Another Story Of The Miracle Of Salvation

A Sequel To One Man’s Journey

“You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, in your right hand are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:11).

There once was a woman who had a great life. Her husband was a good man and a good husband and father. She also had a wonderful son and daughter. The woman was thankful every day for the blessings of having such an incredible family and such an exceptional life.

That was until the day her husband began acting somewhat strangely. You see, her husband had stopped at a mission on his way to work one day and had not been the same since. He was always a religious person, but now he was what she might call fanatical. He was talking about Jesus constantly and encouraging her to read her Bible.

She felt that religion had its place, but her husband had taken this religion thing to a whole other level. She believed in God, went to church every week, and tried to live a good life. She felt that she was doing all that her church required of her to be a member in good standing.

However, the woman did notice that her husband seemed to have a relationship with God that she did not have. He spoke of the love the Lord had for us and he had a faith in God that she admired. He also had a joy that she had never seen in him before.

All this made her very curious about his newfound faith. She wouldn’t admit it to him, but she had decided to look into it herself. She began reading the Bible as he had suggested and came across some pretty amazing things.

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

The Bible said that the Lord loved us and that we could know that we have Eternal Life by repenting of our sins and placing our faith in Jesus and His great sacrifice at the cross. Having attended church from a young age, she knew that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but the woman never heard it preached that faith in Him and His death on the cross would bring us into a personal relationship with the Lord and into the salvation of our soul that everyone seeking the Lord so desired. But there it was as plain as day.

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you might know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

She had always been taught that she was to have faith, but she was also taught that she needed to do her part. This did not agree with the Word of God. Jesus said, “It is finished” just before He died on the cross. He had paid the price for our sins in total. What He did satisfied the demands of a Holy God against the sin of the world. What could we possibly add to that? She now saw that the Lord required repentance from us for our sins that cost Him so much, and faith in what He had done for us on the cross.

Verily (truly), Verily (truly), I (Jesus) say unto you, Except a man be born again (through repentance and trust in what Jesus accomplished at the cross), he cannot see (comprehend/apprehend) the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

The woman now saw why her husband had such a love for Jesus and spoke of Him as one knowing the Lord intimately, and why he had such great joy. She too wanted what her husband had for herself and her family. She felt that her eyes had been opened and that for the very first time she could say that she knew the Lord and had seen His great love for us all. A love that would bring Him from glory to die on a cruel cross for her sin and the sin of the world.

“But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them gave He power to become the sons (and daughters) of God, even to them who believed on His Name” (John 1:12).

This day would be a most special day in the life of the woman. A day that she would remember for the rest of her life. She had come to know the “path of life”. His Name is Jesus. When we find Him, we have found everything our soul needs and we are greatly blessed.

“But the path of righteousness is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day” (Proverbs 4:18).

If you have never come to the Lord in repentance and faith, you can pray the following prayer, as many have done before you, and make things right with the Lord.

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 and cleanse me with Your precious Blood from all unrighteousness. With my mouth, I confess Jesus Christ. In my heart, I believe that God raised Him from the dead and that He is alive. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as the Savior of my soul. I 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. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer and believed, according to the Word of God, you have been born again (born spiritually). Praise the Lord!

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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 2019

A Fictional Narrative – The Miracle of Salvation

“Thou has made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee” (Augustine of Hippo).

A Fictional Narrative

There once was a good man who attempted to do everything right in his journey through life. He was looked up to and admired by his family and all those around him. He believed in God and gave to those less fortunate. He attended church weekly, provided for his family and prayed to God. By all accounts; this man was an example to everyone around him.

Yet, the man felt incomplete. He knew there was something missing in his life. There was a void deep within that was not satisfied by anything in his life. He seemed to have it all, a wonderful family, a good job, friends; yet he knew there must be more.

“And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

As it would happen, on his way to work each day he passed a storefront mission. Every time he passed by it seemed to be a hub of activity with people coming and going. Each day he felt a drawing to stop and visit this mission. He fought this urge justifying his reluctance to go in. He told himself that this really was not his type of place. It seemed to him that most of those going into the mission were down on their luck and in need of what he felt a mission like this could offer them. He had a good life and was in need of nothing materially. However, each time he passed by he felt a strong drawing to go in.

“The Lord guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way” (Psalm 25:9).

The man fought this pull toward the mission for months. However, one day as he passed by, he noticed that there was more activity in front of the mission then he had ever seen before. A huge banner draped the entire front of the building. The banner had the words “REVIVAL TODAY” in large letters that completely filled up the whole banner.

The man pulled his car to the side of the road and just sat there for the longest time staring at the building and the banner. Many people were arriving and going inside. They all seemed so happy. He made the decision that this was the day that he would find out just what was going on inside the mission.

“For the Son Of Man (Jesus) has come to seek and to save that which was lost (speaks of us all)” (Luke 19:10).

As he entered the building he noticed that it was almost filled to capacity. He found a seat in the back and waited for whatever it was that was planned to start. Finally, a man, who identified himself as the pastor, came out and stood in the front of the room behind a podium. Music began to fill the room. All those in attendance began to sing along. They all seemed to know the words and sang with great joy.

“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

Once the music came to an end, the pastor began to speak to all those present. He seemed to have a knowledge of the things of the Lord and an intimacy with the Lord that the man had never witnessed from anyone before. He spoke of a personal relationship with God that was available to anyone who so desired it. The man listened and came to the realization that this was what was missing in his life. At the end of the service, the pastor invited those present who did not know the Lord in a personal way to come forward. The man went forward and knelt before the Lord, asking for forgiveness and accepting the Lord’s gift of salvation.

” I love them who love Me; and those that seek me early shall find Me” (Proverbs 8:17).

He immediately felt a lifting of the burden he had carried with him his whole life. He was totally forgiven by the Lord and it was such a freeing feeling. Not only forgiven, but he now had a personal relationship with the One who loved him and died for him. The man left the meeting rejoicing in all the Lord had done for him.

[I just want to thank You Lord for all that You have done for me.]

He realized that of all those at the mission that day, that he may have been the neediest of all. The man finally understood that although he had been trying to live a good life, it was a life of trying to be good enough and a life of trying to serve or appease a God he did not really know. He had come to realize after seeing the Lord’s goodness towards him, and admitting his own desperate need of forgiveness, that he was to humble himself before the Lord and accept what the Lord had already provided by His death on the cross – the gift of salvation.

The Bible says, “There is none righteous no not one” and, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Once the man realized that the Lord had done it all and he needed only to accept it, he was filled with thanksgiving toward the Lord and filled with great joy. A new day had dawned in his life and he was so grateful. The Lord had seen his need and had reached down to him in mercy. It was truly amazing grace.

If in our journey through this life we come into the knowledge of the Lord, we are truly blessed and have come to know the true path of life.

“You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, in your right hand are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:11).

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.

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

A Thanksgiving Message For All!

Worshiping The Lord For His Goodness

Thanksgiving is upon us and we have much to be grateful for. Chief of which is that we have a God that watches over us for our good. He has blessed us with our very lives and has blessed us with all the beauty around us. But above all, He has rescued us from our fallen condition and has done so in a most incredible way.

We were lost to our own fallen natures due to original sin and unable to help ourselves. Without the Lord’s intervention, we were headed for judgment for our sins, and eternal separation from God in Hell. These are strong words but accurate according to the Bible.

Satan has done all He can to turn people away from the salvation that the Lord has lovingly provided for all those that will come to Him in repentance and faith in the salvation He has provided.

The secular definition of Salvation is preservation from harm, ruin, or loss. We are certainly in harm’s way if we do not know the Biblical Salvation offered by the Lord. Ruin is assured for those that do not turn to the Lord during the lifetime the Lord has blessed us with. And loss is not a strong enough word for what will be suffered by those that reject God and His way. The result will be complete separation from God and His blessings and an eternity of suffering in Hell.

Well, some might say that this is quite a strong message for Thanksgiving, but I disagree. Many will go through the day celebrating with family and enjoying a turkey dinner with barely a thought of just how grateful we should be for all the Lord has done for us.

The Lord sent His Son to die on a cruel Cross so that we might be saved. If there ever was an extreme measure taken to accomplish something, then this act of the Lord in sending His Son to die for us must top the list. We are saved by His Mercy and Grace alone. And we should be thankful every day of our lives.

What many do not realize is that the Gospel is not only an invitation, but also an ultimatum from the Lord. The Gospel of John shows us the heart of God in the following verse: “ For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whomsoever believes in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life.” So there it is: Except the gift of Eternal Life through Christ or one perishes.”

This article may seem hard-hitting but the Bible tells us that the judgment of God is soon coming on the world and we can only be in one of two camps. We can be saved by the Blood Jesus Shed for us at the cross, or we can reject the Lord’s loving offer and face the judgment to come.

So, on this Thanksgiving Day, it is my prayer that everyone reading this would realize the Grace that has been offered to us by our loving God, and thank Him for His ultimate gift that cost Him so much to provide. “We give thanks with a grateful heart! We give thanks to the Holy One.” The following verse says it well:

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us qualified (by Grace alone) to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints (all believers) in light (our standing as co-heirs with Christ): Who has delivered us from the powers of darkness (His mighty power was needed to deliver us), and has translated us into the Kingdom of His Dear Son” (Colossians 1:12,13).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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The Lord’s Prayer

“.. When you pray, use not vain repetition as the heathen do…… For your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask Him. After this manner, therefore, pray you….” (Matthew 6:8,9).

The Lord’s Disciples asked him to teach them to pray. He responded with the above verse and will now give His disciples the foundation for all prayer. In the verses that follow, the Lord is giving an example of what the basic structure of all prayer should be – a model or pattern. Also, we should pray with the belief that God will hear our prayers and answer according to His will. The Lord continues here with:

“Our Father….”

We should pray always to the Father, not to Jesus or the Holy Spirit. Our help comes from Heaven through the Father. We have a relationship with Him by our faith in Jesus and the work He accomplished at the cross.

“…Who is in Heaven. Hallowed be Your Name.”

As has been mentioned, our help comes from Heaven and not from anything here on earth. The word “hallowed” means greatly revered and honored. We show reverence and honor towards our Father; for He is our great and loving God.

“Your kingdom come…”

We are to pray that the kingdom of God will come. We are told by Christ that, when seeking God’s blessings for our life, we are to: ” Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things (all that we need) will be added unto you.” God’s kingdom is within us now, but will definitely come to the whole world at the Second Coming of Christ.

“Your will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.”

The Lord’s will and not ours. The Lord’s will for this world is not being accomplished at this time but will be when the kingdom comes at Christ’s return. Then, all the wrongs will be made right and all the suffering will end.

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

Our spiritual and material needs are met by the Lord. He watches over and cares for us in all matters. As Jesus said in the introductory verse, “Your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask.” All the Lord provides for us comes by way of, and because of, the great sacrifice by the Lord on the cross.

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

The Father is a just God and cannot forgive sin without the sin penalty being paid. A sinless substitute needed to be found to pay the price. The only One qualified to do this was the incarnate God/Man Jesus Christ. He paid the price for our sin that we might be forgiven. John the Baptist said this of Him, “Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.” The Lord has forgiven us much. Because we have been forgiven much; the Lord requires that we extend forgiveness to others.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

We are to ask the Lord to help us to not be led into temptation. In our own strength, we will surely fail. Temptation is the devil’s bait to lead us into evil. The Lord, through the Holy Spirit, as we place our faith in Christ and Him crucified, will keep us from evil. “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).

“For Yours is the Kingdom.”

This last section of the prayer is called the doxology meaning; praise to God. We praise God for Who He is and from whom all blessings flow. Praising God is one of the highest forms of worship. We want God’s Kingdom to prevail on earth.

“And the power,”

The Spirit and the power of God are how everything is accomplished. Nothing can be done for the Lord without God’s Spirit and power. Jesus said this after His Resurrection, “All power is given unto Me (by the Father) in Heaven and in earth.” This power includes the power to enable us to walk out this life by faith in the cross. 1 Corinthians says, “Christ the Power of God and Wisdom of God.” Our faith in Christ and Him crucified enables the Holy Spirit to work powerfully in our lives.

“And the glory,”

Psalm 72:9 says, “Blessed be His glorious Name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory! Amen and Amen.” The glory of the Father can be clearly seen through the Son. Hebrews says this regarding Jesus: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word.” Unto Him be the glory for He has done great and mighty things for us.

“Forever.”

The above will come to fruition and will never change. Psalm 119:89 says, “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven.” In the coming time, the will of the Father will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Of this, we can be sure.

“Amen.”

The word amen is a statement of affirmation and means “so be it.”

Although the words “in Jesus’ Name” is not part of this prayer, we can see that faith in the Lord and His great work are. A personal relationship with God was foreign to those in the Old Testament. Calling the Most High God “Our Father” was not part of the Old Testament believer’s understanding. Jesus opened this understanding up to His followers and it can only be prayed aright by those who have placed their faith in Christ. The Word says, “But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them gave He power to become sons (and daughters) of God.” Also, as we have said, God’s provision, protection, and forgiveness are all due to what the Lord accomplished at Calvary. You might say, the Lord’s Prayer looked forward to the atoning work of Calvary. All that we pray; we pray in light of the Lord’s great work on the cross.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

.

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

Accept, Or Reject, But A Decision Must Be Made

“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, ‘How long will falter between two opinions (i.e. straddle the fence)? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people answered him not a word” (1 Kings 18:21).

Unfortunately, in our society, mentioning the Name of Jesus is not popular. In fact, in many areas of the country, its become difficult to share the Gospel. This is Satan’s doing and he has been very successful at directing attention toward anything other than the Gospel. But everyone’s eternal destiny is an important subject, and everyone must make a decision regarding it. If the Gospel is preached and those that hear it do not accept the gracious gift of salvation offered, then a decision, so to speak, has been made already. One thing that we cannot do is straddle the fence. By this I mean to neither accept nor reject the Gospel. Those that are “on the fence,” have, by not coming to the Lord, rejected the “Good News” of the Lord’s Grace.

The introductory verse above was spoken by Elijah to the people of Israel. He challenged them to make a decision between the Lord and the false god Baal. Today, people do not worship Baal, but anything we place before, or in place of the Lord, is an idol not unlike Baal. Elijah challenged the people to choose between the Lord and this false god. As most know, the Lord sent fire from Heaven to consume the sacrifice after the priests of Baal were unable to get their god to respond.

The Lord has not sent fire from Heaven today to draw people to Himself but has sent his only Begotten Son to die on a cruel Cross for the sin of mankind. Fire from Heaven consuming the sacrifice was quite a display of the Lord’s power and of His desire to bless Israel. It was a display of His love for them in showing them the way to have fellowship with Him. It was also a type, in that it actually pointed ahead to the time when the Son of God would offer Himself as the true sacrifice on the Cross. Fire from Heaven is one thing, but the Lord of Glory leaving Heaven and becoming the God/Man to satisfy the judgment of God against sin on the Cross is the ultimate display of His power, His wisdom, and His love for us.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation (atonement) for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

So the question for everyone today is: What is your response to such great love? Will you come on bended knee to the God that loves you and calls you to Himself, or will you reject, or delay, your response to His call. We can come to Him now as our Lord and Savior, or we can come before Him as our judge. The Bible makes it clear when it says that “At the Name of Jesus every knee will bow.” The Lord calls out to everyone in the following verse:

“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the Earth; for I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22).

There’s coming a day when we will pass from this life, or the Lord will return for His church. We have no guarantees past today. The Lord’s love reaches out to all those on the Earth today. He is patient and longsuffering, but a day of judgment will come as prophesied. Don’t let it catch you unawares. Don’t get caught straddling the fence. The Lord Jesus makes things very clear in the following verse:

“He who is not with Me is against Me…..” (Matthew 12:30).

I would hope for better things for all those that read this article. The Gospel has been preached and the decision must be made. His mercy and grace are offered to all. The Holy Spirit goes throughout the world convicting and drawing sinners to the Lord. Jesus laid down His life for us so that we might be with Him in eternity as joint- heirs. God’s great love for us is spoken of in the following verse by the One Who gave His life for all those that will come to Him in thanksgiving for all He has done for us:

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).

He calls all those that accept His great sacrifice at Calvary “friends.” If you have not come to the Lord and would like to place your faith in the One that loves you and proved it by laying down His life for you, then you can pray the following Sinner’s Prayer that has been prayed by millions. Joshua said it well in the following verse:

“Choose you this day whom you will serve…..But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

The 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 God raised Jesus from the dead, and He is alive. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as the savior of my soul. And I make Him the Lord of my life. According to your Word which cannot lie: I am washed, I am forgiven. I am saved. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer and believed, according to God’s Word, you have passed from death to life. You have been born again (born from above)! Praise the Lord.

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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 2022

The Lord Is With Us and Will Bring Us Through Difficult Times

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

When we go through difficult times, it’s a comfort to know that the Lord is with us always and will bring us through these troubled times. Psalm 23 speaks of the Lord’s watchful care for us at all times. As the shepherd of His children, the Lord’s watchful eye continually watches over us for our good.

” The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.” (verse 1)

“The Lord is my shepherd.” Jesus is our shepherd. He said “I am the Good Shepherd” and “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” We must come to Him in repentance and faith believing that He paid the price for our sin on the cross. This will cost us everything. The Word says this of the cost: “…. You are not your own (we belong to the Lord). For you are bought with a price (the precious shed Blood of Jesus on the cross).” He now says to those that will: “Follow Me.”

“I shall not want.” The Lord will provide for both our physical and spiritual needs. But it is more than this. In knowing Him, we have come into a rest for our souls, knowing that His love for us will never waiver and He will watch over us always. He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” and, “… surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” We can believe and trust in Him because of the love He showed for us at the cross.

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters.” (verse 2)

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures.” This verse speaks of a bountiful supply. 2 Peter says of this, “According as His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.”

“He leads me beside the still waters.” Whatever we are going through in life, He gives us the refreshing waters that restore our soul. Jesus said this regarding the water He provides, “..Whosoever drinks the water that I shall give him shall never thrist; but the water that I shall give him shall be a well of water springing up into Everlasting Life.” What a promise!

“He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake.” (verse 3)

“He restores my soul.” In this life, we encounter difficulties, trials, and sorrows. At times, we become weary in our journey. We have the Holy Spirit to comfort us in these times and to lead us through all that we may go through in this life. Jesus called Him “The Comforter.”

“He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.” The Holy Spirit will lead us in paths of Righteousness as we place our faith in the Lord and His great work at the cross.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me; Your rod and staff they comfort me” (verse 4).

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Satan is our mortal enemy. Satan’s attacks can be powerful and we can feel greatly threatened by them. The Lord says “fear no evil”. He is our great Good Shepherd and will see us through. A shepherd watches over his flock for their safety at all times. He would not call himself our shepherd if He would not see us through whatever might come against us.

“Your rod and staff they comfort me.” The only fight we are called to fight is “the good fight of faith.” The Good Shepherd will fight for us. With his staff (crook) He will pull us back to safety in times of danger. With His rod (club) He will beat back the powers of darkness that come against us. We need only rest in His care.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.” (verse 5)

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” He is telling us that enemies will come against us in this life, but in the midst of these attacks, He prepares a table (of blessings) for us.

“You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.” This speaks of the Holy Spirit and abundance. He is our Divine “Helper”. The Holy Spirit works mightily in us as we continually place our faith in Christ and Him crucified.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (verse 6)

“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.” All our needs in this life are provided for us by His loving hand. His mercy is afforded to us when we drift off the path. The Lord, as our good Shepherd, watches over us with goodness and mercy in this pathway called life.

“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” This speaks of Eternal Life. We are His, and we will be with Him forever. After all, He is the shepherd of our souls and will bring us through all we go through in this life. We can trust Him.

“I Am the good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

His Love Calls Out To All Those On The Earth

“For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You” (Psalm 86:5).

The Lord has proven His love for us by becoming man, the God/Man, and giving His life as a sacrifice. What more could He have done. He calls out to all those on the Earth today through His Word. We have a decision to make regarding His loving invitation to come to Him in repentance and faith in His great work at Calvary.

“For the wages of sin is death (separation from God); but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

We have a fallen nature, a sin nature, that we cannot escape on our own. We are a fallen race and desperately in need of a Savior. The pride of man and the lies of Satan prevent many (most) from coming to the Lord. The Bible says few are they who find their way to God. This is such a sad commentary on mankind considering all that the Lord has done for us. The Bible says the following regarding this:

“Enter you in at the strait gate (Jesus is the door): for wide is the gate, and wide is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be that gone threat (any other way leads to an eternity in Hell). Because strait is the gate, and narrow the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it” (Mathew 7:13,14).

This is an amazing fact that few will come by way of the One that loved them and proved that love by dying on a cruel Cross to pay for the sins of all those who will come His way. This is the narrow gate. We must come to God through the Lord Jesus. He is the only way. James in his epistle reminds us that our life is uncertain. We do not know what will happen tomorrow. We need the Lord to direct our steps.

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, and make a profit;’ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

We are not promised tomorrow! The question is; “Where are you today?” Have you made things right with the Lord? Have you come His way? It’s a way of forgiveness and blessings in this life and in the life to come when we will forever be with the Lord.

Many say that religion is boring and something that they have no interest in. I would agree wholeheartedly. Religion is not Christianity! Religion is man’s efforts through works, sacraments, and ceremonies to reach God. Christianity is a personal relationship with Jesus as we make Him our Lord and Savior. It is having the Holy Spirit within us to lead us in this life and enable us to walk out a life pleasing to the Lord.

We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

The Holy Spirit draws us in a Love that seeks us out so that He might bless us with a Salvation that brings spiritual life to us. We are born again, or born spiritually from above. The Bible, which we once had no interest in, comes alive and we are comforted and led by God’s loving Word as we walk out this life. We walk each day knowing that the Lord has drawn us and is watching over us. We are truly blessed to know that Almighty God loves us and calls us into His very presence. Peter said it well regarding this Christian life in the following verse:

“Whom (Jesus) having not seen, you love; in Whom, though now you see Him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of Glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

We come to the Lord by faith as the Holy Spirit convicts and draws. For those that do not have the Lord’s wonderful Love, and a Life that is “joy unspeakable and full of Glory,” the Holy Spirit is drawing you right now through His Word! Heed the call of the Lord and come into the greatest life you could live. I encourage you to not delay His call or reject the Salvation that cost Him so much to provide. He loves us and it is His desire that none should perish (which is eternal separation from God). Won’t you come to him today. He stands at the door of your heart waiting to be invited in. He calls out to all those who will hear His voice and come through the “narrow gate.”

“Come (an invitation like no other) unto Me (Jesus, the One that provides Salvation), all you who labor and are heavy laden (living life without the Lord), and I will give you rest (that rest comes from placing our faith in Christ and His great sacrifice at Calvary that we might be forgiven and come into the Kingdom of God)” (Mathew 11:28).

I am certain that there are some reading this that do not know the Lord and have not had the weight of sin lifted, nor experienced His great love for us. Can’t you sense the drawing of the Holy Spirit? The Sinner’s Prayer, prayed by millions down through the years, is included below. We are not promised tomorrow. I pray that you will acknowledge this drawing of the Holy Spirit and say yes to the One Who loves you and calls you into a life of knowing and walking with our Great God.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His Face shine upon you and be gracious to you (all blessings come to us through Christ by way of the cross)” (Numbers 6:24,25).

The 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 God raised Jesus from the dead, and He is alive. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as the savior of my soul. And I make Him the Lord of my life. According to your Word which cannot lie: I am washed, I am forgiven. I am saved. Amen.

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

A Warning To The Church

“….. It was needful (suggests an urgency) for me to write unto you and exhort you that you should earnestly contend (a vigorous effort) for the faith……..for there are certain men (false teachers) crept in unawares..” (Jude 3,4)

Jude’s epistle addressed a serious issue the church faced concerning false teachers who had crept into the church even at this early date in church history. Jude originally thought to write his epistle on our common salvation, like Romans, but the Holy Spirit had him redirect his efforts to convey a warning of a great danger that threatened the well-being of the early church. False doctrine, that would destroy the church if not addressed and stopped, had come into the church through false brethren. We face the same danger today. False brethren spewing false doctrine has been a serious problem from then until now. If not recognized and addressed it will destroy a church. Many are in Hell today for following false teachers.

It’s interesting to note that Jude said that these false teachers “crept in unawares.” It suggests these men stole in slowly and carefully without notice. They had an outward appearance of wisdom and they taught some correct doctrine, but with it, they cleverly included false teaching. He referred to them as “ungodly men.” The spiritual health of the church was in grave danger from these false teachers who had come in among them unnoticed. The Holy Spirit referred to them as “brute beasts” and “twice dead”, meaning they were like unreasoning animals who had once known the way of salvation but had turned from it. No wonder the Holy Spirit moved on Jude to address this critical issue. The flock was in great jeopardy.

There is a sense of urgency in Jude’s words as he goes on to tell us just what these false teachers were propagating. However, before we list the false doctrines these false teachers were advocating; I think it important that we acknowledge the fact that false doctrine is always initiated by “seducing spirits”(see 1 Timothy 4:1), and it gains entry because seducing spirits make it look very attractive. Deception is one of Satan’s greatest weapons! The Bible tells us that Satan, at times, comes in as an “angel of light,” and so do his emissaries.

Just what were these false teachers pedaling? Well, they had turned grace into license. In other words, they taught that it didn’t matter how much you sinned because grace covered it. They also denied, “the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” When you divert to a false way you inevitably leave “the faith”, which is belief in the inerrancy of scripture and belief in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Jude goes on to refer to them as “filthy dreamers” intimating that what they believed was made up out of their own perverse imagination. He said they “defile the flesh” which speaks of the fruits of their teachings. Also, he said that they “despised dominion” which means they refused to live by the Word of God and made up their own doctrines. They were “clouds without water” meaning what they promised sounded good, but they couldn’t deliver on what they promised. Jude goes on to refer to them as “raging waves of the sea” which points to the destructive nature of false doctrine which can totally destroy a church. They spoke “great swelling words” and sought to gain men’s confidence and their own gain (money) by flattery. Their end is also spoken of by Jude. He says, speaking of these false teachers, “to whom is reserved for the blackness of darkness forever”.

So, these false teachers crept in without notice and propagated their false doctrine for profit by way of deceit and flattery not able to deliver on all that they promised. They would not live by the Word of God but made up their own doctrines. They also denied the Lord and the atonement. They taught that because sin was covered by grace it was to okay to sin (license). And the fruit of their doctrines resulted in the defiling of the flesh. We may find it hard to believe that the church was unaware of the presence of these false teachers, but the false teachings these ungodly men were advocating sound suspiciously like some of today’s false teachings that have made their way into the church.

How do we recognize false doctrine and what can we do to protect ourselves against it and the purveyors of it that may be in our very midst? The lies that Satan and his ministers sell can be very subtle. 1 Timothy warned that “in the later times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits.” The danger is very real and we must be aware of it and know how to avoid its pitfalls. Jude’s admonition to “contend for the faith” points the way to walk in victory. “The Faith” is faith in Christ and Him crucified which is the chief doctrine of the Bible. We must know the Word of God to protect ourselves against false teachers and false doctrine, and we must make the cross, what Jesus did there, the object of our faith both for salvation and for sanctification (our daily living). When we know the Word of God and the cross becomes our anchor, false doctrine can be seen for what it is. We are to place our faith in the One who loved us and died for us on the cross. Yes, Jude, we hear you. Our enemy will try to sneak in unawares with his false ways, but we are wise to his schemes and have anchored our faith in the One that defeated all our enemies at the cross. In Him, we stand. The Apostle Paul says it well in the following verse:

“Be steadfast (firmly fixed), unmoveable (anchored in faith in Christ and Him crucified), always abounding in the work of the Lord (sharing with others the Lord’s great work at the cross), forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain (the Gospel will always bring forth fruit)” (1 Corinthians 15:58 with commentary).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)

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” And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me anymore… (1 Samuel 27:1).

David left Israel and went to Gath, the land of the Philistines, to escape King Saul’s continued attempts to kill him. Saul, the first king of Israel, was the people’s choice and not God’s choice. He did not walk in faith in the Lord and tried to kill David on numerous occasions. David was the man God had intended to be the first king of Israel. The prophet Samuel had anointed him as the Lord’s choice to be king when he was still a boy.

David, leaving Israel and going to Gath was not out of faith, but he was out of fear that Saul would kill him. He did not seek the Lord’s will before making the decision and went to the land of the Philistines; an enemy of Israel. He dwelt in the land of the Philistines one year and four months. As we will see, it did not turn out well for him. Achish, the king of Gath, gave David and all those men with him and their families the town of Ziklag.

” And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites..” (1 Samuel 27:8).

While in the land of the Philistines, David invaded the surrounding nations and killed all the inhabitants of the villages he attacked. He may have felt justified in these actions as they were enemies of Israel. However, he was out of God’s will in leaving Israel and killing all those he came across was for the purpose of deceiving Achisch as to his whereabouts. He lied and told Achish that he was invading the land of Israel. And Achish believed him and said:

“…He (David) has made his people Israel abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant forever” (1 Samuel 27:12).

In the course of time, the Philistines planned to invade Israel and Achish came to David and said that he, David, and his men, would go out with them against Israel. David agreed and responded in this way to Achish:

“And David said to Achish, surely you will know what your servant can do. And Achish said to David, therefore will I make you keeper of my head (bodyguard) forever” (1 Samuel 28:2).

David, out of the will of God, had killed men, women, and children to cover up his escapades from Achish, and now agrees to go to war against his own people. He had certainly dug a deep hole for himself. We too can go far down the wrong road when we get out of God’s will. David went so far as to assemble with the army of the Philistines as they were preparing to depart for war with Israel. This certainly was not a high point in David’s life.

The princes of the Philistines were angry with Achish for allowing David to join them. So, Achish sent David and his men away in peace. Unbelievably, David tried to argue with him about not allowing him to go with them. However, the will of the princes prevailed and David and his men left Achish and made the three-day journey to Ziklag. The Bible tells us what they found when they arrived:

“…..The Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; and taken the women captives, who were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them way…” (1 Samuel 30:1).

David and his men found Ziklag burned and their families taken as captives. The account in the Bible says they wept until they could weep no more. David’s men spoke of stoning him. What an incredible situation that David found himself in. He had been out of the will of God since leaving Israel. He had murdered whole villages. He had agreed to go to war against his own people with their sworn enemies. And now, Ziklag had been burned and his family and the families of his men had been taken captive. What could David do? What would we do in a situation like this? While his men were angry and spoke of violence against him, the Bible says David turned to the Lord:

“….But David encouraged (strengthened) himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6).

It may seem somewhat incredible that the situation had to become so very dire before David sought the Lord, but in this account, we can see our own failures in seeking the Lord and His will at times. David, looking at the burned-out Ziklag and knowing his family and all the families of his men were taken captive, turned to the Lord. He knew that he had to make things right with the Lord and that the Lord was the only one that could fix the situation. He also knew that the only way to the Lord was by His mercy and grace through repentance. David knew that going his own way and not seeking the Lord’s will in all matters resulted in all that had ensued while in Gath. He made things right with the Lord and the Lord responded; even blessing David.

The Lord will never turn away anyone that comes to Him in true repentance no matter what they have done.

In the end, all of the families and goods were restored to David and his men along with all the multiple spoils of the Amalekites. When the Lord blesses us and we recover what was lost, he always gives us more. We can truly say that He is a blessing God.

We can learn from this that charting our own course out of the will of God will inevitably end in disaster. We need to seek the Lord’s will in all that we do. If we do find ourselves out of the will of God, then we should go to him in repentance and know that he loves us and He will bless us if we return to him in faith. We may wonder how the Lord could bless David after all that he had done, but His grace is there for us always and is the only way that we can receive from the Lord. David’s true blessing at Ziklag was the restoration of fellowship with the Lord.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

We have much to be grateful for. The grace of God that was there for David; is there for us. It comes to us only through the price paid by Jesus at the cross. Jesus paid the price that allowed the grace of God to flow in our lives. David, by faith in the sacrificial system, was looking forward to the Lord’s great sacrifice at Calvary. We, by faith, look back to that sacrifice. God’s grace can come to us in no other way. We are truly blessed by the love extended to us in God’s gift of His Son. Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6 says it well:

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His Shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

There Is A Path, Although Narrow, That Leads To God

“And you shall seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” ( Jeremiah 29:13).

Seeking the Lord is a less traveled road. Many travel the road of self-discovery through various activities and efforts that lead them nowhere. We cannot find the answers to important questions we have as we walk out this life without the Lord. What is my purpose? Why am I here? If there is a God? What does He expect from us? These are all valid questions and the Lord has anticipated our desire to have answers regarding these and has provided them.

However, we must seek the Lord on His terms and not ours. We will not find the Lord if we look for Him in religion. Religion is man approaching God by works or laws that he follows. God is not there! Many have gone this way and ended up in Hell. We cannot know Him through our efforts as sincere as they may be. Our good lives are admirable, but they will not result in our spending eternity with the Lord. Some say that we cannot know God, so we should just live the life that we think is best. They are deceived. We can know God. There is a road we can travel where He walks with us, but many do not search for it with all their heart so they walk this road of life alone.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, But according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).

When we come to the Lord by way of repentance for our sins and faith we are regenerated by the cleansing of the Blood of Jesus shed for us on the cross. His work on the cross paid the sin debt owed. The Holy Spirit then comes and abides in us, and by faith in Christ and His great work at the cross; the Holy Spirit helps us walk out a life pleasing to the Lord. The Bible says “few are those that find it.” Why few? Because pride gets in the way of many from coming to the Lord. The draw of the world and the lies of the devil keep others away.

Those that do find God have done so by going His way. When we seek Him with all our heart; He has promised that we will find Him. He does this through His Word. His Word shows us our true lost condition without the Lord. We are sinful and in need of a savior. Once we realize this; the path to the Lord becomes clear. We can know the Lord through faith in His great sacrifice on the cross. He gave His life so that we might be forgiven and be born from above (born again). Christianity is a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ; not a religion.

“Because strait is the gate, and narrow the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14).

The Bible says it’s a narrow way and few find it. The reason for this is that the Lord has made one Way only that leads to life. We cannot divert from this Way as it is a straight way that the Lord provides. We must go this way and remain on the straight path (by faith) to both know the Lord, walk with him daily, and to spend eternity with Him. Jesus put it this way:

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6).

So, we come to the Lord by repentance and faith in Christ and Him crucified and are born again. We enter a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus and maintain that relationship by placing our faith in Jesus and the cross daily. This allows the Holy Spirit to come into our lives and help us to walk out a life pleasing to the Lord. The Christian life, the life of knowing God, is by faith from first to last.

“For therein (by the cross) is the Righteousness of God (being right with God) revealed from faith (God provides) to faith (we receive): as it is written, The just shall live by faith (through faith from first to last)” (Romans 1:17)

Always Remember,

GOD LOVES YOU!!!

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