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Fame and fortune are often the standards used to gauge success in today’s world. Those recognized as being highly successful nearly always exhibit certain traits or characteristics that are thought by observers in the world to be the primary reasons for their great success. Competitiveness, money–motivated ambition, self–will, self–confidence, a high sense of pride and a kind of brash boldness are seen as positive attributes for those who want to get ahead in the world of business.
I recently read an article online in the Stanford Magazine titled The Force Behind the Nike Empire by Jackie Krentzman. The author talks about Phil Knight, the founder and CEO (now emeritus) of Nike, the world’s largest athletic shoe and apparel company. Mr. Knight is considered by many to be a business icon. Krentzman points out that Mr. Knight was a competitive middle distance runner, and has been said to be, among other adjectives, aloof and competitive. Krentzman maintains that “Nike is a cultural icon because Knight understood and captured the zeitgeist of American pop culture and married it to sports. He found a way to harness society’s worship of heroes, obsession with status symbols and predilection for singular, often rebellious figures.” Mr. Knight felt that this aspect of American culture could be sold like a commodity, and his shoes would be its symbol.
Krentzman goes on to point out that Phil Knight “understood that this lust for heroes and appreciation for in–your–face attitude is not limited to American youth.” It obviously permeated all strata of society. Phil Knight coined the phrase “Just do it!” which became his company’s slogan. “Just do it” seems to encapsulate the spirit of self–confidence, boldness, and self–will like no other three–word phrase can.
Mr. Knight named his shoe ‘Nike’ after the conquering Greek goddess of victory, and he certainly conquered the sports shoe industry. However, those who are called according to God’s purpose, those who are disciples and followers of Jesus Christ, are called to be more than conquerors: “As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:36-37).
There is a stark contrast between the brash “in your face” boldness that comes from a competitive spirit and confidence in self, and Christian boldness that comes from putting one’s complete faith and confidence in God. The all–powerful, omnipotent Creator God of the universe will not allow those of a carnal, competitive, self–willed spirit into His soon–coming Kingdom. That kind of attitude must be put into subjection and conquered with the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
Key to Christian success
Faithful Christians are entering a period where the obedient people of God are going to be tested by an attacking, angry, lying spirit. Some are already being tested to see if they will reach down to their innermost being and call upon God’s Holy Spirit and exhibit, exude and display faith and godly confidence and boldness, not wavering with uncertainty or fear (Eph. 6:16).
Those who were fearful and faint–hearted were not used in Gideon’s Army, according to the law of warfare (Judges 7:3, Deut. 20:8). It is made evident in scripture that the cowardly will not be in the Kingdom of God (Rev. 21:8). Proverbs tells us that the “wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion” (28:1).
As Christians, the standards for success are determined by our level of obedience to God and by the degree to which we exercise God’s Spirit in overcoming Satan, this world and our own carnal nature. As we grow in these areas, we will grow richly in faith and gain boldness in Christ to the full meaning of the Greek word hupernikao used in Romans 8:37, meaning “to gain a decisive victory.” At this level we will undoubtedly feel as the Apostle Paul expressed in Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Confidence in God
There are numerous examples of Biblical heroes exemplifying faith in God and not self; displaying godly confidence in the face of trials, not self–confidence; overcoming and conquering the spiritual adversary, not by human power, might and self–will, but by the power of God through faith and humility.
God’s people are bold, but they are respectful. As Paul was respectful, we too are to be respectful of those who hold an office (Acts 23:1-5). We are even commanded to pray for our enemies and to do good to those who persecute and spitefully use us (Matt. 5:44).
Many examples are recorded for our encouragement. Jesus spoke very fittingly in John 16:33: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Examples of Godly Confidence
The following are only three of the many examples of godly confidence and boldness to be found in Scripture:
Jesus
John 2:14–16. You know the story. Jesus went into the temple
prior to Passover and found many engaged in commerce—selling
oxen, sheep and doves and changing money. He rose up in righteous
anger and boldly drove those people and their animals out of the
temple area.
Satan has foisted a false Jesus on the world of Christendom and a
false Gospel about Christ. Satan has given this world an effeminate,
wimpy, wishy–washy, “anything goes” Jesus. However,
the real Jesus Christ of the Bible had and exemplified zeal, godly
confidence and boldness. He acted with purpose and without fear, yet
in humility He said, “I can of Myself do nothing” (John 5:30).
David
1 Samuel 17:45–46. David, as a youth bringing food and supplies
to his brothers, saw Goliath taunting the Army of Israel. God was so
real to David, and his confidence in God was such, that he found it
hard to believe that someone would actually defy God. He verbalized
this when he said, “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine,
that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (v. 26).
When he went out to meet Goliath, he told the giant, “You come
to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to
you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel,
whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my
hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you” (vv. 45-46).
Psalm 27:1. David exhibited Godly confidence all through his
life: “The Lord is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Paul
Acts 23:1–5. When Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, the High
Priest, Annanias, ordered that Paul be struck in the mouth as he was
giving a defense. After hearing that, Paul said back to the High
Priest, “‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For
you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be
struck contrary to the law?’ And those who stood by said,
‘Do you revile God’s high priest?’ Then Paul said,
‘I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it
is written, “You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your
people”’” (vv. 2-5).