In the biblical context, "confidences" often refers to the trust or reliance placed in people, objects, or God. The Bible provides numerous insights into where believers should place their confidence and the consequences of misplaced trust.

Confidence in God

The Scriptures consistently encourage believers to place their confidence in God rather than in human strength or material wealth. Psalm 118:8-9 states, "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes." This passage underscores the superiority of divine protection and guidance over human capabilities.

Jeremiah 17:7 further emphasizes this point: "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him." Here, the prophet Jeremiah highlights the blessings that come from placing one's trust in God, suggesting a life of stability and spiritual prosperity.

Misplaced Confidence

The Bible warns against placing confidence in worldly things, which are often unreliable and transient. Proverbs 11:28 cautions, "He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf." This proverb illustrates the futility of relying on wealth, which can lead to downfall, contrasting it with the flourishing life of the righteous who trust in God.

Isaiah 31:1 also warns against misplaced trust: "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD." This passage criticizes the Israelites for seeking military alliances and strength instead of relying on God, highlighting the danger of depending on human power.

Confidence in Christ

The New Testament shifts the focus of confidence to faith in Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:3 states, "For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh." The Apostle Paul emphasizes that true believers should place their confidence in Christ rather than in human efforts or achievements.

Hebrews 10:35-36 encourages believers to maintain their confidence in Christ: "So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward. You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." This passage reassures believers of the eternal rewards that come from steadfast faith and confidence in God's promises.

Confidence in Prayer

The Bible also speaks of the confidence believers can have in approaching God through prayer. 1 John 5:14 assures, "And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." This verse highlights the assurance believers have that God listens to their prayers when they align with His will.

Conclusion

The biblical teaching on confidences directs believers to place their trust in God and His promises, warning against reliance on human strength or material wealth. Through faith in Christ and prayer, believers can maintain a confident relationship with God, assured of His guidance and provision.

A Challenge and a Shield
... thing, whenever Satan comes and begins to accuse you, just to say, "Christ has died,
Christ has died." If any confront you with other confidences, still keep ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/a challenge and a shield.htm

Virtue must Never be Given up for the Sake of a Friend. ...
... It is indeed a comfort in this life to have one to whom thou canst open thy heart,
[765] with whom thou canst share confidences, and to whom thou canst entrust ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xxii virtue must never.htm

Salvation by Knowing the Truth
... they discover that they must be made new creatures in Christ Jesus, or else they
must utterly perish, then they are saved from false confidences, saved from ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 26 1880/salvation by knowing the truth.htm

Chapter thirteen
... Chase, but all the others were present, and they seemed drawn very close together
by a bond of common fellowship that demanded and enjoyed mutual confidences. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter thirteen.htm

A Memorial Sketch by W. Robertson Nicoll
... He received, I venture to say, more of the confidences of people untouched by
the ordinary work of the Church than any other man of his time. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/the ideal life/a memorial sketch by w.htm

Believe Just Now
... arms. Why? Because they still trust these confidences, and do not trust
him who speaks to them in the gospel. Instead, therefore ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bonar/gods way of peace/chapter ix believe just now.htm

The Psalmist --Setting the Lord
... thou didst so praise and so pray," And if David had still been in the earthly Jerusalem
he would have taught Peter to pray by such confidences and confessions ...
/.../whyte/lord teach us to pray/viii the psalmistsetting the lord.htm

Sex Education for Boys and the Sunday School
... Is it any wonder, then, that boys stray, mar their own lives, betray confidences
and innocence and become moral lepers, feeding like parasites on the fairest ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/xv sex education for boys.htm

The Treasure House
... scholars alike. For more than a decade this room has been sanctified by
numberless confidences, many too sacred to record. At any ...
/.../the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter xxiv the treasure house.htm

Faith and Regeneration
... only so boldly and so plainly, but also so baldly and so out of all connection with
other truth, that they have led men into presumptuous confidences, and have ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/faith and regeneration.htm

Confidences (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Confidences (1 Occurrence). Jeremiah 2:37 Yea,
thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine ...
/c/confidences.htm - 6k

Confident (42 Occurrences)

/c/confident.htm - 18k

Confidence (103 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) Private conversation; (pl.) secrets shared; as, there were confidences between
them. 5. (n.) Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved. ...
/c/confidence.htm - 39k

Kicked (9 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 2:37 Also from this thou goest out, And thy hands on thy head, For Jehovah
hath kicked at thy confidences, And thou dost not give prosperity to them! ...
/k/kicked.htm - 9k

Help (1694 Occurrences)
... to be sought for in Yahweh, in whom, in the Old Testament, the believer is constantly
exhorted to trust, with the renouncing of all other confidences (Psalm 20 ...
/h/help.htm - 9k

Prosperity (66 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 2:37 Also from this thou goest out, And thy hands on thy head, For Jehovah
hath kicked at thy confidences, And thou dost not give prosperity to them! ...
/p/prosperity.htm - 25k

Goest (79 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 2:37 Also from this thou goest out, And thy hands on thy head, For Jehovah
hath kicked at thy confidences, And thou dost not give prosperity to them! ...
/g/goest.htm - 32k

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