As we begin a new year, I can think of no better subject to examine than that of Assurance. One of the most important issues in becoming a strong Christian is the issue of assurance or confidence. Assurance is defined as certainty, sureness, confidence, hope, or expectation. Assurance as a Christian means that we believe in all that Jesus has said and done on our behalf. Another word we could use is confidence. As a Believer, we are confident in our relationship with Jesus, the love of the Father, and the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Lord did not send Jesus to us so that we would be in doubt of all the rights and privileges of being a Believer. Remember, we are to be witnesses to Jesus. Therefore, the assurance of how we live our lives and speak testifies that what we are saying and displaying is true! Why else would anyone believe our testimony? Our assurance or confidence makes others wonder about our faith and want to know more. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15. Show More
Doubt, Anxiety, and Fear
Doubt and anxiety indicate that we have not completely surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ. A lack of assurance in our salvation and/or Jesus’ ability to keep us in any situation or circumstance shows that we don’t fully trust in Him, our Lord, and Savior. Fear is the enemy of faith or confidence, and fear keeps us looking at the problem instead of the solution, which is found in Jesus. The Apostle James also has something to say about the lack of assurance or faith. James 1:6, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
Jesus goes to great lengths teaching to us totally trust God in Matthew 6:25-34! In these verses, Jesus tells us not to worry or become preoccupied about life, worrying about what you will eat, drink or wear. You might ask, well, how do I do that? Let’s be honest; we all have concerns about quality-of-life issues, but the key to understanding this principle is found in verse 33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” The point here is about priorities! Are we seeking God’s issues and concerns first, and are we acting righteously, or doing right in God’s eyes, in all our actions and behaviors? Jesus promises that if we put Him first in our life, all the things we need will follow. Jesus makes it clear that your heavenly Father knows what you need and what will be added to you if you will keep Him first in your heart and mind.
Something I have tried to keep as my priorities is God first, spouse next, then children, church, and job or employment. There will be times when these priorities get moved about but always keep the Lord first. You see, keeping Him first will help you be successful in all the other priorities of life.
As I have said before, a sure sign of not trusting in the Lord is fear, anxiety, and worry; they are the opposite of assurance or confidence. Many have developed the habit of worrying even from childhood. Parents who are constantly anxious can transfer those traits to their children. Some have had near traumatic or traumatic events that have started them down the road of anxiety and worry. The good news is that the Apostle Paul shows us how to overcome this destructive habit in our lives. Paul says in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” So, if we are prone to worry and anxiety, we need to develop the habit of prayer and supplication with thanksgiving when making our needs known to God.
Don’t tell everyone about your problems or concerns. Learn to rely on the Lord by telling Him, for the Lord has the authority and power to meet all your needs. If you tell others, choose people you can trust to pray and intercede for you.
Pattern for Prayer
A well-known pattern for prayer is the acronym A.C.T.S.
- A is for Adoration. Adoration is worship. Worship is different from praise in that praise is being thankful for what God has done, whereas worship is being thankful for who God is. Worship is when we come to the attitude of saying, “Lord, knowing you is enough!”
- C is for Confession. Confession is acknowledging our weakness in walking in righteousness. It is recognizing that we are a “work in progress” and committing to doing better. It is recognizing the goal of Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
- T is for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is how we become aware of all that God has done and is doing in our lives. Our focus is on Him rather than what we can get from Him. Philippians 4: 6, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
- S is for Supplication. Supplication is when we ask the Lord for our needs and the needs of those around us. Worship, confession, and thanksgiving place us in the proper place to enter the Throne Room of God and ask for our needs.
While we are praying the ACTS sequence, we should always be open and expecting to hear from the Lord. Too many well-meaning Christians have a one-way conversation with God, never expecting to get assurance, comfort, and direction from the Lord. Remember, prayer is not simply a religious act. It is a relational act; you are communicating, having a dialogue with the Lord; make sure you leave time for Him to speak to you. Expect to hear an answer, in your heart and spirit, and then do it.
Assurance of Faith
The Lord has provided several avenues to help us grow in having faith or assurance in God.
- The Lord has given us His Word in the Bible. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2Timothy 3:16)
- The Lord has also given us the presence of His Holy Spirit, who lives in us. The Holy Spirit is our guide, teacher, and witness to what God has done in us. Also, let us not forget that the Holy Spirit is the seal of ownership by the Lord, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)
- The Lord is also transforming our minds with personal revelations of who He is, and as a result, we see changes in how we think and act. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
These are some of the proofs that God loves us and has a plan for us that will glorify Him.
There are at least five areas of assurance that we must settle in our lives:
- Assurance of salvation. We are born-again and now have eternal life with God. Very importantly, nothing or no one can take that away from us. Romans 8:38, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That sounds pretty thorough and complete to me!
- Assurance of answered prayer. God’s words in the Bible assure us that He hears our prayers. But remember, prayer is a dialogue, which means you speak, and he listens, then He speaks, and you listen. This is relational communication.
John 15:7, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
1 John 5:14, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” - Assurance of victory. The Apostle Paul states that because death and sin have been conquered, we can have victory through Jesus Christ. When Jesus ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, the Holy Spirit descended to the earth to live in every born-again believer of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:56, “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 John 5:4, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” - Assurance of forgiveness. The Bible teaches that salvation and forgiveness are by grace. That means you can’t earn them, nor do you deserve them. It is a gift of God. This doesn’t mean that you are free to behave sinfully. This forgiveness means that as you pursue His righteousness and right living, you are bound to make mistakes and stumble, and the Lord will not cast you away. Very much like when your children were small, you didn’t cast away your child because they made mistakes.
Ephesians 1:7, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
Colossians 1:13 “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” - Assurance of guidance. To receive the guidance or direction of the Holy Spirit is a process. Learning to hear the voice of the Lord takes practice, and you will probably make mistakes along the way; this is natural and normal. Don’t give up! God can speak to us in our minds or heart, through others, through the Bible, as well as through the circumstances of life. Don’t underestimate the Holy Spirit’s ability to communicate with you, but you must recognize His voice. When my wife calls me on the phone, I never ask, “who is this,” because I recognize her voice. In the same way, you learn to recognize the voice or actions of the Holy Spirit.
John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
John 16:13, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, let me say this; there is a difference between faith and assurance. Faith sees into the supernatural, and faith brings the Kingdom of God to the earth. Assurance, on the other hand, causes one not to be afraid, embarrassed or intimidated in living the Christ-centered life or sharing what Jesus has done for you. We need faith to please God (Hebrews 11:6); we need assurance or confidence to convince others of the truthfulness of the Bible and the plan of salvation available to all. In the words of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
