Transcription
Well, let's bow our heads and our hearts a moment before the Lord. Father, we come to you tonight in the mighty, matchless name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are so grateful. We are so thankful. We are so blessed. Thank you for the privilege of gathering in that name which is above every name. Thank you, Father, for the blood of Jesus. Thank you for redemption. Thank you for righteousness. Thank you for the new birth. Glory to God. Hallelujah.
Father, we thank you for the precious, holy, written word of God. The psalmist said, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105. We thank you tonight that the word will shine bright on our pathway. We thank you that the word of God will correct us, direct us, and protect us. "The entrance of thy word giveth light. It giveth understanding unto the simple." Psalm 119:130. We thank you for light tonight. Glory to God. Amen.
And Father, we thank you also for the mighty one you have sent to indwell us, the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 14:26, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things." Hallelujah. Thank you, Father, that he is here to teach, to guide, to lead, to unveil the word of God to our spirits. We lean not to our own understanding, but we trust the Holy Ghost to enlighten the eyes of our hearts. And Lord, we pray not just to be hearers only, but doers of the word. James 1:22 says, "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." We refuse deception. We choose action. We choose obedience. We choose faith. Hallelujah. Glory to God.
So we thank you tonight, Father, that the word of God will fall on good ground. Say it out loud. I am good ground. The word is planted in me. It will bear fruit in me 30fold, 60fold, and 100fold. Glory to God. Amen. Thank you, Father, that we're not empty hearers, but fruitful doers. Thank you that we're not weak in faith, but strong in faith, giving glory to God. Thank you that the word tonight will not return void, but it shall accomplish that which you please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto you send it. Isaiah 55:11. Hallelujah.
And so we lift up our voices in praise. We lift up our hearts in worship. We honor the word. We magnify the name. We yield to the spirit. Glory be to God forevermore. Amen and amen.
Now, before you're seated in your homes or wherever you are listening, turn to somebody if there's somebody nearby and tell them, "I am ready to receive from God's word tonight." Hallelujah.
Now then, let's open our Bibles. Praise God. I always like to begin with the word. Amen. Because faith does not come by stories. Faith does not come by feelings. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17.
Turn with me first to the book of Ephesians, chapter 1. We're going to begin reading with the 16th verse, right on down to the end of the chapter. Read it carefully. Read it slowly. Read it as if it was written directly to you because it was. Paul says, "I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the acknowledgement of him; The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all." Hallelujah. Praise God. Praise God.
Now, somebody says, "Well, Brother Hagen, that was Paul's prayer for the Ephesians." Yes, it was. But all scripture is given by inspiration of God. 2 Timothy 3:16. These prayers are spirit-given, spirit-anointed prayers and they apply to the whole body of Christ including you and me tonight. So I like to take these prayers and put myself in them. Instead of saying "you" or "ye," I say "me." Amen. Let's do that together. Say it out loud. "The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, gives unto me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the acknowledgement of him. The eyes of my understanding are enlightened. I know the hope of his calling. I know the riches of the glory of his inheritance in me. I know the exceeding greatness of his power to me because I believe." Hallelujah. Amen.
Now, turn over just a page or two to Ephesians chapter 3, beginning at verse 14. This is another one of Paul's spirit-anointed prayers. Let's read it. "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." Glory to God. Amen.
Did you hear that? "Strengthened with might in the inner man. Christ dwelling in your heart by faith, rooted and grounded in love, filled with all the fullness of God." And then he says, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." Praise God. Hallelujah.
Now again, don't just read it as though Paul prayed it for the Ephesians only. Read it as though the Holy Spirit wrote it for you. Let's put ourselves in it. Say this with me out loud. "The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthens me with might by his Spirit in the inner man. Christ dwells in my heart by faith. I am rooted and grounded in love. I comprehend the breadth, the length, the depth, and the height [clears throat] of the love of Christ. I know his love, and I am filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that I ask or think. According to the power that worketh in me, unto him be glory forever and ever. Amen." Hallelujah. Amen. Amen.
You pray those prayers daily and revelation knowledge will begin to dawn on your spirit. You won't stay in the dark. You won't stumble through life. You begin to see who you are, what you have, and where you're seated in Christ. Glory to God. Hallelujah.
Now, notice what we've just read. Paul prayed for wisdom, for revelation, for strength in the inner man. But how does that wisdom, how does that strength, how does that revelation become a living reality in your life? By confession. By saying the same thing God says. That word "confession" means to agree with or to say the same thing. Amen. If God says you are healed, then you say you are healed. If God says you are redeemed, then you say you are redeemed. If God says you are seated with Christ in heavenly places, then you don't argue with him. You don't try to feel it. You simply say it. "I am seated with Christ in heavenly places." Glory to God.
Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: not in the mind, not in the emotions, not in your neighbor, not in the devil, in your tongue. What you say is what you get." Amen. Mark 11:23 Jesus said, "Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." Did you hear that? "He shall have whatsoever he saith." Three times he mentions saying. One time he mentions believing. Most of us are believers, but not many of us are sayers. We must become sayers.
Romans 10:9-10 says, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Notice that salvation didn't come by believing alone. Salvation came when believing and confession came together. "What you confess is what you possess." Say that out loud. "What I confess is what I possess." Amen. Hallelujah.
You see, confession builds the road for God to move on. Confession opens the door to the spirit of God. Confession is the bridge between the word written in your Bible and the word made alive in your spirit. Glory to God. That's why the devil works overtime to get you talking doubt, talking fear, talking defeat. Because he knows if he can get your confession, he can get your victory. But if you keep your confession in line with the word, he can't touch you. Revelation 12:11 says, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony." By the blood, yes, but also by their word, their confession. Hallelujah.
So you see, confession is not some little side issue. Confession is the core of faith. Confession is how faith is released. Confession is how authority is exercised. Confession is how healing is received. Confession is how the believer overcomes. Amen.
Now say this with me three times. "I will keep my confession in line with the word. I will not speak fear. I will not speak doubt. I will speak faith. I will speak victory. I will speak the word of God." Glory to God forevermore.
Now, let's turn to Amos 3:3. It says, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Let's read that again. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" The answer is simple. No, they cannot. Two people cannot walk together unless they are in agreement. Well, beloved, if you want to walk with God, you must agree with God. If you want to walk in the power of God, you must say what God says. If you want to walk in the authority of God, you must confess what he has already declared. Confession is agreement with heaven.
You see, many people are praying, "Oh Lord, heal me." And the Lord has already said, "By his stripes ye were healed." 1 Peter 2:24. They are not agreeing with him. They are begging him. But begging is not agreement. Amen. Agreement is when you lift your hands and say, "Thank you, Lord. I receive it. By his stripes, I am healed." That's agreement. That's confession. That's faith. Glory to God.
Romans 4:20-21 says, "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." Abraham agreed with God, he confessed what God confessed, and the Bible says in verse 22, "Therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness."
Now, let me give you a picture. A train runs on two rails. If one rail is missing, that train cannot move forward. Your believing is one rail. Your speaking is the other rail. Believing without speaking is like one rail missing. Speaking without believing is like the other rail missing. But when both rails are laid side by side, faith in the heart and confession with the mouth, then your train moves forward. Hallelujah. Amen.
So say it out loud. "I will walk with God in agreement. I will not disagree with his word. I will say what he says. I will confess what he has promised. I will walk in step with heaven." Glory be to God. Agreement is the principle. Confession is the practice. Agreement is the root. Confession is the fruit. And when your mouth agrees with the word of God, the impossible becomes possible. Amen.
And amen. Now I want to give you an illustration that will help you understand this principle of agreement and confession. Authority is not about how strong you feel. Authority is not about how loud you shout. Authority is not about your muscles or your personality. Authority is about delegation. Authority is about what has been given to you.
Picture this. You're driving down the road 5:00 in the evening. Traffic backed up. Everybody rushing home. Suddenly the traffic lights go out. No red, no green, no yellow. What happens? A policeman steps into the intersection. He lifts his hand and traffic stops. Now listen carefully. That little policeman doesn't have the power to stop two tons of steel rushing down the highway. He doesn't have the physical strength to hold back a truck. But he has something greater. He has authority. That badge on his chest represents the government behind him. That badge tells you the city, the county, the state stands with him. And when he raises his hand, you stop. Not because of his power, but because of his authority.
Jesus said in Luke 10:19, "Behold, I give unto you power." Now, the Greek word there is *exousia*, which means authority. "Behold, I give unto you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Hallelujah. So when you stand in the name of Jesus and you speak God's word, you are not standing in your own strength. You are standing in delegated authority. Heaven is backing you. Angels are backing you. The throne of God is backing you. And when you lift your hand in the name of Jesus and say, "Satan, stop," he must stop. When you say, "Sickness, go," it must go. When you say, "Fear, leave," it must leave. Not because of your feelings, but because of your authority. Glory to God. Amen.
Let me tell you something. The devil knows when you know your authority. He may not respect your tears. He may not respect your emotions, but he respects authority. Authority is delegated power. Say it out loud. "Authority is delegated power. I have authority in the name of Jesus. Heaven backs me when I speak the word." Hallelujah.
You see, confession is how you flash the badge. Confession is how you hold up your hand. Confession is how you exercise the authority of heaven on earth. And when you speak the word boldly, every principality, every power, every demon spirit must bow. Praise God forevermore.
Now, let me stop and tell you something from my own life because these truths are not just theory. They work. The word works when you work the word. Back when I was pastoring many years ago, I began to have some alarming symptoms in my body. My heart would flutter, pains would come, and I'd wake up in the middle of the night with the devil whispering, "You're not going to make it. You're going to die young. You're going to drop dead." But you see, I had learned something. I had learned that confession is possession. I had learned that I had authority in the name of Jesus. So there in the middle of the night, I'd lay my hand on my chest and I'd say out loud, "No, you don't, devil. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I resist you. My body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4. "I am healed by the stripes of Jesus." 1 Peter 2:24. "Heart, you beat right in Jesus' name. Body, you line up with the word of God." And I just lie there praising God. Now, I'll be honest with you. Sometimes the symptoms didn't leave right away. Sometimes I'd be confessing and praising for an hour before anything changed. But every time, every single time the symptoms had to bow to the name of Jesus. They had to leave. Glory to God. And those same symptoms never returned. Hallelujah.
See, that's what James 4:7 means. When it says, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." It doesn't say he might flee. It doesn't say he'll think about fleeing. It says he will flee. The only way he can stay is if you quit resisting. But if you keep your confession in line with the word, he must flee. And here's what I want you to notice. I didn't pray, "Oh Lord, please heal me." I didn't beg God to do something. No, no. I agreed with God's word. I confessed what the Bible said. I took my authority and the word worked. So you see, beloved, the word of God is not just ink on paper. It is alive. It is sharper than any two-edged sword. Hebrews 4:12. And when you put that sword in your mouth and confess it, it cuts down sickness. It cuts down fear. It cuts down the works of the devil. Glory to God. Amen.
Say it out loud with me right now. "I resist the devil. I resist sickness. I resist fear. I hold fast my confession and the word of God works in me." Hallelujah.
Now, we've laid the foundation. We've seen it in the word. We've seen it in experience. Now, let's put it into practice because faith must not only be believed, it must be spoken. Amen. Jesus said in Mark 11:23, "He shall have whatsoever he saith." So, let's say some things together tonight. We're going to start with who we are in Christ. Because if you don't know who you are, the devil will tell you who you're not. If you don't confess your identity, the world will try to shape your identity. But when you say what God says, you line yourself up with heaven's reality. Glory to God.
Take your Bible in your hand, lay your hand upon it, and say this out loud after me.
**Confession One: Seated with Christ.**
"I am seated with Christ in heavenly places. Ephesians 2:6. I am far above all principality, power, might, and dominion. All things are under his feet, and I am in his body. Therefore, all things are under my feet in Christ Jesus." Say it again. Say it a third time. Say it till it rains down in your spirit. Glory to God.
**Confession Two: Greater One in Me.**
Now, let's make another confession. Say this boldly. "Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4. The Spirit of God lives in me. The Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in me. I am not weak. I am not defeated. I am strong in the Lord and in the power of his might." Say it again two more times. That's right. Say it strong. Say it bold. Say it with conviction. Amen.
**Confession Three: Righteousness of God.**
Now, one more confession for this group. Lift your hand high and declare, "I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21. Sin has no dominion over me. Guilt has no hold on me. Condemnation cannot bind me. I am free. I am clean. I am justified. I stand in the presence of God as though I had never sinned. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus." Hallelujah. Say it again. Say it until the chains of condemnation fall off. Say it until you laugh in the face of guilt. Say it until joy rises up in your heart. Glory to God. Amen.
Now, don't you feel stronger already? That's what confession does. That's what identity in Christ does. It puts iron in your backbone. It puts joy in your step. It puts victory in your mouth. And when you know who you are, the devil loses his power to deceive you.
So, let's lift our hands one more time and thank God. "Thank you, Father, that I am in Christ. Thank you that Christ is in me. Thank you that I am righteous. Thank you that I am seated with him. Thank you that the greater one lives in me. Hallelujah." Glory to God forevermore. Amen.
Now, I want you to see something very clearly. Turn again to Mark 11:23. You've heard me quote it, but let's read it slowly. Jesus himself said, "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; He shall have whatsoever he saith."
Now, notice three times Jesus said, "Say." One time he said, "Believe." That tells me most believers are strong in believing but weak in saying. Most Christians believe God's promises, but they never open their mouth to confess them. And Jesus did not say, "He shall have whatsoever he believeth." No, he said, "He shall have whatsoever he saith." Say it out loud. "I shall have whatsoever I say." Say it again. Say it one more time until it sinks down in your spirit. Glory to God.
Now listen closely. Confession brings possession. If you don't like what you've been having, check what you've been saying. Your life today is the result of the words you spoke yesterday. Your life tomorrow will be the harvest of the words you speak today. Proverbs 6:2 says, "Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth. Thou art taken with the words of thy mouth." Many Christians are prisoners of their own tongue. They say, "I can't," so they can't. They say, "I never will," so they never do. They say, "Nothing ever changes," so nothing ever changes. But thank God, you can turn it around with your words.
Romans 10:9-10 shows us salvation itself comes this way. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Without confession there is no possession. Without saying there is no having. You see the word of God in your Bible will not profit you unless it gets into your mouth. Hebrews 13:5-6 says, "For he hath said, so that we may boldly say." Why did he say it? So we could say it. Amen. God said it so you could say it. And when you say it, you possess it.
So let's make this declaration right now. "Confession brings possession. I will not confess defeat. I will not confess weakness. I will not confess lack. I will confess the word of God. And what I confess, I will possess." Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Glory be to God forevermore. Amen.
Now, let me tell you another testimony that will help you. It's not theory. It's not philosophy. It's the word of God in action. Back in the late 1940s while I was pastoring down in East Texas, I came across these prayers of Paul in Ephesians 1 and 3 that we just read. And the Spirit of God quickened them to me. He said, "Pray these prayers for yourself. Not just once, but over and over. Put yourself in them. Wherever Paul said 'you,' put 'me.'" So I did. I'd go into the church sanctuary, kneel down at the altar, open my Bible to Ephesians, and begin to pray. "Father, I thank you that you give unto me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you. The eyes of my understanding are enlightened. I know the hope of your calling. I know the riches of the glory of your inheritance in the saints. I know the exceeding greatness of your power to me as a believer." Hallelujah. And then I'd turn to Ephesians 3. "I thank you, Father, that I am strengthened with might by your Spirit in my inner man. Christ dwells in my heart by faith. I am rooted and grounded in love. I comprehend the breadth, the length, the depth, the height. I know the love of Christ which passes knowledge. I am filled with all the fullness of God." Glory to God.
I must have prayed those prayers a thousand times. Sometimes several times a day. I prayed them for weeks. And at first I couldn't tell any difference. But after a while, revelation began to come. Light began to dawn. Scriptures I had preached for years suddenly opened up to me like never before. I said to my wife, "What in the world have I been preaching? It seems like I didn't know anything before." In just six months of praying those prayers over myself, I received more revelation from the word of God than I had in the previous 14 years of ministry. And out of that revelation came one of the greatest truths the Lord ever taught me, the authority of the believer. Listen carefully. That revelation did not come by accident. It came by praying and confessing the word. It came by daily putting my name into those spirit-given prayers. It came by saying what God said about me until light came. Hallelujah.
So what am I telling you? Keep at it. Don't stop after one day. Don't stop after one week. Pray those prayers daily. Confess them over yourself. And the same Spirit who unveiled the word to Paul, the same Spirit who unveiled the word to me will unveil it to you. Say it out loud. "The eyes of my understanding are enlightened. I have the spirit of wisdom and revelation. I am filled with the fullness of God." Glory to God. Hallelujah.
Now, we've talked about identity in Christ. But if you stop there, you'll never rise up and use your authority. Because who you are in Christ is not just for shouting on Sunday. It's for standing against the devil on Monday. Amen.
Luke 10:19 Jesus said, "Behold, I give unto you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Not just to apostles, not just to preachers, not just to missionaries. [snorts] He said, "I give unto you," that means you, that means me, that means every child of God. Glory to God.
Let's make some confessions together right now. Lift your head high, square your shoulders, and declare this boldly.
**Confession Four: Authority Over the Enemy.**
"I have authority over all the power of the enemy. Luke 10:19. Satan is under my feet. Demons are subject to me in the name of Jesus. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Isaiah 54:17. Nothing shall by any means hurt me." Say it again. Say it a third time. Say it until you believe it down in your spirit. Hallelujah.
**Confession Five: Binding and Loosing.**
Now, let's say this. "In the name of Jesus, whatever I bind on earth is bound in heaven. Whatever I loose on earth is loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18. I bind sickness. I bind fear. I bind poverty. I loose healing. I loose peace. I loose provision. The name of Jesus has authority in my mouth." Say it strong. Say it with faith. That's how you enforce the victory that belongs to you. Glory.
**Confession Six: The Devil is Defeated.**
Now, here's one more. Say it boldly. "The devil is defeated. Jesus is Lord. The keys of death, hell, and the grave are in his hands. Revelation 1:18. And I am in him. Therefore, the devil cannot dominate me. The devil cannot control me. The devil cannot defeat me. I reign in life through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17." Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Glory to God. Amen.
Now, don't you sense the victory when you speak it out? That's the power of confession. That's the power of agreement with heaven. The devil knows when you know. And when you know and confess your authority, he trembles. Amen.
Let's lift our hands and thank him. "Thank you, Father, for giving me authority in Christ. Thank you for the name above every name. Thank you for victory over the enemy. Hallelujah."
Now, child of God, listen carefully. It is not enough to know the word. It is not enough to hear the word. It is not enough to study the word. You must act on the word. James 1:22 says, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." Notice that if you are only a hearer, you're deceived. You think you're walking in faith, but you're not. Faith is not just knowledge. Faith is action. Faith is confession. Faith is obedience. Hallelujah.
Mark 11:23 didn't say he shall have whatsoever he thinketh. It didn't say he shall have whatsoever he believeth only. It said he shall have whatsoever he saith. Faith without words is dead. Faith without confession is dead. Faith without action is dead.
Now let me give you an illustration. Many years ago, Smith Wigglesworth told this story. He saw a woman step outside her house and a little dog followed her to the bus stop. She said, "Honey, you can't go. Go on back home now." That little dog just wagged its tail and kept rubbing against her legs. She said again, "Now, sweetheart, you can't go with me. You've got to go back." Still, the dog stayed. But when the bus pulled up, she stomped her foot and shouted, "Get!" And that little dog tucked its tail and ran home. Wigglesworth said, "That's the way you got to do the devil." Amen. Too many Christians are petting the devil, talking politely to the devil, trying to reason with the devil. No, you must act on your authority. You must speak boldly. You must stomp your foot of faith and say, "Devil, get out in the name of Jesus." Hallelujah.
You see, knowledge prepares you, but action delivers you. Knowledge fills you, but confession releases you. Knowledge informs you, but faith perform sets you free. Say out loud with me. "I am not just a hearer. I am a doer. I will act on the word. I will speak the word. I will obey the word. And the word will work for me." Amen. Amen. Amen.
Now, let me give you another testimony. This one came in the form of a dream. It was during the time I was pastoring in East Texas about 1943. Night after night, I was being awakened by alarming heart symptoms. The devil whispered, "This is it. You're going to die. You're not going to live out your days." I stood my ground every night, quoting the word, resisting the devil, confessing, "By his stripes, I am healed. The greater one lives in me. No weapon formed against me shall prosper." But one night after going back to sleep, I had a dream. In that dream, another minister and I were walking across what looked like a parade ground. Suddenly he shouted, "Look out!" I turned and there were two enormous lions running toward us, growling, bearing their teeth. My friend took off running, but I stopped. Something rose up in me. I said, "No, you can't harm me. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I resist you." And do you know what happened? Those lions slowed down, sniffed around me like little puppies, and then turned and trotted away. And I woke up. And when I woke up, every symptom left my body, and it never returned again. Glory to God. Hallelujah.
You see, 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." Notice it doesn't say he *is* a lion. It says he *comes as* a roaring lion. He's an imitator. He's a bluffer. He roars. He growls. He tries to scare you. But the very next verse says, "Whom resist stedfast in the faith?" Amen. That's exactly what I did in that dream and that's what you can do in real life. The devil is a liar. Fear [snorts] is his greatest weapon. But when you stand your ground, when you confess the word, when you say, "No, you don't, devil, in Jesus' name," yet he flees. James 4:7 says, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Not he might, not he sometimes, but he will flee. Glory to God.
Say this out loud with me right now. "The devil is a liar. Fear is a liar. I resist the devil in Jesus' name. I stand my ground on the word of God. I will not run. I will not fear. I will not be moved. I am more than a conqueror through him that loved me." Hallelujah. Glory to God. Amen.
Now, let's move from authority over Satan into the area of healing because healing belongs to you. Healing is not a side issue. Healing is not a maybe. Healing is a covenant right. Psalm 103:2-3 says, "Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases?" Jesus went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil. Acts 10:38. Matthew 8:17 says, "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." 1 Peter 2:24 says, "By whose stripes ye were healed," not going to be, already were. Hallelujah.
So, let's make some confessions together right now. Lay your hand on your body if you need to. Put your hand where the pain is, where the symptom is, and speak the word boldly.
**Confession Seven: By His Stripes, I Am Healed.**
Say this with me out loud. "By his stripes, I am healed. 1 Peter 2:24. Jesus bore my sickness. Jesus carried my pain. I do not bear it. I do not carry it. Healing belongs to me. Healing flows in my body." Now say it again. Say it a third time. Say it until you feel strength rising in your spirit. Hallelujah.
**Confession Eight: The Law of the Spirit of Life.**
Now say this boldly. "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2. Life is working in me. The Spirit is quickening my mortal body. Romans 8:11. Every cell, every organ, every tissue, every bone, every joint, every nerve, every muscle is alive with the life of God." Glory to God. Say it again until your body begins to respond to the word.
**Confession Nine: No Plague Near My Dwelling.**
Now, let's confess divine protection. Say it strong. "No evil shall befall me. No plague shall come near my dwelling. Psalm 91:10. The Lord is my refuge. The Lord is my fortress. With long life he satisfies me and shows me his salvation. Psalm 91:16. I live in health. I live in strength. I live in victory." Say it again. Say it until fear of sickness is broken off of you. Say it until joy rises up in you. Hallelujah.
Now lift your hands and thank him. "Thank you, Father, that healing belongs to me. Thank you, Jesus, that you took my sickness. Thank you, Holy Ghost, that life is flowing in my body. I receive it now. I walk in it now. I am healed, whole, and free in Jesus' name." Glory to God forevermore. Amen.
Now, child of God, here's something you must understand. Victory doesn't come by occasional confession. Healing doesn't come by once in a while faith. Authority doesn't work if you only use it when you feel like it. No. No. Faith is a daily discipline. Think about it in the natural. Your body needs food every day. Not once a week. Not once a month. Every day. Amen. Doctors tell us your body needs certain vitamins, minerals, proteins every day to stay strong. You don't eat one big meal on Sunday and then starve the rest of the week. No, you eat daily. And in the same way, your spirit must be fed daily.
Joshua 1:8 says, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and uh then thou shalt have good success." Notice, not Sunday morning only, but day and night. Amen. Psalm 1 says, "The blessed man is the one who meditates in the law of the Lord day and night. And what's the result? He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. His leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Glory to God.
You see, confession of the word must become as regular as eating your meals. You must make it your lifestyle. Hebrews 10:23 says, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised." The word "profession" there means confession. Hold fast. Hold it daily. Hold it continually. Hold it when you feel it and when you don't. Just like you don't skip vitamins if you don't feel like it. Don't skip your confession if you don't feel like it. Feelings come and go, but the word abides forever. Amen.
Say it out loud with me. "I feed on the word daily. I confess the word daily. I hold fast my confession daily. And the word is producing fruit in my life daily." Glory to God. Forevermore. Beloved, daily discipline is the secret to consistent victory. What you do once in a while brings inspiration. What you do daily brings transformation. Hallelujah.
Now, child of God, we've talked about identity. We've talked about authority. We've talked about healing. But let's not stop there. Let's move on into victory and dominion. Romans 5:17 says, "For they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." Did you hear that? Not reign in death, not reign in defeat, not reign when we get to heaven. It says, "Reign in life here and now through Jesus Christ." Hallelujah.
So, let's make some victory confessions together. Say it boldly. Say it strong. Say it like you mean it.
**Confession Ten: More Than a Conqueror.**
"I am more than a conqueror through him that loved me. Romans 8:37. I do not live in defeat. I do not live under the curse. I am victorious in Christ. Every battle is won in his name. Every trial is turned to triumph in his power." Say it again. Say it one more time. Now shout it. "I am more than a conqueror!" Glory to God.
**Confession Eleven: Always Triumphing.**
Now say this with me. "Thanks be unto God who always causes me to triumph in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:14. Not sometimes, not once in a while, always. Always, always. I triumph in Christ in my home. I triumph in Christ in my body. I triumph in Christ in my finances. I triumph in Christ in my family. Victory belongs to me in Jesus' name." Hallelujah. Shout "Always" three times. Amen.
**Confession Twelve: Dominion Over Circumstances.**
And here's another one. Say this boldly. "Sin shall not have dominion over me. Romans 6:14. Satan shall not have dominion over me. Sickness shall not have dominion over me. Fear shall not have dominion over me. I reign in life by Christ Jesus. I live in victory every day. I walk in dominion every step. I am seated far above in Jesus' name." Glory to God forevermore. Say it again. Say it until you feel 10 ft tall in your spirit. Amen.
Now lift your hands and thank him. "Thank you, Father, for victory. Thank you, Lord, for dominion. Thank you that I reign in life through Jesus Christ. I will not be defeated. I will not be moved. I walk in triumph, in victory, in dominion every single day. Hallelujah." Amen. Amen. Amen.
Turn with me to Hebrews 10:23. The word says, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised." Hallelujah. Notice that phrase, "hold fast." Don't let go. Don't drop it. Don't cast it away. Hold fast to your confession. The devil will try to shake it. Circumstances will try to move it. Feelings will try to talk you out of it. But the Bible says, "Hold fast."
You see, it's not the first confession that brings the victory. It's the holding fast to your confession that brings the manifestation. Anybody can make one bold statement on Sunday morning when the choir is singing and the organ is playing. But can you hold fast on Monday morning when the bills pile up? Can you hold fast on Thursday night when pain hits your body? That's when faith shows up. That's when victory is won.
Proverbs 4:20-22 says, "My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh." Did you hear that? Don't let the word depart from your eyes. Keep it. Guard it. Hold it fast.
Now, let me remind you of something. The devil cannot steal the word out of your Bible, but he can try to steal it out of your mouth. That's why Jesus said in Mark 4:15 that Satan comes immediately to steal the word that was sown. How does he steal it? By pressure, by symptoms, by fear, by trying to get you to change your confession. But we are not of them that draw back. We are of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Amen. So, we hold fast. We say the same thing today that we said yesterday, and we'll say it tomorrow. Amen.
Let me give you this. A faith confession is like holding a courtroom testimony. You don't change your story every time you're asked. You don't tell one jury one thing and another jury another thing. You testify consistently and that consistency wins the case. Amen.
So say it out loud with me. "I hold fast my confession. I will not waver. I will not draw back. I will not be moved. He is faithful that promised. His word cannot fail. My confession is my possession and I hold it fast in Jesus' name." Glory to God. Hallelujah.
Let's bow our heads just a moment. Father, we thank you tonight for your holy written word. Thank you that the entrance of your word gives light. Thank you for the spirit of wisdom and revelation that has been poured out here. Thank you that faith has risen in hearts, that boldness has risen in mouths, that victory has risen in spirits. Lord, we determine not to be hearers only, but doers of the word. We determine to hold fast our confession, to walk in our authority, to resist the devil, and to enjoy the victory that is already ours in Christ. We thank you that healing belongs to us. Authority belongs to us. Victory belongs to us. Hallelujah.
And now, Father, we seal this time with a bold confession of faith. Lift your hands and say this with me. "I am a child of God. I am born of God. I am filled with the Spirit of God. The greater one lives in me. I am seated with Christ in heavenly places. I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I am healed. I am whole. I am delivered. I am free. Satan is under my feet. Fear is under my feet. Sickness is under my feet. Lack is under my feet. I hold fast my confession. I walk in victory. I reign in life through Jesus Christ. I am more than a conqueror. I always triumph in Christ Jesus. And I will never be defeated. For the Lord is on my side and his word is forever true." Glory to God. Hallelujah. Praise him. Praise him. Praise him. Lift up your voice and give him glory. Thank him that you already have the victory. Thank him that you already possess the promise. Thank him that you are more than a conqueror. Amen.
Now, Father, I pray for every person under the sound of my voice. Let the spirit of faith burn bright in their hearts. Let the bold confession of your word be in their mouths day and night. Let signs, wonders, healings, and miracles follow them as they act on your word. And may they live in victory until Jesus comes in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.