A VICTORIOUS HEART

 A VICTORIOUS HEART

We are challenged by II Corinthians 13:5 to “examine ourselves, as to whether or not we are in the faith.” We are to self test. Take the examination yourself and then grade it. How did you do? 

We have stated that there will be assurances of the heart. 

Your heart will be marked by:

• Purity

• Humility

• Tenderness

• Obedience and finally, a Victorious heart. 

I love the verse in I John 5:4 which says:

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the VICTORY that overcomes the world, even our faith.”

Jesus said in John 16:33 “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, take heart, I have overcome the world.”

What great verses to challenge our hearts.

Yes, life can be stressful.

Yes, the Christian life is hard.

Yes, the road of Christianity is difficult.

But --- because Christ is in us --- and we are in Him --- we have access to strength and power and encouragement and perseverance. We can meet head on … all the trials and temptations of life and be victorious! That is part of what being a Christian is all about!

“Victory in Jesus”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEmkUrsloaU

AN OBEDIENT HEART

 AN OBEDIENT HEART

We have discussed some of the assurances of the heart.

Things that a Christian possesses upon receiving salvation.

A Pure heart.

A Humble heart.

A Tender heart. 

And today, an Obedient heart.

Here is the ultimate challenge. I want to encourage you to read the words of Jesus in:

John 14:15, 23-24 > Jesus said "if you love me, you will keep my commandments."

I John 2:3-4 and 5:2-3 > as clear as can be. A true child of God will have the desire to try to live in obedience to the commandments of Christ. And they will not be burdensome. Those commandments will be a priority in his or her life.

Luke 6:46 should be a flashing neon sign in every Worship Center in America:

“Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things that I say?”

Now that is a very good question, isn’t it?

Jesus Christ acknowledges none to be His disciples except those who honor Him as Lord!

So I ask you: is Jesus Christ the Lord of your life?

Does your life and heart provide evidence that you are truly saved?

What does obedience to Christ mean to you?

“Jesus be the Lord of All”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDJdPR3t3sE

A TENDER HEART

 A TENDER HEART

Another assurance of salvation comes from the reality of a tender heart.

Ezekiel 36:26 says:

“And I will give you a new heart and a new spirit will I put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

A heart that is moldable and pliable and usable..

The hearts of unbelievers are hard as stone. 

Filled with pride and selfishness and sin. 

Their hearts are unmoved by the sufferings of Christ.

Their ears refuse to hear the pleas and warnings of a Risen Christ.

Their eyes have no desire to see the glory of God in Christ Jesus. Why?

Because of the hardness of their hearts.

A real Christian is moved by the love of Christ.

They are motivated by the grace and mercy of the Lord.

They are touched when they see people living in open rebellion against the Lord.

They are challenged to help those in need.

They care. They love. They pray. They give. They help.

That is what saving grace does to the heart of a true believer!

“Search Me O God” by Carmen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_m_0V8KTKo

 

A HUMBLE HEART

 A HUMBLE HEART

One of the assurances of salvation that a Christian should have is this. God will give you the grace of humility. You realize that you cannot save yourself. You understand that there is nothing you can do to gain righteousness with God. Additionally, your own awareness of your own impotence, insufficiency, emptiness and vileness hits you straight in the face. You see the holiness of God in Christ and it makes you humble.

You become conscious of your sinfulness and present unworthiness. 

Conscious of your own weaknesses and wickedness. 

Conscious of your carnality and corruptions. 

Saving faith brings us to Christ as empty handed beggars. 

Grace empties us of self conceit.

It empties us of our own self confidence.

It causes us to rejoice in the sinlessness of Christ.

Every person who has genuinely been born again will have a humble heart.

You cry out with the publican in Luke 18:9-14 and say, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner.”

Jesus said in Matthew 5:3 “blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Thank you, Lord!

“Humble Yourself”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Knk-DlTLckg

ON HIS TERMS ONLY

 ON HIS TERMS ONLY

Those who come to saving faith in Christ do not come to Christ on their own terms. You do not get to create the salvation criteria. He does, because He alone is God. There are many who sincerely believe that they can come to Christ anytime they want and in whatever way they want. And that just isn’t so. It isn’t Biblical truth.

Jesus said in John 6:44, 65 that “no man can come to Him except those whom the Father draws to Him.” Meaning precisely that you cannot go to Christ on your own terms. You are a fallen sinner in bondage to sin. You are dead in your trespasses and sins. You cannot even see the kingdom of God.

You cannot repent evangelically.

You cannot believe in Christ savingly.

You cannot come to Christ effectually --- in your own strength and power!

It is impossible. 

That is why you need grace.

Grace to live. Galatians 2:20

Grace to see. John 3:3-7

Grace to repent. Acts 5:31

Grace to understand. John 3:3-7; Ephesians 5:7-9

Grace to commit. John 6:44, 65

Grace to obey! John 14:15, 23-24

“For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

“He Came to Me”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MsgOvfccu0

ASSURANCES FROM THE HEART

 ASSURANCES FROM THE HEART

The Bible has a lot to say about the  heart of man.

Our hearts are wicked and deceitful above all things. Jeremiah 17:9

Jesus said that all wickedness first emanates from the heart. Mark 2:20-21

Proverbs 23:7 says That “as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”

This is why we need new hearts and is why --- at salvation --- God gives us new hearts.

That new heart which you are given at salvation will provide you with the blessed assurance of salvation.

Proverbs 4:23 says that we are to “keep our hearts with all diligence.”

Our heart is command central, the ruling center of our lives.

It is a PURE heart! Matthew 5:8 says “blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

This heart is fixed upon a pure object > Jesus.

It drinks from a pure fountain.

It delights in a pure Law.

It looks forward to eternity with a pure Savior.

It values the living of a pure life.

It values things that are holy.

It purifies the understanding.

It purifies the will from self consumption.

It cleanses the heart from the love of all evil.

What kind of heart do you have?

“Take My Life and Let it Be”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRUPJmjo2eE

BLESSED ASSURANCE

 BLESSED ASSURANCE

Fanny J Crosby (1820-1915) was a prolific Christian song writer. Blinded from birth she had the extraordinary gift of writing songs. In fact, she has written over 8,000 different songs in her lifetime. One day she was visiting with a lady by the name of Mrs, Phoebe Knapp, who was the wife of the founder of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York.

Fanny Crosby was visiting one day with Mrs Knapp and Mrs Knapp sat down at the piano and played a tune. She then turned to Fanny Crosby and asked “What does that say to you?” She immediately began to write the words to that great old hymn:

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine

O what a foretaste of glory divine, 

Heir of salvation, purchase of God

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood

This is my story

This is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

This is my story 

This is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long.

Fanny Crosby, though blind, had this blessed assurance and knew that it came from the heart!

Do you have the blessed assurance of your salvation?

Must be based upon the merits of Christ alone!

“Blessed Assurance” The Singing Contractors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nthmF2FxAY4