All in Favor, by CCM and Gospel artist Larnelle Harris, was originally released on the 1987 album entitled The Father Hath Provided. 
This wonderfully exciting Gospel song, published by Benson Records, is all about encouraging Christians to testify. To bare witness concerning their love and devotion towards Jesus Christ, to other people.
Giving our testimony to others, as we have said before, is an important part of our worship. But, did you realize that your testimony is a part of a larger act of worship known as confession?
Now the word “confession” automatically conjures up images of a Catholic confessional, for many people. But before we allow our minds to remain on that depiction, let’s look closer at the meaning of the word.
There are two main definitions for the word (noun) “confession.” First, it is a formal statement admitting that one is guilty of wrongdoing: he/she confessed to the priest his/her sinful ways, or he/she signed a confession to the crime. Second, it can be a statement setting out essential religious or philosophical principles:
– the religious body, or church, sharing their doctrine, or confession of faith.
– a statement of one’s creed: his/her words were a part of his/her political ideology.
So, let’s come to terms with the two meanings behind this very important word.
Confession is one of many acts of worship that we are commanded to participate in. Why, our very first act of worship — embracing the Gospel message of Jesus Christ — can’t take place unless we first confess our sins (1 John 1:9), and then second confess with our mouths that, “Jesus is Lord” (Romans 10:9). Both aspects of the word “confession” are present within this redemptive act of worship, known as salvation.
Confession is also important because it points us to acknowledging God’s pure, sovereign, and holy nature; just as it also allows us to acknowledge our fallen state. We read in Habakkuk chapter one, verse thirteen, “Your [God’s] eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong.” This indicates both God’s perfect goodness (purity) and our imperfect wickedness (evil). We can never confess, or testify, to the goodness of our Creator until we come to terms with why we need His forgiveness — His salvation.
As we understand the importance of confession in our lives, we will come to realize increasingly the true purity, and holiness, that our sovereign God possesses. It will bring to light why sin separated us from our sovereign Creator, in the first place. Look with me at what the prophet Jeremiah wrote, in Jeremiah chapter thirty-two, concerning God’s sovereignty:
“Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You. You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the father’s sins into the laps of their children after them. O great and powerful God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are Your purposes and mighty are Your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; You reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve.” (Jeremiah 32:17-19)
Sovereignty gives God the authority to love whom He chooses, to punish whom He chooses, and it maintains God’s purpose and deeds; we don’t and can’t do these things because we are sinful (missing the mark). We either accept God’s sovereignty in our lives, through the worshipful act of confession, or we reject it and remove ourselves from God eternally. God’s calling to make humanity one with Himself, again, and to see mankind become more like His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, is truly an act of sovereign grace. But this undeserved, divine grace can only be accessed by humanity, if we worship God through the two part act of confession — admitting our guilt and testifying of Christ’s Gospel message to others.
The Apostle Peter reminded us in 1 Peter chapter one, “Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:15-16) If you have chosen to be one with God, and therefore have begun the journey to become more like Jesus Christ, then you must have began living the holy (set apart) life that God intended for you through this worshipful act of confession. Now you must daily engage in this act of worship, by confessing (testifying) to God’s Gospel message in your life. So, since God made the motion, allow me to “second” it. And as we daily carry out God the Father’s purpose, I will ask you once more, “Do you really love Jesus?” I can see those hands; now — all in favor say, “Aye!”
Living Your True Purpose by J. Scott Harden is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at jasonmin.wordpress.com.
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Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.
All in Favor lyrics and music written by Babbie Mason. Original version Copyright © 1987 Benson Records; Live in Brooklyn version Copyright © 2010 Mansion Entertainment.
Video made available by Jason Ministries, and Spring House Music Group. Manufactured by EMI Christian Music Group, a division of Capitol Records; Copyright © 1994, 2012 All Rights Reserved.
If your church or organization would like to talk with J. Scott Harden about a speaking engagement, or a writing project, please get in touch with Mr. Harden through Jason Ministries‘ Twitter account or Facebook page.
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