“Facing Life with Confidence”
Romans series: #7
Pastor David Moore
Old Testament reading: Psalm 46:1‐11
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; He utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations He has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; He burns the shields with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Today Paul talks in Romans about how we should have confidence in God. That confidence in Him will translate into a Confidence as a believer, in how we live life.
New Testament reading: Romans 8:26‐39
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, 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 within a large family. 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 are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold His own Son, but gave Him up for all of us, will He not with Him also give us everything else? Who will bring charges against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced 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.
Humans tend to be confident if things are going well, but when events go sideways, we often lose our confidence. Paul’s confidence is not from himself, his confidence is in God. ~D. Moore
How can Christians face the suffering and temptation of life with confidence and the assurance that troubles we have to go through will be worthwhile? ~D. Moore
Paul states our hope in Christ and the help of the Holy Spirit will sustain us during life’s challenges. Our confidence in God, when things go wrong, will not be debilitated by fear and anxiety.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him. Who have been called according to His purpose.”
“Trials and tribulations tend to squeeze the artificiality out of us, leaving the essence of what we really are and clarifying what we really yearn for.”
God, the Grand Weaver, seeks those with tender hearts so that he can put his imprint on them. Your hurts and your disappointments are part of that design, to shape your heart and the way you feel about reality. The hurts you live through will always shape you. There is no other way. ~Ravi Zacharias
Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is the Lord’s alone.
John 14:21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
Paul alludes to the fact that everything that happens to us is working out for our final and ultimate sanctification, holiness, and salvation so that we will be conformed to the likeness of His Son. ~D. Moore
1 Corinthians 10:13 No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.
All people who have decided to follow Jesus have found a deep encouragement in life. And the fact that He is in control, and we are His, we can live with confidence in all events in our life knowing that He is shaping us.
God bless, have a good week