Saturday, May 12, 2018

Does God Know You?


Jean Oathout: It's often said that a person is saved when they believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that they are sure of their salvation because of it.

   But, is that sufficient? Let's check out what God's Word has to say about it, okay? Remember, the demons believe this and tremble, but it doesn't begin to save them.  
(Google image, Man-friendly church)

   When
 we are given eternal life through faith and commitment to God's Son, Jesus, He longs for us to get to know Him on a personal level. (See John 3:36). He asks us to communicate with Him, even when others may not understand. 

    God’s desire is to enable us to hear from Him each day. When we begin to open our hearts and minds to receive His thoughts and directives, we can expect to come into a better relationship with Him.

    As we read the Bible, God’s Word, written by inspired men and women, we can learn so much about Him and His ways. The 66 authors of this Book all knew Him to some degree, and have recorded what they lived, so it can help us gain faith to believe that God is Real; He wants to come into relationship with us and to show His love to us.

   Our own sinful nature has separated us from God, but if we confess our sins, He’ll be faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all ungodliness. (See 1 John 1:9).

   The forgiveness for our self-centeredness is available in and through  Christ’s Atonement, provided some 2,000 years ago, when He died on the Roman cross; thus taking on the sins of us all. God will examine our hearts to see if we’re truthful in our desire to be forgiven of our sinful ways, and to be known by Him.

   God wants to change us into the likeness of His Son, Jesus, Who was in His image. But because we’ve acted selfishly all our lives,  it may take some time for us to learn to submit to the changes that are needed to live out this new life He offers. Hopefully, we’ll attend a church that preaches Bible-based messages, and learn what His mission is for each of us.

   Because a true friend will weep with us in our sorrow and troubles, let’s not be surprised that God longs to befriend us; that He can also weep with us. He invites us to speak with Him as our Friend and to express ourselves openly to Him. He knows every teardrop we’ve shed anyway, so His invitation is to call on Him to help us deal with life.

   It’s God’s design of things to give us grace to endure and to overcome all that comes our way, and to give us the strength to maintain victory in our thoughts, actions and our words, that they bless others and honor Him. (See Timothy 2:12; Phil. 4:8).

   When we learn to fellowship with God, we’ll share our deepest thoughts with Him, and seek His guidance in decisions for our lives. When we sit in our “prayer chair” daily, and read from our open Bibles, we will be brought into a personal relationship with Him. He can become our most valued Friend of all; for He’ll speak words of Life to us through His Word. (See Heb. 4:12).


 
 
Prayers that changed
 husbands

   Father, when we are given eternal life through faith and committed lives to Jesus, we are to get to know You through Him on a personal level, as Your Spirit will dwell within us.
   We understand that Your desire is to meet with us each day in order to receive Your thoughts and directions in order to come into a good relationship with You.
   Our reading the Bible will help us gain faith to believe that You are real, and to see that others had relationships with You over the years, which helped them accomplish amazing feats.
   Changing into the likeness of Jesus will take some time, as we've acted selfishly all our lives. But as it's what we need to take place to prepare us for living in heaven, we want to submit to the Holy Spirit's leading in our daily lives for that to happen.
    Your invitation for us to speak with You as our Friend, and to openly express ourselves with You, our God, is gracious and kind, as we so need grace to endure what comes our way each day.
   As You give us guidance for our thoughts, actions and our words, may we cause others to be blessed and bring honor to You, our Father.
   We pray this in the name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.



Our question today:

       When does a sinner want to be saved?

   It's when they know they are one. When the anointing of God's Word comes through hearing His Word preached or simply shared, people begin to seek Him as they respond to the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Christ came to save sinners, so when hearts are convicted that they are sinners in need of God's saving grace, there will be a response. 
   The opportunity given to those with them to introduce them to Jesus, is a responsibility God gives His followers. We are His hands, feet and voice to the lost. Be lead by the Spirit to pray for the seekers, and to befriend them however way you can, to help them make peace with God, and to encourage them to pursue their new faith and relationship with Him. 
   

Today's quotes: 

~ Our Daily Bread: "Knowing our Power-Source personally gives us confidence in our role as servants to the King." (Taken from 4/28/18 Daily posting). 


~ Andrew Murry: "In the Christian life and the work of the church, defeat is always a sign of the loss of God's presence. If we apply this truth to our failures in the prayer life, considering our failure in work for God, we are led to see that it all simply goes back to our not standing in clear and full fellowship with God. His nearness, His immediate presence, has not been the chief thing sought after and trusted in. He could not work in us as He desired. Loss of blessing and power is always caused by the loss of God's presence."


Today's Bible verses-

         2 Chron. 16:9 a (KJV)"For the eyes of the LORD run 
       to and fro throughout the whole earth. 'to show 
       himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is 
       perfect toward him' "      

        Rom. 15:13 (AMP)."May the God of your hope so fill 

      you with all joy and peace in believing [through the 
      experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy 
      Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling 
      over) with hope." 
      
  Psalm 40:1-3, (NIV) "I waited patiently for the LORD;
He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out
of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set
my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise
to our God. Many will see and fear and put their
trust in the LORD.”

Phil. 3:10 (KJV) "That I know him, and the power of
his resurrection, and fellowship of his sufferings, being
made conformable unto his death."


Are You Ever Overwhelmed?
By Debbie McEwen


"Do you ever feel like you are at 
the end of your rope and hanging 
on for dear life?"







List of recent sermons of CFC ministersCFC Potsdam church has a live service at 10 am Sunday's for shut-ins. If for some reason you can't make it to the church you usually attend, click on the above link, and still get fed!


Upcoming posts-

        #53 You Will be Accountable for Your Example
15th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

       #54 You Will be Accountable for Your Prayer Life
17th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel 

          Awakening
19th- Saturday's post by Lee Forbes

     #55 Prepare Your People for Eternal Reward
22nd- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel









Jean's blog (Click to see snippets of the 7 recent posts)
   
Jean's published book Paper back $7.95
(Be sure to "look inside" to see contents
through the 2nd devotion)






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