Confidence Builders

Today we are living during an unprecedented amount of fear, angst, distrust, and doubt. The world around us is afraid. They are afraid of death. They are afraid of poverty. They are afraid of oppression. Most of all they are afraid of the unknown. What in the world is going to happen next? Can we fix this? Who can we believe? Whom can we trust. If we are not careful, we as believers can get pulled into this same pit of anxiety, fear, and despondency.

In our text verses, the Apostle John suggests that we as believers can possess a rare gem in these troubled times. We as believers can and must build a wealth of confidence. Really? Confidence now?

Believe it or not the Greek word translated confidence in your King James Bible comes up several times. Tonight we are going to study what the word means and how to find and implement Biblical Confidence builders.

παρρησία, ας f: a state of boldness and confidence, sometimes implying intimidating circumstances—‘boldness, courage.’

Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 306.

Confidence Starts With Saving Faith

1 John 5:13 KJV

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

John 3:16 KJV

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Hebrews 3:6 KJV

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Confidence is Built By Prayer

1 John 5:14 KJV

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

 Several years ago one of the astronauts who walked on the moon was interviewed and asked, “What do you think about as you stood on the moon and looked back at the earth?” The astronaut replied, “I remembered how the spacecraft was built by the lowest bidder.”

We as Christians can rejoice that the work of salvation did not go to the “lowest bidder” but was performed by an infinite God. There will never be a deficiency in his work. Our salvation is as sure as the architect of that salvation, Almighty God.1

1 Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 310–311.

Confidence is Built By Abiding in Christ

1 John 2:28–29 KJV

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Confidence is Built By Showing Love to the Brethren.

1 John 3:19–21 KJV

And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

Confidence Brings Perspective to Temporal Loss.

Hebrews 10:34–35 KJV

For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

Preventing us from making hasty pragmatic decisions.

Confidence is Built Throughout A Lifetime of Serving the King.

Acts 28:30–31 KJV

And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

An English woman had two daughters, one of which had died. She was on a ship bound for America for a visit with her other daughter. In a storm at sea it was feared that the ship might sink. All the passengers save this woman were in a state of near panic. When asked why she was so calm, she said: “Well, I have two daughters, one in America and one in heaven. I am on my way to see my daughter. If the ship survives, I will see the one in America. If not, I will see the one in heaven. So either way, I will see my daughter.”1

1 Herschel H. Hobbs, My Favorite Illustrations (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1990), 143.