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Confession & Declaration 34

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Galatians 4:5 To purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God’s sons].

Ephesians 1:5 For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]—

It is amazing that Jesus is our Elder Brother and that we are co-heirs with Him. But even more amazing is the fact that we have been adopted into the Father’s Forever Family. Why is that so amazing? Well let me explain. When Paul wrote the above passages he had in mind the Roman concept of patria potestas. What in the world is patria potestas? Which in latin roughly translates to “power of a father.” The website, U.S. Legal defines the term as: The authority held by a male head of the family over his legitimate and adopted children and other descendents in the male line who are not emancipated. In earlier days the father had extensive power over the family, which included the power of life and death. However with the advent of time, Patria Potestas became limited to the responsibility to support and maintain family members. This is also termed as fatherly power.

Now that is really powerful. But in Roman times the concept of patria potestas also included freeing someone from slavery. The reason being that often those who were adopted had been slaves of their master. Once adopted the slave was made a son, and vested with the privileges, and relationships which came with their new status. Thus they were translated from calling their masters, lord, to calling them Abba, Father! What’s even more amazing is many of the terms we have covered thus far are integrally related with terms such as union with Christ, regeneration, conversion, repentance, faith, justification, sanctification, perseverance, and glorification. These terms become even more powerful when combined with the concept of adoption. Thus adoption becomes more like the embracing and restoration of the prodigal son – receiving a robe, the ring, the feast, and the celebration. And as the parable goes, the Father had been scanning the horizon for his long, lost son and when he caught view of him, pulled up the hem of his robe, tucked it in his belt, and ran to embrace his son. That’s our God and that’s our Heavenly Father.

Thus we see that being related to Jesus has its “perks.” The Father has responsibility to support and maintain us, and we move from being slaves to full-fledged members of the Family. We are no longer in a Master – slave, or Judge – prisoner position. No, now we are in a Father and son relationship. Hallelu – Jah!

Do you see the power of this term and how it can be used against your enemy the accuser of the brothers? When you have the accuser reminding you of your past – you can remind him that he needs to take it up with your Elder Brother, and Father. You are no longer slaves but have been adopted into the Father’s Family. You belong to them: Father, Son and Holy Spirit! It’s Their job to support and maintain you. It’s their fight. The Bible says, The Glory of the LORD will be your Rear Guard. In other words, God’s got your back! Press on! When Satan messes with you – he has picked a fight with the entire Godhead. That’s the coolest picture. It’s like Marvel Comics the Avengers.

Declaration 34: Holy Father. Abba – Daddy, I praise and worship You. You are my Beloved and I am yours. Thank you, thank You for adopting me into Your Forever Family. I thank and praise You that the entire Godhead has my back. Your Glory is my Rearguard. Thank You that I am no longer a slave to sin. Thank You that I am a child of Yours. Thank You for scanning the horizon for me, hitching up Your robe and running to embrace me. I leap into Your arms Father and receive Your Love. I hold You tight as You hold me. I am Yours. You have adopted me. I am Your son – by the Precious Blood of Your Son. Thank You Father for Jesus paying for me to adopted by You. You are my Treasure and Delight. I worship You! Thank You Father! Thank You Jesus! Thank You Holy Spirit! You are my Family. What a marvelous Family it is.

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