assurance – ThrivingBranch

Your Assurance of Success in Christ

September 13, 2020April 4, 2020Leave a Comment

Success, we all want it. With very few exceptions, each of us wants to succeed in whatever we do; nobody likes to fail. But what assurances do we have for success? Is success just a gamble? A roll of the dice? Fear of failure can be a strong deterrent to moving forward.

So what should our view be, as believers in Jesus Christ; as reborn new creations washed clean and redeemed by His sacrifice? Perhaps simply having the question spelled-out in this way just opened your perspective somewhat. And we’re going to continue today by having a discussion regarding how Jesus Christ has given you the assurance of success. Let’s get started!

World Information vs. Spiritual Information

April 28, 2019July 11, 2018Leave a Comment

In a few of our past studies, I’ve alluded to the fact that faith is information. And I have received some messages from people since those studies, with questions regarding exactly what this means and how to apply it.

In those messages which people sent to me, it became immediately clear that they were not understanding the difference between world information and spiritual information. Indeed, those two things are very different. Not all information is faith. Faith is a very specific type of information; information that deals specifically with Christ, what He has accomplished, and who we are in Him today.

So today in this study, I would like to share with you, the very important difference between world information (information that comes from worldly circumstances and what the world presents to us) versus Spiritual information (information about Jesus Christ, what He has accomplished on the cross, and our identity in Him today) – that is the information which is properly identified as faith.

This is what we will be looking at today.

God Will Surely Show You Kindness

December 11, 2016June 15, 2016Leave a Comment

Over the years I have spoken to believers from all across the globe. Different nationalities, different ages and different backgrounds. For all of their differences though, besides their admission of being believers, they all have something else in common: They are all worried and unsure – not unsure of God’s existence, but rather unsure of His intentions. They aren’t sure of God’s intentions towards them – whether He will do them good or evil… they aren’t sure whether God will protect them and provide for them.

In all honesty, I do understand this mentality, because I used to experience it myself. It’s impossible to be totally sure when it comes to God if you’re on a shifting foundation based on self. If you are looking to your own behaviors and performance to dictate whether you receive blessings or not from God, then you will always be on the shifting sand of your current performance-level. However, thank God that the Bible does not actually teach that we earn favor from God through our own performance or behavior! Today we will be studying how God will surely do us good, and all because of Jesus Christ and His perfect obedience.

Christ Jesus: Your Victory Over the World

April 17, 2016December 17, 2015Leave a Comment

Nearly every single day, I invariably have at least one encounter with someone struggling in their behavior to some degree. I am not speaking about people of the world here, but about believers. People who genuinely want to “do the right thing.” but find themselves incapable of accomplishing their goal. This should not be surprising, because as we have been studying in the scriptures, it is very clear that we have no ability to perform within ourselves. Our victory does not come from our own self-effort, striving or willpower.

This does not mean that we have to live in defeat. There is a source of strength, there is an avenue of victory over the world – though it may not come the way that you expect. Many believers actually think that victory only comes by buckling down, gritting your teeth and clenching your fist tighter – in other words through “trying harder”, but this is not what the Bible teaches. What we will be studying today is how to have true victory, through Jesus Christ.