Sermon of the Week
John 13:36-38
July 22, 2001

Introduction: What is "SELF-confidence?" It is confidence in your own abilities and strengths. It is confidence in your own intelligence, abilities, wisdom, emotional strength, physical strength, will and talents. It is the attitude of heart that would say, "I can do it, because I really do have what it takes!" It is "the little engine who could." You remember the children's story of the little locomotive who repeated to himself over and over: "I think I can, I think I can!" Finally, by his own inner grit and determination, he made it over the hill, and on the way down he chanted, "I know I can, I know I can!"

We have been taught by our culture from childhood that self-confidence is the key to success. However, in spiritual matters, that turns out not to be the case. Here in John 13, we see Peter as an example of the failure of self-confidence in spiritual things. Peter was confident in himself that he could stand and die by Jesus' side. But instead he ended up denying Jesus three times! We need to study the Bible to see what God says about self-confidence versus Christian confidence.

I. In spiritual matters, self-confidence leads to disaster. Examples: Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:29-31). Saul (I Sam. 15:13-22) Uzziah (2 Chron. 26:15-21). The Pharisees (Matt. 23:1-11).

II. It was overwhelming self-confidence that made Satan fall ( Isaiah 14:12-15; Ez. 28:12-17).

III. The Bible warns Christians about spiritual over confidence: (I Corinthians 10:11-12; Revelation 3:17-19; and Philippians 3:3). Jesus gives us as our role model the man who has no spiritual self-esteem at all (Luke 18:10-14).

IV. We need to see ourselves exactly as we really are (Romans 12:3). We have new spirits created in righteousness in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). Yet we still have our corrupt sinful bodies of flesh. So we have a constant battle within ourselves over good and evil (Romans 7:18-25).

Conclusion: Christians by definition are people who are trusting Jesus for salvation, and not themselves:

Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Habakkuk 3:19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

We are not worthy of salvation. We are not able to pay for our sins. But we have a great Savior, and we have put our confidence in Him, not in ourselves. Psalm 42:11 says, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."