Blessed Assurance

1 John 3:3 “And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

What does it take to fully commit to a walk with Christ?

Why does it seem there are so many who have settled for less, when the Lord offers so much more?

In this day and age I believe we are witnessing a separation. There are many who claim to be of Christ, and yet their lives are unrecognizable from the world. The language they use sounds like any godless person, their marriages are kept only when convenient, they employ a “progressive” form of christianity that believes it must change with the times. Secular culture demands the once sacred and holy lines be moved to accommodate secular ideology. Covenants are only pieces of paper, shredded when the vow isn’t fulfilling. Christ isn’t mentioned in conversation, fearing the hearer might be offended. Bibles collect dust on the shelves, prayer is often a repeated gesture at dinner, and church is attended only when the game isn’t in conflict.

Like Elijah standing before the prophets of Baal, the odds seem overwhelming against anyone who might take a stand.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that so many people suffer through anxiety and fear. Bodies break down from stress, relationships suffer, and children reject the “faith” of their parents when it seems only like hypocrisy.

What assurance do we have that God will look favorably upon our land? If God’s people can’t be found faithful, what will happen to those who live contrary to His commands?

Present the Offering

When Elijah challenged the false ideologies of his culture, it felt like he was all alone. The numbers of those who reject the Lord far outnumber those who would take a stand. Sure, there are large numbers of people who claim affiliation with Christ, but a significant number of them stay silent. It is when an Elijah shows up in the power and might of the Lord does the situation get interesting.

Confronting worldly ideology will invoke ridicule and scorn. The moment a faithful believer decides to move from casual observer to the front lines of the spiritual war does the challenge of their faith take root. Like offering up a sacrifice before the Lord, God’s people have a choice as to whether they believe God is greater than the lies being shouted in their ears.

Once the offering has been made…God proves Himself once again.

1 Kings 18:38-39 “Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.”

The world needs people who are bold in their faith. It is these few who endure the greatest ridicule but also receive the greatest reward. When faith meets action, evidence of God’s enduring power is made clear for all to see. Ask any faithful missionary how they see God manifesting His presence in their lives, and you will hear tails of miraculous discovery as God shows up each and every time.

For the one who shares the gospel on the streets, the spiritual war of light and darkness is ever present. Demonic spirits shriek in fear and hatred at the sight of the redeemed, for the boldness of their faith scatters the wicked and shines light upon the lost. Curses from the enemy are muttered under their breath, some flee at the sight of the faithful, while others who hunger for truth are drawn like a moth to a flame.

Where are the bold and the faithful?

There are too many shuttered in their pews, content with singing another hymnal and dropping a little change in the plate.

Where is the proclaimer of Truth?

The voices heard in the counsel of many, as the Lord is mighty before them.

Where does the change happen?

It begins with a call to purity.

1 John 3:6-8 “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”

“The man that fully enjoys the light of God’s reconciled countenance, will be a man trembling afraid of losing its blessed consolations”—J.C.Ryle

Reconciling before God is to confess sin, and turn from it. How do we know we have sinned? It is the law of the Lord that has been offended, and the Spirit of God upholds the law and keeps it holy.

Examining our hearts before God can be a sobering occasion. We often times want to be considered better than we are. Rarely does a person want to be known as a bad person, there always is another justification for hazy sin. The white lie doesn’t sound as bad as a blatant deception of the truth. The lustful glance seems fair as long as it doesn’t become a stare. The hateful thought is acceptable when it is only shared among others and not with the offender.

Oh how I wish I could be perfect before God…unfortunately I too fall short.

What are God’s people to do? Do we accept our weaknesses as who we are and continue to live powerless lives? Do we believe that since we fail, we have no right to take a stand for our faith?

The message was clear long ago and resonates today….

2 Chronicle 7:14 “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

It first begins with humility. Forsaking pride and recognizing anything good we have comes from God. It follows with prayer. The humble bow before God, confessing their sin and recognizing it was Him who was offended. Seeking God’s face is to desire to follow His will, allowing Jesus to be the Shepherd who guides. We must give up our plans and accept the plans that God has in place, if we don’t, we will find ourselves swimming against the current.

Failure is inevitable when our plans don’t align with God’s plans.

Then comes the promise….

• I will hear from heaven
• I will forgive their sin
• I will heal their land

When God restores, He does so completely. What assurance do we have that God will never leave us or forsake us? How can you know whether God will be there when you take that stand for Christ?

You have to trust Him and just do it!

It takes faith.

Do you have that kind of faith? If you don’t, then pray for it.

God honors true faith and He will increase it in those who earnestly seek it, then the assurance of God’s promises meet the at the point of true belief.