Confidence
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What are some of the things that prove to be beneficial to our life? Things that help?
Let’s look at it from another vantage point:
What could you do without? What could you truly make it without?
Most of us are probably familiar with the life of David. What are some things and some people who proved helpful or beneficial to David? (Samuel, slingshot, five stones, Goliath’s sword, mighty men of valor, Nathan the prophet, Jonathan, Joab, his own intellect, ability, talent, etc.)
There is a type of self-confidence and self-esteem that is healthy and good. But the is an excessive self-confidence that is harmful to one’s spiritual growth.
Harmful self confidence is usually characterized by an absence of prayer. We are so busy instituting our plans, following our instincts, taking action, so confident it will all work out as we have planned, that we never bother to look up to the Lord in prayer.
It’s not that we are going against God; it’s just that we don’t have a sense that we really need HIM…that wee really have to depend on Him.
We think we can handle things without bothering the Lord.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Without me - nothing!
A person with excessive self-confidence doesn’t really believe that last phrase.
David had some key people and some selected things that played great roles in his life - and keep in mind that David was anointed as a king…later scripture would call him a “man after God’s own heart.” Yet David clearly communicates in Psalm 62 something that he learned, something that must be rediscovered by us.
It is a great lesson for the moment.
Psalm 62:1–4 (NKJV)
1 Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. (Hebrew: “only to God is my soul silence.” God’s presence was enough to awe his heart into quietness, submission and rest.)
2 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. (moved, but not removed! Some enemies were attempting to remove David from the throne.)
3 How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, Like a leaning wall and a tottering fence.
4 They only consult to cast him down from his high position; They delight in lies; They bless with their mouth, But they curse inwardly. Selah
1 Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
3 How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, Like a leaning wall and a tottering fence.
4 They only consult to cast him down from his high position; They delight in lies; They bless with their mouth, But they curse inwardly. Selah
This psalm can be called the “only” psalm because the Hebrew word for “only” appears six times. It is translated as “truly, only, surely, and alone” through out the psalm.
What does that little word “only” mean to you?
Can I say that word “only” and mean it?
What about other good things like position… or prestige… or prosperity? What about friends? Social position?
Could I do without them and trust only in God for survival?
We don’t like being told that something is our “only” choice. We want options, we like options.
Ford motor company started to see declining sales when competitors started to offer their automobiles in other colors.
Henry Ford’s perspective was that offering different colors would slow production. He said of the model A, “they can have it in any color they want as long as its black.”
We all know Ford offers many colors for their automobiles. Why, because we like choices.
David… no choices… “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense.”
Let’s be clear on what David was communicating: Without Him, I have no rock… no stability… not foundation. Without Him… I have no salvation. Without him… I am unsaved. Without him… no healing. Without him… there is no being made whole. Without him… I have no defense… no protection.
Lloyd Ogilvie said he was backpacking in Northern Canada when he became lost. He went in circles for hours trying to find the logging road and the way back to where his friends were camped. In his search, he came to a narrow path overgrown with brush. He followed that path until it came to a fork in the path. Staked out on one of the two paths was a rough sign. On it a trapper, well known in that territory had written instructions in bold letters, “This is the only way out!”
Let me put up a sign pointing you to Jesus… “This is the only way out!”
Jesus is the only way out! Pain, heartache, suffering, distress, bondage of sin. He is the only way out!
It is to this place of “He only” that God desires to bring us. In order to get the that place you have to have exhausted yourself chasing after things that have not satisfied.
A person has to stop depending on the arm of the flesh… stop depending on your own strength… own ability.
Stop turning to other options, make Jesus the only option.
Let me as you this way: Is Jesus a resource for you? Or is Jesus the source? A resource is sought out and expended.
Notice what David communicates after the first “selah”.
Psalm 62:5–8 (NKJV)
5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
Wait = “To be dumb” To be silent, to be inactive.
Our impatience with God’s process causes us to get in a “do something” mode. “Do something even if it’s wrong.”
Baked into our culture… we are “doers”.
Sometimes you need to tell yourself, I am going to wait on God, only on God. What I expect to happen has to come from Him.
Create a climate of prayer, praise, and worship. Still if it doesn’t happen, don’t try to fix it or force it, wait on the Lord.
There is no “plan B.” God’s will and God’s way is the only plan… Wait… be patient… Don’t just take action.
Apply this principle to prayer:
Michael Green says it well: . . .it is through prayer that God is free to reach and use us. If we do things for God without praying, he cannot afford the risk of allowing us to succeed. For we would get proud and would be hardened in our conviction that activism, not dependence on God, is the way for Christians to serve the Lord.
“When we work, we work, but when we pray, God works.”
Jesus ask His disciples if they would leave Him also.
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
Who are we going to go to? You are the only option.
Happy is the person who feels that all they have, all they want, and all they expect are to be found in God!
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
9 Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, They are altogether lighter than vapor.
10 Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them.
11 God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God.
12 Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; For You render to each one according to his work.
There is a relationship between receiving God’s power and saying, “He only is my rock, salvation, defense.” I will wait on Him!
The person who trusts in God only, end up having Him and everything else; those who trust in Him and anything else, end up without Him and nothing else.
The world has convinced us that “only” really means “optimally.”
The flesh will convince you that “only” really means “originally”.
The devil will convince you that “only” really means “optionally”.
None are true. Only is not optimal, not original, and not optional. Only means there is not another option.
When life faces obstacles, it is good to look at alternatives.
When you find a door is closed; don’t pursue the goal any farther.
When God allows an obstacle in your way, maybe He is bringing something to your attention you have overlooked.
Maybe your faith needs to be tested.
The obstacle might increase your dedication and commitment. Or you are being reminded of your limitations and need to depend more upon God.
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
Old Song: Where could I go? Where could I go? Seeking a refuge for my soul, needing a friend to help me in the end. Where could I go but to the Lord?