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CONFIDENCEknowing it will go well with you…how to know for sure…David L. Johnston
Nothing But The Truth, Jacksonville, FL, NothingButTheTruth.orgCondence – knowing it will go well with you Copyright © 2022 David L. JohnstonAll rights reserved. This book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher or copyright holder in any form or by any means elec-tronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other, without prior written permission from the publisher or copyright holder as long as it is kept in its entirety and not sold for a prot.Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures taken from the HOLY BIBLE: King James Version, part of the public domain.Scripture quotations marked nkjv are taken from the New King James Ver-sion®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Scripture quotations marked nasb are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.Scripture quotations marked phillips are taken from The New Testament in Modern English by J.B. Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Ad-ministered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Used by permission.Scripture quotations marked tlb are taken from The Living Bible, Copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.ISBN: 978-1-965799-18-5 (paperback)ISBN: 978-1-965799-19-2 (ebook)
IntroductionCondence means knowing for sure; a mental emotional state of certitude, assured expectation, rm veried reliance, settled and rmly established. Condence stands in bold contrast to insecurity, fearfulness, uncertainty, troubled, doubtful, pessimistic, unsure, worried, dubious, skeptical, timid, scared, nervous, wavering and unstable.We all want to know if things will turn out ok for us. We desire assurance that all will be well for us and our loved ones. “Can you know this for sure?” That is the question! It is never comfortable to live life with question marks! Uncertainty interferes with our sense of well-being and can drive us to unthinking distractions, immobilization, compensations and much worse.Condence comes from knowing it will go well with you. How can you know? Life seems full of surprises, unpredictable, unforeseeable, and random events that seem beyond our control. There is a sure way. Only the Creator, God Himself, the personication of smart knows the answer… and He wants you to know the answer too! He has made promises… and He always keeps His promises, all of them, all the time, to everyone! BUT there is always an, “if!”The little word, “if” is the biggest little word in the English language. It’s like the hinge upon which the gates of heaven swing. “If” is a conditional clause and appears 1595 times in the Bible. Aren’t you happy that only a few of them apply to you? A “conditional clause” means it is not an absolute but depends on one or more stipulations. The power of asking, “What if…” is not only ingenious but crucial because the answer is so determinant. “What if,” must be asked about every life-affecting factor. The Scriptures ask us to consider a number of poignant, piercing and penetrating issues, the response to which may have both temporal and eternal ramications. The right answers will always produce positive and worthy results. For example, “if ye be followers of that which is good.” Another is, “If ye be willing and obedient.”So here we go! Here are the conditions that if you and I, or anyone else meets the conditions we will know that it will go well with us. And it starts with how we treat our parents.
2CONFIDENCE: Knowing it will go well with youLife Goes Well for ose Who Honor eir Parents.“Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” (Deuteronomy 5:16)The fth commandment is the rst of the Ten Commandments that has a promise attached to it. God promises us that if we honor our fathers and mothers, our days will be long! Seems to me that the promise is living a long and satisfying life and as such requires being disease free. It appears that how we treat our parents affects our health.“And it will go well with us.” To honor someone is to value them as precious and to esteem them. Those who do not honor their parents are very likely to make bad decisions in other areas of their lives. We must remember all the love and sacrices that our parents made for us as they raised us and in turn honor and respect them as we would the Lord. This is true not just for parents, but for anyone who has authority over us. We must give others the honor and respect that they are owed. If we do this, we can expect blessings in our lives.How we treat our parents affects “our think.” Disrespecting those who did their best and gave their best (such as it was) causes a mental disturbance, disorder, derangement, that contaminates our mental imaging of other aspects of life. This mental disordering is paramount to an insanity, a madness, a lunacy, and brain-disease of such unsoundness that all evaluations are corrupted, deled, sullied and tainted to some measure or another. So the Creator declares, “Honor your father and mother… that it may go well with thee.”
3David L. JohnstonLife Goes Well for ose Who are Careful with their Food“Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 12:25)The people of Israel were given certain dietary restrictions. They could not eat pigs, shrimp and a variety of other foods that were considered unclean. While all food is now considered clean for Christians (see Acts chapter 10) the principle is still the same. We need to be careful about our diet for life to go well for us. We should not over-indulge in unhealthy food that will cause physical problems. We should not make food an idol and become slaves to eating. We should enjoy God’s bounty but not abuse it. Watch out! Sugar is the most delicious poison.The story of Daniel and the lion’s den is well-known. But the story of Daniel and his vegetables is not as well-known. Daniel and his three teenage friends were abducted, kidnapped, and taken to Babylon in forced labor to the king. Part of their training involved eating the same food that the Babylonians ate. This food did not follow the Jewish dietary laws. Daniel resolved to stay obedient to the Lord along with his three friends. He convinced the man who oversaw them to test them for 10 days with a diet of vegetables and water. At the end of the ten days their health and appearance were better than that of those who ate the king’s rich food and wine. Their caretaker was convinced and changed their diet. Here’s the story:“Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
4CONFIDENCE: Knowing it will go well with youSo he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in esh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.” (Daniel 1:12-16)Don’t miss the essence here. “Thou shalt not eat (certain things); that it may go well with thee.” Since I’m not a dietician I’m leaving it up to you to, ‘go gure.’ But know this for certain, how you eat will determine in a measure that it will go well with thee… or not!
5David L. JohnstonLife Goes Well for ose Who Work Hard and Earn eir Own WayFor thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. (Psalms 128:2)Sometimes it may seem like work is not a blessing. But the Psalmist tells us that earning our own keep will make us happy. It will be well with us if we work hard and earn money to support our physical needs and help others. Work is a blessing.Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (Ephesians 4:28)Paul tells us something similar in Ephesians. He admonishes the thief to stop steeling and instead work with his hands to earn a living. In fact, he goes further telling the former thief to give to those who are in need. When we earn a living and can take care of our physical needs and even be generous with the needy, we will know that it will go well for us.
6CONFIDENCE: Knowing it will go well with youLife Goes Well for ose Who Care for the Poor and NeedyWe just learned above that we work in part, as the Scripture said, “that he may have to give to him that needeth.”Here is a related promise from God to those that help the needy:“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” (Proverbs 19:17)God cares for the poor and we should do the same. Poverty comes in many forms. People can lack money but also education, opportunity, and other resources. When we provide these needs for people, it is as if we were giving directly to God. We must not take advantage of people who are poor but seek out ways to help them. When we do this, it will go well for us.“Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? Did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him? He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 22:15-16)The poor are often taken advantage of. They are denied justice and exploited. Jeremiah warns that we need to provide justice for the poor and adjudicate their causes fairly. God looks after the poor and when we do the same, He will bless us. He takes notice of how people and institutions treat the unfortunate. Warning! There is a difference between the needy and the slothful.
7David L. JohnstonLife Goes Well for ose that Have the Fear GodIt happened in Egypt. The Israelites were in bondage to the Egyptian tyrants who got nervous, worried and upset at how fast the Jewish population was growing. Fearing a take-over they ordered the Egyptian midwives, the women who assisted in the childbirth, to kill the child if it was male. They said, “If it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then shall she live” (Exodus 1:16).If the government ordered you to kill what would you do? When Peter and the apostles were commanded not to preach the gospel, they responded with, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).The Egyptian medically and professionally trained midwives, qualied by the government, took the same stance as the apostles and would not kill the newborn baby boys. And why? And how did God respond to them? “But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive” (Exodus 1:17).The crux of the issue, however, is what was the benet of fearing God rather than men? The answer, “Therefore God dealt well with the midwives” (Exodus 1:20). God assures it will go well withs those who fear Him. Look at the benets in this passage: “And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses” (Exodus 1:21). Imagine getting a house, the most basic of secure assets.Do you want condence, the knowledge that it will go well for you? Then have the fear of God. Here’s a denition we should all memorize. “The fear of God is the continual awareness that I am always in the presence of the Holy and Just God and that every motive of my heart, every thought I think, every word I speak and every action I take is open before Him and is being adjudicated by Him.”“Thou God seest me:” (Genesis 16:13)
8CONFIDENCE: Knowing it will go well with you“…for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:” (2 Chronicles 6:30)“a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)“…every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof…” (Matthew 12:36)I hate to confess this! But as a boy I was tempted to steal a little turtle that was for sale in the store. It was so cute. It was a beautiful green and it’s belly was nicely orange, yellow and green colored. I had the little guy in my hand and was about to put him in my pocket and keep him hidden till I left the store. While on the way to my pocket with the petite treasure I noticed the store manager watching me. I had no problem leaving the turtle where he belonged. I was being watched. I would be accountable. That’s a micro-illustration by comparison to having every motive, thought, word and action scrutinized by an all-seeing present God.Bottom line here, is this! If our conduct is properly modied by the fear of God, it will not only always be well with us but like the Egyptian midwives, we will be well rewarded. By conduct we mean, motives, thought, words and actions.
9David L. JohnstonLife Goes Well for ose Who Follow the Laws of GodAkin to the fear of God is the keeping of His commandments. A commandment is an instruction of such import that in keeping it or not keeping it there is either reward or consequences.The Bible is most assuredly a book of philosophy, God’s philosophy! And it towers like a Mount Everest above all the notions of mankind. The “fool-osophers” of the world cannot even be considered competitors. Imagine, the created thinking they know more than the Creator! One of the most thoughtful parts of the Scriptures provoking the reader to study, and pursue wisdom, truth and knowledge is the twelve chapters of the Book of Ecclesiastes. I’d like to take you through the whole twelve but to sufcient get to the conclusion. Here it is:“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)Want to have condence? Want to know that it will go well with you? Fear God and keep His commandments.Of course a question that we each must ask ourselves, am I teachable? Or do I think I know it all? Imagine an ego that thinks it can outdo God! Perhaps this is the reason that it takes a fool to say, “there is no God.” (Psalm 14:1)Oh the fools!“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity (narcissism): there is none that doeth good.” (Psalm 52:1)Here is what it takes to go well with you!
10CONFIDENCE: Knowing it will go well with you“Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, forever.” (Deuteronomy 4:39-40)God’s commands are never harmful or hurtful for us. He gives us instructions for our good. When we follow His law, our lives will go well, and the lives of our children will go well. A well taught person is one who observes, honors, salutes, recognizes, rejoices, keeps, celebrates and performs the laws of God. Here’s why:“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much ne gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” (Psalms 19:7-11)God’s law is prefect. His law is not harsh, and He does not demand more than we can do. His law is also not too lenient. His law is precise and balanced. His law shapes us into the people we are meant to be when we follow it. God’s law converts the soul and make us wise. It guides us in our daily life and helps us make good
11David L. Johnstondecisions. God’s law helps us to understand the world around us and keep us from stumbling about in the dark. We cannot navigate life effectively without God’s law. Those who follow God’s law will rejoice because their lives are made whole. God’s law provides perfect guidance for justice. They produce a healthy fear of the Lord that will last and serve us well. God’s law keeps us from danger. It warns us from those things that would bring despair and hardship into our lives. The Psalmist concludes that God’s law is a treasure to be valued above all earthly treasure. It is more valuable than gold and sweeter than honey. Keeping God’s law brings great reward. When we follow God’s perfect law, we can know that all will be well with our souls.
12CONFIDENCE: Knowing it will go well with youLife Goes Well for ose Who Walk in the Ways of the Lord“Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.” (Deuteronomy 5:32-33)God clearly shows us the path that we must follow to ourish in our lives. It is our responsibility to make sure that we stay in this path consistently. We must not veer to the left or to the right. The only way to stay safe is to stay in the middle of God’s path. If we do this, God promises that it will be well for us and that our days will be long. It is not enough to promise with our words that we will stay in God’s path. We must back up our speech with actions. We must live in obedience to God’s wisdom.
13David L. JohnstonLife Goes Well for ose Who Consistently Do What is Right“And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers.” (Deuteronomy 6:18)It is not enough to just obey the Lord in some areas of our lives and ignore Him in other areas. We cannot tell the Lord, “You are in charge of this part of my heart, but I am going to be in charge of this other part.” We cannot say to the Lord, “I will obey you when at times when it is convenient for me, but live life how I want at other times.” This is spiritual bi-polar. We live in a relativistic society. Absolutes are facts that are free of any and all external restraints or interferences and free of any deciency, non-variable, unadulterated, irrevocable, xed, denite and settled.Relativism is expressed in the notion that everyone does what is right in their own eyes. “In those days… every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)God is the only uncontaminated and unbiassed source of right and wrong. C. S. Lewis put it this way: “This is the terrible x we are in. If the universe is not governed by an absolute goodness, then all our efforts in the long run are hopeless. But if it is, then we are making ourselves enemies to that goodness every day, and are not in the least likely to do any better tomorrow, and so our case is hopeless again. We cannot do without it, and we cannot do with it. God is the only comfort, He is also the supreme terror: the thing we most need and the the thing we most want to hide from. He is our only possible ally, and we have made ourselves enemies. Some people talk as if meeting the gaze of absolute goodness would be fun. They need to think
14CONFIDENCE: Knowing it will go well with youagain. They are still only playing with religion. Goodness is either the great safety or the great danger—according to the way you react to it. And we have reacted the wrong way.”The destruction and spoilage of not knowing and adhering to the difference between good and evil, right and wrong can not be tabulated. The sure way for our future is doing right, the right according to God’s denition.“Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee forever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.” (Deuteronomy 12:28)The blasphemy of our day has consequences that can only be described as, “woe.” And the synonyms for woe are many: anguish, calamity, catastrophe, gloom, pain, misery, misfortune, tragedy, trouble, afiction, agony, wretchedness, and more.“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! “ (Isaiah 5:20)
15David L. JohnstonLife Goes Well for ose Who Tell the Truth“Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us. Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.” (Jeremiah 42:5-6)We are called to tell the truth even when the truth is painful or difcult to hear. When we tell the truth, be it good or evil we are showing our obedience to the Lord. We can know that all will be well for us when we abide in the truth. We are God’s representatives in our actions and our speech. God never deceives and our lips must also be honest in all things. When the truth is difcult, we still must share it. We must do so with love and gentleness. We must never mock or be judgmental, but we must not shy away from the truth. We are called to boldly proclaim the truth to the world so that it might go well for us and for others. “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” (Ephesians 4:15) God does not just want us to tell the truth. He wants us to tell the truth in love. We can be winsome and kind even when our truthful words may be difcult for others to hear. Telling the truth does not mean being blunt or rude. We can use soft words to speak the truth and show the world the love of Christ.
16CONFIDENCE: Knowing it will go well with youLife Goes Well for ose Who Sow in Righteousness“The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.” (Isaiah 3:9-11)God is perfectly just. He will reward those who do what is right and punish those who do what is wrong. God’s justice is not always immediate. Sometimes it appears as though the righteous are being punished and the wicked are getting away with their sin. Ultimately, however, God promises us that everyone will reap what they sow. Those who sow in righteousness will reap rewards, those who sow in wickedness will reap God’s wrath. To know that it is going well with our lives, we must look at what we are sowing. Are we doing good unto others? Are we following God’s law? Are we acting with kindness, justice, and mercy? If we are doing this, we can be assured that it will go well with us.Here is a universal rule. There is no getting around it.“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)Put corn into the ground, corn comes us. You got the picture. It’s about hasrvesting. There are several “Laws of the Harvest” everyone should know.• We reap what we sow• We reap more than we sow• Though we sow in secret, the harvest is open
17David L. JohnstonPaul teaches something similar in his letter to the Galatians. Many people mock God by acting as though their actions have no consequences. They think that they can get away with all kinds of wickedness either because there is no God or God does not really care what they do. Paul clearly shows us that this is not the case. God is not mocked. We reap what we sow. We must sow well to reap well.
18CONFIDENCE: Knowing it will go well with youLife Goes Well for ose who Pursue Justice“Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.” (Deuteronomy 19:13)God wants just societies. When we wrongly convict people who are innocent or fail to punish the guilty, justice is not served. God tells us that the pursuit of justice leads to His blessing. We must all work to build a more just society. When we do this, we will know that it will go well for us.“When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.” (Proverbs 11:10-11)Just societies are ourishing societies. When the righteous are rewarded by governments and the wicked are punished, the entire community benets. We must work to build just societies and governments for our own benet and for God’s honor. This is true at the local level as well as the national level. When we build a just government and society, we know that it will go well for us. God seems to adjudicate the condition of a nation based upon its judicial system. For this reason judges must meet the Divine standards. Here they are:“And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.” (2 Chronicles 19:6-7)• Judges are to represent God
19David L. Johnston• Judges are to count on God for helps• Judges must have the fear of the Lord• Judges must judge equitably, have no iniquity, personal agenda• Judges must have no favorite persons• Judges must accept no bribes either money or favorsTo be just means to be conformed to a required standard. Justice is simply the maintenance of that which is right or just. Justice counts big time with the Lord and He rewards it and promises that:“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” (Proverbs 4:18)“The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.” (Isaiah 26:7)
20CONFIDENCE: Knowing it will go well with youLife Goes Well for those Who Have a Heart Like God’s“Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it. And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!” (Deuteronomy 5:27-29)What could be ner than a heart after God. No half-heartedness! But all in! And it causes everything to go well with us! And with our children! And forever!It’s about the heart… your heart and mine! “for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:9) Our hearts are the core. Thus the instruction, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)How would you describe your heart condition? Check yourself according to the twelve heart conditions of Scripture:1. A Clean Heart vs. a Wicked Heart2. A Whole Heart vs. a Divided Heart3. A Wise and Understanding Heart vs. a Foolish Heart4. A Broken and Contrite Heart vs. a Hard Heart5. A Meek and Lowly Heart vs. a Proud Heart6. A Tender Heart vs. a Bitter Heart7. A Merry Heart vs. a Discouraged Heart8. A Large Heart vs. a Lean Heart9. A Believing Heart vs. an Unbelieving Heart
21David L. Johnston10. A Perfect Heart vs. a Whorish Heart11. An Authentic Heart vs. a Deceptive Heart12. A Righteous Heart vs. a Desperately Wicked HeartThe Scriptures tell us that King David was a man after God’s own heart. What does it mean to have a heart that is like God’s? First, we must listen to God. Instead of relying on worldly advice or ourselves, we must listen to God. He must be the main voice in our lives. Second, once we have listened to God, we must obey His voice. We cannot just read the Bible or listen to sermons and then ignore and disobey God’s commands. We must take His words to heart and obey them. We must fear God or respect him. This is what it means to have a heart after God. It means listening to Him and obeying Him. If we do this, we know that it will go well for us and for our children.
22CONFIDENCE: Knowing it will go well with youLife Goes Well for ose Who are in God’s Care“The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of afiction.” (Jeremiah 15:11)Sometimes God intervenes directly in our lives to cause us good. Jeremiah was writing at a time of great hardship for the people of Israel. The kingdom was at an end because of the people’s sin. They would be taken into captivity away from the Promised Land. Yet even during this dark time, Jeremiah found hope. The Lord promised to preserve a remnant for Himself. He would protect this remnant even during evil times of afiction. Even though the world around us may oppose us and we may face severe opposition, God will protect us, sometimes by His own direct personal intervention. We can rest assured that His power will keep us whole because it is sufcient for our needs. While nations and cultures race toward dystopia, keeping our lives in the hands of God is best advice. Minnie Louise Haskins (1875-1957) said it best. “And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand in the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’“So I went forth, and nding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night….”
23David L. JohnstonConclusion You can have c o n f i d e n c e ! Knowing that it will indeed go well with you if you:1. Honor your parents2. Are careful with the food you eat3. Work hard and earn your own way4. Care for the poor and needy5. Live with the fear of God6. Follows the laws of God7. Walk in the ways of the Lord8. Do what is consistently right9. Always tell the truth10. Sow in righteousness11. Pursue justice12. Have a heart after God13. Live in God’s careJust how condent can you be? How sure is your future? Will your life be a mixture of the good and the bad, the pretty and the ugly? How can it be measured? How much of your life and how many of your life experiences will be good? The answer lies in one of the great promises of God. The answer is everything!“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 KJV)“Moreover we know that to those who love God, who are called according to his plan, everything that happens ts into a pattern for good.” (Romans 8:28 JBP)“That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” (Romans 8:28 MSG)
24CONFIDENCE: Knowing it will go well with you“And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are tting into his plans.” (Romans 8:28 TLB)“We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [tting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.” (Romans 8:28 AMP)
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Imagine You—In The Ministry! Yes, that is right, you are in the ministry! Christian ministry is imparting the gospel and biblical truths to others. Anyone can do this with the help of the Holy Spirit.You know people within your scope of in uence who need to be ministered to. Since we are all under biblical command to tell or publish the truth, it’s about communicating that truth with them.“Declare among the nations, Proclaim, and set up a standard; Proclaim—do not conceal it.” (Jeremiah 50:2a)The vital truths of the Bible are explained in detail in our publications, which we provide you without charge. You can share this material to everyone you know.There is a proper sequence to learning truths. On the following pages is our suggestion of the sequence of our material, along with links and descriptions. We must be careful not to dump too much at a time.You’re in the ministry now! The Lord will bless your endeavors! Your rewards will be eternal! “We are workers together with God!”
Why You Were Born - A Blueprint for Discovering Your Life PotentialWhy are you here on planet earth? Once you know why you were born you will have a new appreciation for your true self and a known purpose in life. Then, and only then, can you choose a life path, a course of action and eventually a ful lled life … no disappointments, no pressure to conform to the ideas and expectations of others. You will be free to be you, the real you.In the second part of this book you will learn how to discover your ENA, your Embedded Natural Ability. How tragic that some will cross the stage of time, be standing at the exit sign, and look back only to see a wasted life of insigni cance. None of us can run a good race on the wrong track. “My Way,” only counts if it’s the right way—God’s way. This book is also available as a 12-week group study with a Study Guide, Facilitator’s Guide, Lesson videos, and promotional material. Book Study Guide Facilitator GroupBook: NothingButTheTruth.org/wywbStudy Guide: NothingButTheTruth.org/wywbsgFacilitators Guide: NothingButTheTruth.org/wywbfgGroup Package: NothingButTheTruth.org/wywbkitThese books are free to you and for you to send without charge to any and all others as part of your ministry to them.have a new appreciation for your true self and a known purpose in life. Then, and course of action and eventually a ful lled conform to the ideas and expectations of
How You See Yourself -The Source of Your Struggle and How to Conquer ItHave you ever gone to a carnival and looked into one of those distorted mirrors, you know, the ones that make you look three feet tall and ve feet wide? The image of yourself that you see back is distorted. It can produce a good laugh. But many of us struggle with a similar condition – we don’t see ourselves accurately. We are hindered from being the best version of ourselves by this insidious thing called iniquity.Iniquity is mentioned 334 times in the Bible, yet so many remain oblivious to its signi cant and negative impact on everyday living. Iniquity is the ancient term for narcissism. It’s one of the four reason Jesus went to the cross … “He was bruised for our iniquities” (Isa. 53:5). In this book you will not only identify the problems iniquity imposes upon us, but you will also discover the solutions.This book will help you discover:• How iniquity contributes to mental illness• How iniquity causes divorce and destroys households• How conquering iniquity will cause your prayer life to ourish• How you can nally live without fear and regret• How to embrace the bene ts that come from being free from iniquity and the way it robs you of your God-given potential!• How iniquity is different from sin NothingButTheTruth.org/hysyThis book is free to you and for you to send without charge to any and all others as part of your ministry to them.Have you ever gone to a carnival and you know, the ones that make you look of yourself that you see back is distorted. It struggle with a similar condition – we don’t see ourselves accurately. We are hindered
Your Ultimate Life Management System - How Jesus’s Inaugural Address (The Sermon on the Mount) Can Change Your LifeThe prophet Jeremiah lamented (Jeremiah 10:23) “I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” How can we manage our own path, and live life effectively? Could anything be more important than an ef cient, effective, and trustworthy life-management system? We need a life-management system!A life manager must be faithful, smart enough, wise enough, caring enough, and love you suf ciently to be trusted to direct your life. Hence, Jesus! He loves you, which means He is relentlessly choosing your highest good without any personal pro t or bene t as a motive of His own. In addition, Jesus is a life manager who never quits, and never gives up on you no matter what. He has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you; I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”In His rst and possibly most compelling discourse, known as the “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus outlines a practical, yet powerful life plan for you. Don’t miss it! He is for you. Follow Him. You will never be ashamed.NothingButTheTruth.org/yulmsThis book is free to you and for you to send without charge to any and all others as part of your ministry to them.I know that the way of man is not A life manager must be faithful, smart enough, wise enough, caring enough, and
High Value Target - When the Good Guys Become the TargetsIf you are a good person, watch out. The bad guys have you in their sights. Our culture has experienced a paradigm shift. It’s popular now to be immoral; and evil is promoted as preferred and desirable. It is objectionable enough that evil is put for good but now the good are put for evil... targeted! You targeted! And so are your children.In High Value Target you will discover the tactics arrayed against you and yours; tactics designed to steal your destiny, kill your dreams, destroy your moral intelligence, and demonize life. You will learn practical and powerful tactics, not only to fend off attacks but how to conquer, what to do of you are targeted as one of the good guys.NothingButTheTruth.org/hvtThis book is free to you and for you to send without charge to any and all others as part of your ministry to them.bad guys have you in their sights. Our is promoted as preferred and desirable. It is objectionable enough that evil is put for targeted! You targeted! And so are your
Personal Digital Discipleship - How to think, feel, and live truthfullyAs believers we are called to grow and mature in our faith and understanding of what it means to be followers of Christ. Certainly being part of a life-giving church is a key component. But not everyone has access to that.Personal Digital Discipleship is a powerful resource you can use to gain insight and understanding, teaching and training in the ways of God and how to effectively live out your Christian life.Walking you through the steps of being reborn, helping you change the way you think, shifting your emotions to follow God’s direction, replanning your life to align with God’s desires, and helping you reproduce these steps in others, this study can literally change your life.Each of the 30 full-color lessons contains a video component, lesson notes, additional study, application, and steps to share with others. Grow in your Christian walk by going through these insightful lessons.The book can be used for individual or group study. Group helps are listed in the book.NothingButTheTruth.org/pddThis book is free to you and for you to send without charge to any and all others as part of your ministry to them.
The Virtuous Woman - Your Guide to True FeminismIt is virtue that makes all that is good possible.The most in uential people in any culture are the women!That’s where you can enter as the heroine! YOU, a Virtuous Woman!In the book of Proverbs (called the Book of Wisdom), God speaks of the characteristics of a virtuous woman. Chapter 31 uncovers many of the beautifully illustrated facets of love, virtue, and strength that a woman can possess.As you work your way through this book, the pages unpack each aspect of this amazing woman. Discovering and applying these truths can help you to become a woman of in uence, strength, and character—a motivator, trendsetter, in uencer, and advocate for virtue.This book is designed to celebrate the incomparable gifts and qualities of a virtuous woman and makes a good gift for any woman in your life.NothingButTheTruth.org/virtuousThis book is free to you and for you to send without charge to any and all others as part of your ministry to them.It is virtue that makes all that is The most in uential people in That’s where you can enter as the heroine! YOU, a Virtuous In the book of Proverbs (called the Book of Wisdom), God speaks of the
Other Helpful ResourcesHow to Have Peace in Diffi cult TimesWe live in turbulent times. Society sometimes seems like it is teetering on the brink of chaos.This powerful book will give you keys to experiencing peace and staying calm no matter what may be happening to you or around you. When everyone around you is leaning into fear, panic, tension and worry – YOU have the power to walk in peace, even in dif cult times.NothingButTheTruth.org/peaceFor Every Soldier There Is A Time to Kill and a Time to Heal“To every thing there is a season,And a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die…A time to kill and a time to heal.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3)This vivid gift book is written for Veterans. In it they will discover the way to genuine healing. NothingButTheTruth.org/soldierThese books are free to you and for you to send without charge to any and all others as part of your ministry to them.
Con dence Knowing It Will Go Well With YouWe all want to know if things will turn out ok for us. We desire assurance that all will be well for us and our loved ones. “Can you know this for sure?” at is the question!NothingButTheTruth.org/confidenceCrush the Hidden Power at Defeats YouWe are hindered from being the best version of ourselves, the version God intended. We are prevented by this insidious thing called iniquity.NothingButTheTruth.org/crushpowerDiscover Your Spiritual G i is brief ebook will ex-plain the di erent spiritual gi s, how they t in the big picture, the Body of Christ, and how you can discover yours.NothingButTheTruth.org/spiritualgiftThese books are free to you and for you to send without charge to any and all others as part of your ministry to them.
How to Handle Di cult PeopleI wrote this short e-book to give you some practical, helpful and biblically-based insights on how you can work with people who are, well, challenging.NothingButTheTruth.org/peopleKeys to a Meaningful LifeDo you desire a meaning-ful life? If so, the informa-tion in this ebook should encourage you and help you move toward the ful llment, peace, and joy that a meaningful life brings! NothingButTheTruth.org/keysWords Matter - Speaking Peace to Calm the Storms of LifeChaos shows itself as anger, depression, panic, worry, or mistrust. Peace is the absence of these. So how do we get it?NothingButTheTruth.org/wordsThese books are free to you and for you to send without charge to any and all others as part of your ministry to them.
Nothing But The Truth MinistriesDedicated to the single task of explaining the truth in its simplest and purest form to all peoples of the world.People matter. YOU matter! Truth is the substance of all wise decision-making. So it’s important to know the truth – about you, about why you were born, about every aspect of your life. Truth is wonderful, even when sometimes it may not seem comfortable.This site is dedicated to sharing God’s truth with you – truth that you can apply to your daily life, your relationships, your nances, your choices, your future.Visit our website at www.NothingButTheTruth.orgAll our resources are available free of charge in digital form. Printed copies are available at our cost of printing plus shipping. WE DO NOT SOLICIT FUNDS, but we give opportunity if it is in a person’s heart to give. We are a 501(c)3 non-pro t organization. All contributions are tax deductible. Contributions to the mission can be made on our website.