As I’ve shared, I’m on the journey of receiving healing for many past hurts and betrayals. As we know healing and forgiveness is a process and to pretend that’s not happening robs us of what we need to truly get past it. The torment I’ve been getting is a whisper in the night, “How can you be sure of your salvation? You still have resentment towards this person…” Then, in my mind’s eye a painful memory of betrayal pops up.
I’m sharing this because I want you to understand how the enemy works. He is slick…he gives a bit of truth and then twists it with a lie. From these faint night whispers, I began to doubt. In my salvation. In the goodness of God. In the power of the blood of Jesus. I love the Lord. I’ve given my heart and life to Jesus, but fear rose in my heart because I received the enemy’s whispers, and I entertained them.
The Lord warned:
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
I did not do that. I partnered with FEAR and Un-Belief. I worried perhaps I might be one of those who have prophesied in God’s name but maybe I wasn’t truly His. As I began to let go of the truth, the lie began to feel more real. Perhaps many of you grew up like I did; underneath a spirit of religion. Many of us were told we had to earn our way into God’s grace and mercy, we had to prove our worthiness to enter into Christ’s inheritance.
This old lie is rooted in fear, not in love. It overwhelms us with the burden of saving ourselves. It puts weight, shame and hopelessness into our walk and because this burden is far too heavy to bear.And if we entertain this lie for too long, many Believers will walk away from the faith…trading it for unbelief!
But we must remember our faith is NOT in ourselves! Our faith is in Jesus. He is our salvation, not us!
I believe in this hour the enemy is attacking Christians trying to STEAL their faith and salvation in the finished work of Jesus. As I was troubled, the Lord reminded me that He has been calling me back into the prayer closet of simply reading His word and standing upon it.
I did not heed his warning as serious as I should have and because I was not grounding myself in the truth of God’s word, the attack of the enemy took the breath out of me. I repented, asking the Lord what book of the Bible He wanted me to focus on. My spirit heard, “Romans”.
I grabbed my highlighter, expecting Him to highlight the verses to focus on. I have too many verses to read so I suggest you do this yourself! What I learned was incredible.
If any of you have been tormented by the Anti-Christ Spirit, looking to steal the surety and joy of your salvation, let these verses comfort your soul.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2
The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20-21
“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:12-17
“What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” Romans 9:30-33
“So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.” Romans 11:5-6
“Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.” Romans 11:19-23
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2
Here are some more verses that will help you to see your salvation more clearly:
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” The ultimate punishment or fear is separation from God. Thankfully, for those who believe in Jesus, that fear has passed. John 4:18
“Therefore there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
“Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:9
For assurance of your salvation, We must keep these verses mind:
“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.” Hebrews 10: 26-27
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 2 Corinthians 13:5
“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:3-4
“By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:10
Let my experience be a reminder that Jesus will never leave you without Truth; His word is the anchor to our soul. When we get anxious, God’s Word grounds us in His peace.
Reading God’s word benefits YOU. It strengthens YOUR spirit, which is why the enemy wars against you reading it or hearing it.
Let’s end with a short prayer:
“Heavenly Father,
You promised to never leave us or forsake us. But, how often have we done this to you? Your word is a light for our feet and a lamp to our soul. It anchors us in times of chaos and yet we wait until we are in the throes of the storm to grab ahold of your truth.
Forgive us for complacency! The enemy seeks to steal our peace, joy and hope of salvation in you. He wants us to partner with fear and works of the flesh; to trade your gift of grace for a shackle to drown us in hopelessness.
Realign our heart to yours. We trust in your goodness, mercy and grace. We look upon you and we praise you for equipping us with wisdom and truth in your Word.
Help us to cherish it, planting it deep into our hearts to anchor ourselves for when the enemy comes like a roaring lion, seeking our faith to devour. In Jesus’ name, keep our eyes and hearts tethered to you. Amen.”
