Dangers Of Being Spiritually Overconfident

Where does our Confidence lie in? <header>

• Overconfidence is the twin brother of pride.
• Overconfidence breeds carelessness, and often times even the smallest miscalculation can cause unforeseen consequences.
• The bible is on repeat mode, warning us how sinners had fallen again and again because of their overconfidence, yet we never learn.
• We thought we can manage, but before we knew it, we fell right into the devil’s trap.
• <Prov 16:18> “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

<1Cor 10>

• 1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
• If we think we have experienced God’s goodness enough to save us from the fall into temptations, let’s not get too complacent.
• 6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
• 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
• 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.

• The reason Israel fell from grace was because they had set their hearts on evil things (v6).
• Physically, the Israelites are out of Egypt in the wilderness, but Egypt is not out of their hearts.
• Anything that has a higher place than God in our hearts are our idols.
• Grumbles = unhappy or bitter about the state of our lives, when we always think our lives can be better if……
• 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
• Our past victories over temptations do not guarantee us an automatic present victory.
• It is really in our humans’ tendencies in becoming overconfident of ourselves.
• One of the greatest temptations we will ever face, is spiritual complacency when we lose awareness of our vulnerability to all other temptations.
• <1 Pe 5:8> 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
• Our devil is never at rest, so we can never be at rest.
• 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

<1Cor 10>

• The dangers of being spiritually overconfident, or being spiritually complacent.
• How easily and vulnerable we are in becoming spiritually overconfident and complacent.

<Luke 22>

• 31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
• <Mark 14>
• 27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
• 30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” 31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

• Our non-reliance on God reveals that we are spiritually overconfident.

Symptoms of Spiritual Overconfidence

1) Belittle what God says

• We care about ourselves more than what God says.
• We exalt how we feel, we exalt the circumstances we are in, we exalt ourselves more than the words of our Saviour.
• If our self-confidence does not come from the word of God, it is then foolish confidence that will stumble us ultimately.

<Mark 14>

• 32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
• 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
• 37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
• 39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
• 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

2) Pray too little

• v38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
• We Christians always wait for evil to be right up on us and in our face, then we start to cry out for God’s help to deliver us.
• When we reflect upon our prayer life, we will know if we are spiritually overconfident.
• We pray less because we are too confident about ourselves that we are able to manage our time, fend off temptations, and hold onto God regardless.

<John 18>

• 1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
• 4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” 5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
• 7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. 11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

3) Act too fast

• When we are full of our foolish confidence, we act in the way of our flesh.
• Jesus did not need Peter’s protection but Peter’s obedience
• We rely on what we can do more than what God can do.
• We miss the point and the heart of God totally.
• The way we act tells us about our reliance on God.

The Denial

• Peter disowned Jesus, so strongly to the point of cursing himself.
• The 3 denials happened over a period of 2 hours, meaning to say they are premeditated denials.

• <Lk 22:31> “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

The Real Confidence (Assurance) in God

1) God is sovereign (even in our trials)

• In their trials, they fail to see the sovereign presence of God and what God wants to bring about.
• God is not absent in our trials, in fact he is sovereign over the trials brought about by the evil one.
• God is sovereign and he will not give us something we cannot bear.
• <Mt 24:35> Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

2) God is interceding for us (even in our trials)

• Ultimately in the face of trials and sufferings in our lives, only our genuine faith will be able to withstand the test.
• Our God is interceding for us and only through His grace & mercy, our faith is being sustained.

3) God has a greater purpose for us (even in our trials)

• In God, there is no trial or suffering unnecessarily inflicted upon his children or by mistake, they are all for a greater purpose and a greater glory.
• God’s heart is never for us to tide over hardship after hardship aimlessly. For each difficulty life throws at us, God has a greater calling for us.

How to Build Our Confidence in God?