April 2022 - Page 2 of 2 - Jesus Kingdom International

Forgiveness Through Christ’s Blood

Forgiveness Through Christ’s Blood

So, what can we do to save our soul? We cannot save ourselves, but we can accept the plan that God has provided for us. It will help us to understand this plan when we consider what He showed to His people, the Israelites, before Christ came. God told them to sacrifice animals. The lambs that were slain pointed toward the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who would redeem all people by shedding His blood for their sins. The shedding of blood also helped the people understand the seriousness of sin. Ephesians 1:7 says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things… But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Our forgiveness comes through Christ’s death and the spilling of His blood for the sins of man (Hebrews 9:22).

Let us take note that, because of our sins, we would be worthy of eternal death. But because of His love and mercy toward us, Jesus died in our stead, so we can be forgiven and our transgressions covered.

Unforgiveness Brings Bondage

When we experience Christ’s gracious forgiveness, we receive peace. To retain this peace, it is necessary to forgive others. Christ tells us in Matthew 6:14-15, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Jesus told a story that teaches us about the perils of unforgiveness. The story was about a king who wanted to check his servants’ accounts. He found that he had a servant who owed him a very large sum of money, equal to many years’ wages. The king told the servant that he, his family, and all his possessions would have to be sold. The servant begged for mercy and the king forgave him of his debt. This servant later found one of his fellow servants who owed him a small sum, about a day’s wages. He told his fellow servant that he would have to pay in full. His fellow servant begged for mercy, but the servant would not forgive the debt. When the king heard of this, he called his servant to him. He said, “I forgave you when you asked me. Should you not have done the same?” The king then sent him to prison until the debt could be paid. Jesus then said that our Heavenly Father will not forgive us if we do not forgive others. (Matthew 18:23-35)

Hating someone, holding an offense, or harboring a grudge causes many negative effects. The person who allows such attitudes in his life becomes miserable. His health suffers, as do his relationships.

When we don’t forgive others, it brings about a bondage to our souls that could be compared to being enslaved by people or bound by a substance addiction. This unforgiveness causes a bitterness within us. It locks in sorrow, anger, and strife; it locks out joy, love, and fellowship. This bitterness is a result of a proud spirit that seeks to keep score and gain revenge for perceived and real wrongs. If we refuse to release our offended feelings, they will eventually control us. We will be in bondage to them as well as in the bondage of sin before God.

Unconditional Forgiveness

Jesus taught that the only way for us to grant forgiveness to others is in the way He has forgiven us. We are to forgive regardless of the nature or gravity of the offense against us, the number of offenses, or the character of the offender. We are to show unconditional mercy as God has shown mercy to us. As we humble ourselves and extend forgiveness to others, God opens the way for us to seek forgiveness for our own mistakes and sins. God fully forgives all who come to Him with a humble and repentant spirit.

As we follow the Holy Spirit, we will know the truth, and the truth will make us free (John 8:32). Verse 36 says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

“To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come unto me… and I will give you rest.” As we follow these teachings, we will be forgiven and will be able to forgive others.

Coming to God

Now the question is, how do we come to God? The answer is in the Bible. “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44). God, through His Holy Spirit, makes us aware that we are sinners and in need of a Savior. Sometimes we don’t fully understand God’s call. We may begin to notice an empty, lonely feeling in our heart—a need of something, a feeling we are not right, a conviction we are lost.

When we become aware of this restlessness in our spirit, we need to open our heart to God for direction. The load of sin will become very heavy, and our heart will become remorseful because of our past sinful life. God wants us to surrender our life to Him in true repentance. When God sees our broken and contrite heart and our readiness to fully do His will, He forgives our past sinful life, and we receive forgiveness and peace (Psalm 34:18; Psalm 51:16-17). Oh, how happy we now are, and we want to share with others what Christ has done in our heart!

This freedom is not something that comes through human reasoning. It is a work of the Holy Spirit in the heart that converts us to a new life. Through this power of the Holy Spirit, we have faith to trust God so we can lay down our own will and forgive others. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

The Bible way of forgiveness is beautiful. A trusting faith in the sacrifice of Jesus, coupled with a complete surrender to God and His will, removes the guilt from our heart. Our sins are completely covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. The forgiveness that God gives to us takes away our offenses and hurts. He wipes the slate clean and forgets our sins, “And their iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12). What a wonderful freedom we can experience when God forgives our sins and we can forgive our fellow man. You too can experience this in your heart and life. Come to the Lord today!

For Prayer and Counseling Send Mail: to ask@jesuskingdomintl.org
info@jesuskingdomintl.org or Call : USA Phone: +16692819542
NIGERIA: ( +2348034041334).

08Apr

Abiding in God’s Grace

In the beginning, after God had created Adam and Eve, He loved to fellowship with them while they walked together in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve did not know about sin and evil because they were innocent and pure. God gave Adam and Eve only one commandment to obey. They were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. From the beginning, God has given mankind the power of choice, and He has never revoked it.

Satan, a powerful fallen angel, deceived Eve by tempting her to eat of the fruit from the forbidden tree. He told her she could disobey God without any consequences, and that eating the fruit would give her godlike knowledge. Then Eve chose to eat and offered the fruit to her husband, and he made the same terrible mistake.

What a fatal choice! Their innocence was gone. They were guilty. Shamefully recognizing their nakedness, they tried to cover themselves with aprons of fig leaves. They became afraid of God and hid when they heard His voice. That was only the beginning of trouble. Adam and Eve were banned from the Garden of Eden and they became subject to sin and death. Even the earth was cursed because of what they had done.

They now found they were inclined to do evil. Their knowledge of good and evil did not keep them from doing wrong. Spiritual death passed down to their children and, eventually, to all their posterity.

The influence of evil is all around us. We find every evil thing imaginable in our world today. People are proud and lustful, seeking pleasure and power. They make many wrong choices and suffer the sad consequences. One person’s choice often makes those around him miserable. How terrible are the results of sin!

Many homes are unhappy because of wrong choices. Children often suffer when families are separated through divorce. People indulge in addictions and evil habits. Innocent children grow up under this influence, accepting it as normal, corrupting their young minds. How will this cycle be broken?

There is hope! God in His mercy came to Adam and Eve and clearly revealed the great sin they had committed, but He promised a Redeemer who would deliver them.

Many years later, Jesus Christ was born. He taught the way of truth. He came so that we could have spiritual life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). To receive this new life, we must become converted. Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).

Like Adam and Eve, our sins bring guilt and shame. Jesus calls us to repent of our sins, which means we are sorry for them and are willing to forsake them. If we turn to Jesus, asking Him to forgive our sins and believing He is able to save us, He cleanses our hearts. He gives us daily grace as we yield to His Spirit and walk in obedience to His Word. We are filled with the Holy Spirit, which gives us power to overcome sin. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).

The Christian believer trusts God to provide and care for him. He listens to the voice of the Holy Spirit, who comforts him when he does right and reproves him when he does wrong. He learns more and more to trust God for strength to overcome temptations. Each victory strengthens his faith. He finds that victory is always within reach when he relies on God’s enabling grace each day.

A Christian believer becomes aware that sin separates him from God. Therefore, he no longer associates with evil companions and he avoids ungodly activities. God does not force him to do this. He chooses to live separately from the evils of the world.

The child of God is at peace because the guilt of sin has been taken away. Confident in God’s love and forgiveness, he brings his cares and burdens to God in prayer. This makes it possible to live without anxiety and fear. He walks daily with Jesus, thus finding true happiness and fulfillment. As long as he does not sin wilfully, he remains at peace with God.

A true believer in Christ seeks fellowship with those who share his faith and trust in God. Together, they find joy in talking about their Christian lives. They share their blessings and struggles to strengthen each other. Burdens become lighter, and there is new strength for victory.

Will you surrender your life to Jesus? God’s grace is available to all who will repent and believe. Commit your past, present, and future to Him. Nothing less than complete, heartfelt repentance and faith in Christ will bring the peace, joy, and enabling grace of God into your life. Give Him your heart today.

For Prayer and Counseling Send Mail: to ask@jesuskingdomintl.org
info@jesuskingdomintl.org or Call : USA Phone: +16692819542
NIGERIA: ( +2348034041334).

05Apr

THE LOST SHEEP

Jesus the True Shepherd
The following story illustrates Jesus’s love and care for all people. A shepherd had one hundred sheep. He loved his sheep and kept them in a pleasant valley deep within the mountains. The valley was a safe place, but the mountains were dangerous. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:1-2).

Sometimes the shepherd led his sheep into the mountains to find pasture. The shepherd watched over the sheep, protected them, and then led them back to the safety of the valley before darkness fell. When they reached the sheepfold, the careful shepherd counted the sheep as they went through the gate. “Then said Jesus… I am the door of the sheep… by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (John 10:7, 9).

One evening the shepherd counted only ninety-nine sheep. One of the sheep was still out on the mountain! Curious about the world around him, that sheep had fallen behind. Green tufts of grass lured him away from the trail. He stopped to investigate flowers, trees, and bushes he had never noticed before. Captivated by his discoveries, he forgot about following the shepherd and was left far behind. As evening came, he suddenly realized that he was alone and far from home. He was afraid and began to run. In his confusion he went the wrong way. He could not find the shepherd, the sheep, or the path home.

Night fell and a storm came. The lost sheep huddled under a bush, soaked and miserable. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). Eventually the thunder and the rain ceased. The noises and shadows of the night frightened the sheep into running again. Thorns tore him and he began to bleed. Behind him, howling wolves found his trail and gave chase.

When the shepherd realized the sheep was missing, he shut the gate to the sheepfold, took his staff, and returned to the mountain. The shepherd also faced the storm and the darkness. He was hungry, wet, and cold. He often stopped to call for the sheep, but he heard no reply. He was tired, but persistently continued to search. When the shepherd heard the howls of the wolves in the distance, he knew his sheep was in great danger. He urgently set off in that direction. Could the sheep be rescued before it was too late?

The lost sheep also heard the howls of the wolves. He continued to run until he was weak and exhausted. He did not realize the cruel wolves were chasing him into a trap. Night fell upon a dreadful scene. The sheep was caught by thorns near the edge of the cliff. He was bleeding, exhausted, and surrounded by wolves. He struggled pitifully, but he could not save himself. It seemed he had reached his end. All that he could do was cry out for help.

The shepherd heard and came quickly! Fearlessly he faced the wolves and drove them away. He went to his crying sheep and gently pulled him out of the thorns and away from the edge of the cliff. He bathed his wounds and applied healing ointment. Then he took him in his arms and tenderly carried him home. The lost sheep had been found. “So will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them” (Ezekiel 34:12).

We are all like the lost sheep. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, loves us and has a safe place for us. There is also an enemy that wants to destroy our soul. Satan tempts us with many enticing things, promising security and good times. In the end, his promises leave us empty. The happiness and fulfillment that Satan offers is false and elusive. We become frustrated and afraid; we are injured and torn. We wander blindly and cannot escape.

Thankfully, Jesus has provided a way of escape. He is still seeking those who have been lured away by Satan and are trapped by his devices. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” We need to pray to Jesus, acknowledging our sin and asking for forgiveness. We then commit our lives totally to Him, leaving our sinful ways. Jesus died for us and paid for our sins with his blood so we can be clean and free before God. There is much rejoicing in heaven when a lost sheep is found and carried by the Shepherd into his sheepfold. “And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray” (Matthew 18:13).

For Cancelling and prayer contact Jesuskingdomintl.org or Call : USA Phone: +16692819542
NIGERIA: ( +2348034041334).

Archive: April 2022

Forgiveness Through Christ’s Blood

Unforgiveness Brings Bondage

Unconditional Forgiveness

Coming to God

Abiding in God’s Grace

THE LOST SHEEP

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