In Your Bible Read This
Ephesians 2

Here Is Your Memory Verse
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God
so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13

Afterwards Talk About This
Discuss the changes and challenges that God has brought into your life,
showing that he is there at work in you

Something To Do Before Next Time
Allow that new love to express itself (or better himself because God is love)
by arranging to bless your family, neighbours or the poor,
in some practical way of service. Report back what happened.

Written Diploma Work
Write one page or two on the differences between your old life and your
new emerging life living in the Lord. Use John’s points as paragraph headings.

Meditate On This Passage
John 5:24

Spend a Minute to Change the World

Pray For Indonesia - 195,000,000 Malay peoples

87% Muslim or Javanese mystics, spectacular church growth for 30 years
Some recent persecution

Be sure to teach this lesson to others.
Always pray and prepare well adding
your own verses and stories to bring it to life.

 

The Bible promises us that when we believe the gospel, receive Jesus as our Saviour and our Lord, and decide to follow him all the days of our life then we turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. We receive forgiveness for our sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith. Acts 26.18

1. How Can We Be Sure?

Life as a believer means walking by faith, not by sight. So can we ever know for sure that God has indeed rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves?

How Can We Have A Fulness Of Faith In God Which Leaves No Doubt?
2 Cor. 5.7; Col. 1.13; Heb. 10.22.

God Is Not A Man That He Should Lie.
Numbers 23.19.
The answer lies in believing what God says in his word. That settles it forever because God never changes his mind.

He Promises Salvation
See Psalm 91.16; Isaiah 45.17; Mark 16.16; Luke 19.9; Acts 11.14; 16.31.

He Says He Has Adopted Us
John 1.12; Romans 8.15; 2 Cor. 6.18; Gal. 3.26, 4.5,6; Ephesians 1.5.

2. Here Is A Love Letter From God

It was written by Jesus’ best friend, John, who is often called the apostle of love. He was inspired by God to write a letter to specifically answer this question of how we can know for sure that God has come into our lives and is at work in us.

John says, " I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God 
so that you may know that you have eternal life." 1 John 5:13

We Can Know We Are Children Of God
Why? Because we can point to new things that are happening inside us and around us that never used to happen. That’s God at work. Even though we fail or even fall some days, nevertheless God’s work has started in us and he will see it through to completion. 1 John 3.2; 5.19; Phil. 1.6.

3. Can You See God At Work?

Is Holy Spirit At Work In You?
It is Holy Spirit who speaks continual comfort to your heart, assuring you that you are a child of God. With his help you are already calling God, "Father." Read 1 John 3.24; 4.13; Romans 8.16; Galatians 4.6.

Perhaps you have already discovered some of the spiritual gifts that Holy Spirit brings to every believer.

When a verse in the Bible sort of lights up and speaks to you that’s Holy Spirit teaching you. You can be sure that he is also starting to guide you in prayer. And when your heart is troubled when sin draws near to tempt, you can be sure that it is Holy Spirit encouraging you to choose the highway of holiness.

Are You Becoming Like Jesus?
We used to live for ourselves, but now isn’t there a new love and kindness struggling to emerge to friends and foes alike? That’s the fruit of Holy Spirit; God at work inside you. See 1 John 3.2

Is Love Flowing In And Out Of You?
That is a sure sign that God is in your life because God is love. He does not have love. He is love, that is his nature. 1 John 4.16.

As you live in God’s love you will find yourself loving him. He will soon direct you to love other people too with a love that he will give you, even for those hard to love people. Expect new love to flood into your family to bless your parents and relatives, even if they have abused or neglected you in the past. Your husband or wife will be blessed by the new you that emerges and may even ask what is happening to you. 1 John 5.2-3.

Are You Loving God’s People?
Before you thought God’s people were strange, or even worse! Now you find a new love for your brothers and sisters growing in your heart and you prefer to be with them. Maybe you are wondering what you can do practically to help less fortunate brothers ? See 1 John 3.10; 14; 16; 19.

Are You Saying No To Sin?
Before sin gripped you and you followed whatever it demanded but now you no longer want your own way, and choose God’s way. Everyone fails now and then. You will find increasing victory over bad thoughts, bad habits and bad language. See 1 John 3.10; 5.18.

Are You Obeying God’s Commands?
We never used to or if we tried we could not, but now that is exactly what we want to do. The more we obey God the more love he pours into our lives. See 1 John 2.3; 2.5; 5.3.

4. To Know God Better - Walk With Him

Amos 3.3 tells us to agree with God then we can walk with him. The more you do the more you will know that you have eternal life, and the more confidence you will have in approaching God your Father to ask him anything according to his will. You will soon find that if you pray according to what he reveals to you, you will have what you ask for. Answered prayer is a sure sign that you are firmly established in God’s kingdom. Press on to know Jesus more and more. 1 John 5.15; 5.20