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Category: Bible Study

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Bible Study

The Rest Place

And we still have the promise that God gave those people. That promise is that we can enter his place of rest. So we should be very careful that none of you fails to get that promise.”
Hebrews 4:1 ERV

The above verse of scripture, speaks of a promise made by God to a set of people- the Israelites. A promise that according to the writer, can be inherited and experienced today by every believer in Christ Jesus- the promise of A Place of Rest. And one intrinsic attribute of God is that He keeps His promises. Indeed, all of God’s promises in Christ are Yes and Amen!

Hebrews Chapter 3 provides a background to Hebrews chapter 4. The writer briefly recounts the not-so-nice experience of the Israelites in the wilderness over a period of 40 years. According to God, these people were rebellious, they tested and tried Him regularly, and they generally exuded deep and annoying unbelief (Hebrews 3: 7-10). As a result of their choice and way of life, God swore that they will not enter into His rest.

Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘they shall not enter My rest.Hebrews 3:10-11 NKJV

What is The Rest Place of God?

The Rest Place of God is Not a Physical location

Generally speaking, a place is a location, a point or an area. A place is also a position- which can mean someone’s current location or situation. The Rest Place of God is none of these things.

The Rest Place of God is not the Day of Rest

Is The Sabbath the Rest Day?

The word ‘Sabbath’ might mean different days of the week for different people, yet for all Christians, it communicates the idea of a day of rest. For the Jews, the Sabbath day starts at nightfall on Friday and ends on nightfall of Saturday. And while some ‘Christian sects’ try to follow the Jewish Sabbath day routine, others have chosen Sunday as their Sabbath day. It would appear then that the whole concept of recognizing a specific day as the day of rest cannot be applied universally across the Christendom. Maybe what needs to be understood is what exactly the Sabbath stands for.

Understanding the Sabbath

Starting from Genesis 2:2-3, it is recorded that God observed the 7th day as a day of rest after the creation. So God Himself started the Sabbath Day tradition. The Bible records that God rested and was refreshed. So there is a refreshing associated with rest (selah).

Why did God Rest ?

Genesis Chapters 1 and 2 tells us that God created the whole world in 6 days! Everything, Made from Words!! And on the 7th day, God rested. Even though we read that God rested and was refreshed post creation, we are not told that He rested because He was tired. I believe that God rested because He thought to Himself; ‘My work is done, everything is complete and perfect, everything is good!’

God had faith in His Word. He trusted His Word. He knew everything was as good as it should be.

In Exodus Chapter 31:12-18, God gave a very strong command to the Israelites concerning the Sabbath; it was to be observed as a day of rest, a holy day to the Lord. The penalty for speaking ill of the Sabbath was death, anyone who refuses to observe the Sabbath was to be ostracized or killed. So the Sabbath was a big deal to God Almighty. However the Lord Jesus seemed to have neglected this great command of the Sabbath during his ministry.

Jesus walked into grainfields on a Sabbath, His disciples took of the grains of the fields on a Sabbath, Jesus performed miracles on the Sabbath, He taught God’s Word on the Sabbath (Matthew 12: 1-6, 9-14, Luke 13:10-17, Luke 6:5). So in summary, Jesus did not rest on the Sabbath day! And as you can imagine, the religious leaders of His time rebuked Him for not observing the traditions, commands and laws passed down from the fathers. In response to this, Jesus dismissed their allegations as simply hypocritical because they themselves do not commit totally to observing the Sabbath as a day of rest. It would seem that they didn’t even understand what the Sabbath meant. I find it very instructive how Jesus always puts compassion and doing good above keeping laws and offering sacrifices.

So the Rest Place of God is not a location, situation, physical position or a rest day.

So what is The Rest Place of God?

Let’s see Deuteronomy 5:12-15……

‘‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.”
Deuteronomy 5:12‭-‬15 NKJV

Again, we see another mention of the Sabbath and its sacredness here. But see what God says in verse 15; “remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm“…..

So God is saying 2 things here: 1. Do not work on the Sabbath. 2. Remember how you were slaves in Egypt until My mighty hand and outstretched arm brought you out. You were in bondage and helpless until I saved you!

What do these mean?

I believe God was saying; ‘remember when you were so powerless and couldn’t help yourself until I intervened to deliver you; remember this and do not be anxious about working on the Sabbath; remember this and trust that I can take care of you; remember this and trust in My ability to take care of you whether you work or you do not work.’

So indeed, the law about the Sabbath wasn’t necessarily about working or not working but a test of obedience, faith and trust in God. And as far as Jesus could see, the religious leaders of His time, knew the laws but lacked understanding and revelation of their true intent.

If we go back to Hebrews 4:1‭-‬3 ERV, we see the primary reason the Israelites could not enter God’s place of rest…..

For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said” NKJV

They heard the gospel, but did not mix the Word they heard with faith. And because they refused to mix God’s Word with faith, the Word was not profitable or beneficial to them. So it seemed their prayers were not answered, it appeared God never heard their outcry. The resultant effect of this was that they were always anxious, worried, agitated, panicky. They were never at rest. They did not enter God’s place of rest. They could have experienced ‘Sabbath’ everyday but yet they couldn’t.

Sounds familiar doesn’t it? How we can sometimes get all worked up over something we cannot change only to start trying to calm ourselves down so that we don’t fall ill from anxiety.

Worrying is like seating on a rocking chair that takes you no where. Sometimes we’re struggling with not worrying… Oh! if only we would enter His rest….the place where God wants us to be at all times and concerning all things.

In the Rest Place of God, the Word of God is mixed with Faith. It is a place of knowing, believing and speaking what the Word says irrespective of the circumstances. It is a place of being fully persuaded. A place of confidence and peace. It is a place of faith and trust. It is a spiritual state that translates into a physical experience. So the believer can actually have Sabbath every time and every day.

How do we enter his rest?

1. Mix the Word with faith: Confess the Word and stay steadfast with your confession.

Say what the Word says in every situation.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 NKJV

2. Believe in the efficacy of the Word: the Word is not dead, but living, powerful and sharp….

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:11‭-‬12 NKJV

We can enter His Rest Place for (because) the Word of God is not dead or powerless, but living, powerful and sharp. Halleluyah!

Shalom!

Bible Study

The Sword of the Spirit

Therefore take up The Whole Armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”
Ephesians 6:13‭-‬18 NKJV

To put on the whole armor of God is to be continually conscious of, and unflinchingly committed to proclaiming who we are and what we have in Christ while living in this reality.

The armor of God is not a combative tool, no, we are not fighting with the enemy, rather we stand in the victory that Christ has already won for us.

The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. It is the only offensive component of the armor of God, the rest are defensive.
The Sword of the Spirit operates as both offensive and defensive.

It is interesting to note, that of the usual regular offensive tools in a soldier’s armory (bows, arrows, spear, sling, rod, etc), it is the sword that makes the list of whole armor of God.
What is peculiar about the sword? A soldier’s sword is usually made of 2-edged sharp blades that can cut, pierce/thrust. According to Hebrews 4:12-13, the Word of God, (referred in Ephesians 6:17 as the Sword of the Spirit) is potent and can permeate the 3 parts of man (spirit, soul and body). It is therefore an ultimately effective tool.

Hebrews 4:12-13 tells us how effective the Sword of the Spirit is…..

For the word of God is ALIVE, and POWERful. It is SHARPER than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”
Hebrews 4:12‭-‬13 NLT

What do we know about the Word of God?

It is documented as the Holy Bible, written by men as they were inspired by God. The Word is the Belt of Truth and the Sword of the Spirit in the armor of God; that is the written Word and the spoken Word. The Word is Jesus Christ! (John 1:1).

In Matthew 4, Jesus Himself used this Sword against the enemy….’It is written’!!! That’s the only response the Lord gave the enemy.

How Do We Wield The Sword Of The Spirit?

By speaking and declaring the Word. When we make our confessions of faith, we are wielding the Sword of the Spirit. For the weapons of my warfare are not carnal but MIGHTY in God. Halleluyah!

To sit under the teaching of the word of God is great, to read the Word all year round is awesome, wonderful. These inscribes the Word on the tablets of your heart, in your spirit. But that is just becoming equipped to use the Sword of the Spirit. Until we open our mouths and speak the Word we are not wielding the sword of the Spirit.

There are 3 things I want to bring out from Ephesians 6:13-18….

Therefore take up The Whole Armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”
Ephesians 6:13‭-‬18 NKJV

1. There is the Whole Armor of God

2. There is an evil day

3. There is a ‘Standing’

The rest of this portion of scripture is a description of the whole armor of God. To understand the Whole Armor of God, you can follow my Bible Study series on this here.

I like to point out that there is an “evil day” that comes to every believer in Christ Jesus. That is the day when your faith/belief is challenged, when lack wants to rattle your believe in God’s provision, when trials and temptations want to cease your mind like a flood, when sickness and disease want to kill you, when it appears you are suddenly confused and bewildered by life’s circumstances. Ephesians 6 is saying put on the whole armor of God always so that when this “evil day” comes, you can STAND and overcome in victory. Halleluyah!

So put on (always) the whole armor of God and the way to wield the Sword of the Spirit is by our confessions of faith.

Examples Of Wielding The Sword Of The Spirit:-

In Lack:
Surely, my Father shall supply ALL of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

For Worry:
I do not worry about a thing, not about food, clothing or shelter. For my Father clothes the lilies of the field which neither toil nor spin, He feeds the birds of the air which do not sow or gather into barns, He will surely take care of me (Matthew 6:25-34). So I cast all my cares upon the Lord, because I know that more than anyone else, He cares for me (I Peter 5:7). I take on the yoke of Christ, I preach the Word in and out of season, I am fully committed to the Father’s business (Matthew 6:33-34).

In Trials And Temptations:
I am born of God and so I overcome the world and the evil in it (1 Peter 5:4). I am not alone, the Godhead resides in me, for I am in Christ, Christ is in the Father, and Christ is in me (John 17:21). The Holy Spirit indwells my body leading, guiding, teaching, and comforting me (John 16:13). I have the exact same life of God in me, eternal life is in me and greater is He that is in me than the one who operates in the world (I John 4:4). CHRIST IS IN ME….that is my HOPE of GLORY/VICTORY/MANIFESTATIONS. Halleluyah! Christ is in me. I owe no man nothing except Love. I am born of God, God is love and so I am love (I John 4:8). And love conquers all things, love never fails I Corinthians 13). I win in my my relationships and interactions. I win by the Spirit of love in me.

For Confidence To Proclaim The Good News:
I have authority in the name of Jesus to preach, to teach and to make disciples of all men (Matthew 28:18-20). I have boldness and utterance (Ephesians 6:19). I have authority in the name of Jesus over satan and his agents. I have authority in the name of Jesus to heal the sick, to not die from poison, to cast out demons, to release the oppressed (Mark 16:17-18).

For Direction:
My spirit bears witness with God’s Spirit in me that I am God’s son. I am born of God, I am a son of God and so I am LED by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14, 16). The Holy Spirit leads me in the right direction. I have and follow the Good Shepherd, Jesus, He leads me to my pleasant places (Psalm 23, John 10:14).

For Healing And Health:
God sent His Word (Jesus) and healed all my diseases (Psalm 107:20). Himself TOOK my infirmities and BORE my Sicknesses in His Body on the cross (Matthew 8:17). Jesus Took Them All. He bore my griefs, He carried my sorrows. He sustained wounds and bruises for my transgressions and iniquities, carried the full punishment, paid the full price. By His wounds/stripes I am healed (Isaiah 53:5). He defeated sin, sickness and death. No sin, no punishment, I am free from the curse! Free from sin, free from sickness, free from the death. He took upon Himself the chasetisement for my peace. I have peace. Oh! Jesus took it all! I am free (John 8:36).

Halleluyah!!!!

I am sure you can write up many more for yourself. We have the Word of God for every situation and circumstance. Praise God! We wield our Sword by speaking the Word.

The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. It should be drawn always, wielded by speaking it continually; in all times and seasons.

We are to stop rehearsing (magnifying) what the enemy is doing by saying and speaking it to every Tom, Dick and Harry, no, speak the Word, magnify the Word. Speak it and hold on to it until your miracle manifests, then share your testimony widely with everyone (magnify God). This is not to say do not seek help if you need it, please seek counsel and maybe reach out to a trusted saint to pray the prayer of agreement with you if you need to. But yearn, desire, seek to grow in your faith also and the way to do that is to deepen your relationship with the God (through the Word and prayer), this builds your understanding of God and boost your confidence to take on faith feats on your own.

Do not leave your sword sheathed, pull it out; speak it, Magnify the Word and Works of God. Halleluyah!!

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Bible Study

3 Essential Elements of Victorious Christian Living (XV)

Contrary to hope, Abraham believed in hope; that is,  when there was nothing to hope for, Abraham had hope God’s promise would come through. Abraham had absolutely no reason to hope; he was old, his body was weak, his sexuality and sexual drive was as good as gone. Sarah was also weak, have you imagined how the womb of an 89year old woman could hold a baby?

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Bible Study

3 Essential Elements of Victorious Christian Living (XIV)

Abraham had a very good relationship with people; relatives, neighbors, servants, etc. He treated people with respect and dignity. His negotiation with God concerning depraved Sodom and Gomorrah goes to show; 1. his relationship with God and 2. his concern and care for people (Genesis 19). When Abraham went out to save Lot (from his troubles), I found it very interesting that most of the men that accompanied Abraham were servants born in his own house; over 300 men.

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Bible Study

3 Essential Elements of Victorious Christian Living (XIII)

The Stimulus For Faith

You Have Faith

Someone might be going through this study series and saying, ‘Grace, I want to experience God, but I do not have faith for it, and even when I think I have faith, I don’t believe my faith is enough’.

Truth is; you have faith. If you confessed and accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have faith. You were saved by grace through faith.

Saving faith is a gift from God that is received by hearing the Word….

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8 NKJV

Without faith, it is impossible for anyone to become saved.

For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service].” Romans 12:3 NKJV

We all became partakers of the nature of God at the new birth.

God is a God of faith, He operates by faith, He created the whole world through faith. That is why Galatians 5:22 can list faith as a fruit of the spirit. You cannot have a fruit without a seed. God imparted His nature/seed into our spirit at the new birth.

So at the new birth, everyone receives a measure of faith. What anyone does with this measure of faith is entirely up to them, however truth remains that this faith can be developed to a greater measure.

So faith is in you, in your spirit man.

The thing with faith though is that it doesn’t just happen, it doesn’t just start getting things done on it’s own, it has to be stimulated, aroused, awakened. Faith always works on a stimulus….

What Is A Stimulus?

A stimulus is….

something that rouses or incites to activity” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). A stimulus is a thing or event that evokes a specific reaction or response.

The stimulus for faith is the Word of God.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Romans 10:17 NKJV

So faith comes from hearing the Good News. And people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.”
Romans 10:17 ERV

Faith is not positive thinking

Positive thinking is an optimistic attitude of focusing on the good in a given situation. A positive thinker approaches good and bad situations in life with the expectation that things will go well. Positive thinking has been shown to impact both physical and mental wellbeing of individuals. For example, it can help with stress management. Other ways to manage stress include; to identify and possibly eliminate the stress object, take a walk, eat right, drink some more water, sleep some more, hang out with the kids, with friends or your spouse, watch a comedy or nice movie, visit amiable extended family members.

So ultimately positive thinking can help with improving health and wellbeing. But positive thinking is not faith. Positive thinking can potentially improve someone’s outcomes and experiences, faith reveals who someone already is.  Faith (based on the Word), shows you who you already are and encourages to take it.

Faith is not Common Sense

The dictionary definition of common sense means to have sound judgment, which is not necessarily based on specialized knowledge. A smart, level-headed person is expected to be able to understand and assess a situation rightly. So common sense is ordinary good sense or sound practical judgment. Having a good sense of judgement that is based on available facts or mere simple perception is great, but that not is faith.

Faith is based on the Word of God, it doesn’t happen by simply forcing oneself to think only on the good or by taking the seemingly right decision or making the right choice.

Faith is based on the Word of God.

Faith begins where the will of God is known. The Word of God is His will. So faith comes by knowing the Word of God.

Let’s see a few scriptures….

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!
Romans 10:13‭-‬15 NKJV

What can we say about this passage of scripture?

1. For anyone to become saved, he/she must first be exposed to the Word of God. 2. There has to be a deliberate act to make the Word available to where it’s needed so faith can be stimulated.

There is no believing/faith without the Word.

Now see Romans 1:16-17….

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:16‭-‬17 NKJV

One of the many things we see in Romans 1:16-17 is that the gospel of Christ is the power of God to save. The Word of God is God’s power to save and this happens when the Word is applied in faith.

How faith works…

Faith is: God said it, I believe it, therefore I say it and I receive it and I act like I have it.

In Mark 11:22-24, Jesus teaches on how faith works….

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
Mark 11:22‭-‬24 NKJV

…..says…..believes…..says…..believes….no doubting……believe. This is how faith works.

We become followers of Christ by faith (Romans 10:9-10), and we continue to live as Christ’s followers by faith.

You don’t really need to start off with a big or great faith to experience God and enjoy victory, faith grows, from little, to great, to exceedingly great. But you have to start from where you are. A faith as small as a mustard seed can get things done…..

So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Luke 17:6 NKJV

You have faith in you.

What do you believe? You can’t believe in the air, your believe must be based on something. Faith is based on the Word of God.

What are you believing God for? Have you found the scriptures to base your faith on?

You want to experience victory or success? Expose your spirit man to the Word of God; read it, meditate on it, confess it, listen to it, watch it,… until it becomes a revelation to you, then faith will spring up in the inside of you to act as you should…..in accordance with your believe, then you’ll have good success/victory.

Faith is the Believer’s way of life; …. remember that the just shall live by faith.

Thank you for joining me again.

The Bible describes Abraham as the Father of faith. Why so? Please join me next time as we consider another very interesting subtitle; The Faith of Abraham. See you soon.

Remember that you can access previous parts of this study as follows; Part 1: Study Background. Part 2: The Scope of the Christian Victory. Part 3: How Christians Gained Victory. Part 4: How Faith, Love and Hope Mix Together for Victorious Christian Living. Part 5: The Nature of God’s Love. Part 6: Characteristics of God Kind of Love. Parts 7 and 8:  Winning Through Love. Part 9: How to develop our love nature. Part 10: Giving Is Not (always) Love. Part 11:Victory Through Faith: Understanding Faith. Part 12: Victory Through Faith: The Righteousness of God.

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Blessings & Love Always

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Bible Study

5 Effective Prayer Guides by Ada

It is important we understand that the effectiveness or efficacy of prayer doesn’t have much to do with it’s length, how often we pray, or the intensity of our shout but rather it is our faith in God and His word that matters (Hebrews 11:6). Importantly effective prayers must be in line with God’s will, plan and purpose for us

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Bible Study

3 Essential Elements of Victorious Christian Living (XII)

Sadly, what this also means is that if I do not act in faith I may never reveal and experience the righteousness of God which is always available to me. We are unlikely to experience God’s integrity/ without faith. You cannot have victory without faith. There is an opportunity today to uncover the faithfulness/righteousness/wholeness of God in your work, health, academics, business, ministry, family, etc. Take God by His Word, believe and you will see the glory of God manifested.

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Bible Study

3 Essential Elements of Victorious Christian Living (XI)

So faith is for every split second, every second, every minute, every hour, every day, every week, every month, every year, every time.
Faith reveals the righteousness of God and the faith to reveal the righteousness of God comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. Without the Word, there will be no stimulus to act in faith and without acting in faith, the righteousness/faithfulness/wholeness of God cannot be experienced.

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Bible Study

3 Essential Elements of Victorious Christian Living (X)

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
I Corinthians 13:3 NKJV

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Bible Study

3 Essential Elements of Victorious Christian Living (IX)

A daily or regular confession of everything love represents and means according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, creates in us a consciousness of who we are, it helps reinforce our identity to us. And because word-based confessions are not mere recitations (God’s Word is Spirit and life), by our confessions we are claiming exactly who we are and rejecting anything contrary to our love nature.