He is at work in us:

            Perfect till the day of Jesus:

 

Philippians 1:6

6     For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

     

            God didn’t start something in us and then quit. What He began in us was a good thing. Someone has said that God doesn’t make junk. We are a work in progress … a good work in progress. That means that sometimes we won’t do exactly what we should. But we should be getting better at doing what He wants us to do. He’s not going to stop without finishing the job. He will bring us closer and closer to perfection as we allow Him to. We will become more and more like Jesus.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My child … My desire for you is only the best. What I have started in you, I will finish. When I do something, I do not do it half-way. I will complete My work in you unto perfection. You will be complete. There will be nothing lacking in your life. Trust in Me to do what I said I would do in your life.”

            29. God began a good work in me, and He will perfect it till the day Jesus returns.

Not tempted beyond what we are able:

James 1:13

13     Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

     

1 Corinthians 10:13

13     No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

     

            When temptation comes, and it will, we can know for sure that God didn’t bring it. There is nothing in Him that could possibly yield to temptation. Likewise, He would never tempt us to do wrong. It comes from another source. Yes, sometimes it can come from the devil, but usually there is something inside us that wants what we don’t have. We have a strong desire to obtain it. That desire is kindled or strengthened by the temptation. If we yield, we sin. If we successfully resist, we grow stronger and are able to resist easier the same temptation should it come again. God will always provide a way for us to resist the temptation and to overcome.

 If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "When you walk in your own way, you enter into the realm of the enemy. Temptation has a free reign when you walk outside My Word. I will never tempt you. When you look to the things of the world, you open yourself up to temptation. The enemy loves to make use of your weaknesses. He will bring situations upon you that will tempt you to not follow My Word. I will show you the way to resist his temptations if you will only follow My commands. I will show you how to avoid them and to conquer them. My grace is sufficient to overcome all obstacles and all temptations. Do not give in to them. Resist the enemy and his false values. He will not be able to stand against you, and you will come out victorious.”

 

            28. God does not tempt me. He will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able to resist, and will provide the means of escape whenever I am faced with temptation.

Protect us from the evil one:

2 Thessalonians 3:3

3     But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

     

            The enemy prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Even to someone who has been a Christian a long time that can be frightening. We are afraid we won’t have the strength to resist him. Not to worry … The Lion of the Tribe of Judah Himself will strengthen and protect us from that evil lion. He cannot and will not ever fail us.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "There is no one nor any thing that can harm you. You need not fear the devil or his helpers. They cannot harm you. I will protect you from the power of the enemy. He cannot harm you while you walk in My protection. Do not stray to the side. Do not get distracted with the things of the world. I am there to protect you and to guide you. Trust in My grace to be all sufficient for your every need.”

            27. He is faithful and will never fail me. He will strengthen me and protect me from the evil one.

            Delivered from darkness:

Colossians 1:13

13     For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

 

            When we were born, we were trapped in the domain of darkness. We had no hope of escape. In fact, many of us did not want to escape, because we thought that was the best there was. It was the enemy’s big lie. It was like someone being born in an underground sewer system and growing up not knowing there was an outside world. Then one day someone comes along and discovers them. They are told of the beautiful world above. They are asked to follow, and they see for themselves what glorious things are above. They are now in the kingdom of the sun and don’t ever want to go back to the kingdom of darkness. So it was with us. When we were in the domain of darkness, we knew nothing of the kingdom of the Son. Then someone told us of it and asked us to enter into it. We now no longer desire the dark kingdom. We have experienced the light One!

 If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "When you were conceived, there was darkness in your life. When I breathed upon you and set My Spirit inside you, you came to life and entered My Kingdom. My Kingdom is filled with light. Darkness cannot abide in My light. Stay in the light of My Word, and darkness will never overtake you. My Kingdom is one of righteousness and light. Walk in My light as you walk in My Kingdom.”

             26. God has delivered me from the authority of darkness. The devil has no authority over me. God has also transferred me to the Kingdom of His dear Son.

God watches, listens, and protects:

            What can man do to us?

Hebrews 13:6

6     so that we confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.

What will man do to me?”

   

            We like to help ourselves whenever something bad comes against us. We don’t want to sit still and trust God to make things work out for our good. When we do, we become like the disciples in the boat during the storm. We begin to fear … because our trust is in our abilities instead of in His. Nothing that man could ever conceive should make us fear. Even if man killed our bodies, the real us inside will live forever. We are not alone in our efforts to live a Godly life. He will help us. He will also protect us from harm. The three Hebrew children said that God would take care of them in the midst of the fiery furnace; but even if He didn’t they weren’t going to bow their knees to the idol. Like Job, "Though He slays me, yet will I praise Him.”

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I am your strong right hand. You need not be afraid of anyone or anything. There is nothing in Heaven above or earth beneath that can harm those of Mine. Trust in My guidance, and I will direct your path into the glory of My love. You would not harm your child, would you? You would not allow anything of a hurtful nature to come upon your child. Why do you think that I would do less than you? I will strengthen and encourage you in all things.”

            25. The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

God works for us:

            All things work together for good:

Romans 8:28

28     And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

 
            He called us according to His purpose. It wasn’t some random choice. Since we know that He called us, we can be sure that He will take care of us. Thus, whatever comes our way, we know that He will cause it to work together for our good. That is not to say that everything that happens to us is good, but that He causes it turn out for our good as we walk according to His Word. If we fight Him, there is no guarantee of a fruitful outcome. It is hard for us to trust Him to take care of the situation so that it becomes beneficial. We want to try to figure out what is best on our own, if it doesn’t turn out good right away.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My children, know that I only want good for you. I will never do anything harmful to you. When something bad happens, it is not My desire for you to be harmed by it. You can walk through the fire and the water when you trust in Me. I will never let you down. I will use the bad things that have happened to you for your good if you let Me. Trust in Me, and I will make it happen. It may not seem like it at the time, but one day you will see that what I desire for you is only good. You can depend on Me to work together with you to make all things come out for your good.”

            24. No matter what has happened to me, God will cause it to work together for my good.

Heirs of God:

Titus 3:7

     7     so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 
Romans 8:16-17

16     The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

     17     and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

     
            Since we are children of the Most High, we are heirs. We are fellow heirs with Jesus. We don’t have to become good enough or do enough good works to inherit the promises. We have them naturally as children of God. We are not just hoping that we are children of God. His Spirit inside of us witnesses with our spirits that we are His children. We can truly know that we are His. Some Christians live a life hoping to go to Heaven one day. They don’t care if they “barely” make it. We can have a confident expectation that one day we will be with Him forever.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are My child, and as such there is a wealth of glory for you. It is yours for the asking. I count you as a fellow-heir with My Son. I do not have hand-me-downs or cast-off items for you. My inheritance is rich and glorious.”

            23. I have not only been made an heir of God, I have also been made a joint-heir with Christ. Therefore, what Christ will inherit so will I.

Heirs of the Father:

            Living hope: 

1 Peter 1:3-5

3     Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

     4     to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

     5     who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

            Our hope is not in some dead man and his words, but in a risen, living Christ – inside us. This hope is not just wishful thinking. We know that we are His, and that He will one day come to gather us together. We can rest assured on that hope. No matter how bad things look for us in this world, we will have a place with Him forever. We have an inheritance as God’s children. It is not an inheritance like that of earthly children. Our inheritance will never pass away, and it will not be taken away from us. It is forever and has our name on it … reserved in Heaven for us.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My children do not understand all that I have for them. They have an inheritance not only in Heaven, but also on earth. It is a rich heritage that I have for them. Many of them are not walking in this inheritance for lack of knowledge. They do not know what is theirs and how to obtain it. I will not take it back. It is for you, My children forever. Learn what is yours and how to obtain it that your life may be a beacon unto others to come unto Me.”

             22. I have a living hope, an inheritance that is imperishable and undefiled, which is reserved in Heaven for me, and I am protected by the power of God.

Love of God controls:  

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

14     For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;

     15     and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

     

1 Corinthians 8:6

6     yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

     

            What motivates us in our Christian life is that love of God that is in us. We don’t do things for Him to gain His approval, but because of His love which fills our hearts. How much better is that? Our lives are no longer our own, but His. Therefore, what we do is for Him because He first loved us. There is no greater thing than to live our lives for Him. We died when He died … now, we should act like it. We should seek to do things for Him and for His Kingdom.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My love for you and in you is so powerful that nothing can stop it. You will want to show it to others. You will want to do things that are pleasing unto Me, just like I desire to do things that are pleasing unto you. This is love … that you give yourself completely to making the one you love pleased with your actions. Whether it is your love for Me or for your brethren, you will want to please the one you love. It will drive your thoughts and actions in your every day life.”

            21. The love of God controls me. Therefore, I exist and live for Him.

He first loved us:
 
1 John 4:19

19     We love, because He first loved us.

 

            Of course, we can have human love without Him. But to have the kind of love He has … the kind that would lay down His life for us - that kind of love could only come because He first loved us. Most of the time, we love someone because there is a mutual feeling between us. Our love for someone can grow cold. Sometimes when the ones we love do us wrong, we turn our backs on them. He loved us before we even knew Him. He loved us even though He knew that we would do things that were wrong. That doesn’t mean that He doesn’t expect us to do the right things … just that He loves us anyway.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "When My love fills your heart, it will overflow to others. You will want to show your love towards them in the same way that I show My love towards you. You cannot help but feel this love for others. It is a part of Me, and now it is a part of you.”

            20. I can love others because God first loved me.

Love of the Father:

            Nothing will separate us:

John 16:27

27     for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.

     

Romans 8:38-39

     38     For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

     39     nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

            Because we loved Jesus, the Father loves us, and there is nothing in Heaven or on earth that can separate us from that love. That is what true love means. With man, there is always the possibility that something could happen to cause us to doubt or even lose the love another human has for us. Just look at all the divorces in this country. But there is nothing whatsoever that can remove us from His all encompassing love.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My love for you is so great that nothing in Heaven or on earth can separate you from it. My love will be with you for all eternity. My love will comfort you in the time of grief. My love will strengthen you in time of weakness. My love will guide you through paths of darkness. My love will always be.”

 

            19. The Father loves me, and nothing will separate me from His love.

God’s sons and daughters:

2 Corinthians 6:18

18     “And I will be a father to you,

And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”

Says the Lord Almighty.

 

            This is another verse that confirms that He wants to be a Father to us. He doesn’t just want to be our God – the Big Boss. Being a Father is means much more than that. He cares about our past and wants to heal any wounds that we may have. He cares about our present and wants us to have what is best for us. We need to realize that if He wants to correct some behavior of ours, it is for our own good. It’s not because He is being an ogre. He cares about our future and will guide us into His perfect choices for us provided we let Him. That is the way we are to walk in this life – let go, and let God.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I could have chosen to make you My servant, but that is not what I desired. I wanted a child to love and be loved by. You are special to Me. Everyone who comes unto Me is a special treasure waiting to be opened and enjoyed by all.”

 

            18. He is my Father, and I am His (son/daughter).

Become His child:

John 1:12

12     But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

 

            When we believed in the name of Jesus as our Savior, and received Him into our lives, we were given the right to become God’s child. Just like the verse prior to this one, we are told that God is our Father. He didn’t choose us to become His servants … He chose us to become His children. Yes, we still need to obey Him, but as a child obeys his parents not as a slave his master.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "When you received My Son into your life, you became My child. I delighted to have you as Mine. It was not a burdensome chore; it was a special pleasure to have you as My child.”

            17. I have received Jesus, and so I was given the right to become a child of God.

We are Sons and Daughters:
            Predestined to adoption:

Ephesians 1:5-6

5     He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

     6     to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

     

            Just like I said before, we could have a big discussion over what this means by being predestined. God decided before time began that we, the ones who would believe on Jesus Christ as our Savior, would most certainly become His adopted sons and daughters. It was His will … He wanted it to happen. It is not something that we earn. He chose us. For some of us, our parents may not have chosen us. In fact, for some of us we were not even wanted at all and were told so. Today too many times we read or hear in the news about the horrible way children are treated because they did something that any child would do in that situation. It’s not that way with God. He knew how you would behave. He knew your personality. He knew how you would fail at times. He still loved you enough to choose you and to draw you to Himself.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I have desired to have communion with you from before the beginning of time. I set things in motion that would bring you unto Me. You could not refuse it because your desire was to be Mine. Your heart longed to be with Me, and I provided the way to make it a reality. There was no turning back. Once it was set into motion, it was a certainty.”

            16. Before the beginning of time, God said my destiny was to become His adopted child.

Personal relationship with the Father:

            Fellowship with Father and Son:

John 17:21

21     that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

John 14:23

23     Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

     

1 John 1:3

3     what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

   
            We have the God of the universe and His Son abiding in us! It’s not just a casual acquaintance, but them actually living inside of us. How totally amazing is that? We can have fellowship with the Father and the Son, just like they have fellowship with each other. We can talk with them and even at times sense their presence and their love. The earthly fathers of some of us failed miserably, and we wouldn’t want to have a relationship like that with God. But that is exactly how some people see their relationship with Him. They cannot conceive of a loving, caring Heavenly Father. He is all that and more. He made his home inside you … make Him welcome in it.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My child I have greatly desired to have fellowship with you. That is why I called you unto Me. I drew you unto Me that we might be one … you, My Son, and Myself. When we have fellowship with each other, people will know that there is something different about you. They will want what you have and will come to you seeking the answer to the void that is inside them. They desire to have fellowship with God. They do not know how to obtain it, and you will show them the way. As you keep My Word, they will know that what you have is real and will want to know how to obtain it.”

            15. The Father and the Son are in me, and I have fellowship with them.

Know the Father:

Luke 10:22 (NASB95)

22     “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

  

            This says that we will know who the Father is. Isn’t that breathtaking? In Jesus’ day, people didn’t know God. They were afraid of Him. They reverenced Him. But they did not know Him. They didn’t realize that you could know God. This knowing comes because Jesus chooses to reveal Him to us. We will know Him in an intimate, loving relationship … not just as God of the universe. This concept was totally alien to the people living under the Law.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You could not know Me unless I had wanted you to know Me. I want you to know Me and My Son. I want you to fellowship with us daily wherever you go. I will reveal Myself to you as you wait upon Me. I will also show you the Son in a way you’ve never known.”

            14. The Father has been revealed to me by the Son, and I know the Father.

            All come to Jesus:

John 6:37

37     “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.

  
            We did not need to fear that Jesus would reject us when we came to Him. We were given to Jesus by the Father, and He accepted us. And He won’t cast us out. All that the Father gives to Jesus will come to Him. Since He gave us to Jesus, we were destined to come to Him.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I have given you to My Son, and it is He who brings you unto Me. He paved the way for you. When you come unto Me, I will gladly receive you into My Kingdom. I will not turn away from you. You do not have to become good enough for Me to love and desire to be with you. Rest in My love and do not struggle against your circumstances. I have called you unto Me, and I most assuredly will not reject you as others have.”

            13. The Father gave me to Jesus, and I am not cast out.

            By the Son:

John 14:6

6     Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

            There is no other way to come to the Father but through Jesus. There is a movement in the world to make all religions acceptable to Christians; that is, there is more than one way to come to the Father. But Jesus said there is no other way but through Him. If you try to come some other way, you won’t make it. It may sound cruel or narrow-minded to others to say that you must come through Jesus, but that is what God has said. He sent His Son to provide the only way to come to Him. If there was another way, then all that Jesus did would be to no avail. Also, we could pat ourselves on the back if salvation involved our doing something to come to the Father. Jesus is the truth. Everything else that says it is the way to God is falsehood. Jesus is also the life. Without Him, you have no life. You may be alive, but you have no life in yourself. It is only through Him that one can truly live.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My children you have come to Me through My Son. It is He who made it possible for you to come unto Me. I delighted in His being willing to sacrifice Himself for you. He came that you might have life abundantly. He gave Himself that you might experience what He has known from before the beginning of time. He is the only way to come unto Me. All others are imposters and frauds. He is the only way to Me. I decided upon that long ago … that it would not be through man’s wisdom or abilities, but through My Son.”

            12. I have come to the Father through Jesus, for He is the only way to God.

How we come to the Father:

            Draws:

John 6:44-45

44     “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

     45     “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.

    

         God did not hit us over the head and make us come to Jesus. He doesn’t want robots. He wants a people that desire to be in fellowship with Him. He wants us to do right because we love Him, not because we’re afraid of what He’s going to do to us if we do wrong. Jesus said that the Father draws us unto Himself. He woos us. He is in no hurry. Jesus also said that He would raise us up on the last day. This is an assurance that our relationship with the Father is not just for here on the earth. It is an eternal one.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

         "I have desired to be with you, My children. I have longed for your fellowship. That is why I called you unto Me. That is why I drew you unto Me like a lover for his loved one. Come unto Me and taste and see that I am good. That is how I called you, My precious one.”

 

            11. God loved me so much that He drew me unto Himself … He did not force me to come.

God knew who would receive Jesus long before there even was a world for man to live on. He provided everything necessary for us to come to Him … everything necessary for our salvation. Even though God did all the work, we still must repent, believe in Jesus’ name, and ask Him to come in and take control of our lives. The slate is wiped clean, and we start off brand new in God’s sight. If we fail, we can ask for and receive forgiveness. This salvation is eternal. We are destined to be with Him forever. It is your destiny … live like it.

 

So, we were destined for a life that is eternal the moment we asked Jesus to come into our hearts. But what kind of life is it? Just to have one that lasts forever might not be all that great. Is there a quality that goes with the quantity? The answer is yes. First, there is a relationship with God, the Father. He isn’t just some uncaring potentate that lives in Heaven indiscriminately making decisions that affect our lives. He is our loving Heavenly Father. He cares so much for us that He only wants the best for us. It may not always be what we ask for, though. Also, He sometimes wants something for us but is unable to bring it about for reasons that we do not always know or understand. So in the next few posts, we will look at some of these aspects of God being our Father.

 

Justification:

            Justified:

Romans 5:18

18     So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

  
Romans 8:30

30     … and these whom He called, He also justified …

1 Corinthians 6:11

11     Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

 

            Adam sinned, and that brought condemnation upon all of us … we have all sinned in his likeness. Through the death of Jesus on the cross (not because of anything we’ve done), all those that receive Him have been justified in God’s sight. Not only did He call us, He also justified us. It is more than being pardoned. When you’re pardoned, it says that you were guilty, but you were set free in spite of your guilt. However, it’s still in the records that you were found guilty. With justification, the sins we committed before coming to Jesus are no longer in the record books. We are justified in His sight. Of course you’ve heard the easy way to remember what justified means … just as if I’d never sinned.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "When you came to Me, you were unclean and walking in your sins. But now, you have been washed clean. To Me it is like you have never sinned. Do not keep bringing up past sins to Me. They are forgiven and forgotten, for I have cast them into the sea. You have been set apart for Me to walk in My holy ways.”

 

            10. I have been justified in the sight of God through the death of Jesus Christ. It is just as though I had never sinned, and I have right standing before Him.

Enter the Kingdom:

            Born of water and Spirit:

John 3:5

5     Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

    

            When we were born again (or, from above), we were born of the Spirit. We weren’t created like the angels; we were born. We are now in the Kingdom of God. We are no longer in the kingdom of the world system. Therefore, we should act like we’re in God’s Kingdom. We should behave differently than before we made Jesus Lord of our lives. The devil wants us to think and act like we used to. He doesn’t want us to realize how much power we have as members of God’s Kingdom.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are not just born physically; you are born from above by My Spirit. You are a member of My kingdom and are honored as such. Do not think that you are nothing or nobody. You are special to Me and shall do great exploits.”

            9. I have been born of water and the Spirit, and therefore I have entered the Kingdom of God. I can now partake of the privileges and fulfill the responsibilities of a member of the Kingdom.

            He forgives our sins:

1 John 1:9

9     If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

   

            When we come to Jesus, all our past sins are at that moment forgiven. The slate is wiped clean when we come to Jesus. If after that we should sin, all we need to do is confess it. It wasn’t just a one time benefit of forgiveness. It keeps on working in our lives forever. He not only forgives us, but He also cleanses us from all unrighteousness, so that we won’t keep on committing sins. Otherwise, we would have to keep on asking forgiveness for the same things the rest of our lives. I know it seems like we will have to do that for some sins, but that is not what He intends for us.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My children know that My desire is for you to walk in freedom. That freedom comes from knowing that you have right standing with Me. When you do not confess your sins, you walk about in bondage to that sin. Confess it to Me. There is nothing too big for My forgiveness; nothing too hard for you to overcome and walk in My freedom of righteousness.”

             8. If in the future, I ever do anything wrong and confess it, He will forgive me.

Forgiveness:

            Forgave our transgressions:

Colossians 2:13-14

13     When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

     14     having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

     

            We don’t have to get good enough for God to forgive us. Jesus’ death, long before we came to Him, was all that was needed. And, we don’t have to earn salvation. It is a gift. God not only forgave us, He made us alive together with Jesus when He raised Jesus from the grave. There was a certificate of debt against us. It told of all the laws of God that we had broken. There was no way that we would have ever been able to repay the debt that we owed. When the nails went into Jesus’ hands and feet, that certificate of debt was nailed to the cross with Him. It no longer applies to us. It applies to the “old man” that we were.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I have forgiven you My child. There is nothing that you have done that is so terrible that I would not forgive you. When My Son died on the cross, it was enough to take care of all your sins, not just the ones others would say are little. There is nothing that will be held against you. No one can lay a charge against you, for My salvation is bigger than all things. Trust in Me that I am able to do this and have already accomplished it.”

             7. God has forgiven me all my transgressions that I committed before I came to Him. There is nothing that I have done that He has not forgiven me. My debt which I could not pay has been erased for ever.

            Believe in the Son:

John 6:40

40     “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

             Have you beheld the Son and believed in Him? Then you can be certain that you have eternal life. Also, we know that we will not spend eternity in the grave. If we should die, Jesus will raise us from the grave when He returns. This is the great hope that we have. Remember that Paul said we hope for that which we do not yet see. If I have a dollar in my hand, I don’t have to hope that soon I’ll have one. I already have it. Hope in the Bible is not a wishful thinking. It is a confident expectation. One day we will see that hope realized.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You have beheld My Son. It pleases Me that you looked on Him with a favorable eye. That is the way I look upon Him continually and the way I look upon you. Trust in Me and My words. I will raise you up on the last day. There is no doubt that should arise in your heart. I have promised it, and I will do it.”

 

            6. I have believed in the Son, Jesus. Therefore I have eternal life and will be raised from the dead, if I die before He returns.

Book of Life

Book of Life:

Revelation 17:8

8     “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.

 

            This verse says that our names were written in the book of life from the foundation of the world. We’re not going to debate predestination; that is, God decided who would get saved and who wouldn’t with us not having a free will to choose or refuse. We will just say that God knew from before the foundation of the world who it was that would accept His Son as Savior. So He wrote down the names from the beginning. He wasn’t waiting for us to get good enough and then write down our names. You can’t. That’s why it took the blood of the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus, to save us. He was confident that we would accept Jesus as our Savior; so He wrote down our names.       

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I knew that I wanted you from the beginning. I wanted you so much that I wrote your name in My book of life. It was because I knew you would love Me and want to be with Me forever.”      

            5. My name was written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world. Therefore, I am confident that one day I will be with Him.

Eternal Life:

             He promised:

John 3:15-16

15     so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

     16     “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

 1 John 2:25

25     This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.

             God made a promise to us … eternal life. What does it mean when someone promises us something? It means that we can count on them to not take it back – to do all that they can to make it happen. Since it is God that made us the promise, we can be assured that it will happen. When we believe in His Son Jesus, we will not perish. Isn’t that great? He didn’t say that we had to get good enough. We don’t have to do a bunch of good works. What we have to do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, if we believe in Him, we should be doing good works … but not to obtain eternal life. We should have a holy lifestyle … but not to obtain eternal life. How do we know He will give us eternal life? Since God is not a man that He should lie (in fact He cannot lie), we can trust Him to keep His word.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            “I have promised this to you, My child. There is nothing that I would desire more than to have you with Me forever. In My love for you, I sent My Son that He might die for you so that you might live forever.”

            4. I have eternal life, which God promised me long ago.

            Gifts and calling:

 Romans 11:29

29     for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

   

            God is not going to change His mind and say, “Oops, look what they did. I shouldn’t have called him/her. I guess I better take it back.”  Salvation’s not based on our merits … on what we’ve done for Him, or how good we have behaved. It’s all based on His choice by His grace through the blood of Jesus on the cross. The same goes for the gifts He gives us. We don’t have to hold our breath hoping He won’t reconsider His calling of us or His giving gifts to us.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            “When I called you, it wasn’t for just a lifetime. It was forever. I will never change My mind about you. I want you to be with Me and to know Me from now on throughout eternity.”

             3. God has called me, and He will never change His mind. He has given me gifts, and He will never take them back.

Chapter 1

 

Salvation

 

            The first area we want to look at in conjunction with our destiny is that of salvation. Were we destined to be saved or was it some “luck of the draw”? What was necessary for us to become saved? Can we be certain it won’t be taken away from us? Is it just while we’re here on earth, or is it forever? What was our part, and what part was destined to happen no matter what?
 

We are Called/Chosen:

             Brought near:

Ephesians 2:13

13     But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

    

            Before we accept Christ as our Savior, we are all far off from God. Whether we are “good” as far as others were concerned or “bad”, it doesn’t matter. We all need Jesus. After I asked Jesus to come in and take control of my life, I called a friend in another state to tell her that I had become a Christian. She said, “I thought you already were.” Even though to her I was near to God, in reality, I was as far away as someone that you would consider to be the worst sinner in the world.

            We all need God in our lives regardless of our past. Even though Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees, he still considered himself the chief of all sinners. All his life, he did his best to obey the Law. It wasn’t good enough. He still needed the personal relationship with Christ.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            “My children, I have chosen you from before the beginning of time. I knew you before the world began. I saw what would be in your heart; how that you would have a desire to know Me. I drew you unto Me and brought you into My family.”

 Repeat the following:

            2. I am no longer far off from God, because I have been brought near to Him through the blood of Jesus.

 

What Is Your Destiny?

 

            When a life-changing event happens to a person, what does someone mean by the statement, “It was destiny (or fate).”? It means that the person involved had no control whatsoever over the situation. If it was something good, there was nothing that the person consciously did that caused the good to happen. If it was bad, there was nothing that the person could have done to prevent it.

            Around Christmas one year, I watched a movie named “Three Days”. It was one of those “second chance opportunity” movies. It wasn’t scriptural, but it does illustrate what is meant by one’s destiny. I’m intentionally leaving out a lot of the details.

            In the movie, on Christmas Eve the man’s wife went searching for a neighbor’s dog which had run off. She found the dog, but when she stepped into the street, she was struck by a car and died. In the hospital, the man was remorseful that he hadn’t had a chance to show her that he loved her. That night he met an angel that told him he would be granted the opportunity to relive the last three days with his wife. He would be aware of what had happened, but she wouldn’t, and he couldn’t tell her. In any event, three days later on Christmas Eve at the same time and place she would be there with the car bearing down on her … because that was her destiny. There was nothing he could do to prevent it.

            What would you do in this situation? Probably the same thing he did. He took her out of town so she would be in a different place on Christmas Eve. Just when it seemed like he would succeed, she insisted on going home for Christmas. In the end, there she was – same time; same dog; same car. It was her destiny.

            Nothing he tried to do could change what was destined. This was an example of what is meant by something being one’s destiny.

            Oh, by the way – when the car came this time, he pushed her out of the way, and he was killed. Not to worry, the angel brought him back to life and they lived happily ever after. So, the situation was her destiny, but it wasn’t her destiny to die.

            How does this relate to Christians? There are certain things that the Bible tells us is the Christian’s destiny. There is nothing that you have to do to make it happen, nor is there anything bad that you might do that would prevent it from happening. It is your destiny.

            Of course we do need to set some guidelines as to the type of person we’re talking about.

            Rather than argue pro or con, let’s assume that whatever is the “minimum” necessary to go to Heaven has been accomplished in the person’s life; that they have been water baptized; that the Holy Spirit is indwelling them; and that whatever else may be necessary to happen in a Christian’s life for the destiny discussed in this blog to be realized has or will occur.

            Also, there may be some verses that it is questionable as to whether or not it is a Christian’s destiny. For example – “I can do all things through Christ Jesus”. It doesn’t say that you will … just that you can. Should that be considered our destiny? So, we will be flexible in that regard. In the context, however, it wasn’t talking about “all” things. Paul had learned the secret of how to “get along with humble means and in prosperity”.

            Why do we want to know what is our destiny? Because – “All the promises of God in Him they are yea and amen”; II Cor 1:20 KJV. What does that mean? If God promised it as the Christian’s destiny … then it’s YOURS.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            “My children, I want you to know what is yours. I want you to walk in My promises so that My desire for My children will become known in the earth. Then the people of the world will want what you have. They will come to you to find out how they can know Me. Trust in Me that I will bring about My promises. I will not long delay in making them real in your life.”

 

            Throughout this blog, I will be giving you some phrases about your destiny to say out loud. You should say them every day. The more you repeat them, the more the reality of your destiny will sink in and become a part of your daily thoughts about yourself. The one for the previous verse is:

             1. All of God’s promises about my destiny in Christ, they are yea and amen. Therefore I can trust that God will bring them to pass in my life.

             Now repeat phrase number 1. Again. One more time.

 

            Too many Christian’s are ignorant of all the blessings of God that are available to them. Either they have never realized a promise was in the Bible, or felt certain it couldn’t be for them. It was only for the really spiritual believers. Or maybe they felt like they had done something so wrong that God didn’t want them to have it.

            Well, I’ve got good news for you.  God does want you to have these promises. His desire is for all His children to live the Christian life to the utmost. Then the world will want to become Christians too, when they see how much God loves His children. All that unbelievers have heard is how bad they are, and what a terrible punishment awaits them when they die. They’ve seen Christians fail and fall. They don’t want any part of it.

            The Scriptures that follow are quoted from the New American Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted; so the thought may sound familiar, yet a little different from what you may have memorized. Sometimes two or more Scriptures are combined to form a thought. If more than one is used, it too will be quoted or at least referenced.