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Sermon Notes 09-11-11am
1 John 3:19
Intro: Ten years ago, when the Trade Towers fell…Pentagon & Pennsylvania… We Lost…Still Grieve.
- Money, Property, Lives…. Security
Suddenly we felt less safe, vulnerable, at risk (Terrorism)
- There is a difference between Feeling Secure and Being Secure. (Feelings are often unreliable)
t/s – John deals with Security. 1 John 5:13 – so that you might know
Blessed Assurance…
… All is at rest, I in my savior am happy & blessed
Being Secure is much more than Feeling Secure
1 John 3: 19-24 (John gets most directly to his point)
Note: vs. 24 – first reference to Holy Spirit… more later.
Two Kinds of Christians
People with an Assured Heart
Exp – “Assure” (19) = to persuade, to soothe… Set Heart at Rest
- “Before God” = “Confidence”… Free, bold speech
In present, ease of prayer in His presence
For Future, no fear or dread…. He Knows!
Ill – Like a child crawling into Daddy’s lap, unhindered.
App – This is the Ideal, the Norm… To be Born as His Child!
People with a Condemned Heart
Exp – “Condemn” (20) (21) = to Know + Against… to think ill of…
- Troubled, Dread of God, prayer hindered, No confidence!
App – In my experience as Pastor, two causes for Condemned Heart
1) My experience doesn’t match the “Norm”
2) A “Big” Sin in my Past (How could I ever be accepted)
t/s – Living with a Condemned Heart is Torture!
ILL – John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress
- Christian find himself in a dungeon where a giant clubs him mercilessly, leaves him unable to move and causes him to contemplate suicide!
- Giant, “Despair” and Castle, “Doubting”
App – Such are some of You! Clubbed and rendered useless by Doubt
t/s – We do not have to live with a condemning Heart!!
How to Find Blessed Assurance… An Assured Hear…Set at Ease!
NOT Focusing on Our Feelings
- Common misunderstanding of this text.
“Assured Heart” = Saved
“Troubled” = Lost
Result, only the hard hearted have no Doubts!
Focus on the Facts and Let your Feelings Fall in Line
Vs. 19 & 24 – How can we Know that we are of the Truth, that
Jesus abides in us & we in Him by Spirit indwelling?
Read 23 again
Have I Embraced the Truth concerning Who Jesus Is and What Jesus Does?
“Name” = His revealed character
Do I Love One the People around Me (More than feelings…Deeds)
Do I Obey His Commandments….
Vs. 22 – Do the things that are pleasing in His Sight
ILL – “Just the Facts, Ma’am” (Dragnet)
App – John will not back away from his Simple approach.
Eternal Life (from Spirit) is Easy to Identify!
Repeat Three Questions
- Very Practical, measurable, observable, Objective!
John says, “You Can KNOW!”
If so, you can set your Heart at Rest before Him.
Focus on the Facts and Let your Feelings Fall in Line
ILL – Christian wallowed in the dungeon of Doubt & Despair for Days
What a fool I am to lie in a stinking dungeon when I can
Freely walk away! I have a key in my bosom called Promise,
That will, I am persuaded, open any lock in Doubting Castle.
He unlocked the prison door of Doubt with the key of Promise
And walked away free!
