confidence ...

• Acts 5:29 (NLT)

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Where is my confidence based?

Is it in what I do?
- The apostles taught God's truth and God did many signs and wonders through them (Acts 5:12).

Is it in what people think of me?
- The people were amazed by the teaching and miracles of the apostles and cheers the great "show", but they were afraid to associate themselves with them (Acts 5:13).

Is it in my circumstances?
- The religious leaders of the day were jealous of the apostles and had them thrown in prison (Acts 5:18). - BAD DAY
- An angel comes and sets the apostles free from jail (Acts 5:19) - GOOD DAY
- The apostles are recaptured and brought to face trial before the religious leaders (Acts 5:26-27) - BAD DAY

Is it in God?
- Standing before the religious leaders the apostles did not say ...
* "Leave us alone because we can do great things."
* "Don't you know who we are, we a famous among the people."
* "Please don't do anything bad to us again."

- Standing before the religious leaders the apostles did say ...
* But Peter and the apostles answered, “WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER
THAN MAN. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put
to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to
His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and
forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the
Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Confidence comes from knowing God and doing what He says no matter what my abilities are, no what people think of me, and no matter my circumstances.

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