Do Not Fear! King Jesus is Here! – Part 2 – Helped by the Holy Spirit

When we fear, sometimes we panic or seek to do something to help us get rid of our fear. The religious leaders of Jesus day feared Jesus. After the resurrection of Lazarus, they said to one another, “If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation” (John 11:48). They were afraid of losing their “place,” and “our nation.” There were envious of Jesus, and He knew it (Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10).

These religious people feared losing their positions of comfort and status and influence. So, they began to try and do something about it. They began to plot the murder of Jesus:

John 11:53–57 (NKJV) – ⁵³ Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. ⁵⁴ Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples. ⁵⁵ And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. ⁵⁶ Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?” ⁵⁷ Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.

Ultimately, they would succeed in murdering Jesus. But their desired end would not be reached.

Bad Death – Good Death

Bad Death. Later in John’s gospel it states:

John 12:35–41 (NKJV)

³⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. ³⁶ While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

³⁷ But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, ³⁸ that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:

“Lord, who has believed our report?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

³⁹ Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:

⁴⁰   “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,

Lest they should see with their eyes,

Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,

So that I should heal them.”

⁴¹ These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.

Understand, these critics of Jesus didn’t believe because God created them unable to believe. They didn’t believe because they chose not to believe. And, while God is longsuffering and gracious (Romans 2:4), there is a point of no return reached by the persistent unbeliever. Each tie a person refuses to accept Jesus, their heart gets a little more calloused, a little harder (e.g. Galatians 6:7-9). This continues and if the person persists in unbelief, they reach a point of no return. They reach a point of spiritual death that is permanent so that “they could not believe.” God oversees this and implements the consequences of a person’s choices. This is a bad death.

Good death. When Jesus died on the cross many probably thought they had put an end to the threat of Jesus and His followers. But nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus had predicted the growth of His church:

John 12:24 (NKJV) – ²⁴ Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

Jesus said to follow Him meant dying to self and picking up your cross and following Him (Luke 9:24-27). Dying to self so that you are living to God is good death. When we die to self it leads to life in God. If we want to experience the fullness of God, we need to crucify our flesh (sinful nature) (cf. Galatians 2:20). This is good death. All death in Christ is good because it brings us closer to God (e.g. Phil. 1:21).

Fears, Frustration and Failure

The religious leaders thought by killing Jesus they were fixing a problem; killing a problem. But what they feared was made even worse by their self-serving sinful actions.

The murder of Jesus had exactly the opposite effect that the pharisees desired. And that is usually what happens when we take things into our own hands. When we rely on ourselves or anyone or anything other than God, we usually end up frustrated, fruitless, and doomed to failure. At the very least we settle for far less than God’s best.

We see in the account of Acts how these religious leaders continued to try and wipe out the name of Jesus along with His followers. But empowered by the Holy Spirit, the followers of Jesus stood courageously against all threats – “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ’We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Their persecution only served to spread the name of Jesus and His Church all the more (e.g. Acts 8). The more they tried to stamp out the truth of the gospel and the name of Jesus, the more it grew:

• “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” – Acts 2:47
• “And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” – Acts 5:14
• “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” – Acts 5:42
• “Now in those days, when the number of disciples was multiplying” – Acts 6:1
• “The word of the Lord spread, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith” – Acts 6:7
• “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word” – Acts 8:4
• “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied” – Acts 9:31
• Even staunch anti-Christian Pharisees were converted to Christ and became leaders in the church – Acts 9
• The Church spread to the Gentiles and grew even more – Acts 10
• “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. . .. And a great many people were added to the Lord” – Acts 11:21 and 24b
• “So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily” – Acts 16:5

By acting in their own strength, exactly what they feared came to pass. What the scribes and pharisees feared was that, “everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” This is exactly what happened to them. In 70 AD Jerusalem fell to the Romans and Jews were thrown into a diaspora. They would have to wait until May 14, 1948 to be a nation again. On Pentecost, the Church was birthed (Acts 2). It multiplied and spread.

Now, whenever people oppose God and His purposes, they are doomed to frustration, fruitlessness and failure. But the same is often true when we rely on our own strength instead of the Lord. What was the difference? Why did the Pharisees and religious Jews fail to stop Jesus and His Church? Why was the Church successful in overcoming their fears?

The Fearful Life without the Holy Spirit – Life at a Distance from Jesus

Christians are not exempt from align prey to their fears. Peter for instance, at the final supper with the Lord, when told by Jesus of His betrayal and death, stood and asserted his loyalty, even boasted that while others may betray Jesus, He never would:

Matthew 26:30–35 (NKJV) – ³⁰ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ³¹ Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:

‘I will strike the Shepherd,

And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

³² But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

³³ Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”

³⁴ Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

³⁵ Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

And so said all the disciples. (cf. also John 113:36-38; Mark 14:26-31; Luke 22:31-34).

And Jesus was betrayed and taken into custody just like He said it would happen (John 18:1-14). Peter and John followed Jesus where He was taken into the courtyard of the High Priest. John tells us that Peter “stood at the door outside” (John 18:16a). But John, who knew the High Priest, got Peter inside (John 18:16b). As he was brought in a servant girl said to him, “’You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not’’ (John 18:17). Fear can quench loyalty. Peter stayed in the courtyard warming himself by a fire with some others (John 18:18). Jesus was here, but it wasn’t helping Peter not to fear.

Sometimes when circumstances look dire, our fear can overwhelm us. Peter had boasted, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (Matthew 26:35). Jesus knew better. Peter, at that point, wasn’t aware of the power of fear. Fear is a powerful thing.

While Jesus was being interrogated and brutalized before the Sanhedrin, Peter remained outside warming himself by a fire (John 18:25a). Again, Peter was again asked if He was a disciple of Jesus. He denied it (John 18:25b). One more time, a third time, Peter was asked about being a disciple of Jesus. And again, a third time Peter denied knowing Jesus. The rooster then crowed. Just as Jesus said it would (John 18-26-27). John is too kind to say what happened next. But Luke says, after his third denial, “Peter went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:54-62).

Fear will cause you to fail if you let it. Fear can keep you at a distance from God. Fear can break you down and cause bitter regret. That’s what it did to Peter. How could that have been prevented? How can we overcome fear?

We can’t truly reliably overcome fears in our own strength. Some are braver than others, but all have their limits for fear. What Jesus goes on to say in these final moments before His crucifixion are eye opening and heart impacting and the way to overcome our fears. We can break down the message of Jesus hear into the following parts:

1. His Prediction of Greatness – John 14:12
2. Our Privilege of Prayer – John 14:13-14
3. His Promised Partner – John 14:15-16:33

His Prediction of Greatness

The Apostle John goes into great detail about what Jesus said the night before He was crucified. He recorded Jesus washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:1-20). And He recorded what Jesus said about His betrayer and how Jesus knew exactly who would betray Him (John 13:21-35). Jesus even knew that all His disciples, even His inner core of disciples, would fail Him (John 13:36-38).

But as Jesus began to teach these disciples, He seemed to contradict Himself. He had just predicted their failure, their forsaking Him. But now He spoke of their greatness. He introduced His final great teaching by saying:

John 14:12 – “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

“Greater works than these he will do”? Yes. That’s what Jesus said. These words must have been perplexing to the disciples. They are perplexing to us even now. But they were and are very encouraging words from Jesus. How will, how can we do greater works than what Jesus had already done? What did Jesus mean by that?

We have the benefit of hindsight. Hindsight is always twenty-twenty. What did Jesus mean by this statement? But I suggest the following.

First, what Jesus says here is certain. Jesus begins by saying, “most assuredly.” This is a sure thing what Jesus is saying. They and we can count on what He’s saying here. Keep that in mind as we continue.

Second, what Jesus says is for “he who believes in Me.” Faith is a necessary ingredient for this to happen. The disciples would have to believe in Jesus, and we have to believe in Jesus for this to happen. We have to trust Jesus and take Him at His word. (No small task for those challenged by fear. But we will see Jesus will provide us with additional help.)

Notice too that this is not an exclusive statement by Jesus. He says, “he who believe in Me.” That implies anyone who believes in Jesus is eligible for greatness.

Third, what Jesus says refers to “normal” Christian living – “the works that I do he will do.” Jesus says that through faith in Him we can do “the works” like He did. This is speaking of normal Christian living. Jesus has said previously that “whoever believes in Me” will: “never thirst” (John 6:35), have living water gushing out of them (John 7:38), have life after death (John 11:25), and not remain in darkness (John 12:46). This is normal Christian living.

We will get the wrong idea if immediately we think of Jesus turning water to wine (John 2:1-11), knowing what people are thinking (John 4:18), healing people (John 4:46-54; 5:1-9; 9:1-7), feeding thousands (John 6:19), raising people from the dead (John 11), and walking on water (John 6:19). Whether or not God uses us to perform miracles is by His will and His empowerment (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7-10, 29-30). But Paul asks rhetorically later in the New Testament, “Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings” This implies that miracles are not common. So, what is meant by Jesus hear?

Fourth, what Jesus says refers to works that lead others to Him. In the verse before Jesus says in effect if they were having a problem believing Him, they should look to the works He’s done as further proof – “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves” (cf. also John 10:25). Therefore, when Jesus speaks of works, He is speaking of works that lead others to Him. And in this sense the works of the first disciples and all successive generations of disciples and Christians who did works that lead others to Christ, are “greater” in the sense that they perpetuate and build on what Jesus had started. These are “the works that I do.” Are you doing them?

Fifth, what Jesus says refers to “greater works” in content. How could we do “greater” works than Jesus who walked on water, prolifically healed the unhealable, raised the dead, and did so many incredible things? Now, if God willed it, we could do it. But it’s likely Jesus is speaking about something different here. Not all will do miracles (1 Cor. 12:29-30). What does Jesus mean then? Two things I believe.

1. The “greater works” Jesus speaks of here are greater in content. After the crucifixion and resurrection, they will preach the crucified and risen Jesus Christ. And they will preach this gospel message of God’s grace and how through faith everyone can receive forgiveness of their sins and enter into a saving relationship with Almighty God in Christ. Never before had something so incredible and wonderful been preached. Everything preached prior to this was in anticipation of Messiah, but now Jesus was actually here and had completed the redemptive work of God. All who were forgiven by faith in the Old Testament were forgiven in anticipation of what Jesus would do. Their actual atonement wasn’t accomplished until Jesus actually died on the cross (cf. Romans 3:25). And that is a great, great message. We see its great and powerful impact in the book of Acts and beyond.
2. The key phrase is “because I go to My Father.” What was so important about Jesus going to the Father? Jesus answers that question later in His teaching when He says, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:7). Jesus is referring to Pentecost here and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2; cf. also John 20:21-23 when Jesus breathed the Spirit on the disciples). Jesus is the One who poured out the Spirit at Pentecost – “^Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33). Their works would be “greater” from that point on because of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Our Privilege of Prayer

If you still have questions about “how” these “greater works” will be done, Jesus continued:

John 14:13-14 – ¹³ And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

All we need to do to receive the power and resources needed to do these “greater works” is to “ask in My name.” Now, this is not a magical phrase to get form God any whimsical or frivolous thing we want. No. To pray in Jesus’ name means to pray as Jesus would pray and for what Jesus would pray for. John later says something similar in his first epistle:

1 John 3:22 – And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

1 John 5:14–15 – ¹⁴ Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

If we seek in prayer those things pleasing in God’s sight, we can rest assured we will have what is needed. The great missionary to inland China, Hudson Taylor, used to say, “Depend on it, God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply. He is too wise a God to frustrate His purpose for lack of funds, and He can just as easily supply them ahead of time as afterwards, and He much prefers doing so.”

His Promised Partner

How was Jesus so sure that His disciples, including Peter, would all forsake Him and run away? He was sure of that because they had yet to receive the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit a person is doomed to be frustrated, fruitless and fail.

How was Jesus so sure they would do “greater works than these”? Because, with the Holy Spirit they and we are empowered to do the “greater works” Jesus spoke of.

The Holy Spirit our Helper. The night before Jesus would go to the cross was a fearful night. Jesus celebrated a meal with His disciples, but at the end of the meal, He told them about His betrayal and that He would die (John 13). Then He spoke of “another Helper,” one just like Him, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would be there to help them when Jesus left (John 14-16). Jesus said:

John 14:16 – ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—

The word “another” means another of the same kind. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are distinct Persons of the Trinity, but they are very much the same in terms of their holiness and divine ambitions and power. The Holy Spirit partners with the Father and Son Jesus to do the work of the Triune God.

John 14:17-18 – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

The Holy Spirit is “with” us convicting us of our need of a Savior. He is “in” us when we are born again of the Spirit (John 3). The Holy Spirit

John 14:26 (NKJV) – ²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

The Holy Spirit is our Teacher. He brings to mind what we need to know in given ministry situations.

John 15:26 (NKJV) – ²⁶ “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

We know Jesus personally because of the witness of the Holy Spirit within us.

John 16:7– (NKJV) – ⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

This was fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:33). Jesus poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower His Church.

John 16:8-11 – And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹ of sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; ¹¹ of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

The Holy Spirit is the One who brings conviction of sin to the sinner.

John 16:12-14 – ¹² “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

The Holy Spirit does not speak contrary to the other Two Members of the Godhead but they speak in unity. The Spirit’s teachings are in line with the teachings of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the One who guides us in truth. The Holy Spirit tells us of things to come – the Spirit speaks to us about prophecy.

These objectives mentioned by Jesus are what the Holy Spirit was to help us to attain. Then the prophetic events He spoke of began to unfold.

The Holy Spirit our Helper to Overcome Our Fears – Life Close to Jesus

There is One Jesus referred to as “the Helper.” John is inspired to devote three full chapters of his gospel account to what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit; the Helper (John 14-16). John alone includes these great details. John’s gospel account is the latest of the gospel accounts. Perhaps, after having lived longer than the other gospel writers and Apostles, John knew, by experience, that the only way to live this Christian life, the only way to defeat our fears, was by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said:

John 14:27 (NKJV) – ²⁷ Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

When we look at the words of Jesus about the Holy Spirit our Helper, we see His resources that would help the disciples, (and eventually us) with our fears. To give you an idea of just how powerful the Holy Spirit is in helping people out with fear, on the Day of Pentecost, Peter, the one who had fled in fear from the enemies of Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, stood strong before those same enemies and boldly powerfully proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 2). The power of the Holy Spirit is power over fear.

A Prophetic Word on a Pandemic

I don’t frequently refer to prophetic words because they are often so generic that they aren’t much value. But in 1986 Pastor David Wilkerson gave the following prophetic word and I believe it’s worth noting:

“I see a plague coming on the world, and the bars, churches and government will shut down. The plague will hit New York City and shake it like it has never been shaken. The plague is going to force prayerless believers into radical prayer and into their Bibles, and repentance will be the cry from the man of God in the pulpit. And out of it will come a third Great Awakening that will sweep America and the world.”

To that I pray, “Lord, let it be so!”

This pandemic has shaken many people. But I pray it shakes them to genuine repentance. At 9/11 people initially reacted by going to church. But it didn’t take long before they stopped doing that. Hopefully this will be a different outcome. Hopefully it will be a repentance that is lasting and deeper. Hopefully it will be a Third Great Awakening like David Wilkerson predicted.

A Worse Disaster

There is an upcoming disaster worse than COVID-19.

And that, once you are in, you are doomed forever.

COVID-19 will soon end, *but if you don’t put your ways right, and rapture takes you unaware or you leave this earth without Christ, then the game is over. *

Do self-examination:

*✓Wash your heart*

*✓Keep a social distance from evil*

*✓Avoid the crowd of wickedness and wicked men*

*✓Cover your mind from being infected from the sneeze of sin and hatred*

*✓Do not shake hands with abomination*

*✓Do not hug heresy and false teachings. *

*✓Be safe so that you will be saved. *

*✓Sanitize your life with the Word of God*.

*✓In case you notice any symptoms of sin, call the helpline of Christ in PRAYER*.

*✓Always remember to boost your spiritual immunity with Faith and the Power of the Holy Spirit*.

The Essential Step in Gaining Victory Over Your Fears – Are You Sure You’re Going to Heaven?

In His word, God has provided us with eternal redemptive truths. He has revealed to us the cause of humanities problems as well as His solution to those problems. This includes His solution to our overwhelming fears. A close relationship with God in Christ by faith is the solution to overcoming overwhelming fears. When we fear, we need to run to Jesus. When we fear, we need to run into His arms by faith. But when we do that, we stumble and are tripped up by the entanglements of sin. Sin keeps us from God and His fear-soothing strong arms.

But don’t fear, God, in His word lays out good news of how to resolve the sin problems we have. You can know for sure that you are going to heaven when you die. Overcoming that great fear, the fear of death and the “unknown,” is the essential step to overcoming all other fears. Below are scriptures to walk you through God’s gracious saving provision for sins, and for your fears.

The Bible states you can know for sure whether or not you are going to heaven?

• 1 John 5:13 – “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

How can you know for sure?

 Realize eternal life involves personally knowing God –

1. • John 17:3 – “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Realize sin separates people from Holy God –

1. • Psalm 66:18 – “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear”
   • Isaiah 59:2 – “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you”
   • Habakkuk 1:13 – “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness”

 Realize you are a sinner –

1. • Exodus 20:1-17 – Examine and assess yourself by the Ten Commandments
   • 2 Corinthians 13:5 – “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?”
   • Romans 3:10 – “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one”
   • Romans 3:23 – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
   • Galatians 3:10 – “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
   • James 2:10 – “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”

 Realize there is a penalty for sin –

1. • Romans 6:23a – “For the wages of sin is death,”

Realize you need to be saved from your sins –

1. • Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
   • Ephesians 2:8–9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.
   • Titus 3:5 – ⁵ not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

Realize Jesus paid the penalty for you –

1. • Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
   • 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Realize your salvation is a free gift from God that requires only a repentant heart faith decision from you to receive it – To “repent” means to confess to God and forsake your sin. To “believe” or have “faith” unto salvation means Forsaking All (others or other means of salvation) I Trust Him.

1. • Acts 3:19-20 – “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you”
   • Acts 16:31 – “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”
   • John 1:12 – “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name”

Realize salvation is a matter of the heart –

1. • Acts 8:36–38 – Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” ³⁷ Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” ³⁸ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
   • Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Realize now is the time to call on God to be saved from your sins –

1. • Romans 10:13 – For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
   • 2 Corinthians 6:2 – “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

A SALVATION PRAYER:

 If you believe the above Gospel and are willing to trust in Jesus with all your heart as Savior, if you want the forgiveness of sins and eternal life God in this Gospel freely offers to you, with all your heart, pray this prayer:

“Dear God, I have sinned and disobeyed Your Laws. I admit I deserve eternal punishment. But I repent; I confess my sins to You and forsake them. I ask that You please forgive me, not because of any good works I have done, but because I believe Jesus paid the just penalty for my sins by dying for me on the cross. I believe He rose from the dead. I believe that with all my heart. I receive it by faith, as a gift of Your grace. Help me to live for You. Please Holy Spirit fill me, give me spiritual life, eternal life. Please help me to know you Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. Help me grow in a relationship with You. Hold me tight in Your arms when I fear. Help me to overcome my fears. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Now, begin praying and reading your Bible daily, regularly. Find a church that believes in and teaches the Bible as the word of God. Find a church where the Gospel is preached and people believe in being born again. Find such a church and become a part of your new eternal family. And tell someone else about what God has done for you. Don’t go by feelings, live by faith in Jesus. He is faithful. He will help you. Remember this:

2 Corinthians 5:17 – ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

2 Timothy 2:15 – ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 – ¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.