Back in my teen years a co-worker at the Red Barn Fish Camp #2 in Tyro, NC introduced me to a club that he said I never wanted to be a member of if I could help it. It’s called the WSC Club. The subject came up because one of our buddies in the kitchen wanted to ask a girl out on a date, but he was scared. The choice was to go for it and ask her out or remain silent in fear of rejection. My wise co-worker said that you never want to look back at your life and find that you paid the membership dues of the WSC Club. Have you figured out what WSC stands for? The WSC Club is that collection of losers who turn around, assess the past, gloomily shake their heads, and say, “I woulda, but …, I shoulda, but …, I coulda, but …” Have you ever been in the WSC Club? An opportunity presented itself and you wanted to step up and seize it, but in the end you backed down and bailed out.
I’ve been a long time member of the WSC Club. I’m sorry to say that there have been numerous times when I bailed out on something God wanted me to do. When I was in college a professor in a developmental biology class challenged us with the ethics of combining the DNA of a chimpanzee and a human being to create a brand new life form. He said that he had the tools in his lab to make it happen, so why not? I wanted to express my firm conviction that it was wrong because mankind was created in the image of God, but of course, I didn’t. The man was an intellectual giant. He’d make intellectual minced meat of me in about 2 seconds. I kept my mouth shut. Do you know what I said to myself afterward? “I woulda …, I shoulda …, I coulda, but …”
When I was in my early 20s I had a strong desire to be in a Christian rock band. I didn’t just want to play an instrument in one. I wanted to be the front man and lead singer. One day I found a want ad in a music store posted by a Christian band seeking the very thing I wanted to do. I called the number, received a tape with songs to learn, and set an audition time. I practiced. I knew I had the ability, but the day before the audition my insecurities got the best of me and I cancelled. Now, at 42 years of age that dream has long since passed me by, but sometimes I wonder, “What if?” Then I smack myself on the head and mutter: “I woulda …, I shoulda …, I coulda, but …”
My problem was one that many Christians struggle with to various degrees: confidence or a lack thereof. I was afraid stand up and stand out. Perhaps you struggle with confidence too. I’m going to read a short list of descriptions and you decide which fits you better:
Confidence: Waiting for others to congratulate you on your accomplishments.
Lack of confidence: Extolling your own virtues as often as possible to as many people as possible.
Confidence: Doing what you believe to be right, even if others mock or criticize you for it.
Lack of confidence: Governing your behavior based on what other people think.
Confidence: Admitting your mistakes and vowing to learn from them.
Lack of confidence: Working hard to cover up mistakes and praying that you can fix the problem before anyone is the wiser.
Confidence: Being willing to take risks and go the extra mile to achieve better things.
Lack of confidence: Staying in your comfort zone, fearing failure and so avoid taking risks.
Now let me ask you: Which attitude would make you more effective not only as a human being, but as a Christian? Which attitude pleases God more? The answer to both is confidence. When Paul appointed the young man Timothy to oversee the churches as Ephesus, he apparently lacked the confidence to follow through with his assignment though God had gifted and called him to it. Paul addressed his lack of confidence:
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 2 Timothy 1:6-8
A lack of confidence can keep you from fulfilling God’s purpose for your life. I guarantee you that whatever the Lord calls you to it will require faith to accomplish. Faith is risky. Only the confident will take the risk.
Demonstrating a lack of confidence for a lifetime indicates a lack of faith as well. The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish converts to Christianity. Many of them were tempted to revert back to their former religion. The book urges them to stand up and stand out for Jesus. If they displayed cowardice it was an indication that their salvation was questionable:
But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. Hebrews 10:38-39
Confidence is extremely important for the Christian, but it must be placed in the right person. What I’m going to share with you this morning is not about self-confidence, but Christ-confidence. Jesus must be the source of your confidence if you’re ever going to stand up and stand out for God.
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul prayed for this very thing. Remember that the city of Ephesus was a major cultural center of Asia Minor. Paul planted churches in the city and poured himself into the people for nearly three years. He saw the strategic significance of the Ephesian believers. They had the potential of influencing much of the Roman Empire with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Their impact would be lost if they lacked confidence. Paul reminded them to place their confidence in Christ so that they could stand up and stand out in a world of godlessness.
In our scripture reading this morning, we see Paul’s specific prayer for the Ephesians. In verse 17 he tells them:
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened … Ephesians 1:17-18a
Their spiritual eyes, the eyes of their heart had been opened when they came to faith. Paul’s no longer praying for their salvation. He’s asking that they have greater intimacy with God. He wants them to know the Lord even better. Why? The more you know Him and what He’s done, the greater your confidence will be in living out your faith. Paul wanted for the Ephesians what we talked about earlier: Jesus must be the source of your confidence if you’re ever going to stand up and stand out for God. He achieves this by praying that they would wholeheartedly buy into 3 affirmations of confident Christians.
Affirmations of a Confident Christian
In verses 18 and 19, Paul lists what he wants believers to know about themselves in relation to Jesus Christ. Here’s the first thing you’ve got to affirm and genuinely internalize to become a confident Christian:
1. “I am chosen on purpose for God’s purposes.”
… in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you … Ephesians 1:18b
This statement is a reminder of the doxology Paul presented in verses 3 through 14. In it he described God’s gracious invitation to the sinner to become a part of His family forever. If you weren’t here last week, you’ve got to understand that your salvation was way more than you praying the “Sinner’s Prayer” and getting your ticket to heaven. According to Paul: God chose you before the creation of the world according to His decision and pleasure; He predestined you to be adopted into His family by the blood of Jesus Christ; one day you will stand before Him completely holy, completely blameless, perfected in love; when you believed in Christ, He sealed you with His Holy Spirit, a down payment of the good things yet to come; He sealed you with His stamp of ownership demonstrating that you are eternally secure as His possession.
Unlike the capricious Greek gods who the pagan Ephesians worshipped, the Lord God acted purposefully on your behalf. There was nothing random or arbitrary about His salvation. The death of His Son was not an accidental murder of the innocent. It was all a part of God’s plan. Jesus died on purpose. Jesus was resurrected on purpose. If you’ve placed your faith in Him that was all a part of His plan before time began. Knowing that you were chosen on purpose should bring some confidence – not in yourself, but in God’s choosing and calling.
I have a friend who is fond of pointing out occasions when, in his words, “I think God is disappointed with us.” It usually occurs when he’s disappointed in other Christians and he projects his attitude upon God. My fallback position is something I heard a preacher say more than a decade ago: “God is never disillusioned with you because He never had any illusions about you.” He chose you knowing your sins. He looked upon the worst thing that you’d ever think, say, or do and chose you anyway. It gets even better than that. All of the good stuff Jesus ever did goes on your account. Just think about it. When Joel Smith stands before the Lord of the universe, on that day He will open His book and say, “Wow, you did all of these amazing acts of righteousness, justice, and love?” I’ll say, “Well, it’s your book.” Your salvation is the work of God, not the work of man. That should inspire confidence.
But that’s not all. Your life has purpose within God’s plan. In Paul’s doxology which we studied last week, he informed readers that God was bringing everything under heaven and earth into unity under the leadership of Jesus Christ. Your calling to salvation and the life that you live out in Christ is a part of that restorative process to bring creation back into its original harmony. In other words, you were chosen on purpose for God’s purposes. Nothing and no one comes your way by accident. Knowing this should instill confidence.
Several years ago I watched a video by a stage director for Christian musicians. In he confronted artists’ feelings of shyness and fear when they’re performing on stage. He said that they needed to go out there with an attitude of confidence. They needed to realize that God orchestrated them standing on that stage in front of those people for a specific reason. They’d been authorized to perform that show, so they had every reason to be confident and no reason to fear.
I try to think this way every Sunday. If I fall into the trap of thinking that it’s all up to me, arranged by me, and everything is dumb luck anyway I’m sunk. When all the wheels come off during a worship service I must believe that God appointed this hour and He has a purpose in it or I will lose confidence. When folks go to sleep, or stare out the window, or text, or just engage in conversation while I’m preaching I have to remind myself that the word is from Him, response to it is a matter of life and death, and God set up the conditions and hearers or I will lose heart and confidence. But whether I see results or not, it’s a part of His plan. Hs purposes will be fulfilling as I live out my calling. I can just confidently keep moving forward.
If you have been called to salvation that was on purpose. Your call to salvation should lead to a life-long calling to serve God and other people. Go in confidence because it is for the accomplishment of His purposes.
The second affirmation of the confident Christ is just as crucial as the first:
2. “I am precious in His sight.”
… in order that you may know … the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints … Ephesians 1:18c
At first glance this sound like a repeat of what we’ve already talked about. When we hear the word inheritance we think of what we’ll inherit from God one day and the goodness we’ll experience in eternity will be incredible. Paul says that no matter how good you think it’s going to be, you don’t even have a clue:
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” 1 Corinthians 2:9
Our inheritance will be wonderful and it is something we should contemplate, but that’s not what he prays the Ephesians should know so they’ll be confident. Look carefully at verse 18. Paul didn’t say, “the riches of your glorious inheritance in the saints.” He said, “His glorious inheritance.” Who is “him”? It’s God. The saints are the riches of God’s glorious inheritance. We are God’s inheritance. When all’s said and done we are what the Lord gets. We get Him and He gets us. From my human perspective that sounds like a great deal on our end, but that the Lord is getting the losing end. He considers it gain.
I don’t know how this can be, but we are precious in His sight. We are of great value, a value that I honestly cannot see. God does see it and we are so worthwhile to Him that He went to the time, trouble, expensive, and pain to secure us as His inheritance. You are precious in His sight. Indeed, your sin makes you a spiritual worm before a Holy God, but you are nonetheless of great value to Him. This knowledge should bring confidence.
Studies have shown that most of the great leaders throughout history were mamas’ boys. Men of supreme confidence like Napoleon Bonaparte, Abraham Lincoln, and Winston Churchchill were patted and preened over by their mamas. They didn’t become super confident leaders because the apron strings were tied so tightly, but because their moms constantly reminded them of their value, their preciousness. Alexander the Great’s mama, for example, told him that he was a new Hercules. She hinted that his earthly father wasn’t his real father. Later on, one of Alexander’s teachers constantly referred to him as Achilles, the virtually unstoppable warrior of The Iliad. As a result, Alexander became a fearless warrior and general who conquered the known world of his day.
How much better to know that we are precious in God’s sight? The Christian needs never sink into pessimism or despair because they’ve been chosen by God and they’re so valuable to Him that He died for them. When life falls apart the Christian should be buoyed by their worth to the Lord. When everyone forsakes the Christian due to their righteous life, they should continue to stand up and stand out because the only opinion that counts is that of God Almighty. The Christian can affirm David’s statement in Psalm 27:10:
Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Psalm 27:10
The final affirmation of a confident Christ involves our need for the present life:
3. “I am mighty through my Savior.”
The largest portion of Paul’s prayer concerns the subject of power. In fact, the book of Ephesians deals with the subject of power more than any other New Testament letter. Paul believed that the knowledge of God’s power available to the Ephesians would bring them great confidence, so he prayed …
… in order that you may know … his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:19a
Paul describes the type of power God entrusts to the believer in Christ. It’s not just a little energetic “zap.” It’s not a little static charge that produces goose bumps. The power available to the ordinary Christian is the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. The power available to the ordinary Christian is the same power that Jesus exerts from His position of sovereign rule at the right hand of God. The power available to the ordinary Christian is the same power that the Lord employs to bring all His enemies to heel, no matter their authority, strength, or influence.
Think about it. The power that God uses to place the enemies of Christ under His victorious feet, now and in the future, is present for you and me. Why? We’re soldiers in His army. We are His means of defeating the dark armies arrayed against Him. When you were calling to salvation you weren’t called to be a nice, Sunday-go-to-meeting, goody two shoes Christian. He called you to be foot soldiers and shock troops in His unconquerable army. If God’s power is available to us and He is unstoppable, answer these questions:
If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
Absolutely no one!
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Romans 8:35
Nobody!
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8:35
No way! If you enroll in the Lord’s army by faith in Jesus Christ those are some of the enemies you will face. That’s why Paul wants the Ephesians to know that they have God’s power to face the enemy and conquer. At this point he doesn’t tell them how to appropriate the power (that’s in chapter 6), but he prayers that God would inform them experientially of the power that’s on their side. One commentator put it this way:
“His power is new for every challenge and opportunity, for every hardship and triumph of believers, individually and collectively.”
Harold W. Hoenher, Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary
The power of God available to each of us should bring confidence. Jesus must be the source of your confidence if you’re ever going to stand up and stand out for God.
In the Old Testament God visibly demonstrated His power from time to time by filling the Jewish temple with His presence. A cloud would descend and render the place of worship unapproachable due to the presence and the power of God. During the life and ministry of Jesus that same power descended upon the Lord as a dove. He healed, delivered, worked miracles, and was sustained in His unwavering commitment right up to the cross by that same power. Just as the power of God filled Christ, it now fills the church through Christ. I should say, “He fills the church” because the power of God is simultaneously the presence of God.
Fred Craddock was a seminary professor. Once, while he was lecturing at Yale University, he told of going back one summer to Gatlinburg, TN, to take a short vacation with his wife. One night they found a quiet little restaurant where they looked forward to a private meal—just the two of them. While they were waiting for their meal they noticed a distinguished looking white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting guests. Craddock whispered to his wife, “I hope he doesn’t come over here.” He didn’t want the man to intrude on their privacy. But the man did come by his table. “Where you folks from?” he asked amicably. “Oklahoma.” “Splendid state, I hear, although I’ve never been there. What do you do for a living?” I teach homiletics at the graduate seminary of Phillips University.” “Oh, so you teach preachers, do you. Well, I’ve got a story I want to tell you.” And with that he pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with Craddock and his wife. Dr. Craddock groaned inwardly. Oh, no, here comes another preacher story. It seems everyone has one.
The man stuck out his hand. “I’m Ben Hooper. I was born not far from here across the mountains. My mother wasn’t married when I was born so I had a hard time. When I started to school my classmates had a name for me, and it wasn’t a very nice name. I used to go off by myself at recess and during lunchtime because the taunts of my playmates cut so deeply. “What was worse was going downtown on Saturday afternoon and feeling every eye burning a hole through you. They were all wondering just who my real father was. “When I was about 12 years old a new preacher came to our church. I would always go in late and slip out early. But one day the preacher said the benediction so fast I got caught and had to walk out with the crowd. I could feel every eye in church on me. Just about the time I got to the door I felt a big hand on my shoulder. I looked up and the preacher was looking right at me. “’Who are you, son? Whose boy are you?’ “I felt the old weight come down on me. It was like a big, black cloud. Even the preacher was putting me down. “But as he looked down at me, studying my face, he began to smile a big smile of recognition. ‘Wait a minute,’ he said, ‘I know who you are. I see the family resemblance. You are a son of God.’ “With that he slapped me across the rump and said, ‘Boy, you’ve got a great inheritance. Go and claim it.’”
The old man looked across the table at Fred Craddock and said, “That was the most important single sentence ever said to me.” With that he smiled, shook the hand of Craddock and his wife, and moved on to another table to greet old friends. Suddenly, Fred Craddock remembered. On two occasions the people of Tennessee had elected an illegitimate to be their governor. His name was Ben Hooper.
Tom McCrossan at sermoncentral.com (from Power for Living, by Jamie Buckingham, 1983)
Who knows how far you could go or the extent to which God could use you if only you had the confidence. I wonder what God could do in and through this church if we only had confidence. Jesus must be the source of our confidence if we’re ever going to stand up and stand out for God.
