John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”‭

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There are people who say, “If God would just show me a miracle I would believe in Him.” And others who say, “If God really cares about us why does he allow so much suffering?” It sounds like the sacrifice of God’s son Jesus Christ wasn’t enough. This reminds me of a parable Jesus told about a poor man named Lazarus who suffered much in this world. After Lazarus died angels took him to heaven where he was comforted FOREVER!😊 

Luke‬ ‭16:19-31‬ ‭NET‬‬ “There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. But at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus whose body was covered with sores, who longed to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. In addition, the dogs came and licked his sores. “Now the poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. And in hell, as he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side. So he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in this fire.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish. Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross over from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ So the rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, father – send Lazarus to my father’s house (for I have five brothers) to warn them so that they don’t come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they must respond to them.’ Then the rich man said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ He replied to him, ‘If they do not respond to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”‭‭

What Jesus said here confirms that God does love us.😊 Lazarus had a tough life on earth but he knew God. God more than made up for his troubles by allowing Lazarus to be comforted in heaven FOREVER!😊The rich man enjoyed his life of wealth here on earth but he did not know God. He later found himself tormented in hell.😳 There he looked up in heaven and saw the once poor Lazarus with Abraham living comfortably. He begged for help but got no relief. Finally he asked Abraham to send Lazarus to his five brothers thinking they would believe someone who has risen from the dead and repent. Abraham explained to him it doesn’t work that way. If they don’t believe Moses and the prophets Abraham said they won’t believe someone who rises from the dead. If anyone knows how this works it’s Abraham. Abraham is the father of all who have faith.😊 (Romans 4:16-17)

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Jesus’ sacrifice of His sinless life and rising from the dead to pay for our sins (so we won’t have to in hell) isn’t enough to touch the hearts of the masses.

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Jesus paid our sin debt by giving His sinless life as a blood sacrifice for our sins. He died and rose on the third day. He was seen by witnesses afterwards and still reveals Himself today. Some believe He exists or once existed but reject Him. Abraham told that man in hell the truth; if people don’t believe what God says through Moses and the prophets they won’t believe even someone who rises from the dead. 

Have you ever wondered what makes one person accept Jesus and another flat out reject Him? Jesus says:

John‬ ‭3:19-21‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ “This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

People reject Jesus and His sacrifice for sins because people love sin. People love darkness (Satan) over the light (Jesus Christ), and will not come to the light because they fear their evil deeds will be exposed. People love putting on airs of goodness (hypocrisy) rather than practicing what is good. 

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 KJV “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. [15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

Jesus’ sacrifice of His sinless life and rising from the dead to pay for our sins (so we won’t have to in hell) isn’t enough to touch the hearts of the masses. They’re hearts are darkened. (Ephesians 4:18-19) May we never be in that number.

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John 16:13-14 KJV “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and HE WILL SHEW YOU THINGS TO COME. [14] HE SHALL GLORIFY ME: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

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The Holy Spirit leads into all truth. No amount of human effort or intellect can do this. No Bible college or ministerial schools can do it. The Bible is a supernatural book and can only be understood supernaturally, with the help of the Holy Spirit. This is why a person can read the Bible regularly, join this or that church/religion and never come to a knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:7) One needs the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:14-15 KJV “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. [15] But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.”

Spiritual discernment comes from the Holy Spirit. Spiritually dead persons cannot know and do the things of God, not even the basic teachings. What must one do to come to life?

RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 8:14-17 CSB “When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. After they went down there, they prayed for them so that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit because he had not yet come down on any of them. (They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

The passage we just read shows a person can be baptized in water, even receive the word of God, and not yet be spirit-filled. I don’t know at what point each person receives the Holy Spirit, but scripture says that hearing the gospel about Jesus Christ, and believing in Jesus is a prerequisite:

Ephesians 1:13 NET “And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) – when you believed in Christ – you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit.”

JESUS SAYS ASK FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT

Luke 11:11-13 CSB “What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?””

Once we hear the gospel; the good news about Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins, and we believe the message by putting our faith in Christ, we can ask God to fill us with His Holy Spirit.😊 He will teach us and guide us into ALL TRUTH Jesus says. He will show us future things to come also. And He will only glorify Jesus. He will never speak anything of His own initiative or glorify Himself. Only what He hears directly from Jesus’ mouth will He reveal to us. The Holy Spirit can be trusted.😊

COMPANIONSHIP WITH THE SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is a person. He is one with God and Jesus Christ. He’s not an, “it,” or just a force as some teach. This is important to know. How can we walk in the Spirit or live in the Spirit if we don’t know Him?

Galatians 5:16-26 KJV “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. [17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. [18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. [24] And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. [25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. [26] Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

AMOS 3:3 KJV “CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER, EXCEPT THEY BE AGREED?”

Can any relationship last if the parties are not in agreement? No. Being that the Holy Spirit is the Lord (they are one) we have the privilege of agreeing with Him.😊 This gives us freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17)

John 14:26 CSB “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.”

Again, the Holy Spirit teaches us all things and reminds us of what Jesus has already taught us. What a friend to have; someone who ALWAYS accurately teaches us about God and helps us remember what God says.😊

SOMETIMES IT’S HARD TO PRAY

Romans 8:26 ESV “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

Ever felt so troubled you didn’t know what to say to God, you didn’t know how to pray? The Holy Spirit knows how. He takes those groans, aches, and pains straight to God in words we cannot express. God still hears our prayers as if we knew what to say to Him by the power of the Holy Spirit.😊 What a friend! Our hurt feelings or inability to express ourselves in words don’t stop our prayers! When we make those inexpressible groans to God we are praying in the Holy Spirit:

1 Corinthians 14:15 ESV “What am I to do? I WILL PRAY WITH MY SPIRIT, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.”

Let us take time out to get alone in prayer, meditation, and study of the word of God, that we may hear what the Spirit is saying to us. (Revelation 2:29) He will teach us, guide us, encourage us, remind us, correct us, even bring our groans to deep for words to express to God. He will also lead us to eternal life in the very presence of God our Father. The Holy Spirit loves us and is our friend.😊 He will never tell us anything wrong. He is the only person who always gets it right. May we be a friend to Him too and not grieve the Holy Spirit:

Ephesians 4:30-32 ESV “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

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1 John 4:10 CSB “Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

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Ever felt lower than the dirt underneath your shoe because of a sin you committed? I have plenty of times. It is my prayer this article will encourage us to defeat those feelings of despair that can be so heavy.

Can I share with you one of my backsliding moments since becoming a Christian? I was a new believer for about a year. One day my wife and I got into an argument. I got so upset I did something I hadn’t done since I became a Christian. I went out and bought some weed. Of course I smoked that weed and wanted to forget all my problems. It worked for a little while. After the highs wore off I felt convicted. My conviction turned into guilt (too much guilt). A voice kept saying in my head, “How could you do this and sin against God, and you’re supposed to be a Christian?” That voice never encouraged me to repent. It only condemned me. Later on I learned that voice was from the Devil. Not knowing this at the time I bought some more weed to drown out that voice and forget my problems. This was exactly what the evil one wanted me to do. Sounds familiar? Before I knew it I was back in the cycle of drugging to forget my pain. I started doing other sins too I had given up. I was so depressed and didn’t know it. I was always smoking weed to feel better. Either that or getting drunk or both. And sadly I eventually split up from my wife.

During this time I went back into the world hard. I pursued my childhood dream of becoming a record producer in the music business. This too kept my mind off of my problems. I was good at arranging, writing, and producing songs of all genres and doors were opening for me fast. I suddenly found myself working with Grammy award winning artists. I don’t like name dropping I’ll only say these artists are legends in the music industry. Some of them have been enshrined in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. Satan was making things happen for me quick! And I had completely forgotten about God.😞 I was living the life as they say (or thought I was), when I was really living the worldly lifestyle and had fallen into adultery. 

One day on my way home from a recoding session in New Orleans (I lived in Atlanta at the time) I was driving on the highway entering the state of Georgia. My 5 year old son was sleeping peacefully in the back seat when suddenly a car swerved over in my lane. To avoid hitting the car I hit the breaks and my car started fishtailing (it was raining that morning). I remember it vividly like it was yesterday though this happened 25 years ago. This all occurred so fast and the last thing I remember happened in slow motion like something you see in a movie. The front hood of my car was going underneath the middle part of an 18 wheeler truck! I can’t fully explain how this all happened but I knew that the back wheels of this 18 wheeler are going to crush me and I’m dead. I closed my eyes and yelled, “JESUS!” I’m crying right now as I writing this. I just knew I was dead! I kept my eyes shut for what felt like 5 seconds afraid to open them because I thought I was dead. I know this sounds crazy but it’s the best way I can explain it. When I opened my eyes (very afraid) my car was driving safely on the road straight ahead and there was no 18 wheeler truck in sight!😳 I wasn’t high that morning and hadn’t been drinking. This happened.

In shock I frantically felt the back seat of my car for my son to make sure he was still alive. He was sound asleep as if nothing happened. I then pulled over on the side of the road and cried like a baby. I felt so unworthy of what I had just experienced. And I can’t hold back the tears now while writing this. 

JESUS IS SPECIAL

There are some who will doubt what I just said and that’s ok. There are others who know what I just described is an easy thing for God to do (too easy).😊 God didn’t save me and my son that day because we’re so special or I was living a good life. My life was steeped in sin. I believe God knew I was ignorant about His grace, and in His loving mercy used this miracle to teach me how Wonderful His grace is. I hope sharing this with you will help all of us see and believe what great love God has for ALL OF US! WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS CHRIST DIED FOR US the Bible says. (Romans 5:8) Here I was backslidden in my sins not even thinking about God, and when I got into trouble I CALLED ON THE NAME OF JESUS AND HE SAVED ME.😳

Romans 10:13 CSB “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

After that happened I just cried like a baby. Then the Devil came with His guilt voice again (at the time I thought it was just my own thoughts) that said, “You’re not even serving God. How dare you call on Jesus to rescue you! You’re using God!” Thank God I was able to think more about His saving grace and power I had just witnessed instead of that ugly, wicked, condemning voice of the Devil. Thinking on God’s love and mercy allowed me to repent. For the first time I began to understand God’s grace.😊 I can’t say that enough.

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Romans 10:13 CSB “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

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Subsequently I also realized that Satan’s Music Business was not for me and got out in a nick of time.🎸 Music had become my god. I turned my back on the true God and hadn’t done a thing deserving to be saved. I still haven’t and never will do anything deserving to be saved. Salvation is a free gift from God. It cannot be earned, it can only be received: 

Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV “For BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT OF GOD: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Thank God for showing me back then I didn’t have to quit serving Him because I smoked a joint, got drunk, or even committed adultery. All I had to do was confess my sin, repent, get back up and receive God’s mercy!😂   

JESUS HAS ALREADY PAID OUR DEBT

Hebrews 9:14 “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”

When a person really understands God’s grace it can change their lives. It makes them never want to be disconnected from God. The Devil knows this. Hence he will whisper thoughts in our minds to make us feel guilty (OVERLY GUILTY) every time we mess up. All guilt ain’t bad. But when we let guilt beat us down and out of our relationship with God, or cause us to wonna just give up, this is from the Devil. 

Some are trapped by the Devil right now. They think they’ve blown it or committed the unforgivable sin when they have not. If that’s you please be encouraged by God’s loving grace.😊 May we seek to encourage others with God’s forgiving grace.😊 Let’s help free them from the Devil’s trap.

I hope this article has encouraged you. It was certainly a nice journey down memory lane for me.😊

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