[Script Info] Title: [Events] Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.57,0:00:11.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I observe that there's three aspects, Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.82,0:00:15.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,three levels of assurance taught in the Bible: Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.03,0:00:18.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One is the most simple, the most basic level of assurance Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.48,0:00:21.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is taking God at His word in faith. Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.82,0:00:25.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In other words, here's John 3:16, it does say Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.72,0:00:28.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that whoever believes in Him will not perish Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.62,0:00:31.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but have everlasting life, and if the heart is sincere, Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.66,0:00:35.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he says, "Lord, you said this. I do believe it." Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.81,0:00:37.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if he does sincerely, truly believe it, Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.76,0:00:39.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he can have some measure of assurance right there Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.91,0:00:42.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by just taking God at His word. Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.35,0:00:45.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a second level of assurance, Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.52,0:00:47.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that is our walk with God. Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.67,0:00:51.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After we profess Christ, we set out in following the Lord, Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.89,0:00:53.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,why there's assurance that way too. Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.70,0:00:55.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We see our lives being changed, Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.57,0:00:58.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we see our life being conformed to the Word of God. Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.17,0:01:01.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there's assurance at that second level too. Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.37,0:01:03.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But then the third level of assurance, Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.57,0:01:06.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the highest and most infallible, you might say, Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.87,0:01:09.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would be the witness of the Spirit. Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.02,0:01:10.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Spirit of God comes to the Christian Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.89,0:01:13.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,either at regeneration or after regeneration Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.39,0:01:15.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and just floods his heart with love Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.50,0:01:18.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and tells him, "You're Mine, I'm yours." Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.21,0:01:20.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you see these three levels in Romans 5, Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.84,0:01:24.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it starts out, "therefore having been justified by faith, Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.31,0:01:27.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.05,0:01:29.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there, you're taking God at His word. Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.22,0:01:32.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're believing, and so you have peace with God. Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.64,0:01:35.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But then it goes on to say, not only this, Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.99,0:01:38.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we also glory in tribulation knowing that Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.06,0:01:40.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tribulation works patience, patience experience, Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.78,0:01:43.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and experience hope disappoint. Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.15,0:01:45.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there's hope. How? Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.12,0:01:47.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My character development. Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.24,0:01:49.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And by our walk with God. Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.00,0:01:52.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The book of 1 John is full of those type of tests. Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.02,0:01:53.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By this we know we've come to know Him Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.42,0:01:55.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we keep His commandments. Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.35,0:01:57.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so that's the second level, Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.33,0:01:59.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there's the third level which comes again Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.23,0:02:02.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,right after that in Romans 5, where it says, Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.47,0:02:07.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hope doesn't disappoint, for the love of God is shed abroad Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.24,0:02:10.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who was given to us. Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.12,0:02:12.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so there's the witness of the Spirit. Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.92,0:02:15.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see that in the life of Christ, Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.22,0:02:18.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where, of course He was so to speak a believer. Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.68,0:02:22.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was the Son of God. Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.38,0:02:25.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But nevertheless, there was upon baptism Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.00,0:02:27.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a witness of the Spirit where the Spirit of God came Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.84,0:02:30.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and said, "You are my beloved Son, Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.14,0:02:32.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in You I'm well pleased." Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.10,0:02:34.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Romans 8, the Spirit bears witness with our spirit Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.98,0:02:37.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we are children of God. Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.68,0:02:42.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So for the Christian, I'm fully persuaded that the Bible Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.57,0:02:44.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,teaches there are repeated fillings of the Spirit, Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.87,0:02:47.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,repeated witnesses of the Spirit. Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.30,0:02:50.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Day by day, we can ask for the Spirit of God. Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.38,0:02:54.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can ask, "Lord, would you fill me with Your Spirit today." Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.12,0:02:59.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By Acts 3, Peter had been filled with the Spirit three times. Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.89,0:03:02.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so, you know, just fresh meetings with God Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.09,0:03:04.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where the Spirit of God comes and says, Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.13,0:03:08.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"You're Mine. It's ok. I'm with you. I love you." Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.03,0:03:11.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You could sum it up with three "W's." Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.66,0:03:14.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,First, there's the word - taking God at His word by faith. Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.96,0:03:18.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then there's the second W and that is the walk. Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.05,0:03:20.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then there's the third W, Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.06,0:03:22.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that is the witness of the Spirit. Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.42,0:03:25.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a birthright for every child of God. Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.38,0:03:28.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the thing to do is not to worry about it too much. Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.86,0:03:34.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But just be devoted to following the Lord Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.76,0:03:36.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with all your heart. Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.26,0:03:38.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Following Him, and He'll make sure Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.57,0:03:40.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you have the assurance that you need. Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.57,0:03:43.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're saved by faith, not by assurance. Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.21,0:03:46.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it will follow - sooner or later.