Keep Me Safe in the Hollow of Your Hand

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Hebrews 11:7

The Lord’s return may very well be right at the door. Of course, no one knows the day or hour, but we do know that prophetically there is nothing that needs to be fulfilled prior to His coming for His own.

The above verse tells us a few things about Noah. Warned of the coming destruction by the Lord; Noah believed Him and, acting in fear (reverence), built an ark at the Lord’s instruction which saved him and his family. By this one act, Noah condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness (right with God) that comes by faith (faith in the coming Redeemer). Genesis says “Noah walked with God.” What an affirmation of a godly life! That the Lord would say that of us is all we could ask or hope for in this life.

What was the condition of the hearts of men at the time? Genesis 6:5,7 says “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth.” As an aside, if God had not done this, because of the increasing evil man would have destroyed himself over time. But here’s the good news: “But Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord.” This is grace freely given by the Lord looking forward to what Christ would accomplish at the Cross.

It’s incredible if you think about Noah and the building of the ark. He is called a “Preacher of Righteousness.” It took 100 years to build this enormous vessel and the whole time Noah preached to all those that would listen of the coming flood and destruction of all life on earth. Some Bible scholars believe that in the 1600 years from the time of Adam to the flood there may have been some 300 million people on the earth at this time. Of course, no one knows, but with their long life spans it certainly is a possibility. There would have been those that completely ignored the message and went about their lives, laborers helping to build the ark, and those coming to see what they perceived as his foolish venture, probably with some even mocking him. In the end, not one person believed him outside of his family and all were destroyed. No, Not one person believed! Incredible!

Some have questioned the very existence of Noah saying it is an allegory. Admittedly, It is quite an incredible event and if Noah had not believed the Lord, all life on earth would have been destroyed. Jesus left no room for doubt when He, in confirming the existence of Noah and the flood, said this in Matthew 24:37,38 “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.” The inference here is that they went about their daily lives with no regard for the Lord or what was about to take place.

Does this sound familiar? The world continues on without a care for the Lord or for the end time prophecies whose fulfillment may be right at the door. The final judgment will come. We also know that those that believe in the Lord are never in the majority at any time in history. Though we are in the minority, like Noah, we rest in the knowledge that the Lord has spoken and we have heard His Word to us and are safe in His love. We are told in God’s Word that the world will not get better over time, but will continue its downward spiral.

We know that righteousness comes by faith. Faith in the shed blood of Christ. Noah looked forward to the Lord’s great work on the cross. Jesus is our ark so to speak …… our place of safety. We can rest in the knowledge that the Lord protects His own. Noah and the ark are a picture of those of us that are alive when the Lord comes for His church. All believers, at that time, will be taken out, or raptured (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17), prior to the destruction that is prophesied before the Lord’s coming at the end of the age.

So like Noah, God has warned us of the coming destruction. We in fear (taking God at His word), build an ark of safety (place our faith in Jesus and His work at Calvary), which saves us from the judgment of God about to be poured out on the world. It’s interesting to note that when it was time for Noah to enter the ark, the Lord told him to come into the ark. By this we see that the Lord was in the ark first (come, instead of go into the ark), calling Noah to join Him in the ark of safety.

So we see that as we walk with God as he has called us to the safety of His grace, we are in His presence and protected from the destruction that will come upon the world.

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” (Deuteronomy 33:27). Just as the ark was in the care of the everlasting arms as it was lifted by the floodwaters, we are protected by these same everlasting arms and they will lift us to safety when He returns for His own, or when we are at the end of our lives. Praise His Name for the Lord is good and His mercy and grace will bring us safely through the storm in His presence.

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TQMINISTRIES.COM – 2021

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

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

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

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. (Matthew 28:6)

These three words, “He is risen”, should have an incredible impact on all those in the world that read them. The tomb is empty! He is risen! What other person in the history of the world can that be said of? There were many witnesses to the fact that the Lord rose from the dead including the Apostles, over 500 brethren, James (the Lord’s brother) and Paul (1 Corinthians 15:3-9). The world should see the Resurrection for what it is, and that is; proof that Jesus Christ is God.

The other three words that offer proof to the Lord’s claims are “As He said.” He said He would rise from the dead, and He did. Again, what other person that has lived has said that they would rise from the dead and has actually done it? All that He said while He was here should be studied by everyone. His words should take on great significance considering His resurrection. He said He came to die for the sin of the world. If He said that He would rise on the third day, and He did: should we not believe Him when He said he came to die for our sins? The world stands without excuse if they choose not to believe.

“And when I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13).

The Resurrection was the result of the great victory gained by the Lord in the shedding of His Precious Blood at the cross. The Resurrection was dependent on the cross. If there had been one unpaid sin remaining then the Resurrection could not have taken place. The penalty for sin fell on the Lord and not us. We have victory because of His great sacrifice. The Bible says this of those that die in the Lord: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” If we are born again; we will go to be with the Lord immediately upon death. At the cross, the sin debt was paid for all those that believe. Because of the cross, and only because of the cross; we have victory.

So, let us remember the great price paid by the Lord. He paid the price so that our sins could be forgiven. As John, the Baptist proclaimed “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” As we have states; the Resurrection comes as proof that all sin was atoned for.

“I am the Resurrection and the Life.” (John 11:25)

What an incredible victory! The Lord is now seated at the right hand of the Father. He intercedes for us. Someday, we will go to be with Him, and will forever be with the Lord in glory. All this made possible by the cross. We can say “nothing I bring, to your cross I cling”. This we do knowing that the Resurrection is the proof that what He accomplished on the cross paid the price for our sins and that it is the guarantee that we too will rise one day – rise to be with the Lord in glory forever. Praise Him today: “For He is risen.”

“I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.” (John 16:28)

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

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“Behold the Lamb of God, Which Takes Away the Sin of the World” (John 1:29)

Purgatory (Latin, “purgare”, to make clean, to purify) in accordance with Catholic teaching is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God’s grace, are, not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions. (The Catholic Encyclopedia)

My article this week will be somewhat different from previous articles in that I will be dealing with a false doctrine that has been taught by the church for many years. It gives people false hope regarding a place where, through personal suffering or punishment, they can be made ready for Heaven. I personally, come from a Roman Catholic background having been raised in it, and having served as an altar boy in my youth. The problem with this doctrine is that it did not come from the Bible. There is no mention of it there and, in fact, it is in direct opposition to all the Bible teaches.

The Lord gave us His Word (the Bible) so that we would know the right path to walk. The Bible is all about the redemption of man and points the way for man to restore his relationship with God after man’s fall in the Garden. The Bible clearly tells us that we cannot save ourselves and that we need a savior. That savior was Jesus Christ who came and paid the price for our sins on the cross. Our part is to repent of our sins and place our faith in His sacrificial work on the cross. We are saved by what He did, not by anything we do. We can never become acceptable to the Lord through “penance” now, or “temporal punishment” in some holding place after we die. This doctrine teaches that the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross was not enough to pay the sin debt. Jesus made it clear just before He died on the cross when He said “It is finished.” He paid the sin debt in full for all those that would repent of their sin and place their faith in His atoning work on the cross.

We are to live good lives before the Lord, but our good lives will not make us acceptable to the Lord. The Bible says “There is none righteous, no, not one.” Over and over, the Bible points to our need for a savior – one who saves us from our lost and hopeless condition. As has been started, we come by faith in our savior’s sacrificial work on the cross and we are forgiven and pardoned of our sins. We walk out this life by faith in Christ and Him crucified which allows the Holy Spirit to help us.

“For therein [through the cross] is the righteousness of God [right with God] revealed from faith to faith [faith from God to man]: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17).

To say that we must be “made pure” or “clean” by some sort of temporal punishment is an affront to the cross and the Lord’s wonderful redemption plan. The Lord of Glory became Man and suffered and died on a cruel cross that we might be forgiven, be adopted into the family of God, have fellowship with Him, and look forward to spending eternity with the Lord.

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for If righteousness comes by the Law [anything religious we could do] then Christ died in vain (no reason for Him to Come)” (Galatians 2:21).

This was not an easy article to write. Coming from a Roman Catholic background, At one time I placed a heavy weight on what the church taught. However, our salvation and where we spend eternity is most important and if our understanding of what the Lord says about them is wrong, we will live on false hope for the future and end up in a place we would not want to go. Everything must line up with the Bible. In the following verses, two of the Apostles attest to what I have written here:

The Apostle Paul wrote:

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus [Christ and Him crucified for our sin], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved [ready for Heaven]” (Romans 10:9).

“We are confident, I say, and willing to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord [immediately upon death]” ( 2 Corinthians 5:8).

The Apostle John wrote:

“These things have I written unto you who believe on the Name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the Name of the Son of God [we walk out this life by faith in Christ]” (1 John 5:13).

There is no mention in these verses of a place, or condition, that some who are “not entirely free from venial faults” must go through upon their death and before they are received into Heaven. You would think that if such a place existed, they might mention it to warn believers. They didn’t mention it because there is no such place. It is mentioned nowhere in the Bible. Whether it was well-intentioned or not; this church doctrine is false.

Jesus made it very clear regarding this issue. One of the thieves being crucified alongside Jesus, who admitted to being guilty of the crime he was accused of, and moments earlier had joined with those mocking the Lord, now comes by way of repentance and faith in Who the Lord is. A most amazing conversion and display of the power of the Blood of Jesus to forgive all sin.

“And he (the thief) said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, today shall you be with me in Paradise.

My advice today is the advice given to me years ago; Look into these things yourself. Do not accept anything without proving it out in the Word of God. Read the Bible for in it are the very words of life. We get caught up in our very busy lives, but our eternal wellbeing is at stake here and we must assure ourselves that what we believe for the future is accurate. We cannot trust it to others. May the Lord richly bless you as you seek Him and He leads you in His Way.

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

See “The ABC’s Of Salvation

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

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

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

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

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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!

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

The Day Of The Lord

“Alas for the day! For the Day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it” (Joel 1:15).

The Bible speaks of the day of the Lord numerous times. It is a day of judgment on the world. A day that will most assuredly come upon all those that dwell upon the earth.

The Old Testament foretold that Jesus would be born of a virgin in the town of Bethlehem and that he would be rejected by his people and be put to death. These and many other prophecies foretold the Lord’s coming and they all came about exactly as prophesied. The destruction of Jerusalem was foretold as well due to Israel’s rejection of their Messiah. In AD 70, the Roman army destroyed the temple and many of the inhabitants of Israel were killed, and the remainder scattered throughout the world of that day.

The above fulfilled prophecies are but two of the many in God’s Word. All the prophecies in the Bible, excluding the end times prophecies, have come about exactly as the Lord said they would. The Bible warns of a day of judgment that will come upon all the inhabitants of the earth. It speaks of us being in the last days since the time of the early church. Hebrews tells us:

“But in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son…..” Hebrews 1:2

It has been nearly two thousand years since the above verse in Hebrews was penned by the Apostle Paul. We are now living in the last of the “last days.” The Lord Jesus said there would be signs manifesting themselves as we drew near the time of His coming. These signs are appearing now in breathtaking frequency and intensity. We are near the time the Lord has appointed for judgment. The Lord has provided signs of His soon return so that those that love Him would know the season. We are in that season now. The “Day” the Lord warns us of in His Word will come upon the world quickly and without warning.

“For yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:2,3).

If we were to be honest regarding our world today, we would have to admit that things seem to be spinning out of control. We see the old boundaries of morality being broke down as never before. We see that all eyes are on Israel and the Middle East and the increasing likelihood of war breaking out there at any time. We see civil unrest in many countries. Wars and rumors of wars are all around us. Even in the United States, we see rising incivility among our fellow countrymen and a breakdown of the moral fabric and the rule of law in our nation. We see voices around the world pushing for national boundaries to be broken down and all nations be brought under a central government. The greatest sign of all that we are living in the last of the last days is the nation of Israel. No other nation of people has come back to their original land as the same people and the same nation after being scattered throughout the world for two thousand years. The current state of the world today, as discussed above, lines up with what was prophesied in the Bible about the signs that would appear just prior to the “Day of the Lord”. It seems like great trouble is brewing as we look around our world. What are we to do? The Lord Jesus gave us the answer. He said:

” Let not your hearts be troubled. believe in God; Believe also in Me.” (John 14:1)

With all that is going on in the world today, and the Lord’s judgment growing near; How could the Lord tell us not to worry? He told us not to worry because He is coming for his own prior to the time of God’s judgment on the world. It’s called the Rapture of the church and could happen at any time. The Lord gave His church the signs of His coming, signs that we are seeing start to take shape today, so that we would know when we were approaching the time of the Rapture and the time of God’s judgment. The Apostle Paul, in Thessalonians, speaks about the Rapture, which gives us great hope:

“For the Lord Himself (Jesus) shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive (all living believers in Christ and His great sacrifice at the cross) and remain shall be caught (raptured) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so we shall ever be with the lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

As we have stated, all the prophecies in the Bible to date have come about just as the Lord said they would. The rapture of the church and the Day of the Lord will come about just as the above verses have prophesied. Many, seeing that things are heading in a very bad direction in the world today, and not knowing God’s Word, do not realize that these are signs of the coming judgment. Some, knowing the promise of His coming, question it since the promise of His coming has not come about in almost two thousand years. The Lord addresses the reason for His delay in the following verse:

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness, Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to.” (2 peter 3:9)

The Lord has spoken through His Word and warned us that there is a day coming – a day of judgment. Today is the day of salvation. We are not promised tomorrow. The Lord calls out to all those in the earth today. Are you ready? If not, won’t you accept the Lord Jesus today? He paid the price for your sins and you need only repent and accept the Lord and the great price He paid for you at the cross.

“So you also must be ready (saved by faith in Jesus and Him crucified), because the Son of Man (Jesus) will come at an hour when you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44).

The Lord’s desire is that all would come to repentance and the grace of God. There’s coming a day of judgment – the “Day” approaches quickly. Come to the Lord today and know that your future is secure in Him.

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…… A House Divided Cannot Stand …….

A Fictional Narrative

Many years ago a group of individuals searching for a land of their own came across a beautiful and bountiful land. They settled it and established a town complete with everything a well-run town could provide its citizens. The town was governed through the wisdom of a book that contained all that was necessary to make the town and its inhabitants live a full and peaceful life.

Everything went well in the town for many years…… many generations. The town grew and the population increased to the point that it was the size of a small city. However, they started to get away from looking to the book for help in making decisions for the town. It was gradual at first. Some in the town felt that they didn’t need the book and were able to make decisions for themselves. They started to establish laws that were in direct opposition to the ways laid out in the book.

One day they realized that the book had been lost. They had made their own way for so long that nobody could remember where the book was or what it contained. Some in the city searched for the book, but others felt that everything was going well and the book was not needed. The truth was that everything was not going well. The people couldn’t see this because they had abandoned the one thing that kept them and the city on the right track. The looming question was; Would they realize that they were headed for real trouble? The city would not endure much longer if they did not realize the danger they were in and turn back to what had made their town grow and prosper initially.

The book was ultimately found and some of the people searched through it for direction. What they came across in the book gave them pause. The book detailed what would happen to any town or city that abandoned the ways of the book. It spoke of a decay that would grow and result in the destruction of the city. It would come from within initially because of the loss of the wisdom the book offered resulting in decisions made that would destroy them. The book had been their anchor.

Those that searched for and found the book went to the people of the city and told them all the book said. The city was divided between those that wanted to go the way of the book and those that wanted to go their own way. We leave this story wondering what will become of this city. We know a house divided cannot stand. We also know that if those that do not want to follow the book have their way then it means certain destruction for the people and the city. Which way will they choose? Only time will tell.

We, as a nation, have the same choice today. The Lord gave us the Bible to show us the way. Over the years some have been tempted to leave the wisdom of the book for traditions and ways they have established themselves. The Lord gave us His truth because He knew that left to ourselves, we would make our own rules and would judge by what was right in our own eyes. This would result in following ways that are in direct opposition to the Word of God. This is exactly what is happening today. Moral decisions are made without the guidance of the Lord and His wisdom. The result will be a people or society that accepts sinful ways as acceptable. The choice is clear: Do we follow the ways of the Lord that will bring blessing and prosperity, or do we abandon the “book” and bring certain judgment on our land? Only time will tell.

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

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“In A Moment, In The Twinkling Of An Eye.”

“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all [both dead & living believers] be changed [receive glorified bodies], in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:51,52).

The Apostle Paul’s words above point to the time when the Lord Jesus will return for all those that are believers. Just before His great sacrifice at Calvary, the Lord told His disciples that He would one day return for His church – that we might be with Him where He is in Heaven. It’s been almost two thousand years since the Lord was crucified, rose from the dead, and ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. The church has had the sure hope of His return for His bride all these many years and has watched for the signs of His coming.

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

The Lord spoke these words to His disciples just prior to His crucifixion. He also told His disciples that He was “the way” to all the promises of Heaven. They were to place their faith in Him completely. The love and care He showed for His followers just prior to leaving them must have been extremely comforting to them after the crucifixion. He would be absent from them in a physical sense but present spiritually. They were to remember His words and not lose faith. By their continued faith in Him and His sacrifice at Calvary, they would walk in His presence spiritually and by it would know the way to where He was going and be ready for His promised return.

“I [Jesus] am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

So, just where are we now on the timeline for the Lord’s return? Are we near the time when He comes for His church? This is the question of the day and has been for nearly two thousand years. We do know that the Lord will bring judgment on an unbelieving and evil world in the end times. We also know that He will come for His own prior to this judgment on the world. One of the sure signs of the nearness of the end of all things is Israel reforming as a nation and them being opposed by all the surrounding nations. Their return to their original land was prophesied as a major sign that would let us know that we were in the end times.

We also have seen that the Lord does something major every approximately 1000 or 2000 years. From Adam and Eve to Abraham, to whom He gave the meaning of justification, was an approximate 2000 year interval. From Abraham to David, whom He gave the promise of the redeemer through His family, was an interval of 1000 years. From David to Christ was 1000 years. From the time of Christ until now has been approximately 2000 years. It seems we may have arrived at a time period when something significant in the plan of God happens. There are only two significant prophetic events that are left to take place regarding the Second Coming of the Lord – the Rapture of the church when the Lord comes for His church, and the Great Tribulation when the Lord brings judgment on the world.

There are many signs given in the Bible that will precede the Great Tribulation which brings His final judgment on the world. Many of these end-time signs are beginning to happen today. We do know that the church will not go through the tribulation, so we can know that His return for His church is very near, even at the door. No one can know the exact time of His return, but we can know the season and we are in that season now. How long will that season be? Although we don’t know the answer to that question, we do know that if we place our faith in Jesus we will be ready for His return for His church. There is nothing that has to happen prior to the Lord coming for His own.

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

Some might say, it’s been 2000 years and the Lord has not yet returned. How can we know His return is imminent? As mentioned previously, the prophetic signs of the end times are beginning to appear. Jesus gave us these signs so we would know the day was approaching. We can be encouraged and informed by reading the Bible prophecies regarding the end times. It clearly shows that everything is lining up for the soon return of the Lord in judgment. Again, the Bible says He will return for His church prior to the judgment of the last days on an unbelieving world. We can take comfort in knowing that we are not appointed to go through the tribulation, but will be taken out by the Lord Himself prior to the end.

“For God has not appointed us (believers) to wrath.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9)

In summary, Jesus told His disciples that He was “the Way” and that He would return for His church that we might be with Him forever. We can take great comfort in knowing this. Our faith in Jesus and His great sacrifice at the cross make us ready for His soon return. And we must be ready for He could come for us at any moment. But even if the Lord’s coming is delayed, we can take comfort in knowing that we are “aboard” and ready for His return. This ship will sail and it could sail very soon. The alternative to not being ready is not a very pleasant one. The following words of Jesus give a stern warning regarding what will happen at the time of the end:

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:21)

“For there shall be signs the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of Heaven shall be shaken.” (Luke 21:25,26)

The judgment on an evil and unbelieving world will end with the Second Coming of the Lord. Evil and unbelieving because the world will not accept Him and therefore will not come into the salvation He freely offers. All the prophecies in the Bible excluding the end time prophecies have come to pass exactly as written. The end time prophecies are a comfort to believers and a warning to all. The time of the Lord’s final judgment on this world will definitely come just as the Lord said it would. Do you know Him? Today, if you hear His voice harden not your hearts. His love and forgiveness are extended to whosoever will come to Him in repentance and faith. Won’t you secure your passage today!

“And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:25-27).

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.

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

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Coming Home To Our Place of Rest

“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee” (Augustine of Hippo 354-430 AD).

Whether we realize it or not, there is a void within each of us that can only be filled by God. In our fallen nature, we search for fulfillment away from the Lord. The Holy Spirit must draw us before we will even look in the direction of the Lord as the answer for our basic need. That need is fellowship with the Lord. Again, our fallen nature is what causes us to look within instead of looking to the One that loves us and can lift us out of our hopeless state.

If we were to be honest with ourselves, we know that we do not have all the answers within us. The truth is, we must come to the realization that the Lord is the answer, and that He waits to bless us with His very presence. The Holy Spirit will seek us out, but it is up to us to come to the Lord in repentance and faith.

We come in repentance because we have gone our way in disobedience to the Lord. This results in sin in our lives. We come in faith realizing that we cannot save ourselves from our fallen state. This is a humbling realization, but also a freeing one. We are delivered from a fight we could never win. That is, our struggle in this life that causes us much sorrow and failure.

The Lord waits patiently for us to “come home” to Him. He created us to have fellowship with Him. The life and victory we seek are only found in Him. If you do not know Him today, won’t you hear the calling of the Holy Spirit within your heart and come home to the Lord. For those of us that have heard and answered the Lord’s call we testify that it is “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” Finding rest for our souls is no small thing. We rejoice and are grateful each and every day of our lives.

The cost to the Lord to lift us from our fallen state to fellowship with Him was great. He became man and died on a cruel cross so that we might be saved from our life away from Him, and come into a new life walking with Him in fellowship. In this new life we become “children of God.” Incredible, but true. Don’t hesitate another minute – come home to the Lord who loves you, died for you, and wants you to be with Him in Glory. The following verse says it all:

“This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes” (Psalm 118;23).

The Sinner’s Prayer has been prayed by millions through the years. If you have never come to the alter by faith, repented of your sin, and believed that the Lord’s great sacrifice paid the price to restore fellowship for us all with the Lord. Come home now! There’s room at the cross for you!

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 it, you have been born again and come home to the Lord. Jesus said the following regarding this in the Gospel of Luke: “…I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

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.

Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2021

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Originally Published January 27, 2020

“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the Law; you are fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5:4)

Is falling from grace the result of committing some terrible sin? And, how do we know for sure if we have fallen from grace? Before we can know whether or not we have fallen from grace, we must understand just what grace is and how it’s received. Grace is the goodness of God given to us as believers by the Lord. It is unmerited favor and comes to us by faith in what Christ did at the cross. So, as long as we maintain our faith in Christ and His work at the cross, we remain in the grace of God. We fall from grace not by committing some terrible sin, although sin will be the result, but by moving our faith from Christ and His work at the cross to anything else.

At salvation, we place our faith in Christ and He saves us and we enter into the kingdom as children of God. We are saved by grace through faith. If after having coming to Christ by faith, we leave the cross and begin placing our faith in other things to walk out this life, we have left the Lord’s way of victory. We are saved by faith in Christ and the cross and we are sanctified (our daily walk) by faith in Christ and the cross. If our faith is moved from Christ to anything else for victory in our lives over sin, even good things such as prayer, fasting, Bible reading or church attendance, then we have fallen from grace. The end result will be failure in our lives.

So, we need only keep our faith in Christ and His finished work in the cross to stay in the grace God has provided. This is what Paul spoke of in his letter to the Galatians. The Galatians had been visited by men from the Jerusalem church who were trying to hold onto the Law. They told the Galatians that the Law must be added to faith in Christ. Paul was understandably quite upset with them and wrote the following:

“I do not frustrate the grace of God (making anything other than Christ crucified the object of our faith): for if righteousness comes by the law (any law), then Christ died in vain (if we can live for God any other way Christ need not of come).” (Galatians 2:21)

Romans chapter 8 tells us that the Holy Spirit works exclusively through faith in Christ and the cross to bring us God’s grace, which enables us to walk in victory. There is no other way that the Holy Spirit works. He requires that our faith be in Christ and His finished work at the cross alone. This is the Law of God as the following verse states:

“For the Law (law of God) of the Spirit (how the Holy Spirit works) of life (the life that comes from God) in Christ Jesus (what He did at the cross) has made me free (victory) from the Law of Sin and Death (the only way to defeat sin in our lives).” Romans 8:2

Paul preached the cross strongly in his ministry and for good reason. He knew that there was no victory outside of faith in Christ and Him crucified. That is the reason Paul wrote, “For the preaching of the cross is to them who perish foolishness, but to we who are saved it is the power of God.” The power comes from the Holy Spirit as we place our faith in Christ and the cross exclusively.

As we have stated, if we move our faith from Christ to other things we have “fallen from grace.” Again, falling from grace is not the result of some sin we have committed, but it is the result of our moving our faith from Christ to something else. If we do move our faith from Christ, sin and failure will be the result. We are saved by faith and we are kept by faith. Paul said it well:

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free (freedom to live a holy life), and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (leave the cross and go under law of any kind).” (Galatians 5:1)

We are all in desperate need of the grace of God. The Lord will freely give it to us if we go His way. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” We come to the Lord by faith for salvation and we rest from our own efforts to obtain salvation. After salvation, we are to keep our faith in the Lord and the Holy Spirit will work in our lives to bring about our sanctification. This is a daily placing of our faith in Christ and the Cross and not in our own efforts. Jesus was emphatic about this when He said:

“If any man will come after me (become a disciple), let him deny himself (our own strength, willpower, ability), and take up his cross (faith in what Jesus did there) daily (important), and follow Me (can only be done by our continued faith in the cross).” (Luke 9:23)

In our initial verse, Paul was warning the Galatians that if they had moved their faith from Christ to the Law then they had fallen from grace. The only other place they, or we, could go to is works. It’s either faith or works; that’s it! Once we realize this, our choice becomes an easy one. Grace through the power of the Holy Spirit, or faith in our own works to live out our lives before the Lord. There is only one thing that is greater than our sin. There is only one thing that will keep us in our walk before the Lord. It’s the grace of God and it cost the Lord greatly to provide it. Why would we look anywhere else for victory in our lives?

Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin!

Grace Greater Than Our Sin – Composed by Julia H. Johnston

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.

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

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