I thank you for your faithfulness. Even when I waiver for a moment and doubt Your control or Your plan, You still love me and . . . You REMAIN in control.
The blood of every murdered baby and adult cries out to You for vengeance! Their cries will not go unanswered. The wicked will be exposed and receive their due punishment. Your timing is perfect . . . Your Ways are not our Ways!
Luke 12:1-3 – In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
You told us everything which has been concealed will be revealed. We know it is true, for You cannot speak falsely. The only question remaining is, will it be in this world or at the judgement? This we do not know. I believe you meant the present evil will be exposed before You take us home in the Rapture, yet even so I hold fast to You, to Your Nature and to Your Sovereignty and not to my assumptions or interpretations.
Will this current election debacle be exposed before the Socialists and the greedy power brokers seize the day? This is entirely up to You, Oh Mighty God! I am certain of one thing, if they are exposed, it will not be entirely in the natural, but only by Your Mighty Hand and You will receive the Honor and the Glory!
If you choose to move on behalf of the nation of America once again, it will be for Your Glory. We beseech You now Lord, to uphold Your Mighty Name and Your Honor before the evil powers of this world while we remain here on this earth. This nation is facing its very own Red Sea Moment. We are hemmed in on every side and our only hope is in You! It had to be thus, for You will share Your Glory only with Jesus Christ the Risen Lord!
We raise up Holy Hands to lift the arms of those You’ve appointed for such a time as this and await Your deliverance and the destruction of the enemy.
Many cowered and cried on the beach of the Red Sea, fearing their seemingly certain destruction. Others made a conscious decision to seek Your Face and to lift up the arms of Your representative with their eyes to Heaven as they awaited Your Miraculous Deliverance! Like us, they did not know how or when it would come, but they knew the time was at hand and they faced either deliverance or destruction. Their faith in Your Character and Nature told them . . . Miraculous Deliverance was at hand.
We will not go back to Egypt. We will not long for the false “peace” of slavery. We will not sell our souls for the fruit of Egypt given by the taskmasters for acquiescence. We will await the Salvation of the Lord.
Thank You Father God, Thank You Lord Jesus, Thank You Holy Spirit . . . for You are faithful and You will guard Your Name for Your Glory and Your Honor . . . and we will be, in whatever manner You choose, the recipients of the Miracle!
We Praise Your Holy Name!
Thanks for taking time for me . . .
BLESSINGS,
Sherry Driskell Griffin
P. S. If this was a Blessing to you . . . be a Blessing and pass it along!
SALVATION IS FULLY AND FINALLY ACCOMPLISHED WHEN YOU TRUST IN JESUS
Reading Time 8 Minutes
What is Salvation? Salvation is the assurance of eternal life with Christ by Believing in His Death, Burial and Resurrection as the Blood Atonement paid for your personal Sin Debt!
What I notice occurring in many Christians hearts and lives is a direct attack on the salvation assurance of the Believer. Therefore, it must be an attack of the enemy. So, let us reason together and go to the Scripture, the final authority.
First – What is The Gospel? Paul defined the gospel in 1 Corinthians using 3 points.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ESV – (Highlight and Parenthesis Emphasis Mine)
1Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that (1) Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that (2) he was buried, that (3)he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
WE ARE SURROUNDED BY A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES!
What is Salvation? A decision to BELIEVETHE GOSPELin your heart. What Jesus Christ said and did is TRUE and YOU NOW TRUST IN HIS TRUTH.
Jesus Christ died for your sins.
He was buried.
He rose again on the third day.
What must I do to be saved?
Acts 16:30-31 ESV – (Bold and Underline Emphasis Mine)
30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
JESUS IS OUR CHAMPION . . . OVER DEATH AND THE GRAVE!
Jesus did the difficult part, our part is quite simple – as simple as A,B,C!
A – Acknowledge you are a Sinner
B – Believe the Gospel – Jesus died, was buried & Rose Again to pay for your sins.
C – Confess to Father in Prayer and to Others You Believe!
Pray something like this –
Father I know I am a Sinner in need of a Savior. I Believe Jesus Died, was buried and Rose Again to Pay for my Sins. Father I accept the gift of Salvation today and Believe I am Saved. Thank You Lord – In Jesus’ Mighty Name I Pray – Amen
BE ASSURED YOU ARE SAVED BECAUSE YOU BELIEVED!
How do you KNOW you are saved? God said “whosoever believes” and God cannot lie.
John 3:16-17 KJV – (Highlight and Parenthesis Emphasis Mine)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world (those who accept the gift) through him might be saved.
JUST AS HIS TOMB IS EMPTY . . . SO TOO WILL WE RISE TO MEET HIM!
When you Hear and Believe – you come into agreement with what Jesus said and did, trusting in His finished work then you HAVE everlasting life.
John 5:24 KJV (Underline Emphasis Mine)
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
SEALED BY HOLY SPIRIT . . . YOUR GUARANTEE OF ETERNAL LIFE!
How can I be sure I am saved? Once you Believe, you are sealed by Holy Spirit who guarantees your inheritance.
Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV– (Highlight and Underline Emphasis Mine)
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
WE ARE NEVER ALONE . . . THE STILL SMALL VOICE GUIDES AND DIRECTS!
Is there evidence of your salvation? Yes, the still small voice you often attribute to conscience, is the voice of Holy Spirit, now resident in you, to comfort, instruct and guide you.
John 10:27-28 ESV – (Highlight and Underline Emphasis Mine)
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
WE ARE HELD BY HANDS WHICH CANNOT FAIL!
Can anyone, including you, cause you to LOSE your Salvation?
John 10:29-30 ESV – (Highlight Emphasis Mine)
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.
THE GREATEST GIFT IS YOURS . . . SALVATION!
What must I do for my Salvation? You Believed and Receivedthe Gift of Salvation and this is your entire contribution. You didn’t deserve it, you didn’t buy it and you can’t work to keep it. That’s why it’s called Faith!
Ephesians 2:9-10 ESV – (Bold and Underline Emphasis Mine)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
BORN AGAIN . . . AN ENTIRELY NEW CREATURE!
You are now BORN AGAIN . . . of the Spirit of God . . . not of flesh!
John 3:6-7 ESV –
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
You are bought and paid for by Christ, waiting to be picked up for you are the purchased possession.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV –
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
YOU NEITHER DESERVE NOR EARN . . . THAT WHICH IS FREELY GIVEN!
Why do I deserve to be saved?You don’t, none of us deserve to be saved. All are saved because of the Father’s great love for us.
John 3:16 ESV –
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gavehis only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR COMFORTER . . . AND OUR EVER PRESENT GUIDE!
Is the Holy Spirit within me at Salvation?
John 14:16-17 ESV – (Bold and Underline Emphasis Mine)
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
SAFELY WE ARE HELD . . . IN THE FATHER’S ARMS!
How can I be sure I’m safe in Christ? Jesus asked the Father to keep us and make us one.
John 17:11 ESV –
11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
SECURE FOR ALL ETERNITY!
If I commit a sin, do I lose my salvation? No. We will sin, for we are still in our flesh. But Jesus Christ has already paid the price for our sin – past, present and future.
1 John 2:1-2 ESV – (Bold and Parenthesis Emphasis Mine)
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation (atonement – payment) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
OUR CONFIDENCE IS IN CHRIST . . . NOT IN OURSELVES!
But, what if I mess up? You will, we all will – God is greater!
Jude 24-25 ESV – (Bold and Parenthesis Emphasis Mine)
24 Now to him (Jesus) who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
WE ARE FOREVER HIS . . . THROUGHOUT ETERNITY!
Do I have Eternal Life?
1 John 5:13 ESV – (Bold and Underline Emphasis Mine)
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
THE TENT OF FLESH IS LEFT BEHIND . . . YET OUR SPIRITS ARE ETERNAL!
What happens when I die? Your Spirit goes home to Jesus in Heaven
2 Corinthians 5:1 ESV – (Bold, Parenthesis and Underline Mine)
For we know that if the tent (our body) that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
AS THOUGH WE WALKED THROUGH A DOOR . . . INTO HIS ARMS!
Is there a period of time after we die before we are with God?No
2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV – (Bold and Underline Emphasis Mine)
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
WATCHED OVER BY BEINGS WE CAN SCARCELY COMPREHEND!
Are we held in safekeeping by God after we are saved?
2 Timothy 1:12 ESV – (Bold and Underline Emphasis Mine)
. . . But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
HE WILL NEVER LET YOU GO!
Are you sure He won’t give up on me?Yes, I’m sure!
Hebrews 7:25 ESV – (Bold and Underline Emphasis Mine)
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
GRACE IS A GIFT FROM GOD . . . WE ARE TO EXTEND TO OTHERS!
It is Finished – The work is all Jesus. Human discussion and debate is healthy and can be extremely productive to Believers, new and old. Every point of debate, every argument and every doctrinal claim must align with the Word of God or it cannot be considered.
The wealth of clear statements supporting the Doctrine of Salvation some refer to as Once Saved Always Saved and Eternal Security are abundant. Meditate on them . . . Make them your own . . . and share them with those who struggle with doubt. There is no greater assurance than the Word of God.
Thanks for taking time for me . . .
BLESSINGS,
Sherry Driskell Griffin
P. S. If this was a Blessing to you . . . be a Blessing and pass it along!
We live in a day where technology reigns supreme. The ease with which ideas can be exchanged is a marvel to those who treasure knowledge, but what is the cost?
Information overload is a peril, selectivity in sources is imperative and discernment is necessary to sort truth from fiction and good intent from malice. Make no mistake – information has been weaponized. Words as weapons have been used by the military for centuries and it is called Propaganda. Now, propaganda has been mainstreamed as news, advertising, political jargon and social justice blackmail.
PURE WATER CREATES THE JEWEL . . . OUR LIFE!
Words are simply words, but whether for good or evil, they are powerful and we must be responsible to use them to persuade, never coerce, to build up and not tear down. Never is this more important than when we are privileged to speak the Word of God. When we speak to others on behalf of Christ we are responsible for conveying the Pure Water of the Word of God. The Word of God is the Water with which the Believer is Cleansed.
Ephesians 5:26-27 KJV (Bold and Underline Emphasis Mine)
26 That he (Jesus by His Holy Spirit) might sanctify and cleanse it(His Body – the Church)with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
CLEANSING WATER OF LIFE FROM THE WORD!
Two things are important for us to take away from this passage.
First, Jesus, by His Holy Spirit, is doing the sanctifying and cleansing. Believers cannot sanctify themselves, for we are still constrained by the sinful flesh in which we live. When we come to Faith in Christ, our Spirit is Born Again – the 2nd Birth, but our flesh, our body in this world remains burdened by the sin nature. We cannot attend church enough, give enough or serve enough to sanctify ourselves for those are “works” of the flesh. They may be good, they may be uplifting and helpful to our fellow man yet they remain works. The cleansing and sanctifying of the Believer is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit and cooperating and actively participating is the part of the Believer.
HOLY SPIRIT IS THE AGENT OF TRANSFORMATION!
Secondly, Holy Spirit is making this transformation in Believers over time by Washing them with the Water of the Word. We read and study the Word in order to renew the mind and Holy Spirit makes the Word come alive so we can see and understand beyond mental ascent. By the power of the Holy Spirit, the Word is transformed from Knowledge (mental ascent) to Wisdom (the knowing of the Spirit and Heart).
How do we cooperate with Holy Spirit? We first release our hold on any unsound doctrine, denominational bias or religious theory and seek Truth – the Pure Water of the Word. We spend time in Scripture and in prayer asking for discernment, for understanding and the courage to walk in Truth.
Knowledge becomes Wisdomwhen it moves from our head to our heart. Only when the transfer occurs do we truly benefit others. We are all ministers of the gospel, our commission from Christ. We must take the responsibility to make certain the Word we convey remains as pure as humanly possible.
THERE IS PURITY AND BEAUTY IN WISDOM!
Must we wait until the sanctification process is completed and our minds have been completely renewed before we can assist others? Certainly not – for the process will never be completed on this earth. We are all a work in progress. Our primary responsibility is simply to convey the Pure Water we have been given – nothing more, nothing less. As we grow in Christ, our capacity to grow even more increases. The most learned of our scholars only possesses a thimble size portion of the knowledge of God.
The effective use of knowledge to direct another’s thinking while conveying accurate information is Persuasion. Language, when properly used, allows us to exercise the art of persuasion. We can only persuade someone to a point of view which we, ourselves have gained as wisdom from Holy Spirit.
NOT EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS AS IT SEEMS!
Manipulation is the distortion of knowledge to achieve a desired result through deceit or trickery, by the addition of untruths, the twisting of events or a faulty narrative. The knowledge of man can even skew the Word of God, this is why Jesus warned us . . .
Matthew 10:16 KJV
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
What was Jesus telling us? Be as wise as a serpent – run and hide under a rock, if necessary or, when cornered – stand and fight. Be smart, yet conversely, do no harm to another. Let your Words be His Words. Think of the temptation in the wilderness and how Jesus’ responded to Satan’s taunting and bribery. He did not argue, he did not threaten or seek to compromise. He spoke EXACTLY the PURE WORD OF GOD and then the Son of God was quiet. He neither added to nor took away from the Word. He said it and stood on it.
NOT EVERY BATTLE IS WORTH FIGHTING!
We must always be careful when discussions near controversy. Don’t compromise, but back away! Stand firm, stand forcefully and in complete alignment with the Word. If you fail to do so, you will ignore the admonition of Mark Twain.
“Never argue with a fool, onlookers may be unable to tell the difference.”
The ability to set forth competing ideas and factually propound the strengths of your position while highlighting the weaknesses of the opposition is persuasion, not argument. In times and schools past, this was referred to as debate, in the Christian world this is known as Apologetics. Research, logic, reasoning and a persuasive presentation of one’s conclusion was a skill prized by teachers, businesses, institutions and society as a whole.
In our propaganda controlled world today, we are given a 30 second soundbite of someone else’s analysis of an event or even a 30 minute sermon outlining “what the writers intended to say.” But let’s consider, what if the analysis or even the pastor is wrong? What if you are being given an intentionally biased or inaccurate view of what was written? Have you equipped yourself to discern the difference and are you willing to make your own evaluation and stand behind it? This skill is necessary to prevail in the age of disinformation. Those who use knowledge as a weapon must serve as instruction by their example to us in what we must never become. The end does not justify the means – a distortion of facts to win a point of debate, even on behalf of Christ, is still a lie.
THE HEART OF GOD IS DISPLAYED IN HIS CREATION!
Begin to understand and see the heart of God . . . then you will be able to discern the heart of men. Is every wrong interpretation or misunderstood passage put forth by others intended to harm or mislead? Perhaps in the secular media, but not always in the church. People repeat what they have been taught and simply assume it to be true and accurate. When we present these conclusions as our own we take personal responsibility and must research it for ourselves before mindlessly repeating erroneous information. Holding fast the “denominational line” limits your growth in Christ and fails to prepare you to effectively witness. Some will have questions you will be unable to answer if the knowledge is not your own. The fear of being uninformed will limit your willingness to share and defend the faith with confidence and accuracy.
We must first state our position succinctly, then be prepared to articulate how we reached our conclusion. We can learn to artfully voice our position and be truly persuasive. God made it simple and therefore it is profound!
Know what you believe.
Know why you believe it.
Speak the Truth of the Living Word with Love.
The self-sacrificing love displayed on a Roman Cross for you and I is termed Agape Love. To Agape Love someone is to place their needs above your own. You may have been given a glib wit and ability to talk circles around others to make them look silly, even when their point is sound. Don’t misuse your ability and thereby abuse others to display your cleverness or skills. Agape love engages the heart first – then the wit and brain.
THE HEART OF PURE LOVE . . . AGAPE!
When engaging in “discussion” with others remember your heart condition is more important than your head condition. Pray for and allow Holy Spirit to create a clean heart within you, then share with your heart, rather than only with your head. Their needs above your own . . . the Pure Water of the Word of God . . . offered with . . . Agape Love!
We teach others daily whether we realize it or not. Our example must not be a lesson in those things they should never do or how they must never behave or speak to another person. Be certain your behavior, both inside and out, exalts Christ and is the attitude another would choose to emulate. Be an active listener, not a hearer only. Debaters formulate their counterpoint and reply rather than listen. You will never learn actual truth if the only thoughts you hear are your own. Listen with an intent to hear when someone is speaking . . . really hear what they are saying!
Never be reluctant to read, study or consider an alternative point of view, for this is how you learn. You trust Jesus with your Salvation, trust Him, by the Holy Spirit to protect you from error when you are earnestly seeking truth. I have learned much from the wrong interpretations of others. Fear of error can be paralyzing. Pray specifically and Trust Christ and His Holy Spirit to guide, instruct and keep youin truth. Let the Holy Spirit whisper Truth into your heart as a gentle breeze.
THE WHISPER OF TRUTH . . . HOLY SPIRIT!
The “voice” of Holy Spirit is not audible, but a quiet assurance and peace within or a hesitation when you “sense” something isn’t quite right in what you see or hear. This is often referred to as a “check in your spirit”, a caution, an awareness to be alert for error. A Word or phrase may simply pop into your mind and, initially, you might think the thought is your own. Pause and consider, for often, it is the “voice” of Holy Spirit. The more you listen for His leading, the more certain you will become of His direction and presence.
The day you determine you have “arrived” and have The Word of God all figured out with complete doctrinal clarity is the day you cease to grow. Not only do you become tedious and uninteresting, you are a danger to yourself and others. Knowledge without Wisdom is lethal. A teacher, pastor or any man’s theory about God, even your own, is only borrowed until it becomes Wisdom. The truth or falsity of it will never reach your heart and doesn’t truly belong to you until you study the Scripture for yourself by the power of Holy Spirit.
THE SUFFERING SERVANT . . . WHO RETURNS AS KING OF KINGS!
To successfully defend the faith we must first define the gospel. Then we are able to internalize, personalize and join our hearts and minds to His truth by the power of His Spirit. The most important Truth – the Source of Living Water is the 3 points defined by Paul to the Corinthians. It is these 3 points which explain, define and confirm the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What must we believe in order to be saved?
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV – (Bold, Underline and Parenthesis Mine)
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that (1)Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that (2) he was buried, and that (3) he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
This is the first and most important tool in your toolbox for without the gospel men perish. Every other issue in scripture is important and yet peripheral to this simple, yet profound premise. When one is able to say – I Trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for my salvation – It is Finished! This is the Wisdom of the Ages, the Pure Water of the Living God.
PURE WATER . . FROM THE WORD OF GOD!
As we learn the old and valuableskills of persuasion, let us continue to wash ourselves in the Water of the Word with a heart of love and concern for our Brothers and Sisters In Christ. We can be Trustworthy to handle the Pure Word by entering into the heart of Christ with a mind renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Then and only then are we able to grow in the Knowledge and Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and contribute by serving God’s people.
Thanks for taking time for me . . .
BLESSINGS,
Sherry Driskell Griffin
P. S. If this was a Blessing to you . . . be a Blessing and pass it along!
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