Trust in the Mercy of Jesus

 Jesus loves you as you are. If you are an alcoholic, he does not love your addiction, but he loves you.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Jn 3:16–17 NIV

God created the human race. He loves what he created and he is grieved and angry with what we have done with his creation, but although he is horrified by what we have done, he never stopped loving us.

Some of Hitler’s Nazi leadership group turned to Jesus before they were executed and God forgave them. God will not forgive just because you feel guilty, but you must be willing to change.

So if your life is rotten, do you have to give up all your sins before you be forgiven, before you can receive eternal life. There are sins that you do not even realise are sins. There are sinful addictions that you cannot overcome in your own strength.

Come to Jesus as you are. If you are sincere in trusting Jesus, he will save you first and then set about cleaning you up. Even then Jesus will not force you to stop doing bad things, but he will help you to get free.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Mt 11:28 NRSVue

We all carry heavy burdens. If we don't have a guilty conscience, there are things we should feel guilty about.

But guilt for sin is not the only burden we carry. It may not even be the burden that is distressing you the most. You may be crushed by the sins others have committed against you, domestic violence, sexual abuse, workplace bullying or many other terrible things.

Come to Jesus with your burdens and let Him supernaturally relieve you of the traumas that you cannot deal with yourself.

Talk to Jesus about your burdens. He is listening. Preachers tell you you must have faith. Many people in despair have cried out to Jesus in spite of their doubts. So many have cried out to Jesus, like this.

“Jesus, if you really exist, please change me. If you are real, I want to give you my life!”

God spoke through and Old Testament prophet:

Call to me, and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jer 33:3 NRSVue

A grieving single mother mourned the death of her daughter. She went to church and told the pastor she wanted to invite Jesus into her life so she could see her daughter in heaven.

The pastor said that was not a sufficiently good motive to merit salvation. He sent her away. Only some time later she had a personal encounter with Jesus and received salvation.

Do you believe the pastor was right? I absolutely do not. Jesus wanted to meet her as she was. He is willing to receive you and me where we are. When we take the first step, he will lead us on from there.

God wants to help you.

 Jesus left Judea and returned to Galilee. It was a long walk, and at noon he took a break at a well in Samaria. 

There he found a woman drawing water from the well.

 It was taboo for Jews to talk to Samaritans. Jesus was also a Bible teacher, and no rabbi was allowed to speak to a woman alone. 

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”

Jesus was alone with this woman because his disciples had gone to the nearby town to buy supplies. The woman was surprised that Jesus spoke to her.

So the Samaritan woman said to him, “How do you, being a Jew, ask from me water to drink, since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jn 4:9 LEB

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you had known the gift of God and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me water to drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” Jn 4:10 LEB

Are you a little religious, virtuous and idealistic? That's a good start, but there's more. Many pastors preach humanistic philosophy, and their listeners have nothing more than vague ideas about God and eternal reality.

Are you a Christian? Do you expect an eternal future in heaven? That's good. But if you knew what Jesus wants to give you here on earth, you would pray from the heart and expect miracles.

Are you entangled in drug addiction, prostitution, pornography or the occult?
 
The woman in this story was despised in her society, but she may not have been to blame.

The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband,’ 

for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!” Jn 4:17–18 NRSVue

In this society, only the man had the say. Five husbands had rejected her? Why?
Was she unable to bear sons? 
Had she been sexually abused and was unable to satisfy her husband? 
Was she extremely depressed, traumatised and moody?

How could she survive as a woman who had been divorced five times? As a beggar? As a prostitute?

Jesus did not look at her sins, but at her need. He simply loved her.

Jesus died on the cross for you and your sins. He simply loves you.

No matter where you are, Jesus wants to bless you.

When you entrust your life completely to Jesus, God's Spirit comes and dwells in your spirit.

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, Eph 3:20 NRSVue

Why do we expect so little from God? What is your problem?
Have you failed? Jesus can give you strength and wisdom to live a new life.

Are you caught up in a colourless, decent religious routine? Jesus freed the decent Jews of his time from their religious treadmill. Jesus gave his disciples a new life filled with joy, freedom and adventure.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. Jn 10:10 NRSVue

Are you addicted to pornography? You can never enter God's heaven with pornography, but Jesus can set you free.

Jesus was tortured on the cross. Through his suffering, he took the punishment for all your sins upon himself.

If only you knew how God can and wants to help you, you would cry out for God's help and have a new life.

God's Frustration

 God's frustration.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Lk 13:34 NIV

Jesus loved everyone, even the stubborn Pharisees and priests who persecuted him.

… God our Saviour, 
who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Ti 2:3–4 NIV

God wants to save everyone, but many do not want to trust God. 

That is God's frustration.

God sacrificed his best to save everyone.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Jn 3:16–17 NIV

God has plans and purposes that will inevitably come to pass.

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Rev 21:1–4 NIV

But God also has intentions and desires that can be frustrated.

He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. Jn 1:11 NLT

When Jesus visited his hometown, the people did not want to respect him as the Messiah.

Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offence at him. 

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 

He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. Mk 6:3–5 NIV

Notice the words, “He could not.” There are things that God can not do unless we let him. God chooses to limit his actions according to our free choices.

God is love. When you love deeply and strongly and those you love, reject you, you feel deep pain. God also feels this pain.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 Jn 4:8 NIV

If you do not experience God's blessing, please do not blame God. 

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. Jn 10:10 NKJV

He wants to forgive you, bless you, heal you, and give you a new life. 

It's up to you. 

You can pray this way and receive God's amazing answer, but you must really mean what you pray.
“Jesus, if you exist, come into my life and forgive all my sins.”

Jesus is not a fairy tale.

‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Jer 33:3 NKJV

Witch Set Free from Demons

 God created you. Your birth was planned and wanted by God because He saw you and loved you before the creation of the world. 

No matter whether the circumstances of your birth were favourable or not, God simply loves you.
No matter what you have done or what has been done to you. God simply loves you.

This creation is corrupt, but not completely ruined.

God has a cruel enemy who wants to poison and destroy all of God's works, and he has done a lot of damage, perhaps even in your life.

No matter what has happened in your life, God has a plan to give you a good future.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 NIV

I once saw a preacher from Brazil in a video recording. She told how she had been dedicated to demons from birth because her whole family worshipped the devil.

As a toddler, she was tormented by demons. She couldn't sleep without terrible nightmares. 

At the age of twelve, she became possessed by demons who drove her to live as a prostitute on the streets. Gradually, she learned to live her life as a witch with magical powers. She became a notorious witch, and Christians prayed for her.

She herself became cruel, but was also terribly tormented. The devil is very cruel, even to his slaves. Her suffering became unbearable until she desperately sought help. She did not know which spirit was stronger, the devil or God, but she prayed for help.

Jesus then visited her and she saw a vision from God, like in a video. She saw Jesus suffering and dying on the cross, taking the punishment for her sins upon himself.

She converted to Jesus, but then her little daughter fell ill. The devils sought revenge and her daughter died, but she herself was forgiven and freed by Jesus.

Then God raised her up to give her testimony. Many prostitutes and occultists were converted. As a witch, she was very dangerous, but as a Christian preacher, she became a powerful weapon in God's hands.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn 3:16 NIV

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Rom 5:10 NIV

Be Merciful like Jesus

 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jn 8:12 NIV

Being a Christian means following Jesus. In the NT, Jesus had disciples who literally walked around Israel with him. This is no longer possible, so what does it mean to follow Jesus today?

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Jn 8:31–32 NASB95

Jesus is no longer with us as a man of flesh and blood, but he has given us His word, his truth, his teaching and his promises.

You cannot be a Christian unless you seriously try to base your life on the Bible.

But how can we do this? The Bible is a big book with many confusing details. We need guidance and teaching, but the people who persecuted Jesus were the Bible experts of his day.

There are bible experts today who enslave believers with cruel hierarchy and life destroying religion. If we are protestant Christians, we must not deceive ourselves by thinking these bad religious leaders are only Jews or Roman Catholics.

In the first chapter of the Gospel of John, we see how Jesus applied the Bible.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jn 1:14 NIV

There are Christians who aggressively preach truth to attack and shame sinners, and preachers who rule churches with fear. Jesus was full of truth, but He always approached people with grace, mercy and love.

Jesus always applied Bible truth with love and mercy, and so must we.

Yesterday, our pastor reminded us that Jesus appointed us to be the light of the world. If we live in the light of Jesus, we will ourselves shine as a light from God for others.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Mt 5:14 NIV

This is true, but we can use the light of God’s truth to bless people or condemn them. If you turn on the light in a dark place, people can see where they are going, but if you shine a laser in someone’s eyes, it can destroy his eyesight.

There are aggressive preachers and culture warriors who do just that. They attack people with Bible truth and drive people away from the love of God. We must never do this.

An Atheist Finds God

Perhaps you think you cannot believe. If you want to believe, God will help you to come to faith.

A young atheist felt the emptiness in his soul. He saw a church and went in, where he observed pious worshippers.

He began to speak to God in his own way.

God, if you exist, and I don't believe you do, then I don't think it's my duty to believe in you. On the contrary, it is your duty to reveal your existence to me. If you exist, then let me find you.

In a remote village lived an old man who loved Jesus. He prayed for years that God would help him bring a Jew to faith.

One day, the young atheist, who was Jewish, was going on a journey. He looked for accommodation in the village and the old Christian welcomed him.

He gave him a Bible to read. As the young man read the Testament, he felt the love of God like fire in his heart and he believed.

The young atheist was of Jewish origin, but only when he met Jesus as his Messiah did he find the God of Israel.

Are you Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist? It doesn't matter. Jesus was born a Jew and lived on earth as a Jew, but he died on a cruel cross to suffer the punishment for our sins.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn 3:16 NIV

Paul. Greatest sinner became God's Messenger

 God used the shameful past of Rahab and other prostitutes as a testimony to help other sinful people believe and be forgiven.

Paul's sinful past was not adultery or witchcraft, but self-righteous religious pride.

Paul's religious ambition drove him to be an outstanding biblical scholar, but there was no humility of love in his heart. His religion led him to persecute and murder followers of Jesus.

Paul became an enemy of Jesus and an enemy of the God he thought he served. Then came the day when everything changed.

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:3–6 NIV

God never forgot Paul's sin. It is recorded in the Bible, in the Word of God.

Paul also remembered his sin.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Tim 1:15–16 NIV

Paul was a living example of the mercy and grace that were at the centre of his message and ministry.
If there is extreme shame in your life, be encouraged.

“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. Is 54:4 NIV

How can the deepest shame lead to eternal blessing in God's hands? Jesus hung stark naked on the cross to open the door to eternal glory for you and me.

Jesus forgave prostitutes and brutal religious leaders when they believed and repented. What can we learn from this. Pray for pimps, drug dealers and hypocritical preachers. No one is too bad to be forgiven.

Saved by the Love of God

 If you try to obey Jesus, to serve God, to help others with love for your neighbour, then God's heart beats over you with joy.

The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zep 3:17 NKJV

What does this mean?

Can we earn God's approval through good works? Not at all.

How do we come to God?

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Jn 11:25–26 NKJV

Your faith is crucial, but there are many who acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God and who strive to live virtuously, but you see no radiance of God's love in their lives.

There are those who do good works for Jesus and they hope to earn God's acceptance.

But there are also Christians who are humbly aware that they are only saved by God's mercy and forgiveness.

God loves you because he loves you.

He created you out of pure love. He longs for you to get to know him. He wants to have an intimate love relationship with you.

A duty-orientated religious person cannot even grasp this idea.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” Jn 3:3 NIV

If God gives you the insight that you can only stand before his judgement seat through his forgiveness and cannot be saved by any good works, then you can ask Jesus to give you his New Life, and only as a gift.

Jesus has already paid the price on the cross.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23 NIV

If you have started a completely new life with Jesus, you are God's beloved son or daughter.

For God, your trust and childlike love are much more important than your works.

But who can truly love God without following Jesus?

God is love. He loves not only you, but all your fellow human beings, everyone, even the terrorists, drug dealers and pimps.  

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn 3:16 NIV

 A beloved child with good parents wants to become like his parents. When we have truly discovered the love of God, we will also love our fellow human beings.

Those who experience God's love every day want to pass on God's love.

All who truly love God, want to serve God.

All who love their fellow human beings, want to help them.

All who come to Jesus with a humble heart will find an open door to a new life.

“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. Jn 10:9 NASB95

Those who live this new life in close fellowship with Jesus become like Jesus himself, a tree of life that produces heavenly fruit.

What kind of fruit did Jesus produce in his earthly life?

Tender love, extreme mercy, amazing wisdom, deep humility and fearless proclamation of the truth that can only come from God.

Jesus is waiting for your prayer. He will never let you down.

God is calling Failures. Start again.

 Perhaps you have failed and lost all hope.

Perhaps you have dared to do something for God, but you have failed, or other Christians have betrayed you. Maybe you are disappointed with your marriage or with your children. That really hurts.

But right now, God wants you to know that He still has a purpose for your life.

God wants to restore his disappointed children. God will transform failures in this season to do great things by His grace.

HERMANN ZAISS

Hermann Zaiss (1889 - 1958) was an outstanding German evangelist.

In 1924 he suffered terrible disappointments. His wife suffered a total nervous breakdown and became chronically mentally ill.

His marriage failed and he was misunderstood by Christian congregations and condemned by many.

He was so traumatised that he gave in to despair and told God he wanted nothing more to do with Him. But after 20 years, God would call him again if it would please God.

In the meantime, he remarried and God called his new wife to a living faith.

During the Second World War, they suffered bombing raids from the British and Americans. His wife wanted to start a Bible study group, but he didn't want to.

Then in 1944, exactly 20 years after leaving God, he and his wife knelt together and gave their lives to God's service.

They started a Bible study group that became a church of 120 and then a group of 250 after the war.

People from all over Germany and other countries came and experienced miraculous healings.

A German Jew in the British Army of Occupation came to faith and his hatred of Germany was transformed into a deep love.

A fanatical SS officer was transformed and he became friends with the newly converted Jew.

If you are disappointed with your life, let Jesus take on your disappointments.

He suffered and died on the cross to save you from your disappointment.

Jesus stands by your side now and he calls you as he once called Peter, Peter the failure who became Peter the apostle.

… fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Heb 12:2–3 NIV

You are the Light of the World

 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jn 8:12 NIV

Light is sown like seed for the righteous And gladness for the upright in heart. Ps 97:11 NASB95

When you receive the New Life that can only be found in Jesus, God transforms your heart and soul. God comes into your life.

God is light and he wants to shine in you. He wants to make your whole life shine.

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 2 Cor 5:17 NRSV

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. Is 60:1 NRSV

Sometimes this transformation is immediate and dramatically visible, but sometimes a newly converted Christian changes step by step.

I know a Christian woman in Germany who used to visit brothels. She invited a prostitute to a church service. In the middle of the service, the prostitute suddenly stood up. She shouted loudly: ``Now I believe in Jesus. I want to be baptised now.

Another prostitute started attending a church. She began to believe. She tried to be kind, sincere and gentle.

Then she started donating in the church. Finally she plucked up the courage to leave the brothel behind.

When did she actually become a Christian? Only God knows.

Will you allow Jesus to love with you and through you to reach the lost people around you?

You may want to genuinely love other people like Jesus, but you cannot love like Jesus without receiving the love of God from Jesus himself.

In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 Jn 4:10 NRSV

The heart of the Christian life is to receive God's love every day and to pass it on every day.

Condemned Man Refuses Pardon

 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Heb 4:15 NIV

We have a wonderful high priest. He continually cares for you. He never stops thinking about you.

All his thoughts about you are loving and kind.

You can't stop God from loving you.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:8 NIV
 
For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God's goodness into us! 2 Corinthians 5:21 (TLB)

God wants to grant you a complete pardon and give you a whole new life.

God's love is unconditional. He loves you as you are and he loves you because he loves you.

But God grants his pardon with one condition. You cannot earn God's forgiveness, but you must accept his mercy.

In 1830, a criminal in the USA was sentenced to death, but the president wanted to pardon him.

The man, however, refused the presidential pardon and he had to die.
That was his God-given freedom of will.

You and I also have this freedom of will. We can gratefully accept or reject God's grace.

Jesus sees all your offences and failures, but he also sees your despair and feels your suffering.

His heart beats for you.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Rev 3:20 NIV

A woman in Iran was watching a banned Christian television program. She heard the preacher quoting this invitation from Jesus. Then she heard a knock. She went to the front door and she saw Jesus. She invited him in and she immediately believed in Jesus.

Do you want to invite Jesus in too?

God will not reject you. It's up to you.

Strong and Weak Believers

 Do you trust Jesus with all your heart? Are you determined to live in a way that pleases God? Then you will be completely forgiven, not partially forgiven.
Are you saved then?

Absolutely.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn 3:16 NIV

You are either on your way to heaven or on your way to hell.

But Jesus preached not only forgiveness, but repentance. God doesn't just want to forgive you, he wants to free you from sin.

When sinners are converted, we often see dramatic changes, but in other cases the change seems slower, but if your character does not begin to change, your faith is nothing more than religion. Religion does not save.

My father gave his life to Jesus when he was 88. He lived another 3 years after that. He was demented and helpless, but we saw a change. Before his conversion, he was desperate and hopeless.

How are you doing? ‘Still alive.’

But afterwards we saw no trace of despair.

Paul was very strict in some respects.

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men
nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor 6:9–10 NIV

But he recognised that some Christians are strong in faith and others are weak. We need to remember that it is not a sin to desire something forbidden. It is only sin if we give in to temptation.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul recognises Christians as saints, although he then writes in the letter about their sins and character flaws, which they have not yet overcome.

There are Christians who regard sex before marriage as normal, and these Christians should recognise their danger.

But there are also Christians who condemn themselves for every misstep and see themselves as hopeless failures and damned sinners.

It is for these Christians that Paul wrote the marvellous promises of God.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Rom 5:1–2 NIV

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Rom 8:1 NIV

Love Your Neighbour

 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Gal 5:14 NIV

I must love my neighbour, says Jesus.
Who is my neighbour?

• My neighbour is my workmate or my boss.

• My neighbour is the pimp who kidnaps my daughter.

• My neighbour is the homosexual who wants to seduce my son.

• My neighbour is the terrorist who threatens me.

• My neighbour is the prostitute down the street.

A Christian woman had a daughter who went astray. She had a bad boyfriend who led her away from God's ways.

Then the unthinkable happened. The mother heard that the bad boyfriend had murdered her daughter. She was devastated.

On the way home, the Holy Spirit spoke to her heart. She must forgive the murderer. But not only that, she must visit him in prison. Then the challenge became really extreme. She had to accept him into her heart as her own son.

She couldn't do it all. She prayed fervently for the help of the Holy Spirit and received the grace to do the impossible.

As she continued to visit the man in prison and pray for him with God's love, his heart softened and he turned to Jesus.

After many years, he was released from prison. Now the mother and adopted son are a team. They go around sharing their testimony.

Should we pray for our enemies? According to Jesus, yes. But should we seek close friendship with every prostitute and drug dealer? Of course not.

If your husband rapes you, throws you against the wall and brutally hurts you over and over again, should you stay with him? Of course not.

It's about placing your heart in the hands of Jesus so that God can cleanse your soul of resentment.

God is love. You can ask God to help you see difficult people through the eyes of God's love.

Salvation without Repentance?

 A Catholic friend of mine once told me that her husband was having an affair with another woman. He went to confession every week, confessed his sin, went to communion and then did the same thing again. It's not only Catholics who mock God's grace in this way.

There is no salvation without repentance, but is one not saved until one can demonstrate a completely virtuous life?

Some Christians claim that all sins are equally evil. If a man no longer visits the brothel, but he still smokes cigarettes, then he cannot be recognised as a Christian. But is that true?

Only perfect holiness can escape God's judgement. That is why God the Father sacrificed his Son on the cross to take our punishment upon himself.

But if all sins, big or small, are forgiven, do we have to give up everything that is not holy? Some Christians take this idea for granted, but how does God judge?

Are all sins equally evil in God's eyes?

If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.

All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. 1 Jn 5:16–17 NIV

What sins are so terrible that intercession is useless?

God does not explain everything in the Bible. That's why we need mutual communication with the Holy Spirit through prayer. We need a listening heart. Some Christians claim that all problems can only be solved with biblical teachings, but this is not the case.

But one thing is totally clear in this Bible text. Some sins are much worse in God's eyes than others. Even in the Old Testament, the offender had to be executed for some sins, but God would forgive many sins without punishment.

A Christian who visits prostitutes is on the way to hell, but in my opinion God will not condemn anyone for smoking cigarettes.

God will also forgive serious sins, like David's, but not without repentance.

A young woman had Christian parents, but she had not chosen the Christian life. As a teenager she was a party girl. When her father was dying, she visited her parents to say goodbye.

When he died, he was suddenly supernaturally revitalised. He sat upright and shone with the glory of God. His daughter was converted on the spot. From that day on, she loved Jesus with all her heart.

She often sat in the garden, smoked a cigarette and had loving conversations with Jesus. She had not experienced a visible visitation and she did not hear an audible voice, but her spirit was wide awake and she heard God's loving thoughts from Jesus.

One day she heard the voice of Jesus in her heart: ‘You don't need those cigarettes anymore.’ With God's grace, she gave up cigarettes without painful difficulty.

Jesus is holy but also gentle and loving.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Mt 11:28–29 NASB95

Empathy Softens Hard Hearts

 A senior councillor in a Canadian city was a women's rights activist. She was pro-choice and wanted to legalise prostitution. Pastors in her town visited her to explain her Christian views, but she wouldn't listen.

When the pastors came in, she said almost aggressively, 'You must know that
I am a feminist. A positive exchange was impossible.

As we were leaving, the senior pastor said, 'We want to pray for you. How can we pray?

The atmosphere changed dramatically and immediately. The councillor was really touched.

Pray that I will do a good job as a public servant.

The pastors prayed in exactly the same way. Gradually the councillor's attitude changed. She recognised the negative consequences of legalised prostitution, and her attitude to abortion also changed somewhat.

Here we see a principle that can be seen in the earthly ministry of Jesus.

Two blind men sat by the roadside and asked Jesus for help. How did Jesus respond? He did not preach repentance. He asked a question.

Jesus stood still and called them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?”
They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”

Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him. Mt 20:32–34 NRSV

When we take the longings and needs of our fellow human beings seriously and pray for them in this way, they understand that we respect and love them, and often they begin to become aware of God's reality and love.

There are people who don't want to hear a sermon or a testimony, but they have problems at work or in their family. Maybe they have a headache. If we take their problems seriously and pray for them, we will often see wonderful results.

Friendship with Jesus

 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. Jn 15:15 NIV

Those who see God as a harsh judge will see themselves as unworthy servants. We are certainly unworthy servants. We are flawed and we must always acknowledge our sins and failings and receive God's forgiveness.

Our sin is not insignificant to God. Jesus had to take a terrible punishment for our sins, but Jesus has taken away all our guilt. Now he wants to look at you and me very differently, as his beloved children.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Rom 5:1 NIV

Anyone who still sees God as a harsh judge has never grasped this wonderful truth of grace.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn 3:16 NIV

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— Jn 1:12 NIV

If you see God as a judge watching you from heaven, you have either never entrusted your life to Jesus or you have never really understood God's love since your conversion.

God is not far away. He dwells lovingly with his children.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Mt 11:28 NASB95

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. Jn 15:7 NRSV

How can you live in this close personal relationship with Jesus if you fear him as a harsh judge? You can't.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom 8:1 NRSV

Freedom from False Guilt

 A girl is sexually abused as a small child. As a toddler, she is sexually aroused and at first understands nothing about sin.

Her family is Christian, and the man convinces her that this sweet experience is real love.
Only later does she learn that this is taboo and forbidden.

As a teenager in the church, she learns about sexual sin. She is no longer sexually active with the man in the family, but she has strong sexual urges and satisfies herself.

Then the church tells her that masturbation is a sin because it is supposedly unclean.
She feels overwhelmed by shame and guilt because she feels responsible for her forbidden sexual experience with the man she loved.

She then tries to suppress her sexual urges. When her desire becomes almost irresistible, she satisfies herself and then thinks she is a dirty, condemned sinner, and she is terrified of ending up in hell.

Is this girl or young woman really guilty in God's eyes, or is it about false guilt, guilt in her own eyes or in the eyes of the ministers in the church?

Where do I find a teaching in the Bible that little children are responsible for such sin? I do not find it.

Where do I find a teaching in the Bible that masturbation is wrong in all circumstances? The subject is not mentioned in any biblical text.

Why should I discuss such a controversial topic? I want to save lives. There are victims in such situations who become prostitutes or commit suicide.

The victims of such abuse are not only girls but also boys.

If guilt has been imposed on you with teachings that are not in the Bible, you no longer need to bear that guilt.

When Jesus hung stark naked on the cross, he bore your guilt but also your shame. He not only bore the guilt for your own sins, but also the guilt of the people who abused you and the guilt of the people who put false guilt on you.

If this post is relevant to you personally, please don't let false guilt ruin you anymore.

Masturbation is unfortunately often entangled with porn addiction and dirty fantasies, but maybe often not. Please don't misunderstand me. I am not advocating porn or pornographic thoughts.

Some find masturbation to be a kind of safety valve that can also help resist strong temptation.

Hold fast to God's word. Ask Jesus for help. He totally understands you, just as you are.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Rom 5:1 NIV

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Rom 8:1 NIV

Religious Duty or the Love of God

 The core of the Christian faith is the love of God. Worship, service, morality and virtue are also part of it, but if everything is not moved by God's love, we go wrong.

There are Christians who always want to worship, and that is a good thing. The saints and angels in heaven worship God.

On the other hand, worship can be a problem when worship becomes so important as a religious duty that we always strive to sing and worship and arouse reverent feelings in ourselves.

Worship is not primarily an activity, but an experience in which we enjoy communion with God.

Worship can be sparked spontaneously by the presence of God, but worship is also a decision to love God, but we must understand that our love does not come from ourselves, but from God's love for us.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 Jn 4:10 NIV

God's command is that we love God with all our hearts, but we can be so duty-orientated that we strive to stir up love and worship within ourselves so that we no longer receive and enjoy God's love for us.

Morality and virtue are also good and necessary, but we can focus on virtue in such a way that we have a rod in our hand to threaten and criticise ourselves or others. This blocks the love and grace of God.