CENTRAL THOUGHT
The tongue has the power of life and death, those who love it will eat its fruit.
HYMN: WHEN PEACE LIKE A RIVER ATTENDETH MY WAY
TEXT: Romans 10:6-13
INTRODUCTION
Confession means admission, acknowledgement, recognition, or acceptance. To confess a thing is to accept that thing. When man confesses Christ, he is accepting Christ before those he confesses Him. Confession, in this study is viewed as “speaking” or “speech”, and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34). Therefore, confession has origin in the heart. Some people argue that it is possible to say that one does not mean (things that are not from the heart). But it is also true that when such false confessions become this style of the individual, then he is known to be a liar, which shows that there is a lie in his heart. So, the confessions have to bear with the state of his heart! Our confession stands strongly on what we believe.
If what we say has to do with what is in our minds, it is also true that what is in our minds (what do we meditate on, or think, which is what we say) have a way of actualizing! This is subtly true; the psalmist prayed, “… let words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You…” (Psa.19:14). Our meditations build us; our thoughts design and construct our character. Little wonder then that what man imagines, he says, and this bears heavily on what happens. Since he made the universe by His word and man in his image, he would have some creative powers in his word too! The regenerated man is capable of creating and destroying by the words of his mouth (read Proverbs 18:21).
Believing God and speaking those things that are believed brings the Almighty into the center of our imagination and utterances.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
It is aimed that at the end of this lesson, this student will have learned:
- The effects that our confessions have on our attitude to life.
- The “confessing-and-possessing” attitude.
- How to live by creative thinking and talking.
- What to confess in situations.
- What confession does in the life of a child of God.
BIBLE TRUTH
Q1. THE EFFECT OF OUR CONFESSION ON OUR ATTITUDE TO LIFE.
Pronouncement (confession) affects the mentality of the individual. Consider a person that often threaten to fight; he usually would flee. When we speak, we address others and ourselves; we address the physical and the spiritual worlds. Furthermore, when we speak, we give definite instructions to the performance of our spirit, soul and body. The information we feed to ourselves defines our attitude to life.
When a man confesses to be a failure, he cannot have success because his system would work against success. Striving for excellence is for those aiming at excellence. It is not dong by chance. First, the individual believes in excellence and then tells himself that he is able to reach there. However, many people defeat themselves in life by making negative confessions about their abilities.
There are diverse kind of individuals; some speak their minds, others do not. Those who speak their minds expect results from their words, and are usually more honest people. All through their lives they are expectant people. They have a positive attitude to things. When they question, it is because they want to find an answer.
An individual should convince himself of what is true and speak it; it would shape his style of living (attitude of life). What we confess should show in our plans, thoughts and attitude, and actions like as an expectant mother prepares to deliver and the person prepares to take delivery of his confession.
Q2. THE CONFESSING AND POSSESSING ATTITUDE.
Truth is hard but it sets a man free (John 8: 32). We must know the truth, believe it, love it and speak it. We must actively hate lie and avoid it. We must not ruminate on lie, and then we would not speak it. Lies are those common sayings of thoughts that have no root in the Word of God. Lies are ideologies of men. Anything (word, action or counsel) that negates the word of God is a lie. For instance, consulting an oracle in any situation (difficult or not) is meddling with lies. It is falsehood and robs the individual of the bliss of freedom. Even if the oracle seems to speak what we physically suppose is the truth, we know that nothing good comes from the father of lies (John 8: 44). Rather than consulting an oracle, we should listen to the loving creator of the universe who loves us and has spoken concerning that particular circumstance! His word about that situation is the truth. Going to the devil is aligning oneself with a lie! The truth always prevails; so, anyone who is for the truth always prevails.
God has spoken and still speaks! Has He said anything that He would not do? (Numbers 23:19). The truth is, what God Almighty has said He would do; it is what He has said should be. A child of God must know that what God has said must be done. Everyday of his life, he must look forward to the fulfillment of truth. The devil and his host of evil are continuously fighting to negate God’s word. One tool that they often use is fear (doubt, and self-assassination (wrong confession)!) There are people around us who pose to be “experts” in some area of life, but they do not speak the word of God. The word of God is truth and anything that negates it is a lie; it does not matter who is speaking it.
The God with whom we have to do is sovereign and His glory He would not give it to another (Isaiah 42:8)! When we cast our mind on the truth (the word of God), we enshrine our faith in the unfailing truth of the ages. And nothing can be impossible.
A man can speak very wonderful words of blessing but if it is not from God, it has no power in it. It is a mere wish. Wishing is different from saying “Amen” to confessing what God has said. The enormous power in the confession is embedded in the fact that when we confess, we simply joined forces with either light or darkness! To this end, every child of God must spend time with God. When we walk with the Lord, we would know his mind and collect those things which are ours. Again, this is different from imitating or copying one another; it is talking, being and doing what God has said about you. Each of us is different and He has all the details, and has made adequate provision to ensure success for each one (Matthew 10:30).
Q3. LIVING BY CREATIVE THINKING AND TALKING.
By bringing ourselves into line with the word of God, we become creative beings. Our words carry the required weight because they are not merely thought of before they are spoken; they come from the realm of power of the most High. We become the kingdom of priests that the Lord wants (Exodus 19:6). In this state our thoughts and words are not vain or carnal. Some people, in their ignorance, get fed with food and/ or excitement and play with scriptures, speaking vain things. We know the value of the things we say because they are not words of men. We become the oracles of God! (1 Peter4:11). Then we can ‘play’ it for the world in sin for men to hear the heart of God.
Some people live a lie in attempt to live a creative life. So, a headache knocks on man down, yet he tells his brother that he is alright. The other extreme is, instead of simply saying what the truth is; you assume that death has to come. “I feel sick” expresses a momentary feeling of sickness which is different from “I am going to die”. The latter sets in motion a feeling of exit from life. A brother may not have enough cash for all he wants to do. There’s nothing wrong in saying so. He may not even have money at all. It is good to say so. It does not negate the word of God. “I do not have money” expresses the fact that there is no money to spend at this time in question, whereas “I am poor” situates the individual in the states that weighs down his mentality and deprives him of the joy and freedom of the “rich”. He should know that provisions are available and would come for him from the Father of Comfort! God’s children have sure assurance of provisions. One who has someone to lean on cannot be said to be poor!
Notice that it does not start with confession. It starts with knowing. We must know the truth, believe in it, love it and confess it, as a reassurance to our spirit, soul and body. When we think on the truth and speak it to others and to ourselves, our system works to fulfill our utterances. It brings to being that which was not.
Q4. KNOWING WHAT TO SAY.
Philippians 4:8, John 16:13
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if you’re there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”. ”But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears and He will tell you what it is yet to come.”
If our meditations are right, the words of our mouth would not it be wrong. If we allow the Spirit of God (truth) to assume preeminence in our lives, we would not speak wrongly. It is one thing to know a thing is another to know when to speak it. That God “told” you is not the same as “God told you to tell”. A man who goes about bragging about his riches in Christ may not have time to actualize the riches. He may spend all his time talking rather than working. And though he says so much, he may accomplish little or nothing. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7).
This lesson is not intended to make us obsessed with confession! We should also be people of wisdom, listening more than and we speak. So, in the mist of truth we know, by the leading of the Spirit of God, we are able to know what to say.
Such things are abuses, curses and all from of ill-talking should not come from the lips of a child of God. Rather than say “you will fall and break your leg” in attempt to warn somebody, you should say “do not fall!” Rather than say “it is finished for me”, or “I am finished”, say, “what is this?” Or “Lord take control” or “the Lord is in control”, etc. What we speak should be edifying and able to build rather than destroy. We should speak of encouragement. A good tree bears good fruit (Matthew 7:17). We are the planting of the Lord (Isaiah 61:3), it should show even when we are very fed and happy, or unfed and unhappy; no one should get so merry as to talk as infidels do (speaking things they do not mean). Do not bring yourself to the point that you have to say, “I did not mean it. Honestly examining yourself and sue for a change of attitude, your life would not be the same again.
Q5. CONFESSION AND THE WORD OF GOD.
“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:10).
We confessed to truth for so many reasons. For reassurance; when we speak what we know, exactly the way it is, for long time, we become more convinced about it. We also speak the word of God so that we do not forget it. We consistently recall the sin we constantly confess; it saves from sin (“Thy word have I hated in mine heart, that I may not sin against thee.” Psalms 119:11). Also, we confessed to word of God as a testimony against the devil and the world and sin. If children of God joined the world in speaking the language of sin and failure, who will speak the language of hope and comfort? We must confess the word of God as a weapon against fear, doubts and threat. There is power in the word of God! If what we say, ordinary carry weight, when we believe and speak the powerful word of the Almighty God in faith; there is nothing that can withstand such utterances! (Revelations 12:11).
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
When a child is constantly called a moron (block-head, coconut- head, idiot, foolish, etc.), he will become so intimidated that he would become a real moron. He even becomes convinced that he is a moron. Let praise comes from the lips of children of God. They should come with mercy and grace. Most importantly, learn what God has said about you. We have stated in this lesson that God knows us as individuals; what does He know about your future? What has He in mind concerning you? If you know these and believe them, then they will come out of your mouth. You would live by them and actualized them. Do not say what the devil wishes you! The wish of the cohorts of evil is ill; know this also and you do not collaborate them! Do not send the devil errand why wrong confession (read Ephesians 4:27).
MEMORY VERSE:
Romans 10:10
“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday: God is not a man to lie.
Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29
Tuesday: Glorify God in your speaking
1 Peter4:11
Wednesday: Know what to say.
Philippians 4:8; John 16:13
Thursday: Regulate your heart.
Psalm 119:8
Friday: Speak from the heart.
Romans 10:10
Saturday: Be an ambassador for Christ in speech too.
2 Corinthians 5:20, 1 Timothy 4:12.