Thursday, September 22, 2011

Affirmation vs. Confirmation

When we speak the word in confirmation, in that we speak in order to make something come to pass, we are engaged in a work that we cannot accomplish. We are not called to work, but to believe:

"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6:29).

Also:

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4:11)

We fail to enter the rest the moment that we work for the blessings of God, rather than believe for them.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

And

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:12)

When we speak the Word of God in affirmation, agreeing with God that He will do what He says that we will do, we speak with faith:

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)

Clearly, God's Word bears fruit wherever it may land; yet the Word of God has been sounded abroad, with mixed results. Some believers witness great victory in their lives, others struggle to this day to realize the Promises of God in their lives. Why? The writer of Hebrews explains:

"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

"For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

"For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." (Hebrews 4:1-3)

Our faith mixed with His Word produces the Promised fruit. We do nothing; He does everything; we believe on Him, and we receive from Him all Blessings!

"He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)

And

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)

Let us therefore affirm, with full firm faith, the Finished Work wrought by Christ on the Cross, released into us by the Holy Spirit, which we received and bear forth by faith.

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