Confess

Read: Matthew 10:32; 1 Timothy 6:12-13; Romans 10:9-10; 2 Timothy 1:8; 1 John 4:15.

"Everyone who acknowledges (confesses) me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33

Confession. The bible is full of it. In fact according to Romans 10:9-10 you cannot receive salvation without confession. Confession is the key to forgiveness of sin and the healing of a sinful past. There is one area of confession that often doesn't get mentioned.

After you've confessed that Jesus is Lord, confessed your sins and been healed, had your life completely transformed, it is natural when you get around people who know nothing about the power of God and transformation to slide under the radar as the same old, so and so. It's easy to go back to school and go back to the same friends, have the same conversations and make the same choices. That is easy and natural, but you've been changed, radically transformed, you cannot go back, so now it's time to confess.

It's time to live the transformation and tell others about it. When your old friends ask what has changed about your old life, you confess. When they want you to do the same old stuff you used to and engage in the same conversations you used to, you confess, I've been changed, I don't do that anymore.

It's easy not to confess because of fear and rejection. Yet Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:8, "So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord." If we confess Christ before our friends they may mock us and reject us, but God will accept us and continue to transform us. If we deny him and what he's done for us before our friends then he will deny us. It's time to stand and confess what God has done for our lives.

Fear - Fear is the greatest enemy of faith. There are many people that have missed what God wanted to do through them because of fear. Fear will paralyze you and keep you from the purpose God has for your life. Take fear by the neck and throw it out of your life.

Timothy was a young man was radically transformed. Paul knew it might cost him his friends, his popularity, and much more if confessed God, so he told him never be ashamed, so right before that he shared with Timothy that God has not given us fear, but power. Paul knew if Timothy would pay the price, God would use him and he did. Timothy was the pastor of one of the largest churches in the world in his day, as a young man.

Fear will keep you from your destiny. Confront it head on and confess what God has done for you. It may be painful at first, but you will be in complete shock at what God does through you and for you. You will be amazed at the friends you never thought would come, are now living radically for God.

Rejection - I hate being rejected. I have never woken up and thought, "man I'd love to get rejected by people I care about today!" Yet rejection is a part of life, especially when you begin to stand for what God has done and is doing. In fact Jesus was rejected by his own family because of his stand. We too may be rejected as we confess what God has done, but because Jesus was rejected we are accepted by God. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be accepted by God and have Him place people in my life, than be accepted by everybody and be rejected by God. As you confess you may be rejected, but you will always be accepted by God and your church family.

Confession can cost you, but the reward or confess far out weighs the cost. As you go back to school transformed and changed, confess Him and watch what God does in your life!

Prayer: Lord give me the strength to confess you and not deny before man. When I fear or am rejected help me to stand and know that you are taking care of me!