Latest / Challenges of Faith Radio Program / Are U running around doubtful? Ep 3436

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Are U running around doubtful? Ep 3436 · Challenges of Faith Radio Program

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  Speaker 1: Dear and gracious God, as we come before your holy presence,
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  Speaker 1: we thank you for who you are and who you
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  Speaker 1: continue to be in.
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  Speaker 2: Each of our lives.
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  Speaker 1: As we enter today's message, we ask you to allow
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  Speaker 1: your Holy Spirit to take the word, take the message,
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  Speaker 1: make it real, make it real to each one of
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  Speaker 1: us as listeners. And out of it all, may Jesus
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  Speaker 1: Christ be glorified. In his precious name, we ask and
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  Speaker 1: thank you.
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  Speaker 2: Amen. Amen.
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  Speaker 1: Welcome back to Challenges of Faith radio program. Let me
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  Speaker 1: ask you a question.
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  Speaker 2: You don't mind, do you? As I make sure my
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  Speaker 2: water is nearby. Do you still have joy in your life?
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  Speaker 2: But you know, really, if you look around or the
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  Speaker 2: people you.
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  Speaker 1: Come in contact with on a daily basis, believers of
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  Speaker 1: the household of faith Do you notice how uncertainty has
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  Speaker 1: really taken away or robbed thousands of people of their
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  Speaker 1: joy in this life of walking for Christ? Do you
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  Speaker 1: notice that? And maybe it's you. I don't know, but
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  Speaker 1: you know. And when knowing, you know, it's hard to
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  Speaker 1: kind of realize how many individuals out there are miserable
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  Speaker 1: because of being doubtful. And the question, again, Are you doubtful?
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  Speaker 1: Think about people who read their Bibles and never cease praying. Faithfully,
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  Speaker 1: you attend your place of worship and you're genuine in
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  Speaker 1: all of your interactions, but you don't have any assurance
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  Speaker 1: of forgiveness and salvation. Let me ask you another question.
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  Speaker 1: Does that fit you? Well, if it is, you already
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  Speaker 1: know it doesn't have to be like that. Think about
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  Speaker 1: the follower of Jesus Christ. You don't need to waver.
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  Speaker 1: Doubt's robbing your peace and your rest. And that's because
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  Speaker 1: that unbelief is interfering with.
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  Speaker 2: Your service to our holy God. As a believer of
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  Speaker 2: the household.
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  Speaker 1: Of faith, as a follower of Jesus Christ, as a Christian,
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  Speaker 1: you know, there's a question, is it possible to be
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  Speaker 1: assured and know it? Well, I always encourage you, what
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  Speaker 1: does the Word of God say? What does the Bible say?
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  Speaker 1: And I know you have an ink pen or pencil,
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  Speaker 1: whatever you're using to write it down, but over in
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  Speaker 1: 2 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 5, I know your turn.
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  Speaker 1: Paul exhorts, Paul encourages each one to examine yourselves whether
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  Speaker 1: you be in the faith. And in 2 Peter chapter
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  Speaker 1: 1 verse 10, we're told to give diligence to make
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  Speaker 1: your calling and election sure. So you see, the assurance
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  Speaker 1: of salvation is one of the great pearls of the
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  Speaker 1: grace of our loving God. And you and I should
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  Speaker 1: know that we possess salvation. You've got to remember now,
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  Speaker 1: lack of insurance is not the normal condition of the
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  Speaker 1: believer of the household of faith, but subnormal. And when
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  Speaker 1: you look at insurance, it's not only impossible, but think
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  Speaker 1: about it. You turn it around, take that word M
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  Speaker 1: off out there.
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  Speaker 2: You know, I am.
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  Speaker 1: It's possible, but it's also desirable because it gives you
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  Speaker 1: and I purpose and power to live. especially down here
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  Speaker 1: on earth. Think about it, believer of the household of faith.
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  Speaker 1: That's a fortress of strength against the wiles of the devil.
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  Speaker 1: And when you look at that assurance that you know
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  Speaker 1: you need in your life, it adds zeal to your service,
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  Speaker 1: especially with the knowledge that you and I shall receive
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  Speaker 1: an everlasting reward.
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  Speaker 2: You know it's true.
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  Speaker 1: A brother of the household of faith, of faith, of faith.
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  Speaker 1: Don't waste your years walking around, running around in doubt,
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  Speaker 1: but go ahead and move forward and enjoy the deeper
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  Speaker 1: things of God. You've got to remember, assurance is not
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  Speaker 1: necessary for salvation, but it is necessary for a victorious
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  Speaker 1: life in Christ. And since you didn't ask the question,
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  Speaker 1: but I know you did, what do the words Christian
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  Speaker 1: assurance mean? Well, I know you're delving into it. Assurance
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  Speaker 1: means the unwavering confidence, reliance of an intelligent faith, and
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  Speaker 1: a present salvation. And when you've got this knowledge, it's
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  Speaker 1: not only the privilege, but the duty of every believer
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  Speaker 1: of the household of faith. You've got to remember, assurance
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  Speaker 1: is based upon acceptance of the Bible as the infallible
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  Speaker 1: Word of God. The question is, do you believe it?
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  Speaker 1: Because as you and I apply the promises of the
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  Speaker 1: Word of God to our lives, doubt is put to flight.
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  Speaker 2: It's going to run. And you can see an illustration
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  Speaker 2: of that of Abraham. You do remember who Abraham is
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  Speaker 2: and was, do you not?
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  Speaker 1: Remember how he received a promise that was inhumanly not possible?
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  Speaker 1: But it was humanly impossible. Yet, you notice how he
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  Speaker 1: staggered not.
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  Speaker 2: At the promise.
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  Speaker 1: And you can see that in Romans chapter 4 verse 20.
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  Speaker 1: He didn't doubt, are you? Abraham believed God and it
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  Speaker 1: was counted in for righteousness. And you can see that
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  Speaker 1: over in Galatians chapter 3, verse 6. And while you're
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  Speaker 1: seeing all that, do you notice how the promises of
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  Speaker 1: God are as sure as God is because he's the author?
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  Speaker 1: Remember John the Apostle?
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  Speaker 2: I know you do.
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  Speaker 1: Remember how he knew the challenges of doubt? Do you
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  Speaker 1: remember how he saw many groping yet never finding, wishing
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  Speaker 1: but now, you know, still waiting? Do you notice how
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  Speaker 1: he was looking yet still longing because of doubt? Think
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  Speaker 1: about it. To free all in bondage is the purpose
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  Speaker 1: of his words. Remember what he said in 1 John 5,
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  Speaker 1: verse 13.
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  Speaker 2: I know you wrote it down.
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  Speaker 1: These things that were written unto you that believe on
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  Speaker 1: the name of the Son of God, that you may
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  Speaker 1: know that you have eternal life, and that you may
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  Speaker 1: believe on the name of the Son of God. Over
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  Speaker 1: in 1 John 5, verse 13. And the object is
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  Speaker 1: that you may know. Now, you don't have to guess.
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  Speaker 1: that you have eternal life, not temporary life. Think about
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  Speaker 1: the word know. It's to perceive directly, to recognize. And
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  Speaker 1: the Apostle John, remember now, he wrote those verses so
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  Speaker 1: that you and I might recognize our position in Christ.
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  Speaker 1: This is not an opinion or a matter of inference,
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  Speaker 1: but a revelation from God. Brethren, the household of faith,
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  Speaker 1: assurance is based upon the truthfulness of God, not of you, me,
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  Speaker 1: some man, some woman, some woman, some man, your pastor,
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  Speaker 1: your mom, your rabbi, your priest.
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  Speaker 2: Your human teacher.
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  Speaker 1: Failure to believe is to make God a liar, and
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  Speaker 1: if trust is wholehearted, fear is going to run away,
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  Speaker 1: yet consciousness of yours is going to be calm, and
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  Speaker 1: the heart is going to be quiet. Remember when our
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  Speaker 1: Savior was on the cross, he said, it is finished,
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  Speaker 1: meaning just that atonement was complete.
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  Speaker 2: Let me ask you a question. You don't mind, do you?
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  Speaker 1: Does God lie? I know you're saying that God cannot lie. Well,
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  Speaker 1: let me ask you another question.
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  Speaker 2: Does God exaggerate? Oh, okay, so you're.
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  Speaker 1: Saying no again, because a God of truth couldn't exaggerate. Then,
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  Speaker 1: except what our Savior said, believe you have everlasting life.
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  Speaker 1: And since he cannot lie and does not exaggerate upon
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  Speaker 1: repentance and faith in him, guess what?
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  Speaker 2: You have everlasting life.
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  Speaker 1: Could you imagine a prisoner, using a prisoner as an example,
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  Speaker 1: but a prisoner was being offered a pardon, And he
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  Speaker 1: read the document, but they were so overwhelmed that they
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  Speaker 1: were kind of mystified by the news. What if you
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  Speaker 1: went and asked them, have you been pardoned? And they responded, yes.
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  Speaker 1: And then you ask them again, do you feel pardoned?
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  Speaker 1: And then they responded, no, they don't think so because
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  Speaker 1: it just happened.
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  Speaker 2: But you ask, if you don't feel pardoned, how can
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  Speaker 2: you know you are?
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  Speaker 1: And then they say, and they point to the document,
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  Speaker 1: because the document tells me so.
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  Speaker 2: Well, the Word of God, the Bible is God's.
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  Speaker 1: Document of pardon to every one of us as believers
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  Speaker 1: of the household of faith.
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  Speaker 2: You know, there's a lot of misconceptions.
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  Speaker 1: Which make some believers believe insurance is impossible. You know,
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  Speaker 1: there was a man, could have been a woman, but
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  Speaker 1: it hadn't been a man, who said, you know, But
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  Speaker 1: I cannot know I am the Lord's till the day
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  Speaker 1: I die. You see, it's presuming to be so certain. Well,
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  Speaker 1: he was assured, not insured, but assured, that assurance is
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  Speaker 1: not arrogant presumption, but a humble knowledge of present acceptance by.
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  Speaker 2: Our loving God.
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  Speaker 1: And you've got to remember, this confidence is based on
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  Speaker 1: the finished work of Christ, not you, me, your pastor,
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  Speaker 1: your mom, your rabbi, your priest, your human teacher.
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  Speaker 2: Wherever it comes to your heart and mind.
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  Speaker 1: It's not a self-confidence because the scripture says, not by
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  Speaker 1: works of righteousness which we have done, but according to
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  Speaker 1: his mercy, he saved us. And you can see that
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  Speaker 1: in Titus chapter 3, verse 5. So the question is,
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  Speaker 1: I know you read it for us, but before I
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  Speaker 1: ask it, I've got to grab a sip of my water.
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  Speaker 1: Is it presumptuous to accept what God has said? Remember
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  Speaker 1: the Philippian jailer when he cried out, what must I
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  Speaker 1: do to be saved? And you remember Paul's answer? He said,
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  Speaker 1: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be
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  Speaker 1: saved and thy house. You can see that in Acts
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  Speaker 1: chapter 16 verse 31. And here you got the Philippian believer,
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  Speaker 1: jailer who believed. Do you notice that? And once he believed,
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  Speaker 1: he was converted. And you got the other thing, they
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  Speaker 1: got to know the day and hour of your decision.
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  Speaker 1: You know, it's great to know, but it's not necessary.
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  Speaker 1: You know, there was someone who was perplexed because the
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  Speaker 1: exact time of conversion could not even vaguely be remembered
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  Speaker 1: by them. However, one thing they worshiped about was that
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  Speaker 1: they had received Christ as Savior and Lord. And you
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  Speaker 1: know what? That's what really counts. Think about it. If
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  Speaker 1: no data is remembered, how do you know that's what
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  Speaker 1: you're saying? Well, let me ask you another question.
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  Speaker 2: You don't mind, do you? How do you know you're
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  Speaker 2: alive physically? Just asking.
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  Speaker 1: Oh, you say because you're breathing, you're eating, you're thinking,
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  Speaker 1: you're resolving. Well, that's the same way it is spiritually.
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  Speaker 1: If you've been converted, you'll be interested in spiritual matters.
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  Speaker 1: You'll breathe the atmosphere of heaven by it. praying, you'll
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  Speaker 1: read the word of God, you'll be faithful in the
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  Speaker 1: attendance of your local church, wherever that happens to be,
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  Speaker 1: wherever God has placed you. And should your life be
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  Speaker 1: no different from the one that's unconverted, then maybe you
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  Speaker 1: might want to examine yourself. And you got others running
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  Speaker 1: around believing they got to go through the valley of
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  Speaker 1: some tears or terror before they can know. You know, tears,
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  Speaker 1: not the crocodile ones now. You know, they'll result in
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  Speaker 1: genuine repentance, you know, and it's good, but just tears alone.
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  Speaker 2: Or remorse or regret, it can't do anything. And then
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  Speaker 2: you're talking about emotions.
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  Speaker 1: You know, emotions do play a part in your conversion,
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  Speaker 1: but don't depend upon them as an evidence of your conversion.
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  Speaker 1: Remember now, today you're feeling good all up, tomorrow you're
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  Speaker 1: feeling down.
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  Speaker 2: You can't depend on them.
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  Speaker 1: When one comes to see sin, you know, evil thoughts, words,
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  Speaker 1: and deeds, In the light of God, then there's bound
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  Speaker 1: to be a stirring. You know, tears are probably going
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  Speaker 1: to flow and you'll be strangely warm. But you've got
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  Speaker 1: to remember, it's not a feeling that determines salvation. It's
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  Speaker 1: not a feeling. When you look in the Word, you
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  Speaker 1: notice that you see that feeling appears twice, having no
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  Speaker 1: connection to whatsoever with your conversion.
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  Speaker 2: You've got to turn your back on feelings and do what?
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  Speaker 2: Believe God.
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  Speaker 1: Because again, feelings are going to come and they're going
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  Speaker 1: to go because they're deceiving. But the Word of God,
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  Speaker 1: nothing else is worth putting your trust in. So the
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  Speaker 1: question is, are you going to put your trust in
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  Speaker 1: the Word of God and not your feelings?
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  Speaker 2: Are you sure?
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  Speaker 1: Well, we'll continue the next time of this assurance of
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  Speaker 1: our salvation.
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  Speaker 2: Quit being so doubtful. Get in the Word. Let God
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  Speaker 2: through his Holy Spirit calm your heart.