“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                  

http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht   

“Homily Grits Devotional”   http://www.homilygrits.com/ 

1 Samuel 16:13… Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord cameuponDavid from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.  (NKJV)

What an amazing, absolutely life changing event for the unredeemed sinner…when God graces them with the gift of salvation, through saving faith alone in Jesus Christ…Ephesians 2:8-9…   A lifetime of sins is not only forgiven…the sins are never again remembered by God…Hebrews 8:12… For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deedsI will rememberno more.”  (NKJV)

I am personally of the belief, that a child of God can never loose their salvation…  I believe the Holy Spirit indwells the Christian at that moment in time, when God brings them into His eternal kingdom as one of His children…and they are then a Christian in God’s eyes…John 14:26…

There are a several pieces of scripture, on which I base my beliefs…   Here is a link with 53 Bible verses; all pointing to “Once Saved, Always Saved” beliefs… http://www.openbible.info/topics/once_saved_always_saved

Here is just one of these verses; and it is spoken by Jesus, in…John 10:27-30… My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and noone is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and My Father are one.”  (NKJV)

We also read this scripture, penned by the apostle Paul, in…Ephesians 1:13… In Him you also trusted,after youheardthe word oftruth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the HolySpirit of promise, (NKJV)

In the next verse after the opening scripture, we read where the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul…  1 Samuel 16:14…  But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him.  (NKJV)

Some would say that the Holy Spirit left Saul, and he had lost his salvation…  However scripture later on tells us, that Saul still went to be with the Lord, when he died…  Samuel, the great prophet of Saul’s time, reports back to Saul through a medium after his death, in…1 Samuel 28:3-19…that Saul and his 2 sons would die in battle the next day, and be with him (Samuel)…

1 Samuel 28:19…  Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will bewithme. The Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”  (NKJV)

We see the Lord give Saul“a distressing spirit”,which “troubled him”…    When we as Christians disobey the Lord, like Saul did…the writer of Hebrews tells us, that the Lord will chastise and scourge the ones He loves, in order to bring them back into submission to His will…Hebrews 12:3-11…   God will use Satan and his demon friends, to sometimes inflict pain and suffering in the lives of His children (at His discretion)…  God does this to strengthen them, and bring peace back into their lives…Hebrew 12:11…  Job, and the pain and suffering he went through, is a perfect example of this, in the Old Testament Book of Job…

If we as Christians could only learn to always submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit that God has given us, to keep us on the right path…Proverbs 3:5-6…  Walking with the Lord, as a Spirit filled Christian (Ephesians 5:18-20), is just so much better of a way for the Christian to live their lives…  Why do I write so much about this ??  Because there are just too many Christians who have yet to experience the absolute joy, and supernatural God given peace, which a Christian walking in the Spirit will possess…

Philippians 4:6-7… Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  (NKJV)

The power of the Holy Spirit with-in the Spirit filled Christian, when left in total control of our lives, does require total submission to God…James 4:7-8b…  Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will fleefrom you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. 

Sins of the flesh, many of which are too enjoyable to quit in our own strength…have to be given up…confessed…and turned from, with fervent prayer to the Lord…seeking His forgiveness and strength (1 John 1:9)…  But God’s richest blessings,which He reserves for His obedient children…well…theyare just so much more fulfilling, in comparison to sinning, once the Christian tastes and sees that the Lord’s promises are true…Psalm 34:8… Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!  (NKJV) 

Heavenly Father, I pray that all of Your children can resist our own flesh’s temptation, to be in control of our lives…  Urge us Lord, to submit to You…and then bless us Lord, as You mold us and conform us into the image of Your Son…Romans 8:29…  I pray for this fullness of Christ for all of us, in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen… 

written by bruce r mills