God Forgives, Forgets

 

Isaiah 43:25

I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

FORGIVEN

WHEN WE REPENT and TURN TO HIM Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool." Psalm 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my rebellious acts; remember me according to Your loving devotion, because of Your goodness, O LORD. Romans 10:8-10 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him out from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

FORGOTTEN

Hebrews 8:12

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."

Psalm 103:12

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.Isaiah 44:22

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins: return to Me; for I have redeemed you.

A Crucified Life - - Answer's God's Call

 

    Romans 10:21

But as for Israel He says: "All the day I have stretched out My hands to a disobeying and contradicting people."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 483

Contradicting: speak against, oppose

From the Greek word 'antilegó' (pronounced an-til'-eg-o): properly, voicing opposition; to contradict, especially in a hostile (argumentative) way; to dispute in order to thwart. 

CONTRA=ANTI=AGAINST

DICTING=LEGO=SPEAKING

The Voice of Wisdom Calls to No Avail

Proverbs 1:23-27

    The Promises of God are for they whom God calls His people, the people who obey Him and follow His lead, direction, guide, Spirit. The Judgments of God are for the people who refuse to obey Him, who decline to walk in His ways, who are determined to thwart His every move. 

    Yes, God is Love. But in His love is holiness and justice. His holiness demands a holy people. A people who endeavor to obey God's Word and increase His happiness. His righteousness demands a righteous people. A people who are covered in the righteousness He gives them. 

    In the Old Testament this righteousness from God was awarded by faith in God (Hebrews 11). Faith has substance and is not just a spiritual unseen object (Hebrews 11:1) and is in itself evidence {because our first measure of faith comes from God [Romans 12:3]}. We must first believe that God is (exists) and that He is a Rewarder of them that believe (Hebrews 11:6). 

    The people who refuse to answer God's call will be judged for their refusal. Whichever darkness they clothe themselves with now will give way to the Light of God's judgment and justice on the day in which He dispenses it.

     Hear the Word of The Lord: do not be one of those people. To day is the day of salvation. Now. While you are alive in this world is your opportunity to acknowledge that GOD IS. To day is your day of redemption. As Jesus began His ministry, He preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matthew 4:17). 

    We must draw near to God through Jesus Christ, repent of our wicked ways (our selfish and self-involved desires, our willful disobedience to His Word and His commands, our trespasses against Him) and surrender our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice. 

    To draw near is to come and be close by, so close we can hear the whispering voice of God speaking to us; His breath, His Spirit, on our hearts. The only Way that is possible is through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16, John 14:6). 

    This Word is still relevant to us. After death it will be too late. The commitment to answer God's call on our lives must be made in our lifetime. 

ANSWERING GOD'S CALL 

God Be Merciful To Me - Jars of Clay

Waters - Jimi Cravity

I Claim The Blood - Ben Speer

I Know Whom I Have Believed - Redeemer Church of The Shoals

With My Hands Lifted Up - Integrity Music

There Is A Place - Nathaniel Bassey

A Crucified Life - - Reveals The Revealer

 

    Romans 10:20

And Isaiah boldly says: "I was found by those who did not seek Me: I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 

Revealed: manifest, visible

From the Greek word 'emphanés' (pronounced em-fan-ace'): comprehended. God giving proof of His saving grace.

    Isaiah 65:1 

“I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. To a nation that did not call My name, I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’"

The Bread

    In Matthew 15:21-28 we read of the Canaanite woman living in that area of Tyre and Sidon who came to Jesus begging for her daughter to be healed of demon possession. The woman asked twice, but not until she came worshiping and asked a third time did Jesus relent and heal her daughter. 

    It is just before He grants her request that we see Jesus telling her He is the Bread of Israel (v26). She responds with the desire to be fed just a crumb of this Bread. To Jesus this is great faith and so her request is granted. That's grace.

    Jesus came to the sons of Abraham, to Israel, to bring them the Bread of heaven. But they would have it not since this Bread did come to them in the way they expected Him to come: victorious, triumphant and kingly. 

    So Jesus is given to the seed of Abraham, to the children of the faith of Abraham, who 'believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness' (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3; James 2:23). 

    The Bread of Life is broken and given out to whosoever will take of It and receive It into themselves. (John 6:48, 51; 1 Corinthians 11:24). 

The Shepherd

    In Psalm 23:1 David writes that "The Lord is My Shepherd." And in John 10:11, Jesus states that He is the Good Shepherd Who has come to die for His sheep: "I am The Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." 

    All of the sheep, not just the sheep of Israel. For this Good Shepherd has come to seek and to save the lost, of which I was one. (Ezekiel 34:12; Matthew 18:11; Luke 19:10; 1 Timothy 1:15). 

    The hymnist writes, "I once was lost but now I'm found" in the classic Amazing Grace. Look not on the foibles of the man who wrote it, but look on the grace which God laid on him when He found him where He found him. 

    For God finds us that we may be saved by Him from that which will surely destroy us if we refuse such Grace and Salvation from Him! Hear the Word of The Lord: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17). That's saving grace. 

I'M FOUND

I Found God - Ben Laine

My Portion - Isla Vista

Shepherd of My Soul - Rivers & Robots

Made For Jesus - John Mark Pantana

Amazing Grace - Alan Jackson

Belong To You - Here Be Lions

    

A Crucified Life - - Is Justified

 

    Romans 10:10

For with your heart 

you Believe and Justified, 

and with your mouth 

you Confess and are Saved.

    *Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1343

Justified: righteousness, justice; judicial verdict

From the Greek word 'dikaiosuné' (pronounced dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay): refers to what is deemed right by the Lord after He examines a person; what receives official approval from God; divine righteousness

    Also from Strong's: "the state acceptable to God which becomes a sinner's possession through that faith by which he embraces the grace of God offered him in the expiatory death of Jesus Christ". 

JUSTIFICATION FOR ALL

    This justification is not available through other means or religions. There is only one God and there is only one way to live in heaven with Him. This verse expounds a little more clearly on what is necessary to fulfill God's desire for us to be with Him in eternity.  

    There are only two destinations after death: heaven and hell. While God created both of them,  only one destination was intended for people: heaven. But people choose to go to hell when they disbelieve God while they are alive. One must believe not only that God Is, but that God sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross and walk out of the grave, defeating death (by rising) and hell (throwing off the weight of sin). 

    Because Christ lives, those people who believe that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son will live again, too. For we are in Christ and He is in us. Where He goes, we go. What He did, we do. What He says, we say. We form no opinions of our own unless we can back them up with the whole Word of God. 

    As this verse says, with our HEARTS we Believe and are Justified. And with our MOUTHS we Confess and are Saved. Our hearts are changed for the better when we believe that Jesus is God's only begotten Son. However, we must speak our beliefs aloud at the time we believe for the saving grace of God to take effect. 

INDIVIDUAL JUSTIFICATION

    I can pray for you. And I do. But there comes a point in every person's life when they must pray for themselves. I can talk to God about your salvation, but unless you do the same, it's not gonna happen. We all, on an individual basis, must come to the cross, see Jesus and decide for ourselves whether or not we will accept Him as the Christ, the only begotten Son of God. It's the most important decision any of us will ever make.

    Remember the centurion who came near the cross where Jesus hung. Perhaps that centurion had heard Jesus' teachings, but he surely heard the whispers and gossip of Who this Man was on the cross. He had received orders to pierce His side, to ensure that Jesus was truly dead. Which the centurion did. But he also came to the understanding that this Man hanging on the cross was the Christ, the Messiah. 

    How many of us see Jesus? Untold numbers have come to the cross with repentant hearts, seeking forgiveness for their sins and receiving it, because they believed in their hearts that Jesus died for them, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven where He is seated at God's right hand. Yet we know that our numbers are few, that only a fraction of this world's past, present and future populations have recognized their need for a Savior. 

    Many, many more, too many to number have turned their  backs on the God who created them. Turning to the darkness and embracing its secrets and evils instead of turning to the Light and embracing Its Love and Hope. 

    So we beg you, we implore you, if you have not done so already, Come to the Cross and see Jesus. Come to the Well and drink the Living Water of Life. Come to the Garden and see the empty tomb. Come to the Table and taste the Bread of Life. Let Him fill your cup with Himself and let it overflow. 

    Jesus tells us that "they who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness will be filled" in one of His most famous sermons. Have you had enough of this world's fakeness? Come to Jesus, for He is Truth. Do you find yourself hungering for something you can only find at the cross? Come nearer to see Him clearly. Come today, for there is only now: tomorrow is promised to no one. 

JUSTIFIED & SAVED

I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary - Gaither Vocal Band

You Say - Lauren Daigle

God Be Merciful To Me - Jars of Clay

Near The Cross - Shirley Willis

I Found God - Ben Laine

Awe of You - CAIN

Overcomer - Eddie James

Praise God I'm Free - Various Artists

Heart & Soul - - God's People

 

Psalm 7:9

Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 7451

Wickedness: badness, evilness, adversity

From the Hebrew word 'ra'' (pronounced rah).

REPENTANT PEOPLE

    In this part of David's prayer, he prays for the end of sin in his own heart and in others' hearts. He prays, "Let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end."       Here, too, the Christian desires the same thing: I turn my heart and my face to You, Lord. I turn my back on the unlawful things I have done and I commit to obeying Your Word and following Your ways. I repent of the wickedness of my heart and ask that You remain in me and clean Your tabernacle, that I might be made presentable to God. 

    "We pray that adversity towards God be overthrown and that our hearts be made clean and pure for His Name's sake. We determine in our hearts and our minds to be steadfast and sure, not moving from our foundation of faith in God through Christ."

ESTABLISHED PEOPLE

    David asks that God establish the just, that He build a firm immovable foundation in the believer. The deeper we dig into the Word of God, the longer and deeper our roots will be. As oaks of righteousness (Isaiah 61:3) we need to know this. We are the planted of The Lord. We plant (read and study our Bibles) ourselves in His Word and He plants (John 15:4, 5) His Word in us. 

    Being both planted in Him and built up in Him we are stronger than many of us realize. Just before The Lord ascended into heaven, He gave instructions  to His disciples (and to us):

Matthew 28:18-20

Mark 16:15-18

Luke 24:45-49

John 20:21-23

Acts 1:8

    Being planted in Christ through His death and His resurrection, we are now being built up in Him through the power of His Holy Spirit. As long as we trust God and obey His Word and live a holy life, we will see God and remain with HIm when we die. God is holy. His holiness demands a holy people, for sin cannot be present where God is. 

    1 Peter 2:9 tells us that as believers, as God's people, we are not like the people of the world, the people who still live in darkness. We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people. The chosen generation is the generation of they who seek Him (Psalm 24:1-6). 

    He has called us to be His royal priests. We are a holy nation. Though we are to pray for the leaders who rule over us in this world, that they may be saved and sanctified, our allegiance is to our God. His laws are higher than men's laws. When the law of the land is lawlessness, the law of God must still be obeyed. Know you that we are living under such laws even now? It's only going to get worse.

PECULIAR PEOPLE

    We are a peculiar people. Strange. Odd. Weird. To many people God's people are foolish. Why? We believe God. It is more than believing God's existence, it is believing God's Word is Real, Faithful, Truth. It is a knowing and an understanding. 

    But to the people who live outside of God's reality we are unusual. And so we should be. We should shine as lights in a dark world, shining with the light of God's love bursting through us. Radiance lights up our faces from the Joy that is within us: the love of God in Christ which we received when we believed. 

    For "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world that He might shame the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world that He might shame the strong." (1 Corinthians 1:27). To quite a few folks, God's plan of salvation is foolishness. Unable to recognize their own sin they refuse to believe that God's Son would die in such a shameful manner, if they even believe that God has a Son. 

POWERFUL PEOPLE

    We are fools for Christ, as Paul says to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 4:10). We choose to live in obedience to God's Word and God's commands. We choose to share Christ, the Light of God's Love, with everyone whom God places in our path. We choose to live a life that glorifies God. 

    And we are able to do these things because Christ is our foundation, the Chief Cornerstone upon Whom our lives are built. We are trees whose roots are planted near a living flowing water, and whose strength is in Him. We are the established of God. And we have overcome the wickedness of this world.

    Unless a person is a born again, Spirit-filled believer they will not be able to fully and faithfully serve God in the way in which He has ordained His people to serve Him. Every organization, whether small like a club or large like a nation, must have a set of rules by which to live in peace. So it is with God. He has set up the ways in which His people should walk, should live, should serve. 

    It takes an immense amount of power to live God's way. This power is only available from God and it is in the form of His Spirit living and moving through His people by faith. If you don't have His Holy Spirit, just ask God for it. He knows what we need and He's waiting for us to ask because He's not a pushy overbearing God who rams His way into people's hearts and lives. He's a patient (longsuffering) God who waits to hear from us. 

    Now is the time to talk with God. And remember, a conversation is a two way street, not a monologue. 

     

GOD'S PEOPLE 

Guard Your Heart - - Hear The Word of The Lord

 

Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2377

Vision: divine communication in a vision, oracle, prophecy; a mental sight, a dream, revelation

From the Hebrew word 'chazon' (pronounced khaw-zone'). 

FALSE VISIONS

    An architect can have a vision and build a beautiful structure. But unless it glorifies God it is built for nothing. A painter can have a vision and paint beautiful works of art. But unless these works glorify God, they are merely ornamental and have no value. 

    Rulers and governmental leaders can have visions of how they want to rule, but unless their vision came from God and they received a special anointing to rule thus and so, their visions will fail and they will be destroyed. For their visions, their dreams, came from their own hearts. But their hearts were false and deceitful. A kingdom, a nation, built on self-glorification will always fall.

DIVINE VISIONS

    The visions from God not only come to pass, they stand as a testimony to God's power, God's glory, God's name. What God says will happen, will always happen, regardless of how long it takes time-wise for the vision to be accomplished.

Habakkuk 2:2, 3

2. Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.

3. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

VISIONARIES

Where The Vision of The Lord is, The Voice of The Lord is Heard.

    Daniel had many visions, but there was a special vision God gave him. Not only could he interpret dreams, but God gave him a vision of the end times, the last days before Christ's third return, the days of wrath; and Daniel knew those days would be fearful days in which to live. Daniel 7, 10-12.

    The Book of Isaiah begins with a prophecy (Isaiah 1:1). Beginning in chapter two we read that Isaiah  tells us of the last days: "In that day...". But then in Isaiah 6:

    Isaiah had a vision: he saw The LORD high and lifted up. In his vision he saw God in all his glory with seraphim worshiping Him; he knew he was unclean and unworthy. But God called him in this vision to serve Him and made Isaiah clean and worthy.  

      Ezekiel 1 begins with a vision. Daniel's visions don't begin until after he was imprisoned with the lions for treason. Obadiah begins with a vision. Nahum begins with a vision. Habakkuk had a burden, an oracle. 

    Where The Word of the Lord is heard, there the prophecy is begun to be revealed. "And the Word of the Lord came to...." : Jeremiah 1:2; Ezekiel 1:3; Hosea 1:2; Joel 1:1; Jonah 1:1; Micah 1:1; Zephaniah 1:1; Haggai 1:1; Zechariah 1:1; Malachi 1:1. 

    With Amos and Obadiah, it was "Thus sayeth the Lord". Yet, it was still a vision for the seeing and an oracle for the hearing of The Word of The Lord. 

HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD

    Visions are given to warn people to change their ways and return to The Lord God; to warn people of the hardships coming their way, to be prepared to suffer God's wrath if they refuse to obey His Word. Visions are given to and The Word of The Lord is spoken by His messengers. In the Old Testament books, these messengers were prophets and priests who loved The Lord their God and who earnestly sought Him. To them God sent His Word, and gave them spiritual sight to see what He wanted to show them.

    Where are the prophets today? To whom does The Word of The Lord speak? Not just anyone and definitely not everyone. The Lord says His people should humble themselves and call upon His Name. The Word of The Lord is still being spoken but now, as then, many who call themselves God's people are not listening to The Word of The Lord. Many are not turning from their wicked ways. Many are foolish and have turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to The Word of The Lord.

    Hear now The Word of The Lord and repent. For the days are short. The hour is coming when The King will return for His church, His people, His bride. Repent and be baptized in the Name of The Lord. Turn from your wicked ways, turn from doing things your way and do things God's way. Seek His face and you will find Him, for The Lord Is Near to the broken hearted. 

    For His Way is Holy and He desires a holy people. Ask for His Holy Spirit to fill you with divine power: power to live a holy life, a life that honors God, the God above all other gods; The Righteous God, The Just and The Holy God. The God who loves you and desires your love in return. 

    See what great things The God of heaven has done for us. Breathe His air. Touch the hem of His garment and be healed. Drink The Living Water He has drawn for you from the Fountain of Life. Taste His Manna, His Bread, which was broken for you. Repent and receive and be restored the relationship which God desires to have with you. Now, before it's too late. And all of your chances to change and be changed have vanished. 

Jesus, Be The Centre - Vineyard

I Can't Get Away - Melissa Helser

The Worth of Knowing You - Austin Bratton

Help Me To See You - CityBridge Worship

 

Judgment Begins Here

 1 Peter 4:17 "For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?" 

 Luke 12:47 "That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows." 

James 4:17 "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." 

Stop gossiping about sin being judged in other churches and start praying about it,  about your own church, your own self. Seek forgiveness for our own sins against God. The time is coming and even now is here when we must prepare for the coming storm of fire and judgment against those who have heard the Word and done nothing with it: not believed it, not accepted Christ as Lord, not acted upon the hearing of the Word. Even in our churches. 

We, the believers, are responsible for what we believe. We are responsible for first living the gospel, then sharing the gospel with everyone we are led to. We are responsible for being faithful witnesses, ambassadors for Christ. 

We, the believers, are accountable for the words we speak. These words must be spoken in the love of Jesus Christ, with the power of the Holy Spirit leading us, guiding us. These words must be used to encourage and lift up those around us, even in rebuke, love must be present. Even in discipline, words of love must accompany the actions taken. 

We are accountable for the words we don't speak. There are times we must remain silent, even as our Lord and Savior remained silent before Pilate. He didn't bite his tongue, nor did He fight any urges to speak in His defense: He merely remained silent before him who was judging Him. 

We, the believers, will be judged by God for our lack and our sloth. Our lack of compassion for they who are lost in sin and dying without Christ when we could have spoken up but chose not to. Our sloth, our unwillingness to serve in the fields to which we have been sent to work, will be judged by God. 

We who believe had better fall to our knees and repent now before we are called to judgment and held accountable for our actions/inactions and words/silence. Even me. 

The Repentant Heart

 

REPENTANT HEART

Psalm 25:17-18

The troubles of my heart increase; free me from my distress.

Consider my affliction and trouble, and take away all my sins.

The Spirit of God is evident in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament, for it is the Spirit of God that convicts a person of the sins in their heart. It is the hardened heart, the heart which refuses to acknowledge the Holy God and God's Holy Word, that turns away from God. Only the repentant heart listens to the Holy Spirit of God and turns to Him in distress, seeking forgiveness and mercy.  

It is the Spirit of God who turns a sinner's heart to God. It is the Spirit of God who leads a person to see God and God's Son. It is the transformative power of God by His Holy Spirit through His Holy Son which changes the heart of the sinner into the heart of the redeemed. This is amazing Grace. 

Listen to that Spirit and turn to God this day. 

At The Remembrance of His Holy Name

 

 AT THE REMEMBRANCE OF HIS HOLY NAME

Psalm 30:4

Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

Have you forgotten Who the LORD your GOD is? He Is The ALMIGHTY GOD. He Is The Great I AM. He Is The CREATOR OF EARTH AND THE UNIVERSE and everything in them. He Is HOLY and His Name Is HOLY.

HE IS.

He Is REDEEMER, SAVIOR, HEALER.

He Is JOYBRINGER, HEARTBREAKER, TEARWIPER. He Is SINGER, SONG, MUSICMAKER.

HE IS.

He Is all of this and so much more. Come, come to the cross and see the One Whom God has Chosen to Save your souls from destruction.

Come, hurry, let us run to the cross and see this JESUS. 

• THE LORD ALMIGHTY - 2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 4:8
• I AM THAT I AM - Exodus 3:14
• CREATOR - Exodus 20:11; Acts 4:24; Nehemiah 9:6 
• HOLY - Psalm 111:9; Luke 1:49; 1 Chronicles 16:10
• REDEEMER - Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 43:1; 
• SAVIOR - Isaiah 33:22; Matthew 1:21; Acts 4:12
• HEALER - Exodus 15:26; Ezekiel 47:8-10 (cf. Matthew 13:47, 4:19, John 21:6;  Jeremiah 30:17
• JOYBRINGER - Zephaniah 3:17
• HEARTBREAKER - Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 44:7; Jeremiah 24:7
• TEARWIPER - Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 21:4
• SINGER - Zephaniah 3:17
• SONG - Exodus 15:2; Psalm 118:17
• MUSICMAKER - 2 Chronicles 7:6; 2 Chronicles 5:12-13
• THE ONE WHOM GOD HAS CHOSEN - John 3:16

And why must we hurry? 2 Corinthians 6:2  For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. (NLT)

Tomorrow is not promised; there is only today. And the days are shortened, time is getting away from us. So hurry, hurry to the cross and repent of your sins, turn away from the wicked devices of the heart and surrender yourselves to God through Christ. Come and receive forgiveness through the blood which Christ has shed to wash away sins ( as if they never were for God not only forgives sin but Forgets sin). 

Come, and believe that this Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son who died to make you free and bring you with Him to the place which He has prepared for you, where He lives and reigns with His Father. 

Come, let us go; let us go now. Hurry, hurry; before He leaves without us. Let us go and see Jesus in the garden, for He conquered death, hell and the grave. See the keys in His hand? Come, let us seek Him out, let us follow Him wherever He may go. Hurry, hurry.