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I am Jake Eakin and this is my testimony.

For the first 11 years of my life I was just your average kid.

But all of that would change forever on a cold, rainy day in February 2003 in Ephrata Washington. I was 12 years old, and I found myself in a park with my best friend Evan.

We did not go to that park that day to murder Craig Sorger. It was just another day in my average life, until Evan pulled a knife out of his pocket and told me he “wanted to go on a killing spree.” At first I thought he was just making a sick joke. Surely he wasn’t serious.

But I soon found myself following him to a nearby travel trailer, where 13 year old Craig Sorger lived. Evan knocked on the door, and asked Craig’s mom if he could play.

We roamed the park, playing near a canal before stopping to build a fort in a wooded area in the back of the park.
This was when my average life changed forever.

Evan asked Craig to touch the ground for 10 seconds; Craig got on the ground and began counting. At 9, Evan dropped a rock on the back of Craig’s neck, knocking him to the ground.

I got up and tried to stop Evan. I said, “Stop!” Evan got off Craig and pushed me to the ground. I stayed there and watched Evan began hitting Craig — more than 30 times. Several times Craig tried to get away but Evan repeatedly pulled him back to the ground and continued to strike him. I did not see anything in Evan’s hand, but he was stabbing Craig to death.

I look back and I wish that I would have done something to rescue Craig. It’s one reason I now do everything in my power to rescue the preborn from the slaughter.

The attack lasted minutes, after which Craig remained motionless on the ground. I then picked up a stick and was going to hit Evan, but he had a terrifying look in his eyes. I was afraid that I was the next in his killing spree. So I braced the stick, walked past Evan, and struck Craig in the head and legs before throwing the stick to the ground.

Evan said nothing. He walked to me and he shook my hand.

3 days later we were arrested for 1st degree murder and held on $1 million dollar bail.

We spent months proclaiming our innocence, first saying that we had seen Craig walking towards home from the park. We later said Craig had fallen from a tree.

We were tried as adults, becoming the youngest defendants tried as adults in Washington state history.

A year would pass before I broke down and finally told the truth about what happened. I would plead guilty of 2nd degree murder by complicity and sentenced to 14 years.
After my sentencing, a journalist asked me if I was angry I received a 14 years sentence. I said, “No. I deserved worse.”

The next day I was transferred to prison.

My time in prison started badly. I spent the majority of my time in solitary confinement for fighting.

I was locked into a 8- by- 10 foot cell for 23 hours per day, where the lights were on all the time. There were no windows in my cell to let in light. My only view was the window in the cell door that looked out onto a sterile cellblock.

When I was allowed out for one hour of recreation per day, I would first be strip-searched. Then I would be shackled hand and feet and taken by two guards to a small brick cage that was my exercise yard. I was not allowed to talk to the guards, or to the other prisoners. I would then be shackled again, and led back to my cell. All meals were served to me through a slot in my cell door.

I lived like this year after year after year.

The only positive that came from all those years in solitary confinement was that I taught myself how to read and write. I spent all of my time reading book after book. I must have read thousands of books.

Those years in solitary confinement must have also taught me a lesson because I stayed out of trouble for the rest of my sentence.

For the 14 years I spent in prison there was only one thing I looked forward to: visits from my best friend Marissa. We had been friends since we were 9 years old, our fathers worked together, and she had served as my character witness at my trial. She attended my sentencing hearing. We exchanged hundreds of letters over last decade I spent in prison, and 5 years before I was released we fell in love.

In 2016, three months before my sentence was up, I escaped. I fled my work release program in Yakima, WA and hitchhiked 300 miles to Idaho. From there I jumped on a bus to South Dakota, where U.S. Marshals captured my at gun point at a Rapid City bus stop.

Looking back now I was simply overwhelmed by the responsibilities of work release after living my entire life behind bars.

I served out the rest of my sentence in state prison before being transferred to county jail to be charged with 1st degree escape. I faced 5 more years in prison.

I found myself on the top floor of one of the worst county jails in the country. The first day I witnessed a man murdered by 2 other prisoners.

It was in this environment that God began to work on me.

In my jail cell I found 3 books: the Bible, the journals of Jim Elliot, and Eric Metaxas biography on Detrich Bonhoeffer. This last book sparked my interest in reading the Bible. I was impressed by Bonhoeffer’s bold stand against the Nazi Holocaust.

In my cell, I began to read the Bible. Every hour that I was awake, I was reading it. I would spend five, six hours reading, then fall asleep, wake up, and begin reading from where I left off.

On January 7th, 2017 I remember falling on my knees and calling out to God to save me. I know that we are saved by repentance and faith, but at the point of conversion all I knew was that God loved me and I was saved. I remember getting up from the floor of my jail cell and it was like the old Jake Eakin stayed there dead, and a new Jake Eakin rose from the dead, and I knew that nothing would ever be the same again. The grace of God found me on the floor of a jail cell. He met me there and and changed me forever.

I was born again.

I realize that I was not worthy of the grace that I had been given, I was a murderer; and I deserved nothing but death and hell. But by the grace of God I was alive and I wanted to spend the rest of my life obeying the call of my King with every breath of grace I had in my lungs.

I hope my testimony sheds light on the truth of the Gospel and it’s power to save the worst sinners. No sin is too deep that God’s amazing grace cannot reach. We serve a mighty God who can take murderers and transform them into instruments to advance His Kingdom.

Paul was a zealous murderer out for Christian blood before God used him to save thousands. We serve a God who can save repentant murderers.

When I was released in February 2017, I briefly moved in with my family. Within months I married Marissa. But I remember feeling adrift, not sure what God wanted me to do with my life.

A few weeks before my wedding, while sitting on a coach with Marissa, I saw a YouTube video that stopped me in my tracks. It was of Rusty Thomas, the National Director of Operation Save America, staging a rescue outside an abortion clinic in Louisville, Kentucky. At one point in the video, Rusty Thomas was sitting on the sidewalk in handcuffs and he turned to his son, Jeremiah Thomas, and told him, “Son, this is your heritage.”

Something about the look on Jeremiah’s face broke my heart for the preborn children being murdered through abortion. I had never even thought about abortion before that moment. But I felt the Lord move on me and break my heart for the preborn. It changed my life forever.

All glory to God for what He has done in my life. I have nothing good in myself. I am a redeemed murderer., deserving of death and hellfire. But God chose to radically change me.

If God can save me then no one is beyond His power to save.

Making Peace with God – Before it’s too Late

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Articles

 5 Aspects of the Mind of Christ [podcast]


5 Components of the Mind of Christ from Philippians 2

Philippians 2:2-10

“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9  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.”

At Gethsemane the death before the cross, before His death on the cross occurred.

“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42

“He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8

Living in the mind, the disposition of Christ means you are truly following Him.

As Christ’s disciple, your devotion, your love is first to Him, then to your neighbor, not self (Matthew 22:37-39). You are commanded by the Savior to set self aside and to lift others above yourself—to prefer, to put God and others first. Those who do so, experience true freedom, liberty.

Being one with Christ, who gave all to save you, means your life is over—you now live to serve the LORD and others, not self (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3).

Have you poured prayerfully over Philippians 2:3-5 today? If you will begin every day this week pouring prayerfully over this passage, asking the LORD to internalize it in your heart, God will begin to deeply instill the very “mind of Christ” into your innermost disposition.

Part of the dying…. IS GOD calling us to Himself, to forsake this world, including the attempt to save an unrepentant nation long in rebellion against Him – America?

Prayer: LORD, I want to walk in the disposition You walked in on earth. I will esteem You and others above myself. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s Grow Together! Sign up here to begin receiving the Moments with Our Master email devotional that is sure to help you grow in His grace and in the knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:2; 3:18).  It’s sent out for the edification of the body of Christ. Sign Up HERE.

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | More on Assurance hereBecause You Care Page | The Greatest of these is CharityBe Ready in the Morning [podcast]The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast]At His Feet | Knowing God | The Cross Life | 100’s of Christ-centered Scripture-rich PodcastsChristology = the Study of Christ

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Articles

Greedy, Covetous, and Beguiled! [podcast]


One man has wisely stated that “Greed and covetousness will damn more souls than all other sins combined.”

“Spiritual Blessings”

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Ephesians 1:3-7

“If we are in Jesus we have the the unsearchable riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8). Unfathomable (in our small minds), infinite wealth and spiritual blessings! Endless mercy, grace, and forgiveness. That is inexhaustible! Why do we need any worldly riches that will rot and corrupt our hearts!? Lay up in your hearts God’s riches! Which are eternal!” Karen Cochran

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” Mark 8:36

The only wealth that will last, forever, is that which is gained by obeying God in this life – thereby laying up treasure in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21).

Got an “education” but going to hell eternally. Self-serving idolaters.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:10

America is full of those who claim to be saved and yet paid big money to get a piece of paper to get more money in this life and yet it’s clear that they’ve been serving money, mammon all along, not Christ.

“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 (full of Christ, not covetousness), thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil (greed filled), 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 

They’ve never repented and aren’t presently, literally serving God. This means they are hell bound.

“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.” Ephesians 5:5-7

Real repentance or reprobate?

“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

The souls of millions who think they are saved are going to be damned due to not being truly given over to the LORD they claim to know and be saved by. If their lives were truly given over, they would be helping others and the work of Christ to be advanced in this fleeting world.

Their covetousness – “I want this” or “I just bought that” – is telling on their wicked hearts (Luke 12; 1 Timothy 6). They are sinning away their day of grace as they live unto self and are rich toward self and not Jesus. They are “not rich toward God” to use Christ’s own words (Luke 12:21). Jesus promised these would be damned for their turning a dead ear and blind eye to the needs of others – “Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” (Matthew 25:45) The light bills and rent/mortgages of some in-need Christians go unpaid. The pantries of some remain empty. True, New Testament ministries go unfunded …. and Why? – Because of the waste of millions who call themselves by the name of the One who came and gave ALL. They do not resemble Him which clearly shows that they are not following Him and merely rendering lip service to Him in order to deceive their own darkened hearts into the vain imagination that they are going to be with Him eternally.

Their GOAL is your GOLD, not your SOUL! Get a clue! Read 2 Peter 2:1-3; Philippians 3:18-19.

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 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? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” 1 John 3:16-19

What you refuse to do (omission) when you see another in need, is indicative of who you are serving – self instead of the Savior. The Son of God says: “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:19-21)

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16 

The fruit of the Spirit and good works are the clear indication that one is truly saved (Galatians 5:19-24; Titus 3:8; James 1:22-27). If you are not literally a giver, the LORD is calling you to repent and obey God’s Word by giving up first your whole life and will to Him. Then, all you have in your possession will go to His glory in loving your neighbor. If all you have isn’t Christ’s, it’s time to repent and get saved friend (Luke 14:33).

Prayerfully read Luke 12 and 1 Timothy 6 every day for the next week.

Toni S. writes:

Not just helping in ministry, but also the widows, poor, prisoners and fatherless. In addition, so many just hand their tithes over to a church pastor expecting Him to do this with their money. But what they end up supporting is not a ministry but a lavish lifestyle that many pastors live. People also donate money to ‘charitable” organizations without even researching where that money really goes too.” Toni S.

Wolves patty cake with you because they want your money and could care less about your eternal soul (Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy:2-4; 2 Peter 2:1-3).

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:1-3

“And who are we to support? 3 John 8 “We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.” Those who are devoted to the truth of God’s word! And are speaking the original gospel once delivered unto the saints Jude 3. Then we become fellowhelpers to them who are spreading truth. And actually participate in their ministry by giving to them. As opposed to bidding God speed to the deceivers and false teachers (2 John 9-11). We aren’t to support financially or participate at all in their ministry. Or we become partakers in their evil deeds and will suffer the same punishment as them. So we have a choice, participate in those preaching the whole truth and receive rewards (treasures in heaven) or participate in the deception of false teachers and suffer eternal consequences!” Karen Cochran

PRAYER: I here and now confess to You Father that I have been a self-idolater, I have committed spiritual adultery against You. I have not had You but rather myself first. Please forgive my sin, wash me clean, and fill me with Your Holy Ghost afresh. Circumcise this heart and replace the stony places with a heart of flesh. Bless this vessel to abide crucified with Thee and bear fruit, more fruit, and much fruit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Let’s learn God’s Word and grow in grace together. Sign up here to receive the Moments with My Master email sent out to edify Christ’s body.

Support | STORE | PodcastsThe Return of ChristStewardshipWhere to Give and Where Not to Give | Fruit Abounding to Your Account! | Consider Your Ways [podcast] | Consider and Build [podcast] | Holes in Your Money Bags? [podcast] | Dollar DialogueJesus Sat Over Against The Treasury [podcast] | Escaping Sodom!Waste | Stewardship | Giving

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Articles

Lay Up For Yourselves Treasures in Heaven [podcast]


“LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES”

The only wealth that will last, forever, is that which is gained by obeying God in this life – thereby laying up treasure in Heaven.

Money Has Wings

“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” Proverbs 23:4-5

  • Instruction: “Labour not to be rich” v4
  • Instruction: “cease from thine own wisdom” v4
  • Question?: “Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?” v5
  • Wisdom to ponder: “for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven” v5

Note this phrase in v5 (please read carefully) – “riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” Now watch this – “they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” What does that mean? Simply, the way we spend our money on earth will testify about our lives on Judgment Day and we will thereby be rewarded or stripped of rewards or even kept out of the kingdom (Lk. 16:19-31; James 2:1-7; 5:1-6; etc.). The usage of our money is a direct reflection of the priorities of our hearts (Matt. 6:21).

Treasures In Heaven

IN previous generations, young men and women gave up their whole life of luxury in America to go to a foreign land to preach the Gospel of Christ. Today we have a generation of professing “Christians” who won’t so much as give up a penny to support the preaching of the Gospel of the glorious Savior they claim to be saved by.

How important is Christ and His Gospel to you? Jesus told us exactly how important we count Him and His Gospel….

People spend, waste money on every frivolity under Heaven and seldom lay up treasures in Heaven using their temporal coin (Matthew 6:19-21). Read Jesus’ teaching recorded in Luke 16.

Our LORD instructs us to lay up treasure, but in Heaven not here in this temporal world where the dollar will soon be obsolete, superseded by rewards earned during this earthly life.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures (lots) in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:” Matthew 6:19-20

Saint of the Most High, are you going to look back in eternity and deeply regret the opportunities God gave you in this fleeting life that you passed up? – to bless another believer or to support the work of Christ and send forward eternal rewards?

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21

WHERE are you laying up treasure?

Your investments into God’s kingdom work in this short life are truly safe, secure, life-giving, and eternal. No one can take them away.

DISCIPLE OF JESUS, Jesus Christ is all-knowing and sees everything and will reward every good deed or work done in His name and love.

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Hebrews 6:10

Tithing is not commanded under the New Testament. Yet giving and putting God first is commanded and is the privilege of the saints of Christ (Proverbs 3:9-10; Matthew 6:33; Luke 6:38).

LET’S LEARN GOD’S WORD TOGETHER – ONE TRUTH AT A TIME: Are you tired of reading Scripture or hearing a good message from the Word and not retaining it for yourself and to help others? We can help you. This message was sent out to each person who is on the Moments For My Master e-mail devotional list. In supplementation to your personal daily study of God’s Word, we would love to add you and have the privilege of nourishing your heart with God’s Word (Jn. 5:39; 1 Tim. 4:6, 16; Heb. 5:11-14; 1 Pet. 2:2). Sign up here.

Feedback:

“No matter how much I give he keeps giving back to me… pressed down shaken together and running over. God is great and greatly to be praised.” Steven M.

More on Stewardship | Cheerful Giving

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Eternal Security/OSASAccounted Worthy to Escape [podcast] | Eternal Security Exposed | Sealed?The Return of Christ | Lie of the Ages [podcast]10 Questions about Eternal SecurityIs Salvation Eternal?The Damning Myth of Unconditional Eternal Security [podcast]The Essential of Fearing God | The KING is Coming [podcast]

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