Sermon Tone Analysis

I was never a confident person growing up.

I always relied on others to do things for me mostly because of my own insecurities.

My lack of confidence hurt me in many ways.

When Lynn and I started dating I would tell her I would love to be a pastor but I could never make it through school because I am not smart enough.

Lynn encouraged me to go and in time as I studied more and more of the Word of God and the more my walk with God was strengthened I stopped relying on myself and became confident not in my works or abilities but in God and what God is accomplishing.

Confidence is never rooted in ourselves, when we trust ourselves it is pride not confidence, true confidence is always rooted in God and it is accomplished in His work through us and all for the purpose of His glory.

We will focus on this truth this morning as we look at our text in Acts 9:32-43.

And our focus this morning is Confidence is Rooted in What God is Accomplishing.

Confidence is Rooted in God's accomplishing

Confidence in Service

Peter was a man of confidence but it was self-confidence.

Peter now has been transformed and moves with confidence in God.

Peter in his confidence in God serves God's people.

Went to the saints.

It was not about building a name for himself but for God's glory.

That is what ministry is, that is what service is, Confidence in What God is doing to further His Glory.

Serving in the church is always for God never for the person serving.

The spiritual gifts we receive are to glorify God not ourselves.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

1 Corinthians 14:26

Ephesians 4:4-7

Confidence in The Sovereign

Peter's Confidence in The Sovereign, meaning in Jesus and in God' power, is evident in the healing and the resuscitation.

Peter tells Aeneas that Jesus Christ heals him, and the healing is instantaneous.

The healing is all do to God and not Peter or the man.

No faith on the man's part or Tabatha's is involved.

The confidence came from God and was fully rooted in God.

Hebrews 6:13-20

Confidence in Salvation

Ephesians 1:3-14

Where is your confidence rooted?

Is it in your abilities, is it in your knowledge, is it in platitudes?

If it is rooted in God, are you serving Him and His people, if it is rooted in God do you trust Him no matter what happens?

If it is rooted in God do you trust where you are going and do you live with the hope that is inside of you so that others can see it too?

If it is not rooted in God why?

What is stopping you from being rooted in God?

What is stopping you from trusting in the gospel?

Ask God to strengthen your confidence and ask for a firm root in Him?