JesusWalk Bible Study Forum: Q1. Confidence in the Flesh - JesusWalk Bible Study Forum

Q1. (3:2-6) How does "confidence in the flesh" show up in your congregation? Have you ever struggled with it?

“Confidence in the flesh” shows up everywhere because that's the natural human tendency. We don’t even have to TRY. We naturally want control, and look to self for the ability and wisdom to make things happen. Any time we move out apart from God, even attempting something great for Him, we’re relying on confidence in the flesh.

From what I can see, there is a honest effort in my church to be humble before the Lord and avoid confidence in the flesh. There is flexibility in the leadership, and a willingness to change plans if the Lord seems to be leading in a different way. Time and again, we've seen Him do things that we simply could not do on our own. I also try to personally be aware of being dependent on God instead of myself. For example, I’ve been a pretty good leader/teacher through the years, but every time I face my class I’m aware that if the power of the Holy Spirit isn’t in it nobody will learn anything. I know this because I've tried to teach before out of my own confidence - and it was dry and lifeless and a complete struggle! There is nothing in the flesh that can produce spiritual victories.

I won’t say confidence in the flesh doesn’t exist within my church, but I cannot judge what is in the hearts of our congregation. Do they serve out of their love of Jesus—or do they serve seeking Jesus love and approval. Only God knows.

I often look inward, in awe of my transformation, and ponder why I do what I do. Is it an outpouring of my faith, or am I proving my faith? Am I capable of rationally distinguishing between the two?

I reflect… Why am I participating in this study? Is it through a desire to learn more fully of God’s Word, and my place in his kingdom—or am I simply fulfilling an intellectual challenge to tease my mental faculties? Is this study a burden I carry—or is it a joy to see the Word unfold through the teachings of Pastor Ralph. Paul expressed this sentiment best when he exhorted the Philippians to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Phi 2:12b)—to do these things without the expectation of salvation, but in faith, and fear that we might otherwise fall away.

There is no service we can perform to earn salvation—but we have the desire to serve when the Holy Spirit thrives within us. May the Holy Spirit open my eyes wide when I seek to earn God’s favor, for I am incapable of any act worthy of his love.

Q1. (3:2-6) How does "confidence in the flesh" show up in your congregation? Have you ever struggled with it?

I think all people and every church struggles confidence in the flesh.
I will use Pastor Ralph's list of boasts Paul could of use, and put into words for today

Circumcision -- I was baptized.

Citizenship -- I am a member of this denomination, or a member of the biggest and best church in town.

Genealogy-- My family has be members of this denomination for 4 generations.

Family Heritage -- My farther was a pastor and my grandfather was an elder.

Orthodoxy--We follow ever rule of our denomination.

Zeal --We never miss a service, we come Sunday morning Sunday night and every Wednesday.
Righteousness-- I am proud of the righteous life I live.

We as humans do not want to humble our self and come to the foot of the cross and admit that we are nothing but filthy sinners.

Q1. (3:2-6) How does "confidence in the flesh" show up in your congregation? Have you ever struggled with it?

"All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of the Lord!" Romans 3:23 And, yes, that includes those of us in the church. But what a joy it is to see someone who truly trusts in the Lord to uphold him/her in situations that most would use to glorify himself/herself! When the life of a Christian reflects the world--ie, trusting in your own ability--what does that say about Christ? We are to live differently than the world and if we don't, then we throw mud on our loving Lord! People look at Christians as they have down through the ages--hoping to see them fall short of living as Christ demands so that they can say, "You see? They're not any better than the rest of us!"
In the church, this can show up as someone who demands that the church fulfill their idea of what the church should support and do. If it doesn't follow their desires, they try to throw a monkeywrench into the work. They need our prayers for forgiveness.
Myself? Read the first sentence of my answer. Yes, of course I have, but praise the Lord, He forgives and re-establishes us when we repent!

Q1. (3:2-6) How does "confidence in the flesh" show up in your congregation? Have you ever struggled with it?

Our little home church is only 18 months old so we are still forced to be dependent on moment by moment faith. I pray it stays so. We left a denomination that turned its back on scripture and endorsed behavior clearly denounced as an abomination in the the bible. It was painful and we wanted to stay together and thus our little group was started.
I have struggled with confidence in the flesh. Years ago I attended a very legaistic church. Holiness was a list of do's and don'ts. Don't wear makeup, don't cut your hair, don't watch tv, etc. etc. Even after I left it took a long time to believe God accepted me if I didn't keep all the rules laid down by that group.

Sure I have struggled with “confidence in the flesh”. I remember one time in particular I was praying for a certain thing. I told God that I knew I could handle it, if He would only allow me to have what I asked for I would prove it to Him. How bold is that? Guess what happened. God answered my prayer and I failed the test. I messed up the situation very badly. I know now that He only granted my request to prove to me that I mess things up and it is only through His grace that I am able to accomplish anything. I learned a very valuable lesson, God is the one who knows all, knows what we can handle and what we can’t. He knows what is best for us, not us.

I can think of one circumstance where it was obvious that some were working in the flesh, that is when we were building our addition on and the building became almost more important than serving God. Every one was in a hurry to see it complete, therefore less time was spent in communion with God.

I have learned from some very difficult circumstances that we cannot trust in the flesh because we will fail, all our confidence must be in the Lord.

I can't say that I've noticed it in the congregation, but I sometimes struggle with it by thinking certain actions I perfrom will earn His love.

How does "confidence in the flesh" show up in your congregation? Have you ever struggled with it?

confidence in the flesh is trying to do something by one's self. then when it doesn't work out then you call upon the Lord and ask for help. i struggle with it most of the time. i now wake up and ask the Lord (PRAY) for SALVATION! for those i think are in need of it. then i ask him to do what needs doing. finally i ask him if he could take the reins of my life for the day. as for the congregation if i see something that shouldn't be i then pray for that person(s) in hope that they'll hear GOD's word. anything else would be judging, and that's for the Lord only.

Q1. (3:2-6) How does "confidence in the flesh" show up in your congregation? Have you ever struggled with it?

To put it simply - we are blessed with much artistic talent and people who want to serve. But I am weary that we will do everything so well, that we will fail to see when the Holy Spirit might leave. I just mean that we must always rely on God's strength, God's gifting and die to our own fleshly desires. I have seen the church today, lower the standards of church to entice the world to come - - God is saddened by this condition - - we must pray that we keep God in the center.

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[color=blue]1a.) I think anytime, we (I) start claiming credit for what God has done through us (me).[/color]
1b.) (3:2-6) Have you ever struggled with it?
[color=blue]1b.) Yes, and will continue to.[/color]

This is a difficult question for me. I see people who want to operate their own little empires within the church. Our pastors have not gone along with it and some have left in consequence. There has been flack for the pastors, but the empires were to run on largely secular/humanitarian grounds. Others have considered themselves greater than others because they have been through college or in ministry, but their call has not been to service. They have been looking for status in the church. It seems that "who they are" in terms of experience or training, is their basis for confidence and acknowledgement. Being a pastor must be a very trying situation at times.

I was once told - in the early days after my return to the faith - that I was trying too hard and should stop that. I had no idea what they were getting at, but two people I respected were agreeing on this so I had to hear them. I was distressed that I had forgotten my faith for many years and was trying to catch them up!. I tried so hard to do everything right! At that time I was operating in that flesh of "doing", not realising that it is all about relationship and "being". It really took me years to begin to sort this one out. These days I am free to just adore Jesus, and see what comes of that. Not that I have everything taped, but it is much more relaxing (stressless) this way - as my favourite Hebrews 4 warns us: "make sure that you enter into my rest" It is His peace that is the guide, not all the works that I can do!

Q1. (3:2-6) How does "confidence in the flesh" show up in your congregation?
Confidence in the flesh is one that we see often in the churches not just of today but it has been around since the time Jesus started the church. We start to think because we are trained to do something we can do it better than others that are not trained but called by the Lord to do things. One example is a lady that use to attend our church was a trained singer. She has a beautiful voice and was trained well in doing so. She never sang in the Spirit of God her training was good but you did not feel the power of the Spirit when she sang. It was more like look at me I know how to do this. Then one night she was signing and the Holy Spirit moved in her and her voice was like an angel not trained to sing but singing unto God. What a difference it made in the way her singing was received by those in the church. Instead of listening to see if she made mistakes people rejoiced and worshiped God in her singing. It is a blessing to know to be able to do things but that is your blessing you bless others when you do it under the anointing.

Have you ever struggled with it?
All of us struggle with the flesh from time to time. We think we can do something better or trained more than others to handle things. God's leading is the most important training there is and we need to hold to him for guidance and what is the right way. So the answer here is yes.

Sorry I am later responding to the questions but there is a tragedy. My first cousin's husband went lobster fishing Saturday morning and did not return. Just today (Tuesday) they found the body. Please keep them in your prayers. Thank you.

Lesson 6 Q 1
(a) "Confidence in the flesh" shows up in my congregation by placing emphasis on religious effort than on internal faith. People's spirituality is judged by their fulfillment of duties or their level of human activity in the church, but God values the attitude of our hearts above all else. Amen?
Yes, I have struggled with "confidence in the flesh" and I am sure all humans have sometime or another because we have all boasted in the flesh. It has to do with what man thinks is important and we all want to feel important among our fellowman. It all comes down to our pride.

By having the holier than thou attitude. By thinking that they can acquire for themselves what only God can do. By not obeying the Holy Spirit's prompting and by thinking they are responsible for their own standing in the church by their own doings. Pretense as to their own salvation.
No, not to my knowledge because I know that I can do nothing without my God and Holy Spirit guiding me. I consider it an honor and a privilege to teach in Sunday School. It would be an honor to serve in any capacity that God would have me.

Q1. (3:2-6) How does "confidence in the flesh" show up in your congregation? Have you ever struggled with it?

It shows up in my church more than it should. There is always people that think they are better than you becuase they have been trained to do a job. Your training does not make us better if we don't know how to show love to others that don't have any training. Unless his Spirit is guiding us. it won't makes us feel any better just because we know something.

Yes, i have struggled with it at times. I would be lying if i said i didn't.

How does "confidence in the flesh" show up in your congregation?Have you struggled with it?

Confidence in the flesh shows up in congregations when people allow pride
gossip, and other worldly things to be part of their walk with God. Also, a
desire for one to edify themselves above others, putting themselves first,
instead of a willingness to serve others.

Yes, and I would say that ALL of God's people at some time or another have
had to deal with this problem. The Spirit indeed is willing , but the flesh is weak. Have no confidence, I say, in the flesh.

Q1. (3:2-6) How does "confidence in the flesh" show up in your congregation?
I haven’t seen too much of that in my Church, but there is one that seems to continually seek recognition for her “works,“ instead of giving the glory to God.

Have you ever struggled with it?
I don’t think anyone can honestly say no to this question. We all struggle with “confidence in the flesh” from time to time. We are all human and following things of the flesh comes easy to us.

Confidence in the flesh can generally be identified only by the Lord. It is usually hard for others to judge and be correct concerning somebody else's motives. However, since we are human it can be a problem for all of us, especially if we are talented ... a musician, a leader, a teacher ... a pastor ... we can easily lean on our own skills and "successes" and not depend upon the Lord.

Have I been guilty of this? Yes, many times unfortunately. Sometimes a good dose of failure brings us back to dependence upon the Lord.