I'm Confident

Intro

You have not lived very long if you’ve never felt that you are a failure.

Life can cause you to second guess your ability to succeed, overcome, make a difference, be a blessing

accomplish God given goals, fulfill your calling, complete your ministry

if you are not careful you can become depressed, about what you used to be excited about

doubt what yo used to believe in

change from I can’t wait to get started to . . . what’s the use?

if you are struggling with your confidence, if you are starting to feel lost

if you are tempted to say, ” Maybe it’s just not in me”

there is a word for you this morning

I’m confident!

Philippians 1:6 NASB95

6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

For I am confident of this very thing

the apostle Paul is writing from jail but he is confident

he is writing to people under persecution, but he is still confident

the apostle is writing to Christians in Philippi, but this applies to also, because we are Christians too

and even if you are not confident right now, at least one person, the Apostle Paul is confident that you are going to get it done!

This man who Jesus appeared to in the flesh, is sure that you will be successful.

This man who saw into the third heaven, He has come to a conclusion that you will overcome

This man who God used to bring a boy back from the dead. is fully persuaded that you will be a blessing, impact lives for the better

NASB translates the greek word Paul used, “pay - thoe” as confident

The NLT translates the greek word Paul used, “pay - thoe” as certain!

ESV translates it as sure!

Paul is confident, Paul is certain, Paul is sure of that you will succeed

and you should be confident too, Why?

that He who began a good work in you

when you accepted Christ, God began a good work in you

When you were saved, God began a good work in you

Being a Christian is not about accepting Christ and then waiting for heaven

When you give your life to Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, God begins something special in you

God begins a good work in you, because he has good works for you to do

impacting lives, blessing others, achievments, accomplishments, being a light, helping people

successful endeavors

the Key is the fact that God began this work, that’s why Paul is confident

This is God’s work

This is God’s project

this is the Lord’s doing

and since the Lord is totally faithful and dependable, the work will be completed

if he starts it, he certainly will finish it . . .

that’s why Paul is certain, this is a God thing . . . .and we should be confident also

now if you were not saved, and you kept messing up, I would say maybe you are a failure

if you were not saved, and even if all was going great, I would say that you are a success in the temporary, but a failure in the eternal . . . I would say what profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul

but since you are saved, this verse teaches that it is impossible for you to be a failure

you may fail, but you are not a failure

you may fall, but you will get up

you may stumble, but you will gain your footing

because God began a good work in you!

When you gave your life to Christ, and God began a good work in you . . .

Thus, God made all the necessary calculations, and computations for you to succeed

he accounted for your gender, your race, the time period you would be born, your family, your history, your strengths, your weaknesses, your skills, your lack of skills, your allies, your enemies, your wisdom, your foolishness, your good attitude, and your bad attitude

God accounted for all of that . . . and concluded that He could do a good work in you

I don’t care how many times you have stumbled, fallen, or messed up. If Jesus Christ is your Lord and savior, be encouraged that God began a good work in you

the same God that has been doing good works since the marvel of creation, has began a work in you

The good work in you matters, it is important, it is noteworthy (if not in the minds of people earth, certainly where it ultimately matters, in heaven)

and that means that YOU matter, you are important, your life is noteworthy (if not in the minds of the people of earth, certainly where it ultimately matters, in heaven)

God saw something in you, and that’s really saying something

God has trusted you with an important work, and that’s saying something

that’s why we should all be confident!

there IS a good work going on in your life

things might not be going good, but there IS a good work in you

a work that’s worth getting up in the morning for

a work that’s worth you not giving up on life

a work that’s worth you pressing on

if you fall, it’s a work that’s worth getting back up again

and another awesome thing is that since it is in you, this work has been especially designed with you in mind

no one can do this work like you can

you don’t have to compete with others, because no one can do your work like you can

there is no better you than you

because God began that good work in you . . . that’s Your good work to do

somebody should say, “I’m confident”

so be confident, just trust God, and allow God to perfect it . . . he . . .

will perfect it

with God, there is a process . . . will perfect it

perfect meaning complete, accomplish, finish it

this work is not completed in an instant . . . it’s not microwave popcorn

it’s homemade, made from scratch, full course, Thanksgiving dinner

it’s a full process: things have to be peeled, sliced, chopped, marinated, chilled, stuffed, mixed, kneaded, sifted, separated, fried, basted, baked, and broiled

until it comes to perfection . . . it is a full process

so don’t despair if you are being peeled - God is peeling away some uneeded things

don’t despair if the heat is on and you are being baked, some things only rise with intense heat

don’t despair if you are being marinated, somethings you have to let sit for a while to get the best out of them

just have confidence that God will perfect it

it . . . not perfect us (though he works on us), but perfect the work

we confuse us, with the work

because we failed, does not mean our work failed

because we are imperfect, does not mean that the work is imperfect

you ever hear a master musician play a broken down instrument?

still sounds amazing

a master painter paint with a brush that’s less than ideal

a work of art is still created

a master craftsman build with a tool that has seen better days

the completed work is still flawless

Not saying I am a master musician, far from it, but I have played on pianos, keyboards, and organs with broken keys, broken pedals, missing switches, and no one even knew . . . my skill was able to overcome the weaknesses of the instrument

and more so with God, YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT!!!! God has the skill level to still do marvellous things with you

he is more than able to perfect the work that is in you, despite your imperfections

remember, he created the whole world and had nothing but darkness to work with!

with Adam, he only had dirt

with eve, he only had a rib

surely, he can do a great work with a person who is already living and breathing

you don’t have to be perfect, to be perfectly used by God

be confident, because God will perfect the work in you

this is not about faith in yourself, but faith in God

so I am confident! . . . and he will do it

until the day of Christ Jesus

how long will the process last? Until the day of Christ Jesus

so your whole life, or until Christ returns . . .

it is a LIFE long journey . . . so don’t be too discouraged . . .by a bad day

this is LIFE long journey . . . . so don’t quit because of a rough year

this is a LIFE long journey, so don’t give up on life because of a bad childhood, horrible relationship, rebelled during your 30’s or 60’s

there is still a good work in you, that God will accomplish

and this means that we are also talking legacy

after you are gone, your work will continue . . . until the day of Christ Jesus

your life will continue to have impact on others, future generations

God has begun an amazing work in you!

so despite setbacks and disappointments, and failings

despite whatever life throws at you

by faith, face every day with excitement . . . “God is going to do this work! . . . I am sure of it”

God is going to complete this work . . . . I am certain of it!

this is the day that the Lord has made, and I am going to rejoice in it . . . one reason because there is a work in me, that God will finish/perfect . . . until the day of CHrist Jesus

Thinking of Christ Jesus, don’t be discouraged because your work doesn’t look as impressive as someone else’s work

When Jesus completed his work and said, “it is finished”

how impressive did he look, how great did his work look? . . . in fact his work looked dead/defeated

but after a little while, after three days, he rose again with all power . . . and all mankind has been blessed with an opportunity for a relationship with God!

your work might not look impressive right now, but just wait a little while

your work might look dead right now, but just wait a little while

you might look and feel defeated . . . but wait just a little while . . . and watch God raise it up!

be Confident today! Forget those things that are behind

be confident today: as a servant of God, mother, father, child, church member . . . .