5236<\/b> Old Pete\u2019s Assurance<\/b><\/p>\n
Albertus Pieters in his book Divine Lord and Saviour<\/i>, tells of a believer who was not well-educated, but who had a deep assurance of his salvation. Everyone called him \u201cOld Pete.\u201d One day while talking with Dr. Pieters, he said, \u201cIf God should take me to the very mouth of Hell and say to me, \u201cIn you go, Pete; here\u2019s where you belong,\u201d I would say to Him, \u201cThat\u2019s true, Lord, I do belong there. But if you make me go to Hell, Your dear Son Jesus Christ must go with me! He and I are now one, and we cannot be separated anymore.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Selected<\/p>\n
5237<\/b> God Would Be Greater Loser<\/b><\/p>\n
The old Scottish lady was right. When she was visited by a very young minister who was short on experience, she held fast to her firm assurance of her safety in Christ. \u201cBut just suppose that after all God should let you sink into hell?\u201d said the minister. \u201cHe would lose more than I would,\u201d came the firm answer to faith. \u201cAll I would lose would be my own soul, but He would lose His good name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Donald Grey Barnhouse<\/p>\n
5238<\/b> Conscious And Unconscious<\/b><\/p>\n
When Hudson Taylor was staying in the home of a friend on one occasion, his host asked him, \u201cBut are you always conscious of abiding in Christ?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile sleeping last night,\u201d replied Mr. Taylor, \u201cdid I cease to abide in your home because I was unconscious of the fact?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Speaker\u2019s Sourcebook<\/i><\/p>\n
5239<\/b> Lessening Load<\/b><\/p>\n
A Negro, carrying a bag of potatoes on his back, was asked by a skeptic: \u201cHow do you know you are saved?\u201d<\/p>\n
The Negro took a few steps and then dropped the bag. Then he said:<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do I know I have dropped the bag? I have not looked around.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d replied the man. \u201cYou can tell by the lessening of the weight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d went on the Negro, \u201cthat is how I know I am saved. I have lost the guilty feeling of sin and sorrow and have found peace and satisfaction in my Lord and Saviour.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Elim Evangel<\/p>\n
5240<\/b> A Personal Thing<\/b><\/p>\n
One summer I spent some time at Mount Robson, British Columbia, where I camped and lived with fellow mountaineers of the Alpine Club of Canada. On a rainy day a group of us were drinking tea in a tent, when a discussion arose about religion. A young scientist turned to me with a patronizing air and said, \u201cBut you don\u2019t really believe, do you, that Jesus is the Son of God?\u201d he said. \u201cHow do you know it is true?\u201d<\/p>\n
I shall never forget what followed. I simply did what any other convinced man would have done: I looked him straight in the eye and said: \u201cHow do I know that Jesus is the Son of God? I know it, because I know Him personally.\u201d For at least a half-minute our eyes locked. Then he turned away. The argument was over. <\/p>\n
\u2014Christianity Today<\/i><\/p>\n
5241<\/b> Not Trying To Be<\/b><\/p>\n
A visitor asked an old, bedridden woman who said she was trying to be a Christian: \u201cAre you trying to be Mrs. Whyte? \u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I am Mrs. Whyte.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long have you been Mrs. Whyte? \u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cEver since this ring was put on my finger.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is how it is with me. I do not try to be a Christian. I have been one ever since I put out my empty hand and received Christ as my Saviour.\u201d<\/p>\n
5242<\/b> Questioning The Queen<\/b><\/p>\n
Queen Victoria had attended a service in St. Paul\u2019s Cathedral and had listened to a sermon that interested her greatly; then she asked her chaplain, \u201cCan one in this life be absolutely sure of eternal safety?\u201d His answer was that he \u201cknew of no way that one could be absolutely sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
This was published in the Court News and fell under the eye of a humble minister of the Gospel, John Townsend. He was an intimate friend of George Muller whose life of faith led to the founding of his well-known orphanages. This John Townsend was the father of \u201cSister Abigail,\u201d another Christian of extraordinary faith and service. <\/p>\n
After reading Queen Victoria\u2019s question and the answer she received. John Townsend thought and prayed much about the matter, then sent the following note to the Queen:<\/p>\n
\u201cTo her gracious Majesty, our beloved Queen Victoria, from one of her most humble subjects:<\/p>\n
\u201cWith trembling hands, but heart-filled love, and because I know that we can be absolutely sure even now of our eternal life in the Home that Jesus went to prepare, may I ask your Most Gracious Majesty to read the following passages of Scripture: John 3:16; Romans 10:9, 10? <\/p>\n
\u201cThese passages prove there is full assurance of salvation by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ for those who believe and accept His finished work.\u201d<\/p>\n
5243<\/b> Meeting The Queen In Heaven<\/b><\/p>\n
Queen Victoria often visited the humble and the poor. On one occasion she had been seeing a lonely cottager who was a happy believer in the Lord Jesus, and before leaving had inquired if she could do anything for her. \u201cI have all I want, thank your Majesty,\u201d said the poor woman. \u201cBut I would like to do something for you,\u201d said the Queen. Again came the response, \u201cI have all I need, thank you, Majesty, but if your Majesty would promise me one thing, I would be very glad.\u201d \u201cI shall do that if I can,\u201d replied the sovereign. \u201cOh, your Majesty, if you would just promise to meet me in Heaven.\u201d Softly and firmly came the Queen\u2019s reply, \u201cI shall do that in virtue of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014A. E. Janzen<\/p>\n
5244<\/b> \u201cFull Coverage\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n
I have an insurance policy <\/p>\n
Written in the blood of the Lamb, <\/p>\n
Sealed by the Cross of Jesus, <\/p>\n
Redeemable wherever I am! <\/p>\n
The company will never go bankrupt, <\/p>\n
It is bonded by God\u2019s promise true;<\/p>\n
It will keep every word of its contract, <\/p>\n
Exactly what it says it will do. <\/p>\n
I don\u2019t have to die to collect it, <\/p>\n
No premiums do I have to pay;<\/p>\n
All I do is to keep God\u2019s promise<\/p>\n
And walk in His holy way. <\/p>\n
No collector will ever come calling, <\/p>\n
It was paid on Calvary\u2019s tree;<\/p>\n
It insures me for living and dying<\/p>\n
And for all eternity. <\/p>\n
\u2014H. H. Hover<\/p>\n
5245<\/b> \u201cWhom Are You Doubting?\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n
I often use this illustration told by J. Wilbur Chapman, to close the message:<\/p>\n
I will tell you how to be saved, and how you may know you are a Christian. I was studying for the ministry, and I heard that D. L. Moody was to preach in Chicago, and I went down to hear him. I finally got in to him after the meeting, and I shall never forget the thrill that went through me, when he came and sat down beside me, an inquirer. He asked me if I was a Christian. I said, \u201cMr. Moody, I am not sure whether I am a Christian or not.\u201d<\/p>\n
He asked whether I was a church member, and I said I was, but was not always sure whether I was a Christian or not. He very kindly took his Bible and opened it at the fifth chapter of John, the twenty-fourth verse, which read as follows: \u201cVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suppose you had read that for the first time, wouldn\u2019t you think it was wonderful? I read it through, and he said: \u201cDo you believe it?\u201d I said, \u201cYes.\u201d \u201cDo you accept it?\u201d I said, \u201cYes.\u201d \u201cWell, are you a Christian?\u201d \u201cMr. Moody, I sometimes think I am, and sometimes I am afraid I am not.\u201d<\/p>\n
He very kindly said, \u201cRead it again.\u201d<\/p>\n
So I read it again, \u201cVerily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then he said, \u201cDo you believe it?\u201d I said, \u201cYes.\u201d \u201cDo you receive Him?\u201d I said, \u201cYes.\u201d \u201cWell,\u201d he said, \u201care you a Christian?\u201d<\/p>\n
I just started to say over again that sometimes I was afraid I was not, when\u2014the only time in the years I knew him and loved him, he was sharp with me\u2014He turned on me with his eyes flashing and said, \u201cSee here, whom are you doubting?\u201d<\/p>\n
Then I saw it for the first time, that when I was afraid I was not a Christian I was doubting God\u2019s Word. I read it again with my eyes overflowing with tears. <\/p>\n
Since that day I have had many sorrows and many joys, but never have I doubted for a moment that I was a Christian, because God said it. <\/p>\n
Now what I ask you to do is to plant your feet upon this promise, and say, \u201cYes, from this moment I know I am a Christian.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Carl Johnson<\/p>\n
5246<\/b> Photo of Jesus Gives Assurance<\/b><\/p>\n
In the fall of 1938 an elderly Christian woman of Oslo, Norway, had lost her fellowship with her Lord. She could not pray as she used to for the heavens were like brass to her. She became alarmed about her backslidden condition. She cried daily to God to give her some assurance\u2014\u201dsome definite sign that I am your child.\u201d \u201cLord, give me back the joy I had before I left Thee, so I can tell others of Thee and glorify Thy name. Oh! God be merciful to me.\u201d This was her continual cry to God. <\/p>\n
One day, as she was praying to God, the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit spoke to her plainly, saying: \u201cTake your camera and go out into the garden and take a picture.\u201d She was astonished at the voice and its command, and tried to dismiss it all from her mind; but the voice spoke again to her, with the same words and as plainly as before. This time she was obedient to the voice. She took her camera and went out and snapped the camera at random in the garden. Then she had the film developed, but did not see anything of interest on it, but on second look, you can well imagine her amazement, when she saw the figure of Jesus burst into view! <\/p>\n
Now she knew the Lord had heard and answered her prayers and had given her an unmistakable sign that she was again in fellowship with her Saviour. Had He not even posed for His picture for her? Her joy was now complete. Now she could tell everybody of her wonderful Saviour and Lord. <\/p>\n
Not everyone is able, at first, to see Jesus in that famous and often-framed picture. The picture takes in the head of Jesus to the chest, then both His shoulders. The figure of Jesus is large and occupies most of the picture. <\/p>\n
How beautifully the Holy Spirit, in this miracle, has shown us that Jesus is very close at hand in our times of trouble: but, when we take our eyes off Jesus, then our troubles loom up so large that we seem to become the victims of spiritual blindness and cannot see Him Who is so close to us and willing to help and bless us. <\/p>\n
\u2014Selected <\/p>\n
5247<\/b> Feelings Aside<\/b><\/p>\n
A man once came to a preacher and said, \u201cI was filled with joy in the meeting yesterday. Now it has all gone\u2014all\u2014and I do not know what to do. It is as dark as night.\u201d \u201cI am so glad,\u201d was the preacher\u2019s reply. He looked at the servant of Christ with astonishment and said, \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYesterday God gave you joy. Today He sees you are resting on your emotion instead of Christ. He has taken it away in order to turn you to Christ. You have lost your joy, but you have Christ. Have you ever passed through a railway tunnel?\u201d \u201cYes, often.\u201d \u201cBecause it was dark, did you become melancholy and alarmed?\u201d \u201cOf course not.\u201d \u201cAnd did you, after a while, again come into the light?\u201d \u201cI am out now!\u201d he exclaimed, interrupting the servant of Christ. \u201cIt\u2019s all right, feelings or no feelings!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014A. E. Janzen<\/p>\n
5248<\/b> What Persuasion?<\/b><\/p>\n
A visitor said to a wounded soldier who lay dying in the hospital, \u201cWhat church are you of?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf the Church of Christ,\u201d was the immediate reply. <\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, what persuasion are you of?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPersuasions?\u201d said the dying man, as he looked heavenward, beaming with love to the Saviour, \u201cI am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come \u2026 shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.\u201d (Rom. 8:38). <\/p>\n
5249<\/b> Security Blanket<\/b><\/p>\n
Charles Schultz, creator of the comic strip \u201cPeanuts\u201d pictures one of his characters, Linus, tenaciously clinging to his security blanket. Wherever he goes or whatever he does, Linus must have his blanket. He feels insecure without it. This may be humorous, but actually all of us have to have our security blankets of one kind or another. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.\u201d (Deut. 33:27). <\/p>\n
\u2014Carl C. Williams<\/p>\n
5250<\/b> Auctioneer\u2019s Decision<\/b><\/p>\n
Not long ago in Minnesota, an auctioneer sold a house for $675, after being offered $680, because he was disgusted with the trifling increase of $5 made by the second and only other bidder. Believing that an auctioneer is required by law to sell to the highest bidder, the man sued but lost his case. In an auction, no contract exists until the offer to purchase is accepted by the auctioneer. <\/p>\n
5251<\/b> Airline Safety<\/b><\/p>\n
At a travel bureau a clerk was trying to convince a woman of the safety of air travel. She remained unconvinced until he threw in the clincher, \u201cMadam, if it wasn\u2019t safe, would we be using the fly now, pay later plan?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Pastor\u2019s Manual<\/i><\/p>\n
5252<\/b> Assurance Produces More Work<\/b><\/p>\n
During the first part of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, no safety devices were used, and 23 men fell to their deaths. For the last part of the project, however, a large net which cost $100,000 was employed. At least 10 men fell into it and were saved. But an interesting sidelight is the fact that 25 percent more work was accomplished when the men were assured of their safety! <\/p>\n
\u2014Dennis J. De Haan<\/p>\n
5253<\/b> Sultan Was Pleased<\/b><\/p>\n
A poor woman, we are told, made the complaint to the Sultan that when she slept she awoke to find everything lost. \u201cWherefore did you sleep?\u201d inquired the Sultan. \u201cSir,\u201d was the response, \u201cI slept because I thought you were awake.\u201d The monarch restored to her that which she had lost. <\/p>\n
\u2014Christian Age<\/i><\/p>\n
5254<\/b> Letter Test<\/b><\/p>\n
It had been my uncle\u2019s lifelong dream to come from his native Spain to visit his sister, his five nieces and what he called his \u201csister\u2019s country.\u201d Finally the trip was arranged. But his wife was afraid of flying and kept trying to back out. At last he won her over by saying, \u201cJust think how many airmail letters we have written in the past 40 years\u2014and we haven\u2019t lost a single one!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Selected<\/p>\n
5255<\/b> The Glass Between<\/b><\/p>\n
When I was in England, during one of the conferences, a woman told me she was once awakened by a very strange noise of pecking, or something of the kind. When she got up, she saw a butterfly flying back and forth inside the window pane in a great fright, and outside a sparrow pecking and trying to get in. The butterfly did not see the glass, and expected every minute to be caught, and the sparrow did not see the glass, and expected every minute to get the butterfly. Yet all the while that butterfly was as safe as if it had been millions of miles away, because of the glass between it and the sparrow. So it is with a Christian. Satan cannot touch the soul that has the Lord Jesus Christ between itself and him. <\/p>\n
5256<\/b> Cities Of Refuge<\/b><\/p>\n
In ancient Israel six cities were founded as cities of refuge. Thither for refuge could flee men who, without malice or premeditation, had taken the life of a fellow man. Once within the gates of the city of refuge, they could not be touched by any hand of vengeance or judgment. The rabbis have an interesting tradition that once every year the roads leading to these cities of refuge were carefully repaired and cleared of obstacles and stones, so that the man fleeing for his life would have no hindrance in his way. The Cross is God\u2019s great and eternal city of refuge from the penalty upon sin. <\/p>\n
5257<\/b> No. 2 Always<\/b><\/p>\n
Arthur Brisbane, the newspaper editor, was heard telling his best cartoonist, Windsor McKay, that he was the second greatest cartoonist in the world. <\/p>\n
A reporter standing nearby, his curiousity aroused, asked Brisbane who was first. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d said Brisbane. \u201cBut it keeps McKay on his toes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Bits & Pieces<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
5236 Old Pete\u2019s Assurance Albertus Pieters in his book Divine Lord and Saviour, tells of a believer who was not well-educated, but who had a deep assurance of his salvation. Everyone called him \u201cOld Pete.\u201d One day while talking with Dr. Pieters, he said, \u201cIf God should take me to the very mouth of Hell … Continue reading “SALVATION, ASSURANCE OF”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5257"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5257\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}