If you think you’ve done something so horrible that God can’t forgive you, you should realize that what you’re really saying is that your sin is more powerful than God. And that’s a lie! Nothing is more powerful than God – nothing. There’s only one sin that is unforgivable, and that’s blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:28-29). That involves speaking against the Holy Spirit, or saying that a work of the Holy Spirit is in fact from the devil. And from what I’ve been taught, it’s unforgivable because the person who commits it is so hardened against God that they won’t ask forgiveness.
If you’re concerned that you’ve committed this sin, it’s a pretty good bet that you haven’t, because your heart is still concerned about sin.
So, if you’re thinking you’re too far gone to be any good to God, you need to have a sit-down talk with Him, and let Him remind you how much He loves you. He’ll probably point out some people in the Bible who messed up pretty badly and still came back into a right relationship with Him.
It’s a good thing to be concerned about how you’re living, and whether you’re living for Him – but remember, you can’t be good enough to earn your way into His grace, and you can’t spend enough money to buy your way into His grace – but that’s what makes it grace- because it’s freely given to each of us; it’s His gift to us.
Monthly Archives: August 2015
James 5:7
James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh
What Tools are You Carrying with You?
If you ride regularly, you know the importance of a well-outfitted toolbag for your bike. Yes, it came with a basic toolkit, but I’m sure you’ve found out that those few tools, while important, just cover the basics. You’ve discovered some other important tools to add.
Some of the items I’ve added to mine include zip ties, electric tape, large safety pins, Gorilla Glue, Multi-tools, tweezers, rubber bands and small bungee cords. Of course, I’ve got some extra Allen wrenches in the sizes I use most.
I also carry a set of rain gear, some plastic bags, a small Bible, a well packed safety kit, and some small toys – you never know when you’re going to meet up with a small person who might be interested.
All these things are useful, but they won’t do me any good unless I carry them with me. The greatest raingear in the world isn’t going to keep me dry if it’s sitting in the garage.
The same goes for our spiritual tools- it’s great to own a Bible and some study books, but if you aren’t using them regularly, you’re not getting any good out of them. God wrote the Bible so we could use what’s in it for our good, and for the good of those around us.
We’ve got to put the Word in us.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15
Bring the tithes into the storehouse
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.
“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the Lord of hosts; Mal. 3:10-11
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God doesn’t want His tithes because He’s greedy; He doesn’t need our money. He owns the cattle of a thousand hills.
But He does know that kingdom principles ALWAYS work. One of those principles is to give tithes back to God; they already belong to Him; but it’s our willingness to give it back to Him, even when we think we can’t do without it – that willing heart shows God that we will put Him first, even if it means we have to do without some things.
So notice how those verses go together- that’s not an accident or a coincidence. “Bring your tithes to the warehouse, that there may be food in My house” – does God need food? No, but we can take care of needy folks with that food and money (and isn’t that what a church operating in God’s will does?)
God pours out blessings on us when we follow His Will in things. He’ll pour out on us such blessings there won’t be room for it. (And don’t assume that all blessings are monetary.)
But verse 11 really speaks to me- God will rebuke the devourer for my sake – he won’t be able to stop the seeds I’m planting – my harvests will be great, because I’m doing what God asks me to. I do my part, however small it might be, and God will do His part- and His part is world-wide!
I Peter 4:7
1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Isaiah 55:7
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
James 4:13
James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.