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Sharing the Lord's Message of Grace

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  • I AM A NEW CHRISTIAN. NOW WHAT?

    A CHRISTIAN MESSAGE

    BY WARD PIMLEY 

    Pastor, Journalist, Author

    NARRATOR

    WE ARE PRIVILEGED TODAY to drop in on the first meeting of a church class for three groups of people: new Christians, those seeking answers to life’s basic questions, as well as skeptics, who nevertheless think there could be something to that Jesus message they’ve heard about.

    The class is called Real Questions Asked by Newbies, Seekers, and Skeptics.

    Some of you might be in that category. If so, as we proceed, we will try to answer your questions about the Christian faith and its doctrines.

    We will try to post one topic a week, so those interested should bookmark us or subscribe for e-mails announcing a new posting. You can post questions to the author by clicking on “Contact Editor.”

    It looks like class is ready to start, so let’s tune in.

    INSTRUCTOR

    CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS!

    For those who recently joined the Kingdom of God through repentance of sin and declared belief in Jesus Christ as God’s Son, welcome to the family. Jesus in John 3:3 calls it being “born again.”

    For those who have walked with Christ for many years, this series should be a good refresher.

    For those who are still questioning and wondering whether you ought to jump in, you are most welcome to join us.

    It looks like we have our first question.

    STUDENT

    I recently confessed my sins to Jesus Christ and accepted Him as my Lord and Savior, but now I’m confused. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do or what my salvation means, other than I’ll go to Heaven when I die. So, really, what did I sign up for?

    INSTRUCTOR

    THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.

    Class, as you think back on your conversion experience, you might be thinking along these lines:

    I found myself walking down the aisle at the pastor’s invitation to join others, who were lined up in front of the altar, many of whom I fugre were, like me, not certain they wanted to do this but couldn’t ignore that *tug* in their hearts that said it could be the Father calling. Jesus told us in John 6:44 that “No one comes to Me unless the Father calls him.”

    After we recited the “Sinner’s Prayer” and turned our lives over to Jesus, we recall the pastor sharing some comforting Scripture with us:

    • “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
    • “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20 NLT

    You might also recall the pastor listing some categories that, he said, described what it means to be a new Christian.

    I am …

    • REGENERATED
    • REDEEMED
    • JUSTIFIED
    • ADOPTED
    • UNITED WITH CHRIST

    NARRATOR

    Well, that’s what we were looking for, isn’t it, a bunch of big words! Let’s see if the class will unpack them so we can understand what the Bible is telling us.

    INSTRUCTOR

    WE ARE FALLEN CREATURES

    THE FIRST ITEM we should discuss is how we got here, how we came to need Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, and our belief in Him to become what the Bible calls “a new creation.” 

    Let’s start with this: The world is a messed-up place.

    Adam and Eve, in their first recorded act as a married couple in the Garden of Eden, disobeyed God.

    If we could remake the world to meet all the wonderful qualities of love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, and tolerance – and teach those values to everyone so they all understand the new rules of the game – it would not take long before the world would degenerate into the same mess we have today.

    Why is that?

    Because our problems are not problems of poor government or economic poverty. They are problems of the heart. We are, by nature, rebellious men and women, disobedient to God and His word. 

    The first recorded action of man and woman in the Garden of Eden was to violate God’s command not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Disobedience was our first response to God as a newly minted married couple living in Paradise.

    However, God in His mercy, in what is called the Protoevangelium (Genesis 3:15), promised to send a savior or redeemer, the Messiah, to reclaim us and give us life. That Messiah is Jesus.

    Let’s take a look at those five categories listed above that define our new lives.

    I AM REGENERATED

    JESUS TOLD US in John 3:3 that unless we are “born again,” we will not see the Kingdom of Heaven. So, what does it mean to be “born again?” and how do we accomplish that? First, we don’t accomplish it; God does it for us.

    The transformation from death to life is a simple action on our part but one that relatively few people are willing to take. It just involves a short prayer of repentance for our sin and a declaration of belief that Jesus is (a) the Son of God, (b) that He lived a perfect life, and (c) that He died on the cross for our sins. 

    The difficulty most people have is that in that prayer, we are turning our lives and wills over to Someone else. We want to say, “My life, my will.” God gave us free will, so we can exercise that liberty, but He also calls us to give our wills over to Him. 

    When we act out our wills, we act in a manner contrary to God’s design in ways that are harmful to our health, our peace, and our self-worth. When we turn our lives over to Him in trust and obedience, He leads us in righteousness. He grants us His peace. We are bathed in His love. We have His forgiveness.

    “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. … But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” – Ephesians 2:1, 4-5 NIV

    Being “made alive” spiritually is what it means to be “saved.” It is what it means to be “regenerated.”

    Most of all, we have Heaven to look forward to as our eternal reward.

    I AM REDEEMED

    Jesus embraces us when we come to Him in childlike faith.

    REDEMPTION COMES FROM the Greek word agorazo, which means “marketplace,” and exagorazo, which means “to remove from the marketplace.” There is a third word in the Greek, lutrao, which means “freed” or “to pay a ransom.”

    When the three words are grouped together, it means we have been freed from the marketplace of sin because someone paid a ransom for us.

    The Bible says we are not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, but with something more important, more lasting, more enduring – Christ’s blood.

    We are redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” – 1 Peter 1:19 NKJV

    That means our redemption price, or salvation, was paid for by Christ’s self-sacrifice on the cross for our sake.

    I AM JUSTIFIED

    WHEN WE ARE “JUSTIFIED,” we are declared “righteous” by God; that is, the Creator has named us as “righteous” because He sees us through the sacrificial blood of His Son rather than the sin-filled beings we are. 

    “Abraham believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” – Genesis 15:6 CSB

    “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 5:1 BSB

    Our “righteousness” does not mean we are faultless or sinless, because we are not. Rather, it means God has chosen to see us as sinless because His Son has endured His wrath or anger for our sinfulness. Therefore, He can hold us as forgiven, clean, and faultless.

    That is His gift of grace. 

    “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. … For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 3:23-24; 6:23 NKJV

    I AM ADOPTED

    WHEN WE ARE ADOPTED by God, we become full-fledged members of His family. 

    The adoption by God was likened to Roman law, where the adopted son held the same privileges and property rights that would have been his if he were a natural-born son in that family. In fact, any debts or obligations he would have incurred as a member of his former family were abolished as if they never existed.

    As new Christians, we are welcomed into “God’s family,” with all the privileges and love that His bestows on His own Son. No, we are not divine, but we are wanted, adored, valued, and cherished.

    We can take comfort from the assurance God gives us in His Word:

    • “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” – Romans 8:14 ESV
    • “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs with Christ.” – Romans 8:17-18 NKJV
    • “So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.” – Galatians 4:7 CSB
    • “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” – 1 John 3:1 NKJV
    • “But to all who have received him – those who believe in his name – he has given the right to become God’s children.” – John 1:12 NET

    That should be enough to convince you of God’s love for you when you draw near to Him. He blankets you, protects you, and comforts you. Those things are true whether we understand them, or accept them, or even want them.

    If we ignore the gift, it lies fallow; if we pick it up, it becomes ours. 

    As for me, I gladly and willingly accept God’s gift of love and family. I want to draw near to Him, and He has promised to draw near to me. (See James 4:8)

    I AM UNITED WITH CHRIST


     God’s gift to mankind is eternal life. We can choose to accept it or reject it. The smart choice is to accept it.

    WHAT DOES IT MEAN to be “united” with Christ? He is divine; I am human. He is self-existing; I am created. He is eternal; I have lived a short time. (However, I am promised life from now on.) How can I possibly be “one” with Him?

    We can liken our relationship with Jesus Christ to the institution of marriage as God designed it to be, where a man and a woman each leave their parents and families of origin, become “one flesh,” and start a new family. 

    “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and unites with his wife, and they become a new family.” – Genesis 2:14 NET

    Here are some verses that describe our “oneness” with Christ:

    • We are crucified with Jesus. Galatians 2:20
    • We died with Him. Colossians 2:20
    • We are buried with Him. Romans 6:4
    • We are raised with Him. Colossians 3:1

    THREE MORE ITEMS FROM ROMANS 8:17:

    • We will suffer with Him. 
    • We are glorified with Him. 
    • We are joint heirs with Him. 

    Just a word of caution and consolation. When the Bible says we will “suffer” with Christ, there are two points to make: (1) We might be targeted for our faith; (2) Christ suffers alongside us. We want to be united with our Savior in all respects.

    In ancient Israel, Joshua confronted unbelief among the Israelites with these words:

    “If serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. … But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” – Joshua 24:15 NIV

    FINAL WORDS

    WE CAN DRAW great comfort from God’s promises. He is unlike any human in this very important aspect: He can be trusted. He keeps His word. Why is that? Well, besides being 100 percent human, He also is 100 percent devine.

    “God is not man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” – Numbers 23:19 NKJV

    “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will also help you. I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NASB

    “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

    “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 NLT

    God’s promise to restore mankind cost His Son an excruciating death on the cross, which He did for us. Let’s not leave that gift sitting on the table unopened. 

    As a new Christian, you have opened the gift, and the gift of life is now yours!

    CLOSING PRAYER

    ALMIGHTY GOD, Our Lord and Creator, we thank You for Your love and Your desire to reconcile us to fellowship with You.

    Give strength, courage, and direction, we pray, to these new Christians, all of whom have recently turned their eternal destiny over to Jesus Christ and now wonder what lies ahead. 

    We pray, O Lord, that our series of articles for new Christians and those curious about Christian beliefs will lead them faithfully to draw closer to You in their walk ahead.

    Spare them spiritual warfare, we pray, until they have the confidence to call on You for protection.

    Forgive us, Lord, when we fail You. Pick us up and direct us forward on the path You have chosen for us. 

    In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, we lift this prayer. AMEN

  • 1 PETER 5: The Promise of Divine Glory After Suffering

    This sermon emphasizes the importance of humility, trust in God, vigilance against spiritual adversity, and the promise of divine glory after suffering. It encourages believers to cast their burdens on God, remain steadfast in faith, and find strength in shared human struggles while looking forward to eternal life with Christ.

    A CHRISTIAN MESSAGE

    By WARD PIMLEY

    Pastor, Journalist, Author

    BIBLICAL TEXT SOURCE

    “Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV

    “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

    “Resist him [the devil], steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. AMEN.” – 1 Peter 5:9-11 NKJV

    PREAMBLE

    GOD VALUES OUR HUMILITY. The reason? Because it is only when we are humble that we can learn and that we will turn to Him for strength and guidance. When we walk in our own pride, we arrogantly believe all of our achievements are because of our unique skills and abilities and that profit is our due.

    When we are humble, we put aside our foolish pride and learn from the Creator, the One who fashioned us and knows us. Moreover, He loves us, so we can count on Him to give us good direction.

    We all know this, but like Adam and Eve before us, we refuse to listen. How grateful we are, then, that we worship a God who is patient with us and more than willing to forgive us. AMEN!

    PART 1. “Humble Yourself. God Resists the Proud.”

    • Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time. – 1 Peter 5:6 CSB 
    • God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. – 1 Peter 5:5b CSB (Prov. 3:34; James 4:6)
    • Proud people will be ruined, but the humble will be honored. – Proverbs 18:12 NCV

    HUMILITY IS A PREREQUISITE TO LEARNING.

    A woman often asks a man, “Are you teachable?”

    She wants to know if the man in her life will honor her and consider her desires as well as his own. That is, will he listen to her?

    • Someone who is proud and boastful will not listen.
    • Someone who will not listen to instruction will not learn.
    • Someone who will not learn will not change.
    • Someone who will not change wil not grow.
    • Someone who will not grow will not improve.

    That’s called “stubbornness,” and stubborness gets us nowhere! (Stubbornness is the opposite of determination. One is foolishness; the other is goal-oriented and purposeful.)

    My guess is we al know someone very well who can be stubborn. Right? (Hint: Look in the mirror.)

    God is tell us here, through the Apostle Peter, that He values our humility, not our pride.

    Remember, it was Lucifer’s pride that got him kicked out of Heaven. We know him as Satan, the great devil.

    Adam’s pride cost him Paradise, as he listened to his wife Eve’s invitation to eat the forbidden fruit instead of listening to God’s command not to eat the forbidden fruit.

    Eve’s pride caused her to listen to a snake instead of listening to her husband’s instruction of what God had told him. 

    Bottom line: Neither Adam nor Eve listened to God. 

    Pride got in their way.

    Sound familiar?

    Somewhere in this message you probably find yourself. I know I do. 

    I’m not happy about that. I’m not eager to admit it, but I am very grateful that I worship a God who understands human weakness and is willing to forgive us. 

    That’s why we worship Him!

    PART 2. “He Cares for You.”

    Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:7 BSB 

    I CAN SEE this image so clearly. It repeats in my mind.

    A man (or a woman) humbly comes to the foot of the cross and lays down his (or her) burdens, just as the Lord in Matthew 11 bids us do. 

    “Come to Me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 

    So, we kneel in prayer, asking God to show us mercy and take our cares away; and after we are done praying, and we are ready to leave, we pick up the bundle we had placed at Jesus’ feet, fling it over our shoulders, and walk away with it. Or, if it is too heavy for us to lift, we drag it along the ground.

    Over and over and over again we do that. Why? Why are we so unwilling to part with our burdens, our heartaches, and our sorrow? 

    How many of us hold firmly onto past grievances, unwilling to forgive others – or ourselves – and we live in our pain, even glorifying our pain, honoring it, worshipping it. We want to share it with others. We want them to know every little detail of how we hurt, and how unfair life has been to us.

    Unfortunately, for many of us, there are two things we will not do:

    1. We will not blame ourselves.
    2. We will not leave the burden with Jesus.

    Now, you might say I’m exaggerating. Maybe, but if so, it is only to make a point. Our tendency is to walk for years with every heartache and defeat and misery. Yes, they will go away for a time, and we can dull the pain with various addictions (alcohol, drugs, sex, movies, exercise, family, work, busyness).

    We feel lost without our pain. We often keep pain because we’re familiar with it. It’s like a smelly old jacket with paint stains and rips that we keep in the closet. It’s not a good style statement, but we’re used to it, and it’s a comfortable fit. 

    Jesus calls us to give our hurts and pains over to Him. He can take it from us and heal our souls.

    Why does He call us? 

    Because, as our text says, He cares about us and wants to heal us.

    Let’s leave our burdens at the cross.

    PART 3. “Be Alert. Your Adversary Is Stalking You.”

    Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. – 1 Peter 5:8 ESV

    DO YOU EVER feel you’re being watched? You don’t see the person watching you, but you can feel his or her presence.

    You can just sense it. My wife and I sometimes look around and see our Puppy staring at us. The textbooks say she’s *lurking*. Shi Tzus lurk.

    The Bible says Satan lurks.

    He’s prowling around you, maybe this very moment, looking for a chance to devour you, to catch you off your stride, to knock you down. He never tries to help you up or encourage you or enlighten you – it’s always to visit some harm on you.

    Peter tells us here to be “watchful,” anticipating his evil presence. Why is that? It’s so you can resist him better, so you can arm yourself with the armor of God sooner, so you can fling yourself into the waiting arms of Jesus Christ for protection beforesomeone hurts you or you hurt someone else.

    Remember those nine (9) fruits or characteristics that comprise the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5)? It’s actually one fruit with nine parts: 

    LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF-CONTROL.

    Those traits that comprise the one unit or fruit (singular) are prayers that God gives us to sustain during Satan’s attacks, during spiritual warfare, when our heart breaks, when we’re angry and frustrated, when we’re discouraged or hurt, or when we’re __ (fill in the blank here with your pain).

    Being sober-minded means being clear-headed. It is the opposite of unfocused vision or distorted sound or tipsy walking or loose lips or impatient temperament. 

    It’s recognizing you have an enemy who wants to take you away from God, and he’ll use any temptation at his disposal to lure you into his lair. Those temptations, not surprisingly, are the ones that speak to you. He watches what tempts you, and then he uses those temptations to harm you.

    Jesus warned us about him with these words: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” – John 10:10 ESV

    Somewhere in this message is you! 

    Yeah, that’s you! and it’s me. That’s why God put this verse in the Bible: It’s because He cares about us, and He longs to help us. He tells us what’s wrong with us so He can help us. He tells us to be watchful; to be careful; and to place our trust and confidence in Him.

    Remember what we said earlier about people not listening? Those who don’t listen don’t learn, and those who don’t learn don’t change.

    Non-listeners are non-learners. Don’t be a non-learner. Pay attention and trust God.

    PART 4. “After Your Suffering, He Will Glorify You.”

    Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. – 1 Peter 5:9 NKJV

    BROTHER (SISTER) YOU are not alone. You are not unique.

    Whatever you are going through right now, someone else also is going through it; another someone else already went through it; and yet another someone else is about to go through it.

    You are an individual, and God knows your name, but the suffering and pain and hurts that you experience are common to all mankind. Sorry, you are not the only one. The world is not dumping on you. The world is broken. Our sin tarnished God’s perfect creation.

    The Apostle Peter wrote this verse to encourage believers facing persecution and hardship. He wanted to assure his flock that God will not abandon those who suffer for their faith. You can be assured that God can use your life to show His grace to those around you, whether it be family or friends, staff or fellow residents.

    Some people have it better than you do; some have it worse. All have something. Everyone suffers.

    Suffering is part of the human condition, but those who believe in Jesus enjoy the promise of an eternity in Paradise with Him.

    The Bible says (in Romans) that the universe is “groaning” until Jesus returns, when He will right all the world’s wrongs and govern justly.

    This world is not our home. This world never will feel “just right” to us, even though some individual moments might feel comfortable. We spend our lives in discontent; always wishing for something we don’t have or lamenting something we do have.

    We rarely just feel at ease.

    The saving grace is that Jesus told us in advance (John 16:33) that we will have trials and tribulations in this world but to take heart. Why? He said, “Because I have overcome the world.” 

    This devil that bothers us has nothing on Jesus. He cannot harm Jesus. Yes, he will put Him on that cross, but then Jesus will rise from the dead and defeat Satan and death and evil and sin. 

    Listen to this admonition from the Book of James. James was the half-brother of Jesus. (That is, Mary was their mother; Joseph was James’ biological father but only Jesus’ legal father.)

    This is what James said about trials and tribulations in this life:

    “Consider it pure joy, my brothers [and sisters], when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” – JAMES 1:2-4 BSB

    FINAL WORDS

    OUR TRIALS MAKE us stronger.

    Just like an oyster becomes a pearl through friction, we humans become stronger in our faith walk as we soldier through difficulty, trudging through one step at a time, ever onward, ever upward.

    You have heard the secular expressions, often associated with sports or other competitive endeavors: No pain, no gain. You must give something to get something. You must hurt a little to reap the glory. You must struggle to learn, to grow, to mature, to become stronger. 

    Facing difficulties ~ and placing your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as you do so ~ will help you become a stronger man or woman in your faith walk, and you’ll draw closer to Jesus Christ in the process.

    More important, Jesus promised (Matthew 28:20) to be with us every step of the way.

    PRAYER

    ABBA FATHER, GRACIOUS GOD – We thank You for Your gift to us of life – of temporal life on earth and the promise of eternal life in heaven.

    We thank You, God, for giving us the gift of Jesus Christ dying on the cross, paying the price we could not satisfy for our sins, taking the wrath of God upon Himself to spare us from that terror.

    O Lord, our God, bless each one of us, we pray, with guidance from the Holy Spirit so that we might be ambassadors for Christ, living out the gospel in our actions so that we can earn the right to share the gospel with our words – our testimony – our thanksgiving.

    We lift this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus.

    BENEDICTION

    To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:11 NKJV

    Peace be to you all who are in Christ.  1 Peter 5:14 NASB

    AMEN and AMEN

  • A BLESSING FOR YOU FROM GOD

    The Bible contains many greetings and blessings, benedictions and prayers, most of which we tend to gloss over as just part of the background. Yet, why not spend some time thumbing through the various books, especially the New Testament epistles, to uncover some gems that you could use in your correspondence. This lesson contains one such promise.

    Message by Ward Pimley

    “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” – III JOHN 2 (NKJV)

    “Amado, yo deseo que tú seas prosperado en todas las cosas, y que tengas salud, así como prospera tu alma.” – 3 Juan 2 (RVR1960)

     DO YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF looking for the “perfect” card for someone? 

    You know, something with a message that feels “authentic” and heartfelt, that conveys the love or admiration or respect you have for the card’s recipient, instead of a packaged saccharine sentiment that does not quite match the moment?

    Awhile back, a pastor friend sent me a card with a note to check out 3 John 2, a one-chapter letter written by the Apostle John to his friend Gaius. [John’s third letter has only one chapter; sometimes it’s written as 3 John 2, other times as 3 John 1:2.] 

    The verse is appropriate for scribbling inside a card or even to share on social media or your signature panel. It’s also good for meditation! 

    Here it is: 

    “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” – 3 JOHN 1:2 (NKJV)

    Think about it, how it captures a well-being for both the spirit as well as the body and mind.

    What message could be better!

    But wait! That’s not all! The Holy Bible is filled with great verses that offer hope, encouragement, love, grace, forgiveness … whatever compassionate feeling you want to express.

    So, the next time you select a ready-made card that misses the mark, why not thumb through your Bible and select something uplifting from the Creator? 

    ~Finding Daily Gems~

    Better yet, why not look for those gems every day? That way, you’ll find them daily and you’ll know exactly which one you want to include in that card to a loved one.

    Peace as you spend time with your Lord in prayer.

    While we’re at it, this message assumes the blessing of 3 John 2 is true for you, as well. 

    Are you in good health, are your basic needs met, and most importantly, is your soul in synch with the Creator? If so, you already know how to share the Bible’s gems with others.

    If not, then would you like to take this moment to correct that? If the Lord leads you in prayer, you can pray along with me (or choose your own words) this prayer of salvation, called the “Sinner’s Prayer.”

    ALMIGHTY GOD, please hear my prayer. I know I am a sinner in need of Your redemption. I believe Jesus is Your Son, the second Person in the Trinity, and that He lived a perfect life and died a painful, degrading death on Calvary’s Cross for my sin, to atone for me. Lord, forgive my sin, and help me live a transformed life, in Your image, as You planned for me. Lord, I commend my soul to You and Your safekeeping. In Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN

    IF YOU JUST PRAYED THAT PRAYER (or one similar to it), and were genuine in your prayer, then welcome to the Kingdom of God and the blessings of peace, joy, and eternal life. 

    May you prosper in health and prosperity … just as your soul prospers.

    ~PRAYER~

    ALMIGHTY GOD, our gracious and loving Lord, we thank You for Your lovingkindness, Your grace and mercy, and Your willingness to forgive. We know our access to the throne of grace is only through the shed blood of Your Son. Lord, we pray for the health and prosperity of our loved ones, that they may come to know You, the only true God. In Jesus’ name. AMEN

  • LIVING AS JESUS LIVED-Watching How We Act and How We Talk

    As followers of Jesus Christ, it’s not enough that we proclaim our faith; we also need to live as He lived, to act and talk in a way that glorifies Him. Why? So we can lead more people to place their trust in Him for their salvation. With His help, we can do all that despite our personal failings.

    • 1 John 2:6 (NKJV) “He who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk just as He walked.” 
    • 1 Juan 2:6 (RVR1960) «El que dice que permanece en él, debe andar como él anduvo.»

    Message By Ward Pimley

    You’ve heard that popular saying: “Walk the walk; don’t just talk the talk.”

    You know what it means: It means to be “authentic,” to be the “real deal,” to live out your life, your everyday life, in the same manner, according to the same  guidelines, that you say you do. 1 John 2:6 NLT says it this way: “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” 

    As followers of Jesus Christ, we proclaim to the world that we believe in Him, that we listen to Him, and so we also ought to live as He lived. 

    THE BIBLE – Where God’s Answers Meet Man’s Questions

    Since that’s an impossibility — we are not perfect as He is — we need to add the caveat that we *try* to live our lives as He showed us how to live, but that in our failings, when we humbly come to Him and repent of our faults, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins. (1 John 1:9)†

    CHRISTIANITY’S GIFT TO MANKIND

    THAT IS THE REAL GIFT we Christians offer the world.

    That’s why we’re different, and it is in that promise, that relationship with Almighty God, that we are given the greatest gift possible — eternal life in Paradise with God (Luke 23:43; 1 John 2:25).

    Do you know the Lord? Do you really *know* Him? Do you have a personal relationship with Him? If you do, you will enjoy the promise that God, who cannot lie, has made — eternal life with Him. 

    If you do not have a personal relationship with Him, there’s another promise that God, who cannot lie, holds out to you — eternal life without Him.

    If you choose to live in this world with Him, you will spend eternity with Him. If you choose to live in this world without Him, you will spend eternity without Him,

    Which future do *you* want?

    ~PRAYER~

    If you want the peace, the joy, and the abundant life that God promises (John 10:10), then humbly and sincerely recite this prayer (or use your own words expressing the same thought):

    FATHER IN HEAVEN, I am a sinner in need of Your forgiving grace. I believe in Your Son, Jesus Christ, and that He lived a sinless life to become a sacrifice for my sinful heart and then suffered and died on the Cross to bear the wrath that I deserve. Lord, this gift of atonement is so wonderful – I want it for myself. Please forgive me, Lord God, and send Your Holy Spirit into my heart. Become my Savior, but even more than my Savior, come into my heart and be my Lord. With a grateful and believing heart, I pray.

    AMEN

    IF YOU GENUINELY PRAYED THAT PRAYER (OR ONE LIKE IT), WELCOME TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD!

    Now that you claim the mantel of God’s adopted child (John 1:12; Romans 8:14), walk as He walked (Galatians 5:25; 1 John 2:6). 

    As you enter your new life as a disciple of Jesus Christ, please make it a priority to:

    1. Open your Bible daily and read His inspired word  (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21), 
    2. Pray daily to the loving Father (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 12:12), and 
    3. Live for Him daily in your personal walk (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). 

    YOU’LL BE BLESSED IF YOU DO (REVELATION 1:3).

    †Unless otherwise marked, Bible references are to the NIV Bible (2011 copyright).