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“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:13 

Jesus specifically instructs us to “go ye and learn what that meaneth.”

UNTIL, as an individual, you begin to realize just how wicked you really are, you will never begin to appreciate what our KING and Savior did on that cross!

Matthew 9:9-13 – Jesus calls Matthew

Mat 9:9  And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. 
Mat 9:10  And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 
Mat 9:11  And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 
Mat 9:12  But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 
Mat 9:13  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 

Approaching God on the basis of His divine mercy and in holy fear:

“But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy MERCY: and in thy FEAR will I worship toward thy holy temple.” Psalms 5:7

In light of our own utter depravity and unworthiness, we must approach God on the basis of His sheer mercy.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7

With no exception, each of us is in utter need of God’s mercy – initially at salvation and ongoing.

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6

It reveals a great imbalance when someone preaches “holiness” and never mercy. There is hope in the Gospel – the only hope – and that is Christ who said “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice.” In this passage Jesus is revealing to us that He came to save sinners, not to destroy them (Luke 9:56; John 3:17). Yet He only saves those who are willing to admit they are sinners and repent, putting their faith in Him, following Him. Prayerfully declaring verses like Romans 7:18, 24 and Titus 3:5-7 daily defuses evil self-righteousness.

In the divine economy, does mercy triumph over judgment or does judgment triumph over mercy? – “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment (James 2:13).

Are we preaching AT people or TO people? Do we view our listeners are enemies OR eternal souls that Jesus loves and came to save from their sins?

Paul wrote:

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:15-17

All of our unrighteousness went on Christ so that all of His righteousness could come on us.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Adam is the father of the old man, the fallen man. Jesus is the King of the new man the new creation (Romans 5).

ALL men have sinned against God and are guilty (Romans 3). Yet, only a few are willing to honestly admit their sin before God and receive His mercy. Flanking our LORD on crosses also, one of those sinners humbled himself and is and forever will be in glory. The other chose to harden his heart and consequently is and forever will be in Hell.

God will forgive “ALL sins” except one:

“Verily I say unto you, ALL sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:” Mark 3:28-29 

How about the two men who went up to pray? One was heard and the other not (Luke 18:9-14).

“Israel was bringing sacrifices and offerings to the Lord on their feast days, but their lives were corrupt, so their offerings were rejected by God. He would rather have righteousness than ritual. Even in the wilderness, when professing to worship Jehovah, they had practiced idolatry with Moloch and other idols, such as Sikkuth and Chiun.” William MacDonald

All men have sinned and God only forgives and saves those who fall upon His sheer mercy in conviction, contrition, and brokenness. All others forfeit His gift of salvation in Christ.

“Hell is full of people who think they deserve heaven. Heaven is full of people who know they deserve Hell.” Unknown

Notes on this passage from William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary

“Matthew 9:9-13
I. Jesus Calls Matthew the Tax Collector (9:9-13)

9:9 The tense atmosphere building up around the Savior is temporarily relieved by Matthew’s simple and humble account of his own call. A tax-collector or custom house officer, he and his fellow officials were hated intensely by the Jews because of their crookedness, because of the oppressive taxes they exacted, and most of all, because they served the interests of the Roman Empire, Israel’s overlord. As Jesus passed the tax office, He said to Matthew, ‘Follow Me.’ The response was instantaneous; he arose and followed; leaving a traditionally dishonest job to become an instant disciple of Jesus. As someone has said, ‘He lost a comfortable job, but he found a destiny. He lost a good income but he found honor. He lost a comfortable security, but he found an adventure the like of which he had never dreamed.’ Not the least among his rewards were that he became one of the twelve and was honored to write the Gospel which bears his name.

9:10 The meal described here was arranged by Matthew in honor of Jesus (Luke 5:29). It was his way of confessing Christ publicly and of introducing his associates to the Savior. Necessarily, therefore, the guests were tax-collectors and others generally known to be sinners!

9:11 It was the practice in those days to eat reclining on couches and facing the table. When the Pharisees saw Jesus associating in this way with the social riff-raff, they went to His disciples and charged Him with “guilt by association”; surely no true prophet would eat with sinners!

9:12 Jesus overheard and answered, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.’ The Pharisees considered themselves healthy and were unwilling to confess their need for Jesus. (Actually they were extremely ill spiritually and desperately needed healing.) The tax collectors and sinners, by contrast, were more willing to acknowledge their true condition and to seek Christ’s saving grace. So the charge was true! Jesus did eat with sinners. If He had eaten with the Pharisees, the charge would still have been true—perhaps even more so! If Jesus hadn’t eaten with sinners in a world like ours, He would always have eaten alone. But it is important to remember that when He ate with sinners, He never indulged in their evil ways or compromised His testimony. He used the occasion to call men to truth and holiness.

9:13 The Pharisees’ trouble was that although they followed the rituals of Judaism with great precision, their hearts were hard, cold, and merciless. So Jesus dismissed them with a challenge to learn the meaning of Jehovah’s words, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’ (quoted from Hos_6:6). Although God had instituted the sacrificial system, He did not want the rituals to become a substitute for inward righteousness. God is not a ritualist, and He is not pleased with rituals divorced from personal godliness—precisely what the Pharisees had done. They observed the letter of the law but had no compassion for those who needed spiritual help. They associated only with self-righteous people like themselves.

In contrast, the Lord Jesus pointedly told them, ‘I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’ He perfectly fulfilled God’s desire for mercy as well as sacrifice. In one sense, there are no righteous people in the world, so He came to call all men to repentance. But here the thought is that His call is only effective for those who acknowledge themselves to be sinners. He can dispense no healing to those who are proud, self-righteous, and unrepentant—like the Pharisees.”

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Articles

Bowels of Mercies [podcast]


“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

“Now the end (supreme goal) of the commandment (Word of God, Gospel) is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:” 1 Timothy 1:5

Recently a dear brother in Christ who got to reading on the ministry site, sent me an email claiming that I was perhaps being too harsh in some of the expose’s on the site. After I responded, this dear man sent back an apology, asking forgiveness for his own unwarranted harshness towards me.

Whew! Saints this is exactly how we should humbly work out things in the body of Christ, whose love never fails!

Here was the response sent to him:

“Blessings in Christ dear brother and thank you for the iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17). Please let me know how can be a blessing to you (Ps 133:1; Eph 4:3).”

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Colossians 3:12-14

WHEN we aren’t concerned about how we are affecting others, it’s because we don’t care for them and are full of self (Colossians 4:6).

“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:6

“Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” 1 Peter 1:22

“Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.” 2 Corinthians 6:12

“For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:8

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,” Philippians 2:1

“For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.” Philemon 1:7

“Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:” Philemon 1:12

“Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.” Philemon 1:20

“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” 1 John 3:17

Saints, may our LORD help us to HELP other disciples who are in the same fight as we are in and help them in the LORD’s process of sanctification. Galatians 6:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:24-26 

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Abiding

Kiss Jesus Or be Crushed as His Enemy! [podcast]


Satan’s Pitiful Petty Perverted Pawns have an Expiration Date!

“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.” Isaiah 13:9 

Psalm 2 is Prophetic of Christ and of His Return to Take back Possession of His Planet, Earth

The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed

1  Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 
2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 
3  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 
4  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 
5  Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 
6  Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 
7  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 
8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 
9  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. 
10  Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 
11  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 
12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. 

GOD told us He’s laughing at these luciferians and all their “elaborate plans” to control humanity. Read Psalms 2. Jesus is coming. His enemies will be crushed under His holy, Almighty feet (Romans 16:20).

“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” Romans 16:20

The future belongs exclusively to Jesus Christ and His followers. Read the book of Revelation!

“And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” Matthew 21:44

Jesus is coming back “In flaming fire taking vengeance.”

“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

The Coming of the Son of Man

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:25-28 

Just as Aaron’s rod swallowed up the rods of the sorcerers of Egypt (the world), so shall Christ’s kingdom swallow up the kingdoms of this world! (Exodus 7:12; Daniel 2:44; 7:14) Will you be a part of Christ’s eternal kingdom?  

“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 11:15

Bow now or burn forever.

All who refuse to repent, bowing down to “kiss the Son” of God will perish in their own corruption and be violently vanquished into the bowels of eternal damnation, the prison of fire, which will then be “cast into the lake of fire.”

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:14-15

“EVERY Knee”

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11

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Articles

Mission Mexico Part 31

Jesus is coming saints. Let us pour our lives, prayers, and resources into accomplishing the Great Commission Jesus sent us to accomplish – to teach and to teach His Word, to see people saved and become His disciples (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20, etc.).


 


If anyone wishes to step up and contribute to the next printing of the JESUS tracts in Spanish that are being distributed daily, please do. At this point, the ministry cannot afford to print this next batch. Sad but true.



HINT: There is plenty of opportunity to contribute to Mission Mexico. We are going to continue to feed the poor and minister Christ’s Gospel – regardless of the fumes we are presently operating on. Thank God for those who are praying and supporting. This opportunity to obey God lies in front of each of us. What shall we do?

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

To say that this ministry is under-funded is an understatement.

Mission Mexico – See more here.



Reminder: The people we take pictures of are specifically asked if they’d like Christians in the USA to lift them in prayer. They all agree and are blessed to know you are lifting them in prayer.

“‘Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.’ Jeremiah 1:5

This verse is a powerful reminder that every life has value and purpose to the LORD, given by GOD even before birth. GOD does not work by accident. He plans, calls, and appoints people for His work long before the world ever notices them. Just as Jeremiah was set apart, the hungry, the poor, and the forgotten we serve are known and loved by GOD.

When you give, you are stepping into GOD’s plan to reach lives He already knows by name. Your generosity helps feed bodies and opens hearts to hear the gospel. As Scripture says:

“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.” Your support allows us to be those laborers, bringing both daily bread and the Bread of Life to those GOD has already called.” Bill Wegener


You are invited to sign up to give a monthly gift for Mission Mexico 2026. It is much needed. Lots of opportunity. Takes seconds to help.  Support here.



Your prayer this day is appreciated for the beloved people of Mexico.



Would you like to pause and lift in prayer David and Jorge, both who have been ministered to and are in need of salvation. God is good.

“Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Psalm 2:8

Jorge wept as he received ministry. He made it clear during this conversation that he fully knows Jesus is coming him to Himself. Several times he said he knows this is God, that we were ordained to meet. He told me he just feels like dying. God is able. Thank you for lifting this young man in prayer.


Thank you for pausing to lift a prayer to our Father in Jesus’ name for the people of Mexico.


“I met Todd and had an encounter with God (got saved); everything happens for a reason. In my case, it was understanding the strength in God’s Word through the Reina Valera Bible.” Daniel, Mexico



“Thank you for sending God’s Word to me. You have no idea how much I needed to hear that!!! This year was very difficult for me.” Arely, Mexico



Because you care, you prayed, you gave….. Cenovio, a homeless man, was treated to the hearing of our LORD’s bless-ed Gospel message, a delicious hot meal, hot coffee, fresh water, and a JESUS tract. It was a super blessed time with this man. Thank God and you!

Would you like to pause and pray for Cenovio?


Sister Teresita in FL has led 3 people to Jesus today …. So far.

Thank you for praying for great fruitfulness with the saints in Florida.

“WE are labourers TOGETHER with God.” 1 Cor 3:9




Thanks for declaring with your prayer and support that the beloved souls of the Mexican people matter!!!! – because they do! Jesus is King and He’s coming saints!





 


Your giving and prayers makes these things possible: This beloved woman (above) received a nice warm meal and cold water last evening. Oh and food for several members of her family.

Mission Mexico is made possible by the prayers and support of God’s people.

Lots of opportunity. Takes seconds to help.  Support here.



***To date the ministry outreach is receiving an average of $1000 total per month to function on. Thank God for those who are supplying prayers and financial support. It is much needed. SGYS supports other ministries in the USA and the Philippines.


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