Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "confidence". We'll be looking at these portions of Scripture from the New Testament:

Acts 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. KJV

Hebrews 3:4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. KJV

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. KJV

1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. KJV

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. KJV

These are all the Greek word "parrhesia". Strong's Concordance says: all out-spokenness, frankness, bluntness, publicity, assurance. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech, free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: rendered 'confidence' in the KJV, is in all such instances rendered 'boldness' in the RV. The Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament says: openness, publicness, candor, joyous confidence. I LOVE that our GOD desires for us to have this powerful confidence in HIM and in HIS WORD! We were meant to operate in this confident boldness in every area of life as we continue in His Word and in fellowship with HIM. I really like several of the songs in Brandon Lake's new album, "Coat of Many Colors". The song for you today is "Adoption Song". It is all about who we are IN HIM. Adopted into His family! Part of the chorus says:

I am adopted, I am beloved
It's my inheritance, I'm a child of God
So when the liar starts mouthing off
I'll sing in confidence my adoption song

Here is that song with the lyrics:

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!