Author: Tom Quinn

There Once Was a Good King That Ruled Over a Large Kingdom

Originally Published 2020

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)

A Fictional Narrative

There once was a good king who ruled over a large kingdom. He had many subjects who dwelt in the kingdom and they all enjoyed all that the king provided them. The kingdom was beautiful and the king saw to it that his subjects had all they needed in life. The one thing he asked of them was for their allegiance.

The king sent out a royal decree to all those in his kingdom. The decree required his subjects to acknowledge him as king and to acknowledge his goodness and generosity towards them. Considering how good the king was to everyone, the king’s request seemed like something all those in the kingdom would be happy to affirm. However, there were those who took exception to the king’s request. The number of those that objected were not few, in fact, they were in the majority. Those close to the king were baffled by this. The king was so good to all his subjects. Why would any of them choose to deny this?

“Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:2)

As evident as the king’s right to rule seemed to be, and how obvious it was that the king provided bountifully for all his subjects, those opposed to the decree would not acknowledge the king or his goodness towards them. They lived their lives enjoying all the king provided, but would not recognize him as king, or acquiesce to his request regarding the decree.

Some of those in the kingdom that loved and served the king attempted to go to those opposed and share their love for the king with them and ask why they would not acknowledge such a wonderful king. They found that, for the most part, those opposed did not want to hear anything about the king. It was like a veil had been placed over their eyes and they could not see what was so obvious; that the king loved his subjects and was good to all.

“The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.” (Psalm 145:9)

Those close to the king asked him if he might have them go out and arrest those opposed to him and cast them out of the kingdom. The king would not allow this stating that he did not want to take the chance of mistakenly casting any of his loyal subjects out of the kingdom. He would wait for the royal banquet.

“Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, gather ye together first the tares (the wicked), and bind them in to bundles to burn them (Hell): but gather the wheat (those that love the Lord) into my barn (Heaven).” (Matthew 13:30)

The royal banquet was also part of the decree. It was to be a grand event. All of the king’s subjects were invited, but those opposed to the king’s decree were not to be allowed at the banquet. It was only for those that loved and obeyed the king. It was a reward of sorts for obedience and service.

The day of the banquet came and it was a feast not to be equaled in the kingdom before or since. Those that loved the king sat with him enjoying the very finest the kingdom had to offer. Those opposed to the king were cast out of the kingdom into utter darkness. The amazing thing was that some of those opposed actually tried to get into the banquet. They felt that they deserved to attend. The king said, “I loved you and provided for all your needs. I encouraged you to come to me and acknowledge me as your king. You would not, so you will therefore not be allowed at the banquet and will be cast out of the kingdom.

“And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life (the list of all those that have come to the Lord in faith) was cast into the Lake of Fire (forever and ever).” (Revelation 20:15)

Of course, the above is a fictional account, but the Lord God is calling out to all those in the earth today. All are to acknowledge him and His goodness. We are able to seek the Lord and come to Him in faith in this life only, once we die our fate is sealed. There is no Purgatory and there are no unbelievers in Hell. We acknowledge the Lord and His goodness by realizing that we are sinners and need a savior. His name is Jesus. He came and died for the sin of the world and promises salvation to all those who come in repentance and place their faith in Him. Jesus, the King, is calling out:

“Come all you who labor and are heavy laden (living life without the Lord) and I will give you rest (salvation through faith in Jesus and the cross).” (Matthew 11:28)

Won’t you hear Him calling out to you and come to Him today? We have no promise of tomorrow. Today is the day of salvation. The Bible says, ” ..You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” We are here for a short time but are meant to live for eternity with the King in His goodness. Won’t you acknowledge His goodness towards you and come home to the Lord today.

“Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper (banquet) of the Lamb (Jesus).” Revelation 19:9

See The A,B,C’s of Salvation Page on this website https://wordpress.com/page/tqministries.com/5448

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Caught Up To Be With The Lord Prior To The Judgment That Is Coming!

“Behold I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump…” (1 Corinthians 15:51,52).

“For the Lord (Jesus) Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel (Michael), and the trump of God: and the dead in Christ will rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (raptured) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:16,17).

The Bible tells us that “in a moment” we will be changed. This speaks of all those who are “in Christ” being raptured or “caught up” to be with the Lord. This can happen at any time. There is nothing prophetically that has to happen before the Rapture. The Bible calls it “our blessed hope.” And this is a sure hope because the Lord has promised to come for His people before the end-time judgments that will come upon all those on the earth.

The Lord rescued His people before His judgments in the past. Noah and his family were taken out by way of the ark before the flood. That ark represented Christ and the salvation He provides by His atoning death on the cross. In the same manner, Lot and his family were removed from Sodom before the Lord’s judgment. The Lord, during His ministry on Earth, spoke of both of these events and likened them to the time of the end – the time of final judgment on the Earth before His Second Coming. The following verses spoken by the Lord detail this:

“And as it was in the Days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man (just prior to His Second Coming). They did eat, they drank, they married wives, rf hey were given in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them” (Luke 17:26-27).

And

“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire as brimstone from Heaven and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:28).

In both these past events, the Lord removed his people before judgment. In the introductory verses at the beginning of this article; the Lord is saying the same thing will happen before the final judgment – He will take His people out before judgment falls.

Those that lived at the times of Noah and Lot were indifferent toward the Lord and corrupt in their ways. They went about their daily lives without any regard for the Lord and His ways. Life seemed normal; eating drinking, marrying; and then destruction came. Jesus said that “as it was in the days of Noah,” and “as it was in the days of Lot,” so shall it be just before He comes.

We only need to look around at our world today to see that these times are quite similar to the times of Noah and Lot. Life goes on without much thought of the Lord and His ways. Evil, corruption, and lawlessness seem to have increased exponentially. Also, all Bible prophecy has been fulfilled except the prophecies related to the rapture of the church and the time of final judgment (The Great Tribulation). This time of judgment will end with the Second Coming of Christ and will bring peace to this world as it has never known with the Lord ruling from Jerusalem.

Where are you today? Are you living your life without thought of what lies ahead, or have you headed the message of warning the Bible offers and have come to the Lord in repentance and faith in His atoning work at the cross which paid for your sin and the sin of the world? I would hope that the latter is the case with you today? I will be looking for you on that day. Won’t you meet me over there? May the Lord bless you keep you for that great day!

“And if I (Jesus) go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself (the Rapture of the church); that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3).

See the A,B,C’s of Salvation page on this website. Link below.

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Meeting In The Air – Composed by May Taylor Roberts (1925)

Oh, there is going to be a meeting in the air. In that sweet, sweet by and by. I’m going to meet you, meet you over there in the home beyond the sky. Such singing you will hear not heard by mortal ear. Will be glorious I do declare. For God’s own Son will be the leading one, in that meeting in the air.

“I’ll Be Looking For You” – A poem by Christian poet Pearl Leona Sturgis

“I’ll be looking for you when the trumpet shall sound, and I rise from the ground. As the heavens depart like a scroll; when I sail through the air, I’ll remember this prayer; for I’m praying today for your soul. I’ll be looking for you when life’s journey is through, and all the burdens have vanished away. Now I’m asking the Lord, and my whole heart is poured, in this prayer, I’m praying today. Will you meet me someday, in that home far away; with no heartache nor sorrow to bear? In those mansions sublime; may yours be next to mine; if we never meet here, meet me there!”

See The A,B,C’s of Salvation page on this websitehttps://wordpress.com/page/tqministries.com/5448

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com – 2021

Originally published 2020

“And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bore him with sorrow.” (1 Chronicles 4:9)

The name “Jabez” means “sorrow”. In the Jewish culture, the mother would name the child at birth and in this case, something very sorrowful had happened to cause her to name him this way. Growing up with a name that suggested the grievous circumstances of his birth; Jabez could have turned against the Lord. This is the case with many today that feel unloved and have encountered adverse and hurtful circumstances in their lives. But this was not the case with Jabez, for the verse says, “Jabez was more honorable than his brethren”. What made the Lord address him this way? Why did the Lord consider him more honorable than his kin? The next verse gives us the reason.

“And Jabez called on the God of Israel…”

His adverse circumstances did not discourage him from seeking the Lord. Our trials in this life will either harden our hearts against the Lord, or we will seek Him all the more and cling to Him as He sees us through our difficulties. Jabez chose the later and prayed to the Lord for deliverance from the difficulties that welcomed him into this life. To call upon the Lord means to trust Him completely, to place our circumstances in the hands of the Lord, and trust Him for the answer. We can turn to Him in our difficulties and trust that He will answer. The first thing Jabez asked of the Lord was for the Lord to bless him as the following verse states.

“..Oh that You would bless me indeed.”

The Lord seeks to bless us as we come to Him in faith believing that He loves us and wants to bless us. Jabez, in spite of his terrible circumstances, believed this and sought the Lord for a blessing. True blessing comes only from the Lord and brings us not only material things to enrich our lives but also spiritual blessings that will give us peace and joy. Unlike the world, where what seems like a blessing at the time can turn out to be anything but; when the Lord blesses us it will be lasting and will bring us continued joy. Jabez goes on to ask:

“And enlarge my coasts…”

The word “coast” actually means “border”. Jabez is asking the Lord to get him out of the difficulties he was born into. Many are born into terrible circumstances or come into them in their lifetime. It is the few who seek the Lord for deliverance from these and trust that He will answer. Jabez knew that the Lord was the One he needed to go to for help. We can seek the Lord no matter what our circumstances are knowing that help awaits us there and only there. Jabez goes on with his request;

“That your hand might be with me..”

Jabez knew that he would encounter difficulties in his life and there would be those that might opose him for who he was and for his stand for the Lord. Here, he is seeking the Lord’s hand of strength in his life. If we place our faith in the Lord and trust Him to bring us through; the Lord will honor this. As the word says, He is no respecter of persons. Whosoever seeks the Lord will find Him and partake of His goodness. Jabez ends his prayer with the following:

“That You would keep me from evil, that it would not grieve me.”

Jabez knew that the blessings he sought were dependant on him being kept from evil. As we seek the Lord, He will keep us from the evil that seeks to destroy our lives. We place our faith in the Lord and His great work at the cross and we are kept by His power from evil. Jabez realized that he could not do this in his own strength. By faith, he knew the Lord would answer his prayer and he also knew that blessings in his life could result in him being lifted up in pride and could cause him to sin against the Lord. So he asked the Lord to bless him and to keep him. This is our answer as well. The Lord will bless us and keep us as we believe Him and trust Him. And what was the conclusion of the matter regarding Jabez? The Lord answered as follows:

“God granted him that which he requested.”

Jabez believed the Lord and the Lord blessed him for it. He will do the same for us. This beautiful prayer of faith was not placed in the Bible where you might think the Holy Spirit would place it. Instead, we find the prayer of Jabez in the middle of a long list of genealogies to be found by those diligent enough to seek out this treasure buried in the Word of God. We must seek out the Lord and His blessings. We will be rewarded for it. Our greatest reward is the Lord Himself. How wonderful it is to know that we can know the Lord and trust Him to bless us as we walk through this life together. This prayer is a testimony to the goodness of God and a reminder of the blessings that await us as we seek the Lord in our lives.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:7)

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2020

They Do Not Function As the Lord Originally Intended

The dictionary gives the following definition for Broken:

BROKEN- having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or in working order.

So, who are the broken people? Well, the answer to that question is that we are the broken people – all of us. We are broken in that we do not function as the Lord intended us to function. We have a fallen nature and we cannot fix ourselves. The Bible is all about fixing that which is broken in us.

SALVATION -preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss.

The Bible offers salvation to all those who admit to being broken. It shows us clearly that we need a Savior to rescue us from our hopeless state. It took the Lord becoming man and dying on a cruel cross to save us from harm, ruin, and loss. We are lost and undone before a Holy God. In His love, He calls out to us through His Word. We are to come to Him in repentance and believe in Him and His great sacrifice as payment for the sin that our broken state produces in our lives.

BLESSING – God’s favor and protection.

The Lord wishes to bless us. He comes to us individually and offers us His blessings through His Word as we come to Him by faith. His Word is replete with blessings He has provided for those who love Him. We can know and have a personal relationship with the Lord Almighty. We become “children of God” and joint heirs with Jesus. The Bible has incredible promises for all those who admit to their brokenness and come to the One that loves us.

ETERNITY- infinite or unending time.

The Bible says that we will all live forever, and we have a choice as to where we will spend eternity. The Lord does not send anyone to Hell. Our own choices determine where we will spend eternity. The Lord paid a great price so that we could be with Him always! That’s the total message of the Bible. What more could the Lord have done?

“For God so loved the world that he gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16)

We were broken beyond our ability to repair the damage. The Lord in His mercy reached down to a broken and lost world and offered not only to rescue us from our broken state, but He offered us a place with Him in eternity. The choice seems simple. We can choose to reach up and take the hand of the one Who loves us, or we can remain broken and suffer the consequences. The Lord is gracious and longsuffering, but we are not assured of anything passed today. We must realize our brokenness and come to Him. Today is the day of salvation!

“As for me, I shall call upon God, and the Lord will save me” (Psalm 55:16).

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Blessings Await Those That Stand With the Blessed Land.

“I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)

Originally published in 2020

There once was a blessed land. The land and its people were blessed because they had been entrusted with a wisdom that the world did not have. In the past, they had not been faithful to this wisdom. Although they had the wisdom, they did not live by it. This had caused them incredible difficulties, including losing the privilege of living in their land for a period of time. This had happened twice; the last time it lasted a very long time. But now, as foretold by the wisdom they were entrusted with; they were back in their land to stay.

“For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and I will bring you back into your own land.” (Ezekiel 36:24)

Those that lived in the countries around them were hostile toward them because of the wisdom entrusted to them. Although they lived in relative peace, they were attacked several times by neighboring countries and there were ongoing attacks against them from within the blessed land. Their enemies were not able to defeat them and take their land from them because the wisdom protected them and kept them safe. However, even though they were protected by the wisdom, they didn’t fully understand it or live by it.

“For they (Israel) being ignorant of God’s Righteousness, and going about to establish their own Righteousness….” (Romans 10:3)

A certain country was founded on the wisdom that the blessed land possessed and stood with the blessed land. This country lived by the wisdom for a long time and was blessed for it. And being a very powerful country they were able to protect the blessed land from their enemies that surrounded them. However, a time came when many of the people in this country rejected the wisdom of the blessed land and would not stand with them. They did not realize that their country’s blessings were the result of believing in the wisdom of the blessed land and standing with them.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they be secure who love you.” (Psalm 122:6)

Those in this country that still believed in the wisdom of the blessed land realized the importance of watching over them. They knew that the wisdom promised favor to those that would stand with the blessed land. It also promised curses for those that would not stand with them. There came a time when their faithfulness to the blessed land became dependent on who their leaders were at a given time. They knew that this would put the nation in danger in times of faithless leadership.

“Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.” (Psalm 33:8)

What would happen to a country that would waiver back and forth depending upon who its leaders were? Would that country suffer for the times they did not stand with the blessed land? Those that believed in the wisdom were very concerned about this. They continued to believe in the wisdom and to stand with, and pray for, the blessed land.

“….Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” (Romans 10:1)

As time went on, the hostility toward the blessed land and its people increased and spread to many countries. They hated them because of the wisdom they possessed. They felt that their wisdom was far superior to that of the blessed land and did everything in their power to destroy them. The one country that stood with the blessed land in the past, continued to waiver back and forth in their support depending on their leadership at the time.

“….. For he who touches you (Israel) touches the apple of His eye.” (Zechariah 8:3)

What would happen to the blessed land? Would it be overrun by those that hated it? The wisdom they possessed was emphatic in stating that this would never happen. However, the wisdom did say that there would be a final attempt by their enemies to destroy them totally. At that time, they would finally understand the value of the wisdom they possessed and that would save them.

“And so all Israel will be saved: as it is written, there shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” (Romans 11:26)

What about the country that stood with them in the past? Would they end up supporting them in the end, or would they reject the wisdom and not support the blessed land? The wisdom did not say what would happen to them, and this concerned those in the country that loved the blessed land, for they knew what the wisdom said about those that cursed them.

The end of this story for this country is still to be written. One thing is certain: blessings would follow all those that accept the wisdom of the blessed land and watch over them. Curses would follow those that would do the blessed land harm. The wisdom has made this very, very clear.

“….. And in thee (Israel) shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)

“But unto them that are called, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:24)

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...In the Twinkling of An eye…The Trump Will Sound…And We Shall Be Changed

A Fictional Narrative

Is your family missing? Well, mine is missing! I woke up to find my house empty and the people I love missing. After searching for them throughout the whole house and noticing that my wife’s car was in the driveway; I checked my wife’s day planner just in case the family had an early event that I had forgotten about. There was no such appointment listed in her day planner, but there was a note inside the front cover. The note said that if she and the children were missing; I was to look for a book in the bookcase that she had left in case this very thing happened.

As soon as I saw the title of the book I knew what had happened. With a feeling of dread, I went to the bookcase and found the book she mentioned in her day planner. It was titled “The Rapture Of The Church.” My wife told me about this event on many occasions. She said that there would come a time when the Lord would come for all those that trusted in Him. She said that it would happen in an instant – in the twinkling of an eye. This made no sense at all to me at the time and seemed like something that sounded quite unbelievable, even a little fanatical. My wife was very level-headed about most things, but I considered her belief in a sudden rapture of believers to be pretty far out.

I remember her talking to me about her faith and encouraging me to come to church and to read the Bible. I thought I might be interested in that someday, but my focus was on the here and now. Most of my friends were not religious and felt the same way. My wife would share her faith in the Lord with me when the opportunity arose. She would gently and sometimes humorously point the way. One time, I found her standing in the kitchen going up and down on her toes repeatedly. When I asked her what she was doing, she said she was practicing for the Rapture. This of course was done in jest, but she was gently reminding me of her faith in the Lord and hoping that I would see my need as well. She was always sensitive to my feelings, but I knew she was sincere in her faith and wanted to share it with me. How I now wish that I had listened!

After my family disappeared and I realized what had happened and where they had gone; I started reading the Bible. It says that we are sinners with a fallen nature and in need of a savior. The Bible tells us that God loves us and gave His Son to die on the cross to pay for our sins. The Bible also says that we need to place our faith in Christ and Him crucified to be saved. I grew up in a church that taught that Jesus died for our sins, but I never fully understood what that meant. Just before He died, Jesus cried out “It is finished.” He had paid the price for all my sins and my faith in Him saved me and brought me into the kingdom as a son of God. I saw now how it was all by faith from first to last. We can know that we are saved because of what He did, not because of anything we do.

My friends, knowing of my wife’s faith, started asking me questions after what turned out to be millions of people going missing at the same time. I explained to them that I had started reading the Bible and that the Bible spoke about this event and other end-time events that were coming in the near future. The Lord was coming to judge the Earth and there would be terrible times leading up to His Second Coming, but if we were to place our faith in the Lord, we would be saved.

I wish that I listened to my wife and read the Bible. I realize now that the life of faith is a wonderful life with many blessings along the way, chief of which is a close walk with the Lord. I now know what that life is and no matter what lies ahead; I know that I will see my family again on the other side and I will be with my Lord forever.

The Rapture

“For the Lord, Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1Thessalonians 4:16-18)

(See The A,B,C’s of Salvation page on this website)

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“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, an open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him and he with Me” Revelation 3:20.

As the above verse states: The Lord patiently stands at the door of our heart seeking to enter in and have communion with us. He patiently waits for us to acknowledge Him and come to understand the incredible love He has for every person that He has created. He draws us in His love and offers His mercy and grace to all.

The Lord reveals Himself to us in many ways as we travel through our lives. His Word says, “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” All the blessings in our lives come from the Lord. And He is there for us when we go through hard times. He has also left us a witness in creation. All the beauty that surrounds us points to the One Who loves us and provides for us.

As we look back on our lives; we have seen his protection during difficult times, or in times when He has saved us when we faced a dangerous situation. He has been there watching over us our whole lives. We can see His love for us in all that He has provided for us: whether it be a nice family, a good home, a great job, good health, or the many other good things that we have experienced in our lives. We can be grateful for these things and the fact that the Lord has blessed us with our very lives.

In every situation we face in this life; He is there and has brought us through circumstances that we thought would destroy us. His watchful care extends to every part of our lives whether we acknowledge it or not. His Word says that He provides for the righteous and unrighteous (Mathew 5:45).

His mercy and grace are there for us. He loves us and wants the best for us. His great sacrifice on our behalf at the cross proves His love. He desires that all come to Him in repentance and faith and that none perish. His loving care that we have seen in our lives draws us, but we must respond to it.

It would be such an incredible loss to have lived our life and seen His hand in protecting and providing for us and to not accept the amazing love that He offers to each and everyone that comes to Him in repentance and faith. He knocks on the door of our hearts seeking to enter. It is up to us to answer. There are untold blessings for all those that do:

“But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us. Even when we were dead in sins has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ. That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-7).

What incredible promises. He comes to us with the gift of eternal life that cost Him His life to provide. He loves us and has paid the ultimate price on the cross that we might gain the greatest treasure – the presence of the Lord in our life, and eternity with Him in glory. Won’t you hear Him knocking today and open your heart to Him?

“I am the door, by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved….” (John 10:9)

And for those of us that know the Lord; Are we seeking His presence in our lives each day? Is the door to our heart wide open to Him? Have we given ourselves unreservedly to His love? Do we yearn to have a closer walk with Him? Is our faith placed in Him and His great work at the cross? He stands at the door each day. We can draw as close to the Lord as we want. He is drawing us in His love even at this very moment.

The Love Of God

To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry. Nor could the scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky. O, love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong. It shall forevermore endure.

Love Of God composed by Frederick M Lehman 1917

See the A,B,C’s of Salvation page on this website. Link below

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See the Sinner’s Prayer page on this website. Link Below. Link below.

https://wordpress.com/page/tqministries.com/5448

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com – 2021

When you ask someone if they think they will go to Heaven; you get a variety of answers to that question. They rarely answer that they don’t think they’ll go. But you might hear answers like, I hope so, or I think so, or I’m not sure, or I’m working on it. According to the Bible, we can know that we are going to Heaven. So, all the above answers are incorrect and those that give them are currently not on their way to Heaven.

Boy, that sounds kind of harsh. Maybe even a little judgmental. Well, the Lord has given us a way where we can know that we are going to Heaven, and any answer that is not in the affirmative to that question means that those that do answer that way do not know the way the Lord has provided.

There are also those that if asked if they think they are going to Heaven will answer in the affirmative but have made up their own criteria for entrance to Heaven. When pressed on why they think they would go, you will get a variety of answers to this question as well. Although the following list is not all-inclusive, you might get one of the following responses. They might say that they have lived a good life, or that they pray, or that they attend church, or that they have given to the poor, or that they have taken good care of their family. The list goes on and although these things are admirable, and things we should all strive for; those that answer this way are not ready to meet the Lord.

If we were to stand before the Lord and extol our virtues as the reason He should accept us into Heaven, His one question to us would be: “Yes, but what did you do with My Son. I sent Him to die for you on a cruel Cross. Your faith should be exclusively in My Son’s great work on the Cross. He, and He alone, paid the price.”

We know that life can be fleeting. We are guaranteed no more than today. In light of this one question the Lord will ask of us all; shouldn’t we make sure that we have placed our faith in the One that died for us. The One Who paid the price so that we could be with Him forever.

When we pass from this life if our faith is in Jesus and His great work at the Cross, then the Lord’s Word says, “absence from the body means present with the Lord.” When the Lord asks us, “What did you do with My Son?“, we can answer Him by saying that we have repented of our sinful ways and our trust in our virtues and ways, and made His Son, Jesus, our Lord, and Savior.

There is only one question left to ask: Have we accepted the gift of eternal life that cost the Lord so much to provide. We can be sure that the Lord will seek to know the answer to that question when we pass from this life. Our answer to it will determine where we spend eternity! Of that, we can be sure!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16)

See The A,B,C’s Of Salvation page on this website. Link below.

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Just How Do We live A Victorious Christian Life?

“For therein is the Righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17).

It’s the greatest day of our lives when we come to the Lord in repentance and faith and realize that our sins are forgiven and that through faith in Jesus and His work at the cross we have become children of God and are blessed in the heavenly with every spiritual blessing. We love the Lord and want to walk before Him in holiness all of our days.

Not far down the road, however, we come to a place where we fail the Lord in some way. We are horrified! This was not supposed to happen. We love the Lord and have committed ourselves to live a life pleasing to Him. What do we do to make sure that we do not fail Him again?

As a new Christian, we are at a crossroads at this point. If we make the right decision and go the right way; it will bring victory. If we choose the wrong way; it will bring constant defeat.

Many new Christians, not understanding the cross as far as our daily walk is concerned will choose the wrong way. They will try to sanctify themselves, or lead victorious Christian lives, by self-effort. They do not want whatever caused the defeat in their lives to reoccur, so they determine to do those things they believe will bring them victory. They might decide to pray more or read more in the Bible each day. Whatever they decide, though well-intentioned, it will not bring victory. The result will be a continued failure in their lives with them trying more and more to gain victory through the flesh. This is not the way our Christian life is to be lived. You could say they are miserably saved – seeking victory, but only experiencing defeat after defeat. We cannot be free from the sin in our lives with our efforts. Jesus accomplished that at the cross.

We are saved by our faith in Jesus and what He accomplished at the Cross. We are not to strive in our own strength to walk victoriously after we are saved. The victory in our daily walk with the Lord is determined by where we place our faith daily. If our faith is in Christ and Him crucified, it will allow the Holy Spirit to work mightily in our lives. The Holy Spirit works within the parameters of the finished work of Christ to bring us this victory. The following verse from Romans explains this:

“For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the Law of Sin and Death” (Romans 8:2).

The Bible does not call us to fight sin. It calls us to fight the good fight of faith. Our faith in Christ crucified will bring us the victory we seek. Many Christians today, not understanding this, live in defeat. They are miserably saved. The Lord has not called us to live a life of defeat, but has won the victory by His death on the cross and has provided us the way to walk in victory in our lives.

Chapters 6-8 in Romans show us the pathway to living a victorious Christian life. Chapter 6 explains how the Holy Spirit works. Chapter 7 explains law and sin and the result of living by law which always brings defeat. Chapter 8 explains what the Holy Spirit does in our lives when our faith is properly placed. Many, in the church today, are living in Romans chapter 7, which is not the way the Lord has ordained for us to walk out this life.

The Lord paid a great price to redeem us. We are new creations and called to walk in faith in the victory He has provided. Paul said this to the Galatians who were tempted to go back under the Law: “Are you so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?” As mentioned, let us “fight the good fight of faith (daily placing our faith in Christ and Him crucified)” which will bring us victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil. We are not saying we can walk in sinless perfection, but we are saying that we can live victorious Christian lives. As we place our faith in the Lord’s great work at the Cross; the Holy Spirit will work mightily in our lives. Our Savior has made it all possible.

With thanksgiving, we stand in faith in our great God Who loved us and proved His love for us by dying on a cruel cross so that we might have life and have it more abundantly. We can say with Peter it’s “joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

“So I say then, walk in the Spirit (by placing our faith exclusively in Christ and the cross), and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh” (Galatians 5:20).

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The Dying Thief On The Cross

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, verily I say unto you, Today shall you be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42,43)

The above verses are an account of a conversation between Jesus and one of the two thieves that were crucified alongside Him. The Bible tells us little about him except that after reviling Jesus along with the other thief, his opinion of the Lord completely changed. We see this with his response to the other thief’s harsh words to the Lord in the following verse:

“And one of the malefactors (one of the two) which were hanged (crucified) railed on Him (Jesus) saying, If you be the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

The repentant thief responded with this strong rebuke of the other thief:

“But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do not you fear God, seeing that you are in the same condemnation. And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds.”

The thief is here admitting to his guilt and agreeing that he is being justly punished for his crime. He, in the spirit of true repentance, is admitting his sin and acknowledging that his punishment is just. He goes on to say this regarding Jesus:

“But this Man (Jesus) has done nothing amiss.”

This is one of the few kind words that Jesus received that day. He is realizing just who Jesus is and goes on to declare His Lordship and ask for forgiveness. He says:

“Lord, remember me when you come into Your kingdom.”

Dying on a cross for his wrongs, he now places his total faith in Jesus. A most incredible conversion. Jesus responds to his faith with the following:

“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, Today shall you be with me in Paradise.”

Repentance and faith in Christ and Him crucified are the only requirements for salvation. The thief certainly could not do any works to qualify himself for the reward of Heaven. The Lord did not say that he needed to go to Purgatory or do some penance to make himself worthy of Heaven. Jesus didn’t point him to His mother Mary who was in the crowd. He simply told the thief that he would be with Him in Paradise that very day. Jesus paid the full price for our sins on the cross. Just before He died He said, “It is finished.” There is nothing we could add to His “finished” work. Just like this thief, we are saved and made ready for Heaven by faith in Jesus and His atoning work on the cross.

By the way, the thief’s stay in Paradise was a very short one. Three days after the Lord’s death on the cross, He rose from the dead and all those in Paradise, which included all the Old Testament saints, accompanied Jesus to Heaven. The price had to be paid for the sin of man before anyone could have their sins forgiven and go to Heaven. Now, after Calvary, when someone dies, the Bible says that we go directly to Heaven to be with the Lord. The Apostle Paul said this: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body (death), and to be present with the Lord (Heaven).” He paid it all. Only believe.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

{See the A,B,C’s of Salvation page on this website}

https://wordpress.com/page/tqministries.com/5448

Find podcasts of this article, and all the articles on this website on the “Here I Am Lord” podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Pocket Casts, and RadioPublic. Also, Here I Am, Lord is on Telegram.

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Here I Am, Lord –Tom Quinn Ministries – TQMINISTRIES.COM – 2020