Building Your Confidence
Confidence grows out of our reliance on God. Self-sufficiency is an enemy when
it causes us to believe we can do what needs to be done in our own strength.
We can be confidence of victory only if we put our confidence in God and not
ourselves (Psalms 118:8-14) “it is better to trust in the Lord Yahweh than to put
confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord Yahweh than to put confidence
in princes. All nations compassed me about, but in the name of the Lord
Yahweh will I destroy them. They compassed me about; yea, they compassed
me about, but in the name of the Lord Yahweh I will destroy them. They
compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns; for in
the name of the Lord Yahweh I will destroy them. You have thrust sore at me
that I might fall, but the Lord Yahweh helped me. The Lord Yahweh is my
strength and song, and is become my salvation”.
I Corinthians 15:57 says, “but thanks be to God, which give us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ”. And II Corinthians 2:14 says, “now thanks be to
God which always causes us to triumph in Christ”.
Our confidence needs to be in God (Mark 11:22) says “Jesus answered and said
to them, have faith in God”. We have to be confident that what God said, will
come to pass; Paul says in Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing,
that He which has begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ”.
Look at the twelve Israel spies who went out to spy out the promise land and
while ten of them came back feeling afraid and thinking that they would be
defeated, because their confidence was only in themselves. But Joshua and
Caleb had confidence that they could take the land, because God was with them
(Numbers 14:6-9) “and Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh,
which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes. And they spoke to
all the company of the children of Israel, saying, the land which we passed
through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord Yahweh delight in
us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which flows with milk
and honey. Only rebel not you against the Lord Yahweh, neither fear you the
people of the land; for they are bread for us; their defense is departed from
them, and the Lord Yahweh is with us; fear them not”. Where we put our
confidence will cause us to either enter in to His rest or wander in the wilderness.
David writes in Psalms 27:1-5 “the Lord Yahweh is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear? The Lord Yahweh is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be
afraid? When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat
up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be
confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord Yahweh, that will I seek after;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord Yahweh, all the days of my life, to
behold the beauty of the Lord Yahweh, and to enquire in His temple. For in the
time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret of His tabernacle
shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock”. This is why David was known
as “a man after God’s own heart”. His confidence was in God.
Abraham’s confidence in God was strong, being fully persuaded he was able to
place Isaac on the altar (Hebrews 11:17-19) “by faith Abraham, when he was
tried, offered up Isaac and he that had received the promises offered up his only
begotten son. Of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall your seed be called.
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from where
also he received him in a figure”. Our confidence must grow to the level of being
fully persuaded.
Proverbs chapter 3 tells us that God shall be our confidence; in describing
wisdom and understanding we are told in verses 21-26 “My son, let not them
depart from your eyes, keep sound wisdom and discretion. So shall they be life
to your soul and grace to your neck. Than shall you walk in your way safely, and
your foot shall not stumble. When you lie down, you shall not be afraid, yea, you
shall lie down, and your sleep shall be secret. Be not afraid of sudden fear,
neither of the desolation of the wicked when it comes. For the Lord Yahweh
shall be your confidence, and shall keep your foot from being taken”. In
Proverbs 14:26, it says “in the fear (reverence) of the Lord Yahweh is strong
confidence; and his children shall have a place of refuge”.
It should not be hard to have confidence in God because Hebrews 6:18-19 says
“that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might
have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope
set before us. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and
steadfast, and which enters into that inside the veil”. Let God be your anchor.
Our confidence comes from being close to Jesus. In Ephesians 3:12 is says “in
whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him”.
The apostle John writes “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”
(I John 2:28). And in I John 3:19-22, he says “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 knows all things. Beloved, if our heart
condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. and whatsoever we ask,
we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things
that are pleasing in His sight”. Remember that we are told to guard our heart.
Then in I John 5:14-15, it says “and this is the confidence that we have in Him,
that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that
He hear us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petition that we
desired of Him”.
Our confidence will be attacked by the devil, who will try to bring in doubt and
fear; he knows that if we waver we won’t receive what God has already provided
for us. But we are told to keep our confidence (Hebrews 3:6,14) “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 to the end. For we are made partakers of Christ, if
we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end”. And in Hebrews
10:22-23; 35,36) “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with
pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He
is faithful that promised. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has
great recompence of reward. For you have need of patience, that after you
have done the will of God, you might receive the promise”.
Peter tells us how to build our confidence in II Peter 1:2-10, he says “grace and
peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our
Lord. According as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life
and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and
virtue. Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises that by
these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence,
add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge. And to knowledge temperance,
and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness. And to godliness
brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in
you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren not unfruitful in
the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacks these things is blind,
and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election
sure; for if you do these things, you shall never fall”.
Building our confidence will take a diligent effort on our part to keep our focus on
God. Getting to know Him and believing in His words.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: March 9, 2010
Confidence grows out of our reliance on God. Self-sufficiency is an enemy when
it causes us to believe we can do what needs to be done in our own strength.
We can be confidence of victory only if we put our confidence in God and not
ourselves (Psalms 118:8-14) “it is better to trust in the Lord Yahweh than to put
confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord Yahweh than to put confidence
in princes. All nations compassed me about, but in the name of the Lord
Yahweh will I destroy them. They compassed me about; yea, they compassed
me about, but in the name of the Lord Yahweh I will destroy them. They
compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns; for in
the name of the Lord Yahweh I will destroy them. You have thrust sore at me
that I might fall, but the Lord Yahweh helped me. The Lord Yahweh is my
strength and song, and is become my salvation”.
I Corinthians 15:57 says, “but thanks be to God, which give us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ”. And II Corinthians 2:14 says, “now thanks be to
God which always causes us to triumph in Christ”.
Our confidence needs to be in God (Mark 11:22) says “Jesus answered and said
to them, have faith in God”. We have to be confident that what God said, will
come to pass; Paul says in Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing,
that He which has begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ”.
Look at the twelve Israel spies who went out to spy out the promise land and
while ten of them came back feeling afraid and thinking that they would be
defeated, because their confidence was only in themselves. But Joshua and
Caleb had confidence that they could take the land, because God was with them
(Numbers 14:6-9) “and Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh,
which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes. And they spoke to
all the company of the children of Israel, saying, the land which we passed
through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord Yahweh delight in
us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which flows with milk
and honey. Only rebel not you against the Lord Yahweh, neither fear you the
people of the land; for they are bread for us; their defense is departed from
them, and the Lord Yahweh is with us; fear them not”. Where we put our
confidence will cause us to either enter in to His rest or wander in the wilderness.
David writes in Psalms 27:1-5 “the Lord Yahweh is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear? The Lord Yahweh is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be
afraid? When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat
up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be
confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord Yahweh, that will I seek after;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord Yahweh, all the days of my life, to
behold the beauty of the Lord Yahweh, and to enquire in His temple. For in the
time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret of His tabernacle
shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock”. This is why David was known
as “a man after God’s own heart”. His confidence was in God.
Abraham’s confidence in God was strong, being fully persuaded he was able to
place Isaac on the altar (Hebrews 11:17-19) “by faith Abraham, when he was
tried, offered up Isaac and he that had received the promises offered up his only
begotten son. Of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall your seed be called.
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from where
also he received him in a figure”. Our confidence must grow to the level of being
fully persuaded.
Proverbs chapter 3 tells us that God shall be our confidence; in describing
wisdom and understanding we are told in verses 21-26 “My son, let not them
depart from your eyes, keep sound wisdom and discretion. So shall they be life
to your soul and grace to your neck. Than shall you walk in your way safely, and
your foot shall not stumble. When you lie down, you shall not be afraid, yea, you
shall lie down, and your sleep shall be secret. Be not afraid of sudden fear,
neither of the desolation of the wicked when it comes. For the Lord Yahweh
shall be your confidence, and shall keep your foot from being taken”. In
Proverbs 14:26, it says “in the fear (reverence) of the Lord Yahweh is strong
confidence; and his children shall have a place of refuge”.
It should not be hard to have confidence in God because Hebrews 6:18-19 says
“that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might
have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope
set before us. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and
steadfast, and which enters into that inside the veil”. Let God be your anchor.
Our confidence comes from being close to Jesus. In Ephesians 3:12 is says “in
whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him”.
The apostle John writes “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”
(I John 2:28). And in I John 3:19-22, he says “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 knows all things. Beloved, if our heart
condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. and whatsoever we ask,
we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things
that are pleasing in His sight”. Remember that we are told to guard our heart.
Then in I John 5:14-15, it says “and this is the confidence that we have in Him,
that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that
He hear us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petition that we
desired of Him”.
Our confidence will be attacked by the devil, who will try to bring in doubt and
fear; he knows that if we waver we won’t receive what God has already provided
for us. But we are told to keep our confidence (Hebrews 3:6,14) “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 to the end. For we are made partakers of Christ, if
we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end”. And in Hebrews
10:22-23; 35,36) “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with
pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He
is faithful that promised. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has
great recompence of reward. For you have need of patience, that after you
have done the will of God, you might receive the promise”.
Peter tells us how to build our confidence in II Peter 1:2-10, he says “grace and
peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our
Lord. According as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life
and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and
virtue. Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises that by
these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence,
add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge. And to knowledge temperance,
and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness. And to godliness
brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in
you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren not unfruitful in
the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacks these things is blind,
and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election
sure; for if you do these things, you shall never fall”.
Building our confidence will take a diligent effort on our part to keep our focus on
God. Getting to know Him and believing in His words.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: March 9, 2010
