In this series on assurance we have seen how the bible defines salvation. We found the first of several ways to understand how insecurity can creep into our relationship with Christ and attack our security. We’ve learned that “Spiritual Warfare” and “Scriptural Assurance” are two ways that we can know we are in fact God’s children. We have seen, using many scriptures, how those interact and again point to the sovereignty of God and His great love for us. Today, I’d like to dig into the next couple of ways that we can know that we are saved. “The Holy Spirit’s Ministry” and “Answered Prayer”, are distinct and clear ways of knowing without a doubt whose we are!
The Holy Spirit’s Ministry
As a believer, you know who the Holy Spirit is and many things about Him. You know that He was given to us as believers (1 John 4:13). As we look together into how He works in our lives, we will see how evidences of His ministry assures us of our salvation.
So let’s look at a few of His ministries towards us.
• Intimate fellowship with God (Galatians 4:6): As believers, His Spirit draws us to Himself and comforts us as His dear children. Think of your dearest and closest friend here on this earth. That person who knows you best and cares for you no matter what happens. As close as that relationship is, a Christian’s relationship with God can be even deeper. Find comfort in knowing He has you and you are secure in Him.
• Compelled to praise! (Ephesians 5:19): Do you feel the need to just cry out in praise to the Father? The filling of the Spirit produces that praise in you. In my life I find that I can’t help but shout to the Lord and glorify Him! There’s a song by Chris Tomlin called “You and I were made to worship“. I’d suggest that you listen to that song and know that if everything cries out from you – that is another sign of your salvation. Those who don’t love Him, can’t do that, nor do they want to.
• Showing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23): (Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) Are you seeing these in your life? If you look at the previous points here in this section, you can see other fruits as well. Do you feel compelled to pray and meditate on His words or sing out in praise? Those too are ways to draw nearer to Him in fellowship. These are more ways that He shows you that you are His!
• Gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-13): A partial quote is here: “4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” As a new or older Christian you may not yet have discovered your gift from the Spirit. If you don’t see the gifts above, remember that there are a “variety of gifts, but the same Spirit”. If you are saved, you have a desire to know what God has equipped you with and you can easily find it. I would suggest that you start out by asking God to reveal it to you. He WILL! There are several websites that will guide you through the process. Here is one suggestion: Spiritual Gifts Test (It is free and confidential. At the end they will give you a detailed report based upon your answers. They will also ask you to create a login; go ahead as I believe that it is well worth it.)
• Only through His Spirit you can say “Jesus is [my] Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:3 AMP): If you believe in your heart – and have confessed Him as Lord of your life, you are saved. Trust in Him and trust in the decision you made to follow Him! You will never regret it if you are saved!
“Let the Holy Spirit’s work in your life dispel the dark shadows of doubt1.”
Answered Prayer
It has been answered by evangelists and pastors for years when asked if God answered prayers, that He answers either “yes”, “no”, or “not now”. Whatever the answer to your prayer is, you got an answer to your prayer! So as we ponder answers to our prayers, let’s start with where our heart is when first approaching God with our request. Remembering at all times that God is faithful to His word. He says that if we are righteous before Him, our prayer to Him can accomplish much (James 5:16).
Inward or Outward?
When you begin to pray for a certain situation or event that is upcoming in your life, ask yourself what is the motivation? Are we asking things that are pleasing to Him (1 John 3:22), or are your motives driven by your own desires? I would encourage you to read 1 John 5:14-15. Here we are reminded that if we believe in the name of the Son of God, we are saved. Since we are saved we can come before Him confidently if we ask according to His will.
Let’s ask some more questions!
As we’ve now focused on what God’s will is in our prayer life, let’s look a little deeper and see where he has answered us! If we reflect on several questions, we can see just how God does answer prayer. 2For example: “Have you prayed for someones difficult situation and seen God turn it around to one of joy and blessing? Have you seen an unsaved person you’ve prayed for come to Christ? Has God filled a void in your life that you prayed that He would? Have you prayed for boldness in proclaiming the gospel and seen God working through you? Have you known forgiveness and a clear conscience after you’ve prayed to that end?”
How about other areas in your life? If you think on those things, you will see where God answered your prayers. Have you thanked Him for saying “no” when you came to realize what a horrible mistake it could have been if yes was the answer? Have you seen where only God could have accomplished something in your life? Have you ever stopped and said “Wow, that’s definitely a God Thing”? If you can truly answer “YES” to any of those questions, you most certainly are saved! Have confidence dear brother or sister.
In this section of our study, we have learned that the Holy Spirit’s Ministry and Answered Prayers in our lives will help us gain confidence in our salvation. We see again where the scriptures point us to security in Christ. The next attributes of assurance will be: “Obeying and Loving Gods Word” and “Knowing the Truth”!
References: 1,2From “Strength For Today” by Dr John MacArthur
J Mike Wills 
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