(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph. Continue in confidence!)
“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh…” – Phi. 3:3
We have no confidence in the flesh; we- who worship God in the Spirit and glory in Christ Jesus. If we look at the world around us, we see people who lack confidence in themselves; people who even give up on life because they can’t face it any longer. And there are seminars, counselling sessions given to them to boost their self-confidence. And there are also people who are so self-confident that it borders on arrogance.
But there is the third category of people who have no confidence in the flesh; only they are God-confident. This is such a higher way of living- confident of those things above, having our focus upward and rejoicing in hope. This is our privilege that we can live our lives with a tremendous confidence in God. This is my burden today to share with you, the confidence that we have in God. If you are feeling down, let His word today infuse the God-confidence into your very soul, and into the lives of your children, and into all those you come across. “That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments;” (Psalm 78:7)
In this world, there will be difficulties. Yes, there will be frustrating times, stressful situations and painful circumstances. But in all these tribulations, we can be people of good cheer, and keep walking that straight path because of our God-confidence. Our God-confidence is not some imaginary, feel-good, lofty stress-busters; but is found in the rock solid foundation of God’s word.
- Be Confident in Coming to God
“…Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” – Eph. 3:12
People in the Old Covenant did not have this boldness; they fled from God’s presence. They needed mediators- priests and high priests, who shared God’s word with them, while they themselves stood far off- in the outer courts, and did not dare come before God. Only the priests ministered in the holy place; and only once a year the high priest entered the Most Holy Place, near the presence of God with the blood of the sin offering.
But now, we have the confidence {boldness} to enter the very Presence of God- into the Holy of Holies, by the blood of Jesus (Heb. 10:19).
What a privilege! We have boldness to be near God. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. [Heb. 4:16]
What a privilege! We have boldness to be near God. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. [Heb. 4:16]
At the throne of grace- in the Most Holy place, there is fullness of peace; like a river, it does not cease.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of the world will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
- Be Confident Before God (Be Confident Your Prayers will be answered)
Not only do we have confidence to come to God, but we can have confidence before God. (and be confident that our prayers will be answered).
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” [1 John 5:14, 15]
Do you hesitate to ask something from God? If there is any lack that has to be fulfilled in your life, and you know that it is God’s will to experience that fullness in your life in accordance to His word, you have full freedom to ask of God! Remember, He is our Father, who desires to give good things to His children- whether job, or marriage. Yes, He desires you to prosper in everything just as your soul prospers; He is able to bless every single work that your hand labours in; He is interested to proceed with the things in accordance to His will to choose, and settle you with your spouse.
When you have the consignment number and details of the package that has been sent to you by courier, you know for certain that it is coming! It is much the same way with God and His word. With eyes of faith, we can see the answer even before it comes; the details of the package is already addressed and given to you-His holy word. Come before God in confidence.
- Be Confident In Your Prayers
Elijah was a man just like you and me. The Bible says that he was a man with a nature just like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain… (James 5:17). His words to king Ahab were this: “As the LORD God of Israel
- Be confident of God’s Provisions
Hebrews 13:5, 6 says: Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly {confidently} say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
I know many of you can say this: “The Lord is my helper” But the thing is- you can say it without confidence or you can say it with FULL confidence. He is our Protector; He is our Guide; He is our Helper. He is with us; He will never leave us. He is Jehovah Jireh-our Provider (in the mount of the LORD, it will be provided). Is anything too hard for the LORD? I need to look at the birds of the air; seek Him first, and all that I need will be added to me. “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion… He shall set me high upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:5).
David in Psalm 27 expressed his full confidence in God- for He had experienced first hand God’s protection, while he was a shepherd and while he was a king surrounded in battle by his enemies. Now what stops you? Be confident.
- Be confident in your service to the LORD
2 Cor. 3: 4, 5 says: And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God …
On our own, we are inadequate; but our sufficiency comes from Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore what we do in Christ matters; and it is for you to step up and be counted for service for whatever God calls you to do. Peter and John were only uneducated fishermen; but they boldly preached salvation in the name of Jesus, saying “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). Acts 4:13 continues: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Have you spent time with Jesus and feel His power moving in you? Stand up in service! Be confident.
Come to God; No problem is too big that He cannot solve it! No circumstances insurmountable that you should shrink back. Come before him; Take it all to our Lord in prayer. God will provide; You see, it always makes me think while I fly over Vashi, to see from above and realize how small the place really is; a fact that we fail to see as we drive around in dense traffic- then the road is just too long and the place looked so big! Now, how do you think God sees your problems and worries? The more you mount up on wings like eagles, the problems that looked big pale into insignificance.
Let me close with this verse from Hebrews 3:6: “… hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.” God Bless You. Amen.
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