I address the topic of confidence from two perspectives: one is in the context of provision; the other is in the context of authority.

When you know that God is the One who called and sent you, in spite of what you see in front of you, you will have a trust that God will provide. There are times when it is our obedience to the will of God that even takes us from a physical state of plenty. Elijah declared a famine in Israel and guess what? It affected him too! But God commanded ravens and a widow to feed him. (1 Kings 17:4,9).

Know this: you may not have the overflow you would like to have or even once had because you have stepped out in obedience to the call of God on your life, but there will be provision; you will be sustained!

Now let’s step it up a bit. We are confident in God’s providing power and care, but there is another level to being confident. It is a confidence when facing the dragon and his angels mentioned in chapter 1 with reference to Revelation 12. It is a confidence in war.

Consider Acts 19:13-16. The sons of Sceva took something on themselves- God had not given it to them. So, when faced with a particularly stubborn demon, they were overcome.

As we go forward in ministry, we must know and remember that we did not choose ourselves. As Paul was busy going about his own affairs, even so many of us were minding our own business when God stepped in and interrupted our activities and plans with His call. My dear reader, though you may sometimes see this in a negative light, it is this point that gives you power to stand in the face of the enemy. Though you may sometimes feel like God imposed Himself on you, rejoice about it! Why? Because that is the source of your Authority.

When we go out by ourselves we go limited in power and authority because we bear witness of our limited selves. But when a Chosen Vessel steps out, he or she goes not in his name, but in the name of the One who came and interrupted that life for His purpose. I didn’t ask for marriage. Many of you never asked for ministry. So we as chosen vessels did not take this on ourselves- it was God who called, chose, processed and sent us. So when we stand before principalities and powers or even the Devil himself, we have all authority to say ‘back up!’ Sceva’s sons couldn’t do this because they took something upon themselves that can only work when we are sent.