed, is removing and will continue to remove us from all sin and guilt. There’s a couple of things going on through the Blood that’s very powerful. Jesus often referred to Himself as “I AM.” This is the formal Name of God. Jesus’ use of this Name indicates His identification with God, as God. In one passage of Scripture He brings out a powerful implication behind the name of God when He states: Before Abraham was, I AM. (John 8:58) Jesus is indicating that He exists outside of time. Yet He came as a man into our time. The God Who is limitless, and infinite, and exists outside of time chose to limit Himself to time to save me. That’s pretty powerful. But it gets even better than that. Since God is outside of time then He see’s all events at the same time – all the time. Revelation 13:8 brings this out when it states: And all the inhabitants of the earth will fall down in adoration and pay him homage, everyone whose name has not been recorded in the Book of Life of the Lamb that was slain [in sacrifice] from the foundation of the world. What this means for you and I is that the Father sees the event of His Son crucified as fresh, and new as He sees the day you and I trusted in Jesus’ Blood to wash away our sins, be born-again, and come to life. The day you trusted in Jesus’ Blood to save you is the day that His Blood was activated in your life to wash and cleanse you from all sin. I say activated because His sacrifice was made for all mankind as a free gift. All we have to do is receive the gift activating it on our behalf through trust. Thus Jesus’ crucifixion never get’s old to God, but neither does the day you and I trusted in Jesus. That’s why our trust is to be timeless. It’s not something we did in the past – it’s something always in the present. It’s an active ongoing exercise in trust. That’s powerful. Not only that. The day you activated the Blood is the day that Jesus’ Blood began washing over you – cleansing, freeing, healing and transforming you. Now that’ some declaration.

Declaration 7: My Holy, Precious and Loving Father, I bow down to Your Mysteries. In Your great Love You saw me and drew me to Jesus to Know You, and to be joined to Your Forever Family. I praise, worship and declare my undying love and gratitude. I thank You that I overcome the accuser of the brethren through the Precious Blood of the Lamb. I praise and worship You with the angels in Heaven for Your Great and Mighty Gift of Love and Salvation. I thank You Father that the Blood of Jesus is cleansing, removing all sin and guilt, and that it is keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations. Hallelujah! I praise and worship Your Holy Name that the horrific event of Jesus’ crucifixion is still as fresh to You now as it was the day it occurred. But precious Father thank You that my trusting His sacrifice is just as fresh to You today as it was the day I first began to believe. “Thank you’s” are not enough. By Your Grace and Holy Spirit my “thank You” will be a life of gratitude that seeks to live a life of obedience to Your Spirit and Word. Thank You that Jesus’ Blood is always washing, and cleansing me from sin empowering me to move forward in obedience to You. I overcome the accuser, and conquer sin, because Your Blood is constantly washing me. Thank You for the Gospel. It really is the Good News I’ve never heard. I love You and Praise You for giving me Yourself. In return I give You myself. Hallelujah praise Him all creation! Hallelujah praise Him all you saints and angels! He is worthy of all praise, glory and honor. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain! What a precious thought: I am washed in the Blood of the Lamb! I have a testimony, and my testimony is that all my sins are being covered by the Blood Of Jesus. I have a testimony, and my testimony is that all my sins are being washed away, forgiven and forgotten forever. Thank you Jesus for the Testimony of Your Blood. I have a testimony, and through that testimony I have, and will continue to overcome the accuser of the saints by the Precious Blood of Jesus!

Don’t forget your Bible reading from your bookmark: John 14:6. Please don’t forget to pray through the devotion for your “one” – their salvation, and the day you present the Gospel to them. Have a great day!

Confession and Declaration 6

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Revelation 12:9 And the huge dragon was cast down and out—that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him.

Up till this present declaration we have explored 5 of the titles for satan. Today the sixth is the seducer or deceiver. The Amplified translation has it right. The original word implies both seduction, and deceit that begins in the mind causing you and I to wander astray.

Interestingly Jesus tells a parable about soil conditions in Matthew 13:22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the Word, but the cares of the world and the pleasure and delight and glamour and deceitfulness of riches choke and suffocate the Word, and it yields no fruit. Riches defined here refers to an abundance of external possessions. I have said for years that you don’t have to be Bill Gates for this parable to apply to you. By default you are an American, incidentally one of the richest nations on earth. You and I are the rich man. The question is, What do we do with our riches and wealth? Wealth isn’t a bad thing as long as it doesn’t control you. Wealth isn’t a bad thing as long as it doesn’t come between you and your relationship with God. But if your possessions keep you from obeying, pursuing, and living for God – then you have a problem. If they come before God – you have a problem. Adjustments must be made in your lifestyle to conform to the standards set by Jesus.

The good news is that we have some promises given by Jesus regarding truth. First of all Truth is not simply an abstract concept of ideas. Truth is a Person and His Name is Jesus. Thus if you have a relationship with Jesus then you will constantly be living for the Truth adjusting your life to Him. The second thing we see is found in John 15:26 But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me. Therefore since we have have received the Holy Spirit at salvation He is the Spirit of Truth Who testifies about Who Jesus is.

John 16:13 gives us another promise: But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. Thus the promise is that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all Truth, and will tell us what will happen in the future. As believers we can rejoice that we do not have to live in fear as long as we are abiding In Jesus and the Spirit. As long as we are involved in a personal relationship with Jesus – ongoing, experiential and interactive – we will know the truth. Many Christians live in fear that they will be deceived by a teacher, or teaching that runs contrary to the Word. The Good News is that if you seek to abide in Jesus’ Presence that He will let you know if you are in the truth or not.

Once I was at a messianic conference in Estes Park, Colorado and a messianic believer began to teach on Abram’s sacrifice of Isaac. He was very impressive looking the part of a wise sage and people were soaking in his every word. But then he took a “wrong turn” and began teaching that Abram actually killed Isaac but that God had raised him from the dead. It’s an enticing thought but not at all Scriptural. The implications are heretical suggesting that Isaac defeated death and he was our savior. Which there is obviously nothing farther from the truth. I was astonished to look around the room at other believers nodding their heads in approval. I couldn’t believe it. I began a dialogue with the Lord inquiring about this teacher and the Lord’s reply angered me. He used one word: Kabalism. After the session I was inadvertently used to confront this individual in his heresy. You see Kabalism is Jewish witchcraft. A few years ago you may have observed actors, actresses, and pop singers wearing these braided bracelets around their wrists. This practice derived from Kabalism.

As believers in Jesus we have Jesus, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the Word of God as our guides to Truth. Thus we can boldly declare Declaration 6: Truth of the Living God, Jesus, we praise and worship You that You have led me out of the darkness of lies into the light of Your Truth. Thank You that You came and found me drawing me into more Truth – into More of You Jesus. Thank You for the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, Who testifies to Jesus, leads me to know Him, and leads me into the Truth. Thank You Jesus I have overcome the deceiver, and seducer through Your Light in Me, through Your Holy Spirit and Your Precious Word. Thank You Jesus for hurling the lies out of me and casting them to the ground. Thank You that everything the Light shines on can be seen and everything the Light shines on becomes Light. Thank You for shining Your Light in Me. Flood me with Your Light – Your Glory. Thank You that in the Light of Your Glory are riches hidden for me In Christ Jesus! Thank You Jesus that I am becoming fully filled and flooded with Your Light and Glory! Hallelujah!

Confession and Declaration 5

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Revelation 12:7-9 Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels went forth to battle with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought. 8 But they were defeated, and there was no room found for them in heaven any longer. 9 And the huge dragon was cast down and out—that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him.

A war broke out in Heaven because Jesus crucified, resurrected and ascended had entered Heaven’s Courts with His sacrificial blood. That is such a powerful statement. Once Jesus enters into take dominion – war breaks out. Jesus told His disciples: Nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]. Luke 17:21

If the Kingdom of God, or Heaven is inside of you, and war broke out in God’s Heaven, then you can rest assured a war has broke out in you also. The Good News? Satan is defeated – cast down and out! He is forced out and flung to the earth! Satan the adversary, who opposes, withstands, “lying in ambush” to attack. Yet, Jesus has turned the ambush of the cross, into a weapon of war to bludgeon our enemy into submission through the shout of His resurrection. This is no ordinary child, nor Son of Man. No, He is a conquering Warrior King dressed for battle.

Joshua 5:13-15 states: When Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up, and behold, a Man stood near him with His drawn sword in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, Are you for us or for our adversaries? 14 And He said, No [neither], but as Prince of the Lord’s host have I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, What says my Lord to His servant? 15 And the Prince of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, Loose your shoes from off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy. And Joshua did so.

Most scholars recognize this Prince of the Lord’s Host as none other than the pre-incarnate Jesus. When Joshua asks, Are you for us or for our adversaries? Jesus redirects Joshua’s attention away from the battle to God. How did Joshua respond? He worshipped! Worship in the midst of battle? That’s the Kingdom way.

Another encouraging picture is discovered in Isaiah 59:16-20 And He saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessor [no one to intervene on behalf of truth and right]; therefore His own arm brought Him victory, and His own righteousness [having the Spirit without measure] sustained Him. 17 For [the Lord] put on righteousness as a breastplate or coat of mail, and salvation as a helmet upon His head; He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and was clad with zeal [and furious divine jealousy] as a cloak. 18 According as their deeds deserve, so will He repay wrath to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; on the foreign islands and coastlands He will make compensation.19 So [as the result of the Messiah’s intervention] they shall [reverently] fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives]. 20 He shall come as a Redeemer to Zion and to those in Jacob (Israel) who turn from transgression, says the Lord.

Our Lord is known as the Lord of Hosts. I remember there was a time I simply read right over that phrase assuming that I understood its meaning. I was completely surprised to learn it means, Lord of Angelic Armies. Our Savior, and God is a Warrior. Don’t forget it.Yet, if He’s a Warrior, then we are children of war. Unfortunately, most believers resemble the eagle who was raised in captivity. The story goes that when the eagle was very small, he fell from the safety of his nest. A chicken farmer found discovered the hatchling taking him to his farm to raise him among his many chickens. The eagle matured doing what chickens do. Living as a chicken, he eventually accepted the idea that he was a chicken. A park ranger came to the chicken farm to see if the story of the eagle turned chicken was actually true. He knew that an eagle is king of the sky. But to his surprise and astonishment he saw the eagle strutting around the coop, pecking at the ground, as if it were a chicken. The farmer explained to the ranger that the bird was no longer an eagle but a chicken. The ranger knew there was more to this great bird than his actions showed. He was born with the heart of an eagle and nothing could change that. Taking the eagle out of the coop, the ranger gently lifted him to the edge of the fence. The ranger spoke: “Eagle, stretch forth your wings and fly.” The eagle moved slightly, only to glance at the ranger and peer back at the chicken coop. With one leap he jumped from the fence to resume pecking and scratching at the ground. The farmer remarked, “I told you it was a chicken.” But the ranger would not be deterred. Returning the next day he convinced the farmer to allow him another attempt. Taking the eagle to the top of the farmhouse he said: “Eagle, you belong in the sky and not the earth. Stretch forth your wings and fly!” This time the eagle jumped from the man’s arm onto the roof of the farmhouse refusing to go any farther.

Exasperated the ranger convinced the farmer to allow him to return for a final attempt. Returning the next morning he carried the eagle to the foot of a high mountain. Here the eagle could not see the farm, nor the chicken coop. Holding the eagle aloft on his arm the ranger directed the eagle’s gaze towards the sky, and the bright sun beckoning above. And he said: “Eagle, you belong in the sky. Stretch forth your wings and fly.” This time the eagle stared skyward into the bright sun, as something within his heart stirred. Something wild and wonderful tugged on his heart. It was as if he were awakening from a dream. Oddly he felt the urge to begin flapping his wings, hopping up and down on the rangers arm. Just then a steady breeze blew into his face the fresh smell of the meadow below, and the rocky crags above, causing him to stretch forth his massive wings. Never had he felt so alive, wild and free. As his heart began to pump faster with exhilaration his wings moved in unison. Slowly at first, then surely and powerfully, his wings flapped in the breeze. Suddenly, a surprising and unexpected, urge bubbled up from deep inside calling out from the depths of his being screeching to the sun above and the valley below. A longing rose from deep within his being to reach for the heavens and he did. With one mighty swoop he sprung from the rangers arm, screeching and calling, rising higher and higher into the warmth of the suns ray. His heart leapt with delight as he felt the updraft of a heated thermal carry him higher and higher. Soaring, circling and ascending he flew until he appeared to be only a speck to the ranger on the ground. Shedding the barnyard below, the heart of the chicken had now been replaced with that of an eagle.

The moral of this story? You were made a warrior, with an eagle’s heart. Rise up and catch the wave of God’s Spirit as you declare His Triumph and Victory!

Day 5, Declaration 5: Lord of Angelic Armies, Prince of the Armies of Heaven, I report for duty. Dressed in robes of righteousness I begin my day centering myself in Jesus, the Truth. Grant me grace, placing around the center of my life your truth, honesty and integrity. Lift the breastplate of righteousness in place over my heart, and soul. Touch my feet with the Gospel of Peace, calling me to ascend the Hill of the Lord. The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk – not standing still in terror, but walking onward, and ascending higher. I progress upon the high places of my trouble, suffering, and responsibility as Jesus places them under my feet! I lift the shield of faith to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. I pick up the helmet of salvation, strapping it firmly in place. I lift high the Sword of God’s Spirit and Word as I proclaim, Jesus Is Lord of All! Hallelujah, satan, my adversary is defeated. Jesus has won the Victory. I worship at Your feet in the midst of the fray for the battle is Your’s. Thank You Jesus – this warrior is Your child.

Confession and Declaration 4

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Revelation 12:9 And the huge dragon was cast down and out—that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him.

It’s interesting when you study the Bible topically. For in your search you discover nuances regarding those topics that were totally unexpected. Take the topic of serpents, and what the Bible has to say. You soon discover that there’s more than one way of looking at this negative topic that’s extremely encouraging. Typically when you see the symbol of the snake your mind reverts back to the Garden of Eden and the fall of man. Yet imbedded in that awful failure is a message of hope.In Genesis 3:15 God the Father utters a prophecy intended for more than just the reptile. The Berean Study Bible brings out the nuances when it states: And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Notice two things: First, it prophesies a woman having seed. No where in the Bible is it said that a woman has seed except here. In this context, humanly speaking, the only one who has seed is a man. Thus God is prophesying the virgin birth. Second, it states that the serpent is going to strike the heel of this male child – BUT…He (Jesus) will crush its head!

Next we move forward topically to discover Moses’ serpent and the sorcerers of Egypts serpents. What happens? Exodus 7:8-12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 9 When Pharaoh says to you, Prove [your authority] by a miracle, then tell Aaron, Throw your rod down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent. 10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as the Lord had commanded; Aaron threw down his rod before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh called for the wise men [skilled in magic and divination] and the sorcerers (wizards and jugglers). And they also, these magicians of Egypt, did similar things with their enchantments and secret arts. 12 For they cast down every man his rod and they became serpents; but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.

Did you catch that last part? Aaron’s rod, or serpent, swallowed up their serpents. Now that’s an interesting point. For we know that Jesus the Nazarene is the Branch, and the Rod of Jesse, and Moses and Aaron. The Servant Branch, has swallowed up the rods and serpents of satans’ sorcerers. But as the topic progresses it get’s even better: Numbers 21:7-9 Then the Lord sent fiery (burning) serpents among the people; and they bit the people, and many Israelites died. 7 And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord, that He may take away the serpents from us. So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent [of bronze] and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole, and if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of bronze [attentively, expectantly, with a steady and absorbing gaze], he lived.

Why is this significant? John 3:14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must [so it is necessary that] the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross],…

John 12:31-32 Now the judgment (crisis) of this world is coming on [sentence is now being passed on this world]. Now the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world shall be cast out (expelled). 32 And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw andattract all men [Gentiles as well as Jews] to Myself.

Jesus was lifted up, as the Serpent in the wilderness, so that all who would look to Him would be healed. Jesus, became the bronze serpent on the pole to neutralize the poisonous lies of the serpent – satan, and free us from the judgment of death.

The topic progresses with Jesus promising His Disciples power and authority over the powers of the evil one when He says in Luke 10:19 Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.

In Romans 16:20 the Apostle Paul promises the believers in Rome: And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) be with you.

When I was a young man I was the demon buster (in my mind). After accepting an invitation to pastor my first church I began tackling any and everything demonic. My approach only exacerbated the situation making my problems doubly worse. During this time Jackie had a dream in which the men of the church were attempting to kill poisonous snakes that were coming on to the property. As the men and I proceeded to chop the heads off the snakes they would become two snakes. Making the situation go from bad to worse. During the siege a snake began making its way into our fray. As the men pressed into to chop its head off Jackie stopped us, shouting, Stop! Its a good snake. It’s a king snake! We watched in amazement as the King snake swallowed up all the other snakes.

During the days of the serpents poisonous lies, deceit and deception, it’s time we get our vision back through declaring the Truth of God’s Word.

Day 4, Declaration 4: Today we thank You Jesus that the deceiver, the lier, who has injected his death into our hearts has been defeated. Thank You Jesus, that although he struck Your heel – that You crushed His head. Thank You Jesus, that You are the Rod of God, Who was lifted up so that I could be drawn to You and be saved! Thank You Jesus, that I am a part of Your Body and that through Your Body I too have been granted to crush satan under my feet. Thank You Jesus that lies no longer have a hold on me. Thank You Jesus that satan can run but He cannot hide from the Light of Your Presence. Thank You that the Fire of Your Holy Spirit dwells in me, and that I can pick up the serpent, and shake him off in Your Fiery Brilliance. Thank You Jesus, that the God of Peace – of Shalom – has crushed, and will continue to crush satan under my feet. His lies, deception, deceit, death, malice, and temptations are under my feet. Now loose my feet to dance, and my heart to sing of Your Victory and Triumph. Hallelu – JAH! Hallelujah-JAH! Thank You Jesus!

Rise Up!

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Revelation 12:9-11 And the huge dragon was cast down and out—that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him.10 Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come—the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah); for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out! 11 And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].

Satan, the dragon symbolizes many things: ultimately he is a large serpent who represents the power of chaos that opposes God. He symbolizes fascination, and irresistible temptation that draws people in. He is dominating, and extraordinarily large. The dragon symbolizes those things that oppose us, creating chaos, confusion, and disorder in our lives. He symbolizes those problems, temptations, and fears that dominate, intimidate, and appear overwhelmingly large. He is the hidden monster that clutches our hearts in terror with its claws. He is that overwhelming sense of dread of impending doom. He is despair that causes hope to ebb away into shadows of circumstances which loom larger and larger.

This dragon also symbolizes geo-political rulers, and powers that dominate a region influencing its citizens, and political leaders. He exerts his influence over political, economic, and religious beliefs of the region. He is the political upheaval we feel tightening its grip leaving people anxious, fearful, uncertain, hopeless, and angry.

But the real question, what Power forced this ominous, overpowering, and immense dragon out of Heaven? Revelation 12:5 And she brought forth a male Child, One Who is destined to shepherd (rule) all the nations with an iron staff (scepter), and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne. The Answer to the question above? A Baby! But not just any baby. This Baby was the Lord Jesus Christ! The Lord Almighty! Our conquering King! In fact Scripture states a powerful result which came through our conquering Kings’ Resurrection and Ascension: Colossians 2:13-15 And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions,14 Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross. 15 [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].

Jesus has defeated the dragon raising us to life, and forgiving us of all of our transgressions – past, present, and future. Jesus has nailed hostility to the cross. Jesus has disarmed the dragon! Our Conquering King and God holds the stars of the universe in His hands. What’s a little dragon going to do? Our Jesus has triumphed over this dragon through the weakness and foolishness of the cross. Not only has our Jesus triumphed but He has led us out of our graves into triumph – to fear no more. Jesus has led us out to stand up and rise up and advance the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the time of our getting up – no more snooze buttons, no more covers over our head. It’s time for a full on awakening to who we are, and to whom we belong. You and I are washed in the Blood of Jesus, clothed in His Righteousness, overcoming the shadows of the dragons’ fury. Why the confidence? Why the boldness? The answer? The Battle is the Lord’s!

Get Up! It’s time we start believing it, declaring, and proclaiming it.

Day 3, Declaration 3: Thank You Jesus, My conquering King, that in the midst of global chaos, hopelessness, upheaval, dread, despair, and uncertainty – that the Lamb of God has overcome. Thank Jesus, that You are our roaring Lion who places the dragon under our feet. Thank You, Soon and Coming King, that when circumstances come to oppose me, and chaos swirls disorder and confusion around me – that the Prince of Peace comes and walks me through the storms. Thank You my Almighty Warrior that this is Your battle. This is Your Fight and I have been made more than an overcomer. Thank You, Blazing and Brilliant Light of Glory – the Glorious One – that the Fire of Your gaze consumes my fears, dominates the intimidator, throttles the tempter, breaking the back of this dragon who dares to oppose the Living God. Thank you Jesus that in Your Glorious Light everything – and I mean everything becomes light – what can the shadows do to You in me? Thank You that the blazing Fire of Your Words burns away the dragons grip causing Living Hope to abound in me. What is my Confidence? What is my Hope? Jesus, Who has raised me from the dead, and forgiven all my transgressions. Jesus, Who has cancelled, blotted out, and wiped clean the decrees spoken against me. Jesus, Who has disarmed the principalities and powers arrayed against me. Jesus, Who has made a public display, and example, triumphing over them through His Cross. I get up, stand up, rise up – putting my trust in the One Who Rose Up – placing my feet solidly on the Rock! Greater is He Who is in me than he that is in the world! Hallelujah!

Confession and Declaration – Day Two

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“My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!”

This famous quote is spoken by, who else, Inigo Montoya, played by Mandy Patinkin in The Princess Bride (directed by Rob Reiner, 1987). It’s also a line from the original book by William Goldman. It may seem inconceivable, but this wordy, not particularly zippy quote is one of the most famous lines in the classic book turned cult classic film The Princess Bride. It may be the most straightforward and self-explanatory quote ever. Inigo Montoya‘s father was killed by Count Rugen, and he has waited his entire life to find the man, say these words, and exact his revenge. When he finds Count Rugen, he plainly introduces himself and his mission: “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die.”

Why do I bring up this famous scene from the movie Princess Bride? It demonstrates the power of declaration. Even though Inigo’s motives are not Christ-like, they do demonstrate the type of tenacity, and emotional intensity required to truly have a powerful, prophetic declaration. When Inigo finally encounters the six-fingered man who killed his father, he spouts off his declaration. When they square off to fight the smug villain appears to have the upper hand spearing Inigo with his rapier. The audience hearts sink as it appears evil has triumphed. But Inigo struggles to stand and face his attacker, again and again. Lunge after lunge Inigo’s resolve only strengthens till he powerfully overcomes his enemy with a flurry of slashes, parries, and lunges. Montoya forces his opponent to flee his advances overcome by his resolve. So we too have an enemy of our souls – the devil. This title for satan refers to his slandering who we are to God with false accusations. He is a traducer – one who exposes us to shame and blame by falsehood and misrepresentation. What’s interesting about this title is that it has at it’s root the Greek word “ballo.” “Ballo” means to smite one with slaps; to buffet; to prostrate or be prostrated with and through sickness; to apprehend or lay hands on suddenly, or violently in order to cast out or throw one into prison. Have you ever experienced any of these things on a spiritual or physical level? When I discovered this meaning I immediately thought of that line from the old hymn, “It Is Well.” Some of the lines still ring true and powerful in me today:

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

Why does this hymn still resonate with us today? It is a prophetic declaration – a confession – that declares the Truth of God’s Word to spite the howling winds of opposition. Even the circumstances that birthed this powerful declaration were birthed through tragedy at the writers expense. This hymn was written after traumatic events occurred in Horatio Spafford’s life. Wikipedia records that: The first two were the death of his two-year-old son and the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer and had invested significantly in property in the area of Chicago that was extensively damaged by the great fire). His business interests were further hit by the economic downturn of 1873, at which time he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre. In a late change of plan, he sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sea vessel, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford’s daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone …”. Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.[2] Bliss called his tune Ville du Havre, from the name of the stricken vessel.

With that in mind may we accompany the likes of Inigo Montoya, and Horatio Spafford in making our second declaration of transformation:

Day 2, Declaration 2: Thank You Father for the buffeting that Jesus endured to secure my soul’s salvation! Thank you that when trials come my way that in my helpless estate Christ Jesus has shed His own blood for my soul. Thank You that my sin, not in part, but the whole, has been nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Oh, my soul! It is well, it is well with my soul!

Confession and Declaration – Day One

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One of the keys to restoring spiritual vision is through the transformation that comes through declaration. Revelation 19:11 states that the “Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of all prophecy.” When we make declaration we are “prophesying” to ourselves. What is prophecy? Prophecy in its essence is the spoken words of God made manifest in reality. Prophetic dreams, visions, or words become manifested realities. Thus when you speak aloud the declarations of God’s Truths you are “prophesying” to yourself, to others and the atmosphere around you. You are speaking for a shift to occur. In these exercises you are seeking for a shift to occur in your spirit and a transformation in your thinking. You are moving beyond your soul man (mind, will, emotions, and personality) addressing your spirit man. As you call to it you cause your soul man to come into alignment. As David spoke to his soul in Psalm 103:1-3 Bless the Lord Oh my soul and all that is within me bless His Holy Name…” If all this is weird, and out of the norm for you, consider the prophets who were to speak to a valley of dry bones to come to life, or for trees to clap their hands.

Revelation 12:11 is our first declaration: And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].

The Greek word for “testimony” is “martyria.” It essentially means to testify and is used specifically in Scripture regarding the office committed to the prophets of testifying concerning future events; or what one testifies, or gives a testimony before a judge. (You did’t realize you were called to be a prophet did you?) In this declaration they are overcoming “him” by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of their testimony. So who is “him?” Read the rest of the prophecy in Revelation 12:5-11 below:

Revelation 12: 5-11 And she brought forth a male Child, One Who is destined to shepherd (rule) all the nations with an iron staff (scepter), and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne. And the woman [herself] fled into the desert (wilderness), where she has a retreat prepared [for her] by God, in which she is to be fed and kept safe for 1,260 days (42 months; three and one-half years). Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels went forth to battle with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought. But they were defeated, and there was no room found for them in heaven any longer. And the huge dragon was cast down and out—that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him. Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come—the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah); for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out! And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].

What’s real interesting about this prophecy is that it uses 6 words to describe the devil: dragon, serpent, devil, satan, seducer, and accuser. The title that we want to zero our focus on (we are trying to improve our spiritual vision) is that of satan the accuser. This word in the Greek means that you have become a judge, or plaintiff with an offense. Because of the offenses he makes accusations before the judge. You see this being played out in the book of Job in which satan comes before God’s Throne to accuse Job. For us to be restored to God’s Vision we must overcome the accusations that the devil screams at us, and God. How do you overcome the accusations? By the Blood of Jesus. What has Jesus’ blood done for us? What is it doing for us even as we speak? That is the “Word” of your testimony. Thus our first declaration is to declare our thanks for the awesome victory this has obtained for us:

Day One, Declaration 1: Father God, Lord of Heaven and Earth, I thank and praise you for the precious Blood of Jesus, My Savior, the Lamb of God! I thank you Father that today I stand before Your throne, and before angels, demons, and saints as an overcomer. Jesus has overcome satan, death, hell and sin to make me an overcomer. I stand today overcoming the accusations of your enemy, and mine, by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of my testimony. And my testimony is what Jesus’ Blood has done for me. Thank you Jesus that through Your Blood I have have been washed clean and I am being cleansed. Thank you Jesus that Your blood cleanses away every sin, failure, condemnation, accusation, transgression, iniquity, trespass, and weakness. Thank you Jesus that I have overcome the accuser of the brothers by having Your Blood wash away my past sins, my present sins, and my future sins. I rise up because He rose up. I get back up, even after falling down, because I am washed and I am being washed in the Blood of the Precious, Spotless, Lamb of God. Hallelujah and thank you Jesus! I am Your overcomer! Amen.

Remember don’t just read the confession. Declare it out loud like you mean it. Repeat it throughout the day. Use it when you are reminded of some sin, or failure from your past. Use it when you don’t “feel” like praying or doing right. Prophesy to your obstacles. Prophesy to your pains, or trials. Prophesy to your fears, or doubts. Overcome!

Merry Christmas!

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All of the staff here at Bethany: John David and Charlotte, Teresa, Deanna, Jerry, Mary, Alma and Jackie and myself want to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May this Christmas be a blessing for you and your loved ones.

I also wanted to let you know that we have exceeded our goal for foreign missions. Our total giving towards the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering now stands at $1,160! Yeaaaaa!

If you still haven’t had a chance to give towards our foreign missions goal this Sunday will be the last Sunday. Also it’s not too late to sign up for our mission trip to Nicaragua.

One more thing: Please be in prayer for which affinity group you will commit to pray, give, and go too. What’s an affinity group? The International Mission board has divided up the globe into 9 sections: American Peoples, Central Asian Peoples, East Asian Peoples, European Peoples, Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples, South Asian Peoples, Southeast Asian Peoples, Deaf Peoples, and the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. This year alone we have reached four of the nine affinity groups. Who has the Lord called you to go to specifically? We know that we are commanded to go to our Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria – but let us not forget the ends of the world. Be in prayer about who you are to be on mission too and may we not forget our neighbors.

Christmas is a reminder that Jesus came on a “mission trip” to our world leaving a perfect Heaven in order to raise up other missionaries like Himself. Have a great Christmas and Happy New Year! We love you all!