ONE PARTICULAR DAY in the Bible study at the prison I was in, I wasn’t leading: another woman was and was asked the question: “Does God listen to sinners?”
She paused, and said: “I think so.”
I said nothing because at that time I didn’t know. Now I do as I should have back then years ago. And so she should have …
Selah.
She was wrong. I was wrong.
She was wrong because she gave an opinion. This after all, was a Bible study; not a Bible opinion. The truth was she, too, didn’t know. What’s worst is that she gave comfort to this questioning man: false comfort. In loving God, yourself, and others, the truth always comes before one’s (anyone’s) feelings. False comfort is without a doubt, extremely dangerous ground; definitely not rock solid.
NOTE:
If you are not a child of God, or are not confident you are, be certain. Follow this Joy Story to the end and pray the prayer that welcomes you into the Kingdom, with God as your Father, Lord, Savior, and Advocate!
Selah.
So here this man, and possibly more, went away thinking or believing God would listen to him if he was without Christ. His choice, always. Without a doubt God will receive a truly repentant sinner, wash him in His blood, have mercy and grant forgiveness. That cry He will hear… This is the gospel. However, for sinners who choose to remain a sinner at any time in their lives, thinking God will honor his prayers without him honoring Him is ludicrous!
And if you don’t believe me, as I am fallible, listen to the One who is incapable of error and see His teachings below.
Selah.
As I said, I was wrong. Why? Because I should have known and corrected her!
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
At the very least, we two women, who were the Bible study leaders should have said: “I don’t know; but, I will find out for you.” Better yet, give that question as an assignment to the man inquiring… And if he didn’t follow through (if he was a sinner, he may very well lie) have the Scriptural answer for them the next study!
Selah.
Not all people go to Hell. And, not all people go to Heaven. Beloved, giving false hope is not only ignorant, it is truly dangerous. So many people are unwilling to study, spending time with God and always putting His Word above all, including preachers:
Acts 17:11
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Those in ministry are held to a higher degree of accountability. And: those in the ministry who are truly Christians, want people – all -people – to come to Christ. Many never will…
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Don’t let that be you!
Revelation 12:11
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
God’s wrath is still being poured out! Make certain you fear Him; and, live eternally and prosper…
Philippians 3:17-21
Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Have the glorious and victorious proclamation: “He hears me!”
1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS FOR THIS JOY STORY:
Matthew 22:35-40
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Psalm 66:18
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Proverbs 28:9
If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.
Isaiah 59:1-2
Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
John 9:31
We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.
1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
COME INTO THE KINGDOM!
God in Heaven,
I come to You in the name of Your only begotten Son, Jesus. I have sinned. I now believe and know that Jesus is fully God, fully Man. He lived a sinless life and took all of my sickness and infirmities in His body. He died on the cross for my sins. I believe and know that He was raised from the dead so I might be saved from Hell and have eternal life in Your Kingdom with you forevermore.
Jesus, I ask you to be my only Lord and Savior. Please forgive me of my sins and wash them away with Your holy blood; never to be remembered again. Please take my sickness or any health issue I have by the stripes You endured for all mankind…
I will now strive to live my life for You to my best ability and with the help of You, Holy Spirit, I strive to seek You, study You and worship You all the days of my life, which are forever, amen!
I denounce Satan and his kingdom now and forevermore!
I also ask to be baptized in You, Holy Spirit, with the evidence of this by praying in other tongues, my heavenly language.
(To receive your heavenly language – take it by faith – just as you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Simply start speaking syllables – do not say anything in your known language/s. It WILL come – just believe. Satan will tell you it is false – never listen to the father of lies. Pray in tongues every day!)
Thank You, God, for forgiving me, cleansing me, healing me in every way, staying with me and praying with me.
In Jesus name, I pray this, amen.
SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS:
Romans 3:21-26
But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Philippians 2:12-13
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
1 Peter 2:24
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
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.
Romans 10:9-10
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
1 Corinthians 14:2
For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
DO NOT BE DECEIVED! You must continue your relationship as a child of God!
Live this way:
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Hebrews 3:14
We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
Revelation 3:5
He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
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