Here I Am, Lord – – tqministries.com

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit

Originally published April/2020

“You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence” (Acts 1:5).

When we are born again we are “born of the Spirit”, for John 3:6 tells us “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”. Roman’s 8:14 says “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are sons (and daughters) of God”. The Holy Spirit lives in us and glorifies Jesus (John16:14). He leads us in all truth (John 16:13) and gives us victory over the sin nature (Romans 8:2). Our daily walk with the Lord is one of faith in His finished work on the Cross, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us.

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is a second work of grace and is available to all those that are born again. It is given to us by the Lord to empower us for service. Jesus is the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 3.3 John the Baptist says of Jesus, ” He who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”.

Just prior to His Ascension, Jesus, in speaking to His followers, “Commanded (an order) that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the Promise of the Father (speaking of the Holy Spirit), which, said He, you have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence” (Acts 1:4-5). He told them “But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Jesus here is speaking of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, which is distinct from receiving the Holy Spirit at the initial salvation experience. The word used here for power is the Greek word “dunamis ” and means strength, power, ability, and miracle-working power. The Holy Spirit empowers us to preach the Gospel, pray for the sick, walk in the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10), and to cast out demons.

On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came in a new and powerful way. “And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared cloven (divided) tongues like as of fire (Matthew 3:11). And they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues (the initial evidence that one has been filled), as the Spirit gave them utterance (the Spirit initiates)” (Acts 2:2).

Peter said in his sermon on the Day of Pentecost “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; and it shall come to pass in the last days (the days we are in now), saith God, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh (available to all): and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men will dream dreams: and on My servants and on My handmaids I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:16-18). The next two verses are a continuation of that which was spoken by Joel and concern the time just prior to the Second Coming. They read “And I will show wonders in Heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor and smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable Day of the Lord come” (Acts 2:19-20).

Some believe that this initial outpouring of the Spirit along with the spiritual gifts (e.g. healing, tongues, and prophecy) was given by God to establish the church and that it ended with the apostles (Cessationism). Note though that Peter did not say that it was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel. Also, verses 19 and 20, the continuation of Joel’s prophecy outlined above, speaks of the signs that will occur at the end of the age before the Second Coming of the Lord. Clearly, “those days of my Spirit”, mentioned in verse 18, establishes that this prophecy of Joel spans the entirety of the church age. Also, the worldwide effort (unto the uttermost part of the earth) spoken of by Jesus in Acts 1:8 was not completed by the early church. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is available to the church today as it was on the Day of Pentecost to enable the church to accomplish the Great Commission.

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is not being preached as it should in many churches today. Whatever preconceived ideas we may have about this, we owe it to ourselves to seek the Lord about it and ask Him if the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is for today. As one who has received this great gift; I can attest to the fact that it is real and it is definitely for today The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is received by faith. We need only ask the Lord for it in faith. As mentioned, the initial evidence of the baptism is speaking in other tongues (Isaiah 28: 11-12). These are languages spoken somewhere in the world, but not known to those that receive the baptism. Again, the Baptism with the Holy Spirit empowers us for service. Jesus shed His Blood on the Cross for our sins, and to enable the Holy Spirit to come into our lives to help us live godly lives and to give us power for service. The Lord declared in Zechariah 4:6 ” Not by (human) might, nor by (human) power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord”. This is God’s way. There is no other. Let us seek the Lord for all He has for us.

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.

Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2021

We love Him because He first loved us….” (1 John 4:9).

If we do not understand what Christ accomplished on the cross and the fact that we are forgiven for our sins, then we will live life without the forgiveness He provides and not understand just how much He loves us.

Many today believe that if their good deeds outway the bad in their life then they will be accepted by God. It is a works mentality that is directly opposed to what the Bible says regarding our acceptance by the Lord. Relative righteousness is also a hope of many. They compare their life with others (usually those of lesser character) and believe they will be accepted by the Lord because, in their opinion, their “good life” will guarantee it.

Many believe that if they follow church teachings, attend church regularly and receive the sacraments established by the church, then they will be accepted by the Lord. A couple of things should be noted here. We should follow church teachings as long as they line up with the Bible, but following church teachings will not gain us the acceptance of the Lord. Secondly, there are no sacraments in Christianity! The very meaning of the word sacrament is a ceremony or ritual that “imparts divine grace.” This is a gross error. Only God can impart grace, and He does so by faith in Christ and His finished work at the cross. If we are believing that following church rules and receiving sacraments will make us acceptable to God, then we are believing in a false hope.

The Christian disciplines are important. We should attend church, read the Bible, pray, fast as the Lord directs, receive communion (which is an ordinance of the church). All the Christian disciplines and good works are important to our faith, but they do not gain us acceptance with the Lord.

The Bible tells us that salvation and acceptance by God are dependent on our repenting of our sins and placing our faith totally in Christ and Him crucified. He paid the price for our sins and by accepting His great work at the cross; we are forgiven and accepted by the Lord. Jesus said ” I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.” We are saved by grace. It is a gift that cost the Lord an incredible price to provide. The Christian life is by faith from first to last. We come to the Lord by faith and we walk out each day by faith in what Jesus accomplished at the cross. This allows the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. We cannot save ourselves and we cannot sanctify ourselves. Our faith must be totally in the Lord.

“The work of God (what He requires of us) is to believe in the One He has sent” (John 6:29).

If we are depending on anything outside of the cross to be acceptable to the Lord then, we will love little. We will not see the great love the Lord has for us and just how saved we are. Once we accept the Lord’s way, the way of the cross, then our hearts will overflow with a love for the One whose love for us caused Him to leave his home in glory, walk this earth for three years as a peasant, and die on a cruel cross, so that we might be forgiven and be with Him in eternity. His last words on the cross were “It is Finished.” He loved much. Seeing this we also will love Him much and live a life of praise and thanksgiving to our great God.

In conclusion, when we see what the Lord has provided for us and come to realize that we have been forgiven, not by what we do, but by His mercy and grace; we will love Him much for all He has done. He has provided a complete salvation so we can say much has been forgiven and we love the One that first loved us. Call on the Lord today. He stands at the door of our heart to come in and forgive us and bless us with a love that took Him to the cross.

“I, even I, am He Who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25).

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

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

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

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1).

This Thanksgiving is a time for us to give thanks to the One that loves us and provides for our every need. He wishes to spend time with us and have us realize just how much He loves us. His great sacrifice at the Cross is proof of that love and should cause us to come to Him with thanksgiving – Come to the One who loved us and rescued us from our fallen condition.

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His Name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:4,5).

He provides for our every need and watches over us for our good. He comes to us as a father watching over His children. We can come to Him anytime with all of our needs. He is there for us when we are afraid or troubled. He comforts us in all that we go through in this life. He is truly worthy of our praise and thanksgiving.

The Cross (Christ crucified) is the bridge that allows us to be forgiven and to be brought into God’s very presence. We are called children of God and beloved of the Lord. Our realization of just how much the Lord has done for us should result in thanksgiving and praises to our great God. In these difficult times we live in, we can say that we know the One that created us, the One that saved us, the One that provides for us, and the One that watches over us. And there is coming a day when we will be with Him for eternity. He gave us His Son! What more could He have done to show His love for us. Let’s place Him first in our hearts this Thanksgiving.

Give Thanks

Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son.

Give Thanks Composed by Don Moen

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

“In Him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4)

Originally published May 2021

“Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

The John Chapter 6 Discourse

These words of Peter were spoken after what had turned out to be a very sad scene. The Lord had just finished teaching in front of the multitude and many of those present, including some of His disciples, had turned away from Christ. Regarding this, the Gospel of John says: “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.” In the introductory verse above, Simon Peter was responding to the following question from the Lord: “Then said Jesus unto the twelve (Apostles), will you also go away?” Peter added the following bold declaration: “And we believe and are sure that you are that Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

There is no other place where those seeking salvation can go. The Lord tells us that there is only one way to salvation.” I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.” The world questions this and points to other ways they say are ways to God. We know this is not true, but we need to truly appreciate the fact that there is a way and understand just what the Lord requires of us.

The Lord could have softened His message that day to make it more palatable to those present, but He did not. He knew it was critical that the people hear what the requirements of discipleship were. In addressing the multitude, Jesus proclaimed the following: “Verily, verily I say unto you, Except you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His Blood, you have no life in you.” Jesus is speaking spiritually here regarding the cross and the necessity to totally and completely believe in Him and His great work at the cross. He is saying, short of that, there is no life in you. He goes on to say: “whosoever eats My flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Jesus is reaffirming to those present that the total object of our faith must be in His sacrifice at the cross, and if that is done, we will have eternal life. And finally, the Lord says: “He who eats My flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in Me, and I in Him.” This speaks of the importance of our continued daily partaking of the Lord (Christ Crucified).

Luke 9:23 makes it clear: “If any man will come after Me (be a disciple), let him deny himself (our own ability, will power, strength), and take up his cross (faith in His finished work) daily (important to reaffirm our faith daily), and follow Me (can only be done by faith in the cross).”

In this address to the multitude by the Lord, it goes on to say: “Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, this is a hard saying; who can hear it.” Jesus responds to this unbelief on the part of some of His disciples by saying: ” It is the Spirit Who quickens; the flesh profits nothing.” He, of course, is telling them that His words are pointing to spiritual realities. Man wants to do his part, and when that way seems unattainable or not to his liking, unbelief is the most common reaction. In the natural, the cross has no attraction. Peter and the twelve, although I am sure didn’t fully understand what the Lord said; went the way of faith. They believed in the Lord and trusted that He had the “words of life” and that He would lead them in that way.

That is something we must do today. Some things may be difficult to understand; we may go through some difficulties in life we don’t understand, but we know in whom we have believed. He has told us that the way to “eternal life” is by placing our total faith in Him and His great work. Our flesh will want to do its part, but we must not trust in our own ability or in self-effort. We are to practice the Christian disciplines (e.g. Bible reading, fasting, praying), but our faith must not be in these for victory. Our part is to choose to believe in Christ and Him Crucified on a daily basis. Yes, there is only one way that leads to life and, if we know the Lord, we can rejoice in the fact that we have found it. Where else could we go? Thank the Lord that we need not look anywhere else for He has the “words of life.” There is none like the Lord.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6).

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.

Tom Quinn Ministries – TQMINISTRIES.COM 2021

(Composed by Lenny LeBlanc)

From Jacob The Deceiver To Israel The Prince Of God

“And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, you shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father; and take you a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. And God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be a multitude of people” (Genesis 28:1-3).

Jacob obeyed his father and went to Padan-aram to the home of Laban his mother’s brother. He served Laban, who became his father-in-law, for many years. Initially serving him for his two wives Rachel and Leah. When the agreed-upon 14 years of service for his two wives were up; Jacob asked Laban to release him, his wives, and children. Laban encouraged him to stay believing the Lord had blessed him because of Jacob. Jacob and Laban made an agreement for Jacob to stay on and the Lord blessed Jacob greatly with much cattle, servants, camels, and asses. And Laban became jealous of all the Jacob had acquired.

The Lord then instructed Jacob to leave Laban and return to “the land of your fathers.” Acknowledging the Lord’s blessing he had received; Jacob gathered his wives and family and all the cattle and goods he had accumulated under Laban and left. He did not tell Laban he was leaving but left while Laban was busy shearing his sheep.

Laban pursued Jacob and on his way was warned by God in a dream not to harm Jacob which was undoubtedly his intent. There was a confrontation between the two with Laban relating all God had told him regarding Jacob. He was not happy with Jacob leaving with his daughters and their children along with all that Jacob had acquired that Laban felt were his. There was also an issue with a stolen god of Laban’s. However, in the end, Jacob and Laban made a covenant. Laban agreed to the covenant because he was afraid of what the Lord had told him in the dream. We can see the Lord’s hand in this protecting Jacob. And Jacob, ever thankful to the Lord, offered a sacrifice on the mount to the Lord.

Jacob continued on his way heading toward where he had originally come from – the land of his fathers. And the Angels of God met him on his way. In his obedience, he was assured of the protection of God through the angels.

Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother Esau with the messengers telling Esau of Jacob’s time with Laban and all he had accumulated in livestock and servants. The messengers returned to Jacob with news that Esau was on his way to meet Jacob with four hundred men. It seemed that Esau was not looking for a friendly meeting. Jacob was “greatly afraid and distressed, “even knowing that he had a band of angels around him. Fear can cause us to not seek the Lord in our times of trouble as we should.

Jacob made a plan and divided his band into two groups figuring that if the first group was attacked the other would escape. He then prayed to the Lord for protection. Jacob should have sought the Lord before making plans in preparation for his encounter with Esau. He knew Esau might harbor anger against him because of his deceitfulness towards his brother years ago and he is filled with fear. There’s a lesson here for us; we should seek the Lord for his will in any situation. But like Jacob, when faced with dire circumstances, we can forget to seek the Lord first.

After praying for the Lord’s help Jacob makes a plan to send ahead a present of goats, cattle, ewes, rams, colts for His brother Esau. So, Jacob prayed but then made a plan, Fear can certainly get us off track. We can pray or we can plan. If we pray we are leaning on the Lord, if we plan we are trusting in ourselves. Jacob’s faith was not yet what it should be.

That night Jacob sent his wives, his two womenservants, and his eleven sons over the ford Jabbok for protection. And the Word says of Jacob:

“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a Man with him until the breaking of day” (Genesis 32:34).

It was God with whom Jacob wrestled. Up to his point, Jacob had prayed but planned his way. The Lord would contend with him this night. The Lord will never give a victory to the flesh. We, like Jacob, must learn to both bring our problems to the Lord, and trust in his divine power. It is always the Lord that contends with us to bring us to the end of self, and reliance on Him. Jacob was brought to a place of brokenness before the Lord in this situation.

When the Lord saw that He prevailed not against Jacob: “He touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, and he wrestled with Him.” Jacob had trusted in his ways his whole life. He now was left weak and helpless before the Lord. The dislocating of his hip left Jacob with no strength. This was to show Jacob that total dependence on the Lord was the proper way and that the flesh needed to be dealt with. It is the same with us. The Lord will contend with us to show us our weakness and our need for dependence on Him. As morning approached the Lord said:

And He (the Lord) said, let Me go, for the day breaks. And he (Jacob) said, I will not let You go, except You bless me” (Genesis 32:26).

Broken under the mighty hand of the Lord, Jacob ceased to wrestle and clung to the Lord. The Lord had wounded Him and He now will not let Him go until He blesses him. With tears and pleading for a blessing, Jacob realizes his strength is in the Lord and the Lord alone. He had tried to gain the blessing in all the wrong ways dating back to his youth with Esau, but now he understands that the blessing only comes through faith in the Lord and the sacrifice. All this points ahead to what Jesus would accomplish at the Cross. All our blessings come through the cross.

The Lord asked Jacob his name which was meant to have Jacob admit who and what he was. The name Jacob means deceiver and schemer and that is what he was. This may be the hardest place the Lord must bring us in our lives. We think pretty highly of ourselves. But like Jacob when we admit who we are before the Lord, the Lord will bless us. The Lord changed Jacobs name in the following verse:

“And he said, your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince have you power with God and with men, and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:28).

From “Jacob the deceiver”, to “Israel the prince of God.” The Lord blesses us as we come to the understanding that it is all by grace. The flesh counts for nothing. Jesus paid the price at Calvary for all we receive from the Lord and He will bless us as we realize that in ourselves we can do nothing. The Apostle Paul said It well:

“…For when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10)

See the Victorious Christian Living page on this website

https://wordpress.com/page/tqministries.com/211

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.

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

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

Originally Published 2020

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

A Fictional Narrative

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://tqministries.com/abcs-of-salvation/

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

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

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

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

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

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

Originally published 2020

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

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

“And Jabez called on the God of Israel…”

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

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

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

“And enlarge my coasts…”

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

“That your hand might be with me..”

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

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

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

“God granted him that which he requested.”

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

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

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

They Do Not Function As the Lord Originally Intended

The dictionary gives the following definition for Broken:

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

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

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

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

BLESSING – God’s favor and protection.

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

ETERNITY- infinite or unending time.

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

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

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

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

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

Blessings Await Those That Stand With the Blessed Land.

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

Originally published in 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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