Connected Confession When a person takes the witness stand, they make a sworn statement that they will only confess “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” Every perception of truth from that point is directly connected to what is spoken. It’s not enough for the witness to know the truth if something else is declared. If this does happen, though, and something contrary to a known truth is stated, it may be a very serious violation for the witness. In the course of questioning, there may be a great deal of pressure to alter one’s statement, but speaking something other than the truth has ramifications that will far exceed personal embarrassment. Every word either binds to the truth or directly opposes it. Holding to the truth, no matter how difficult, will enable truth’s freedom and blessing. When we receive Christ, the Spirit of Truth comes to live in hearts established on the Word of God. As we receive Him, we are also enabled to walk in Him, full of the power to overcome and triumph in everything. This is with our mouths declaring only “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” All those good things that Jesus won for us on the cross are now directly linked to declarations of them. Salvation, healing, deliverance, provision, peace, purpose, etc. are secured in their confession. Every alternative statement spoken will undermine the triumphant experience of Christ, while every confession of belief from the Word will activate its power to overcome. Only by holding fast to affirmations of God’s promises, then, can there be hope of their blessing. With a tenacious grasp on His truth and a despising rejection of any other words, we have great confidence He is faithfully working to fulfill His promises. Notes With every embrace of His Word is an embrace of Him Hebrews 4:14 (NKJV) 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. Maintaining confession keeps from wavering disconnect Hebrews 10:23 (NKJV) 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Confession homologeō Thayer Definition: to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent to concede not to refuse, to promise not to deny to confess declare to confess, i.e. to admit or declare one’s self guilty of what one is accused of to profess to declare openly, speak out freely to profess one’s self the worshipper of one to praise, celebrate Confess – the connection securing the promise Romans 10:8-10 (NKJV) 8 But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. As we received by confession, so we walk – abounding in faith Colossians 2:6-7 (NKJV) 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Overflowing abundance awaits every connected confession Philemon 1:6 (NLT) 6 And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. Confessions Salvation Healing Strength Wisdom Purpose Deliverance Direction Peace It’s in the connected confession that we take our place in a united body. Ephesians 4:11-16 (NLT) 11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Overview: It’s important to believe the Truth, but it’s the confession of it that connects it to life. It’s not just what has been spoken, but what is being spoken that is critical. To cease speaking is to let go of the connection to the Source of the promise. Mixing alternate conflicting thoughts disconnects from the Truth. The same way we receive salvation is how we receive all that is ours in Christ – connecting to discovered truth with confession. Our place in the body is directly connected to our speaking the Truth in love – transparent and proclaimed. Prayer: Lord, as I confess the truth of Your Lordship in my life now, lead me on a walk that causes my whole life to confess what only comes from You. Unite me with Your body in this Truth to bring glory to You in the showing of Your goodness. Declarations: The Truth that I’ve received in my heart I have boldly confessed to salvation. Every revelation of Christ in me now becomes a confession in my mouth that connects me to its reality in my life. With every confession of Christ is a connection to Him and His body in a unity that enables His glory on the earth.