Young Adults' Group

The Confidence Of Our Faith

by Pastor Mark
September 06, 2018

Understanding confidence

It is vital that we learn to cultivate a faith that is able to give us confidence both in our life and ministry. This was a concern that Pastor Charles raised to the brethren in Bethel this week as we enter into our 25th year of ministry. Without confidence, we would not be able to live our life vibrantly and to fulfil the work that God has entrusted to us successfully. The Apostle Paul wrote about confidence in his letter to the church in Philippi. What does it mean to have confidence? Confidence is not a feeling. The word “confidence” in Greek is “peitho” which means “to persuade”. It is to fully persuade someone till there is confidence. There are different ways in which we can find confidence.

Appreciating the different ways in which we can find confidence

1. Confidence in God’s Work

“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;” (Phil 1:6)

The word “confidence” is written in the perfect tense. This means that Paul had already been fully persuaded a long while ago and the effect of it is that there is confidence in God’s work in the lives of the brethren. God is the only One who can begin this good work of salvation in us.

The word “epiteleo” means “to end, to complete”. Paul used the future tense. There is certainty in the use of the future tense rather than uncertainty. This means as God has begun a good work of salvation in us, He will bring about a complete end to His work in us. Let us be challenged to be fully persuaded and to have confidence in God’s complete work in us when Christ returns for us.

2. Confidence as brethren

“and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” (Phil 1:14)

As Paul shared his testimony of being in chains for Christ to the Philippian brethren, they were greatly impacted. Paul used once again the Greek word “peitho” in the perfect tense. The brethren had already been persuaded by his chains to become fully confident.

Through being confident, the brethren were able to have more boldness to speak the Word of God. There was no longer fear but with greater certainty, they spread the gospel. Let us be challenged to have confidence as brethren to be “more bold” to speak the Word.

3. Confidence that is personal

“And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,” (Phil 1:25)

Paul also wrote of his own personal confidence. Once again, Paul used the Greek word “peitho” in the perfect tense. Paul had already been persuaded and continued to be confident. He was fully persuaded by the Lord, through his relationship with Him, that he would remain on this earth and to continue for the sake of the brethren…for their progress and joy of faith. Such was the personal confidence that Paul had concerning his life. Let us be challenged to find full confidence in God and His work, to have a collective confidence as brethren and to have personal confidence to minister. Let us be challenged to be fully persuaded through faith in the Lord and to have full confidence for our life and ministry.

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