A Joyful Confession

A JOYFUL CONFESSION

ETERNAL Life gives to the Believer an unknown element the world had never before had. It is a thing that Peter called, “Joy unspeakable and full of glory.” We understand that happiness comes from environment, but joy comes from within and is a product of the New Creation. We found that the martyrs had joy unspeakable even when dying in physical agony. That stirred the multitudes that thronged about, but it startled the thinking portion of the crowds. How could they be so full of joy when they knew that death was near? Others have witnessed joy in the midst of deepest sorrow. It is an unquenchable something.

Evangelists have discovered that joy is the secret of real evangelism. The joyful Christians are a good advertisement. John 15:11, Jesus says these strange words, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” In giving the great charter promise in regard to the use of His Name, Jesus said, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full.” John 16:24. In John 17:13 Jesus speaks these words, “Now I come to thee; and these things speak I in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.” This is the very climax of this divine life. That is a thought-arresting sentence… “that your joy may be made full.”

We are going to find something in the Name of Jesus that will give us joy in a measure that we have never before known. I know the thrill that came to me when I saw one of my teachers at Bethel, years ago, come back from the jaws of death because of the power in that Name. I saw a dead arm that had been useless for years become perfectly well and normal instantly in that almighty Name. When I saw broken bones instantly made whole, strange joy, an unspeakable thing, filled me. When Brother Fredericks of Seattle was healed, his dead paralyzed hands instantly became normal. The body that was ninety-five percent dead (according to the authorities at the hospital) became a new body. The cancer of the colon stopped being.

The neuralgia of the heart stopped. The stomach that could not digest food was instantly perfect. The legs that were almost useless became strong and normal in a moment. It was the power and authority enwrapped in that Name. I have seen people with arthritis perfectly delivered in that Name. I have noticed in Evangelistic meetings that it is the joyful, living testimony that stirs the people. It is the person who is so full of joy that he can hardly speak, as the tears stream down his face, that moves the people.
In other words, it is the joyful confession that touches hearts. The reluctant, hesitant confession shows that the one who is speaking is not certain that the Word will make good, or has made good.

Faith’s confession

Faith’s confession is always a joyful confession. It confesses that we have the money before it has arrived. It confesses perfect healing while the pain is still in the body. It confesses victory while defeat still holds it captive. Your confession is based upon the living Word. “I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that He is not only able to make good, but He is making good now in my case.” I prayed for one who was very ill. After I had finished praying, the person said, “I know I am going to get well.”
I knew that we were defeated, and I said to her, “When are you going to get well?”

She said, “I do not know when, but I know I will, for the Word cannot fail me.” I said, “No, but you have failed the Word. The Word is NOW, faith is NOW. Is the Word true in your case?” She said, “Yes, indeed it is true.” “Then,” I said, “by His stripes, what?”
She saw it. “Why, by His stripes I am healed.” I said, “When?” She said, “Now.”
I said, “You had better get up and dress, then.” I remember an aged man in Fredericton, New Brunswick, a deacon in the Baptist Church there, who came down with double pneumonia. Several of the local pastors and I went up to pray for him. I anointed him and we prayed. After we prayed, he said with a strong voice, “Wife, get my clothes, I am getting up.” That was joy acting on the Word.

When we confess the Word with joy, it brings conviction to the listeners. In Romans 10:10 it says, “For with the heart man believeth.” I like to translate it like this, “For with the heart, man acts on the Word.” The heart acts and that drives the lips to confession. A doubting heart is a sense-ruled heart. A fearless confession comes from a Word-ruled heart. The Word dominates their heart life and they speak as did Paul, “I know in whom I have believed.” As Paul stood on the deck of that ship in the midst of the awful storm, he said, “I believe God.” Then he told those wondering men, “Every one of you will get to the shore safely, but the ship will be lost.”

He said, “Come, let us eat breakfast.” He broke bread and gave thanks in the midst of them. He gave them more than bread, he gave them courage. Paul had a faith-filled, joyous confession. Only a heart that is nourished on the Word can stand in these hard places. When we know that the Word is God speaking to us now, it is not difficult to act upon it. In the Eighty-second Psalm it declares that “the Word is settled in heaven.” When I read that, I saw that it must be settled in my heart. I would no longer “try” to settle it. I knew that no Word from God was void of fulfillment. I was no longer afraid to act upon it.

The Word became more real to me than any word man had ever spoken. My lips were filled with laughter, my heart was filled with joy, and I had a victorious confession. How many times have I seen the hesitant confession a forerunner of failure, and the joyful confession a forerunner of victory. When we fearlessly act upon the Word and joyfully cast our every care on Him, victory is as sure as the rising of the sun.

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