A Crucified Life - - Has Strong Confidence

 

2 Corinthians 5:6

Therefore, we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2292

Confident: to be of good courage; of good cheer

From the Greek word 'tharreó' (pronounced thar-hreh'-o): to be of good courage, hopeful, be bold

TRUST, SECURITY

    Proverbs 14:26

In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

     Psalm 27:3, 4

Though an army encamps around me, my heart will not fear; though a war breaks out against me, I will keep my trust. One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.

    Hebrews 6:11, 12

And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

    Hebrews 11:13

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

    Romans 8:38, 39

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I AM PERSUADED

    As Paul has written in Romans 8:38-39, so, too, do I say: "I, Terri, am persuaded that 'neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord.' 

    See, it's a personal thing. Each of us must choose whether or not we will believe not only in God, but that God has a plan of salvation for those who believe that His Word is Faithful and True.

     His plan is Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 1:18, 23-24). His plan is Christ defeating death and hell and the grave  (Matthew 28:2-3; Revelation 1:18). 

    His plan is Christ resurrected, transformed/changed from the body He wore while He was in this world to a glorious body (Luke 24:46; John 2:22; John 20:17; Acts 2:24).

NO CONFIDENCE

    Acts 26:28

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” 

    Mark 6:6

And He marvelled because of their unbelief. And He went round about the villages, teaching.

    John 3:18, 19

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil."

    Where is your confidence? Is it in yourself? or is it in Christ? We, the born again believers, have our confidence in Christ. In all aspects of Christ's Name we have placed our trust and He is our Firm Foundation. We declare to you who have not yet believed that "on Christ, the Solid Rock," we take our stand in Him, in the Living Word of God. 

    In John 3:16-18, we read that God loves the world so much that He sent His only begotten Son to pay for the sins of the world, and that the people who believed on Jesus would be believers. So, although Jesus is everyone's Savior, not everyone will believe this and their unbelief will condemn them. 

    

STRONG CONFIDENCE

Amadeo - Ryan Stevenson

No Impossible With You - I Am They

Where You Go, I Go - Jesus Culture

Whom Shall I Fear - Chris Tomlin

Battle Belongs - Phil Wickham

Alive In You - Jesus Culture

Graves Into Gardens - Elevation Worship

All My Hope - Crowder

        

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Bold Witness

 

Ephesians 6:19

Pray also for me, whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel.

Ephesians 3:9

And to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

Colossians 4:2-4, 6

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful, as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the Word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should.

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

1 Peter 3:15

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

Boldly speaking the Truth of the gospel of salvation also requires us to speak forth the Word with grace, compassion, mercy and wisdom. Knowing when to speak and when to keep silent is a lesson each disciple must learn for themselves. A lesson learned from studying both the Word and observing one's circumstances, being able to gauge correctly through the Spirit what to say, how to say it and when to speak it. 

Here Paul shows us that we need to ask our fellow Christians to pray for this process. He asks for boldness to declare the gospel. We also seek that you would pray for our boldness in speaking the gospel. We ask that our witness be salt and light: words of grace and humility. We ask for open doors, opportunities to speak what we believe and that we are ready to speak. 

I am not a public speaker by nature. In school I hated having to stand up in front of others and talking about anything. I'm still not a fan. Any public speaking I may have to do now, I do by the grace of God. Teaching and preaching fall in this category. So, whenever I do either of these in public, it is not I who speaks on my own accord, nor of my own opinion. I pray God to give me words to speak and the timing to speak them. Whether I speak them out verbally or speak the Word out on the web or via email. Everyday. If I covet anything, I covet your prayer for me.

Declaration of War

     When a challenge has been extended, the challenger is prepared to not only attack, but defend. Remember, our tongues hold the power of life and death. Before you make this statement out loud, you need to know that you are prepared for battle.

     HELMET of SALVATION in JESUS CHRIST needs to be on your head. BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS needs to be on your back and chest. GIRDLE of TRUTH about your waist. SHOES of the GOSPEL of PEACE. In one hand you carry your SHIELD of FAITH; in the other hand you carry the SWORD of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD. PRAYING in the SPIRIT ALWAYS. Be on the ALERT, WATCHING ALWAYS. Be ready to speak in authority, BOLDNESS of MOUTH declaring the Mystery of the GOSPEL to all who hear.

     If you are not fully clothed in Jesus Christ, you are not ready to declare war on the enemies of God. I am so glad I know my LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST and that HE is mine forever and I am HIS!

FaithBaby website or FaithBaby on facebook

     I love Christian clothing sites, they inspire us and bring out the best in some of us (like me) and the worst in some of us. Boldness of faith is essential in bringing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to the forefront of spiritual warfare instead of leaving it on the home front. And I thank God for the anointing power of the Holy Spirit, who works through those of us who are willing to take a stand for our belief and will not back down when the fighting gets ugly.