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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!

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 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!