Saved by Grace Ministries

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness instead of the light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light, and will be exposed. John 3:19-20 NIV

It was brought to my attention and I'm not shocked about this at all. In today's world on national television or out in public, people hate the name of Jesus and would try to censor His name. People are okay with us talking about Kirshna, Muhammad, Buddha, etc, but when Jesus is named, people are so bent out of shape. In today's text, we learn from Jesus that people would hate the light Jesus brings because they're in darkness. Be prepared to defend the faith, brothers and sisters in Christ!

For you created my inmost being; you knited me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I'm fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together and the death of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to me. Psalm 139:13-16 NIV

I'm sure everyone has seen the well known content creator and his wife terminating their baby due to the fact the baby has down syndrome. I pray for them for their repentance for aborting their child and their reconciliation to God. When one is pregnant with a child, they are pregnant with a God given gift, just like us when our own mothers are pregnant with us. God knew that we would be on this earth. We are made for a purpose. God bless us all and end abortion so we all can live for Him. Amen.

When you were slaves to sin, you are free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in Eternal Doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. No you do those things that lead holiness and results in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:20-23 NLT

Have you ever thought about our sins and how it effects our lives? I know I have on several occasions. In our reading today, we learn that our actions have consequences, good or bad. Our sins separates us from the love and salvation through Jesus Christ. The more we sin, the further away we become from God. When our sins become great, God pays us in death if we don't repent and trust alone in Him. Jesus became sin on the cross to be an offering for the world. Evangelist and Apologist, Ray Comfort puts it this way: If we have a stack of speeding tickets in court and someone came and paid them all, the Judge rightfully and legally let you go because it is just. Just like that person paying the speeding tickets, Jesus can remove our sins so we may have eternal life with Him when we trust in Him. God bless you guys.

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalm 34:8 KJV

Come to me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 KJV

This past Sunday, I was under assignment and attended a Catholic Mass, and it happened to be Pentecost Sunday. For those who are new to the Christian faith, Pentecost is the birth of the church, which you can read about in Acts chapter 2. As I'm listening to the sermon (Catholics call it a homily), the priest briefly touched on Pentecost, then he went to talk about communion. In the Catholic church, they call it the Eucharist, and what rubbed me the wrong way was that he said that we can't come to receive communion (Eucharist) while we're still sinners. In our readings, it totally debunks what he said. We come to the Lord as sinners to receive the forgiveness of our sinful nature. Come to Jesus and He will give us rest. Amen.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheeps clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves you will recognize them by their fruits. Our Grace gathered from thornbushes, or fig from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the disease tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a disease tree can bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into a fire. Thus you will recognize them by the fruits. Matthew 7:15-20 ESV

So, recently, I was listening to a preacher and as his sermon kept going, I found many errors in the sermon he was preaching. In our reading today, Jesus warns us about these type of people who claim to be true preachers of the Word. Jesus taught us to use discernment in every way and taught that we would recognize then by their fruits. What does He mean by this? He means that when the preacher, or prophet preaches their message, we will not only learn what God says and go out and serve, but grow in Christ. If the preacher/prophet doesn't point to Christ, our faith would be dead. So, brothers and sisters in Christ, beware and check your Bibles and watch out for these people. Amen.

To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction. The Lord approves of those who are good. But he condemned those who plan wickedness. Wickedness never brings stability, but Godly have deep roots. Proverbs 12:1-3 NLT

Recently, I sat down with my best friends nephew who plans to he baptized soon and as we talked, we came to common ground that a mature Christian must be able to be corrected and do the right thing in the eyes of God. If you're a teenager reading this, it may look like being a friend to someone at school who may have no friends, who are bullied or someone with special needs and it might look like doing something at home before you were even asked. If you're older, it maybe something like volunteering your time with someone who is less fortunate. We all can come together in Christ Jesus to remarkable things. We learn new things, get corrected and grow in Him. Be a difference maker in someone's life. Amen.

Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:13-15 ESV

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot[a] love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:19-21 ESV

In my years of my ministry, number one thing I keep hearing from fellow believers that they hate someone or plainly just hate people in general. After hearing all this, I did ask them if it's something God wants us to do. They would get mad and defensive about it. In our text today, John gives us that answer and says we should love them anyways to be right with Him since we are made in His image (see Genesis 1:26-27). Brothers and sisters in Christ, lets go out and love each other in Jesus name. Amen.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV

In my daily interactions with others and others in different denominations, I've oftenly hear people say that God thinks and acts like they do. Not the case at all. In our text today that God explains His Sovereignty saying that He above all thoughts and actions of man kind. So, to say that God is like us is insane and then we don't understand God at all. Prayers for all of you on this beautiful Wednesday.

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” Ephesians 4:4-8 ESV

Recently, I was asked to do a baptism for my best friends nephew. As I'm preparing the ceremony, I stumbled across this passage. Many denominations say you may have to get baptized again after being poured over or sprinkled. The Bible is clear, we need one baptism for our salvation in Christ Jesus. Are you baptized? If not, I highly recommend it. God's blessings to every one of you.

"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:43-44 NIV

Last night, I went to a Catholic Mass, and the priest was talking about how our faith should be public, not private. He started to talk about how he "found Jesus" back then. In our text today, Jesus said that no one comes to Him by their own doing. Christ wasn't lost, we were. So, the Father sent Himself to us so we may believe, not by our own initiation. Jesus said that we do not chose God, for already chose us (John 15:16). Brothers and sisters in Christ, be on guard for false teachings. They're everywhere. Amen.