Friday Feb. 14^th   Walking in Wisdom

Encouraging one another to remain true to the Lord.

 Acts 11:19-30

Barnabas:

Confession=Forgiven=Believe

I John 1:1

Friday September 27^th

^{Do we truly believe that our sins are forgiven?  There is a saying going around that one has to forgive themselves.  I have to tell you that I have not found that anywhere in God’s Word.} 

^{Read I John 1}

^{What I have found is:}

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy. I John 1:1-3

^1- We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.  The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-4

2- what we have heard, 

Acts 10:20    Peter and John were being arrested for teaching the people and proclaiming In Jesus the resurrection from the dead.  After they were commanded to not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus their answer was we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.

3-what we have seen with our eyes,     

 II Peter1:6   For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.  

4-what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—

And the Word became flesh, and  dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14

See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”  Luke 24:39

and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.  These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

The followers of Jesus while on this earth truly saw, heard and touched Him.  He is real!  And  they could not stop talking about Him to everyone they met.  Their focus was not on their circumstances and what they were going through, but, their focus was on sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to all. What joy to be in fellowship with one another sharing the good news of Jesus Christ!

 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]- I John 1:9 

God is the only One who can forgive us our sins.  We cannot forgive ourselves.  We must believe that when we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness!

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don’t let anyone disregard what you say. -Titus 2:11-15

It is only through God’s grace and mercy and through the blood of Jesus Christ that we are forgiven and saved.  Not anything that we can do on our own.

 When I confess my sins before the Lord I ask Him to show me everything that I am holding onto that I should not be holding on to.  I want to get it all out before Him so that I can let it all go before Him.  Then I am free to go on, knowing I have released it all to Him.

What freedom, what Joy when we acknowledge and confess our sins.  I encourage you today keep short accounts with the Lord.  Be quick to ask Him for forgiveness and then believe that He has forgiven you. 

O Lord that my roots would grow down into You and that I would draw up my nourishment from You.  That I would grow strong in my faith, in the truths that I have been taught and that my life with overflow with thanksgiving for all that you have done.  [Col. 2:7]

In Jesus name, Amen