"Blessed assurance"

What everyone should know - A dialogue.

Satan: Can you say with complete assurance that you will go to heaven if you die today ?
Chief sinner: Yes, I am sure. anytime.

Satan: But I saw your sin the last time.
Chief sinner: It is because of my sin that my Lord Jesus Christ died. He blots out my transgressions. His blood cleans me from all sin.

Satan: He has already done that once before when you accepted him.
Chief Sinner: He is doing it even now as he sits as an advocate and mediator saying, "He who comes to me Iwill in no wise cast out."

Satan: You mean you can continue in sin ? You mean he will forgive you again ?
Chief Sinner: O devil, We cannot and do not wish to continue to sin. For we do that what we do not want to do, but "If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin"

Satan: How can you overcome your guilt now. The word says "He who does not abide in me will be cast out"
Chief Sinner: I know I failed, but he also says "I will never leave you nor forsake you". I want to abide, but I have fallen. Yet will I abide once more.

Satan: Your sin is a black mark to his grace. The word says "If you love me, you will obey my commandments". But you did not obey ?
Chief Sinner: That is why he calls me a sinner because I did not obey. Why would he die for me or even come down if I did obey? Since he died knowing my sin, even when I knew him not. Since he first loved me, Since he gave me his blood to partake of free, I will try and obey not in my strength but asking his Spirit and will try to do his commandment with all my strength and all my soul. And his commandments are not grevious for me to follow. For I owe him so much so. I am a debtor and I owe him love. I do not obey to show that I am in the Lord but I obey because I love him. That's why he says "If you love me, you will obey"

Satan: Then can you trample the gift of his blood with your sin ?
Chief Sinner: Never so, but it has been my weakness. For his will is to keep me perfect and to guide my thoughts with his love. "For when I am weak, then I am strong" He has said "Their sins and lawless acts will I remember no more".

Satan: Are you sure you are going to win this battle?
Chief Sinner: The battle has already been won at the cross. There is victory in the blood of the lamb.

Satan: So you are sure that you can make it to the end. How can you prove it ?
Chief Sinner: It is the easiest thing to prove and the word says it all. I have made a commitment to not sin and thats all. He is the one who is able to keep me from falling !! Not me. "For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

Satan: He will punish you for your faults.
Chief Sinner: I would like to be chastised for it's for my good. It's upto him for he knows my ways. He would give grace if he desires. For he says "My grace is sufficient for thee". Then would I be insane as I would not know how he would forgive me for my faults and I would be more indebted to his love and grace. Oh what a wonderful grace? My sin would make me more humble, it would make me more closer to the cross and there is no punishment for all is his gain and my loss.
"We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of
his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified."

Satan: I'm not sure about it. I think you are lost ?
Chief Sinner: You have lost. I have the breastplate of righteousness (The righteousness of Christ). The shield of faith, the feet of internal peace given by His spirit, the sword which is the word of God. And most importantly in this case, "the hope of salvation as my helmet!" I know for you cannot bruise my head and you can only bruise my feet. That is all the Lord has allowed you to do (Genesis 3:15). For my helmet you CANNOT take away.

Taken from "The Bible" and compiled.
By Timothy Noel

You can Overcome !!

This new year, I would like to deal with the issue of overcoming lust. This is not a step by step procedure to follow but a spiritual guide according to the word of God. The only one who can set you free from the power of Satan is The Lord Jesus Christ who will aid you through the Holy Spirit and guide you to life eternal.

Understand the nature of sin.

"Sin will take you further than you ever wanted to go, will keep you longer than you ever wanted to stay, will cost you more than you ever thought you would pay."

It all starts with a small puff of a cigar in order to prove your ego or fit the fad. Very soon, you come to face the fact that you never wanted to become a chain smoker. You never thought you would continue for this long. You never thought you would need to pay millions to take care of your lung cancer. It's true you have to pay with your life at the end. Behind an alluring poster, or a small can of fun at your friends place lurks the devil in his disguise. He opens the world, inviting you to addiction and a plethora of problems, guilt, shame, weakness and finally your life has to be paid. Yes, it's the path to hell indeed.
Once you begin to understand the nature of sin, you will begin to see the enemy, the Devil, behind each temptation and sin.

Sin is enmity with God.

Despite the fact that sin kills you physically on earth, there are many cases where a person doesn't get addicted to sin and die. The sad thing is we strive for physical life but we forsake the eternal. Even if you have accepted the Lord Jesus as your savior but are living in sin, there is bad news for you. The lord says many will call out to him saying "Lord" but he will reject you because you have failed to hear his voice.

"My sheep hear My Voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give unto them Eternal Life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." -John 10: 27-28

The sheep are to be followers of the Lord, i.e., they have to aim at being sinless, hate sin and detest it.

Sin is mankind's nature.

Understanding that sin is inbuilt in man is crucial. This is not God's fault but the choice that the first man Adam has made. It is essential to know that Solomon, David and Samson could not win over sin with their strength. They all committed the sin of the lust of the flesh, whereby they were weakened. The bible says we are born sinful, hence we need to be re-born or born again in the spirit and this is what the Lord Jesus provides for us.

The entry of sin.

The startling fact to recognize is that sin enters us through the mind and through the eyes. Once the thought has taken control, our body only executes to fulfill the thought. This is why the Lord said,

"But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." -Matt 5:28

Hence, there is no difference between a man who has actually committed adultery from a man who has lusted in his mind. Both have equally sinned in the eyes of the Lord. We need to ensure that sin is overcome in our mind.

The victory is in the blood of the lamb.

We need to realize that we are weak and we cannot overcome sin on our own. Through the whole book of the Revelation we see the Lamb on the Throne. It is as the slain Lamb that He has gained that position; THE VICTORY OVER SATAN AND ALL HIS AUTHORITY IS BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB. Jesus has already given us that victory, we need not depend on ourselves to overcome lust. We only need to leave it to the Lord in prayer. Just keep trusting the Lord to work that work in you. For he has promised to complete the work in us.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness" -2Corinthians 12:9

What do we need to do?

Easy just trust him and bring the 5 loaves and the fish. Do your part right. Avoid your alcoholic friends till you have overcome the sin. Avoid watching the steamy soaps and music videos, remove the TV. Don't go to the magazine rack at your supermarket if you think the images will cause you to lust.

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." -Gal 5:16

Start walking in the spirit. Listen to the leading of the lord and do the things you need to. Start serving at your church. Start sharing the good news. Start helping out friends at problems. Get occupied by things of the spirit.

Confide in someone.

This would be the most strengthening aspect of your victory. You need to confide in someone. Your secret sins need to be shared with a good christian friend. Share it with your spouse, she can be most loving and understand you. Share it with your pastor. Once you have shared it, you know the guilt is gone. Remember all the while the best friend you can confide on is Jesus.

Confess and never be fooled by Satan.

Jesus has promised to confess every sin in our life, if we come to him. Do don't delay. Get right with God soon. Today is the day of redemption.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." -1 John 1:9

Satan's best lie is "you have lost your salvation". If you believe this lie and continue to sin, you have lost it indeed. For then you have no hope. But if you continue to trust the grace of our Lord and come to him in tears. Your joy will be full and you will overcome.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33

May the Lord Jesus be glorified in your body and soul
and make that victory your ultimate goal.