Introduction:
Confidence, I’m going to speak on confidence this morning. Lord, I think you have the wrong guy. Always struggled with having confidence
I was raised in a home where we were taught to excel at whatever we did. My brother operates his own landscaping business, one sister works with the US State Department, and my other sister works as a public school teacher in Louisiana. My parents are recovering perfectionists. I also am a recovering perfectionist. A perfectionist usually has low self confidence because they set unreasonably high standards for themselves. When those standards are not met, then they blame themselves. This seriously undermines their confidence because nothing they do is ever quite good enough and it never will be.
In 2008 I was let go from a preaching ministry at a church in NC. Because of my perfectionistic tendencies I blamed myself. After all some of the leaders said that I was not charismatic enough. I interpreted this as I was not good enough to preach there. The nation was going through a recession and so was I. However, my recession turned into a depression.
Started out as identity crisis. What actress Nicole Kidman one time said could have described me: “I don’t know who I am, or what I am, or where I’m headed.” From there it went further into a lack of confidence in my faith. Was I really a Christian? My confidence was shot both in my abilities and in my faith. This is bad. A good athlete who does not believe in his ability will sit on the sidelines. An excessively cautious driver who lacks confidence will be a highway hazard. A public speaker who does not believe in his message will not be effective. A certain amount of confidence is needed. If we are ever going to accomplish anything, we must believe in what we are doing and have some confidence in ourselves.
The author of Hebrews was writing to a group of Jewish Christians that were going through persecution. It was so bad that many were considering going back to the Jewish religion and abandoning Christ, some might have already done so. Notice what is said to them: “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” Hebrews 10:32-35, NIV.
Throwing away confidence speaks of abandoning faith in Jesus Christ. Must begin here. Are we saved? Do we know that we are in Christ? If we are not sure, lack confidence in salvation then we will not share faith with others and we will not use gifts and talents for Him.
Thesis: Confidence brings...
For instances:
Confidence brings boldness
“On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.” Acts 4:23, 24, NIV.
Prayer continued by describing God’s sovereignty in crucifixion. Then, “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” Acts 4:29.
The disciples began their prayer by addressing God as “Sovereign Lord”. This English title depicts one who has absolute ownership of, authority over, and responsibility for another. Negatively this term can be translated as despot, tyrant or dictator (we need to think of better things concerning God, He is a good God). When the disciples address God in this way, this word choice emphasizes their submission to and reliance on God’s absolute ownership and authority over them. In other words they look to God as their king, ruler, master, and provider. They trusted this relationship- resting in the assurance of God’s sovereignty.
God’s sovereignty (talk more about this tonight) provides His church confidence to remain bold in preaching, teaching and ministry. Throughout Acts we find the church’s bold willingness to face further imprisonment, persecution, and martyrdom, given confidence by their trust in the sovereign God.
Confidence brings obedience
OT provides a vivid picture of trust in God’s sovereignty through its depiction of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3. These 3, with Daniel, suffered capture and captivity at the hands of Babylon. While in captivity, they worked themselves into positions of authority in the Babylonian government. Any sense of security they had melted when they heard King Nebuchadnezzar’s decree- when the instruments played, everyone in the kingdom must bow to the idol or face a fiery furnace. When the instruments played, everyone except Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego bowed down. These 3 were left standing in their confidence.
Furious, Nebuchadnezzar summoned these 3. He offered them another chance: “Now when you hear the sound ... if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied ... “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:15- 18, NIV.
What gave them such a radical confidence?
They trusted in God’s ability: “The God we serve is able to save us from it”. They knew that no king or blazing furnace matches the power of God Almighty.
They trusted in God’s sovereignty. They knew God could save them, but they did not know if God would save them. “Even if he does not... we will not serve your gods”. These 3 remained faithful to God no matter if spared or killed. They trusted that God, in His sovereignty, knew and would do whatever was best for His kingdom.
Same is true today. God’s church perseveres when we trust God’s ability and sovereignty. God unfolds His story according to His sovereign will. Even though some things in life may confuse us, Christians recognize that mankind has a limited perspective of life. We need to persist in our confidence trusting “the author and perfecter of our faith” Hebrews 12:2.
Confidence brings perseverance
Near the end of the first century, the apostle John led and ministered among churches such as Ephesus, Smyrna, and Philadelphia. Though the Roman persecution of the church would not reach its peak for a few more decades, the seeds of persecution were seen in various places throughout the empire during John’s lifetime. The Romans grew increasingly suspicious of the growing band of Christians, particularly their disbelief in the Roman gods and their refusal to bow to Caesar as lord. A few Christians faced martyrdom; many more faced threats and were pushed to the edges of society. Churches feared for their safety.
We find part of John’s persecution in the last NT book: “I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”” Revelation 1:9-11, NIV.
Then John turned to see who spoke to him: “And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man”...When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:12-13, 17-18, NIV.
With this and other visions John bolstered the 7 churches’ confidence in God, enabling them to persevere in their faith. John, through Jesus Christ and the HS, wrote this to Smyrna: “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10, NIV.
John said this to all the Christians: “If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” Revelation 13:10, NIV.
Nothing and no one eclipses the power of our God. We can continue in confidence and faithfulness- despite the obstacles our culture places in our path. He has and will conquer all forces that oppose His church.
So what?
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco was built between 1933 and 1937. During the first half of the construction, over a dozen men fell off the structure, falling as far as 700 feet to their death in the water below. Construction was halted, and a safety net, costing several hundred thousand dollars, was put under the bridge so that if anybody fell, they would be caught. During the last half of construction six people fell, but their lives were spared. Knowing the net was there didn’t make the workers careless, IT MADE THEM MORE CONFIDENT! As Christians, we also have a safety net below us! IT’S CALLED GOD’S GRACE! When we stumble and fall that net catches us. It doesn’t make us more careless. It makes us more confident in life! Have we put our trust in the Lord? He is the place to get confidence for life.
