How do I know I am saved?

1 John 5:13

How do I know if I am saved?  How do I know I am going to heaven?  Am I good enough?  Why do I keep sinning, if I am saved?  Do you ever ask yourself questions like these?  I think we all do on occasion.  Satan puts those doubts in our heads.  He wants us to feel we are not as good as the next person.  Satan is a deceiver!  If you truly believe, God wants us to know we have eternal life. 

We say we believe and confess that Jesus is Lord.  We pray and ask God His forgiveness and we are then saved.  BUT, are you actually saved?  Did you actually change your life?  How you live is evidence of truly being saved.  Ask yourself the following questions.

Have you confessed your sins to God?  “That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Rom. 10:9. 

Do you believe in Jesus?  “And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ….” – 1 John 3:23.  “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…” – Acts 16:31.

Do you love and obey God?  “This is love for God: to obey his commands.” – 1 John 5:3.  If you truly have faith in Jesus you will pursue obeying Him.

Do you do what Jesus wants you to do or what you want to do? “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” – Matt. 16:24

Do you worship God?  “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” – John 4:24.

Do you tell others about Him?  “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” – Matt.  28:19.

Are you content with what you have or do you lust for what the world offers?  “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” – 1 Tim. 6:6.

Do you dislike someone so much that it is really hate?  “Anyone who claims to be in light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.” – 1 John 2:9.

Are you willing to give up a particular sin?  When you accidentally fall into that sin, does it disgust you and you get out of it quickly and ask God for forgiveness?  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9.

As you grow in your faith can you see your life being affected by what God wants instead of what you want?  Our salvation depends on the person and work of Jesus Christ.  So do you believe that Jesus is who He says He is?  Do you believe He died on the cross for your sins? 

Scripture can make us wise about our salvation.  “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – 2 Tim. 3:14-17

The book of 1 John is full of the word “know”.  This entire book is written for the purpose of knowing you are saved.  John wants us to keep our faith in Christ and stand strong and to never doubt.  1 John 5:13 – “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

So don’t go by your feelings.  Don’t question whether you are saved or not.  Just read God’s Word and be assured.  Trust God and who Jesus is.  Believe and you are saved!

We will begin the study of the Gospel of John and 1 John the coming weeks.  You won’t want to miss it.  Hope to see you here.

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Has God lifted His favor from America?

We are living in troubled time not only here in America, but all over the world.  Extremists are killing anyone who doesn’t agree with their beliefs.  Islam is torturing and killing Americans and Christians. Our own people are killing those who serve and protect.  Mothers are killing the unborn.  Those who serve and protect us are being gunned down.  There is self-centeredness and hatred everywhere. 

Some of our churches are watering down the gospel.  They rarely condemn sins like pre-marital sex, abortions, greed, idolatry, and the big one homosexuality.  The Bible is clear on all these subjects.  But we choose to ignore it.  We say times have changed; we need to be tolerant; we think we know best.  We tell ourselves that we are good people and we don’t murder and besides we are not as bad as that other guy.  Many say that all roads lead to God, but Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6.  And - “Love your neighbor as yourself.” – Mark 12:31.  We have become more and more tolerant of sin.  Our churches are filled with unconverted people who say they are Christians, but have not fully surrendered to God.

The Bible tells us we are to stand and support Israel and He will bless us.  “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse” – Gen. 12:3.  Our own President is no friend to Israel.  Just his lack of commitment toward Israel shows he is not with Israel.  Maybe that is why there is so much unrest in America.  Is God cursing us?

Why is all this happening?  I think it’s because Satan knows his time is running out and he is working extra hard to bring all the darkness he can.  He wants to destroy us and turn us away from God.  The Bible warns us about Satan.  Jesus called him “the prince of this world” and “the father of lies”.  He continually tries to deceive us.  He puts desires and bitterness in our hearts and in many ways it seems he is succeeding.

The unsaved are serving Satan.  Just look at our TV shows and movies.  They are full of adultery, lust, violence, filthy language, murder, and sex.  Pornography is everywhere.  The video games our children are playing are full of violence.  Then we wonder why there are shootings in our schools and killing of our police officers.

Yes, Satan is real.  Satan has tried to destroy God’s relationship with people since the Garden of Eden.   “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” – 2 Cor. 4:4.    

What can we do about it?  We need to pray, pray, pray.  We all need Jesus.  Two thousand years ago, Jesus ended the debate on which lives matter.  He died for all.  He died for all races - blacks, brown, yellow, and whites.  He died for Christians and Muslims.  We need to be a united America.  We just need to accept Jesus and repent before it’s too late.  Please pray for the world and for America.

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How to pray for someone on drugs?

Do you know someone who is enslaved by the use of narcotics or alcohol or some other destructing habit?  You’ve done everything you can think of to help them, but to no avail.  God cares and knows you and the addicted person is hurting.  He wants to help.  You pray for them, but you are not really sure of how to pray.  Here is sample prayer you might use.

            Jesus, you are the same yesterday and today and forever and nothing is impossible for you.  You have the power to heal those who are struggling with addictions.  I pray for name here and lift him/her up to you and ask that you strip him/her from the unhealthy desires.  I pray that they no longer desire to be a slave of wrong habits and behaviors or be under these powers.  Help them to reach out for help.  Put God-fearing people in their path to help and support them.

            Help them not continue to make the same mistakes over and over.  Expose them to these wrong thought patterns.  I pray that they confess this as sin and turn to you. May they desire to be filled and controlled by your Holy Spirit.

            Show them ways and open doors in which they may beat these bad habits and cravings.  Put good influences in their life while taking those that are bad out of their life.  Surround name here  with good and wholesome people to support them.  Give them courage and hope.  Bless them with the persistence to preserver.

            You, Lord are our Creator and we trust you.  We turn name here over to you.  Put your loving arms around name here and protect him/her from the enemy’s powers.

            Thank you, God for hearing my prayer.  I believe that you are working on name here behalf.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Now keep praying and don’t give up.  Remember you can’t fix them, only God can.  He is the one who is in control.  You just be supportive and faithful in prayer.

“Pray without ceasing” – 1 Thess. 5:17

Thanks for visiting my site.  Hope to see you here next time.

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How to pray for the lost

We all have friends and family members who don’t know Christ.  We pray for them, but sometime we really don’t know how to effectively pray.  Maybe they even know who He is, but have not truly accepted Him as their Savior or have not totally surrendered to Him.  Here are some things you can pray and Scriptures to help you.

Pray that God would connect them to genuine believers and that He would show them how simple the gospel is.  “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men – the testimony given in its proper time.” – 1 Tim. 2:5-6

Pray that they would be disconnected from influences that pull them away from Christ. “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’.” – 1 Cor. 15:33

Pray for the lies they have been led to believe will be exposed. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” – 2 Cor. 4:4

Pray for God to bind Satan and turn them from darkness to light so they will be forgiven of their sins.  “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” – Acts 26:18

Pray they are delivered from evil and Satan’s schemes and any stronghold.  “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” – 2 Cor. 10:4-5.

Pray that they would know all the blessings God has for believers.  “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” – Eph 1:17-19

Pray the Holy Spirit will convict them of their sins and make them aware of their need for a Savior and that they avoid God’s coming judgment.  “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me.” – John 16:8-9

Pray their hearts will be changed, that they will believe and be save, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” – Ez. 36:26.  “for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, what whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16.  “... be filled with Spirit.” – Eph. 5:18b

Pray they be baptized and teach others about Jesus. “Therefore go and make disciples to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” – Matt. 28:18-20.

Pray that they grow in Christ and help them to obey God’s Word.  “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31-32

Pray they will be found faithful when they stand before God.  “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’” – Matt. 5:21

Now pray consistently and often.  “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” – Luke 2:1 God may not answer our prayers in the timing we want, because our timing is not His timing.  But don’t give up.  Prayer not only can change the lives of others, but it can change yours.

God wants us to pray for the lost.  He doesn’t want anyone to perish.  We should also pray for our government and all those in authority.  “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” – 1 Tim. 2:1-4

Who in your life is God prompting you to pray for?

We may not know what to do to bring our loved ones to Christ, but we can pray then leave it to God.  Prayer is a BIG weapon for the salvation of souls.  The Bible says a lot about prayer and there are many books on prayer.  One that is very good for praying on a variety of subjects is “Prayers That Avail Much” by Germaine Copeland.  In the book there are actually prayers based on Scriptures with Scripture references.  I highly recommend it.

Now don’t give up.  Keep praying!!  “Pray without ceasing.” – 1 Thess. 5:17

Thanks for visiting my site.  Have a blessed day.  Hope to see you here next time.

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