We know we know the Lord because:

6. We have overcome the world and Satan

“I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one.I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.” 1 John 2:12-14 NKJV

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” 1 John 5:4 NKJV

“We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.” 1 John 5:18 NKJV

Because we know the Father; because we are born of God; because His word abides in us; because our faith is in Him; because we keep ourselves and choose to not sin – therefore we have overcome the wicked one and he cannot touch us.

7. We hate the world and the things of the world

“Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things] — these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]. And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.” 1 John 2:15-17 AMP

The child of God, who knows God, does not love the world or things of the world. The more we come to know the Father; the more time we spend with Him; the less we desire worldly carnal things.

8. We are one with the Body of Christ

“They went out from our number, but they did not [really] belong to us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But [they withdrew] that it might be plain that they all are not of us.” 1 John 2:19 AMP

Those who know the Father have fellowship with Him and with each other. They are not exclusive, neither do they separate themselves. They do not fight against each other, but they do everything to walk in peace with each other.

9. We are anointed by the Spirit

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” 1 John 2:20-27 NKJV

You cannot fake the anointing – you are either anointed or you are not. Those who know the Father also know and recognize the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

10. We know the truth that sets us free

“I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.” 1 John 2:21 NKJV

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.’ ” John 8:32-36 NKJV

We know the Truth because we know the Father. The Truth sets us free from sin and from the bondage of sin. We are free indeed.

11. Because we acknowledge God and His Son Jesus Christ

“Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the
beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us —
eternal life.” 1 John 2:22-25 NKJV

We know the Father, and we know Jesus, because we acknowledge that He is Lord, God and Savior. Because we believe, we have eternal life now.

Refining fire:

The Word is a fire that purges sin and purifies hearts and lives.

Hammer:

The Word is like a hammer that works to break down all resistance and bring conviction to the hardest heart.

“Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? Jeremiah 23:29 NKJV

Mirror:

The Word of God is a mirror that reflects who we are in Christ, so that we can see ourselves as He sees us and we can continue to grow into His likeness.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. James 1:23-24 NKJV

Seed:

The Word of God is planted as a seed that multiplies and produces life, blessing and freedom.

The sower sows the word. Mark 4:14 NKJV

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Luke 8:11 NKJV

Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. 1 Peter 1:23 NKJV

Water:

The Word of God washes us on the inside, like water washes us on the outside.

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 15:3 KJV

That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word. Ephesians 5:26 NKJV

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. Psalms 119:9 KJV

A Lamp:

Just as we need light to guide us so we can see – with our natural eyes – where we are walking and to make sure we stay on the path, so we need God’s Word to clearly show us the way in life so that we don’t wander off in the wrong direction and perish.

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Psalms 119:105 NKJV

Rain and snow:

Just as rain and snow comes down from heaven to water the earth and cause seeds to sprout and grow and bring forth fruit, so God’s Word waters and brings life everywhere it goes. It will never fail to produce and prosper.

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11 KJV

A sword:

God’s Word is a sword that is a powerful weapon to defeat the enemy. God’s Word is sharper than a two-edged sword. It instantly and accurately cuts down into the heart of the matter. Dake’s says that the Word is, ‘Piercing through the body and laying open the innermost recesses of the soul (feelings, passions, desires, appetites) and mind (thoughts and intents of the innermost being).’

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17 NKJV

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

A bow (for revenge):

Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. Habakkuk 3:9 KJV

Gold:

God’s Word is of more worth than the finest gold.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Psalms 19:7-10 KJV

Power:

God’s Word has the power to create and to produce faith and eternal life.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 NKJV

Food to nourish:

Milk for babes:

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. 1 Peter 2:2 NKJV

Bread for the hungry:

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 NKJV

And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you recognize and personally know that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:3 AMP

Meat for growing believers:

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:12-14 NKJV

Honey for dessert:

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Psalms 19:9-10 KJV

1. The Gospel program is universal (involving/applying to all):

Look to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:22 AMP

The Gospel applies to, and is extended to, ALL people from ALL nations. No one is outside of God’s invitation or His salvation plan. There is only one way to heaven and all men are invited and welcome to come through Him. He is God and there is no other like Him or beside Him or above Him. Men worship all other gods in vain.

2. God is willing to save ALL, or He would not have invited ALL:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 NKJV

God so loved the whole of His creation that He sent His only Son. He does not just love some people – He loves all people – each and every person that ever is or has or will be born into the earth. He has not pre-destined for only some select people to be saved, as some erroneously preach. The decision to receive salvation through faith is left up to every man and woman, so that no one can make an excuse.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 1 Timothy 2:3-6 NKJV

God desires ALL men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Jesus didn’t just die for a few – He died for ALL!

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

It is not His will that ANY should perish, but it is His will that ALL should come to repentance.

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17 NKJV

The water of life is FREE and available to anyone who desires it.

3. Provision has been made for ALL:

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:17-18 NKJV

Jesus came to save the world – the entire world!

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16 NKJV

Salvation is made available to EVERYONE – from EVERY tribe and nation. The only requirement is that men BELIEVE.

4. ALL who accept the invitation will be saved:

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13 NKJV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 NKJV

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:9-13 NKJV

You are not saved by your good works and you don’t have to wait till you die to see if God is going to let you into heaven or not. You are guaranteed heaven as long as you accept God’s invitation and believe in the Name of Jesus. You have to believe in your heart what the Father said concerning Jesus – that He is your Savior: that He died to destroy your sin and rose again to give you new life – and confess with your mouth that He is your Lord. The only thing that will take you to heaven is faith in Jesus Christ. The only thing that will keep you out of heaven is neglecting or refusing to believe in Him.

ANYONE can come to God in faith and receive salvation. Nothing can hinder you from receiving salvation when you have faith in God. There is no one who is disqualified by anything else other than just not believing. You must accept God’s invitation, and when you do, you will receive His salvation.

The days of visitation and punishment have come; the days of recompense have come; Israel shall know it. The prophet is [considered] a crazed fool and the man who is inspired is [treated as if] mad or a fanatic, because of the abundance of your iniquity and because the enmity, hostility, and persecution are great. 8 Ephraim was [intended to be] a watchman with my God [and a prophet to the surrounding nations]; but he, that prophet, has become a fowler’s snare in all his ways. There is enmity, hostility, and persecution in the house of his God.  Hosea 9:7-8 AMP

The prophets of God, the true people of God who speak and live God’s Word, will inevitably suffer persecution when their nation is full of sin and rebellion against God and the Truth of His Word, however, the Gospel must continue to be boldly preached.

The Christian who believes in the power of the Word of God, who is filled with the power of God, who is wholly submitted to the Word and the Spirit, who has clean hands and a pure heart, who is not ashamed of the Gospel, who preaches the truth and lives a godly life, is the devil’s worst nightmare! If the devil cannot stop you from obeying the Great Commission, then he will stir up persecution against you to try to hinder you, discourage you, and/or prevent you from continuing.

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  1 Corinthians 1:21-24 NKJV

The Gospel is the same to all, but not all receive it the same way. Sincere people, who sin because they don’t know any other way, still have a conscience that convicts them, especially when the truth is preached. However, a person who has silenced their own conscience so that they can continue to sin, does not welcome, but rather rejects, the Truth. The generation which has embraced evil will be stubborn and rebellious toward God; therefore, they will claim that God’s righteous messengers, who speak His Word, are merely “crazed fools”, rather than God’s watchmen, so that they can have an excuse for their own sinfulness. Unwarranted enmity, hostility, and persecution, directed toward the messenger, are the results.

If you are a child of God, then you have been given the ministry of reconciliation – to introduce people to Jesus Christ and see them reconciled to the Father. Sometimes you are welcomed; sometimes ignored; sometimes attacked. You cannot quit because you are not welcomed – the word must be preached and the seed sown regardless of the reception.
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.  2 Timothy 4:2-5 NIV

The Amplified Bible says we must be ready to preach the Word of God anytime and every time, “…whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable; whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome.” We are not responsible for the response TO the message, just the delivery OF the message. We cannot preach merely what people WANT to hear – we are to preach the Truth – we are to preach what they NEED to hear, whether they like it or not. We must correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  2 Corinthians 4:2-6 NKJV

The devil will try to blind men so they can’t see the Light or hear the Truth and so they don’t receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, but as you preach the Truth, God’s light shines into their hearts and they are converted. If you preach your opinion, you will get nowhere, however, the Gospel is full of the power of God and when you preach Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, then the power of the Gospel is released into men’s hearts and the Holy Spirit goes to work to touch and change their hearts.

You don’t know, you cannot tell beforehand, who will receive the Truth and who will not. Saul (renamed Paul) persecuted the Church terribly – he captured them, jailed them and even killed them – but Jesus met with him on the Damascus road and he became a bold proclaimer of the Gospel, himself. That is why you must be prepared to preach the Gospel and continue to preach the Gospel, through persecution and opposition if needs be, until all have heard and God’s will is done!

Rodney Howard Browne shows us Jesus as he really is.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 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: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:1-14 NKJV

l.  Rodney Howard Browne explains that If Jesus were around today, He would be kicked out of most churches.

• Jesus was not religious and did not fit in with the religious crowd.
• Jesus was radical. He was unpredictable. He did not do what people thought He would or should do.
• 1 Corinthians 2:14-15 AMP – But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated. 15 But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him].
• Jesus was led by the Spirit of God in everything He said and did.
• John 3:34 AMP – For since He Whom God has sent speaks the words of God [proclaims God’s own message], God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit!
• Jesus is not physically here on earth where He can be seen. The only Jesus the world will ever see is in born-again believers, children of God, filled with the Holy Spirit.
• The only way that people can see Jesus in your eyes, hear Jesus in your voice and feel Jesus in your touch is if you allow the Holy Spirit to do a work in you as you obey Him by walking in the love of God toward others and by doing the works of Jesus.
• To get a picture of what Jesus is really like—read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

ll.  Rodney Howard Browne shows us that there are so many different opinions and theories out there about Jesus, but the Gospel portray Him as He really is.

• Jesus said what He meant and He meant what He said.
• The significance of Jesus’ words and actions get lost when people try to interpret the bible allegorically or figuratively, instead of literally.
• At the end of his account of Jesus earthly ministry, John says, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did. If they should be all recorded one by one [in detail], I suppose that even the world itself could not contain (have room for) the books that would be written.” (John 21:25 AMP)
• The things we need to know about Jesus are written in the four Gospels.
• His Birth; His Life; His Earthly Ministry; His Death; His Resurrection; His Ascension.
• His Birth: Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin. He was 100 percent God and 100 percent man.
• His Life: He led a sinless life even though He was tempted with everything that anyone of us are tempted with.
• Hebrews 4:15 AMP – For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.
• His Earthly Ministry: Jesus spent 30 years preparing for an earthly ministry that began when He was baptized in water and the Holy Spirit at the River Jordan.
• His earthly ministry lasted about 3 ½ years and 70 percent of that ministry was healing the sick and casting out devils.
• His Death: His death at Calvary was for the sins of the world—the whole world.
• His Resurrection: Jesus was raised up from the dead and He stripped Satan of the keys of death, hell and the grave.
• His Ascension: The angel told the disciples, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11a)
• John 14:12 KJV – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
• Jesus sent us another Comforter—the Holy Spirit, who is just like Him—the same Holy Spirit that anointed Jesus.
• This Comforter comes to live in us and with us. This Comforter would allow Jesus to live inside us and to have expression through us in the earth.
• Christian means: little Christ; little anointed one.
• Remember Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9) And also, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.  29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:28-29)
• 1 John 4:4 NKJV – You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
• Allow Jesus to live big on the inside of you so that the world may know He is alive!