Here I Am, Lord – – tqministries.com

For a Love That Reached Down to a Lost and Dying World

“This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:23).

Our Salvation is all of the Lord. Our part is to come by faith and believe on what the Lord has already provided. Our Father, out of His great love for us sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to rescue us from the sure destruction that would come upon us if left to our own ways. We were dead spiritually and could not climb out of the fallen condition we found ourselves in.

The Lord not only paid the price for our sins, but He draws us to Himself by His Holy Spirit. Left on our own we would not come to the Lord. We are in a fallen condition and unable to come His way on our own. Jesus said, “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you.” The Lord finds us; not the other way around. He finds us by the convicting and drawing power of the Holy Spirit. We have a free will and can turn away from the Lord’s drawing, but Jesus’ point was that the call of God on an individual is initiated by the Lord.

Many say that they came to the Lord, or they found or accepted the Lord, which is true in part, but the Lord is the One Who showed them the way to come to Him in repentance and faith. When we do come into the Salvation He so graciously provides, 1 Corinthians tells us all the changes that take place when we are born again or born of the spiritual: “But you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the Name of Jesus.” Incredibly, we are washed by the Blood of Jesus cleansing us from our sins. We are sanctified which refers to our being set apart for the Lord. We are justified which means we are declared not guilty of sin. And having been born again, washed, sanctified, and justified; the Lord is not through blessing us.

O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him” (Psalm 34:8).

We are so blessed to know the Lord. We are children of God and joint heirs with Christ. The Apostle Paul explains this in his Epistle to the Romans. He says “The Spirit itself (Himself) bears witness with our spirit that we are the Children of God, and joint heirs with Christ..” The Apostle John explains it further when he writes, ” Beloved, what manner of love the Father has for us that we shall be called the sons of God….. Beloved now we are the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”

We are saved by the Lord as the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and draws us to the Lord by faith in Christ and His sacrificial death on the Cross. The Father sent His Son to pay the sin debt owed which fully demonstrated the great love the Father has for us. We see that great love in a Salvation that cost the Lord greatly to provide at Calvary. We are washed by the Blood of Jesus from our sins, we are set apart to God which is our position in Christ, and we are justified before Him and declared not guilty. The Lord makes us sons and daughters of God and joint heirs with Christ. And we will be like Him when He appears in that we will have glorified bodies.

We have much to give thanks to the Lord for. He has done it all and it is “marvelous in our eyes.” We know that the Earth is not our home, we are just passing through. We await our home in Heaven where we will see the One Who died for us so that we might live in eternity with Him with all the glorious blessings the Lord has prepared for us.

Yes, we have much to be thankful for. The Lord’s love for us is like a brightly shining beacon showing us the way into His very presence. How can we not hearken to the call of the Lord and fall on our knees in thanksgiving to our great God? He is calling out today in His great love for all those who are so in need of His Salvation.

Those of us who know the Lord are blessed beyond all that we could ever imagine. Our future is bright as the Lord has great blessings in store for those who love Him and have come His Way. The following words from the song* express every child of God’s desire to see Jesus which is the greatest blessing awaiting us: “What a day that will be when my Jesus I will see. When I look upon His face the One Who saved me by His Grace.” As we walk out our lives, the Holy Spirit will lead us and bring us to an eternity in the Presence of the One who loves us with an everlasting love.

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His Name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations” (Psalm 100:4,5).

*What a Day That Will Be – Composed by Jim Hill

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2023

Eternity Calls… Are You Ready?

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

The Lord knows us and loves us. He draws us to Himself with unfailing love. We have a choice in this life to come to Him and abide in His love or to go our own way and reap the consequences. If the truth be known, without the Lord, we are in dire straits. We have a fallen nature and are unable to save ourselves.

The Lord saw our great need, and, in His love for us, paid the price on the Cross to make us free. He not only paid the price but draws us through His Word to walk through this life with Him in the power of the Holy Spirit. He wants us to seek His ways each day and to be with Him forever.

“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.”

We receive His love for us as a free gift. He died on the Cross to pay the sin debt so that we might be free. He calls out to all those on the Earth today that they may come to Him and not be lost. His love for us will draw us to Him as we walk with Him all the days of our lives.

“Behold, I (Jesus) stand at the door (the door of our heart) and knock: if any man (whosoever) hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)

The story of God’s love for us is an incredible one with “exceeding great and precious promises”. Not only has His love paid the price for our sins, but He has said in His Word that we are to be “partakers of the divine nature.” We come to Him in repentance and faith and the Lord changes us by the power of the Holy Spirit and makes us partakers of His nature. And when our life here is done; He offers us a home with Him in eternity. An incredible love. An incredible God.

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:4)

We have a choice in this life. We can follow Him and be blessed, or we can reject his love and go our own way. The world calls out to us to go its way. The Lord calls us to Himself through His Word, the Bible. We have only this life to acknowledge His great love for us and surrender to Him. Yes, He knew us then (before we knew Him). Will He know us now as His child – blood-bought, forgiven, and on our way to be with him in Glory? His Word says our earthly walk with Him is “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” Eternity calls. Are you ready? Does He know You now as His own?

“And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come (the Lord calling out to all those that are lost in this dying world) And let him who hears say, come. And let him who is athirst come (the lost soul crying out to the Lord). And whosoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely (all are welcome).” (Revelation 22:17)

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

The Bible Tells Us That There Will Be Signs Prior to the Lord’s Coming

“…The Day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, ‘Peace and Safety’; then sudden destruction comes on them, as with travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1 Thess. 5:2,3).

The Lord has sought to draw mankind to Himself throughout all history. He loves His creation and desires that all of us come to Him in faith. He has shown mankind His Mercy and Grace in many ways throughout the centuries. The greatest display of His Mercy and Grace is the giving of His Son as our Savior.

We are saved by placing our faith in Christ and His great sacrifice at the cross. As the sinless, sin offering, He paid the sin debt owed to God by man. We come to God by repentance and faith in this great work. We are born again, or born from above, by this simple act of faith in the Lord’s sacrificial death at Calvary. In other words, we are forgiven of our totally forgiven of our sins and we pass from death to life.

Man’s salvation is all of God. Our part is to accept it by faith.

The Lord has set a time of judgment for this world when all sin and evil will be dealt with. It’s called the “Day of the Lord” and will come upon all those that dwell on the Earth. Throughout all of man’s time here on the earth, God has called out to him in mercy, offering him forgiveness through his Grace. He has asked only that we turn from our sinful ways and come to him in faith. Our faith in Him saves us from the wrath to come.

It has been nearly two thousand years since Jesus came the first time. He came as our Savior then and submitted Himself to death on a cruel cross. When He returns He will come as a judge, judging the world for its sin and its refusal to come to Him in repentance. This could happen in the very near future. The Bible tells us that there would be signs prior to His return; those signs are beginning to occur, and occur in greater frequency (read my article As The Day Approaches ). The Lord is preparing the world for, and warning the world of His soon return.

This is the day of Salvation. We must see that all that is coming about in the world today is a sign of His soon return. We can ignore it and go on with our lives believing all things will continue as they have from the beginning, or we can fall on our knees and ask the Lord’s forgiveness, believing that He will forgive us our sins and save us from His day of judgment. It’s hard to believe that anyone living today cannot discern that we are living in unusual times. When we see what’s happening today, we can sense that things are just not right. The world around us is changing rapidly, and it’s not for the good. Won’t you consider the Mercy and Grace of the Lord and come into the safety of the Salvation that cost Him so much. He offers this Salvation to “whomsoever” will come. The door is opened wide. He has promised that He will give all those who do come to Him in faith Life Eternal in His presence.

“Surely I (Jesus) come quickly (suddenly). Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

The following is the Sinner’s Prayer prayed by millions down through the years. If you do not know the Lord; I encourage you to pray this prayer and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death at Calvary. Make this your day to make things right with the Lord. Your whole world will change as you come to Him in repentance and faith. The Lord blesses His children and we become a child of God by faith in the Salvation He has provided.

SINNER’S PRAYER

Dear God in Heaven,

I come to You in the Name of Jesus. I’m sorry for my sins, the way I’ve lived, the things I’ve done. Please forgive me. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood from all unrighteousness. With my mouth, I confess Jesus Christ. In my heart, I believe that He died for my sins and that God raised Jesus from the dead and that He is alive. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as the savior of my soul and make Him the lord of my life. And according to His Word which cannot lie, I am washed, I am cleansed, I am forgiven. I am saved.

” 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).

If you prayed the above prayer you have been born from above (born again) according to the promise of God and have passed from death to life. We can know that we have eternal life and will be with Him forever.

“These things have I written unto you who believe on the Name of the Son of God (Jesus); that you may know that you have eternal life..” (1 John 5:13).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I am, Lord –Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2019

The Parable Of The Sower – Matthew Chapter 13

Originally Published 2021

“Behold, a sower went forth to sow. And when he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up. (Matthew 13:3,4)

This seed (Word of God) fell by the wayside (a hard surface not prepared for planting) and fowls (Satan and company) devoured them up (taking it away). This seed by the wayside speaks of those who hear the Word, have no desire for it, and allow Satan to steal that which was sown. They see no value in what they hear, turn from the truth, and will not come to the Lord in repentance and acceptance of the salvation message.

“Some fell on stony places, for they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth. And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.” (verses 5,6)

The stony places suggest a shallow place (no depth) where there is some soil but rock is just below the surface. Jesus says of these individuals: “He who hears the Word, and anon (immediately) with joy receives it.” There is a good start made here; they immediately believe the Word and accept Christ. The Lord goes on to say: “yet he has not root in himself, but endures for a while.” There is some progress made because there is some soil, but the roots cannot grow down because of the rock below. Jesus explains the end result as follows: “For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word, by and by he is offended.”. They are offended after a short period of time due to tribulation or persecution and turn from the truth and lose their way.

“And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up, and choked them.” (Verse 7)

This third group makes more progress than the previous two. The soil is good and the roots begin to grow, but thorns impede the growth of the planted Word. Jesus explains: “The care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, chokes the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.” These individuals make a good start and continue for a considerable amount of time, but are distracted by other things and become unfruitful (lost). Jesus said: ” Every branch (believer) in Me (the True Vine) that beareth not fruit (does not continue in faith) He takes away (removes from the Vine ).” The Lord loves us and is patient and longsuffering towards us, however, if we cease to believe then we have cut ourselves off from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.

“But other fell on good ground and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. ” (verse 8)

This last group eagerly receives the Word with hungry hearts under the conviction of sin. They understand that they are sinners in need of forgiveness. They accept the Lord’s work on the Cross and come to Him with great joy. They continue to yield to God, and as a result, bring forth “good fruit” (Christian growth). Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. ” The result is that the Holy Spirit can bring forth good fruit because of the fertile soil (hungry receptive heart).

“Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (verse 9)

This verse points to the fact that all will be held accountable by the Lord for what they have heard (the Word) and will be judged for what they did with it. Those in the first group hear the Word and reject it. The second group accepts the Word and begins to live for the Lord, but because of tribulation and persecution falls away. The third group starts out well and continues for a considerable period of time, but eventually is distracted by the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches and loses their way. The final group eagerly accepts the Word and yields themselves to the Lord, resulting in the Holy Spirit working mightily (hundredfold, sixtyfold, thirtyfold) in their life.

It’s disconcerting to note that only one in four of those who heard the Word continued in it. Three out of four did not. Sadly, I believe church history proves this out. Matthew 7:14 explains the reason for this: “Because strait is the gate, and narrow the way (faith in Christ Crucified) which leads to life, and few there be that find it.” We can only find life by our continued faith on a daily basis in the One that offers that life to us. Jesus speaks of this in John chapter 15: ” I am the Vine, you are the branches: he who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit.” Everything that we receive from God comes exclusively through what Jesus accomplished on the Cross. This must always be the object of our faith. It alone allows the Holy Spirit to work in our lives to bring forth the fruit that will bring the victory that we so desire. Jesus is the True Vine. Our life is in Him and Him alone.

Find podcasts of this article, and all the articles on this website on the “Here I Am Lord” podcast on Spotify for Podcasters, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, and Apple Podcasts.

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

You’ll Need Them Along the Way in Your Journey Through Life!

Originally Published in 2022

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

The Lord gave us an invaluable gift in His Word. The Bible is the infallible Word of God, and He has given it to us to show us the way through this life. He is our Creator, and for those that are His; He is our Redeemer and our Lord. He created all things and sustains them by His Almighty Power.

The Bible is about the fall of man and his redemption. We have a God who loves us and wants the best for us. He has given us free will so that we might choose our path in life. His Word shows us the way to walk, and through it, find our way back to Him.

The Lord offers a path back to Him by way of Calvary. Man is totally depraved and unable to save himself. These words are strong but true. Without the Lord we are lost and without hope. The Lord shows us that in His Word, and displays His love for us in His answer to our hopeless state. His love can be seen by all at Calvary. His death for the sins of mankind enabled man to be born spiritually and have communion with the Lord once again. As John the Baptist proclaimed regarding the coming of Jesus and His sacrificial death on the cross:

“Behold, the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

The Bible is our guide. We must read it and believe what it says. It is the wisdom of God given to us that we might escape our fallen nature and live a life pleasing to the Lord in this fallen world. The life the Lord offers is one of forgiveness of sins and fellowship with Him. We are born spiritually and have the Lord’s presence in our lives which blesses us and sustains us as we walk out our lives. The Bible calls it “joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

As we look at what is happening in our world today; we see a world in trouble with unrest, lawlessness, and great uncertainty about the future. We need only to look to God’s Word to see that these times were prophesied by the Lord. He wants all those who come to Him through His Word to know that we can rest in the knowledge that our Mighty God has everything in His control.

The world as it is cannot continue forever. There must be a time of judgment for a world that goes its own way and sinks further and further into sin. This can be seen in God’s Word. He warns all that judgment is coming. He cries out to us through His Word that we might not perish, but that we might come to Him in repentance and faith and receive His mercy and grace. Mercy and grace that cost the Lord greatly to provide at Calvary.

The Bible is our guide. Read it today and live. Ignore it at your great risk. The Lord has done all He can. He came and died on a cruel cross to pay for our sin and points the way to Eternal Life with Him through His Word. The Bible is His loving gift to us. Read it today for in it you will find “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” May you be blessed as you seek to know the One that loves you. He asks you today if you have read his book because in it are the words of life.

“As for God, His way is perfect:
The Lord’s Word is flawless;
He shields all who take refuge in Him” (Psalm 18:30).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

See The A,B,C’s of Salvation on this website. Link below:

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

See The Sinner’s Prayer on this website. Link below:

https://wordpress.com/page/tqministries.com/1752

Always Remember

GOD LOVES YOU!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com – 2022

Our Path to Victory as Christians

REST

“Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Jesus spoke these words revealing to all that Salvation comes from Him, and Him alone. We have a fallen nature and are unable to save ourselves. Those who try to do so in their own efforts “labor and are heavy laden” with the result being the lack of rest that only Christ can provide. Romans Chapter 6 tells that when we come in faith to Christ and His sacrificial death at Calvary, spiritually we “we are baptized into His (Christ’s) death,” and “buried with Him by Baptism into death,” and finally “that like Christ was raised from the dead by the Glory of the Father, even so we should walk in Newness of Life.” So, we have rest in Christ as we come to Him in repentance and faith. These verses tell us what happens to us spiritually when we place our faith in Christ. This is all accomplished by the Holy Spirit, Who, by Christ paying the price for our sins on the Cross, comes and abides in all believers.

WALK

“This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).“

When we come to the Lord in “rest” we are then to keep our faith in Christ and Him Crucified which allows the Holy Spirit to work mightily in our lives (Romans 8:2). We are not to try and live for the Lord in our own strength. Paul tells the Galatians “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under Law.” The Galatians were tempted to go back under Mosaic Law to gain victory in their lives. Paul tells them that that will only lead to defeat. Today, we may not be tempted to go back to the Mosaic Law, but we can make up our own laws in trying to live a victorious life. The Christian disciples (e.g prayer, Bible reading, fasting, attending church, etc.) are all good and hold an important place in our serving the Lord, but if we place our faith in them to gain victory over some failure in our life; we will not realize any success, and we will fail. We are to live by faith. Christ fulfilled the Law and we are “dead to the Law.” Galatians 2:21 makes it all clear, “I do not frustrate the Grace of God: for if Righteousness come by the Law (any law or work we could perform), then Christ is dead in vain (if we can have victory in our own efforts then Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross was unnecessary).”

STAND

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).

We have liberty in Christ and we are to stand fast in that liberty. That means we are to anchor our faith in Christ and Him Crucified. It is to be the object of our faith daily. Paul told the Galatians that if they did not live their daily life by faith in Christ but went back under the Law in attempting to live this Christian life, then “Christ is become of no effect to you” and “you are fallen from Grace.” This is a grave warning from Paul for us to consider. Again, we are to stand fast in the liberty that faith in Christ brings us. The result of not standing is bondage.

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil” (Ephesians 6:11).

Peter tells us to “be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom He might devour.” He wrote this to Believers as a warning to “resist steadfast in faith.” We are saved and “kept by the Power of God by faith.” We have a powerful adversary, and under him, principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places. Our ark of safety is found only in our continued daily faith in Christ and Him Crucified. Christ came to deliver us from this present evil world. Most of the world is lost and under the power of the evil one. As Christians, we are to rest in the Salvation the Lord has provided, walk in the Power of the Holy Spirit, and stand fast in the liberty our faith provides for a victorious Christian life and power against our adversary.

“According to His Divine Power has given us all things that pertain unto life and Godliness, through the knowledge of Him Who has called us to Glory and Virtue” (1 Peter 1:3).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2023

But Grace Made a Way

A Fictional Narrative

My name is Bill and there are so many things in my life that I look back on in shame. My life took a turn for the worse in my teen years. I fell in with the wrong crowd and did some things that I deeply regret. The memory of that terrible time in my life when peer pressure and my own foolish decisions caused others great pain stayed with me. Even to this day, these memories are with me. I cringe at even the thought of all I have done.

As I entered my twenties I became an angry person and let what happened in the past affect my life. I didn’t repeat any of those things that I’m now so ashamed of, but I believe the effect of the memories of those things caused me to hate myself and to do things that would cause me pain. Feeling poorly about myself resulted in broken relationships with friends. Most of them could not understand the anger that I lived with and projected onto anyone who attempted to draw close to me. I felt I didn’t deserve any friends, or even any goodness in my life. This turned into a deep depression that I could not seem to overcome.

I know the cause of it all now and have shared it here. My problem went back to my youth. I didn’t fully realize the impact it had on my life nor did I understand that this was causing me to live a life of torment. I considered suicide on a number of occasions. I was in deep trouble and could not see any way out.

One day as I was heading to work; I stopped at the mall to pick up a book I thought might help. It was one of those self-help books that so many people today look to for answers. As I walked up to the entrance to the mall, I came across a man handing out information on the Bible. I stopped, took one, and read the title. It said, “He paid the debt we could not pay.” I asked the man what that meant. The man told me that we are all sinners and in need of forgiveness for how we’ve lived our lives without God. He said Jesus paid the price for our sins by His sacrifice on the Cross and that if we would repent and believe in Him we would be forgiven and could have the “Newness of Life” that was promised us in the Bible.

I was stunned by what the man told me. I asked him if all the things that I had done in the past and have carried with me to this day could be forgiven. He said that not only would I be forgiven but God will remember them no more. In fact, he said the Bible says that “as far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.”

I said the Sinner’s Prayer that very day. All things became new to me. And I had a peace I never had experienced before. I was amazed at the mercy the Lord had shown me and I realized that by faith in Christ and Him Crucified I could remain in the peace of God and the Holy Spirit would help me to live a life pleasing to the Lord.

I went back to all the people I felt I had harmed both in my teen years and those who experienced my anger in my twenties. I asked for their forgiveness and shared the Gospel with them. I want to share the love the Lord showed me with all those so in need of the Salvation He freely gives. My life is now one of thanksgiving and praise to the God who loved me and died on a cruel Cross to pay the debt that I owed and could not pay.

“But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” ( Romans 5:8 ESV).

Always Remember,

God Loved You!

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Here I Am Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2023

Ginny’s Path To Salvation and the Baptism With the Holy Spirit

A Fictional Narrative

Ginny was meeting her friend Sally for lunch and she was looking forward to it. She hadn’t seen Sally in ages and they had at one time been close friends. Sally sounded quite excited about some news she wanted to share with her. Ginny wondered what the news was that would cause Sally to contact her after all this time. As she waited for their meeting time to arrive, she realized that she missed Sally and the close friendship they had enjoyed. Life had taken them along different paths and it would be so good to see her again.

They met at a little outdoor cafe that they were both very familiar with. In fact, they had enjoyed sharing many lunchtimes at this same cafe in the past. They greeted each other with a hug and caught up with all that had happened in each of their lives since they had last met.

Ginny sensed that something was different about Sally. She seemed so at peace and had a glow about her. Ginny remembered attending church with Sally in their youth. The church they attended had a lot of church rules. As they grew older they both talked about how they didn’t really enjoy church or feel that they were getting anything out of it. They both stopped attending considering it was of no value in their lives and something to be avoided.

During their lunch, Sally shared the Gospel with Ginny. She told her that God’s Word made it clear that it was all by faith which was very much unlike what they had experienced in the church they attended in their youth. Sally told of the Savior Who died on the Cross to pay the sin debt mankind owed to God. The Cross was mentioned in their original church, but the fact that we could be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life all by faith was not. It was all about works in their old church. Ginny listened and heard the true Gospel for the first time. She was amazed at what she heard and felt a stirring in her heart. She realized that this was what was missing in her life. Ginny prayed the Sinner’s Prayer with Sally and they both read the following scripture:

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

Sally had more good news for her. She said that when we place our faith in Christ and Him Crucified we are born again and the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. She quoted the Lord Jesus in the Gospel of John when he told His disciples just before His death “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever.” She explained that Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit Who comes to abide within and brings us victory in our lives over the world, the flesh, and the Devil as we daily make Christ and His sacrificial death on the Cross the object of our faith.

Sally also told her that the Bible says that the Spirit also gives us power for service in the Baptism with the Holy Spirit which is available by faith to all those who are born again. Sally told her that the Lord, just before He was taken up into Heaven, told His Disciples that the Baptism with the Holy Spirit and the Spirit coming as “Helper,” was the “Promise of the Father” that had awaited Christ’s finished work at Calvary. He was referring to the soon-coming Day of Pentecost which took place fifty days after His Resurrection and was the birthday of the church. He said, “But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you.” She explained that the Holy Spirit plays dual roles in our lives. He comes as a “Helper” to bring us victory in our daily lives, and He comes to give us power for service.

Ginny was so grateful that the Lord had reached down in mercy and Grace and saved her. Her whole family for generations had been members of the church of her youth and had never heard the Gospel. After presenting the Gospel to them, some of them came to the Lord; some did not. Ginny, of course, knew that the Gospel was offered to whosoever will come and her family now had that opportunity. She felt so blessed to now know the Lord and to have the “Helper” within her to be her constant guide. She asked the Lord for the Baptism with the Holy Spirit and received it with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. Ginny knew just how blessed she was in knowing and receiving Salvation. She now knew it was all by Grace through faith in the Lord Jesus and His sacrificial work at Calvary. She had entered the rest of God and the peace of God was the result.

“For by Grace are you saved through faith (in Christ and Him Crucified); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8,9).

“….When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will lead you into all truth” (John 14:13).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

The Sinner’s Prayer at the link below

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The Heart of the Father and the Riches of His Grace

“For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I have come from the Father” (John 16:22).

Jesus, just prior to His crucifixion, encouraged His disciples by telling them that the Father loved them because of their acceptance and belief in Him. It is the same for us today; The Father loves us because we have believed in His Son whom He sent to rescue us from this evil world and the judgment to come. The Father proved His great love for us by sending His Son so that we might know Him and His great plan of redemption. His redemption plan is the greatest display of God’s love.

Jesus said, “…He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

We can know the Father by looking at the Son. Jesus, in His earthly ministry healed all those who came to Him. He came for the people of Israel and never turned any away. He cast out demons from the many that suffered from them. He taught the people the ways of God, offering them the Kingdom if they would believe in Him. His love for all those that came to Him was seen by all. We can read the Gospels and see all He did in His three-and-a-half-year ministry. He spoke the words the Father gave Him and if we look to Him we will see the Father.

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1).

We have been adopted into the family of God by our faith in Christ and Him Crucified. Jesus called it being “born again.” We are joint heirs with Christ through faith. We will be changed and receive glorified bodies at the Lord’s coming. And glorious things have been prepared for us in the future by the Father.

“In Whom we have redemption through His Blood, for the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

The Father loves us and sent His Son so that we might have forgiveness of sins. 1 Corinthian 6:11 says, “You are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified.” All made possible by the gift of God’s Son who paid the price at Calvary on the Cross. The blood of Jesus cleansed us of all our sins. We have been set apart for God and declared not guilty. In fact, the Lord looks at us now as though we had never sinned.

Yes, the Father loves us and has shown us His great love in the sending of His Son to die a sacrificial death on the Cross so that we might be forgiven and spend eternity with him. The Lord throughout His Word is telling us that He loves us. The Bible is God’s love letter to us all. Once we see this great love the Father has for us, we must tell others of God’s great love for them. He is saying through every verse of Scripture; Tell them I love them!

“Grace be with you, Mercy, and Peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in Truth and Love” (2 John 1:3).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Peace With God and the Peace of God

A Fictional Narrative

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

Tim was raised in a family that did not know the Lord. He was in trouble with the law as a teenager, but was now, as an adult, working full-time and had stayed out of trouble since his teen years. However, he was a committed partier and drinker and spent his nights and weekends indulging himself in all the so-called pleasures of this world. If you asked Tim about his life, he would have told you that he was living life to its fullest.

John, on the other hand, had grown up in a Christian home with parents who took their family to church each week. John had given his life to the Lord at an early age and was Baptized with the Holy Spirit at 11 years old. In his teenage years, he struggled with the things of God and the pull of the world, but in the end, he came through with strong faith in the Lord.

Tim and John worked together at the same firm. They both were good at their jobs and advanced in the firm from year to year receiving promotions and raises. Both married their high school sweethearts and they both had children. Everything in life looked great for both of these men. Tim and John, although friendly toward each other, were not close and did not travel in the same circles.

Tim had managed to conceal his drinking problem from his employer to date. However, his marriage was in trouble due to his drinking and his occasional long stretches of partying. John was serving the Lord, and he and his family attended church each week.

If you were to ask Tim about John he might tell you that he thought John a good man but that John was too straight-laced and did not join in the outside-of-work activities that Tim enjoyed so much. He felt John was missing out and thought that he must lead a rather dull life.

One day a processor came to the office and served Tim with divorce papers. Tim seemed stunned by this – he clearly had not seen this coming. Tim comforted himself with what he knew best and that was drinking and partying. His performance at work suffered and the firm considered letting him go.

Tim was beside himself, He didn’t know what to do or where to turn. One day, John came to him and asked him to go to lunch with him. Tim reluctantly agreed. At lunch Tim found himself opening up to John. This surprised him! And John surprised him. John just listened to all Tim told him. Tim was amazed at the kindness that John exhibited and appreciated his noncritical way of responding to all Tim had shared with him. He also sensed a peace that John had that he had never seen in anyone before. The lunch ended with John telling Tim that he was there for him any time he wanted to talk.

Tim could not get his lunch date with John out of his mind. John was so kind, and the peace he felt when he was with John. He remembered how they had talked about his problems all through lunch and how John had quietly listened and when he did respond, it was in kindness. John had said a prayer of thanksgiving and blessing over their meal before they began to discuss Tim’s situation. Tim wondered if the peace he felt had anything to do with that prayer.

In the following weeks, Tim watched John closely and saw how kind he was and how at peace He seemed. Finally, he went to John and asked him about the peace he felt at the lunch the two had shared.

John told him that the peace was the peace of God and that everyone could experience it in their lives every day. This got Tim’s attention and he asked John if he could experience this peace in the bad situation he found himself in. John assured him that he could and shared the Gospel with him. He told Tim of our need to repent of our sins – the way we’ve lived our lives without God. He shared with him the love God has for us sending His Son to die on a cruel Cross so that we might be forgiven and experience peace with God. He also told him that as we walk out our lives with faith in Jesus and what He accomplished at Calvary we would walk in the peace of God. He said our faith in the Cross brings us both peace with God and the peace of God.

Tim took all this in and thought about all that John had shared. He just couldn’t get it out of his mind. However, there was an inner battle going on. Can all of what John shared with him be true? Had he lived his whole life in the wrong way? What about his partying and drinking? He would have to change these things and he didn’t know if he could, or even if he wanted to. The battle in his mind raged, but the love of God that John had told him about eventually caused him to fall to his knees and ask for forgiveness from the Lord. He immediately sensed the peace of God. Tears came to his eyes as he truly realized the love the Lord had for him. He was overwhelmed. He was so thankful for the Lord reaching down in mercy and grace and saving him.

Tim’s problems at home and at work took some time to work out, but the Lord took away the drinking right away. He has absolutely no desire to drink or party as he had before. His wife and family saw the change in Tim and they eventually came to the Lord. His employer saw the change, as well, and although he had to go through a probationary period, he came through it with the Lord’s help and became a rising star in the firm. There were still issues in his life, as there are with all of us until we come to glory, but the Lord is faithful and will see him through as he walks out his life by faith. Tim realizes that his faith placed daily in the finished work of Christ on the Cross, allows the Holy Spirit to work mightily in his life. He realizes just how blessed he is and walks out each day with thanksgiving and praise.

Tim and John are now not only coworkers but have become friends. In fact, their families attend church together and get together frequently outside of work. The Lord had worked the miracle of Salvation and restoration in Tim’s life. Tim now having peace with God walks out each day in the peace of God.

“And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ” (Philippians 4:7).

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

Also, Here I Am, Lord is on Telegram.

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2023