Be Sure of What You Believe and Know

It’s not just a storyIt’s a livin’, breathin’, walkin’ testimonyOf a God so good, He’d leave his home in gloryFor the world He loved, for the world that He so lovedHe’s not just a story, eh
I believe in the life of JesusI believe that He conquered deathI believe in the resurrectionI believe He’s comin’ back againI believe that His Spirit’s with usI believe that He gives us powerI believe that He is the son of God
I can’t deny itIf I said, “I got here on my own, ” I’d be lyin’‘Cause my eyes have seen the goodness of the Father, ohWe’re the ones He loves, we’re the ones that He so loves, ohAnd I can’t deny it, oh, no-oh, say
We cry, “Holy, holyLet the earth rejoiceHe is worthy of all praise, yeah”We cry, “Holy, holyLet the earth rejoiceHe is worthy of all praise”Yes He is, oh!
“I Believe It” by Jon Reddick, Worship pastor and songwriter 

 

There is no God…..

Social Media…..

Climate Change…..

The sky is falling…..

The world is coming to an end!

The first and the last points above have been long-established.

You can believe that……There is most certainly a God.  A one and only God.

You can also believe that….This world will come to an end one day and that our one and only God is the only one that will decide when that will be.

As for climate change, God is in control of that too.  Social media is any ones guess why it is so important to so many.  Those who call themselves “influencers”, or how many likes you can get for something that you’ve posted.  My guess is that they probably need something more powerful to believe in.

Do you believe and do you know that you can have everlasting life?  Do you believe and do you know that God the Father, through His Son, Jesus Christ, that you can be born again?

If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and you confess your sins to Him and know John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” and that John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” and make a decision in faith, to follow Him, you will know this is truth.  God does not send people to hell, people send themselves by choosing the condemnation they are already under, instead of taking the way God has provided through faith in Christ.  We are all sinners, but we can change.

Which brings me to my second point.  1 John 2:29, “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.”  You can’t be the same as you were once you are born again.  The Holy Spirit starts to work in you and you are transformed from the inside out.  1 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  You get to start again, a refresh of life, getting rid of the old way you did things, to a new way of looking at your life and those around you.  Your compassion changes and your love for others will show God’s DNA in you.

Know that in this world you will have conflicts and trials and tribulations.  You can’t win them all, but you will win more than you lose because through Jesus, you are an overcomer.  John 16:33 Jesus tells us, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  Know that this will give you joy and not worry.

Faith isn’t a hunch, it’s knowing God will do what He says and faith takes God at His word.

Five little steps to help along the journey.

  • We will find the Truth in Scripture, so read your Bible.
  • Be honest with God when you pray, tell Him exactly how you feel.  You won’t hurt his feelings, He knows what your heart says.
  • Be grateful for all you have.
  • Walk in the Holy Spirit, allow Him to guide you.
  • Wait on the Lord for His timing.  He will either answer immediately, or He will say wait, or He will say no and move you in another direction.

We struggle to trust God because we have limited understanding.  Trusting God completely includes knowing who God is, knowing God’s heart and intentions for you, surrendering your control over the outcome, and having patience.

Before we were born again, we did nothing from faith.  After we are born again, faith in Jesus as our Redeemer, in God our Father, in the Holy Spirit, empowers us and that’s how we live. We lean on Them to do Their work in our life.

Knowing Jesus means you have a relationship with Him and you talk to Him and listen to Him.  He becomes your Shepherd and He knows your voice and you know His.  It means you read His Word and seek Him daily.  It means you know that He loves you and delights in you even though you are not perfect and still struggle with sin.  Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) says, The Lord your God …will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”  Psalm 37:23-24 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”

1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.  We know God personally by seeing His Word in the creation around us, in our hands by what we do for others, and in our hearts.
Do You Believe What You Know, Now?
If you don’t know and want to get started on this relationship with Jesus, with an open heart just say this little prayer and ask Him into your heart and then apply the steps noted above, you will come to be sure of what you believe and what you know.
You Can Be Sure