“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
Jesus’ cry to the Father was to “forgive” our sins so we could be one with He and the Father.
Is this our cry for the lost?
“While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”
“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;” Ephesians 3:8
Just this week, a dear sister in Christ and I both sensed, remembered the many testimonies of our LORD Jesus has in our very day, repeatedly turned the seemingly vilest of militant sinners into saved, born agents of His heavenly kingdom! (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8
May our LORD change our innermost disposition, that when we previously reacted in anger, upon seeing sinner commit crimes, we’d quickly hasten to lift them in prayer (Matthew 5:44).
ALL men are already condemned. Jesus came “to save them”:
“For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.” Luke 9:56
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17
If God had excecute His perfect justice upon me, before He was able to save this wretched soul, I’d be burning in hell where I deserved to be. Can you relate?
Let us never forget the most merciful cross of our bless-ed Savior who died for you and I, “while we were yet sinners.”
Let us be ever reminded….. That God is ever so merciful and “READY to forgive” – and otherwise we’d already be justly doomed:
“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. … 15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalms 86:5, 15
If God dealt out justice, I’d be the first, the most wicked, depraved sinner slammed to the bottom of hell. Remember that Paul wrote the following words, BEFORE you and I were born and so he didn’t know the even worst sinners were still yet to be born. 😉
Remembering the great mercy of our God, of himself the apostle Paul, who was once Saul of Tarsus referred to himself as “less than the least of all saints” and the very “chief” of all sinners.
“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.” 1 Timothy 1:15
There are no organizations supporting this Gospel work. It’s only individuals who are born again disciples of our LORD who support His work. We only have to work with what you choose to give (2 Corinthians 9:6-11).
With very little money to use, we are dropping the Scripture-rich ministry books to both saints and sinners who are presently incarcerated. If you wish to help, your money will be the fuel to make this happen. Nearly daily there are these ministering blessing being sent out. Several more monthly supporters needed. Takes seconds. Support here
The apostle Paul, who was hailing Christians to jail and to their death, now forever changed by Jesus, pens the following words:
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Romans 5:6-11
YOUR own life, my life, is the clear proof that God can change the hardest of hearts, the vilest of sinners. Let this ignite your fire to minister to the seemingly most distant sinners….
Yes, civil authorities are rightly in place by divine ordination “for the punishment of evil doers.” (1 Peter 2:13-14) Yet Jesus gave us, His people, His divine command and authority and Holy Spirit to be His “ambassadors” who call all sinners to repent and be saved into His glorious eternal family (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 2:49; book of Acts; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20, etc.).
No one else can or will do our LORD’s work. God has invested this commission in His body. That’s us!
May the Lamb of God be magnified in the hearts and lives of His people today – to rejoice and communicate His great mercy by which we are now saved into His eternal family and commissioned to say “Come” to those who are not yet His.
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17
ALL men, every man and woman, is already condemned in their own sin (John 3:18, 36; Romans 5:6-9).
God has sent us to call them to Him – to repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ.
“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2
As evil as we think people are, we should keep in mind that since God is “Holy, holy, holy”, we are no less evil and depraved and separated from Him – outside of being blessed to be in Christ (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). Now may God bless us to help others know of His great love!
Jesus died for them and He wants them!
“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 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:
3 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.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, please forgive my wicked and evil heart that is at times hardened and full of hatred for the sinners You sent Your only begotten Son to die to save. Please teach me Thy ways and remove the stony places from this depraved heart. Grant that this heart be an heart of flesh, abandoned unto Thee my LORD – walking in the very mission You came to accomplish – to save sinners like me. Let Your divine mercy wash over and fill this heart. Reduce me to love. Please baptize this, Your vessel, with Your Holy Ghost now and use me dear LORD. In Jesus’ name.
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Abiding
Walking in Godly Integrity Means Paying Restitution Where Needed [podcast]
“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” Acts 24:16
Truth: The LORD is watching everything you think and do and will bring you into judgment for it all – all (Proverbs 15:3; 20:11; 23:7; Mark 12:41-44; Romans 14:10, etc.). What’s your judgment going to look like?
“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:1-2
Jesus taught that only the “honest” will be with Him (Luke 8:15). The dishonest, “ALL … liars” will perish irrevocably in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). Those who’ve brought harm to others and have the opportunity to restore what they took (financially, emotionally, etc.) prove who they are by what they do or do not do. Those who take personal responsibility for the harm they brought on another, will be blessed. Those who don’t will be shut out, “cut off” from God (Romans 11:20-22).
“Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,” 2 Corinthians 6:3-4
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
Godly Integrity owns up to its personal responsibility to make amends where we have caused hurt. Restitution. A man of godly integrity never runs from his personal responsibility to repair and restore where he has brought harm – with his words, attitudes, or actions. This is exactly what happens when a man truly repents and gives his life to Christ. Zacchaeus is a great example to us of this. Like Zacchaeus, when we truly repent, there will always be good fruit, amends for our wrongdoing. Watch this closely. Watch what this man does after getting right with God:
Luke 19
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 (the call and command) And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 (obedience) And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. (that’s exactly why Jesus came!)
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. (true repentance always brings for the fruit of restitution Matthew 3:7-10)
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
As we see in this case with Zacchaeus when he repented, turning to Jesus the Savior, true repentance always brings for the fruit of restitution. See Matthew 3:7-10.
Zacchaeus is a great example. When, if that true repentance happens in his heart, if the sinner, the transgressor allows it, there will be a practical restitution to those he’s harmed by his sin. Soon as he repented he wanted to pay restitution to those he’d harmed.
“Verse 8 is one of the strongest in the Bible on restitution. Salvation does not relieve a person from righting the wrongs of the past. Debts contracted during one’s unconverted days are not canceled by the new birth. And if money was stolen before salvation, then a true sense of the grace of God requires that this money be repaid after a person has become a child of God.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary
There’s no such thing as a person who is right with God and not making restitution for those he’s hurt.
INTEGRITY: If you owe someone $1,000 and can’t pay it all at once, show integrity and send them $ every month or week till you’ve paid them off. If you don’t, you show yourself to be a man who is without integrity (Proverbs 20:7). Soon as you begin paying back, you demonstrate the earnest of your integrity.
Jesus teaches us that we are wasting our time attempting to relate to or pray to the Father in His name if we have issues that need to be clear up with another.
God will not answer the prayer of any person who does not honor and obey His Word and if a person has an outstanding offense He wants them to clear up these matters (Proverbs 28:9, 13).
“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matthew 5:23-24
God is not going to bless our lives unless we are willing to sincerely admit our sins, repent and confess them, and make amends (restitution) with anyone we’ve harmed. In the divine economy, there’s no such thing as being right with God when you’ve done another person wrong, haven’t repented, and haven’t made amends for what you’ve done. Such a person will be outside of the will and blessings of God until he makes things right with God and man.
The LORD requires that His people “examine” and “judge” themselves.
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine and honest judge yourself and amend your ways or God will judge you.
“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32
More Bible Verses on Restitution
Read Exodus 22:1-31
“If a thief be found breaking up (stealing in a burglary, home invasion), and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. 3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.” Exodus 22:2-3
“Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty; 7 Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed.” Numbers 5:6-7
“And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” Genesis 9:5-6
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Abiding
TIMES OF REFRESHING FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD! [video]
TIMES OF REFRESHING FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD!
Who’s Ready for Some “RAIN” from Heaven? God desires to refresh His people, to rain His bless-ed mercy, forgiveness, and benefits down on them …. and our part is fresh repentance….
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12
What are the stated conditions to receive the “rain” of the LORD from Heaven?
- “Sow to yourselves in RIGHTEOUSNESS”
- “reap in MERCY”
- “break up your fallow ground”
- “for it is time to SEEK the LORD”
“till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” Acts 3:19
“Times of refreshing” will come exclusively to those who turn to the LORD with a whole heart.
A great prayer right this moment is …. Heavenly Father, please grant me to have a pure heart, a poor in spirit heart, and an heart after Thee. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Repentance is dying so that Christ lives and reigns in your life – not you (Matthew 3:7-10; Romans 6).
Adam Clarke on Hosea 10:12:
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness – Let the seed you sow be of the best kind, and in just measure.
Reap in mercy – By the blessing of God on this ploughing, sowing, and harrowing, you may expect a good crop in harvest.
Break up your fallow ground – Do not be satisfied with a slight furrow; let the land that was fallowed (slightly ploughed) be broken up again with a deep furrow.
For it is time to seek the Lord – This should be immediately done: the season is passing; and if you do not get the seed in the ground, the early rain will be past, and your fields will be unfruitful.
Rain righteousness upon you – God will give you the early rain in due time, and in proper measure. Here are the metaphors, and the application cannot be difficult.. Here are ploughing, fallowing, sowing, harrowing, watering, reaping, threshing, and feeding on the produce of well-directed labor. All may be applied to the human heart, and the work of God upon it. Correction, contrition, conversion, receiving the grace of Christ, bringing forth fruit, etc.”
“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Ezekiel 36:24-27
Most preaching today does not begin at the foundation, does not get to the root cause. This is due to the absence of the original Gospel doctrine of the cross – the divine mandate to be crucified with Christ, which is nowhere to be found coming from the mouths of the “accursed” preachers of “another gospel.” (Galatians 1:6-9)
WHAT do we have without a heart after God? Religion (Acts 13:22).
Most of the social media messages tell us, continually remind us that God loves us but nearly none of them inform us that the God who loves us, sent His Son to die on a cross for us, and requires and commands us to be “crucified with Christ.” (Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:29; Colossians 3:3) Beware of the half-truth false gospel of today! We must walk in the original Gospel – all of it – if we are to escape and not be “Led away with the error of the wicked.” (2 Peter 3:17)
Prescription for those heavy in heart: Read God’s Word. Read it repeatedly, perpetually, daily. NOTHING REPLACES BIBLE READING AND NEVER WILL.
Times of Fasting and prayer gets YOU out of the way so Jesus can reign supreme! Isaiah 58
You are not serious about overcoming sin if you’re not yet setting apart regular times of fasting and prayer. The fact that you don’t want to fast is the clear proof that you need to fast. Currently, your flesh is in control! Once you are broken, you will delight in, you will look forward to those times of regular fasting! Read Isaiah 58. | The Amazing Benefits of Fasting and Prayer
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Articles
Should God’s People be Allowed to Give? [podcast]
Letting people know the opportunity to give doesn’t seem to be the same as asking or begging for money…. Jesus told us all to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” and so cutting off this opportunity doesn’t seem wise or helpful to the eternal treasure of those saints right?
Christ commanded His people to lay up treasure in Heaven and in doing so your treasure and your heart will be in Heaven, not on earth (Matthew 6:19-24). Giving also prevents our hearts from loving and serving the mammon of this world which would prevent us from being in glory.
Jesus Himself, His ministry with His holy apostles, allowed people to give, to lay up treasure in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). Otherwise Judas would not have been the treasurer, he would have had no bag to store the offerings. Also, in the temple when Jesus sat and watched how men were giving, did that not further sanction and facilitate also the giving of the saints to His work? See Mark 12:41-44.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. ” Matthew 6:19-24
Allowing people to give to God’s work is opening the floodgates for God’s Word to be furthered in the earth, in the hearts of men and to allow the laying up of treasure in Heaven as our LORD instructed.
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)” 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
So if God loves the person who gives cheerfully, where better are they to do their giving but to the work of the One who stated these words? Then the LORD gives consequent blessings to those who give as He states in the above passage.
And so though we don’t beg for money, we must never disallow the giving of Christ’s saints. If we do, we hinder the blessing of God on their lives and perhaps in laying up eternal treasure which Jesus commanded (Matthew 6:19-21).
It seems some become disillusioned when they realize they’ve been deceived by wolves in sheep’s clothing. Then they don’t give at all and yet the Word instructs us to give and to specifically give to the ministries that feed us the pure Word (Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:17-18).
Notice here that Paul speaks against coveting and yet then speaks of the blessedness of giving and that those who give are the ones who are blessed.
Acts 20:33–35 “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
When we choose to give, it is for God’s glory and our own good.
Did the apostle Paul and the early church take up collections? Answer: Yes. See 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. To refuse to allow God’s people to give is a sin and out of the order of God established from Genesis to Revelation. In Exodus 35, God’s people gave so much that the LORD had to tell them to stop. Would to God we had that problem these days. It’s quite the opposite in this late hour unless you look at the masses of gullible dupes who empty their pockets on the end time wolves who are making merchandise of them (2 Peter 2:1-3).
–— Nearly half of Jesus’ parabolic teachings deal with stewardship. Remember, in the temple Jesus never told the Jews to remove the treasury (coffers where people have the privilege to give). No, in fact, He sat right next to it in order to watch how people were giving and neglecting to give (Mark 12:41-44).
“Now concerning the collection FOR THE SAINTS, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
THE EARLIEST followers of Christ are our example and they gave to the body of Christ, not the lost! Divine priority! See Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35; 1 Corinthians 16:1-3; Galatians 6:10, etc. “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. … Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” (Matthew 25:40, 45)
The earliest Christians gave to the needy Christians, not the world.
“But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.” Romans 16:25-26
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