THE CONFESSION OF GOD'S WORD BUILDS FAITH
AND FIXES THE LANDMARKS OF YOUR LIFE
Firm Foundation Chapter 20
by
Doug Woolley
3/1/89
Faith is Expressed through Confession
Confession is affirming or testifying to something we believe. Since faith is a firm belief in something, then our confession will proclaim such beliefs. Confession is faith's way of expressing itself. Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." If faith is in our hearts', then faith filled words will come out of our mouths'. If a person is confessing wrong things, then he is believing the wrong things. He needs to have his mind renewed with the truth in God's Word.
As we confess, or preach, what we believe about the Gospel, people will hear and have an opportunity to be saved. People need to "hear" the Gospel to be saved. As the disciples went forth and preached the Word, the Lord worked with them and confirmed with signs following (Mark 16:20). Once the Word went forth, then God was able to act. Without confession, there is no faith.
You Can Have What You Say
We can control our destiny by our words. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue", and man will be filled with the fruit of it` (Prov. 18:20‑21). Jesus said in Mark 11:23, "Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain 'Be taken up and cast into the sea' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him." According to Jesus, we can have whatever we say if we believe that it will happen. Therefore, we can have success or failure, weakness or strength, just by believing and speaking certain things. Many Christians are weak and defeated because they have not believed the right things and have not confessed what they are believing for.
The Confession of the Twelve Spies
Twelve spies were sent out to the promised land to see if it is a good land and if Israel should rise up and conquer the land as God had said. Ten spies came back and gave a bad report to the people (Num. 13:25‑33). As a result of their negative confession, the ten spies died by a plague. The entire congregation of Israel suffered as a result of grumbling and complaining, and their corpses fell in the wilderness and they were not allowed to enter the land.
On the other hand, two of the spies came back with a good report and encouraged Israel to take the land. Joshua, because of his positive confession, remained alive, took Moses' place as leader, and led the children of Israel into the promise land and God granted him success. Caleb also fixed a similar landmark in his life by his positive confession. As a result, he also entered the promise land and possessed a mountain for his inheritance. Truly, "death and life are in the power of the tongue."
Four Steps of Faith
Including confession, four steps can be taken when having faith:
We must first, say what we believe to be true;
Second, act on what we believe to be true;
Third, receive what we believe to be true;
Fourth, tell others what we received from God that they too might believe.
These four steps of faith are exemplified in two Biblical stories.
Sick Woman Healed by Jesus after 12 Years
Mark 5:25‑34 recalls a certain woman who had been sick for twelve years; yet, she believed Jesus could heal her and said to herself, "If I may but touch his clothes, I shall be made whole." Next, she acted on what she believed by touching His clothes. Next, she received healing in her body. Finally, she told what had happened to her.
David's Victory over Goliath
1 Sam. 17:45‑54 recalls a little boy, David, who stepped out with faith in God to fight a giant, Goliath, who had been mocking Israel and their God. First, David said what he believed, "this day the Lord will deliver you into my hands." Second, he acted upon his faith by taking a stone and slinging it at the Philistine. Third, David received the victory after the stone hit Goliath in the forehead. Fourth, David told others what happened as he traveled to Jerusalem with the giant's head.