RESTORATION TODAY
FRIDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2017
BY PASTOR DR. G.O. OLUTOLA JP.

THEME: ARE YOU A CHILD OF GOD

And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. 1John 3: 2.

A reliable way to know if you are a child of God is if He answers your prayers. The apostle John gives us the infallible reasoning for this statement.

First, you can know your prayers will be answered if you keep God's commandments (1John 3: 22). And second, Johns says the only way you can obey God's commandments is if you belong to Him (1John 3: 24). Therefore, an obedient believer proves He is abiding in Christ and receives further assurance when his prayers are answered. However, the only prayers God answers are the ones prays according to His will. If you are an obedient believer, you will fashion your prayers in line with what Scripture says about His will. The answered prayer that follows will bring you confidence and assurance (1John 5: 13 - 15).

Some believers miss out on that assurance because of their week prayer life. What about you? Has it been a pattern of your life to experience answered prayer? Have you prayed for someone?s difficult situation and seen God turn it around to one of joy and blessing? Have you seen an unsaved person for whom you prayed come to Christ? Has God filled a void in your life after you prayed that He would? Have you prayed for boldness and power to proclaim the gospel and seen God work through you? Have you asked for contentment during a trial and received God's peace

If you can answer yes to those questions or ones like them, you have good reason to believe that you belong to the Lord and He belongs to you.

ACTION POINTS
 The answers to believers prayers bring assurance of their salvation.

SCRIPTURES:
1John 3: 22 ? 24; 5: 13 ? 15.

PRAYER POINTS:
1. Father, thank You for the answers You have given to my prayers in times past.

2. Lord, manifest Your power in my life in the name of Jesus.

3. God, may I never stop being Your child in the name of Jesus.

DAILY BIBLE READING:
Exodus 15
Psalm 51
Acts 8: 5 - 40.