Repentance

More Tolerable…

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And He said unto them,
“In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.”
Mark 6:10-11

Just before sending out His followers to preach the gospel of the kingdom, and heal sicknesses, cause the crippled one to walk, heal lepers He gives them these final words.

In those days if you stayed as a guest the host would wash your feet if you were welcomed in.  If they did not wash your feet that meant you were not welcome there.

So when one of His disciples came to such a home, or city, and their feet were not washed, they were to shake the dust off their feet as they were leaving that city.  That means if they gave no respect to disciples whom the Messiah had sent out, they had no respect or reverence for Him.

Jesus says that it will be more tolerable for Sodom and  Gomorrha than for that city which had rejected them.  Because such a city that refused to hear, refused hospitality to His own, rejects Him.  Sodom and Gomorrha had no witness of God’s love, grace, and mercy.  Judgment awaits any nation, province, island, and/or any government that refuses to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

If the people of the United States of America do not turn from their sins  to Jesus Christ our nation is headed for judgment, even more than we are seeing now.

The word we need to heed is, REPENT.  Turn from your sin to Jesus, the One who gave His life to pay our sin debt by dying on the cross, and was buried, and three days later He rose again, and He lives forever more.

The Lord Rebukes Cities That Reject Him

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Then began He to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not:
“Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.  And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”
Matthew 11:2024

Only A Sinner Can Be Saved

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

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.   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.  And when the Pharisees saw it, they said untoHis disciples, “Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?”  But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them,
“They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.  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 9:9-13

Jesus had just called one of the most hated people in Judea  who was a tax collector, to follow Him, and Matthew did.  This brought many to Matthew’s home where  He age and drank.  It was a great honor for them to have such a Man as Jesus visit your home

Jesus was eating with publicans (tax collectors), and sinners.  Jesus in answer to the Pharisees remark was that He did not come to call  the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Only the lost can be found.  Only the unjust, can be made just.  Only the sick can be healed.

The Pharisees were walking around in their religious garb, and presenting themselves as righteous people but Jesus tells them they are in darkness.

Only those who call on the Lord for grace through Christ Jesus can be justified, sanctified, and glorified in Him.

“There is none righteous, no not one.”  Psalm 14:3;  Romans 3:10ff).   As long as a person denies their sin  and rebelliousness against  God, trusting their own righteousness, there is no hope of salvation.

Confess that you are a sinner calling out to the Lord Jesus, then confess Jesus as Lord, believing He was raised from the dead, and you will be saved.

People Need The LORD

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

“Therefore also now,” saith the LORD, “turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil.  Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
“Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.  Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, ‘Spare Thy people, O LORD, and give not Thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?’ ”
Joel 2:12-17

Our own nation (United States of America) needs the LORD now just as much as any other time.  Why?  Because even here lines are hard to see and confusing.  Even professing Christians are turning their backs on the LORD, not their face.  When you turn your backs on God’s word, no longer believing it is the holy, inspired of God, and infallible word of God; they have turned their backs on God.

When you have more confidence in science of men, or more confidence in your own abilities, than in God then You have shunned the LORD.

It is time for the LORD to work a work like Adam’s race has never seen.  We must be ready. Return to the LORD.

I need the LORD to continue to work in me.  You need the LORD as well.  All the people on earth need the LORD.

Come to the One who died on that old rugged cross, judged by His Father for our sins.  He was buried.  He rose up again, from the grave in which  He had been laid.  His return is imminent,  Are you ready.

The Holy One in the midst…

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

“How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, Israel? How shall I make thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim? Mine heart is turned within me, My repentings are kindled together. I will not execute the fierceness of Mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.  They shall walk after the LORD: He shall roar like a lion: when He shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.  They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses,” saith the LORD.
Hosea 11:8-11

I try to be a promoter of God’s amazing love, mercy, and grace. The above verses tell us just how loving, merciful and gracious He is.

While the LORD has spoken through Hosea of His anger, because of the iniquities of Ephraim; which is also called Samaria, and Israel – the Northern kingdom; God now reveals that He cannot, and will not destroy her. He will instead will be fully merciful, and gracious. He will not pour out all His wrath on Ephraim, but will continue to discipline her, and draw her to Himself. “They shall walk aft the LORD” is the evidence of that. God knows that one day all those taken captive will return to their “Glorious Land,” (Daniel 11:16, 41), and they will walk after Him.

The LORD God says through the prophet Ezekiel, “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” (18:23), and in verse 32 of that chapter, God says, “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” The more I learn about God my conviction of His great love grows stronger, and it is the testimony of my life too. He has never forsaken me, and I know He never will.

God is offended by our sins and iniquities. The cross where the Son of God died for our sins was the answer for Adam kind, and our redemption. Jesus Christ took our place, becoming our sin, and taking the wrath of Holy God on Himself, so that we might be with Him eternally. In the death of Christ, His burial, and resurrection He redeemed all of Israel as well; and when they look upon the One whom they pierced, believing Him they too shall live with Him eternally.

Have you called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, believing Him? Will you do so now?

GOD Loves His People

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Anyone who has read the Bible, and studied it, can clearly see that God loves His people. Though Israel had departed from Him many times, and the LORD chastened them, because He saw  them destroying themselves. He always calls His straying people to return to Him.

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.  After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
Hosea 6:1-3

Many people who do not know God believe Him to be a harsh and cruel God; but He is actually very loving, merciful and gracious One. Someone has said, “God loves us the way we are; but He loves us too much to leave us the way we are.” Another said, “God will not allow His children to sin successfully.”

When the LORD tells us we have sinned, then we better listen, and fall on our faces before Him and ask forgiveness for our sin(s). We ought to always keep our account with GOD short.  That when we realize our sin, we immediately go to the throne of grace and plead forgiveness. Guess what? He forgive us our sin (1 John 1:9). If you say that you have no sin then, hear this. “He that says he has no sin, deceives himself, and the truth is not in him” 1 John 1:8.  Lost and in the darkness of sin and death.

When one or many of God’s children return to Him it is like healing from being torn, and binding or wounds after being smitten. Even though GOD disciplines His wayward children we can be assured through and by the chastening that we are His; for He has said in Hebrews 12:5-8, ” And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, ‘My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord,’ nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”

Now, if you are a child of God and you have the assurance of that salvation, but you have gone astray He is calling you back to Himself. He is calling you back. Hear Him and run back to Him. He will be running to you to welcome you home (Luke 15:20).

For those who read this and are not a child of God, and you want to be. Know this that you need to know God’s Son who is Jesus Christ. He took your place and mine on the cross, taking the full wrath of God for our sins, He was buried taking away our sins casting them into the very depths of the sea, and as far away as east is from west.  He did not stay dead, but arose from that tomb, alive forever more. When you call out to Him He will hear you.

Dealing With Sin

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel. And David said unto God, “I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech Thee, do away the iniquity of Thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.” (vv. 7-8)

King David had sinned against the LORD in ordering a census, a counting of the numbers of people in his kingdom. It must have been a bit of pride, wondering just how many people he was shepherding. Anyway he had sinned against the LORD in  doing what he did.

Gad the prophet to David came with a message from God, and told him “God is displeased with this thing, and struck Israel with a plague. He goes to God in prayer, “I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing, I beseech You, do away with the iniquity of Your servant: for I have done foolishly.”

The king admits, confesses his sins. That is what every individual must do when we sin against God. No confession, no repentance, no deliverance.

And David said unto Gad, “I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are His mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.” (v. 13)

Now, take a look at verse 13 above. David has been given a choice of three things by which he will pay the price for his sins. His answer was, “Let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for great are His mercies.” He would rather depend of the mercy of God than on the wrath of man for three months, or the affects of a plague. The mercy of the LORD is great. In the book of Lamentations, by Jeremiah the prophet, we are told that “His mercies are new every morning.” King David knew that.

God’s mercy means that God is not pouring out His wrath on those who deserve wrath; and my friend, that is all of us on planet earth. We have all sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We all deserve His wrath, but He in His great love and mercy has provided for us through a perfect sacrifice to pay sin’s debt, and that is Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son.

And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. And David said unto God, “Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? Even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? Let Thine hand, I pray Thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on Thy people, that they should be plagued.”
1 Chronicles 21:7-8, 13, 16-17

The angel of the LORD was ready to destroy Jerusalem, and God in His mercy stopped the angel of the LORD from doing that. David is very repentant, and the elders have witnessed the wrath that God was pouring out. He cries out to God, “I am the one who has done this sin, but these sheep, what have they done?” In calling his people sheep was humbling himself before the LORD God as a lowly shepherd.

The  king is told by the LORD to build an altar, and offer a sacrifice to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan. David goes to Ornan, and ask to purchase the land from him. Ornan sells the threshing floor to David, a he makes a sacrifice. It was many years before when Abraham had seen this mountain “afar off” as he was going with his son Isaac, the promised son; and was prepared to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, and God provided a Ram caught in a bush by his horns, in the stead of his son.

This threshing floor would become the place where the temple of Solomon would stand.

That Ram provided by God to Abraham is a picture of the promised Messiah, that would come, and give His life in our stead.

Do you desire to deal with your sin that has so long kept you enslaved to it? Would you like to be at peace with God? Would you like to know that your sins are forgiven? You can have those things by turning away from your sins, and turning to the Lord Jesus Christ; God’s perfect sacrifice for sin. He is the Son of God who became sin for us, on the cross, taking the wrath of God on Himself, dying; and He was buried, and then He arose from that tomb. Through Him and Him alone can we become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). That is God’s grace. God is giving us something which we do not deserve; that is deliverance from sin.

 

When the Wicked Rule: GOD is Still Faithful

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.  Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD. Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David His servant’s sake, as He promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.
2 Kings 8:16-19

Joram was the son of Ahab and was king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Jehoram was the son of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat was a king who did right in the eyes of the LORD.

Jehoram had married the daughter of Ahab, Israel’s most wicked king, and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.  Jehoram was king of Judah, where they had a few king who did do right in the eyes of the LORD, but Israel had none, but those who did evil in the eyes of the LORD.

There is a reminder to us that God still reigns supremely, and that He can be trusted because He is always faithful to fulfill every word He speaks, and is written.

If you will notice verse 19, “Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David His servant’s sake, as He promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.” GOD had made a covenant with David, not because David was perfect or sinless, but because he was always trusting the LORD, His mercied, grace, and loving kindness. He believed the LORD was God, and trusted his life, and knew the kingdom was the LORD’S.

Am I more like Jehoram, like Ahab; or am I more like David? That is the question we need to ask ourselves today. The mind and heart of Jehoram was on wicked, vile, and evil things. The heart and mind of David, for the most part ,was on doing the will, and work of the LORD his God.

When David sinned, he kept his account with God short, by going to God in prayer in repentance and confession. When the wicked sin they say, “I have not sinned,” and go on their way feeling justified in their actions, no matter how vile or wicked or depraved they are.

God wants us to trust Him completely. Coming to Him through the cross of Jesus, His death on the cross, His burial, and resurrection, calling on His name in repentance, and faith in Him is the only way to salvation from our sin.

Christ Jesus died in my place. It should have been me dying on that cross. He also died for you. It should have been you hanging on that cross by three rusty spikes/nails.

Even today we must trust that even “When the Wicked Rule; GOD is Still Faithful.” You can trust the LORD to do what He says He will do.

Though Judah/Israel has no king today it does not mean that God has broken His promise. There is a coming King, and His name is Jesus the Christ of God, and He is known as the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Jesus is a descendant of David. When He returns it will be to rule and reign on the earth.

The Heavy Yoke

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him; and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.” Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that He might perform His saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
1 Kings 12:13-15

Solomon was the anointed king of Israel following David. He had been told by God Himself that if he would live as David had, that is, in fellowship with Him, the He would bless him by a continuing, perpetual kingdom. Read 1 Kings chapters 11 and 12.

Solomon is now gone to be with his fathers, and Rehoboam is king. Because of Solomon’s idolatry, due to the deception of his foreign wives, which began because he did not heed God’s word concerning marriage of foreign women. These women are not to blame, but rather, it is Solomon’s own undoing.

A prophet named Ahijah comes to a servant of King Solomon and tells him; his name is Jereboam that God is about to dived the kingdom of Israel, and that Jereboam will be the king of the northern kingdom. Ten of the twelve tribes of Israel would be in his rule. Judah and Benjamin would be only David’s descendants place of rule.

Through all of this travesty of the kingdom God shows Himself to be sovereign Lord over Adam’s kind. He has sent the prophet with the word of the LORD that this will take place, and He uses a matter of taxes to divide the kingdom. Jereboam is in on the rebellion and is appointed the first king of the northern kingdom which is called Israel, and the southern kingdom is Judah.

The division started when Rehoboam refused the counsel of the elders when he had asked what to do about the request from the people that the tax load be reduced. The elders said to do what the people requested. The King had also asked the young counselors about it, and they told Rehoboam to increase the taxes; and that what King Rehoboam did. Jereboam and those of Israel departed, and they were divided, just as God had said.

What can we learn from these things? One thing is that we need to hear and take heed to the word of God, and keep His commandments. Don’t tell me that the commandments of the LORD are done away with. They are not, The commandments show us when we have sinned, and point us to our Savior.

Another thing we can see is that those who are in leadership and positions of power, need to listen to the people. Pastors need to listen to the people whom they shepherd. We are all servants of God. Listen to Him.

The last thing I will point out is that when God says something and anytime God says something, then you can certainly count on it coming to pass. God will hasten His word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12).

It is true for the Christian, and the non-Christian – unbeliever. if you do not believe one sentence of God’s word, does not nullify the truth of His word. The New Testament is just as much the word of God as is the Old Testament. In the New we hear of God sending His only begotten Son into a sinful world which God loved so much, that He sent Him to die for the sins of the world. He did. He died on a cross for your sins and mine, He was buried carrying our sins away as far as east is from the west, leaving them there, and He conquered death by rising from the grave, walking with us forty more days, then ascending into heaven where He is forever seated at the right hand of God the Father.

The only way of salvation is through Jesus Christ who was proven to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4). Call on the name of the Lord, and you will be saved (Romans 10:13).

A Chosen People

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the LORD loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations; and repayeth them that hate Him to their face, to destroy them: He will not be slack to him that hateth Him, He will repay him to his face.  Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.
Deuteronomy 7-11

They are called an “holy people” and a people who have been chosen to be a “special people unto Himself, above all people on the face of the earth.” What makes these people a special people? It is not because they are good, or holy, or righteous, or because they are worthy. It is because God says He loves them. Who are these people?

They are the descendants of  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The people are not holy because they are good, but because they have been made so by God Himself. They are a people who that the LORD is their God. That He is the faithful God, and that He keeps His promises, and is merciful, and He loves all who keep His commandments. Who are these people?

They are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They are not special by their own works; they are special because the LORD keeps His promises, and He declares them a special people. God does not love them because they are worthy of His love; He loves them because He keeps His word.

Where does the Bride of Jesus Christ fit into this? We are part of the Body of Christ because we have been born again through faith in Christ Jesus, and His death on the cross of Calvary, His burial, and His resurrection. Jesus Christ is a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and through Him we are a special people, a holy people, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew 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 not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10

We were not chosen because we were good, righteous, or holy. We were dying, condemned transgressors of the law of God, yet He loved us, and called unto Himself (Romans 5:8). We also keep His commandments, because we love Him; Jesus said, “If you love Me keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

There is a reason to fear what the end may be for one’s life. It is certain that you will die. It is just as sure and certain, that we will all, one day stand before the Lord, and will be judged by what we did with Jesus Christ. If you refuse Him you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe Him, trusting in Him and loving Him with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and all your strength, then you will spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven.

Trust Him today, believe His word, His promises, and call on Him in repentance of sin.

God Has A Plan For His Wayward People

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
“Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.  For I will set Mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.  And I will give them an heart to know Me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto Me with their whole heart.’ ”
Jeremiah 24:4-7

Repentance and Return

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Therefore thus saith the LORD, “If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before Me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as My mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.  And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee,” saith the LORD, “and I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.”
Jeremiah 15:19-21

A Grieving Prophet

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.  Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? Is not her king in her?
“Why have they provoked Me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?”
The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?…
Jeremiah 8:18-22

…And They Shall Come

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Then the LORD said unto me, “Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” saith the LORD; “and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah. And I will utter My judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken Me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands…”
Jeremiah 1:14-16

God called a prophet out of the priesthood to warn Judah of God’s coming wrath upon them. The people of Judah; the prophets, priests, kings, and the people had turned their backs to God, and not their face.

Woe be to the people and nation, who call themselves the people of God, and turn their backs to God, and not their face.

Seek Good, Not Evil

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.  Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
Amos 5:14-15

God’s Way Is The Only Way

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, and said unto them, “Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.” So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.
1 Chronicles 15:11-15

We Have Sinned

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.  And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against Thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.” And the LORD said unto the children of Israel,
“Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?  The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to Me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet ye have forsaken Me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.  Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.”
And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, “We have sinned: do Thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto Thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.”  And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
Judges 10:9-17

Hold Fast and Repent

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; “These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
Revelation 3:1-6

When Tears Will Not Help

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Hebrews 12:14-17

The Justifier of The Unjust

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Romans 3:21-26

The One sent by God to die for our sins, was buried, and He rose again. On the cross He became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), and took the wrath of God for our sins. In His burial He carried our sins away, and in His resurrection He justifies forever all who trust Him.

Return Now

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, “Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.”  And they said, “There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.”
Jeremiah 18:11-12

The Consequences of Playing With Sin

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And she said unto him, “How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? Thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.” And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; that he told her all his heart, and said unto her, “There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”  And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.  And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.  And she said, “The Philistines be upon thee, Samson.” And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, “I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself.” And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
Judges 16:15-20

For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: that the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments: and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
Psalm 78:5-8

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
Proverbs 16:9

No Sacrifice

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Many religions place importance on doing something to gain God’s favor.  Let me at the beginning just say; there is nothing you or I can do to gain God’s favor.  There is no sacrifice, there is no sacrament, there is no good deed to your neighbor or the world which will gain you or me eternal life and/or the favor of Holy God.

This very mentality is what Jesus is addressing in the following verses:

“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. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto His disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them,
“They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 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 9:10-13 (KJV)

When Jesus was ministering to the publicans (tax collectors) and sinners the religious leaders began questioning Jesus’s purpose, power, and ministry.  “What kind of man would sit with tax collectors and sinners?” they were asking themselves, and the disciples.

There is only one sacrifice which God the Father accepts; and that is the sacrifice, the death of His only begotten Son.  Still the religious; the self-righteous try to gain the favor; the grace; of God through sacrifice and sacrament.

God shows grace and mercy to the sinner who will come to Him through the cross of His Son Jesus with a repentant heart.  Through the act of repentance on the part of the sinner, trusting Christ Jesus, God clothes the sinner in the righteousness of God the Son.

You may be a righteous person today.  You cannot be saved.  Until you see yourself as the sinner your really are you will remain lost, condemned, dying, guilty, and spiritually dead.

Come to the Father through the cross of Jesus.  Sinner hear Him and be saved.  He came to save the sinner.

Change Is Possible For All

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

I remember an episode of Bonanza from years ago. It seems there was a man who had been in prison, and Ben was giving the man a chance, after getting out, and someone made the comment, “One bad apple spoils the whole bunch” to which Ben replied, “We are dealing with a man, not apples”. What ever happened to shows like this, where change is possible.

In seeing episodes of “Law and Order” and hearing comments on news shows like Fox and Friends, and them making comments such as, “Child sexual abusers cannot change” it certainly gives no hope. I must agree that left to ourselves, there is no hope. We are a depraved people.

The answers to the following questions will show how big of grace you believe God has:
1. Can God save and change a murderer?
2. Can God save and change a rapist?
3. Can God save and change a kidnapper?
4. Can God save and change a sodomite/homosexual?
5. Can God save and change a child molester?
6. Can God save and change a parent killer? (This one could fit with the first.)
7. Can God save and change a God/Christ-hater? and

8. Can God save and change you?

Now how will you answer that?

Here is the Bible’s answer –
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.    1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Notice the “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

All who come to Jesus are changed by the power of the Holy Spirit given to all who have called on Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Confession and Repentance

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.  And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.  Nehemiah 9:2-3

The people who had returned to Jerusalem, first with Ezra, and with Nehemiah a few years later had finished the task which they had came to do. Ezra’s task was to rebuild the Temple; Nehemiah’s task was to rebuild the wall.

Both of the jobs were completed. The wall had been rebuilt in 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15) and they were celebrating by reading the Law of God. People wept because of their sins. When was the last time we wept over our sins against God; and believe me they are quite numerous. These people spent a whole week in reading Scripture, hearing the word of God, and confessing and repenting of their sins.

What happened first? They separated themselves from “all strangers” that means their foreign wives and children, all alliances that had been made with foreigners, especially buying their goods on the Sabbath.

Then, they confessed their sins and the sins of their fathers who had caused them to stray away from God and led to their captivity of seventy years in Babylon.

When their sins had been dealt with then, they worshiped the Most High and Holy, Holy, Holy God.

None of this took place without the reading of God’s word and hearing it; doing it.

Confession of sin and repentance is needed by God’s people today. John the apostle wrote, “If we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).