Untitled Sermon (84)

THE FOUNDATION OF CONFIDENCE

INTRODUCTION:

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CONFIDENCE MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE IT COMES FROM POSITIVE THINKING.

WHAT WOULD YOUR CONFIDENCE BE IF YOUR LIFE TAKE A SUDDEN TURN FOR THE WORST, AND YOU DID NOT SEE IT COMING.

WOULD YOUR FAITH BE ABLE TO UPHOLD YOU WHILE YOU ARE EXPERIENCING A CRISIS.

PAUL LAID THE FOUNDATION TO THE CHURCH OF PHILIPPI THAT YOUR CONFIDENCE IS IN THE HOLY SPIRIT LIFE WORKING IN YOU.

HOW CONFIDENCE BIRTH IN US?

IN THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

IN OUR BONDS.

IN THE STRENGTH OF CHRIST.

A. IN THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

CONFIDENCE BEGINS IN EACH AND EVERYONE OF US THE MOMENT WE EMBRACE JESUS AS LORD. BECAUSE IT IS AT THAT TIME YOU TAKE ON GOD’S NATURE, THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND YOUR TRUE IDENTITY IS REVEALED TO YOU.

WE LACK CONFIDENCE, WHEN WE DO NOT KNOW WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST.

THE REASON IS WE HAVE NOT EMBRACE WHAT THE LORD SAID WE CAN BECOME.

CONFIDENCE COMES FROM FAITH IN GOD, ASSURANCE OR CERTAINTY OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

THE MORE CLOSER YOU ARE TO GOD, THE MORE THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL HAVE FREEWILL TO WORK THROUGHOUT YOUR LIVES.

THIS INSTILLS A CERTAIN BOLDNESS THAT IS DEPENDENT ON A REALIZATION OF OUR ACCEPTANCE BY GOD AND A CERTAIN SECURITY IN HIM.

THE PROBLEM IS WE TRY TO FIND ACCEPTANCE THROUGH PEOPLE, WHEN THEY ARE NOT THE ONE’S WHO CREATED YOU.

DAVID HAD TO DISCOVER WHO HE WAS IN GOD.

DAVID SAID I WILL PRAISE THEE; FOR I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE: MARVELOUS ARE THY WORKS; AND THAT MY SOUL KNOWETH RIGHT WELL.

DAVID DID NOT TAKE CREDIT FOR WHAT GOD HAD CREATED,BUT HIS CONFIDENCE WAS I KNOW WHATEVER HE DID TO ME HE TOOK HIS TIME IN DOING IT.

DAVID KNEW HE WAS A MESS, BUT ONCE GOD WORK ON HIM, HE BECAME A NEW CREATURE IN GOD.

1 Thessalonians 1:3–5 “remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”

BELIEVERS NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY CONFIDENCE IS IN THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

B. IN OUR BONDS.

Philippians 1:14 “and many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

CONFIDENCE IS BUILT IN CIRCUMSTANCES, IN DARK PLACES, IN PERSECUTIONS, IN DIFFICULTY, EVEN IN BONDAGE.

WITHOUT THESE THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR LIVES, WE WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT WE ARE MADE OF OR WHO WE ARE.

BECAUSE IT IS IN THESE TIMES THAT WE DEPEND ON GOD TO SHOW US THE WAY.

REAL CONFIDENCE IS WHEN YOU ARE WILLINGLY SELF COMMITTED TO THE SERVICE OF GOD.

NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO FORCE YOU TO SERVE GOD IF YOU ARE FREE.

THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE BOUND IS THOSE WHO HAVE ONE FOOT IN THE KINGDOM AND THE OTHER FOOT IN THE WORLD.

THEY OPERATE IN FEAR INSTEAD OF FAITH, BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO BUSY HIDDEN.

PAUL USED IMPRISONMENT AS A WAY TO TOUCH OTHER’S LIVES.

WHEN YOU CONFIDENT IN YOUR TRIALS, IT BRINGS A CERTAIN BOLDNESS TO OTHER’S, THAT THEY ARE IN THE COMPANY OF A MAN AND WOMAN OF GOD, BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE THE HOLY SPIRIT ACTIVE IN YOUR LIFE.

WHAT BUILDS CONFIDENCE IN THE AREA OF CONFINEMENT, I AM NOT FOCUS ON WHERE I AM AT, BUT HOW GOD GOING TO USE ME TO BE A BLESSING IN THIS SITUATION WHERE HE HAVE ME.

Psalm 27:3 “Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.”

C. IN THE STRENGTH OF CHRIST.

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

CONFIDENCE COME WITH MATURITY IN CHRIST JESUS.

WHAT WE MUST REALIZE WITHOUT CHRIST IN OUR LIVES WE CANNOT DO NOTHING.

BUT HAVING CHRIST IN OUR LIVES, WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHEN US.

WE MUST REALIZE THAT THE STRENGTH IS NOT IN OURSELVES, BUT IN THE STRENGTH OF CHRIST.

TOO MANY TIMES WHEN WE TRY TO HANDLE THINGS ON OUR OWN, THEN WE MAKE A MESS OUT OF OUR LIVES, ONLY TO LOSE CONFIDENCE IN WHO WE ARE. BECAUSE WE DID NOT SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM THE LORD.

THROUGH CHRIST STRENGTH HE GIVES US THE ABILITY AS CHRISTIANS TO ENDURE HARDSHIP AND PERSECUTION AND STILL BE ABLE TO BE CONTENT WHERE WE ARE.

THAT CONFIDENCE REST ON THE ASSURANCE WITH CHRIST IN MY LIFE NOTHING CAN STOP ME.

John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”