Psalm 88:13 (ESV) I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. Psalm 5:3 (KJV) My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, & will look up. Psalm 55:17 (KJV) Evening, & morning, & at noon, will I pray, & cry aloud: & He shall hear my voice. Psalm 141:2 (KJV) Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; & the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. — Quote: Billy Graham, “Prayer is spiritual communication between man and God, a two-way relationship in which man should not only talk to God but also listen to Him. Prayer to God is like a child’s conversation with his father. It is natural for a child to ask his father for the things he needs.” Quote: Leonard Ravinhill, “A man may study because his brain is hungry for knowledge, even Bible knowledge. But he prays because his soul is hungry for God.” — A way to have a conversation with God is critical to knowing Him. Love Mel
The Assurance of The Believer
Gal 4 v 1-7 (KJV) – Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
This post is very much a paraphrase of another excellent John MacArthur sermon about the Assurance of the Believer. The gospel is not ambiguous as are most of the false religions. The gospel states that every human being is a sinner and will experience the judgment of God at the appointed time if a remedy is not found. We can do nothing to change this on our own. The proof that we are all sinners is that we die! The penalty for sin, according to scripture is death.
The good news is that God loves the world and loves sinners, and he provided deliverance for us in the form of the sacrifice of His son Jesus Christ. The question to be discussed in this sermon from Pastor John is How can we be sure that Christ is The Savior and can save me? Well, according to scripture and many witnesses, He died and rose from the dead. He took the wrath of God on Himself willingly – God was satisfied – and He raised Jesus from the dead.
Now – How can WE be certain that WE have received salvation? Many people lack the assurance of their salvation! What are some of the reasons we lack this assurance?
- We see paltry or no result to our efforts as Christians! We believe that we are making no impact.
- We see inconsistency in our life and our desires.
- We struggle with indwelling sin.
- We neglect worship, fellowship and prayer on occasion.
So, if we are saved, how can we be sure? Eph 1:13 (KJV) says: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise”. He gives us His Holy Spirit upon salvation! The evidence of salvation of course is the fruit of the spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, meekness and self-control.
God has predestined us and chosen us into His family from satan’s family and we are protected there by His Holy Spirit. This only happens because of Christ. The Holy Spirit shows us the blessings God has given us, He leads us, He instructs us, and He convicts and comforts us.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. But how can I be certain I am really adopted and in Christ? Gal 4:6 says that we are adopted and we cry Abba father!
In your darkest hour, do you cry out to your daddy in heaven to save you? By His spirit we cry Abba (daddy) Father.
So, in sum, when we are saved, we receive the Holy Spirit and He protects us and leads us. He also causes us to cry out to our father in heaven when we are in distress.
The Holy Spirit Is your inner guarantee that you are a child of God. Be assured that you have been chosen and predestined if you see the Holy Spirit in your life.
The Crown of Righteousness
From GotQuestions.org. “Crown five that may be awarded to believers at the judgment seat of Christ is “The Crown of Righteousness – (2 Timothy 4:8) “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, & not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” We inherit this crown through the righteousness of Christ which is what gives us a right to it, & without which it cannot be obtained. Because it is obtained & possessed in a righteous way, & not by force & deceit as earthly crowns sometimes are, it is an everlasting crown, promised to all who love the Lord & eagerly wait for His return. Through our enduring discouragements, persecutions, sufferings, or even death, we know assuredly our reward is with Christ in eternity (Philippians 3:20). This crown is not for those who depend upon their own sense of righteousness or of their own works. Such an attitude breeds only arrogance & pride, not a longing, a fervent desire to be with the Jesus.”
The Crown of Rejoicing
Reference GotQuestions.org. The fourth crown that may be awarded to believers at the judgment seat of Christ is “The Crown of Rejoicing – (1 Thessalonians 2:19) “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:4 to “rejoice always in the Lord” for all the bountiful blessings our gracious God has showered upon us. As Christians we have more in this life to rejoice about than anyone else. (Eternal Life) Luke tells us there is rejoicing even now in heaven (Luke 15:7). The crown of rejoicing will be our reward where “God will wipe away every tear . . . there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).” Love Mel
The Crown of Glory
Another crown, the third we will discuss that the believer may obtain at the Judgement Seat of Christ, is The Crown of Glory. The Bible says when our Lord appears we will “receive the crown of glory that does not fade away “ (1 Peter 5:4). This will be awarded to all those who long for or love His appearing, which means looking for the rapture and the second coming with an anxious and hopeful longing to be with Him. So it is wise to study the scriptures for these events showing your interest. Books like the Revelation and the gospels are rich with the signs of His soon appearing. Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13 give us many signs to study and look for. I also highly recommend for the more visually inclined to see Nelson Walters on YouTube. You can google it with his name and “signs of the second coming” and “signs of the rapture” all on YouTube. You will be amazed. As Paul said in Rom 8:18 “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”.
