Receiving and Giving His Mercy

Stone Casting Qualifications

Jesus never called the woman taken in adultery (John 8) or the woman who had had 5 husbands and was now living with another man, a whore (John 4). Jesus was not harsh with either of them. What does this say for some of these hate-mongering, arrogant, pharisaical, enraged, embattled, need-to-get-saved street preachers so prevalent today who openly call scantily clad women whores instead of winning them as Jesus did? Perhaps it’s the lust in their own hearts driving them? (Romans 2:1-3) We never see Christ needlessly provoking, condemning, screaming at, or yelling at lost sinners. WHERE did Jesus or any of His apostles possess such a hate-filled attitude other than when Jesus rebuked them in their younger years for seeking to call down fire from Heaven? Christ rebuked them with “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.”  (Luke 9:54-55)

Have you paid close attention to whom Jesus harshly rebuked? As you read the Gospels, notice that the rich and the religious (self-righteous) were who Christ rebuked (Matthew 23, etc.).

To the Pharisees of His day, Christ said:

“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” John 8:7

Do YOU qualify to cast a stone?

To the woman freshly taken from an adulterous, sinful activity and to all who are sincerely repentant today, Jesus says:

“Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:10-11

Notice that FIRST came forgiveness/salvation, then came the command to live holy – “Go, and sin no more.”

And there were many “whoremongers” there that Jesus exposed and convicted of their own sins (Jn. 8:9-11; Rev. 21:8, 27). Those were the un-repentant stone-casting religious devils Jesus sent away with their tails between their legs – un-forgiven.

What about Christ’s words to the self-righteous religionists in Matthew 21:31- “Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” This means that rank sinners and “harlots” (prostitutes, adulterous people) will go to Heaven before the self-righteous, condemning religionists.

So you have found out that a brother or sister sinned? Okay, so what if we find out what sins you committed? … “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

We have ALL been spiritual whores or committed spiritual adultery having alienated the affections of our hearts away from our LORD and “first love” (Rev. 2:4-5) … “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”(Exod. 20:3) …. At once we should drop the stones of condemnation, realizing our own great and PRESENT need for the mercy of God, and reach out to restore others. The LORD will then be able to use us but not before. In fact, we are heaping condemnation upon our own heads if we issue forth “judgment without mercy.” (James 2:13)

The LORD is not impressed with our missionary work, STREET PREACHING, choir singing, pulpit expository, or any other vain work done without being consumed in His love. Read 1 Corinthians 13 today friends.

Memorize this:

“For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:20

In all our learning, we had better learn that God is merciful and if he wasn’t, we would both already and forever be trapped in hell (Psalms 103:10). We do not understand the first thing about Christ or Christianity if we are not living in the revelation of how very merciful He has been to US.

Yes, all who die in sin – including fornication or adultery of any kind (even in the heart) – will spend eternity in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8, 27). God will judge them and using God’s Word and love, they must be warned by His body … “The Spirit and the bride say Come.” (Rev. 22:17)

An important biblical component for me is to forgive others and speak and communicate with love and mercy to them. I have my own deep, infinite, utter, and present need for the saving grace and mercy of God. God surely will redeem, forgive, restore, and show His blessed mercy to all who fear and obey Him in repentance (returning) to Him. Psalms 103:2-3, 11 says “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases … For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward THEM THAT FEAR HIM.” Did you catch the condition for receiving the divine benefit of forgiveness, healing, and mercy? – “them that fear him.” (v11)

Those who wrongly condemn others in their heart attitudes, do not fear God.

If you need mercy – and you certainly do – God requires that you show it to others in order to initially receive and to continue to receive it from Him.

God told us to WIN the lost and not to alienate them – “He that WINNETH souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30) Pray this now as you read these words: LORD, please break us today and grant us Thy wisdom, being ever so mindful of what GREAT mercy You have shown our sinful souls!

It is obvious that no matter how perfectly we administer the mercy and truth of Jesus Christ, that some are going to reject Him and us. Yet, we should never do anything in the flesh to intentionally alienate those trapped in the dismal darkness of sin. God never commissioned us to spurn others out of our own hateful hearts.

It is a very important thing and exercise to get it out in the open that you have no righteousness at all outside of that which you are clothed with by Jesus Christ (Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Philippians 3:9, etc.). Praying Titus 3:5-6 aloud every morning diminishes and obliterates self-righteousness by continually establishing just why you are saved today – “according to his 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.” Titus 3:5-6

Below is the testimony of a forgiven, transformed, minister of God’s truth:

“I have learned that it is the goodness and kindness of God that leads many to repentance. I was once a man who “preached AT” people with very little true love for their souls. God allowed me to be broken and I was knocked off my “high horse.” Now my views on STREET PREACHING remain the same, (it is necessary) but now instead of “preaching AT” people, The LORD has instilled the desire to preach “TO” them, knowing that they are in need of the savior – no less that I am! His compassion compels this disciple to at times plead, to reason with people instead of “yelling” at them. The message remains powerful and is not watered down, but the power available when “Love” is the motivation is greater.” Kevin Woltkamp

The LORD will allow us – if we are full of self-righteousness and arrogant pride – to fall and He will reveal to us our own infinite need for His ongoing, present mercy and bring us to truly be “poor in spirit” so that we will see His eternal kingdom and help others in the same (Matt. 5:3).

Some among us have “forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”

“But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” 2 Peter 1:9

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26

Let’s let God speak for Himself by simply preaching HIS Words and ceasing to speak our own words and condemnations. The unchanging LORD instructed His servant Ezekiel to “speak with MY words unto them.” (Ezek. 3:4)

All men have sinned and are already condemned of the LORD who is “Holy, holy, holy,” and yet, He came to this earth for the express and divine purpose of rescuing them – not condemning them. If they refuse to repent and receive Christ, they will spend eternity in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15). As those whom the Great Physician has healed, we must with grateful and contrite hearts reach out by inviting others to repent and be saved …  “The Spirit and the bride say Come.” (Rev. 22:17)

Christ Lives to Provide What He Died to Purchase | Plenteous in Mercy [podcast] 

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“Thank you for posting this one! So many women who need God are always being pushed away further and further because of the status people have given them. When really, all they need is love and security! Thank you so much for this! You’ve led me to some wonderful, living water so that I may feed my thirsty soul. I really do appreciate it! This website (SafeGuardYourSoul.com) is one of the best I’ve ever seen!” Susan D.

“I remember some ‘street preachers’ and I use that term very loosely who went to a satanist church to ‘witness’ by yelling “God hates you” at them over and over…but thinking they did God a service-meanwhile made a mockery of Christianity. That is evangelism?” Laurie C.

“I have seen what you’re saying. Many of these street preachers are in the flesh. They are not being led by the Spirit and they are cruel and discriminating. You know, like they did in Michigan with the pigs head. They still have not repented of that. In fact, people actually worship the person that was doing that pig head. It is unfit and is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s not being led by the Spirit and therefore fruit is not being born for Christ’s glory. The Father says if you don’t bear fruit you will be cut down. You will get thrown into the fire. Nothing like a healthy fear of the Lord, the beginning of wisdom, Amen.” Lawrence J.

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