Filled with Joy!

The Mark of Assurance

Philippians 1:3-11

Me:

When I started to doubt.

a. When I surrendered to preach

i. I was very eager

ii. I soaked it all in

iii. I had one glaring problem

iv. I saw myself as unworthy

v. After all I had sin in my life

b. Here is the funny part

i. I knew called me to be a preach. Had no doubt

ii. But I did doubt my salvation

iii. I was saved at the age of 7

iv. That’s really young to make such a decision

We:

Do you doubt your salvation?

a. When a pastor gets saved

i. One church I pastored one the pastors before me went to a conference and got saved.

ii. Told the church and continued to be the pastor.

iii. Do you see the problem with that?

iv. The normal pattern is God saves then calls not the other way around

b. Some of you are wondering if you are really saved.

i. There is this sin

ii. Or lack of faithfulness

iii. Or you are trying to be good enough, but are you?

iv. Some of you think you can be saved - but can lose it just as easy.

God:

The Mark of Assurance (v. 6).

a. I’m certain of it

Philippians 1:6 NLT

6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

ii. Underline four words – Certain – Good Work – Finished

I am sure of this (ESV)

i. We can be certain – confident – convinced – to be sure

ii. When God saves you He keeps you saved.

iii. Some of you doubt this

iv. But listen to this verse!

v. Think about this illustration

1. You murder someone in fit of rage

2. You steal a nickel from the convince store

vi. Will there be speed bumps? You bet

vii. Will you sin? YES

viii. Will God toss you aside and say try again?

The Good Work

i. The work of salvation

The fancy term for this is sanctification

1. To make holy, set apart

iii. This is the work God is doing our lives

iv. What he is doing at this moment

v. The work that God does he finishes

The work that God does he brings to a successful completion

i. I have a lot of jobs I start and have not finished

ii. But not God

Genesis 1:31 NLT

31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

iv. God will complete the work that he has begun in you.

e. What if?

i. You have the choose to be disobedient

ii. Disobedience brings discipline

iii. Or you are not His child.

You:

Do you still doubt?

a. The Mark of Assurance

i. It’s also the mark of confidence

ii. If you doubt?

iii. You lose your effectiveness for ministry

iv. So, which is it?

b. My Story

i. I did not doubt my call

ii. I did doubt my salvation

iii. How ridiculous is that?

iv. If I would have given in to that temptation, I would have been a pastor for the last 38 years

v. I knew this in my mind

vi. I had a show down

vii. I ask God to forgive me and use me one night.

viii. I haven’t looked back since

Just image

Doubt is the enemy’s weapon

a. Stand assured in you salvation

i. Watch how God uses you.

ii. Settle that issue know.