Mary Ann's Last Hour-Afraid To Believe She Was A Believer

[@illbehonest]

As Ichabod counseled Mary Ann, he came to realize, "She was in darkness, not because she had no faith, but because she did not believe she had any. She had a title to heaven without having eyes to read it." That is, "She distrusted herself, but not God. She was afraid to believe that she was a believer. She was so tremblingly afraid of being wrong that she dared not think she could possibly be right." This chapter contains insightful perspectives for those who struggle with assurance.

[@annievw5640]

Has this book been narrated in full somewhere?

[@jasong9774]

Said so well. I've struggled with this for so long. I could never articulate it. So many church leaders refuse to shut up and listen. If I had arterial bleeding, would you refuse to observe and hear my plea for help? You hear, "bleeding" and tell me Christ bled for me, do you know the gospel? How about helping me with this tourniquet and calling EMS? Then let's talk the basics of salvation. Latching onto one word then excitedly jumping is at best presumptuous and foolish. I foolishly asked for help again, from another pastor who as usual was more interested in his personal annoyances and presumptions than listening. I didn't really need to be present, as he wasn't even speaking with me. May I not do that to others.

[@jeffgccsatx]

@@annievw5640 Hi. I’m one of the pastors here at I’ll Be Honest/Grace Community Church. That’s my voice on these. I am unaware of the entire book being done so far. As time permits I hope to get more of these done. Thank you.

[@ErikFindlingMusic]

Yeah I struggle with the same issues she did. The problem is we are looking at ourselves too much for a “feeling” that we are saved because we are so terrified of not being saved. According to scripture God is rich in mercy to all who call on him, and that old serpent will try to make our lives as miserable as possible even to death

[@illbehonest]

Ya I think what Ichabod says in this chapter in regards to feelings is not considered enough by people who struggle, "Faith is one thing, and feeling is another. It is the faith that saves. It is the feeling that comforts. But the faith may exist where the feeling is wanting."

[@nk6518]

@@illbehonest But how does one knows they have the Holy Spirit? Many talk about feelings...

[@andrewmilton7429]

@@nk6518 The holy spirit will produce evidences in ones life First John and Romans are good books but ultimately every new testament book talks about it to some degree or another there are other video on Ill be honest about but when searching for it look for use the keyword Regeneration but You can also find stuff about it on Grace to you and Desiring god but ultimately I would say playfully search gods word and seek his face on the matter. After all God grants wisdom to those ask. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5 KJV

[@jorden-n7e]

@@nk6518 The video mentions Him, just does not use His name, wherever it mentions about saving faith, that is speaking about the Holy Spirit, for only He can give a human the ability and gift of faith The affections etc that she had, these also are gifts that are unavailable to humans without Him, it is He who provides the affections for God, the sincere affirmations about who and what Christ is etc

[@brianseverson4570]

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

[@Isaiah53_4_5]

Amazing

[@MargaritaMora-mg1oe]

Powerful testimony the devil is a crafty liar...Praise the Lord All Glory to God 🙏❤️

[@Izthefaithful]

Thank you so much for this. I know what this is anyone who has had their heart in pieces from what like MarryAnn had knows how this is. It drove me mad with anguish. It’s hard to even say it. It was hard to hold the tears back listening. MarryAnn’s faith was already grabbing a hold of the savior before she “saw the light” our good Holy Spirit carried her all the way leading her. He is the great comforter at last! Dios te bendiga

[@How.To.Get.Saved.]

I resonate with what you said and have had many days of intense anxiety and terror over a lack of assurance. It still happens, but less and less, thankfully. When it does happen, I meditate on several verses in John 6.😊

[@Izthefaithful]

@@How.To.Get.Saved. God bless you the Lord honestly loves you I’m sure of that

[@faithinwhatChristdidonthecross]

This was so very good thank you for taking the time to read it to us. Such a beautiful reminder to look to Christ not our self😊

[@ondreatorrence4322]

Love this read alouds. They are very encouraging to myself and as I think others who struggle with their assurance.

[@KolinHoopes]

Thank you for sharing. This story is very relatable to me.

[@2users828]

Hallelujah! 🎉Glad we’ll be seeing our sister Maryanne and Pastor Ichabod in Heaven 😊 Thank you for sharing this audiobook I hope to hear many more Christian content from this channel ❤

[@faithijn8338]

Praise the LORD! What a great message.🙏🏼🕊🙌🏼🔥

[@kb27787]

Well, seeing that false condemnation never really damned anyone, sometimes the Lord puts His servants through such darkness for their own good. Better to have one's assurance severely tested (and even lost) and be ultimately saved than to have a false assurance and be damned.

[@CatherineScarborough]

God searched the earth but could not find one righteous so He gave His only begotten son, the sinless blameless son of man, son of God to be slain for the sins of the world. There is no greater love than that of one whom lays down his life for another. In this we find the essence of our Fathers love for His creation, not willing that any should perish but for all to come to repentance theough His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Repent of unbelief, repent of rebellion toward God, repent of sin. Be baptised born again of spirot and water, be washed clean by the sinless blood of the lamb. We all struggle with thoughts of not being worthy, none of us are, but Gods great love for us has been made manifest through Jesus Christ, the lover of our souls, the author and finisher of our faith. Receive His love. Love covers a multitude of sins. His banner of me is love. Alleluia. Amen! ✝️💝🕊️

[@2users828]

Amen 🙏

[@kb27787]

That's a very humanistic/human-centered way of putting it. Read Isa 59 for example. God was appalled/disgusted that there was not a single righteous man and that all are desperately wicked. So the Lord achieved salvation by Himself, for His own Name's sake (compare Eze 36:22 onwards to the end of the chapter). Let not man (or any creature) flatter himself that he is first in the list of God's priorities--God did it for Himself and His own glory, first and foremost. Once one understands this, one would not "struggle" with thoughts of not being worthy. We KNOW we are utterly unworthy, but it comforts us to know that God has been pleased to justify the ungodly (that is, the wicked) not for their sakes, but for His own sake.

[@leenieledejo6849]

​@@kb27787 But I would add that regeneration is an integral part of the Good News. Regenerate Christians (the only kind: John 1:12-13, Romans 8:9) do not *remain* wicked: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW" (2 Corinthians 5:17). "But God be thanked, that ye WERE the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. For when ye WERE the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness" (Romans 6:17-18, 20) "when we WERE in the flesh" (Romans 7:5), "and such WERE some of you..." (1 Corinthians 6:11), "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Galatians 5:24), "And you hath he quickened, who WERE dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walkED according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all HAD our conversation in TIMES PAST in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and WERE by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Even when we WERE dead in sins" (Ephesians 2:1-3, 5a), "ye who sometimes WERE far off" (Ephesians 2:13), "Be not ye therefore partakers with them, for ye WERE sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:7-8), "Who hath DELIVERED us from the power of darkness" (Colossians 1:13), "And you, that WERE sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled" (Colossians 1:21), "For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in which ye also WALKED some time, when ye lived in them" (Colossians 3:6-7) "Who was BEFORE a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious" (1 Timothy 1:13a), "For we ourselves also sometimes WERE foolish, disobedient, deceived..." (Titus 3:3), "In which ye also walkED (Colossians 3:7), "who was BEFORE a blasphemer and a persecutor...(1 Timothy 1:13), "FORMER lusts" (1 Peter 1:14), "seeing ye HAVE PURIFIED your souls" (1 Peter 1:22), "For ye WERE as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1 Peter 2:25), "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you OUT OF darkness INTO his marvellous light: Which in time PAST were not a people, but ARE NOW the people of God: which had NOW obtained mercy" (1 Peter 2:9-10), "in time PAST...we walkED in lasciviousness, lusts..." (1 Peter 4:3b), "having ESCAPED the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:4b, 2:20a), "he was PURGED from his old sins" (2 Peter 1:9b)

[@RunningMountains]

It’s interesting how a lot of people have changed in their last couple decades- in my perspective, most people have no doubts about their salvation. And examine yourself and your salvation is to believe in “a ministry of condemnation.”

[@iamyoursforever19]

I need some help. If I believe in the finished work of Christ will that save me? I’ve always thought you had to earn things

[@madjackie523]

Christ died in your place because you cannot earn salvation. God's standard is perfection and only Jesus attained that perfection. Therefore His righteousness has become yours. He also paid the penalty for your lack of perfection which is death. In the Old Testament, the Israelites had to daily sacrifice bulls, goats, sheep, and/or doves as a sin and/or guilt offering. God, in His mercy, had the animal pay the price for their sins instead of the person. But the blood of bulls and goats cannot cleanse the heart of sin. Only Jesus' blood does, thus He needed to die only once. And God raised Him from the dead as proof to us that God had accepted His sacrifice and we are reconciled to Him through Christ alone. And we have been given the Holy Spirit and His written Word to sanctify us while serve Him and His Kingdom. I pray this helps 🙏 Our salvation is all a free gift of God, worked by Christ alone. It is by grace we have been saved through faith. Study what true repentance is, too 🙏

[@Izthefaithful]

“Nothing in my hands do I bring, only to cross of Christ do I cling” Believe in the The Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. For if you confess Jesus as Lord and believe in heart that God has raised Him from the dead you will be saved. This promise is for you and to all who our Lord God will call to himself. It is for you

[@kb27787]

If you still think that you could "earn" anything from God's hands, firstly, you will need to recognize this is arrogance on your part and repent of it... let's start there. To answer your question though, let me put it this way: all who are saved believe in the finished work of Christ (that is to say, they are aware of their inability to do anything on their part to propitiate God). However, there are many lost people who "believe in the finished work of Christ" in the same way the wicked Israelites of old "believed God would save them" essentially (see Mic 3:11). In other words, it is one aspect of conversion, but it is not the only one. All saved people have it, but not all who have it are saved people.

[@nicolasm.516]

Can you subtitle the videos in Spanish pls? They are very useful

[@illbehonest]

It will take time to have someone actually translate the video, but in the meantime you can copy and paste the entire transcript from the post illbehonest.com/mary-anns-the-last-hour-afraid-to-believe-she-was-a-believer and paste it into a good translation tool, to atleast have some overall sense of what is being said (though some errors might enter in).

[@Isaiah53_4_5]

Interesting I kinda experience this but I'm actually not saved

[@matth571]

Do you want to be?

[@tirastrickland2697]

I struggle with constantly doubting my salvation, but what makes you believe you aren't saved?

[@Isaiah53_4_5]

@@tirastrickland2697 just not believing Its almost like I can't but it's because I choose not to I want to but I struggle

[@tirastrickland2697]

@Matthew12_14 Is it doubt or full on disbelief? Is that you believe but just doubt or is it that it's something ablut the Gospel that you don't believe?

[@Isaiah53_4_5]

@@tirastrickland2697 both I struggle with both I want them gone but struggling