Confidence

Hebrews 4:16 'Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.'

Hebrews 13:6 'So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" '

1John5:14 'This is the confidence we have in approaching God: 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 what we asked of him.'

Hebrews 10:19-23 'Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.'

These are some of the verses which I held on to during my recent examinations.Now what is the common thing in these verses?CONFIDENCE.Friends today what is your confidence based on?Is it besed on your friends?is it based on your results?Is it based on your looks?Or is your confidene based on God himself?

Let us look at king Hezekiah's life in 2Chronicles32.In this chapter king of Assyria threatens to invade Jerusalem,which was under king Hezekiah at that time.As I wasreading through this chapter,verse10 caught my eye.'This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says:On what are you basing your confidence,that you may remain in Jerusalem under siege?' On what are you basing your confidence? What was king Hezekiah's response to the king of assyria?Nothing.Absolute silence.King Hezekiah did not reply.He didn't have to.He knew his position in God.So what did he do? v20'King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this.' King Hezekiah had confidence in God.He didn't have to go out to the battlefield to rebutt king of Assyria,he simply went and cried out to God.In fact the bible records that he didn't keep his confidence to himself.He went and instructed the people based on his confidence for God. v7-8 '"Be strong and courageous.Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him,for there is a greater power with us than with him.With him is only the arm of flesh,but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said. King Hezekiah did not keep his confidence to himself.He went to instruct the people based on his confidence in God.And the people gained confidence from what he said.And what did God do? v21-22 'And the Lord sent an angel,who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king.So he withdraw to his own land in disgrace.And when he went into the temple of his god,some of his sons cut him down with the sword.So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others.He took care of them on every side.

Friends today what is your confidence based on?
If it is not in God then I want to encourage you to pray now and repent,because God wants you to base your confidence in him.When you base your confidence in God you will be truly successful.Your battles may not be real physical battles,but you are fighting a battle of your own,then remember this.'With him is only the arm of flesh,but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.' When you have confidence in God you can be confident that he will fight for you,and you will have victory.
If you know your confidence is in God,then I want to encourage you not to keep that confidence to yourself.Spread it to others.Share it with them and let them gain confidence in God.When all the people of Jerusalem had confidence in God,God saved all of them.They didn't even have to do anything.God could have just saved king Hezekiah alone,but he didn't do that,because all the people of Jerusalem had confidence in him,and so he saved all of them.Friends if you want your friends to be saved then you start sharing your confidence in God with them.

Ephesians3:12 'In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.'


Your eye is on the sparrow
And Your hand, it comforts me
From the ends of the earth
To the depths of my heart
Let Your mercy and strength be seen

You call me to Your purpose
As angels understand
For Your glory
May You draw all men
As Your love and grace demands

And I will run to You
To Your words of truth
Not by might, not by power
But by the Spirit of God
Yes, I will run the race
'Til I see Your face
Oh, let me live in the glory of Your Grace