Embracing Holy Confidence: Courage Through God's Presence

Holy confidence is not about self-assurance or bravado, but about stepping into the life God has for us with a courage that comes from Him alone. Many of us look at people who seem naturally courageous and assume they were born with something we lack, but the truth is, courage is not a personality trait—it's a spiritual posture. The stories of my children facing their fears at Disney remind us that courage often begins in small moments, and those small acts of bravery prepare us for greater challenges ahead. In the same way, Joshua in the Bible was not initially a man of great courage; he needed God to remind him repeatedly to be strong and courageous. God’s call to Joshua—and to us—is not to be fearless, but to trust that He is with us, and that His presence is the true source of our confidence.

Fear is a constant companion for anyone pursuing God’s dreams. It sets the boundaries of our freedom, keeping us from stepping into the destiny God has for us. We often live in the tension between the fear of failure and the fear of insignificance. The fear of failure asks, “What if I try and it doesn’t work?” while the fear of insignificance asks, “What if I never try at all?” God’s word to us is to not let fear or discouragement define us, but to step forward in faith, knowing that He is with us every step of the way.

Greatness, as God defines it, is not the same as fame. Fame is self-seeking and self-serving, but greatness is always about others. Jesus calls us to live outwardly, to serve, and to make a difference in the lives of those around us. The power to do this comes from the Holy Spirit, who fills us with a holy confidence and boldness to be witnesses and to live lives that are not just changed, but world-changing.

Courage is rooted in integrity and humility. Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching, and humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less. When we live with humility and integrity, we become people who can say “yes” to God in a thousand small ways, building a life of holy confidence one step at a time. Ultimately, courage is not the absence of fear, but the absence of self. When our confidence is rooted in God, we can face anything, knowing that to live is Christ and to die is gain. Our lives become a series of “yeses” to God, and through those yeses, we step into the destiny He has prepared for us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Courage is not a personality trait, but a spiritual posture rooted in God’s presence. Joshua was not naturally courageous; he needed God’s repeated reminders to “be strong and courageous.” True courage comes not from self-confidence, but from the assurance that God is with us, empowering us to step into moments we could never face on our own. [09:02]
• 2. Fear sets the boundaries of our freedom, but God calls us to live beyond those boundaries. We all live in the tension between the fear of failure and the fear of insignificance. The question is not just “What if I fail?” but also “What if I never try?” God’s invitation is to trust Him enough to step forward, even when fear is present, knowing that He has called us to something greater. [13:33]
• 3. Greatness is defined by serving others, not by seeking fame or recognition. Fame is self-centered, but greatness in God’s kingdom is always about making a difference in the lives of others. If our prayers and ambitions only change our own world, we are missing the call to live outwardly and sacrificially for the sake of others. [17:20]
• 4. Holy confidence is the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit, who gives us boldness and power to be witnesses. This confidence is not self-generated, but comes from God’s Spirit working in and through us. When we are filled with the Spirit, sharing our faith and stepping into God’s purposes becomes a natural overflow, not a forced effort. [20:19]
• 5. Courage is built on a foundation of integrity and humility, and is expressed through a lifetime of small, faithful “yeses” to God. Integrity is doing what’s right when no one is watching, and humility is thinking of ourselves less so we can serve others more. When we live this way, fear loses its grip, and we find ourselves stepping into God’s destiny through a million little acts of obedience. [28:05]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:00] - Introduction to Holy Confidence
• [03:12] - Disney Stories: Courage in Small Moments
• [05:15] - The Illusion of Natural Courage
• [06:53] - Holy Confidence vs. Self-Confidence
• [09:02] - God’s Call to Joshua: Be Strong and Courageous
• [11:27] - The Boundaries of Fear
• [13:33] - Fear of Failure vs. Fear of Insignificance
• [15:22] - Greatness vs. Fame
• [17:20] - Living for Others: The Litmus Test
• [20:19] - The Power of the Holy Spirit
• [21:45] - Courage, Integrity, and Humility
• [23:40] - Paul’s Perspective: To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain
• [25:12] - Courage is the Absence of Self
• [28:05] - A Million Little Yeses
• [30:26] - Prayer for Holy Confidence
• [31:42] - Invitation to Follow Jesus
• [32:59] - Closing and Celebration

Bible Reading

Joshua 1:5-9 (ESV) — > No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Acts 1:8 (ESV) — > But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Philippians 1:20-21 (ESV) — > As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Observation Questions

1. In Joshua 1, how many times does God tell Joshua to “be strong and courageous,” and what reasons does He give for this command? [09:02]
2. According to Acts 1:8, what is the result of the Holy Spirit coming upon the followers of Jesus? [20:19]
3. In Philippians 1:20-21, what is Paul’s attitude toward life and death, and how does this reflect his confidence? [23:40]
4. The sermon mentioned two types of fear that set boundaries in our lives. What are they, and how do they show up in our decisions? [13:33]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God had to remind Joshua multiple times to be strong and courageous? What does this say about the nature of courage in the life of a believer? [09:02]
2. The sermon says, “Fear is the constant companion of every dreamer.” How does this idea challenge the way we usually think about courage and fear in following God? [13:33]
3. How does the difference between greatness and fame, as described in the sermon, change the way we think about our ambitions and prayers? [17:20]
4. Paul says, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” How does this perspective help someone face their fears or step into difficult situations? [23:40]

Application Questions

1. Think about a time when fear kept you from stepping into something you felt God was calling you to do. What was the fear—failure or insignificance? How did it affect your decision? [13:33]
2. The sermon talked about “a million little yeses” to God. What is one small “yes” you could give God this week, even if it feels scary or inconvenient? [28:05]
3. Where in your life do you tend to seek self-confidence instead of holy confidence? What would it look like to shift your trust from yourself to God in that area? [06:53]
4. The difference between greatness and fame is that greatness is about serving others. Is there a place in your life where you need to take the spotlight off yourself and serve someone else? What would that look like this week? [17:20]
5. The sermon says courage is built on integrity and humility. Is there a situation where you need to do the right thing, even if no one else will notice? What’s holding you back? [21:45]
6. Paul’s attitude in Philippians 1:20-21 shows that he isn’t afraid of the outcome because his confidence is in Christ. Is there a situation in your life where you need to adopt this “win-win” mindset? How could that change your approach? [23:40]
7. The Holy Spirit gives us power to be witnesses. Is there someone in your life you feel nudged to share your faith with, but fear is holding you back? What’s one step you could take to move forward in courage? [20:19]