Cast not away your confidence
According to Heb. 10:35-37, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Confidence here has to do with confidence in the word and promises of God. God has given us his word and numerous promises. It is for us to believe and act upon them. But Satan does everything to make one cast away, deny or doubt the word or/and promises of God. The word of God is pure, Proverb 30:5-6, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” The major way the devil works on believers is to make them doubt or question the word and workings of God, by manipulating the human nature.
You can stop the devil on his tracks by doing what the word of God said, “Resist the devil (by applying the truth of the word of God, which is power) and he shall flee from you, (James 4:7). Remember also that according to 2nd Cor. 10:4, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds: Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” The attack of the enemy has always caused problems and issues for saints; it starts with attacking your thought and gradually eats at your confidence. Before any casting out.
Have you ever imagined what happened to Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus Christ? Remember that he was one of those chosen twelve apostles. He was elevated as the one keeping the purse (treasurer). They went out to preach and demons were subject to the apostles and many were healed, (Mark 6:7-13). Also the Lord sent out seventy, two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come and he gave them power verse 19, (Luke10:1-20). In verse 20, they came back rejoicing; but the Lord said to them, “notwithstanding, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Judas went on evangelism, he preached and cast out demons and healed the sick likewise the other apostles. Then you ask where did Judas go wrong? When did he cast away his confidence?
Cast not away your confidence for there is a reward at the end; but you must first exercise patience, then do the will of God before you can receive the promise of God. Judas could not be patient. If you do not have patience you may find yourself not doing the will of God and you cannot receive the promise which is the reward. You can now start to imagine if possible, when and what led Judas to cast away his confidence. It is possible to learn from that situation.
In John 12:1-8, you will discover that after Mary anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair, it did not go well with Judas (fault finding behavior). He had a different vision. In verse 5, Judas said, “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?” That was the vision Judas and it became an issue, in his heart and thought. Money became a factor for him. John gave this testimony in verse 6, “This he (Judas) said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag (treasurer), and bare what was put there in (money).” This testimony gives you an idea what can happen, except you have your vision lined up with that of the Lord. The vision of Jesus was different. Jesus was thinking about the cross and what He came to reveal; and make promises to whosoever will believe his word and deeds. In verse 7-8, Jesus said, “Let her alone; against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.” What is your personal vision, does it line up with that of the Lord at this end of time, based upon his word and precious promises. This can determine if you are likely to cast away your confidence.
The word of God said, Resist the devil and he shall flee from you. Luke 22:1-6 gives us further insight to what Judas was about; “And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him (Jesus), for they feared the people.” Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot (the hedge had been broken and the devil now had access), being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he (Judas) might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him (Judas) money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him (Jesus) unto them in the absence of the multitude.”
When did Judas cast away his confidence? What made him cast away his confidence? How did he cast away his confidence? Please do not cast away your confidence at this end of time and the word of God and promise of the translation is very close. John 18:1-5, shows how the end of a person who has cast away their confidence looks like. Judas knew the garden that Jesus often resorted with his disciples. He led the band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees to where Jesus and his disciples were. He once was with the disciple and Jesus in the same garden but this time, it was different. Verse 4-5 states, “Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him stood with them (the mob, the chief priests and the officers).” He stood opposite and against Jesus. Cast not away your confidence.
If you are backslidden, repent and return to the Lord: But if you cast away your confidence, you will be on the opposite side to Jesus and on the same side with the devil. Cast not away your confidence, believe and hold fast or bolted down to the word of God and his precious promise; that includes the translation. Our Lord Jesus Christ said, he would come as a thief in the night, suddenly, in an hour you think not, in the twinkling of an eye, in a moment; this shows us that we must expect him every moment. If you allow the devil to confuse you, tell is not true, bring doubt into your heart as to forsake the word or promises of God, then you have not resisted him, with “it is written.” You may find yourself casting away your confidence. Use the weapon of our warfare to stand your ground holding firm to the word and promises of God. Resist the devil. Look unto Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith, (Heb. 12:2). “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto art also called,” (1st Tim. 6:12). Cast not away your confidence.
125 – Cast not away your confidence