(Pastor Chen)
In the previous lesson, we mentioned that faith needs corresponding actions to become a reality. We touched on the importance of confession as a means to activate our faith. Again, the Greek word for confession is "homologeo," which means to say the same thing. In other words, our mouth in agreement with what God says or to say what God says in His Word. It is a biblical principle that God prescribes for us to activate His promises. But because of the abuses and misuses of confession, many have rejected the message and branded it as heresy. They have essentially "thrown away the baby with dirty bath water."
In order to clear up the "dirty water" surrounding confession, we must first filter out the "dirt" that muddied up the water. We need to know what confession is not before we can have a clear picture of what it is. First of all, confession is not just a "name it and claim it" gimmick to get what we lust after. James 4:3 tells us plainly, "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." I firmly believe that God wants to supply all our needs, but He is not obligated to meet our lusts. Everything that we desire should ultimately lead to one thing - glorifying God. The prosperity of God was never meant to satisfy our fleshly lust, but to advance the Kingdom of God. But people have used confession like a magic wand trying to conjure up wealth. The motive of our heart plays an important role of whether we will receive or not, and not just confession alone. To the degree that our heart is set on God and His Kingdom is the degree of prosperity that we will experience.
Confession is not ignoring the circumstances. Confession does not look at circumstances and say they do not exist. Denying the circumstances will not make it go away. Many well-meaning Christians are going around and confessing, "I am not sick," "I am not poor," and "I am not this or that" when they are so. It is no wonder why the faith message received such a bad reputation. Confession is simply speaking out God's solution over the circumstance. When God saw darkness, He did not say, "There is no darkness!" Instead He says, "Let there be light!" When Jesus was confronted with a storm, he did not say, "There is no storm!" He says, "peace, be still!" God speaks out what He wants to see happen. We are created in God's image and are commanded be imitators of God (Eph 5:1, I Cor 11:1). Therefore we can also speak out what we want to see as long as it is in the will of God. The problem is that many Christians are speaking things that are contrary to God's will. Since the Word of God is the will of God, we can speak the Word of God over our circumstances and see the result.
Confession is not a means to manipulate God into performing what we want. We have an erroneous idea that God has a clinched hand, and we have to pry open His hand to get what we need. On the contrary, God is always gracious and eager to meet our needs. He is a loving and giving Father with an open hand, but He works according to our faith. Unbelief is what robs us of the provisions that God intends for us to have. Confession does not change God. God never changes. Instead, confession changes us. Confession is one of the most effective means to eradicate unbelief within us. Through confession our mind is renewed, and our heart is established. Through confession our confidence is built, and our faith is developed. It will literally move us to a position to receive from God and bring Him on the scene.
Biblical confession is not just a positive confession. Just because we say something positive and nice does not necessary mean that it is Scriptural. Confession is not a New Age movement; it is the Word of God. The power is not in what we say; the power is in God's Word. Of course, when we say things that are negative and contrary to the Word of God, we give place to the devil. But just because we say something positive does not mean that it will happen; it has to be consistent with the will of God. And only a heart which is sensitive and yielded to His Spirit can discern what His will is in a given situation. Thus, our intimate walk with the Lord plays a major role in the effectiveness of our confession. It is only speaking HIS Word and not ours that will bring the desired result.