How Can You Tell? #292

“1 John 3:23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.”              John 14:16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper or Comforter, or Advocate (paraclete) that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.  

How can you tell that you are a born again Christian? How do you know that you are a child of God? What is your evidence that you are truly a believer? The Apostle John wrote not only the Gospel according to John, but also three letters that bear his name. He speaks often of the third person of the Godhead; The Holy Spirit.  He says you can know you are a believer because the Holy Spirit lives in you. The very presence of God in your life is IN YOU. He is the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit. He testifies that you are a child of God as He lives in you.

John also says in the Gospel according to John that the Holy Spirit is the Helper or the Comforter that will not only live in us, but will be with us forever. Those who are not saved and have not received Jesus as their Savior, Lord and Life cannot receive the Holy Spirit. It is only those who believe or have faith in Jesus that the Holy Spirit  comes to live within. He will abide with you forever.

You cannot see the Spirit of God. Jesus said of the Spirit that it is like the wind. You cannot see the wind only the results. So it is of the Holy Spirit. You do not see Him but you will see the results of His presence in you. The Holy Spirit brings to your life the Fruit of the Holy Spirit, which includes; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self control. You see the Holy Spirit working in your life through what He does through you.                                                     

__________________Today's personal note from Dennis


Greetings from Starbuck in beautiful Tempe, AZ

Sandy and I experienced a wonderful week end with the Grace Community Church camping group. I even had an opportunity to do a little fishing in Roosevelt Lake. I was not skunked due to one fish. 

The fellowship and food and worship were great. (See pics of worship on Sunday morning.) Richard Compton led the music. He is a member of First Baptist Church of Tempe also. His son, Seth, a cinematographer, took the pictures. Roger Ball, our pastor, saw the homecoming of his elderly mother this past Saturday. It was a time of grieving and rejoicing. She was a Godly woman who loved her family. They will miss her. My prayers and condolences go out for the entire family. 

I will be back preaching at the 9:30 Intersect Service at First Baptist Church of Tempe on March 30th. We will continue our study of Revelation. Join me in the LOFT, an upstairs or up elevator auditorium. Looking forward to seeing you. 

Sandy's brother, Sammy, will be visiting us over the week-end. We are eager to see him and he is eager to see all our grandkids.

His wife, Kathy, is a CPA. That explains why she isn't coming on this trip: Taxes, Taxes, Taxes.

I so appreciate your prayers. Last week I saw four different doctors. Each a specialist. All agreed that at this time nothing should be done. The cancer is growing with little that can help. I still do not have much of an appetite. I have lost 28 pounds since we were in Quartszite at the end of January. Not a diet I recommend. God continues to give me energy enough to do the things that need done. I am so grateful for the help from so many people. 

This past week was my birthday. I am so thankful for the cards, emails and phone calls that wished me a Happy Birthday. I received more recognition of my birthday than at any other birthday in my life. Thanks so much. Some of our good friends, Rich and Monie,  from our church in Wisconsin celebrated my birthday with us. 

I pray that today you may be blessed beyond measure. I pray that your deepest longings of your heart will be fulfilled. God bless you.   ~ DGW