The Voice of God

The Voice of God in the Hebrew…means anything you can hear that leads you to Him.

In the south, after the Civil War, an Evangelist was having a street meeting, when across the street….at a saloon….some men were standing, drinking, laughing at the people gathered [and especially the preacher].

When the preacher got to the verse:

Hosea 6:3 “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.”

Then one of the men….shouted over…..”Hey, preacher! You really believe that? You really believe that…I…that I could know the Lord..?”

The preacher stared at the men….and then looked right at the man that asked…..”Yes, son, I do.”

“How?” Came the reply….

“Just as the verse says….

Do you believe that the sun will come up tomorrow?

Well, believe God’s Word the way you believe in the sun tomorrow……come to Him, and ask to know Him….then follow what He has said to you in HIs Word.”

“What has God said to me?” The man asked, laughing.

The preacher said, “let me tell you”….and he opened his Bible and preached Jesus Christ….and salvation by Him…..telling this man what the Bible says….to him, and to all of us.

That man was saved….and went on to be a preacher in the south himself!

God’s Voice can come to us through the Word, or anything…..if it leads us to Him.

In the dark ages (1600’s) a mercenary soldier, who has killed and spoiled….turns and sees a tree stripped of it’s leaves….and meets God.

Desolation was at every turn, yet at that look,….God spoke to him.

Leaves come….and go….and yet at the appointed time (no matter what is around them)….they come again, at God’s bidding.

He could not get around it….he turns his life over to God…..he goes….and becomes a monk…Brother Lawrence….and over the years there, writes a book,…”Practicing the Presence of God.”

Genesis 8:22 “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

When Noah came out of the Ark, and built an altar….

(It is always a good thing for us to do, when we are leaving one thing behind and going on to the next….

…to place ourselves on the altar….to commit our way unto the Lord…to give Him all we are and have…that the next steps might be to HIs glory….and blessing.)

When Noah built that altar….God was pleased….and promised that He would never again destroy the earth with flood.

He gave the sign of a rainbow….one of the most beautiful and amazing things….”a bow in the cloud”….

….and then God established His timeline for the earth….and His Purpose.

God would keep this old earth…..(He had merely covered it with water for a little over a year…to cleanse it)….till His Purpose would be fulfilled…..many hundreds of years latter….

….fulfilled in Christ Jesus His Son…..the great sacrifice that can cleanse our hearts from sin.

For that is the Purpose of God….to call out and save a people for the Kingdom of His dear Son. (Colossians 1:13)

….then He showed the way we can know when time is growing short for this earth….and us again: the seasons.

Romans 8:22 “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together unto now.”

Sin has marred all of creation….not just man. Even the earth feels the effects of the sin upon it. But God has plans for us…..and for this earth.

The seasons will begin to change….slightly at first….then more so as the time comes on. And when these changes begin….the earth itself will “speak” to us….if we will hear….

….”Jesus Christ is coming again, prepare to meet your Maker”.

Psalms 19:1-3 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.”

There is the Voice of God in nature….showing the grandeur, the wonderful glory of our God.

And the Voice of God in time…..it keeps ticking….I grow older while I sit still or if I move around…..

…..today turns into tomorrow…..which turns into next week…and so on.

Nothing stays the same….all is aging….and decaying.

And this Voice of God is sent everywhere….not just with Christians….but in every nation….among every people….

….the Earth continues and yet, changes….will they “hear” it?

Time continues….I, you, the earth itself, grows older still….do we recognize our “end”?

Psalms 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.”

Proverbs 1:20-21, 23 “Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying

Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My Words unto you.”

We must turn from the world,…it’s views, it’s opinions….to hear His reproof….His correction…

……and then, He will give us His Spirit in new measure!

There was a sad time in my life that I was wandering about searching for a “happiness”.

(I was young, and I thought that I could ignore God’s plan for me….

…how we need to instill in our children the love of God….and the Kingship of God!)

Now I want to say that the Lord wants us happy….happy in Him….but what I was searching for was not real.

I smiled a lot. I told terrible jokes. I tried to hang around the “cool kids”….but….

….I had “put aside” the Word of the Lord to me….in how I was to be…for I belonged to Him….

….looking for “happiness” instead.

The Lord sent someone to our Church, to awaken me to my attitudes and actions (Praise God)….and I got back into the Way.

It was not easy….

…..for it is never easy to “re-do” your steps, and leave some “friends”…..

……but I realized….even for all I had to do….it was easier than keeping up the act.

Instead of phony”happiness”…..God gave me forgiveness, peace, and joy.

What are you looking for?

We must understand just Who it is that is speaking to us.

It is as we go along with the Lord, that we leave the better that we have…..for the best that He has for us.

In the Song of Solomon, the believing maiden has come to a place of rest in the Lord…..she has come out of the wilderness…and gone on…growing in grace.

But, in this rest,…..she has stayed….thinking that this is the fulfillment of this onward call.

Till she hears the Lord’s voice “waking” her.

(Had she gone from resting to sleeping? How easy it is, when things seem right, to trust in what we have, rather than continue to seek where we should go.)

Song of Solomon 5:2 “I sleep but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my Beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to Me, My sister, My love, My dove, My undefiled: for My head is filled with dew and My locks with the drops of the night.”

Here, the Lord comes to wake her. But look at what He calls her:

My sister—recognizing her belief in Him.

My love—showing His heart to her.

My dove—recognizing that she has come to look and rely on Him only.

My undefiled—showing that He sees her separation from the world.

All these are good….

But the Lord knocks for what is next….but she is sleeping.

He calls….open to Me….

And then shows her the next step….prayer and intercession for His Will done in His people…..the intercession that requires “waking early”…..and continuing late…that requires effort.

It was a call to be always ready to pray for, and do His Work, for others.

Her reply?

Song of Solomon 5:3 “I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them?”

Basically, she was saying…..”I have come out from the world, now you want me to deal with it?”

But she knows the answer even when she asks…..if she is separated to Him, she can be in the world….but not of it.

So she rises….but He has gone on…..must He do the work without her? Does she love her “rest” more than His Presence?

Song of Solomon 5:6 “I opened to my Beloved; but my Beloved had withdrawn Himself and was gone: my soul failed when He spake: I called Him, but He gave me no answer.”

I called Him but He gave me no answer….

That is because she was seeking Him….in the confines of her own particular thoughts….of how He would call.

She wanted Him to come to her, again…….instead of her seeking Him.

I will tell you plainly, that sometimes we can call and the Lord is Present…..and sometimes….He will wait to be gracious….

….it is to instill within us a constant desire for Him….and not His gifts.

Yet the call to this maiden,…..and to all of us,….

…..is an ever onward call to “come away”…..”open to Me”…..”come, let us go”.

Are you hearing the Voice of God to you?

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My Voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”

In this lukewarm Laodicean Church age…..the call is to “hear My Voice”….”open to Me”….and “sup (fellowship) with Me”.

Are we? Will we hear Him, and give Him a life open to and receptive to Him?

That thou mayest

Permission to enter into all that the Lord has for you has been granted us…..why do we wait?

Revelation 3:18 “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and the at the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

I counsel thee….that thou mayest be other than you are. Do we want the spiritual riches of Christ? The gold, the white raiment, and to see.

The Lord looks on the heart….and He see us:

Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

Simply what we say we are…..we are not.

So Christ….the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God….says: “I counsel thee”….it is very personal counsel He is giving.

And we will start with the last thing….the eyesalve….for we believe. It is the one thing needful to change the rest.

Now just what is this eyesalve we are to use?

(Notice, that the Lord counsels to buy the gold, and the white raiment….but the eyesalve we are just to use. Therefore it must be something we have already….and can use, if we would)

We believe the eyesalve is the ointment of honesty….as in “the honest and good heart” which is the only ground that brings forth fruit.

Luke 8:15 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

Anyone can get honest….though it is not a characteristic of natural man….

….but spiritual honesty comes from yielding to the Holy Spirit’s searching.

If we will take the time before God to get honest we will see.

Praying about the church, my husband received….

“That any Laodicean that would get a good look at their own heart….would do something about it.”

If we get honest with God and let Him show us the truth about our hearts and lives, then….we have applied the eyesalve and are ready to….

….buy of Me…”white raiment that thou mayest be clothed….and the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.”

When we are truly born again, we receive the white robe of Christ’s righteousness.

But many will have Christ for me….without willing to have Christ formed in me.

To have Christ save them from hell….but not have Christ save them from sin.

The white robe of Christ’s righteousness makes us pure…..not just in the sight of God,….but in practical life….so you will have this righteousness being worked out in obedience to Christ.

Ephesians 4:22-24 “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

That ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Put off….put on….this you must do that “the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.”

And this you do by willing with Him to refuse the old ways, and yield to the Holy Spirit in the new ways.

Then “buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich”.

In the Bible, gold speaks of God. Tried in the fire…is pure gold…with all the dross consumed.

Psalm 45:13-14 “The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.

She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needlework:…”

Here is described, I believe, a picture of the true church, bought to her King at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

And how is she dressed? In white raiment interwoven with gold. This is how we will be seen….glorious, because clothed with the purity of Christ,…having put off our old man….

…with gold threads of needlework, interwoven into her garment….gold, tried in the fire to manifest God in our lives. (Revelation 19:7-8)

It is not Christ for me,….without Christ being formed in me….and He is the true gold…riches of life. As we are less of us, we are more of Him.

There are many instances of “tried in the fire”.

(Of course we think of the three Hebrew young men who stood and said to Nebuchadnezzar…..”O king, whether our God saves us or not….we know He can….and we will not bow down to your image.” They were thrown into the furnace alone, but One like unto the Son of God was seen with them.

And we think of the trials David went through before he truly became king….because of murderous Saul chasing him, to kill him. All of which he came through, though with some failures….God was faithful…and kept him.

And the trials our Lord went through here on earth. The sin and sickness the Lord of Life saw.

Those that sought to catch Him in HIs speech….or those that finally betrayed Him….and every beating, and mocking, that He went through.)

And now it is our turn….for all who will “see” ourselves in honesty, and have Christ formed in us by the trials of our life…

….we have trials…and yes persecutions, we all have to go through.

But we have the great promise of His Kingly Presence and authority….if we will.

Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.”

Let us hear for ourselves, His permission to come and get all He has for us….and then step out in faith, and overcome….to see, be clothed in righteousness and obedience, and have all the riches of Christ in our lives.

Light Expels Darkness

Genesis 1:3 “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

When the earth was darkened, in a state of chaos, God spoke, “Let there be light”.

He did not need the light, for He is light; but the earth did.

All of His creatures He was about to create, did.

We need to consider the fact that there are two Principles at work in the Universe.

One is the Principle of Obedience, which is of God.

The other is the Principle of Rebellion, which is of the Adversary, the Devil.

God’s Principle is called Light. While the other is called Darkness.

God has given light to each person born:

John 1:9 “That was the true light, which lighteth every man which cometh into the world.”

Each person is given the light or knowledge that there is God.

It is what we do with that light, that matters.

John 3:19-21 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

Jesus said:

John 3:7 “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

To be born again is to have Christ’s life placed within us by the Holy Spirit. He indwells us, empowering us to know and do His Will.

(“We are saved by grace through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God…For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works…that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10)

John 3:8 “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

You can not see the wind; but you can see the effects of the wind: the leaves blowing, the trees moving, etc.

So when you are born again, you can tell by the effects of this new birth in your life.

2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who hath commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

The first thing of His New Creation within us?

“Hath shined in our hearts”

He gave His Light to our hearts so that we might clearly see Him, and love Him dearly.

“To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

This is personal knowledge, for ourselves, in our lives, as they are.

This is emphasizing the personal relationship of Christ Jesus to us, which is what He wants for us.

When the Light comes, it leads us to fellowship with Christ:

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

This fellowship is spoken of as “walking in the Light”.

You can think of stepping out of the Shadows of your life, into the light of day.

Colossians 1:13 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”

But what to do?

We Walk. We are to continue to walk in the light: Walking, not running in the light of His love, and Word. This suggests the nearness of friends, the comfort of good conversation, and the strength of two.

“And the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

1 John 1:8-9 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Here is set forth the means for that cleansing from all sin.

It is to know deliverance from the Power of Sin in your life. This is very personal.

It is not sinless perfection, but deliverance.

Deliverance means to rescue. It means we are brought out of, not only the sin of one time, but from the power of that sin in our lives.

The true taking away of sin is this: If the Light comes in, the darkness is expelled.

They can not dwell together.

The Light of Christ yields honesty of heart and mind.

We will see, by the Holy Spirit, the truth of our attitudes, ways of doing things, and the truth of the why of our sin.

(Why we do what we do, to the people we do it to.)

Honesty will lead us to throw ourselves on God more, for strength, wisdom, help, patience, etc.

And if we get honest with Him, He will help us in every aspect of our lives. He is Light, and with Him (and we need to stay with Him) we will be empowered in the day by day circumstances of our lives. (Even if we have made a mess of them before.)

We are to walk with Jesus in His Light. Yes, He will reprove and correct us; for light does both.

But it is in love, always looking for the response of love from us:

Jude 21 :”Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

Paul’s Conversion, and a Certain Disciple.

(To convert, is to change one thing, into another…

Conversion, here, means to spiritually change the direction of your life, by placing yourself on the foundation of Christ Jesus.)

To begin this, we must understand that Saul was a “up and coming” Pharisee.

He was going to be somebody in the Jewish Religion!

He was zealous concerning the Law; “a Hebrew of the Hebrews”. (Philippians 3:5)

But things began to “change”, when he heard, and saw a follower of Jesus Christ, die a martyr’s death.

For the man, Stephen, asked God to forgive them; and Saul knew that this is how a true follower of God would act. (Saul was there as a representative of the Council who judged Stephen. Acts 7:54-58)

But the “change”, then,….was not toward the Light he had seen,….but sent him fighting against it.

Vicious was his attack on all of “this Way”.

Acts 26:9-11 “I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

And I punished them in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.”

And why was he “exceedingly mad against them”?

Because, as we shall see, God was pricking his heart; and telling him that “this Way” was the right way.

That Jesus Christ was indeed the Son of God.

But he refused to listen, or to bow to God’s Way. Instead he would fight against it.

By destroying Christ’s followers; he would destroy this Way. (So he thought)

Acts 9:1-2 “And Saul yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest.

And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whither they be men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”

So he is going to take his hatred of this Way to other cities; to Damascus. He gathers men to come as escorts for the prisoners he will bring back.

Everything is proceeding according to his plan.

But he has a surprise in store;…..for this is not according to God’s plan.

Acts 9:3 “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.”

Almost to his journeys end, close to Damascus; God shines a light down upon him that he can not ignore!

Acts 9:4-6 “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, Why persecutest thou Me?

And he said, Who art thou Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”

Here, Saul falls to the ground. The Light is blinding, and he can not stand against it.

He falls (finally in the right position before Jesus Christ), and then he is spoken to: Why are you persecuting Me, Saul?

(Notice that Jesus always identifies Himself with His people: Their persecution is His, as well.)

Saul is quite shocked! He thought he was just fighting against people; Who was he fighting against?

The Lord Jesus Christ then tells him, “It is I, you are trying to destroy. And I am here to tell you, you can not.

I have been pricking your heart with the truth of Who I am for some time.

You just keep kicking against it.

Stop fighting My Way. Stop fighting the Light I have given you.”

Saul, having heard Christ Jesus for himself, gives himself over to Him: “Lord……What would You have me to do?”

Yielding simple allegiance, and seeking to obey; Saul gives up his life into the hands of Jesus Christ.

“I am Yours, what do you want me to do? Go on, or go back, or what?”

The Lord then calls him on to Damascus, not as persecutor of His people, but as brother to those of this Way.

The rest would be “told” him, when he got there.

Acts 9:8 “And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they lead him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.”

Refusing to see the Light God first gave him, Saul is now blinded for a time. They lead him to Damascus.

Saul is now fasting, waiting to hear from the Lord the instruction he was promised.

And now to the “certain disciple”:

Acts 9:10-12 “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision; Ananias, and he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.”

Ananias spoke up;….he did not say he would not go, for he had called Jesus, Lord. (He is not Lord to you, if you will not do what He says.)

But he prays a prayer that we all would be well to imitate, when we are afraid about doing God’s Will:

Ananias told God what he had heard about Saul, the evil he had done in Jerusalem, and that he had come to do the same here in Damascus.

In other words, Ananias told God his fear, and ask what to do about it.

Now God knew this, but as Ananias prayed this information to the Lord, peace came upon his heart. A peace that passeth understanding.

Ananias was then ready to hear what Jesus said to him: “Go”

Acts 9:15-16 “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

And so Ananias, went; doing exactly what Jesus had commanded him to do for Saul.

Praying for him to receive his sight, and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

(And because he went and prayed for Saul; every reward Saul [His name was later changed to Paul] will receive from the Lord,…..Ananias will receive a part, too.)

And what did Saul do?

Acts 9:19-20,22 “…Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

And straightway preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

And Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which were at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”

Acts 26:19-20 “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision:

But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coast of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.”

Saul continued on, doing the Will of Christ Jesus, his Lord, through many afflictions, and persecutions of his own;…..till, at the last he could say:

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”

Conversion meant for Saul that he spiritually changed the direction of his life by placing himself on the foundation of Jesus Christ, his Lord.

Have you been converted to Christ?

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice

Psalm 27:7 “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.”

Psalm 20:9 “Save, Lord: let the King hear us when we call.”

One of our great blessings, as Christians, is that God hears our prayers, and answers them.

1 John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His Will, He heareth us.

And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”

They may be short like Peter walking on the sea: “Lord, save me”(Matthew 14:28-30).

Or they may be long petitions, laying out our troubles before Him (Psalm 142:1-2).

Psalm 86:7 “In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee: for Thou wilt answer me.”

True prayer is finding out what God wants us to pray, and then praying in accordance with His Will…..for ourselves and others. Lifting up to Him, His Will; by our will and words.

Psalm 27:8 “When Thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.”

During the ministry of Isaiah, the Lord corrected His people….when after giving a wonderful promise to them, they did not ask Him to do it:

(The promise: “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean…..a new heart also will I give you….and I will put my Spirit within you,…” Isaiah 36:25-27)

Isaiah 36:37 “Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them;…”

They did not ask for what He promised them.

Do we take for granted His promises, and not ask, for what He wants to give?

Sometimes the Lord asks us what we want:

David, after his sin in numbering the people, was given a choice as to the correction he was to receive,……..and his answer was:

“let us now fall into the hand of the Lord; for His mercies are great:….” (2 Samuel 24:12-14)

And I ask all who know the Lord Jesus……..where else can we feel safe….but in His hand……..even, when we are being corrected?

One of the things the Lord requires, when we pray…..is to listen for His answer.

Isaiah 55:3 “Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

Isaiah 30:21 “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

One of the great parables Jesus told about prayer is:

Luke 18:10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.”

I want to mention here, that both men went to the right place, to do the right thing: To pray…….both of them.

When men would go into the temple, they would look toward the mercy seat. It was hidden, in the Holy of Holies; behind the first curtain, the Holy Place (where only the priests ministered), and a second curtain.

It was where the blood of the sin offering was poured out for the sins of the nation. And to this mercy seat, all were to look, to pray. (Exodus 25:21-22)

The Lord tells of the Pharisee’s prayer first:

Luke 18:11-12 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.”

This man begins with praise to God…..but it is for himself, being so much better than so many others.

He was not a gross sinner, and he thanks God for that….and goes on to tell God: that he was a good man….certain that God appreciated him,….and his good works.

“…for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” (Luke 6:45)

This man’s heart was full of himself…..so the words spoken praised God,…..yet his heart came out….and showed that the only thing he was praising was himself.

(Frankly, he was stuck with himself, and his thoughts of God…a bad place to be in:

Matthew 16:25 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:….”)

Luke 18:13-14 “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

This man was a tax collector: usually they were a cheat or thief….taking more than Rome demanded….for themselves.

But his prayer was of repentance: “God be merciful to me a sinner”.

Mercy is God’s kindness to sinners. There are temporal mercies: the sun, rain, harvests, etc., for all.

And there are spiritual mercies, which include sending His Son to save us, His faith and grace to help us, and His Holy Spirit to guide us.

Titus. 3:4-5 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared,

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;”

That is what this man wanted…..God’s mercy to him, spiritually, as a sinner…..one who had rebelled and offended God, and His Way.

He would not even look up….”would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven”.

Those that humble themselves under the hand of God, will be exalted in due time. (1 Peter 5:6)

“…for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5)

This man wanted mercy for forgiveness, and grace for salvation……

And he got it. “This man”—the publican—went to his house justified.

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Real repentance does not go out and do the sin all over…..and that is what this man wanted….he wanted mercy for his sin, and salvation from it……and he got it.

Sadly, the Pharisee did not. He went home the same, as when he came….thinking he was in God’s favor…..but, he neither received mercy, nor justification.

Psalm 85:7-8 “Show us Thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us Thy salvation.

I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints: but let them not turn again to folly.”

James 4:7-8 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

You will notice that before we can resist the devil…..we should “submit ourselves to God”.

There is a means James is setting forth, here, of having our prayers answered.

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

Our prayers are a view into our spiritual state. If our prayers are healthy, they will bring forth fruit within ourselves and within others.

That does not mean, we always get what we ask for….but it means that our prayers will take hold on God’s Word and promises…and change circumstances….or us.

Submit here is to subordinate…to be under obedience. If we expect our prayers to be answered….we are to submit our selves to God.

It is so easy for us to lust after things we do not have (James 4:3)….and to envy others, what they do have (James 4:5)…

….but,

James 4:6 “But He giveth more grace, wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

No matter the lust (I want this and I want this now)….

….or the envy which is within us…..

….God gives more grace….more of the power we need to subdue our lusts….

….and submit to God in the circumstances we are in.

(Although there are times He brings us out of them.)

James 4:7 ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

When we are submitted to God….we are to resist the devil….his whisperings, his doubts, his accusations….and he will flee from us.

Resist is to stand against….not listen to….not consider the pros and cons. The devil often tells enough truth to get us to look at what he is saying…..but resist his words and stand with the Lord’s Word.

(You can not stop birds from flying over your head….but you can keep them from building nests in your hair.”)

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.”

Resist….stand with God against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-18).

James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

It seems as though James is repeating himself….

…but if we are submitted to God….and that is in our will…

…then we can resist the devil.

Then James says….draw near to God with your hearts.

And He will draw near to you….you will know His presence in this trial.

“Draw nigh”. Or make near. If we will make a way in our hearts for God to come near….He will make a way to come near.

How many of God’s children keep the attitude of nearness to God?

Nearness brings many things. First and foremost….it increases our faith, peace, and strength.

For when we are at a distance from the Lord (some Christians like to only be within shouting distance)….we are not only in danger, but we are weak in guidance, peace, and joy.

For when we see God, we see ourselves more clearly…so James says:

Be sure you confess your sins….those done (your hands).

Then confess your attitude, your desire for something other than the Lord’s Will……your hearts running after the world. (Being double minded James 1:8)

Now that you are coming closer to God, do not let anything interfere with that….for when we seek for Christ….He will be found of us….and more….He will draw near us, where we are.

To know the everlasting Arms around, and under us….we need to be close…closer still to Christ Jesus our Lord.

Deuteronomy 33:27 “The Eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”

First the right relationship to God….then the battle is His….and He shall thrust them out….while we destroy all that comes between us.

Conformed

Romans 8:29-30 “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.

Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.”

The foreknowledge of God has to do with people….It is God’s foreknowledge of us…

…who we were, who we are, and who He will make us…under His molding.

Predestination has to do with our purpose as His children….and our purpose is to be conformed to Christ. He has predestinated us to be conformed to the Image of His Son.

For it is only as we are thus conformed to HIs character, and disposition that we fulfill our purpose, as His….no matter our calling or work. (Whether large or small, or in front of people or as a prayer warrior….our purpose is to manifest Christ…His character…by being conformed to Him.)

Our obedience is a necessary component to this….for to be conformed to Christ, we must love Him and HIs Will, as He loved His Father, and did all HIs Will. (only rebels refuse obedience to their Lord)

John 14:21 “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

He did foreknow…..He did predestinate….both of these are with His power and grace….

….that the family of God, with all the features and characteristics of our elder Brother, Jesus Christ….might be seen.

Those He did predestinate….He called.

Our calling…is to follow Christ….whether we are to be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:18-22)…or mend the church….or whatever….it is for His determination or pleasure. (Revelation 4:11).

And those He called He justified…or to render innocent, or righteous.

We are justified by Christ when we are born again. And we are made just, or righteous in our life by sanctification of the Spirit.

And those He justified, them He also glorifies….or honors here by the constant peace and joy of the Holy Spirit…..and in heaven, forever to be with Him…what glory that will be!

Paul begins this eighth chapter with the cry of praise for Christ’s abundant life for us:

Romans 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”.

Here is where the Spirit comes into prominence in Romans….it is Christ’s victory, and the giving of the Holy Spirit to us….that gives us victory in our everyday lives.

Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by HIs Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

Romans 8:15 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

On those high and glorious notes….Paul shows that through Christ’s victory and the with the Holy Spirit, we were called to a purpose….

….the purpose being….”to be conformed to the image of His Son”.

The Name: His Son is used, because Paul is stressing His holy life here in this world of sin,… and His fulfilling the Will of the Father…..all of which we are to be conformed to.

And here and now, is where we are conformed to Christ.

the substitution taught in the New Testament is two-fold,….

….”He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21)….

“That we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

“Be made”….we are made the righteousness of God by being born again….for then a new nature….Christ’s nature is imputed to us.

But the “making” does not stop there….for we are conformed to His character and disposition….by HIs life being imparted to us…by the Holy Spirit’s working….

…and so little by little, we are made the righteousness of God in Him.

Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God;

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Paul is not telling the Ephesians how to be born again….they were.

He is telling them how they were born again….and for what purpose.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works….

The Lord does all things well….and He is at work within us causing us to will and to do of His good pleasure.

Is He working His will in you? Are we walking in His good works for us?

He has ordained….

….. (Ordained: by virtue of His authority, He has made full provision for us for these good works)

He has ordained that if you are saved…..you are predestinated to be conformed to His Son….

…are we yielding to the Holy Spirit….and being so conformed in character and disposition?

2 Corinthians 5:20 “Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

An Ambassador, here, is one who represents their king on foreign soil…..who has authority to speak for king and country.

And as Christians, we are in a world that loves not God, or HIs Christ. We have been placed, as Ambassadors of Christ, here.

My husband used to have a message: Servants, Soldiers, and Ambassadors.

We are called to be servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, first. Serving Him in obedience, learning to yield to HIs Holy Spirit, and do His Will.

Then we are called as soldiers….standing in our armor….for if we are obedient….our Adversary the devil, will certainly throw fiery darts against our faith….and stir up the world’s anger against us.

Then, having learned to serve….and to stand against the wiles of the devil….

….we are called as Ambassadors….to speak with authority for our King.

“…as though God did beseech you by us…”

And what are we called to speak? reconciliation….which is adjustment, restoration to the divine favor.

We are to bring the message of peace with God, by Christ Jesus, to others.

Romans 10:14-15 “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

We speak for our King….and tell all who will hear….that He will give peace to those who believe and receive Him.

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;

By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

First, there is given peace with God,….through our Lord Jesus Christ. As we are born again, we are “in Christ”….and we have peace and access to God through Him. (Hebrews 4:16)

Then we are given peace in Christ….while in this world.

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Peace here is “joined together”. As we are in Christ, we are joined to His peace….His stability and strength in this world.

Peter and John, being threatened by the counsel….prayed for boldness and received peace….by more of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 4:29-31)

Paul and Silas, while beaten and in prison….had the Lord’s peace.

As soon as their prayers began…..their praises did too. (Acts 16:25)

2 Corinthians 5:20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

Anything in between you and the Lord needs to be reconciled. Whether it is sin,….love or hatred of yourself,…..the world’s allure,….or the Adversary, the devil’s whispers of doubt…or unbelief…(that is how he tricked our first parents….”doubt God’s Word”.)

Join with Christ….in whatever hinders you….and have His peace and strength.

“…As though God did beseech you by us….we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

Have you Heard the Lord call you?

Song of Solomon 5:2 ” I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.”

This is a story of a believer, who has gone to sleep. But she hears the voice of her Lord, in her heart, and she awakes.

So far, so good.

Then with her understanding, she hears Him call to her to open to Him.

This opening up of her life, is different than the Salvation she has already experienced. For He calls her, His sister; being joint-heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.”

She has had fellowship with the Lord; and has gone on in that fellowship to be called His dove.

Now a dove can see only one thing at a time, and this has been her experience in Christ; keeping her eyes on Him.

Song of Solomon 1:15 “Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves eyes.”

Matthew 6:22 “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.”

He calls her His undefiled. This shows, that in that love relationship, she has gone on with Him;…..so she is being saved from the defilements of the world, and self.

1 John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

But this calling, here, is a deeper calling, for Jesus calls her, as the One who sweat great drops of blood as in the garden (Luke 22:44).

But there seems to be a hinderance to His call,….

Song of Solomon 5:3 “I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?”

It would seem that having experienced so much of Her Lord, she has become a little proud. (Remember, one of the things the Lord deals with His own about is the “pride of life”)

“I have put off my coat”…….simply means she had begun to put off the old man with it’s deeds.

Colossians 3:9 “Lie not one to another, seeing ye have put off the old man with his deeds;”

Was she now to be defiled by working in the world?

“I have washed my feet”……..All her sins were confessed, up to date. And she had been cleansed from them. If she ventures out into the world to work for Jesus, won’t she again be contaminated by it?

These might have been very good questions,…..if…..Jesus were not the One calling her to go out with Him,…..to the work of bringing souls to Christ.

Song of Solomon 5:4-5 “My beloved put his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.

I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.”

The ancient doors used to have holes in them by the handle, so that when someone dear would come, they would put perfume (myrrh) on the inside of the door handle, to show they had been there.

Though she had hesitated to go further with the Lord,…..for what she thought were good reasons;……still she loves Him and is moved to go and open her hearts door again to His Call.

When she does, her hands drip with the perfume of myrrh.

(Myrrh was used to anoint the bodies of the dead, before burial, and was one of the treasures brought to Jesus at His birth by the wise men.)

So Jesus Christ is calling this loved one to go with Him into the experience of intercession, and travail for those He wants saved…..

and to work for those who are babes in Christ,….to help them grow up in Him.

Often, this is a hard work, for it recognizes our imperfections, as well as those of others.

Also, it is a long work; it is not done in a day, or even a week; but till Christ be formed in them.

Galatians 4:19 “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,”

But she had opened,……..but she found Him gone.

Christ never retracts a calling; but He often withdraws the feeling of His presence, to prove us.

Will we become angry?

Or will be seek Him?

Song of Solomon 5:6 “I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer:”

She seeks Him. She sought Christ Jesus in the usual means….of prayer and church services…..hoping to find Him there.

She calls to Him to speak to her again, but it seemed as if He was refusing to call again.

She had come so far with Him, and now she had failed Him, the dearest Friend she had ever had.

She wanted to go back to the way things were….but the call had come, and she was either going to seek till she did find,……or yield to the pride she had shown earlier.

What follows is a conversation between her, and those who would seek Him also.

“What is thy beloved more that another beloved?” They ask. (Song of Solomon 5:9-16)

Then she describes His Greatness, His strength in times of her weakness,…….and that He is the altogether lovely One to her.

Song of Solomon 5:16 “His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”

When she describes Him, she realizes that He has never left her, but proved her love to Him.

Did she love Him?…….Or His gifts?

She loved Him, and found Him.

They were united in the work as well as in life.

Theirs was a love relationship; And true love follows to the end, for the Loved One.

Have you heard the Lord call you? Perhaps you have hesitated, too. Listen to the love in your heart for Jesus, and answer His call.

Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.”

His, has been, and is an everlasting love, for us.

Will we answer His call?

Not willing that any should Perish, But that All should come to Repentance

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; But is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Jesus’s promise is:

John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth Me, shall come to Me, and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”

Christ Jesus came to save all who would come to Him.

Salvation is four fold:

First, from the love of sin. (Conviction)

Second, from the guilt of sin. (By being Born Again)

Third, from the power of sin. (Called Sanctification, or the Natural man becoming the Spiritual man)

Fourth, from the presence of sin. (In Heaven)

And we are saved by the Word of God, believing and receiving what Christ has said, in the Bible.

1 Peter 1:23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”.

Jesus said, “Ye must be born again.”

John 3:7 “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

Now this was said to a very religious Pharisee.

He had come to Jesus (although at night, for he was concerned what others might think), to understand Jesus’s message; for he knew it was of God.

John 3:1-2 “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”

And Jesus got right to the point: If you want to see the kingdom of God, you must be born again.

Nicodemus asked what that meant,….exactly.

So Jesus begins to teach this very religious Pharisee, exactly what God requires from the man who would have everlasting life.

John 3:5-8 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily,(or Truth, truth), I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but can not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.”

In other words, Nicodemus, you must be born of the Holy Spirit from above to enter into the kingdom of God.

It is not natural birth, even for a Jew (though they had the oracles of God, they refused to honor and obey God).

It is the “birth” of the Holy Spirit within you,….in your heart and life,….that makes you a subject of God’s Kingdom.

This new birth gives you a new nature (desires, and attitudes),…..for it is Christ’s life in you.

And, Nicodemus, like the wind which blows;…..it is shown by it’s effects within you…….you can not see the wind: but you can see the leaves and things blowing around.

“So is everyone that is born of the Spirit”: they will show it, by changing into His character, and doing His Will.

John 3:9 “Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?”

Under the Law, it was your own power which was at work. And Nicodemus wondered how could he do such things!

But here, Jesus was saying that God would by His Spirit, work within each man, who came to Him to be born again.

This was something wonderful. So much so, that at first Nicodemus did not understand it.

(It had been spoken of in the Old Testament:

Ezekiel 11:19-20 “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh:

That they may walk in My statues, and keep My ordinances, and do them: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.”)

So Jesus again explains exactly what would happen, and how this life could be; but first He corrects Nicodemus:

John 3:10 “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not these things?”

Jesus was saying, “Are you a ruler of religion, a Pharisee, which ought to know the Scriptures; and yet do not know these things I am speaking about? This life was foretold in the Scriptures, do you not know them?”

Jesus was doing this to awaken Nicodemus to what God had promised in the Word of God….to remember that the Messiah….Jesus, was promised as the Way to this life….that all that God had said, was coming to pass.

John 3:14-18 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

And whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

(Condemnation from God is a horrible thing: To hear “Depart from Me” will sink a man to Hell.

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19)

Jesus is saying here, quite plainly, that He was going to be “lifted up” (on the cross),…….and that all who looked to Him and believed on Him as the Son of God, would be saved.

(Moses “lifted up” or put on a pole, a serpent. He placed it high above the camp of Israel, when they were in the wilderness.

He did this by command of the Lord, because the people had spake against God, Moses, and the manna God had given them.

He , therefore, sent fiery serpents among the people; which when they were bit, died.

Repenting, the people came to Moses to pray for them; and the Lord told Moses to place a serpent of brass on a pole.

Anyone who was bitten by a serpent, and would looked up to the Brazen serpent, believing in God’s promise, would live. Numbers 21:5-9)

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:”

We are to receive Him into our heart and lives.

And How do we receive Him?

Romans 10:8-13 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

For whosoever that call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

We receive Him, by coming to Him in belief, and calling on Him with our mouths to save us from our sins.

“God, be merciful unto me, a sinner; and save me for Jesus sake. Amen.”

The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Have you received Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior?