I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      In Hebrews 10:35, the Bible gives us this warning: "Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.”

                                                             1.      This commandment was first given to first-century Hebrew Christians, whose confidence was failing after they had suffered for their faith in Christ.

                                                             2.      Modern Christians need this message also, for we must "hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end” (Heb. 3:6) to receive our reward from the Lord.

B.      Presently, let us consider how we may have great confidence and what we must do with that confidence.

                                                             1.      The word "confidence” is used in Scripture to express freedom in speaking, free and fearless certainty, cheerful courage, boldness, and assurance.  The Greek word parrēsia that is translated "confidence” literally means "to utter all.”

                                                             2.      This is a quality every Christian needs to embrace in the service of God, "for God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” (2Tim. 1:7).

II.      SOURCES OF CONFIDENCE

A.      Many sources of confidence are false and deceptive.  These sources will ultimately fail.

                                                             1.      Some have confidence in their own righteousness, such as Israel, who incorrectly thought they could defeat the Philistines because they had the ark of the covenant (1Sam. 4:1-11).

                                                             2.      Others have confidence in their own strength, such as Goliath, who mocked and cursed David and was slain on the battlefield (1Sam. 17:42-44).

                                                             3.      Many rich men foolishly trust in their wealth, such as the man described in Luke 12:13-21, who died with many treasures left on earth but poverty toward God (see also Job 31:24-28; Ps. 49).

                                                             4.      Other things become sources of confidence for men, such as governments, armies, worldly wisdom, etc., but all of these will fail in the end.

                                                             5.      Confidence in sources such as these amounts to arrogance and pride.  Those who have such arrogant confidence lack godly humility and are given to boasting.  See James 4:13-16.

B.      The only true source of supreme confidence is Almighty God.  He will never fail us.

                                                             1.      Scripture testifies of the unshakeable confidence we may have in our powerful and faithful God.

a.       Eliphaz rightly testified of Job, "Is not your fear of God your confidence?” (Job 4:6)

b.       God should be our confidence from childhood – "For You are my hope; O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth” (Ps. 71:5).

c.        The history of God’s mighty works and His past benevolence toward us should inspire our confidence in Him.  These things should be taught to our children "that they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments” (Ps. 78:7).

d.       Confidence in God’s leadership will keep us from trouble – "For the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught” (Prov. 3:26).

e.        Somewhat ironically, the fear of God is actually a source of confidence – "In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and his children will have refuge” (Prov. 14:26).

f.        Notice the confidence of Habakkuk in the midst of Judah’s poverty and ruin – "Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.  The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places.” (Hab. 3:17-19)

g.        For us today, all of our confidence in God comes through our relationship with Christ Jesus – "Such confidence we have through Christ toward God” (2Cor. 3:4).

                                                             2.      Consider a few examples of those who have had confidence in God despite formidable challenges.

a.       David was confident in God when he faced Goliath – "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts…for the battle is the LORD'S and He will give you into our hands.” (1Sam. 17:45-47)

b.       Gideon was unsure of himself at first, saying, "O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel?” (Judg. 6:15).  However, he put his confidence in God, tore down his father’s altar to Baal, and went on to lead Israel to victory over Midian (Judg. 6:25-8:21).

c.        Peter and John reflected the boldness of Jesus when they stood confidently before the Jewish Sanhedrin.  Notice Acts 4:13 – "Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”

III.   BE ALWAYS SURE YOU’RE RIGHT – THEN GO AHEAD!

A.      The confidence of Christians comes from knowing the power of God and the certainty of His word.

                                                             1.      The motto of Davy Crockett should be applied by every Christian.  He wrote, "I leave this rule for others when I’m dead, be always sure you’re right—then go ahead!” (A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett of the State of Tennessee, 1834)

                                                             2.      The way to know that we are right is by abiding in the word of God, who is always right, never makes a mistake, and never changes.

B.      The confidence that we have in God through Christ should manifest itself in the way we live every day.

                                                             1.      Let us proceed to do God’s will without fear.  Consider Paul’s words in Acts 27:25 – "Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.”

                                                             2.      Let us speak the word of God with boldness – "Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech” (2Cor. 3:12).

                                                             3.      Let us have no shame about God or His word – "For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (2Tim. 1:12).

                                                             4.      Let us keep a positive attitude in times of hardship – "Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord – for we walk by faith, not by sight – we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord” (2Cor. 5:6-8).

                                                             5.      Let us approach God for help with the confidence that He will deliver us.

a.       "This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.” (Eph. 3:11-12)

b.       "Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16)

                                                             6.      Let us work for God with the conviction that He will give us success – "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” (Phil. 1:6).

                                                             7.      Let us pray with confidence that God hears and answers.

a.       "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1John 3:21-22)

b.       "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” (1John 5:14-15)

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      For all that we have to do in the service of God, God gives us the strength to succeed.

                                                             1.      "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13)

                                                             2.      "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

B.      Therefore, let us learn to find God’s strength and our confidence in Him even when we find ourselves to be weak.

                                                             1.      "And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2Cor. 12:10)

                                                             2.      Even a "little power” from God is enough to make "those of the synagogue of Satan” come and bow down at our feet (see the letter to the church at Philadelphia in Rev. 3:7-13).