BEING CONFIDENT

BEING CONFIDENT SCRIPTURE: PSALM 27:1-6; PHILIPPIANS 1:1-11 CONCEPT: ALL OUR CONFIDENCE NEEDS TO BE IN GOD.

I. One of the most reliable predictors of how successful a person will be in life is the level of his confidence. I have known people with impressive education, talent, skills, families, and opportunities who never fulfilled God’s plan for their lives. Why? Selfdoubt undermined their ability to become the person the Father created them to be. THEY ALLOWED DOUBT AND NEGATIVE THINKING TO DIMINISH THEM AND THEIR OUTLOOK OF THEIR FUTURE. Yet other people, who lacked impressive credentials, achieved great success because they’d learned to rely on God’s power working through them. CONFIDENCE IS A DECISION WE MAKE AND IT DETERMINES WHETHER WE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL OR MEDIOCRE. STRONG OR WEAK. MOTIVATED OR DISCOURAGED. SOME PEOPLE DON’T LIKE THE IDEA OF BEING CONFIDENT AND SEE IT AS A WAY OF BEING CONCEITED OR PRIDEFUL. MANY IN OUR COUNTRY LOOK AT OUR PRESIDENT AND DON’T LIKE HIM BECAUSE HE DISPLAYS

AT GREAT CONFIDENCE. HE BELIEVES IN HIS ABILITY TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY INSPITE OF HOW OTHERS SEE HIM OR PERCEIVE HIM. II. The Confidence of the Apostles The early church leaders displayed a supernatural confidence in the Lord’s ability to empower, protect, and provide for them.

A. Peter and John before the council (Acts 4:10-13).

THEY WERE AMAZED AND REALIZED THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS. B. Paul regarding the spiritual growth of the Philippian believers (Phil. 1:6).

BEING CONFIDENT OF THIS ONE THING, THAT HE THAT HATH BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOUR SHALL PERFORM IT. C. John concerning prayer (1 John 5:14-15).

THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE IN HIM. THAT IF WE ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, THAT WE SHALL ASK. WE KNOW THAT WE SHALL HAVE THE PETITIONS THAT WE DESIRED IN HIM.

I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHEN ME. OFTEN TIMES IT’S MISINTERPRETED. DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A CONFIDENT PERSON. DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR

SELF LACKING CONFIDENCE AND STRONG TRUST. SO OFTEN PEOPLE HAVE SO MUCH TO GIVE AND CAN MAKE SUCH A GREAT DIFFERENCE, BUT LACK THE CONFIDENCE TO BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE OR THAT THEIR GIFT OR THEIR ABILITY WILL BE NEEDED.

CONFIDENCE IS A GOOD THING. WE WANT TO HAVE CONFIDENCE AND BE CONFIDENT.

III. The Power of Confession A. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” What we say matters. We can speak either life-giving words or ones that bring death to God-given dreams and goals.

B. Speaking negatively will usually make a person depressed and unmotivated. Statements such as “I can’t do it,” WHEN YOU SAY I CAN’T YOU CAN’T. WE SET OURSELVES UP FOR FAILURE. “I’m not good enough” STATEMENTS LIKE THIS SET US UP TO DIMINISH OUR ABILITY TO SUCCEED. WE AMBUSH OURSELVES AND DISABLE OURSELVES TO DO DWHAT WE CAN. or “I’m going to fail” will almost guarantee failure. And you will probably feel even more drained of energy if you constantly say “I’m

not healthy,” “I’m tired,” or “I’m getting old.” Even seemingly innocent statements such as “That’s just my luck” WE AS CHRISTIANS DON’T BELIEVE IN LUCK. GOD IS IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING.or “I can’t afford it” can be evidence that you have an improper view of the Lord’s sovereignty and gracious provision for all your needs. WE DIMINISH WHAT GOD CAN DO WHEN WE LEAVE GOD OUT OF OUR VIEW OF WHAT WE CAN OR CAN NOT DO. C. Positive confessions are energizing. I encourage you to replace negative comments with statements such as “With God’s help, I will reach my goals,” “The Lord will provide enough,” or “I choose to obey my heavenly Father, no matter what.” I CAN ACCOMPLISH MY GOALS. GOD IS GOING TO SEE ME THROUGH. I WILL GET THROUGH THIS. I AM MORE THAN ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THE LORD WILL MAKE A WAY. IV. “I can do all things through Christ.”

A. This is not a prideful statement. Paul was aware of his shortcomings and often felt inadequate in his own strength (2 Cor. 3:5). However, he knew that God would strengthen him for the tasks ahead.

B. When God calls you to do something, He takes the responsibility to equip and enable you to obey. DON’T EVER ALLOW YOUR PERCEPTION OF YOURSELF TO LIMIT WHO GOD IS IN YOU. WHATEVER GOD CALLS YOU TO DO, HE WILL GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH AND THE GRACE TO DO IT. DON’T EVER ALLOW THE TEST OF YOUR FAITH TO MAKE YOU SAY THAT YOU CAN’T. C. Be careful not to compare yourself to someone else. God looks to see how faithful you have been to do His will for your life— not how your abilities measure up to someone else’s. ALL OF US ARE UNIQUE. SO OFTEN WE MISS OPPORTUNITIES TRYING TO MEASURE OURSELVES BY OTHERS. NO GOD HAS FOR YOU WHAT HE HAS FOR YOU. DON’T TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT GOD IS DOING OR GOING TO DO FOR YOU BY WHAT HE IS DOING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE. ASK GOD TO HELP YOU TO DO WHAT HE IS CALLING YOU TO DO. E. Choose to believe God’s promises and let go of the past.

Paul had murdered Christians before his conversion. He could have made excuses for not serving God because the early church feared him and were unlikely to accept him as a fellow believer. Yet he chose

to obey God regardless of the consequences. MANY PEOPLE NEVER GET WHAT GOD HAS FOR THEM OR DOES WHAT GOD WOULD HAVE THEM TO DO, BASED ON WHERE THEY ARE FROM OR WHO THEIR PARENTS WERE. OR WHAT THEY WEREN’T ABLE TO DO IN THE PAST. GOD IS OUR CONFIDENCE. HE WANTS US TO DEPEND ON HIM AND TRUST HIM. TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART. PUT ALL OF YOUR CONFIDENCE IN HIM. THE LORD IS MY CONFIDENCE AND SHALL KEEP MY FEET FROM BEING TAKEN.

V. The Foundation of Our Confidence The promise of Philippians 4:13 is ours based on three things: A. Our position in Christ: If we have accepted His gift of salvation, we are God’s children and He is our heavenly Father.

B. Our perception of who Christ is: He is the sovereign Ruler of this universe. He controls all that happens and is fully capable of equipping us.

C. His promises: Christ is always present, providing, empowering,

and strengthening us.

VI. Conclusion: I challenge you to make a decision today. Decide to begin claiming the promise in Philippians 4:13 as your own. Accept it by faith on the basis of your personal relationship with the Savior and the promises made in the Bible. I guarantee you will be transformed as the Father reveals His perfect will for your life day by day. Instead of holding back in fear or uncertainty, you can move ahead in perfect confidence that you have His assistance, direction, and provision to fulfill anything He calls you to do.

LOOK AT GOD. HE SHOWS US THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. THEY WHIPPED AND LIED ON HIM. THEY SPAT AND CAUSED HIM TO EXPERIENCE GREAT PAIN. BUT HE KNEW THAT GOD WOULD NOT ALLOW HIM TO FAIL. AND EVEN THOUGH THEY SEEMINGLY GOT THE BEST OF HIM. TOOK HIS CLOTHES. TOOK HIS MINISTRY. TOOK HIS FREEDOM. GOD WASN’T THROUGH WITH HIM. AND AFTER SEEMINGLY LOSING EVERYTHING HE HAD. GOD WASN’T

THROUGH WITH HIM. AND YES. HE SUFFERED BLED AND DIED. AND HE LAID THERE THREE DAYS. BUT GOD, WHO PROMISED NEVER TO LEAVE US… GOT HIM UP. AND HE’LL DO THE SAME FOR YOU.

con·fi·dence full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing: certitude; assurance:

Psalm 27(KJV) 27 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.