GOD’S WORD FOR  APRIL 1

We are reading from a daily devotional  called “Running To Win” written by Erwin Lutzer  and the late, great D.L. Moody.   Erwin Lutzer is a light in our day as D.L. Moody was in his.  Besides his many ministries, and many books, Pastor Lutzer was Senior Pastor at Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years and now serves as Pastor Emeritus there.  He is  Chancelor and a former professor at Moody Bible Institute, where he taught Theology and Ministry, and now has numerous radio teachings.

BORN INTO GOD’S FAMILY

1John 3:2

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

D.L. MOODY

The reason why there are so  many in the churches who will not go out and help others is that they are not sure they have been saved themselves.  If I thought I was dying myself, I would be in a poor condition to save anyone else.  Before I can pull anyone else out of the water, I must have a firm footing on shore myself.

We can have this complete assurance if we will.  It does not do to FEEL we are all right, we must KNOW it.  The apostle John says, “NOW we are the sons of God.”  He doesn’t say we are going to be.

ERWIN LUTZER

One of the greatest errors we can make is to view our relationship with God as a religion rather than a relationship.  Nobody illustrates this like Nicodemus, a high-ranking official of the Jews.  Jesus told Nicodemus, who came secretly by night, that we must be born again to “enter the kingdom of God”( John 3:5-7).

The new birth brings us back in contact with God.  Nicodemus would have understood rebirth from Ezekiel.  “I will cleanse you, and I will give you a new heart (Ezekiel 36:25-27)  The life of God is created within us making “all things new” (Revelation 21:5).  As this new life grows, we experience radical change.  We are born into God’s family, enjoying all of our privileges as sons and daughters.

PRAYER

Father, please grant me assurance of the truth that I am yours.

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 John 10:28-29 – And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

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 Romans 8:38-39 – For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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 1 John 5:13 – These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.

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 Ephesians 1:13-14 – In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

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 2 Timothy 1:12 – For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

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 Hebrews 10:22 – Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

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 Philippians 1:6 – Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

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 1 Peter 1:3-5 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

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Romans 8:16 – The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

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1 John 3:14 – We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death.

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John 5:24 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believeth on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

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 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.

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