Greetings in the majestic name of our Lord Jesus—the One who gave an account for the sins of the world. Jesus accepted responsibility for every sin man would ever commit. He received the punishment, and through the Cross went to hell for you and me. Jesus paid our debt, so we do not have to.
Jesus paid the price—all you have to do is go to Him and accept the payment. If you don’t, then you have to pay the bill; however, your sins have accumulated a debt that you can’t pay! In fact, you can never work them off because your sin has eternally indebted and marked you. For example, take someone who has killed another person by driving under the influence. You can’t fix that.
But it doesn’t have to be that drastic. You may have said or done something unloving and unknowingly cut a person’s heart. Perhaps it killed a dream or gift in them. Those gifts and dreams could have affected the lives of countless others. Saying you are sorry will never fix things such things. Nothing can pay the price for sin except the blood of Jesus. Nothing can wash you clean again—nothing but the blood of Jesus. Without His blood and anointing, you can never overcome or purge your conscience of such useless actions. But again, you must accept this payment.
If someone buys you a meal at a nice restaurant, you would thank them. What if they bought you a house or a new car? I would be very appreciative. But Jesus did so much more than just giving you material things. He gave you the eternal, abundant life of God. We do not only owe Jesus a thank you, but we are indebted to Him. He expects your love and gratitude. “What? Jesus expects something of me?” The answer is, yes! Consider these verses.
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Jesus expects you to come to Him and join yourself together with Him; take on His burden by sacrificing things in the life you now live in your current body. It is a reasonable service for the price that He paid for you. Besides, as you learn from Him, His burden is light and easy.
It is reasonable for you to render your service to Jesus. What service would this be? To love one another as Christ has loved you (remember that love is not a feeling, but an act). You cannot even have faith without love. The Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 5:6 that faith works by love. Your faith started when Jesus died on the Cross—that was the greatest act of love (John 3:16). It is hearing of His act of love for you before you ever knew Him, that brings you faith to be saved (Romans 10:17). Pastor James tells us that faith without works is dead (James 2:20); the “works” are works of love. If you have no love for the one who saved you, how can you have faith that you are saved?
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
—Ephesians 2:8-9
Grace is the gift of God, which is Jesus’ sacrificial work on the Cross. Then God’s faith is implanted into you by the work of the Holy Spirit when you hear the Word. He then sheds the revelation of God’s awesome work of love abroad in your heart. It’s not by your works, but by the works of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. So many times we have heard, “You are not saved by works,” yet it seems that right many works were done, just not yours.
From that point forward, however, there is a part that you’re expected to carry out. Depending on the effort (work) you put forth will affect the level of salvation you walk in and enjoy. If you never do another thing, you still are on your way to heaven someday, but, in not doing anything to walk out your salvation, Satan will have a better chance of getting you off that path. Jesus calls this process sifting (Luke 22:31). Satan’s goal in the sifting process is to cause you to reject the payment that was made for you, causing you to err and miss that day, thus spending an eternity with Satan. This is not an easy task for Satan; however, if he has no opposition, he can get it done. Jesus says:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”—John 14:15
Paul points out that you must:
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13
These are benefits of safety to keep Satan from sifting you. You see, you were bought and paid for, and you must go to your new Master in obedience to receive the knowledge of His benefits (Matt.11:29). These benefits are great and wonderful. You come to Jesus (The Word) and learn what you must do to walk in these benefits. Jesus is the author of our salvation (Heb. 5:9). He writes out the plan, then as we follow the plan, Jesus puts the finishing touches on our lives as we are perfected in love.
You just can’t meet Jesus one time, give him your attention and expect to enjoy all the benefits that come when you get to know Him. I have met President Trump, but he and I don’t talk on the phone, send each other texts or go to one another’s houses for dinner. I haven’t talked to him since we met. With that kind of relationship, I can’t expect to ride on Air Force One or Marine One, go to the White House for fine meals with dignitaries or receive the protection of the secret service that comes with being close to the President. He would most likely not even recognize me. Does Jesus recognize you?
Jesus knows your love walk, which is your works. He tells us multiple times in the majestic book of Revelation alone, “I know your works.” But does He know you intimately? Moreover, do you know Him that way? He will tell some that call Him “Lord” to depart from Him; He never knew them (Luke 13:27). We are accountable to the Lord for our lives. He has given us everything that pertains to life and God-likeness. Our supply is unlimited. If we never use any of this, we will answer for not doing so. We will give an account at the Judgement Seat of Christ. It will not be like it is today in our country wherein there is a great lack of accountability—from fathers abandoning their children to corrupt government leaders.
No, in that day it will be like the parable of the talents in Matthew chapter 25. The Master will come, and those who used what they were given will hear, “Well done good and faithful servant.” And those who did nothing with what they were given will hear, “Wicked and evil servant,” and then be cast into outer darkness. You are never required to do more than you can do, but to do nothing can be very dangerous. Jesus did say that He has the power to blot your name out of the Book of Life in Revelation 3:5.
In order to assist with the climax of the ages, each and every member of the Body of Christ must do their part— no matter how small or insignificant they think it is in God’s master plan. Those of us in the pulpit are not more important than the believer in the congregation. If one part of the body is weak, the whole body is weak. We are instructed to “say” when we are weak, that we are strong! You are anointed of God to win souls if you have been born again. It is the wise action to take according to Proverbs 11:30. You can help win souls in many ways—praying, giving finances, one on one, or simply living a holy and blessed life which gives credit to Jesus; all will be a witness in these Last Days. I implore you to be about the Father’s business. It is in these times we need to be seeking the kingdom of God so all things can be added unto us. Our adversary is stealing, killing and destroying in people’s lives every day, Christians and non-Christians alike.
Michelle and I are doing our best to be accountable to God and you. We desire to see you empowered and living an overcoming life. We also desire to see souls won, and for those who have slid away from God to run back to Him. We could not do this without your help. So, thank you for your prayers and financial support.
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