Godfidence

CONFIDENCE (or should I say GODFIDENCE?)

This word confidence is defined as the feeling or belief that one can RELY ON SOMEONE or something; firm trust. the state of feeling CERTAIN ABOUT THE TRUTH OF SOMETHING. This word has been stirring in me so deeply lately! Maybe it’s because all we have to do is to stop and actually look around and see the state of unrighteous, sinful, dark behavior in our world today. Right is wrong, wrong is right, good is evil, and evil is good….completely and utterly upside down and inside out!! What a tragedy church!! The bible speaks to this ….1 Timothy chapter 4 says…”Now the Spirit expressly (clearly) says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having THEIR CONSCIENCE SEARED with a hot iron…..”.  Interestingly this chapter of 1 Timothy is titled “The Great Apostasy”. If you consider what “apostasy” actually means….it is defined as abandonment of beliefs. Just in 1 Timothy alone Paul uses the terms “godly and godliness” eight times!! Paul is implying that a Spirit-ordered church will reflect the God it professes to worship!! Take a look around church…..what are we worshiping/reflecting? What is the world worshiping/reflecting? Is there a difference between the church and the world? It is time for the Church of Jesus Christ to gain some ground in our GODFIDENCE!!! To stand up, speak up about our confidence in the TRUTH OF OUR LORD JESUS!! When I think of “Godfidence” I think of Shadrach, Meshech, and Abed-Nego. The book of Daniel unfolds one of the truest examples of personal conviction in the Bible. Daniel and his three friends were smack in the middle of an extreme pagan environment. (Hmmmm….sounds a bit familiar!) They are told and expected along with everyone else to bow down and worship the golden image that the king had set up. But Shadrach, Meshech, and Abed-Nego STOOD WHEN EVERYONE ELSE KNELT!!  Their words to King Nebuchadnezzar …..”O Nebuchadnezzar (notice they don’t refer to him as King) WE HAVE NO NEED TO ANSWER YOU IN THIS MATTER!” THAT IS AWESOME!!! That right there speaks for itself!! I can just hear the tone…O silly you Nebuchadnezzar!! That is called GODFIDENCE!!! That is the confidence we should have in our God!!! That is what the Church of Christ should look like!!! The three Hebrew friends simply stood their ground and told the king they would serve their God to the end regardless of the outcome!! THAT is the kind of faith that is so desperately needed today!! The Church MUST regain her once robust testimony!! We are to have a dogmatic declaration not an apologetic whisper or respectful suggestion in regards to our faith in Jesus Christ!! We as Christians need not argue or push but we are sent to declare and clearly point to Jesus!! The early Church reflected devoted zealots (fanatical and UNCOMPROMISING in their faith). They were convinced that they held the truth the world so desperately needed! Let’s NOT ignore our representation of the Church and our Lord. We are HIS AMBASSADORS (2 Corinthians 5:20). Get your GODFIDENCE on and let’s STAND WHEN EVERYONE ELSE KNEELS AND COMPROMISES….SOULS ARE IN THE BALANCE!!!   SELAH