CONFIDENCE

Being CONFIDENT of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ – Philippians 1:6

CONFIDENCE means to be at peace with yourself and your setting. To be confident is to in charge – by attitude, speech, and action. The confident person is cool, calm, collected, and motivated, whatever may come. We live in a world in which the confident reign and the timid are slaves. Great achievements have always been the fruits of confident minds. Confidence is solidly scriptural. The Bible however refers to “Confidence in Christ”, not carnal self-confidence; for we “have no confidence in the flesh” (Phil.3:3b). Ours is the Confidence of Faith: “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him” (Eph.3:12). That’s the A-B-C of Faith: Access, Boldness, and Confidence! We must “hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end” (Heb.3:6)!

Like boldness and courage, this Character of Confidence cannot be manufactured from nothing. Three underlying principles are: knowing who you are in Christ (you are peculiar and powerful); knowing what you have in Christ (God on the inside, with all that He is, has, and is able to do); and walking in the reality of His Power within. Your confidence is anchored on the ever-abiding Presence of God, not the presence of people, parents, partners or ‘god-fathers’! Knowing His presence ensures that there is no room for fear, uncertainty or insecurity (Psa.23:4; Mt.28:19). So, you can say: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil.4:13); and “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph.3:20).

Christ is the Source and Sustainer of your confidence. When you know what God has said about you in any situation, then you have enough ground for confidence: “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have CONFIDENCE toward God” (1Jh.3:21). God desires that His children teach and preach His Word “with all confidence” (Acts 28:31). He wants us to handle our lives on earth confidently, never intimidated by anyone or unsettled by circumstances (2Cor.5,6). For example, what should otherwise have made Paul anxious or bitter – bonds – generated contagious confidence in him (Phil.1:14). God also demands that you approach His throne of Grace “boldly” – not timidly – to receive mercy and grace (Heb.4:16).

Along with Confidence towards God, there should be Confidence among brethren. Although human beings are naturally undependable, our Father desires that we demonstrate some measure of confidence in one another. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, brethren who exhibited quite some carnality: “I rejoice that I have confidence in you in all things” (2Cor.7:16). He assured the Galatians: “I have confidence in you, in the Lord…” (Gal.5:10). Notice how he often conceived his confidence in the brethren in the light of his confidence in God. He told the Thessalonians: “And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you” (2The.3:4). What a Message of Motivation! What a Faith-Booster! What lively and lifting words! Paul always expected the best from the brethren.

Confidence in Christ is rewarding: “Therefore do not cast away your CONFIDENCE, which has great reward” (Heb.10:35). It is a Pillar of Strength: “…in quietness and CONFIDENCE shall be your strength” (Isa.30:15b). Confidence produces perseverance, persistence, and grace for completion: “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our CONFIDENCE steadfast to the end” (Heb.3:14). Confidence will see you through from the beginning to the end, and guarantee your unbroken and productive connection with God: “Now this is the CONFIDENCE that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He will hear us” (1Jh.5:14). God backs up demonstrations of confidence in Him, evidenced in bold words and actions (Dan.3:17; Acts 14:3). Confidence is the Overcomer’s Slogan; the Word for Winners. Know your God. Know your Rights in Christ. Walk in His Word; and never cast away your Confidence!