Archive for the ‘Mercy’ Category
Twelve Things You MUST Know!
It’s Not Where You’ve Been…
It’s Where You’re Going!
The Prodigal Son
It’s Not What You Were…
It’s What You Are Now!
1 Cor. 6:11 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.
It’s Not That You’ve Sinned…
It’s That Your Sins Are Forgiven!
Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom. 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom. 3:25 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;
It’s Not What Others Say…
It’s What God Says!
Rom. 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
It’s Not What You’ve Left…
It’s What You’re Receiving!
Mark 10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
Mark 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
Mark 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
It’s Not Just That You Speak In Tongues…
It’s That You Show Love To Everyone!
1 Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
It’s Not How Fast You Run…
It’s That You Finish The Race!
Eccl. 9:11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift,
Matt. 10:22 …but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
It’s Not That You Are A Servant Of God…
It’s That You Are Found Faithful!
Matt. 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
It’s Not That You Know…
It’s That You Do!
Jas. 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Jas. 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
It’s Not Just That You’re Living Holy…
It’s That You’re Ready For His Coming!
The Ten Virgins
It’s Not That You Believe…
It’s That You Receive!
Acts 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Acts 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
It’s Not That You Possess Spiritual Gifts…
It’s That You Have A Relationship With God!
Matt. 7:21 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.
Matt. 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Matt. 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
All He Ever Wanted, Was Someone To Love Him
All He Ever Wanted, Was Someone To Love Him
Proverbs 30:18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
Proverbs 30:19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
He had it all.
Actually, He had everything.
Well, He had everything, except one thing.
He had no one to love Him.
He had Angels who praised Him continuously.
He had Angels who did His bidding without question.
But He had no one to love Him.
He had no one to dote on Him.
He had received honor before.
He had received praise before.
But He had never been loved before.
He had never seen love demonstrated.
He had never seen love displayed.
He had never seen love expressed or shown.
He had never seen romance before.
He understood things like physics, gravity, light, sound, space travel and how to make something out of nothing.
He understood emotions like rebellion, pride, and obedience.
He just wanted to know more about this thing called love.
He had always heard over 10,000 Hallelujahs at any given moment of every day.
He heard multitudes cry “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty” every day.
What He’d never heard was someone say, “I love you!”
He knew the journey to finding love would be very long.
He had seen twinkles in stars before, but never in an eye.
His plan already included man, Calvary, and the Church.
He was prepared to do whatever it took to get a bride.
He wanted to find someone to love Him.
He spoke and the heavens and the earth came into existence.
By His own words, the sun, moon, and stars were created and flung perfectly into space.
By His own voice, the light was created, flowers and trees sprung up.
He said the words, and fish, birds, and animals appeared.
He looked it all over and said. “That’s good.”
Then He stopped talking.
Adam And Eve
He knelt down on the ground and with His hands, he began to form someone He could love. He called the man, Adam. The woman was named Eve.
He loved them. He visited every day. They walked and talked together every day without distraction.
He watched Adam and Eve smile at one another. He saw how Adam responded to Eve’s touch and Eve to Adam’s.
He watched them hold hands and kiss.
He liked what He saw. He saw the twinkle in Adam’s eye. He saw romance in its purest form.
He tried to imagine a mere mortal loving Him.
His mind raced ahead thousands of years. He thought of Himself and the Church. He pondered about His bride-to-be. “So… this is what it’s going to be like to be in love!”
He’d never been in love before. He saw Adam and Eve enjoying each other’s company. He told Himself, “That’s the kind of love I want. That’s the kind of romance I want.”
He so enjoyed being with Adam and Eve, that He turned His attention from the sounds of “Hallelujah” and “Holy-Holy” for a few hours every day just to come and see them.
He had no competition in the love department on earth. Maybe they would fall in love with Him.
Then came the heart-wrenching day when the evil serpent beguiled Eve. Sin, the enemy of the Most Holy One entered the picture. Paradise was no more.
Pain, sorrow, shame, and regret now entered the picture. The hope of Adam and Eve continuing their relationship with Him was over. Sin did it’s best to destroy that relationship.
They chose to listen to the voice of His enemy rather than listen to His voice.
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
Enoch
Seven generations later, a man was born by the name of Enoch. He heard his father and grandfather talk about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He heard the stories about God walking with them in the cool of the day.
Enoch began to imagine what it would be like to have God for a friend. That seemed to be all he could think about.
He inquired often of his family, asking them many questions, hoping to hear more stories about those precious days. He even got to talk to Adam himself and listened intently. He dreamed of having a similar experience with God.
One day Enoch started calling on the Lord as he walked. He began talking to God as if He was beside him. The Lord did appear beside him and they began walking together and talking together every day.
Enoch was perfect in God’s eyes. His love thrilled the Lord. This was true love. Here was someone who chose to love Him, who took time out of their day and focused only on Him.
They walked and talked together every day for years. Then one day while they were walking, the sun started going down.
The Lord noticed it too. He also knew it was a long way back to Enoch’s house. So He said, “Enoch, it’s closer to my house than it is to yours. Why don’t you come on home with me?” Enoch said, “Yes.”
“And Enoch was not, for the Lord took him.”
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
Israel
He looked the world over and His eyes fell upon her. He could really love her. Her father was a Hittite and her mother was an Amorite. But He didn’t hold that against her.
He stood there looking at her, watching her. She was beautiful to Him.
She had no family, no one to look after her. There was no one else that loved her.
She was unwanted and unloved by everyone else in the world. She was considered second class and discarded by those who knew her.
- She wasn’t beautiful, but He loved her.
- She wasn’t rich, but He loved her.
- She wasn’t mighty, but He loved her.
- She wasn’t even faithful, but He loved her.
He, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the First and the Last, The Lord God Almighty tried vainly to woo her. He did everything He could to show her He could supply her every need.
He was the richest Man in the world and of all the people in the world; He chose her, the poorest of all. He alone could make her prosper. She wasn’t impressed for long.
He showed her things about Himself that no one else had ever known. He gave her some names she could call Him by that would reveal His protecting love for her.
- Jehovah Jireh – The Lord will Provide.
- Jehovah Rapha – The Lord our Healer.
- Jehovah Nissi – The Lord our Banner
- Jehovah Shalom – The Lord our Peace
- Jehovah Raah – The Lord our Shepherd
- Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord our Righteousness
- Jehovah Shammah – The Lord is Present
When she got sick, He made sure she got well. When she was hungry, He provided food for her and took care of her every need.
He loved her, and yet she wasn’t happy with Him. Her heart easily turned aside. She often looked at others the way He wished she would look at Him. It grieved Him continually.
While still on their honeymoon, problems arose. They hadn’t been gone from Egypt a month and things turned ugly. Before He could even get her to the Promised Land and the home He had given her, she showed her unhappiness.
He talked with Moses about His plans for her and gave him detailed instructions.
But before Moses could talk to her she started looking at someone else. She began to dress to please them. She brazenly displayed her disdain for His wishes.
- She murmured.
- She complained.
- She rebelled.
- She flaunted herself in front of others.
- She became brazen.
- She couldn’t even blush.
It broke His heart. Yet He fought for her when everyone tried to kill her. He supplied her every need. He cared for her more than she cared for Him.
He still loved her. He sent her letters, but she ignored them. Even after she got settled in her new home, she started looking for other lovers.
She played the harlot and was unfaithful to Him. She only dressed to please Him if she was in the mood. She often saw others that attracted her and she dressed and displayed herself in a way to please them. She longed for their affections, not His.
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
Hosea
No one seemed to care how He felt. He had no one to share His pain and problems with.
In His Divine Heartache, He looked upon His prophet, Hosea. Hosea was unmarried.
He told Hosea to marry a woman who stood on the street corners at night. “Just go pick a prostitute, anyone will do.”
He wanted someone to feel like He felt, every day.
He wanted to see again how mere mortals handled rejection from those they loved.
Hosea found such a girl. Her name was Gomer. Everyone in town knew Hosea. They were shocked at his choice of a wife. In their minds she was trash.
- She had dirtied herself.
- She had lowered herself.
- She had ruined her name.
- She would destroy their marriage.
- Of all the girls, why pick her?
The romance burned brightly and then quickly faded. The Lord watched how their love life went.
He watched Gomer sweeten his coffee with her kisses and then walk out the door disappearing for long periods of time.
Then came the babies. Their very names carried not only a prophecy to Israel but also a wake-up call to Hosea about his two-timing wife.
Jezreel, “God will disperse”
Lo-ruhamah, “Not pitied, or No Mercy”
Lo-ammi, “Not my people”
Hosea could tell by the names he named his children that he was not their father.
Gomer eventually got so involved in her wild lifestyle that she was overpowered and put into slavery by one of her lovers. She later was placed on an auction block and sold like a farm animal.
Hosea got word that his wife was being sold. He knew what she was and what she had done. But he loved her in spite of it all.
Anyone can tell by what he paid for her, that he gave all the money he had and emptied out his meager pantry besides. He gave his all to buy her back. He paid fifteen pieces of silver, and 1½ homers of barley.
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
The Lord watched as Hosea gave all he had to buy his unfaithful wife back.
He turned his attention again to Israel. She wasn’t on an auction block. She wasn’t held against her will. She was happy to be unfaithful.
So He wrote her a bill of divorcement and He didn’t talk to her for 400 years.
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
Calvary
One day, He finally stepped into His closet and clothed Himself in a robe of flesh. He was born in Bethlehem to a young virgin.
He chose not to arrive in splendor, so He came to earth in obscurity. He came as God manifested in the flesh. He walked almost unnoticed around her.
He didn’t make Himself handsome so that she would love Him for His good looks. He wanted her to love Him for who He was, not what He looked like.
But He came unto His own and His own received Him not. They didn’t believe Him.
- He wept.
- His love was everlasting. Her love was fickle.
- She tried to find fault with Him. She only followed Him for what He could give them.
- He wanted to talk.
- She was too busy, too preoccupied.
He said to her, “You say you love Me, but you say that only with your lips. It’s just words. Your heart is far from Me. You don’t love Me with your heart.”
He saw her as she really was. A slave. She was in bondage and held fast by her own sins.
He knew He was the only One who could redeem her.
He willingly offered Himself on Calvary for Her. He willingly gave His all to buy her back. He gave His blood to wash away her sins and He arose on the third day to give her hope of a new life.
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
The Church
Over 2,000 years have come and gone. He’s ready now to take His bride to a home He has prepared just for her.
He wanted someone who would love Him enough to heed all of His Word. After all, if she really loved Him, she would keep His commandments. Not pick and choose which ones she liked. He was in love, why wasn’t she?
Yet He sees her still looking at the world. Sometimes she tries harder to please her other lovers than she does Him.
She has started complaining again if she thinks He’s asking her to dress a certain way just for Him. She doesn’t always act like she is in love with Him.
She says, “He doesn’t care how I dress. He doesn’t look on the outside. He only looks on the inside, on the heart.”
But when He looked in her heart, He saw nothing there that looked like love to Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- She dreads talking to Him on a daily basis. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- She doesn’t think about Him during the course of the day. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- Yet she talks freely to everyone else but Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- All she seems to want is a sugar daddy. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- She has to be begged to visit His house. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- He blesses her with money and yet she is not faithful to give her tithe to Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- He sends blessings her way and loads her down daily with benefits. She soon forgets. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- He sends healing to her every situation. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- He calms her storms of life. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- She has all the songs memorized and sings them without feeling. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- She hears His Word preached and chooses which parts she likes and doesn’t like. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- He says He’s coming to get her and she’s not even looking out the window for Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- He says He is coming to get and to take her to heaven with Him, and she is not even making herself ready. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
- He knew it would happen this way.
- A long time ago He said that she would love pleasure more than she loved Him.
- He said that her love would wax cold.
- He said she would leave her 1st love.
- And He was right.
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
You
- Do you love Him? I mean, do you really love Him? Do you love Him with all of your heart? He wants to know.
- He wants to know if you love another. Do you?
- He wants to know if your heart belongs only to Him or not. Does it?
- He’s looking for a bride that will love Him with all of her heart, her soul her mind, and her strength.
- Could that person be you? He’s looking your way right now. He wants it to be you.
All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.
Just An Old Nickel
Just An Old Nickel
A distinguished and nice looking gentleman walked up to me in the church foyer after service yesterday. The last day of the Men’s Conference was over. I had watched him during the meetings. He sat on the front every day and entered into the worship service with all his heart. He had seemed to beam with pride as he watched his son lead the men in singing.
“I have something I want to show you!” He said after shaking my hand.
Reaching down into the front pocket of his suit pants, he pulled out some change. In his palm were two quarters, a dime, three pennies and a nickel. He placed the nickel in his other hand and returned the remaining change to his pocket.
“See this old nickel?” He asked while looking at me with tear filled eyes.
I looked down at the nickel again seeing nothing strange or spectacular about the coin. The date was not visible from my viewpoint, but I could tell it was an older coin and tarnished somewhat from exposure and wear.
“This is me!” The words came out while he struggled to keep his composure with tears streaming down his face. His neatly combed white hair making him look like a lawyer or senator.
“I picked this nickel up this morning out of the dirt. That’s where I was when God found me. I was in the dirt. I had no value in the dirt; I was of no value to anyone. I was just that one lost coin.
By now, both of us were looking at each other through the tears. “There was a day,” he went on to say, “when I could walk into any high stakes card game anywhere in the world, and the amateurs would fold or leave the table. The professionals knew they were going to lose. No matter the game I would win. It didn’t make any difference if it was cards, gambling, or shooting pool. You name it. They couldn’t beat me. Everyone knew my name and they hated to see me.
“I was living in the dirt just like this old nickel. Every time I even see a penny on the ground I pick it up. It reminds me of where I was when God found me and how he picked me up.
We both looked down at the nickel again. This time I viewed it with a different understanding.
“Brother, may I have this nickel?” I asked as I placed my upturned palm beside his. I will always treasure it!” I continued.
He smiled and placed it in my palm and I hugged his neck in thanks, because I too was once a lost coin.
Mercy Has No Memory
Mercy Has No Memory
The two young women walked happily down the busy sidewalk carrying several shopping bags. They took great pains looking into every store window, expecting to find another bargain.
They had been best friends since they were little girls. They chatted and laughed as they walked, the conversation was light-hearted. That’s when they saw her! They both recognized her immediately and hurried to greet her.
The woman they saw was standing on the corner carefully watching everyone scurrying by. She was a lovely mature woman who smiled sweetly at everyone who acknowledged her, waving back to those who had waved at her in recognition.
Almost stammering, the first young woman nearly ran up to her, put her bags down on the sidewalk preparing for a hug from the older woman. Her hug was returned with great warmth.
Smiling and with tear filled eyes, the younger woman said, “Oh, I want to thank you Mercy, for all you have done for me and for giving me another chance. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for you!
The woman she called, Mercy, smiled back with a blank smile. She showed no sign of remembering what the girl was talking about.
“Don’t you know who I am, Mercy?” She asked desperately.
Mercy responded with a tighter hug. “Certainly I do darling. I know who you are indeed but I am sorry, I just don’t recall the things you are thanking me for.”
The young woman was shaken by Mercy’s response. She turned to her young friend with wide eyes, hoping for an answer. The friend came closer, put her arm around her for comfort while she smiled graciously at Mercy.
Leaning close to her friend’s ear she said softly, “The reason she didn’t respond like you wanted her too is because Mercy has no memory!” She remembers you, but not what you did.
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
Heb. 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb. 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Things You Won’t Fix
Things You Won’t Fix
Isn’t it amazing how we can allow ourselves to live with situations that are not normal? Not only do we live with it, but also we ignore it, saying that when we get the time we’ll fix it. Like remodel your home, if you want to remodel your garden you can click here to check the best metal parts.
There are always things to fix at home, you may need to remodel some part of the house like design planning, roof fixing, foundation problems, electrical or water issues that are the most common around the house, some people like to remodel or change the design, maybe repainting some walls, so they even go online to read paint reviews and find the best paint that work for their specific neeeds. This are more specific so you might need professional help like this great company that works everything for you in https://wholehousewaterfiltrationsystem.com/california where you can find advise and help to to fix your water system and they even apply water filtration and treatment systems to purify and have more healthy water. Other important things are the plumbing, HVAC duct-work and structural carpentry.
Things Like:
- A leaky faucet.
- The cracked storm window.
- Some partially finished remodeling job.
- Your leaky roof.
- The broken back doorstep.
- Missing basement handrail.
- A button missing from a sport coat.
- That rotten tooth that needs pulled?
- The broken HVAC, you should find the best heating repair contractor in http://performancebasedheatingandair.com/
We Mention It, Say We Need To Do It, But Let It Go Another Year.
- The things you don’t fix will fix you.
- It WILL put you in a fix.
- Is the cost of not fixing it cheaper than fixing it? No! Never.
- Aren’t there some things your wife has asked you to fix six months ago and you still haven’t gotten around to it?
- If you don’t fix your car, you’ll put it up on blocks and it will sit as an eyesore for years out in the front yard. Everyone will know you by that landmark.
- The leaky faucet will raise your water bill.
- The leaky roof will cost you thousands to fix because you let it go.
- The tooth will give you more pain than you could imagine.
- When a house is not fixed we say they just let the place go.
- There are just some things you won’t fix.
King Solomon Marveled At Men Who Procrastinated During The Harvest.
- Prov. 24:30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
- Prov. 24:31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
- Prov. 24:32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
Common Phrases Are Used In Regards To One’s Personal Appearance.
- “She fixed herself up.”
- “He let himself go”
When We Do Not Do Something Immediately, We Call It Procrastination.
The closest word to procrastination in the Bible is, sluggard. We are repulsed by even the thought of being called a sluggard.
The sluggard is a procrastinator. His motto is, “Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow.” Sluggards have developed the ability to put off starting a task as well as not completing those they have already begun.
The sluggard rationalizes everything and his mind works much faster than his body. He will always quickly find an excuse not to.
- I don’t have the time
- I don’t have the tools
- I don’t have the know-how
- I don’t have the desire
- I don’t feel in the mood
- I got a lot of irons in the fire
- I have a headache
There Are Those Who Never Fix Themselves Spiritually. They Just Let Themselves Go.
Are There Some Things In Our Hearts That We Won’t Fix?
- A bad attitude?
- A bad habit?
- No prayer life?
- No worship?
- Not honoring God with our tithes?
- Broken family relationships?
- Bridges we need to build?
- Restoring an offended brother?
- Not saying I’m sorry, forgive me?
Be Reconciled To Your Brother Before To Expect God To Hear You.
- Matt 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
- Matt 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Need To Fix Your Back Tithe Problem?
- It will cost you heavily if you do not fix the problem areas of your soul.
- It will cost you 20% additional if you do not stay current with your tithing. The longer you wait the more it will cost you.
- Lev 27:31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
When You Don’t Fix It, Then It’s Becomes Sin!
- Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
- We like to use the word procrastinate, but that word is not in the Bible. A sluggard is what the Scripture calls us.
- In the natural, your procrastination qualifies you as a sluggard.
- In the spiritual, the Bible just calls you a sinner.
- Spiritually, our pride keeps us from fixing some things.
There Are Things You Won’t Fix, Why?
- You know you need the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues.
- You know you need to be baptized in Jesus name to be saved.
- You know you need to be faithful to church.
- You know you need to worship.
- You know you need to pay tithes.
- You know you need to live a holy and separated life.
- You know you need to be reconciled to your brother.
Jesus Called The Scribes And Pharisees, Hypocrites.
- Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
- They only fixed the part men could see.
- Hypocrites won’t fix what really needs to be fixed.
There Are Men In The Bible Who Never Fixed What Was Wrong In Their Life.
Agrippa Almost Got Right With God.
- Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
- He never fixed it.
Felix Knew What He Needed To Do, But The Timing Wasn’t Right.
- Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
- He never fixed it.
The Rich Young Ruler Thought It Cost Too Much To Follow Jesus.
- Matt. 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
- He never fixed it.
When It Comes To Fixing, Some Things God Has Put A Time Limit On.
- Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
- God’s curfew for anger is sunset. Fix your disagreements before the sun goes down. That’s God’s requirement.
- Fix it.
The Four Lepers Fixed It
- 2Ki 7:3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
- They fixed it!
Jacob Had A Problem But He Fixed It When He Wrestled With The Angel
- Gen 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
- He fixed it!
The Prodigal Son
- Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
- Luke 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
- He fixed it!
The History of Obligatory Archery Practice!
The references to horses, riders, kingdoms and battles in “For want of a nail” indicate the English origins of the rhyme. One of the English Kings did not leave anything to chance! In 1363, to ensure the continued safety of the realm, King Edward III commanded the obligatory practice of archery on Sundays and holidays! The earliest known written version of the rhyme is in John Gower’s “Confesio Amantis” dated approximately 1390.
“For Want Of A Nail”
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
Are there are things God has asked you to fix and you still haven’t gotten around to it?
Why would you expect God to fix things for you that you’re not willing to fix for yourself?
Have you got a loose or lost nail in your life?
Please fix it.
Yes, Fix It Now!
The Storm Painter
The Storm Painter
The painter of the storm had a mission. He had painted many a dark sky with thunderclouds before, but from a distance. He had painted the storms from the shore in the shelter of his studio where he was safe from all the elements of destruction. Today would be different. Artist Joseph Turner chose to view this storm outside his comfort zone.
He wished to paint what a storm looked like to him from the inside. This wasn’t to be just any April Showers moment. This storm would be a major blizzard, a rogue storm. Yet not just a bad snowstorm, but a snowstorm at sea. He wanted to view the storm from a boat while the waves threatened to sink his ship.
The seas were tumultuous, the waves high and rolling hard. There was no way he could stand on the deck and not slide off. He had to make a choice. He chose to be lashed to the mast of the ship for hours in the blinding freezing snowstorm. He wanted to paint it so real that on the canvass it would be hard to tell the sea from the sky.
‘Modern Painter’ website paid a huge compliment to Turner’s painting which he simply called Snowstorm.
Snow Storm – Steam-Boat off a Harbour’s Mouth exhibited 1842 Joseph Mallord William Turner
Turner
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775-1851
Modern Painters described the Snowstorm, as “…one of the very grandest statements of sea-motion, mist, and light, that has ever been put on canvas.“
Maybe We All Are Painters
While almost none of us make our living as a professional painter, we still know a bit about the storms of life. Many know what it’s like to be tied to the mast and feel the snow, the sea spray, to be slapped in the face with freezing winds and have no defense from the storm. Imagine what it’s like to tied:
- For hours with the snow beating your face.
- For hours in the howling wind.
- For hours with the ship struggling to survive the storm-tossed waves.
- For hours seeing life-threatening skies and seas.
- For hours in the bitter cold.
- For hours of being wet and miserable.
Maybe We’ll Never Paint A Portrait Of Surviving The Storm…
Until We Too Have Been Tied To:
- Heartache
- Cancer
- A Heart Attack
- A Bad Marriage
- Spousal Unfaithfulness
- Financial Devastation
- Rumor
- Loneliness
- Afflictions
- Rejection
- Depression
- Lifelong Illness
- Abuse
Maybe We’ll Never Be Able To Paint A Portrait Of Bearing One Another’s Burdens…
Until We Too Been Lashed To The Deck Of:
- Stormy Seas
- Tribulation
- Shame
- Embarrassment
- Overwhelming Disappointment
- Bitterness
- Shattered dreams
- Tears
- Brokenness
- The Death Of A Child
- A Backslidden Spouse
- An Addicted Love One
We cannot accurately paint the storm for others to see until we have lived through one our self. Naysayers may try to find fault with our story. But we have been there. We somehow survived. We felt the mast rub on our back. The rope burns will be there for a while. We suffered hypothermia. Our body shivered with the freezing snowstorm.
We thought of those we knew sitting at home in their warm little world. They could not help us now. It was no longer just a storm. It had become our storm. We chose not to waste our storm but share it with others in the hopes they would be helped or blessed.
Maybe We Will Never Truly Paint A Portrait Of Revival…
Until We Have Been Lashed To The Deck Of:
- A Burden for souls
- A Prayer Room
- Travail
- Tears
- Vision
- Compassion
- Outreach
Maybe We Will Never Truly Paint A Portrait Of A Father’s Love…
Until We Have Been Lashed To The Deck Of:
- A Wayward Child
- Tearful Forgiveness
- Showing Mercy
- Patience
- A Special Needs Child
- Unconditional Love
- Courage
- Sacrifice
Maybe We Will Never Truly Paint A Portrait Of Deliverance From False Doctrine…
Until We Have Been Lashed To The Deck Of:
- False Doctrine
- Error
- Tradition
- Family Pressure
The Storms we survive should make us stronger.
The Storms we survive should be used to help others see.
The Storms we survive can later turn into a thing of beauty for us.
The Storms we survive are a gift from God.
(When we hear a testimony from someone who has survived a storm, it gives us all great hope!)
What Portrait Is Our Life Painting For Others To See?
The Saddest Sight Of All Is The Pacing Of The Caged Lion.
The Saddest Sight Of All Is The Pacing Of The Caged Lion.
The Lion The King Of The Jungle!
Lions, they are no doubt one of the most magnificent of creatures. Even the Lord referred to Himself as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. The lion is an animal so powerfully built, so capable, so beautiful, and awe-inspiring that it was chosen to be a type of the Messiah.
Some even travel on safari trips into the African jungle or veld to view this monarch of all animals in its natural environment. The photos such travelers bring home capture the heart of its viewers.
One of the saddest things to see is this noble creature pacing the floor inside of a steel cage. Back and forth, back and forth it goes looking for a way out. Occasionally it may stop to bite the bars and roar out of frustration.
- It sees others free outside the cage and wants to be free too.
- It wasn’t born to live on concrete.
- It wasn’t created to live in a steel showcase.
- It’s potential and strengths are forever confined.
- Its power will never really be known.
- It’s only a shadow of what could have been.
- It’s a caged lion.
- It’s a pacing caged lion wanting to be free.
- It’s a pacing caged lion looking for a way out.
- It’s a pacing caged lion.
The Caged Lion
No one has to go to the City Zoo to see the pacing of caged lions. They can be seen in many of our homes and most of our churches!
They are beautiful creatures of God with amazing potentials and abilities. Yet they live a life of meager existence. They watch others enjoy freedoms in God that they cannot. They are limited to what lengths they can even go because of their steel bars.
- People come by and look at them.
- Some point and make comments to their friends.
- Some take pictures of what they see.
- The similarities to the caged lion are there for all to see.
- The spirit of unrest.
- The pacing of the caged creature back and forth, back and forth.
- The frustration.
- The caged look.
- The biting at the bars.
- The occasional roars from the soul.
Every one is handicapped to help. Multitudes read the warning signs and keep their distance. They look and then they move on.
What Put The Lion In This Cage? Who Put The Lion In This Cage?
Were they captured in a snare or trap? Were they injured, found and then brought here? Did the lion walk inside willingly and let himself be lock in the cage? Is this cage real or imagined? What happened? No one really knows the whole story. All that is known is that something happened.
- Was it Condemnation?
- Was it a Personal Failure?
- Was it an Addiction?
- Was it an Attitude?
- Was it Rebellion?
- Was it a Rumor?
- Was it an Indiscretion?
- Was it Disobedience?
- Was it Bitterness?
- Was it a Past Injury?
Did Sin Make The Bars Or Were The Bars Man Made?
How Did This Happen?
Every day, everywhere, caged lions are seen. I watch them in churches. The potential for better things is obvious to all who see them. But their actions aren’t much different from the caged king of the jungle.
I watch them pace and hear them roar. They are still caged and confined by the events of the present and the past. They are held captive by things real and things imagined. They barely exist.
I watch them try to worship and they cannot. They try to pray and it sounds empty and hollow, but mostly just quiet. Occasionally they will roar out loud, but their roar does not threaten Hell.
They smile but they are not happy. They raise their hands, but never seem to touch Heaven. They keep their head down in despair while praying. They never feel worthy.
If they are called on to testify. It is a quick, low-voiced attempt that may last only ten seconds or so.
- They watch others worship and shout, but they don’t.
- They watch others sing from the soul, but they are still in a cage.
- They watch others pray with liberty and freedom, but their prayers are caged.
- They see their friends be used of God, while they pace back and forth.
- The bars keep them from doing what they really want to do.
- The bars keep them from being what they really want to be.
If I Could Talk To The Spiritually Caged And Pacing Lion…
I Would Share Four Passages Of Scripture To Give Them Hope.
God NEVER meant for His children to live a cage. He never meant for us to exist just pacing behind bars, a spectacle for all to see. A could-have-been. No matter who made the bars, or how the lion got inside, there is a way out for all.
1. Every One Has A Past. Understand That God Doesn’t Want Your Past To Be Your Future Or Hold You Captive. No Matter What You Have Done Or What You Have Been, There Is Hope.
1Co 6:9 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,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11 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.
2. Paul Even Felt Caged By His Past.
(Roman law allowed the dead victim to be tied to the back of the murderer. In it’s decaying state, the worms slowly ate into and killed the killer. Paul felt his past tied to his back, eating away at him. Condemnation is a killer. So he wrote:
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
But Something Happened To Paul Between Chapter Seven And Chapter Eight. When He Broke Free He Wrote Anew…
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
3. Jesus Came Down To Earth To Unlock Your Cage
Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Dear Child Of God!
Do not allow your self, your sin, or your past to keep you in a cage. Believe in God’s Mercy, His Grace, and His Forgiveness. Accept It.
- The Door Is Unlocked And Open.
- The Cage No Longer Can Hold You Unless You Let It.
- Freedom Is God’s Gift To You.
4. The Door Is Open. God Didn’t Save You To Keep You In A Cage.
Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it:
The High Cost Of Mercy
The High Cost Of Mercy
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
- Extending mercy to others will not be cheap.
- Not extending mercy to others will even cost more.
Mercy is one of the most expensive commodities in the world. A monetary value cannot be placed upon it. And yet, neither can the rewards of being merciful be measured.
Calvary Was About Our Mercy And Forgiveness.
Jesus Paid For Us To Have Mercy With The Silver Of His Tears And The Gold Of His Blood.
- He paid the ultimate price. His life.
- Visibly, all we have to give are our words, and our hand.
It Is Expensive To Forgive
- It costs some their pride.
- It costs some their insistence on being right.
- It costs some their superiority feeling.
- It costs some the sympathy that goes with being the injured party.
- It may even cost all of your emotion and tears.
Mercy Is Not Cheap
- Some are too hard-hearted to be merciful.
- Some are too proud to say, “I forgive you.”
- Some choose to hold a grudge like it is money in their emotional bank account.
- Some refuse to pay the price for peace and harmony.
- Some cannot see the bigger picture; they only see their hurt.
How Much Would Showing Mercy Cost You?
How Much Would Not Showing Mercy Cost You?
Being Merciful Doesn’t Make The Other Person Right.
- Being merciful doesn’t justify their wrong.
- Being merciful doesn’t save them.
- Being merciful doesn’t mean they deserve mercy.
- Being merciful not only brings peace, but God’s mercy and forgiveness into your life.
- You cannot afford to withhold merciful.
- You will curse your own soul.
- You cannot afford to not pay the price mercy demands.
In The Old Testament, Mercy Demanded A Sacrifice. It Still Does!
- Mercy required a lamb.
- Mercy required a bullock.
- Mercy required a heifer.
- Mercy required a turtle dove.
Back Then… The Cost Of Gods Mercy Was An Animal Sacrifice.
Today The Cost Of God’s Mercy Is You Sacrificing Yourself In Repentance.
- Today, you are the sacrifice.
- Today, your pride is the sacrifice.
- Today, your will is the sacrifice.
The Unmerciful Servant
Matthew 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Matthew 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Matthew 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Matthew 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
(Evidently God can take back the forgiveness He once gave you, if you are unforgiving to others.)
Showing Mercy Is A Sign Of Strength, Not Weakness.
- It takes strength to say:
- “I forgive you.”
- “Let’s put this behind us and go on.”
- “Let’s start all over.”
- “I love you.”
Extending Forgiveness Is An Act So Important That Heaven Keeps Track.
Mark 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
The last thing any of us want or need is for God to refuse to show us mercy. There is a direct connection between the mercy we show and God showing us mercy.
God Removes His Forgiveness From Your Life, When You Do Not Forgive.
- The price of mercy is always high.
- The price of not showing mercy is so much higher.
What Is Gained By Being Merciful?
- Favor with God.
- Favor with man.
- Peace
- God’s blessing.
- God’s mercy.
- Forgiveness is God’s greatest blessing. Don’t throw it away.
What Is Lost When Mercy Is Not Shown?
- Your personal forgiveness from God.
- Your home in heaven.
- Showing mercy to others is so important to God that your whole eternity is affected by your lack of forgiveness.
- I find no Bible to support the belief that one can be saved and be unforgiving as well.
- The extremely high cost of unforgiveness is prohibitive.
Showing Mercy
- Showing mercy puts marriages back together.
- Showing mercy puts families back together.
- Showing mercy brings churches a much-needed healing and revival.
- Showing mercy restores damaged relationships.
- Showing mercy displays Christ’s Spirit in us.
Are You Willing To Show Mercy In Spite Of What Has Happened?
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
The Ballestero Blog 