excellent standing & great confidence
section 1
We live by faith and not by sight ii corinthians 5:7 , but in that faith are we experiencing Christ’s glory of confidence in Him hebrews 13:6 ii corinthians 5:8 ? Money is uncertain i timothy 6:17 ; relationships can’t be relied on micah 7:5 ; in our sin we experience constant suspense, never sure of anything in our life deuteronomy 28:58, 66 . But it need not be this way if we really knew the Lord psalm 71:5 instead of trying to find confidence in our circumstances, each other, or even our own selves philippians 3:3 .
So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"
We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
my notes:
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips.
If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the LORD your God—
You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life.
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by His Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
my notes:
section 2
Who is he that is happily blessed john 13:12-17 ? Who is he that is great in the Kingdom mark 10:42-45 ? Whose footing is secure in this life matthew 7:24-27 psalm 40:2 and the next i timothy 6:18-19 jude 24 ? Who is he who never seems to be overwhelmed by current trials isaiah 43:2-3 or burdened over potential trials proverbs 3:21-26 ? Why are some not stuck comparing themselves to others galatians 6:2-4 ? Who is as confident as a lion proverbs 28:1 ? How can one FEEL condemned and yet still BE confident that such feelings are empty deceptions i john 3:18-20 psalm 56:3 ? Who is she that can laugh at all the uncertainties of tomorrow proverbs 31:25, 15, 17-18, 20, 27 ?
When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" He asked them. "You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
my notes:
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
Now to Him Who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...
my notes:
My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.
Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.
Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth. This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and will reassure our hearts before Him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.
my notes:
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
my notes:
section 3
What is the common denominator of sure standing and confidence as we walk this journey of faith? Is it not those who serve WELL i timothy 3:13 ? These lavish glories of excellent standing and great confidence are experienced by those who serve…serve truly the needs of others’ souls…serve the interests of Christ philippians 2:20-21 . Those who are diligent to walk in God’s way of love enjoy the glories of God’s grace deuteronomy 6:1-3 i corinthians 12:31, 14:1 galatians 5:14 . For one cannot genuinely serve God and in the next moment lose their reward mark 9:39-41 . For as we grow in our walk of the faith that flows out of our lives through love galatians 5:6 , we are confident in God and know with a growing certainty of His love for us from which He shares His glory with us no matter what the circumstance i john 3:21-23 romans 8:28-39 . This is the one who truly possesses EXCELLENT standing and GREAT confidence.
For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
my notes:
These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all His decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in My name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
my notes:
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we keep His commands and do what pleases Him. And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God Who justifies. Who is to condemn?
Christ Jesus is the One Who died—more than that, Who was raised—Who is at the right hand of God, Who indeed is interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
my notes:
Scripture quotations taken from one or more of the following versions as noted:
ESV = The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
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NASB = NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), Copyright (C) 1960,1962,1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
HCSB = Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Used by Permission HCSB ©1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 Holman Bible Publishers. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
NKJV = New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.