Today we continue our series entitled, “God Loves You”, under the overall theme for the year of, “Supernatural Manifestation.” We have been learning about the love of God from John, the Apostle of Love. Decades after Jesus died, rose and ascended into heaven, the Apostle John (aka Grandpa John, by this point), wrote a series of letters that contain some of the richest teaching on God’s love in the Bible. I want us to look at two scriptures this morning, from John’s first letter. Both scriptures have to do with being fully confident in your relationship with God. I am calling this, “That you may know!”
This is what John said:
“My dear children, you belong to God, so you have already defeated these false prophets. That’s because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 ERV)
“I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God. I write so that you will know that you have eternal life now.” (1 John 5:13 ERV)
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. God wants you to KNOW that you are His.
a) You belong to God. He redeemed you from both sin and death.
b) You were born with reservations to hell because of one man, Adam. But when you accepted another man, Jesus, as Lord, your reservations to hell were cancelled and reservations to heaven were issued. Jesus got you OUT OF everything Adam got you into.
c) You are God’s possession. You are safe in His hands and no one can snatch you out! (John 10:28).
2. God wants you to KNOW that you already have the victory.
a) When you pray, you are not praying to God, asking FOR the victory. You are praying FROM a position of victory. Victory is your starting point, not your destination!
b) God has already defeated the world through His Son, Jesus the Christ, our Lord. We therefore already have the victory in Him!
c) Enter this day knowing that Victory belongs to Jesus, and since you are IN Jesus, Victory belongs to you!
3. God wants you to KNOW that He is greater than your opposition.
a) If God is on your side, or better stated, if you are on God’s side, what do you have to fear?
b) Our God has all power, He knows all things and He is in all places at the same time. There is nothing He can’t do and there is no challenge He cannot overcome.
c) The God who sits on the circle of the earth, with all power in His hands, lives on the inside of you. You have nothing and no one to fear!
4. God wants you to KNOW that you have eternal life NOW!
a) John said, “I write so that you will know that you have eternal life now.” Once you are in Christ and Christ is in you, you have eternal life. This is not something you will attain or something you have to strive to maintain. Eternal life was offered to you by grace (free, unearned, unmerited and undeserved). The moment you accepted God’s gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus by faith, you crossed over from death to life, you shall not see condemnation, you are currently seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus, and you are firmly planted in the Kingdom of God’s dear Son.
b) Early in my walk with God I was not sure if I had eternal life. Not only that, but I struggled and strived daily to maintain whatever salvation I thought I had. This caused me to live every day with an emphasis on me and my performance. Living this way I could never experience God’s best or His power. It was the revelation of God’s love and His grace that freed me from the pressure to perform. Now I KNOW I have eternal life. It was a gift offered to me because of Jesus. I accepted the gift by faith. Now that I KNOW I have eternal life and I KNOW God loves me unconditionally, I don’t serve Him because I am afraid of going to hell. I serve Him because I love Him and because I know I am loved. This is much different. Living this way, I am in position for the power of God to flow through me daily, simply because He loves me!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. I can say this confidently, because my confidence is NOT in me. My confidence is IN You, because I know You love me. You love me with an everlasting love. You love me unconditionally. You are committed to the plans You made for me before the world began. I believe Your love. I receive Your love. I enjoy Your love. I am transformed by Your love. Now I am in position to be used of You in ways that far exceed my ability, power and strength. I release my faith for the supernatural because I know You love me!!! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
