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“Confidence in the Lord”

Aired March 28, 2020

by Steven Crook

Sometimes, it can be challenging to stay mentally confident when things around us appear to not be going the way we want them to.

As the children of God, we are told to look to the Lord for all things, but when times get tough and rough, we tend to listen to carnal mind that so easily directs us to do and think about thinks that we know we ought not to do.

This is because the Lord has caused us to have too much faith in our own abilities to deliver ourselves from whatever situation we are currently in.

Pro 25:19  Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

Having confidence in ourselves only, will lead us quickly down a steep place to join the swine in the sea of the thoughts and thinking of humanity just as when legion was cast into swine and then sent into the ocean.

Mar 5:6  But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
Mar 5:7  And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
Mar 5:8  For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
Mar 5:9  And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
Mar 5:10  And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
Mar 5:11  Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
Mar 5:12  And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
Mar 5:13  And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
Mar 5:14  And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
Mar 5:15  And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
Mar 5:16  And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
Mar 5:17  And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

A lot of the time, what happens when we gain confidence in the Lord, and we are given Faith in the Lord to trust in Him no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, is that those who witness this happening will spiritually wish us to depart from them.

Sure, we can be like legion who worship Jesus in appearance, but what happens when the going gets tough?

In the story we just read, Jesus was worshipped by legion. However, that worship is immediately followed up by us NOT wanting the deliverance that the Lord can provide to us because we see it as torment.

The truth is we all think we know what country it is we seek, but what happens when we find it?

Mar 5:10  And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

Heb 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.
Heb 11:14  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Heb 11:15  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Heb 11:16  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Legion did not want to be sent out of the country they were familiar with. They didn’t want to be sent forth out of the country where they could dwell in the mountains and the tombs while cutting themselves with stones.

We all like to claim the name of Jesus while times are good, but what about when times are bad? I am not speaking of the times that others THINK are bad, which very well could be awful for them, but I am speaking of the times when you know the “times” you are personally experiencing are almost too much to bare for you.

Our study today is titled, “Confidence in the Lord”. I chose this topic in order to talk about this topic in a way that can hopefully help us all become more confident in what the Lord is doing with us.

Job is a great example for all of us even today. Let’s examine the “times” that came upon Job.

Job 4:1  Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Job 4:2  If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

Eliphaz is so “concerned” for his friend Job, that he is going to let Job know where Job’s confidence in the Lord has led him.

Job 4:3  Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
Job 4:4  Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
Job 4:5  But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
Job 4:6  Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

Look at how Eliphaz, during this horrible time in Job’s life, throws Job’s belief and trust in the Lord right back in Job’s face. “You are just like us Job! You helped people with your preaching and teaching, but now the Lord is visiting YOU!”

Job 4:7  Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
Job 4:8  Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
Job 4:9  By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

Seems like a good friend, no? In the defense of Eliphaz, most of us have thought this way in our Christian walks. When we are experiencing something “bad” or trying we immediately think we are being punished by the Lord.

Our friends will be quick to point out to us that we are the ones who are all self-righteous, and if we were “so righteous”, why is the Lord doing what He is doing to us? Therefore, the conclusion is that we are frauds.

If we give in to this mindset, then we will quickly discover that we are still in the place of seeking a heavenly country because our spiritual feet are still firmly planted in the “country” named “self”.

It is in this mindset that we are still focused on what we did or didn’t do that caused the Lord to “turn His back on us”. It is in this mindset that we are easily drawn into the mindsets of the ungodly around us or on internet forums and social media.

It seems a bit harsh to call those around us “ungodly” doesn’t it, at least on the surface of it, because that means we are claiming to know who is godly or ungodly.

Therefore, how do we KNOW who is godly and who is ungodly? This question, and the answers we conclude, will directly affect the confidence we have in the Lord.

I am about to present a long list of verses that will start to help our answering of the question of who is godly versus ungodly. However, I will give a spoiler. It has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with the Lord.

While all of the world experience this “one event” named COVID-19, let us think on how the following verses affect our hearts and minds given the times we live in.

Psa 118:8  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Psa 118:9  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
Psa 118:10  All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.

Which nations are we talking about? Are we talking about Mexico and Canada if you live in the United States? Are we talking about the physical nations that surround us in whatever country we live in?

Psa 118:11  They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
Psa 118:12  They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
Psa 118:13  Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
Psa 118:14  The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
Psa 118:15  The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
Psa 118:16  The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
Psa 118:17  I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

It behooves us to know what the right hand of the Lord is. It behooves us to declare the WORKS OF THE LORD. Is not everything we experience, including the day and age we live in, the works of the Lord?

Psa 118:18  The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
Psa 118:19  Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
Psa 118:20  This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
Psa 118:21  I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
Psa 118:22  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Psa 118:23  This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
Psa 118:24  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psa 118:25  Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

When is it that “prosperity in the Lord” can be sent to us? We must be deficient and in need of prosperity to become the new normal for us. Those that are sick need a doctor, not the healthy.

Psa 118:26  Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
Psa 118:27  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
Psa 118:28  Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
Psa 118:29  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

There are several different words used in English that have been translated from various Hebrew and Greek words.

For this study, I am going to look at some of those words in Greek.

The first example I want to use to talk about the word, “godly” can be seen in the example of 2 Corinthians 11:2.

2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

This “godly” in used in English the how godly is translated most of the time in the New Testament.

G2316

theos

theh’-os

Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively a magistrate; by Hebraism very: – X exceeding, God, god [-ly, -ward].

Total KJV occurrences: 1343

For the sake of time, I am only listing a brief example of it’s usage in the NT.

G2316

theos

Total KJV Occurrences: 1344

god, 1310

Mat_1:23, Mat_3:9, Mat_3:16, Mat_4:3-4 (2), Mat_4:6-7 (2), Mat_4:10, Mat_5:8-9 (2), Mat_6:24, Mat_6:30, Mat_6:33, Mat_8:29, Mat_9:8, Mat_12:4, Mat_12:28 (2), Mat_14:33, Mat_15:3-4 (2), Mat_15:6, Mat_15:31, Mat_16:16, Mat_16:23, Mat_19:6, Mat_19:17, Mat_19:24, Mat_19:26, Mat_21:12, Mat_21:31, Mat_21:43, Mat_22:16, Mat_22:21, Mat_22:29-32 (8), Mat_22:37, Mat_23:22, Mat_26:61, Mat_26:63 (2), Mat_27:40, Mat_27:43 (2), Mat_27:46 (2), Mat_27:54, Mar_1:1, Mar_1:14-15 (2), Mar_1:24, Mar_2:7, Mar_2:12, Mar_2:26, Mar_3:11, Mar_3:35, Mar_4:11, Mar_4:26, Mar_4:30, Mar_7:7-9 (4), Mar_7:13, Mar_8:33, Mar_9:1, Mar_9:47, Mar_10:6, Mar_10:9, Mar_10:14-15 (2), Mar_10:18, Mar_10:23-25 (3), Mar_10:27 (2), Mar_11:22, Mar_12:14, Mar_12:17, Mar_12:24, Mar_12:26-27 (6), Mar_12:29-30 (2),

I think you get the point. It is used the vast majority of the time as “god”.

However, there is another time the English word “godly” is used, and that is a different Greek word.

2Pe 2:9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

In this example, it more closely matches what I am presenting in this study. This “match” in topic is the comparison between godly versus ungodly or just versus unjust.

G2152

eusebēs

Total KJV Occurrences: 4

devout, 3

Act_10:2, Act_10:7, Act_22:12

godly, 1

2Pe_2:9

This version of “godly” means devout, so what is it to be “devout”. The scripture describes it one way, while the world in whole tends to see it another way.

Here is the verse listed above:

Act 10:2  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Act 10:7  And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

Act 22:11  And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
Act 22:12  And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
Act 22:13  Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

Isn’t it interesting that this “devout man according to the law” was used to give brother “Paul” his eyesight after being blinded by the Lord?

What is it Ananias came bringing to Paul when he healed him while being Saul?

Act 22:14  And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
Act 22:15  For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
Act 22:16  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

The devout are called to be given sight and to give it. The devout are chosen to know His will, to see Him and to be a witness “of what thou hast seen and heard”.

What then do you think the world views this person as being? Devout?

Here is how Strong’s concordance defines this Greek word, “godly”.

G2152

eusebēs

yoo-seb-ace’

From G2095 and G4576; well reverent, that is, pious: – devout, godly.

Total KJV occurrences: 4

“That is, pious – devout, godly”, but the world sees it differently. I am simply going to use the first thing that comes up on Google when I type the word “pious”.

Pious 

adjective

adjective: pious

devoutly religious.

• making a hypocritical display of virtue.

“there’ll be no pious words said over her”

Similar:

sanctimonious

hypocritical

insincere

self-righteous

holier-than-thou

pietistic

churchy

for form’s sake

to keep up appearances

goody-goody

pi

religiose

Pharisaic

Pharisaical

• ARCHAIC

dutiful or loyal, especially toward one’s parents.

The above definition is from the Oxford dictionary, and the next one is from dictionary.com.

                   adjective

having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God or an earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations.

characterized by a hypocritical concern with virtue or religious devotion; sanctimonious.

practiced or used in the name of real or pretended religious motives, or for some ostensibly good object; falsely earnest or sincere: a pious deception.

of or relating to religious devotion; sacred rather than secular: pious literature.

having or showing appropriate respect or regard for parents or others.

To the worldly, you are devoutly religious and sanctimonious all at the same time. Devout Christians are, “characterized by a hypocritical concern with virtue or religious devotion; sanctimonious”.

Now, if you have been in the world for any amount of time, and have shared your beliefs with anyone that is not of the same mind, you will know that the above is VERY accurate.

Am I saying that all of the world views devout Christians this way? Of course not! However, “all that is in the world” certainly is NOT of God and DOES view devout Christians this way. It just so happens that “all that is in the world” is in all if mankind and that is the “man” that hates Jesus Christ in you!

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Mat 24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

Luk 21:17  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
Luk 21:18  But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.

Did you know that you can show a “love” for all that is in the world when you take on the “world’s mindset”?

What do I mean? Well, we just read in the old and new testament that we need to “call on the name of the Lord to destroy them”, “be hated of all men for my name’s sake”, “Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD”, and “But now they desire a better country”.

At first glance, these phrases may not appear to be related to each other but that are as connected as the body of Christ is to the Head of that body.

We cannot come to seek a better heavenly country if we are only mindful, FULL of THE MIND, of this world which is NOT of GOD.

Let me repeat:

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of  God abideth for ever.

Doing the will of God is one in the same as being devout / pious / godly. Doing the will of God is calling on the name of the Lord. Doing the will of God is being confident in the Lord.

Having confidence in the Lord is not only WORSHIPPING the Lord when He presents Himself, just like legion did, but it is WORSHIPPING Him when He appears AND finishing that worship up with the mindset, “nevertheless, thy will be done”.

Mar 14:35  And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
Mar 14:36  And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
Mar 14:37  And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
Mar 14:38  Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

Luk 22:42  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Luk 22:43  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

I could phrase this confidence in the Lord in many ways, but when we are confident to say whatever happens, it is the Lord’s will, it is then that the Lord will strengthen us whether by an angel sent or by us being sent to give others the sight needed to get through what they are going through.

That is our chosen calling.