The Believers Confidence

For the very short time we have this evening, it has pleased God to speak to us and educate us more on some of the things that we possibly already knew. But we have not, we have not come to agree to that fact already, which is our life in Christ Jesus, the way we live our life, the things that makes up our Christian walk, our Christian life, the way we live our life in Christ. We have not come to really analyze and accept the sad realities that we are facing, because many believers, just like in the time of the early churches, the Galatian churches, the church in Galicia, they had some challenges, very peculiar challenges. Well, not so peculiar, because even in our time we are facing similar issues too.

They had some challenges, but good enough. God walked through Paul and addressed those issues that they were able to come to deeper understanding. And they knew, oh, these are the challenges that we are having. But believers of our time, unfortunately we have not.

We don't want to address these issues, we don't even want to embrace them. But this evening God wants us to learn some things and also build our confidence too. Because if as a believer, we have come to know the things that we should actually improve on and possibly giving more attention the way we do it in our businesses. So when a business is not going, is not growing so well, we come in, we call business analysts, we tell them, hey, my business is not going so well and I need you to look into this business and see where I'm not getting it right now.

When it comes to Christian life, we should also be able to make out, take our time, analyze and see where we are not getting it right and be able to get those things corrected. And after that, when we have done that, sometimes we also lose confidence. And in fact, the reason why some of us are still struggling to understand who we are, to know our identities, because we don't even know, we don't have a good identity. And so we don't even know what is our confidence as believers.

And so you see us still struggling with certain things, certain things that has been a problem that has been drawing us back. So this evening God wants to speak to us through the topic that says the believer's confidence, the believer's confidence, and by believer's confidence, we will be opening to the Scriptures, to Ephesians chapter two. Ephesians chapter two will just pick up some things from Ephesians Chapter two. But majorly we will be focusing on certain other places that will be addressing some of the things that we have to really give attention to the church in Ephesus, the Ephesian Church.

They had some challenges and Paul had to address those things and teach them. He basically had to shine the spotlight on very key issues and help them understand better. Ephesians, chapter two, verse one, we are reading. It says, and you had he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past you worked according to the cause of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation in time past.

By conversation he is talking about our manner of life, our ways of life in time past, in the laws of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. And we are by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Now verse 4 says, But God, who is rich in mercy for his great love, wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins, had quickened us together with Christ by grace ye are saved. Now this particular letter is actually a continuous letter because this started from chapter, this particular letter to the church of the Ephesians.

Paul had to help them to understand that, hey, whatever you used to be before, now is your past now, and you cannot keep being that person. But one thing he also addressed is the fact that there is something that we should also hold on to, which is that we are saved. It is no more business as usual. We are saved.

And by being saved, Christ, even when we were yet sinners, Christ came and died for us. He is both addressing the case of redemption and also boosting their confidence. He is boosting their confidence and helping them to know you are not just another person. You used to be this person.

You used to live your life this way. You used to serve the flesh, the lust of the flesh. That used to be your lifestyle. That used to be who you were.

But things have changed. Things have changed. Now what is your confidence as a believer? It has to be on the fact that even while you are yet a sinner, God loves you so much to sacrifice heaven's best, and has sent his Son Jesus Christ to die for you.

Because even here in verse five, he says, even when we are dead in sin, that means even when we are yet sinners, he says, had quickened us together with Christ. And I love that part where it's put in brackets, it says, by grace you are saved. Now let's read down a bit to understand why we should be so confident. I mean, when you are talking about I have to live my old life, I have to make a change or Even when Satan tries to blackmail you and tell you, oh, are you not this person who lives this life or who used to live this life?

There should be something that should be. There should be a confidence talk. I'm trying to remember the right word that people in the corporate world use. There is this.

You have something to boast of, something to fall back to and say, can you see my achievements? It's just like somebody who you come into his office and you are seeing his awards and plaques and all. He doesn't need to tell you that he has achieved a lot in life or she has achieved a lot in life. You are seeing something even when his CV or her CV is being read.

It sounds like this person is an accomplished fellow. And that is how we are supposed to be confident in Christ. Whatever we used to be before now cannot be what we should be. It shouldn't be what should define us right now.

Verse 6 says, and had raised us up together and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. So it is not just the fact that you have been saved, you have been redeemed. You were bought with the blood of Jesus Christ. Your price was paid, like your life was redeemed with a life, not just a life, but the life of the Son of God.

He literally had to come down just because he needs to save you. And so that is your reality. And after doing that, he says that in verse 6, he says that you are now being raised up together so you are not still in the grave. No, you have been raised up together and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

There is a scripture that says that we are hid in Christ and Christ in God. But let's not also forget that we have the Holy Spirit inside of us. Just imagine it as a package. Imagine that type of package where you, you have the Holy Spirit inside of you and it's not enough because that means you are now a light.

You are shining already. And then you are still hid inside another, more secure package being Christ. That package still being put inside a more secure what else can now break into you? What should be giving you that anxiety, that fear whatsoever?

The problem is that we are so afraid of what we shouldn't be afraid of. Somebody said, a preacher said that the problem we have is that we have glorified Satan. We have made Satan to look stronger than he actually is. And that is actually how Satan works.

He wants us to see him the way he is not. Because once you start glorifying, it's just like say all These thoughts, agbaros and all, the moment you start seeing them as ah, these ones, ah, these ones, they can, they can do this, they can do that. They are no go area in your mind you're already defeated. That's the problem we have, we have a mindset of defeat.

Just the same way we see, we see people who should, who shouldn't be a headache or a nightmare to us. And we are seeing them as our problem already. Whereas if it was to be a physical combat fight, that person stands no chance in any way. The person does not stand any chance.

But yes, because we have already, we have put on that garment of defeat already. We believe that no, this one will destroy me then definitely not. Because you are not stronger. But you see yourself being bullied.

That's exactly the same thing Satan does. And so you understand that these thoughts that are operating in different ways is just the same ideology, it's the same structure from Satan. It's the same thing. They make themselves look stronger than they are actually.

And that is exactly what Satan capitalizes on. He sells you an imagination that can never be true. And he knows that once he is able to sell that to you and you are able to buy it, then he has been able to take over. Not because he truly has the capacity so just paint see Satan as.

How do some people will say they. Donald Trump. Donald Trump, yes, we know he's. We know.

Yes, he possibly has some capacities and all. And the way he will present himself, even will intimidate, he's quite intimidating. So you don't even want to start engaging into any quarrel because you already defeated before you start. That is exactly how Satan wants us to believe that he can actually always intimidate us.

So if believers truly want to understand who they are, they should know that their identity is not in what Satan tells them they are. Their identity is what the word of God has said. Their identity is in what the word of God has said. Verse 6 is telling us that we are already seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus.

So you are not just another person. You are somebody who was bought with a price. You are somebody who was bought in a price. And as such you shouldn't go back to start living the life you used to live before.

Now the life, whatever lifestyle that you used to live, it cannot continue anymore because there is a difference. There is a difference. And that price good enough. We should understand that there is a part of the price being paid, but then there is also the other part of you being able to maintain that relationship that is Providing that security.

Now that is where the problem is. We love the fact that we are saved. We love the fact that we are redeemed. But we have forgotten that this relationship needs to be serviced.

It is being serviced by righteousness, righteous living. Maintaining your relationship with God. By maintaining your relationship with God, you see that you are able to better service this newfound freedom and the security you are even desiring to enjoy. Every now and then it will even be made more closer and more available for you.

Now Satan is so corny. And he knows that if you are not servicing that relationship with God, that means you are obviously a prey and he can at all times intimidate you. Now let's read from what we have in First John, chapter 5, verse 14, First John 5. We are reading verse 14, First John 5.

14 Says, and this is the confidence we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us. This is exactly what it should be for us. This is exactly what it should be for us. That's the confidence part of it.

But now, because Satan knows that you are not servicing that relationship, he knows that you ask things and then God will not hear you because sin has already caused a barrier between you and him. And so you pray and you don't receive. You have fasted and you have not received well. Something you should be mindful of is that God loves mercy.

So if you are fasting and you are not receiving, you should understand that you should go back and start showing more mercy. That one triggers God a lot. He loves mercy so much. Now these are things that Satan hides away from us.

He doesn't want us to be in a closer relationship with God. So he looks out for every way to make sure that when we ask we don't receive. He looks out for ways to measure that we don't service our relationship with God. And so because of that, we don't see ourselves growing spiritually.

By growing spiritual, we are talking about bearing fruits of the spirit. As a believer, what differentiates you is the fact that looking at you, it's easy to know that this one is a child of God. You know how some people are saying somebody his person and then some people will say ah, leave, this one is a pastor. Ah, not pastor be that oh ah, that one mission or that one pastor wife be that.

It's because they are seeing that there is a difference. Believers don't see the light they carry a lot. A lot of the times it's even unbelievers that easily identify us. So when we Are going, people will see us.

And they say, this one is different. It's because they are similar. Are seeing a light. That light is not just an ordinary light.

It's a light that is. That is recorded in Galatians chapter 5, verse 22 to 23. Let's just quickly read it to wrap up. Galatians chapter 5, verse 22 to 23.

These are basically the fruits of the Spirit. Of the spirit. Galatians 5, 22, 23. So as a believer, this is what your life is supposed to be.

Now this same thing written here is your confidence because you know that you have a right stand. You are servicing your relationship with God because you have been able to walk with God and these things are showing already in your life. He says, but the fruit of the Spirit is love. That means as a believer, you must be loving.

You must show love to people. Because you are showing love. You have become you have, you have, you have, you have started living the world. God wants you to live.

You are expressing God. God is love. So when you show, when you are loving to people, you are basically communicating God. You are speaking the language of God.

You are saying God, God, just by your actions, your actions of love, looking out for how you can be of good use to people's life, to better people's lives. Showing love to people, there is a joy that you bring with. He says, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Against such there is no law.

Now, as a believer, people notice that you are so loving and they prefer you, they love you so much because they know that this one is just like in the case of docas, Docas, people were crying, showing, showing. Peter, look at what she has done for us. These are some of the things she even gifted us. It's because she was loving.

If she's a toxic fellow, nobody will love to be around her. Nobody want to cry for her. They will be like, oh, okay, ah, thank God, though this one has died. They might not say it verbally, but inside of your heart they are like, ah, well, we come, we go is how life goes.

Why, why wouldn't they cry? It's because this person is not so loving. Now as a believer, you are a joy giver. People are so happy when you want.

Your presence brings joy. You look out for things that you do in people's life that will bring about joy in their life. Like it could be because you gift them. And then that simple smile, that simple, oh, that relief that comes in you have brought joy.

That is what you should be as a believer. Peace. You should be peaceful. You should bring peace.

You should be able to broker peace. When there is a challenge, you should be able to be the difference and say, okay, fine, there is this misunderstanding now. How can we bring about a balance here? I understand that now.

What do we do to move forward so there is just peace. Because God loves a peaceful place. He tries more when there is a peaceful environment. He's a peaceful God.

He loves peace. Long suffering people, they will tempt you. They will do things that will hurt your feelings. But for you to be able to really manage their excesses or be able to, you know, manage people's temptations and all and still be able to maintain who you are.

That is where long suffering comes in. That is that those are, these are things that people will start seeing. Gentleness. You are a gentle person.

Goodness, faith. You believe in God. And you also a very positive and confident person. Because definitely you need to.

You need, you need to be confident in your God. For you to be able to do even your prayers. Need for your prayers to be answered. You need faith to please God.

Meekness, you are in a place of authority. But instead of using that authority to subject people and to. Just like Moses, Moses had the very authority. He has seen God or basically he has been in the presence of God over.

He's not just another, another leader. He could easily punish at will, but he decides not to punish at will. That is meekness. That means you have the power, but you're able to control that your power and that your authority and still be able to relate with people the way you would have related to them, with them.

Even on a normal ground. You are not using your. Your authority to suppress people. That is now still meekness and then temperance and against or temperance.

That's self control. You know when to control yourself. Your appetite, your thoughts, your words, your words, how you behave to people. These are things that comes as a result of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life.

And when these things come, definitely you know so much well that you are a different person. Now you might want to ask how can these things start happening? You have to be able to subject yourself to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It might not be so difficult.

It might also be so difficult. It might be difficult because you are not yet ready or you are not. You have not seen reasons why you should simply allow somebody, allow him. He's a person.

Actually he's not a human flesh, but he's a personality. He has feelings, you can grieve him. But if you are not allowing him to lead you to direct him to direct you, that is where the problem is. You cannot start bearing these fruits.

He's the one that causes you to bear this fruit. Fruits. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. If it is in you, then these things will start surfacing.

The easiest way to start it is you have to start giving yourself to the, to the knowledge of this, of the Word of God, by reading the Scripture. You have to pray, make it, make it a lifestyle to communicate to God through prayer. Not as a custom, not as a tradition, but you have to pray. Then another thing is that you have to be quick to obey.

And when you obey, not just obeying, just for obedience sake, make sure it is an absolute obedience. Quickly obey when he tells you, okay, stop, just stop. For each obedience, each obedience draws you closer and opens even more room for you to grow faster when you are obeying. When you are quick to obey, you start experiencing more height.

Even in your spiritual work, you see that you even receive grace to even obey easily and more faster. But it starts with that first obedience. You have to start at least once you have started the next obedience, you receive more grace to even do more. And then the work keeps going more and more.

And then at some point you start seeing that there is more confidence because you now know who you are truly in Christ, your identity in Christ Jesus. Your confidence in Christ Jesus is nothing without the presence of the Holy Spirit. So when you have the presence of the Holy Spirit, there is more confidence. There is more confidence because you know that you have the Spirit of God in you, who causes you through the Spirit of God.

You see that you'll be able to pray better. And it is God who causes you to build and to do of his good pleasure. And how does he do that? Through the fact that the Holy Spirit is inside of you.

He easily channels all that. And you see yourself easily doing all those things. And then you see that your life has become a living wonder. God can do it for you.

He has always been doing it. So you have to submit yourself to the leading of the Holy Spirit so that he will boost your confidence. So that even what you have been reading, the Word will be made alive in you. We go to God in prayer and bless his name because, yes, he has blessed us.

This evening we thank him for revealing this to us. He's just doing his thing at his own time and how he wants it, to the glory of his holiness. So we return our praises to him. Thank him for this word and request that he will help us because it is, in quotes, easier said than done.

When we keep trusting God, we know fully well that he will help us through. It is not of power. This is not what you can do by your flesh. God is the one who will help you to be able to do it.

If you want to do it by flesh, then you are trying to fulfill the law and it cannot work that way. We are in the time of grace and for you to be saved, you have to go through grace. So we trust God to help us that whatever we have had this evening, it will be made alive. And we see ourselves being transformed more and more.

And then when next we gather again, we will be able to even go deeper. It will no more be a thing of going back to certain basics of the Word of God. It will be a progression. We'll be able to, you know, grow and learn more and become better children of God.

Let us go to God in prayer and sir. Heavenly Father, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Father, we thank you, we glorify your name, we worship you, we adore you for bringing us here. For what you have done in this place, say where two or three are gathered in my name and there in your midst.

We have seen your power. We have seen the manifestation of your grace upon us. We have seen that you are with us always at the right time. We use that servant to give the world believer confidence that we need to have confidence in the Lord.

We need to have confidence in you. If people should have confidence in ruler, speaker of the world and so on. Wow. We have a almighty God.

God. We have a living God. We have God that can do all things. We have God that has almighty, that.

Every and every belong to him. Father God, you said you should have confidence in him. Believers, you have confidence and how you have this confidence. We should show love, we should show peace.

We should. You should move like we are. We have a God that is mighty. O Lord.

Father, this is what is lacking. This is what is lacking. Some trust in chariot, some in horses, Father Lord. But we are trusting the Lord.

Father Lord, we pray that you establish this confidence in your children. You establish us, put us in that foundation. Many of the world, people of the world will see you say, yes, this is a church. But many, they don't even understand because they don't know where they are.

Father Lord, we pray through the power of the Holy Spirit. Spirit, come and quicken us. Come and energize us. Come and make us what you want us to be so at the end of it all.

Your name will be glorified, Father. Lord, we commit this. You are person. You have used to give this morning to your majesty.

Father. Bless him, Father. Establish him in this. In the.

In this foundation. So you have confidence in you. Father. We pray that you continue to manifest yourself.

Said in his life and the entire family. Lord. Lord, there are many that would have been here, but they are not here. Wherever they are, Father, let this world quicken them.

Let there be a confidence they have in God. Let there be those that have been making have really decided to go back. Oh. To go to the world, Father.

Lord, establish them. Show them your love. Show them your mercy, Father. Let the grace of God be upon us.

Thank you Father for doing this. Lord. Little moment we are living. We are not leaving your presence.

We pray that your presence go with us and wherever in our homes, wherever we are today, wherever we did tonight. Oh Lord, manifest yourself. Show forth your glory. Protect your people.

Guide us in your. In your mighty hand. Let your name be glorified. Some trust each other somewhere.

We are trusting you. You. We are having our confidence in this. You.

Thank you Father for doing this. For in Jesus name we pray. Amen.