Genuine Assurance
Genuine assurance brings a deep sense of joy, comfort, and peace, making every experience sweet and enjoyable.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the profound impact of genuine assurance in the life of a believer, asserting that it not only leads to a future heaven but also provides a present heaven filled with joy, comfort, and peace. He explains that genuine assurance transforms afflictions, strengthens faith, and enhances the sweetness of every experience, making burdens lighter and life more desirable. Brooks illustrates how this assurance acts as a protective sword, a supportive staff, and a guiding star, ultimately highlighting that knowing one is saved is one of the greatest mercies in life.
Text
Genuine holiness will yield you a heaven hereafter; but
genuine assurance will yield you a heaven here. He
who has holiness and knows it, shall have two heavens
--a heaven of joy, comfort, peace, contentment, and
assurance here--and a heaven of happiness and
blessedness hereafter.
Genuine assurance will be a spring of joy and comfort
in you. It will make heavy afflictions light, long afflictions
short, and bitter afflictions sweet. It will make you frequent,
fervent, constant, and abundant in the work of the Lord. It
will strengthen your faith, raise your hope, inflame your love,
increase your patience, and brighten your zeal. It will make
every mercy sweet, every duty sweet, every ordinance sweet,
and every providence sweet. It will rid you of all your sinful
fears and cares. It will give you ease under every burden,
and make death more desirable than life. It will make you
more strong to resist temptation, more victorious over
opposition, and more silent in every difficult condition.
Genuine assurance will turn . . .
every winter night into a summer's day,
every cross into a crown, and
every wilderness into a paradise.
Genuine assurance will be . . .
a sword to defend you,
a staff to support you,
a cordial to strengthen you,
a medicine to heal you, and
a star to lead you.
Well, remember this--next to a man's being saved, it is the
greatest mercy in this world--to know that he is saved.
Sermon Outline
- The Benefits of Genuine Assurance
- The Effects of Genuine Assurance
- The Power of Genuine Assurance
- Turns Difficulties into Opportunities
- Provides Strength and Guidance
- Leads to Spiritual Growth
Key Quotes
“Genuine holiness will yield you a heaven hereafter; but genuine assurance will yield you a heaven here.” — Thomas Brooks
“Genuine assurance will turn every winter night into a summer's day, every cross into a crown, and every wilderness into a paradise.” — Thomas Brooks
“Well, remember this--next to a man's being saved, it is the greatest mercy in this world--to know that he is saved.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Practically apply the principles of genuine assurance in your daily life to experience its benefits.
- Cultivate a deeper understanding of your salvation to strengthen your faith and hope.
- Seek to know and experience the joy and comfort that comes with genuine assurance.