I hear it often, “Are you sure?” We say it when someone offers us something that is kind or generous or maybe even a sacrifice by them for our help or benefit. I’ve usually thought, “Why do we ask that? Why did he or she ask that?” I’ve never heard anyone say in reply, “Well, no, I’m not sure and actually would rather not” or “No, I’m just kidding!”

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Why do we not instead respond to such a thoughtful offer by saying, “Thank you, you are very kind” or “That is thoughtful of you but please do not let it create a hardship for you”.

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† 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure (stable, steadfast; from solid footing): for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Just recently I was sitting in a nice comfortable booth at a restaurant waiting for my “To Go” order and a family of four came in and began to sit down at a center table with less comfortable, hard chairs. I asked, “Would you rather sit here in this booth?” The mother smiled and asked, “Are you sure?” I replied, “Yes, please come and take this booth.” Of course, her reply was, “Thank you”, as was the husband’s.

𝔸gain I wondered to myself, why do we ask that?

Again I wondered to myself, why do we ask that? What would happen if I had said, “No, I’m just pulling your chain; I really don’t want to give up this soft cushioned seat for that hard chair over there.”

And so, the next time someone offers you something that he or she doesn’t have to, why not say, “Thank you, I appreciate that” and not the usually quip, “Are you sure?” Well, yes, he or she is sure or they wouldn’t have offered (like so many people these days will not).

Now getting to the point of why the Lord moved me to speak under this title; He is asking today about what you think and what you say that you believe, and He earnestly asks, “Are you sure!? Are you sure of what you think you believe and what you say you believe about Me, and are you about what My Word says?

Are you sure (?) because your eternity matters on if it’s true in your heart; it matters what you truly believe when it comes right down to the hard tests of that which you say you believe about Me! And tests are coming soon that are will be very revealing about your faith in Me.” Pretenders, those in churches that are not born again but don't know it, hypocrites, the lukewarm and backslidden will not be in Heaven.

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† John 11:[At Lazarus’ tomb:] 25 Jesus said unto her [Martha], I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

My very good friend and our Brother Randy responded to last week’s message, which weekly messages he listens to, by writing back, “It’s time to quit playing Christian and actually be Christians.” Pretty much—that’s what the Holy Spirit speaks through my lips each week to those under the sound of my voice who have their ears turned on and their minds listening.

𝕋he question “Are you sure?” is for you to hear, and     to evaluate and answer, and not to me but to the Lord.

Please bear with me on this next point before we continue and do not be offended by my challenge if it does not apply to you. Do you clearly recall the time and place where you (in your mind and heart) came to believe-on and confess the Lord Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God and your Savior? Frankly, I was very young when I did that and I do not recall that critical moment in my life. But just in case that never really happened (although I do remember my Sunday School teacher and my water baptism) I have made sure since then that I have confessed with my mouth faith in Jesus Christ and been baptized again.

Today’s divine question is for you to consider if you, too, need to do the first works over again. Carefully think about what these next critical Bible passages say about becoming a believer and the life we are to live from then on.

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† Romans 10:6 ... the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise... 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession (speaking in words, profess) is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

† John 3:4 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up :15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

† John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

† 1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

† 2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

† Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

† Revelation 2:[To the members of the church at Ephesus:] 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

I ask you again, do you clearly recall having surrendered your life to Jesus Christ through humble repentance, the asking for forgiveness for your sins and for the cleansing of them by the precious blood of Jesus? Since that day has your walk been on the strait and narrow road” leading to life(?) or has nothing much changed since then and you might just be on the broad road to destruction (you can know the answer to that if you will be honest before God)?

𝔸re you living for Jesus no matter the hardships that it involves? Are you this very day faithfully living in righteousness and in holiness and by now have an unshakable confidence in God? And again, the question of this very hour: Are-you-sure? You need to be!

Those under the sound of my voice for these years have no excuse before the Lord if they are failing to be on the right road, failing to be living clean before God, not knowing how to live for Jesus and know God in a personal relationship and He you. But, alas, so many today do as Brother Randy said, they are playing at being Christians (Gr. To Eng.: hypocrites, “actors playing a role”) and that simply is not acceptable by God and will have catastrophic consequences, if not corrected before death.

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† Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

† Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great (“megas”) was the fall of it.

† John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. [How Jesus comes to “know you” † Matt. 7:23, “you really don’t know someone until you live with them”]

† John 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

The thought is hard for me to bear that of all that have heard what I have taught over the years (you and so many others at a distance) [the thought that some] will not stand in the congregation of the righteous saved into Heaven one day but will instead be regrettably absent—forever!

𝕊o, I lovingly harass you with this question again:

So, I lovingly harass you with this question again: Are you sure you are born again based on how you are living each day? Are you so sure of your relationship with God that you could stand before Him today and not be ashamed or worse, not even meet Him in Heaven; are you so sure of your walk before God that you would not hear the words, “I never knew you, depart from Me”? Believers—we must never forget these admonitions in God’s Word:

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† Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect (be careless of) so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him...

† 1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth…

† 1 Peter 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely (with difficulty + involving much work of faith) be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

† Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear (alarm, fright) and trembling (quaking from that fear). 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

† Hebrews 10:30 ...The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

† Revelation 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works... 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

† 2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure (firm, steadfast): for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall...

† Revelation 3:[To the church at Laodicea, a large segment of today’s church:] 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Are you living up to the positive requirements of these last several Scriptures? ...Not neglecting God’s rescue plan for you—it involves each and every day you are alive in this present realm, [you’re] not living a lie about fellowship with God, [you are] with difficulty and work submitted to the redemption plan of God for you day-by-day, living righteously in light of the records God is keeping about how you are living for Him or not—does how you are living cause you alarm knowing that you-will-stand before the God of eternity and be judged, are your works by faith since being saved ensuring that your election will stand sure on that judgment day, and are your sure that the Lord is not on the outside of your heart knocking right now but His Spirit is on the inside of your heart and sitting on the throne of your life as the rightful Lord and Master? Of-these-things, are you sure?

The Scriptures use the word “sure” or “persuaded” in always positive ways about God’s plans, promises and power regarding you—but these things require a dedication by each believer to live for God each day to be I these places of surety!

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† 2 Timothy 1:12 …I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed (have faith), and am persuaded (convinced, rely on, have confidence) that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

† Romans 4:20 He [Abraham] staggered not (did not hesitate) at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded (completely assure of, belief was entirely accomplished) that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also… [Our belief is to govern our daily walk as a thing in the full view and blessing of God.]

† Hebrews 6:17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure (opposite of to fail [-1(-1)=1], secure, certain, safe) and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil…

† 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure (“stereos/sure”: to stand; stiff, solid, stable; related to Gr. stauros = cross]), having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity… 20 [Paul says, “By the way:] in a great house [the Lord’s house] there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”

I will not say to others that offer me something out of kindness, “Are you sure?” but either “Thank you!” or if appropriate, “No, but thank you.” However, when the Spirit of God asks such a question of you or of me, it should be taken as an indication that He sees flaws in what we believe about ourselves and significant fractures in how we are living—that in His view are very dangerous and might stand against our one day being welcomed in Heaven.

And so as we conclude today, I am going to ask you to take a minute of eyes-closed and audio silence in the Presence of the Lord to ask yourself, “Am I sure that I have been born again; if I had been born again, have I now become lukewarm or even backslidden? Am I sure that I am even now clean before Him and will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and not the Great White Throne Judgment for unbelievers, pretenders and the backslidden?”

ℕow listen for another minute for the voice of the Holy Spirit to speak to you about the answers to these questions that you have come to. Does He agree, “All is well” or do you hear something different?

The day and the hour is fast approaching you and me where some *will-without-notice* no longer be with us. We each must be sure that we are ready to stand before God and give an accounting of our lives and there is no better way than to stand before Him at least clean of sin and unashamed of our lives from this day forward.

May you be honest with yourself and before the Lord.

Dear God, bless my brother and my sister.

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~ Brother Scott ... With ... The Right Word^© ... For Today~

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