Tag: christianity

I Was Blind, But Now I See

The Greatest Miracle – A Changed Life

“Even when we were dead in sins, has He quickened us together with Christ, (by Grace are you saved)” (Ephesians 2:5).

We are dead in sins, or blind spiritually, until we are born again. When we come to the Lord we are acknowledging our lost state and looking to the Lord and His sacrificial death at Calvary. He paid the sin debt at the Cross and we are saved by faith in His great sacrifice there. We can know that we have Eternal Life. Why? Because it does not depend on our efforts and works. As mentioned, the Lord paid a great price at Calvary to provide our salvation. He cried out just before his death “It is Finished.” The Lord has provided a complete Salvation.

We need not, and should not, attempt to add anything to this great Salvation. We come to Him in repentance and faith believing that His death on the Cross paid the sin debt owed to God and opened the way for us to be born again into “Newness of life” and become sons of God. We have Eternal Lfe at the very moment our faith is placed in Christ.

There are many today who point to works as the way to Salvation. They advocate for a works-based life as the answer for how we gain access to Heaven. Others advocate for a faith plus works approach. Both of these are wrong. This is religion which is man trying to approach the Lord by what we do. The Lord reached down in His Mercy and Grace and we are to believe in the Salvation He has provided. That’s it! The Gospel is simple. It can be understood by a child. We come by faith and are saved. the following verses from Romans show us the Way:

“That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto Salvation” (Romans 10:9,10)

This is the only way it could be. We were lost and undone in our fallen nature. The Bible says “There is none righteous, no, not one” and “For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.” We are unable to save ourselves, or walk out a holy life in our own efforts.  Jesus said the following making it very clear that there is only one way to Salvation and how we obtain it:

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

                                                     And

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

So, Jesus is the only way to Salvation and when we come that way we are born again, or born spiritual. That is the one and only way. We must be born from above because in our fallen state we are “dead in trespasses and sins.” Our salvation is by faith from first to last. The following defines the born-again experience:

“If any man be in Christ (saved by the Blood), he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away (what we were before Salvation); behold, all things are become new (the old is no longer usable, with everything given to us now by Christ as ‘ new’)” (2 Corinthians 5:17 – commentary from the Expositor’s Study Bible.)

When we are born again and come to realize all the Lord has done for us we want his will in our lives and we will do good works, but our faith must not be in these. We cannot earn anything from God. We should go to church, read the Bible, pray, and share the Gospel, but, again, our faith must be in Christ and Him Crucified for Salvation and for our daily Christian walk.

In the very next verse after our introductory verse, John tells us that if our faith is right and we are seeking God’s will, then we can make our requests known to the Lord and he will hear us an answer. What a promise! We have a wonderful Lord who provides a complete salvation and hears our requests and answers them. We will close with this promise that the Lord, through John, gives us after assuring us of our salvation in the previous verse:

“And this is the confidence we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His Will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions we desired of Him” (1 John 5:14,15).

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Prayer Changes Things

The Lord wants us to come to Him with all our needs. Prayer requests can be left on the comments page of this website.

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the Righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers…” (1 Peter 3:12).

The Lord hears our prayers and is faithful to answer.

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2024

Are You Safe?

The Only Truly Safe Place

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1 ESV).

We live in uncertain times. Our safety is not guaranteed even as we venture out to go about our daily lives. Lawlessness abounds. Our country and our world have changed dramatically in just the last ten years. There is much talk about peace and security, but everyone knows that this could change in an instant.  War could break out at any time in the many volatile locations around the world, So where is this safe place? Our introductory verse sheds much light on the answer to that question. In this article, we will point to the only safe place to be in these troubled times.

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).

If we are being honest with ourselves, we would have to admit that there is a certain uneasiness we feel about what is happening around us. This is something that was not a concern previously but has come to the forefront now. Again, our country and world are not the same as when we grew up. Some say that things seem to be spiraling out of control. Well, that may be, but there is One Who is in control and has told us ahead of time how things would be as we approach the last days. What the Lord has shown us in His Word regarding how things would be just before His return are the way things are today.

So where can we go to find a safe and secure place? The answer is found only in the Salvation the Lord has provided. But how can Salvation possibly provide us a safe place to dwell? Again, our introductory verse points the way. The “shelter of the Most High” comes to us only by faith in Christ and His sacrificial death at Calvary. We are under the judgment of God before coming into the safety of the Father’s love for us in sending His Son to pay the price so that we might be forgiven and become the children of God.

We come into this “shelter” by faith in the Salvation the Lord has provided. We “abide in the shadow of the Almighty” by continuing to make the Cross the object of our faith. By doing this, the Holy Spirit will work mightily in our lives to give us victory over the world, the flesh, and the Devil. So we “dwell” and “abide” daily in the protection and presence of the Lord by faith. No matter what may come, we are “Sheltered safe in the Arms of God” as the following lyrics by Dottie Rambo tell us:

Let the storms rage high

The dark clouds rise.

They won’t bother me.

For I’m sheltered safe in the Arms of God.

Will troubles come our way in these last days? Will we suffer persecution or a martyr’s death as we approach these end times? Possibly, but our shelter and protection from the Lord will bring us into His very Presence for all eternity. Our physical lives will end someday and we need to be certain that we have come into the only truly safe place. The Lord calls out to the whole Earth with the “Good News” of Salvation so that whosoever will come to Him by faith will dwell in the safety of the Almighty! We need not fear in these troubled times if we have come into the Shelter of the Most High.

“Fear not, for I am with you; for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my Righteous Right Hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

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Prayer Changes Things

The Lord wants us to come to Him with all our needs. Prayer requests can be left on the comments page of this website.

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the Righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers…” (1 Peter 3:12).

The Lord hears our prayers and is faithful to answer.

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2024

Joey Looks to the Blessed Hope

The Glorious Appearing of Our Lord

A Fictional Narrative

The Fourth in the Series on ” The Life of Joey.”

“Looking for that Blessed Hope, and the Glorious appearing of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

This is the fourth article on “The Life of Joey.” In the first three articles, we saw how Joey came to the Lord and found victory in his Christian walk. We also saw how thankful Joey is for all the Lord has done for him. We found Joey continuing to share the Gospel, the way to a victorious Christian life, and the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, with all those that he comes across as the Holy Spirit leads him. In this installment, we find Joey learning about the Rapture of the church.

Our story takes place at the time of Joey’s conversion. He was the recipient of the Lord’s Mercy and Grace and he felt so blessed. Joey read his Bible every day and was amazed at how the Bible had come alive to him since he was born again and had started his spiritual journey. He knew the Holy Spirit was there to help him in his Christian walk and he had come to love the Word of God, spending much of his time reading and studying it.

Joey saw how the “Blessed Hope” was a promise of the Lord’s soon return for us in the Rapture of the church. He saw this as something that we are to take comfort in each day knowing that one day soon we will see the Lord in His “Glorious appearing,” and be with Him forever. This greatly encouraged Joey in his daily walk with the Lord. Life can be difficult a times and this “Promise” stood as a beacon of hope for Joey.

In knowing and discussing it with his fellow Christians, he found many who had rejected the Rapture or knew nothing about it, which surprised and troubled him. How could something so clearly promised be rejected out of hand? How could some in the church not know about it? The Resurrection of all the saints down through all of history is a fundamental belief of the church. Joey was aware of the fact that there were disagreements on the timing of this event, but the Resurrection of all believers is an important doctrine of the church. He understood that this promise of the Rapture was something the Lord, in His love for His church, knew would give us comfort and be a sure hope for us. It is a promise that we can count on.

Joey also saw that other places in the Bible spoke of the Coming of the Lord for His church in the Rapture. He found the following Scripture that spoke of this great event:

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

Joey learned from his study of the Bible on the Rapture that those who are living at the time of Christ’s return for His church will be caught up alive while those who have passed on will be resurrected. Joey was so glad that he was walking with the Lord and could look forward to His soon return. Joey saw how the world continues to spiral downward and this “Hope” gives all Christians great encouragement in these troubled times. Joey also had great comfort in the following verse in 1 Thessalonians;

“For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, with the Trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4: 14-17).

You may run across Joey as you go about your daily business. He is still preaching the Gospel and pointing the way to a victorious Christian life. Joey tells all who will listen that salvation is by faith from first to last and that we have the promise of the Lord’s soon return that, by this promise, we might be encouraged every day. He loves the Lord and it shows in all he does.

Joey walks in the victory the Lord has provided for all who come by faith and rest in his finished work. The Rapture of the church is on Joey’s mind each day and he tells all He comes across to look up for the Lord will soon return. He continually encourages his Christian brothers and sisters as the Apostle Paul did in the following verse:

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words (regarding the Rapture of the church) (1 Thessalonians 4: 18 commentary mine).

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Prayer Changes Things

The Lord wants us to come to Him with all our needs. Prayer requests can be left on the comments page of this website.

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the Righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers…” (1 Peter 3:12).

The Lord hears our prayers and is faithful to answer.

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2024

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2024

The “god” of This World

The Prison of Unbelief

“But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them who are lost: in whom the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of them who believe not, lest the light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ, Who (Christ) is the Image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 commentary mine).

Satan has blinded the eyes of all those who have not come in repentance and faith to the Salvation purchased for us at such a great price. He is the “god of this world” due to the fall in the Garden. Those who are not “in Christ” live lives that are controlled by our fallen nature and Satan. They are deceived and live a life far beneath the life the Lord intends for us to live. They are in the prison of unbelief and subject to Satan, the god of this world. Sin is what gave Satan the legal right to keep men in bondage. His legal right was removed at the Cross with Christ paying the sin debt owed to God.

Many live lives that are determined by their circumstances. Some have all the comforts of this world and have decided that they have brought these blessings upon themselves and have made the decision that they have no need of God. The blessings of this world keep many from coming to the Lord. We know that “every good and perfect gift is from above.” Jesus said the following regarding God’s care and blessings upon all mankind:

“…He (God) makes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45b).

Others have experienced difficult lives and have rejected God due to their life circumstances. They have a distorted picture of God because life, in their opinion, has dealt unfairly with them. Tough circumstances of life can affect anyone, but if we trust in the Lord He will bless us and see us through any storms life may bring us. Satan hates mankind and those that do not come into the protection and blessings of the Lord will be mistreated by the god of this world. The  Lord loves us and proved it by sending His Son so that He might “deliver us from the present evil world.” Jesus said it this way:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor (in spirit); He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives (the Cross), and recovery of sight to the blind (spiritually blind), to set at liberty those who are bruised (by the trials of life), to preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18,19 & commentary mine).

The last group we will address are those who do not believe that there is a God. The Bible calls them fools. It says “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.” Romans Chapter 1 makes it clear that God has given them a witness in their conscience and the witness of creation so that they are without excuse.

These three groups, although not all-inclusive, represent most of the unsaved today and have one thing in common; the “god of this world” has them captive.  The Bible says that Satan comes “as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” All those who have not come to the Lord in repentance and faith in Christ and His sacrificial death at Calvary are prisoners of Satan.

We need only revisit the temptation in the Garden to see Satan’s strategy and understand how his lies have affected most of all mankind down through the centuries. Satan, through the serpent, tempted Eve to doubt God’s Word and told her that in eating the forbidden fruit she would not die and would be like God. The world as a whole has bought into his lies. Most today do not believe God’s Word and are charting a course in their life without Him. Satan’s lies brought spiritual death to Adam and Eve and have kept most down through the years in unbelief.

We live in a fallen world and mankind’s only hope is the Salvation the Lord provides us. We are protected from the wiles of Satan by exhibiting faith in Christ crucified, daily. Jesus beckons all those living their lives as captives of the god of this world with the following invitation:

“Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (through the Salvation He provided for us at Calvary)” Matthew 11:28 commentary mine).

The Lord calls us out of darkness into the light of the Gospel. As has been stated, Satan has humanity in bondage due to our fallen condition of total depravity. As Christians, we must realize that we are in a battle with a powerful adversary and our victory over the forces of evil is sure only when we place our faith daily in Christ and Him Crucified. Our faith, properly placed, allows the Holy Spirit to work mightily in our lives giving us victory over the world, the flesh, and the Devil. The following verses from Ephesians tell us what happens to us when we come out of darkness and are born of the Spirit:

“And you has He quickened (Newness of Life), who were dead in trespasses and sins (a prisoner of our fallen nature); wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (Satan) ….. But God, who is rich in mercy (comes by way of Calvary), for His great love wherewith He loved us (by sending His Son as a sacrifice for sin), even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, by Grace are you saved (unmerited favor given to us by faith in Christ and Him Crucified)” (Ephesians 2:1,2a,4,5 commentary mine).

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Prayer Changes Things

The Lord wants us to come to Him with all our needs. Prayer requests can be left on the comments page of this website.

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the Righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers…” (1 Peter 3:12).

The Lord hears our prayers and is faithful to answer.

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2024

Joey Receives Power From on High

The Baptism With the Holy Spirit

Fictional Narrative

Third in the Series on “The Life of Joey.”

“You shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth” (Acts 1:8).

In the two previous articles on “The Life of Joey,” we visited Joey’s past when he gave his heart to the Lord and was saved. We also were with Joey when he found his way to a victorious walk in his Christian life. We saw how dedicated Joey is in sharing the Gospel. He shares the faith as led by the Holy Spirit with all those he comes across in his daily life. Joey loves the Lord and feels he is a debtor to the Lord for all the Lord has done for him, and a debtor to all those who do not know the Lord or are discouraged in their Christian walk.

In this article, we find Joey searching the scriptures every day and asking the Lord to give him power for service. In his search, Joey sees how the Book of Acts recorded the establishment of the church. He sees how Peter, who had denied the Lord some days previously, stood up before thousands and preached Christ to them. What had changed in Peter that had allowed him to boldly proclaim Christ and boldly state that the nation of Israel had delivered their Messiah to be crucified?

He realizes that the answer is in what the Lord told His Disciples just before His Ascension to Heaven. The Lord gave His Disciples the following command:

“And (Jesus), being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the Promise of the Father, which, said He, you have heard of Me” (Acts 1:4).

Joey realizes that the “Promise of the Father” was the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost which was the beginning of the church. The Lord had promised the coming of the Holy Spirit in His instructions to his disciples just before his crucifixion.

Joey now sees why Peter, who had denied the Lord, could stand up and preach a bold message to thousands resulting in many being saved. This was the anointing of the Holy Spirit given for service. He read the Book of Acts with fresh insight and saw how the power of the Holy Spirit preceeded the Gospel resulting in powerful preaching, healings, and deliverance for many from the powers of darkness. Joey is excited to see that that same power is available for us today. 

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17,18)

Joey now understands that the last days started with the Day of Pentecost and continues through our day and the coming Great Tribulation. Joey prayed to the Lord asking Him to Baptize him with the Holy Spirit and the Lord answered his prayer. He received the evidence of the Baptism with the speaking in other tongues.

Joey now sees that the coming of the Holy Spirit was for power to walk out this life in victory and for power for service. It is the duel work of the Holy Spirit. Joey now knows that along with the victory the Holy Spirit gives us over the world, the flesh, and the Devil as we place our faith daily in the finished work of Christ, we can walk in the power of the Holy Spirit for service as we go forth sharing the Gospel.

Joey is still out there each day sharing the Gospel as the Spirit leads. He is so grateful for all the Lord has done for him. He is saved, Baptized with the Holy Spirit, and has victory in his daily life, all due to what Christ accomplished on the Cross. You may run across Joey as you go about your daily business. He gives the Lord all the glory for what the Lord has done in his life. Again, Joey considers himself a debtor to the Lord and to all those who are so in need of the Salvation that the Lord freely gives. Joey remembers his lost state before the Lord reached down in His Mercy and Grace and lifted him up to higher ground. Joey presses forward each day with the call of God on his life and the love of His Savior in his heart. The following, you might say, is Joey’s heart’s cry:

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3: 4).

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Prayer Changes Things

The Lord wants us to come to Him with all our needs. Prayer requests can be left on the comments page of this website.

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the Righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers…” (1 Peter 3:12).

The Lord hears our prayers and is faithful to answer.

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2024

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2024

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

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

The Emperor’s New Clothes

Naked Before the Lord

”Because you say, I am rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17).

Our introductory verse is from the Book of Revelation and was addressed to the church at Laodicea. The Lord had John write this strong rebuke to a church of the Apostle John’s day. The Lord had John write seven letters to seven churches that existed at that time. These churches represent seven different periods in the church age. The letter to the church at Laodicea was the last of the seven and represents the church of our day – the last days before Christ’s return.

This church was lifted up due to its wealth and did not realize its true condition. The church in America as a whole is in the same condition. Because we are the church of the last days, this letter the Lord gave to Laodicea two thousand years ago is extremely relevant today.

I want to qualify what I am about to present. As we have seen, the seven churches represent periods in the church age, but all of these seven churches can be found today. As is obvious, true believers who love the Lord and serve Him with all their hearts can be found throughout church history and are present today. Hopefully, those reading this article, or listening to the podcast, are in this group of true believers.

However, there is a great falling away from the Lord that can be seen in the major denominations, the seeker-sensitive church, the Word of Faith churches, and many independent churches throughout our nation. If the Gospel has not changed our lives then our Salvation is in question. The Lord said the following strong words to the Church of Laodicea:

“So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:16).

As a nation, we have been blessed materially by the Lord beyond all the nations of the world. He has blessed our country and, as a whole,  the church has responded to these blessings by taking our eyes off the Lord. We have enjoyed the blessings he has provided without seeking the Blesser. This is the church of our day.

The Emperor, in the Hans Christian Anderson folktale, thought he was clothed, but he was not. The swindlers had convinced him that the clothes were magnificent when they were not. There were no clothes to cover the Emperor, but no one, including the Emperor, would admit it. The world system headed by Satan offers the same covering, which is no covering at all. Those that buy into it, and ignore the covering the Lord graciously offers are standing “naked” before the Lord and are in great danger of eternal judgment. 

As we know, unbelievers, who have rejected the Lord, live under the covering of this fallen world system and will be judged by the Lord if they do not repent and come the Lord’s Way. But the church has the Bible, knows the way to the Lord, and all the spiritual blessings He has promised. We know the great Sacrifice he made at Calvary, in that, we can be forgiven and be with Him for eternity. We have no excuse. The time is short and the church, as a whole, must realize its true condition and come back to the Lord.

He calls out to His church today as he did to the church of Laodicea at the time. They were “lukewarm” to the things of God which in God’s eyes is equal to a rejection of His Way. We are to follow after the Lord with all our hearts. He loved those at Laodicea and He loves those today who have a half-hearted approach to serving the Lord. He calls out to whosoever will hear and come back to Him with all their heart. The Lord calls out to us today with the following invitation through His message to the church at Laodicea:

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

For anyone who has left their first love which is Christ and Him crucified and has lost their way; He calls out to them to come back to Him. We can know we have our faith right if we make Christ and Him crucified the object of our faith daily. We will be protected from the false doctrine that is so prevalent today. We are to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ without which the Lord has said we are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” before Him. He is calling His church back to faith in His finished work at Calvary. Time is short. This was the seventh and last letter written to the church. We must harken to the warning and His call to repentance that the Lord has graciously provided to His last day’s church. He calls out with the following declaration of His love:

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent” (Revelation 3:19).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2024

Coming Home!

Lord, I’m Coming Home!

Lord, I’m  Coming Home

I’ve wandered far away from God, now I’m coming home. The paths of sin too long I’ve trod, Lord, I’m coming home.

There once was a man who lived many years of his life without the Lord. He did seek the Lord as a young boy but did not find the Lord in the church he attended. In going through some difficult teenage years the man gave up his search for the Lord and settled into a life devoid of God. He married and lived his life doing whatever seemed right to him and whatever gave him pleasure. The man knew that he was living a life that was not pleasing to the Lord, but continued in his way of rebellion against the inner witness that there indeed was a God – the God he felt drawn to as a young boy. He did not know the way to God and if he was to be honest wasn’t even seeking that way.

A difficult time in his life made him stop and reflect on his life and the choices he had made. He came across the Gospel for the first time in his life and he was excited and saddened by it. Excited to finally know the way to God, but saddened that he did not find that way earlier, even as a young boy. The Lord spoke to him regarding this telling him that He saw him seeking Him as a young boy.

The man realized that the Lord had to bring him to a place where he would be open to the Gospel. Open to the love the Lord has for us all that brought Him to die on a cruel cross for his sin. Sometimes we must reach a place of great difficulty in our lives before we can be open to the drawing of the Holy Spirit. He had lived a life of sin, but that inner witness of the reality of the existence of God had been with him all those years. The Lord, in His mercy and Grace, had reached down and answered the young boy’s prayer and brought the man home.

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you” (Augustine in his Confessions).

The Lord has placed a witness of His existence in all of us. Romans Chapter 1 says “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God has shown it unto them.” Humanity is without excuse. The young boy of our story knew that there was a God due to this inner witness. The Lord has also given evidence of his existence in creation. Again, Romans chapter 1 says “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhood; so that they are without excuse.”

Augustine made it clear; We are restless until we find rest in our creator and our great God who loves us and has created us for Himself. We will find that rest when we come in repentance and faith in the love that was displayed at Calvary. The Lord paid the price for our sins and we were “bought with a price” by the Lord Who rescued us from this fallen rebellious world. We find our true life in Him. Coming home to the Lord is the place of untold blessings. We come into the shelter of the Most High and “shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” He is our place of rest. in coming to Him, we are coming home.

Coming home, coming home, nevermore to roam. Open wide thy arms of love, Lord, I’m coming home.

[Lord, I’m Coming Home – Composed by William J Kirkpatrick pub. 1892]

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

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The Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos

Revelation Chapter 1:1-8

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent it by His Angel unto His servant John” (Revelation 1:1).

The Apostle John was imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos due to his preaching of the Gospel. The Lord Jesus gave John this “Revelation” showing John the beginning of happenings starting with John’s time, through, and past, the Church Age. The Book of Revelation was given by the Lord to his servants so that believers, at that time, and down through the Church Age, would know what would happen in the years to come.

“Blessed is he who reads, and they who hear the words of this Prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (verse 2).

All who read and keep the words of this prophecy are promised a blessing. “The time is at hand” is speaking of the beginning of events that will ultimately result in the Second Coming of the Lord, the Millennial Kingdom, and the Perfect Age. Chapters 2 and 3 are the messages, or letters, addressed to seven churches of that time in Asia and also represent the successive periods down through the Church Age. The following verse is a reference to these letters that the Lord will give to the churches in chapters 2 and 3:

“John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and Peace from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come….”(verse 4a).

Again, these letters were given to John for these churches by the Lord Jesus Christ. All of these churches, except the church of Philadelphia, had issues the Lord would address in their letters. This reference to Grace and Peace was pointing these churches, and us, to the only answer for all we face. Grace comes solely through what Christ accomplished on the Cross and comes by faith alone. When our faith is in His finished work our walk will be pleasing to the Lord and we will have Peace with God (Salvation) and the Peace of God (sanctifying  peace.) Notice the reference to “Him which is, and which was, and which is to come.” This speaks of His certain coming at the end of the age for His church and to save Israel at the end of the Great Tribulation.

“And from Jesus Christ, Who is the Faithful Witness, and the first begotten from the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the Earth. Unto Him Who loved us, and washed us from our sins with His Own Blood, and made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be Glory and Dominion forever and ever. Amen” (verse 5,6).

The Lord was a “faithful Witness” in His obedience to the  Will of the Father during his earthly life. He was the first to be resurrected from the dead. We as believers will be resurrected from the dead, or, if alive at the time, will be Raptured by the Lord when He comes for his church. This event could happen at any time. No prophecy must be fulfilled before the Rapture can take place. The reference to “Prince of the kings of the Earth” is proclaiming He is the head, or ruler, over the world which will happen in its fullest expression in the Millennial Kingdom. We, as believers, are kings and priests under Christ which is all due to Calvary.

Behold, He comes with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also who pierced Him: and all kindred of the Earth shall wail because of Him. Even so. Amen. (Verse 7).

The Lord will come in the Second Coming accompanied by all the saints that have ever lived as referenced by the mention of “clouds.” This will be quite a sight and something we as believers have to look forward to as we will be part of that number. Everyone on Earth will see this spectacular event including Isreal who will finally come to the Lord in repentance and faith. Those on the Earth at the time will “wail” because the Lord, who came as Savior the first time, now comes as Judge. All unbelievers will be judged for their sins.

I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (verse 8).

The Lord is the one true, and only, God. He is Almighty guaranteeing all that He says will happen, will happen.

In summary, the Apostle John was on the Isle of Patmos as a prisoner for preaching the Gospel. He was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day” and the Lord Jesus gave him a “Revelation” to be delivered to the seven churches in Asia all receiving messages, or letters, from the Lord. These letters were not only for those living at the time but represented periods in the Church Age down to the time we now currently live in.

There is a blessing for those who read and keep all that Christ gave us in the Book of Revelation. The Lord was the first to be resurrected assuring the promise from Him that we will be resurrected, or Raptured, before His Second coming to judge this rebellious world. He is the “Alpha and Omega” the one and only God and he is Almighty guaranteeing that all He has revealed in the Book of Revelation will happen.

We serve a wonderful God who loves us and wants us to know the future. We need not be uninformed, or confused, about what is coming on this world or what we currently see happening as we look around at our world today. The Book of Revelation, the last book in the canon of Scripture, closes with the following words:

“He which testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:20,21).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

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Joey’s Journey Begins

The Early

A Fictional Narrative

The Second in a Series on the “Life of Joey”

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

This is our second article on “The Life of Joey.” In our first article, we saw Joey sharing the Gospel with all those he came across as led by the Holy Spirit. In this article, we will go back some years and see how Joey found his way to the Lord and how he found his way to a victorious Christian life.

Joey was first saved as a young adult. He had been a somewhat rebellious teenager as many of us can relate to. He never did anything that would cause him trouble with the law, but as a teenager, he rebelled against authority and it caused him problems in school and at home with his parents. But Joey grew out of that rebellious stage and entered his twenties as a stable small business owner. He was very successful at what he did and lived a life free of worry. However, Joey knew something was missing in his life and that bothered him.

Joey had not grown up in church, and had, in fact, never even seen a Bible or been inside a church. He had a friend who owned the business next to his. Mickey was a Christian and had grown up in church. Joey noticed that there was something different about Mickey. He never cursed and was always kind to all those he came across. The two became friends.

Joey knew that Mickey attended church and asked him about it one day. Mickey invited him to church and Joey accepted the invitation. During the church service, the Gospel was presented and Joey couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The pastor told all those present that God loved them and wanted to forgive them for all the wrongs they had done in their lives. He said that by repenting of their sins and placing their faith in Christ and His sacrificial death on the Cross they are not only forgiven but given Eternal Life with the Lord as sons of God. Joey went forward and prayed the Sinner’s Prayer that very day.

Joey was full of joy and thanksgiving for all the Lord had done for him and wanted to live a life pleasing to the Lord. However, it wasn’t too far down the road that Joey failed the Lord. He was devastated! Joey determined that this could not happen again. In speaking with the other members of his church about this, Joey was told to read the Bible more, keep attending church each week, pray more, and do other things that would give him victory. Joey was left discouraged because he was already doing those things. How would he find victory? He did not want to fail the Lord Who had reached down in mercy and grace and saved him!

Joey was determined to find His way and to live a life pleasing to the Lord. He knew the answer was in the Bible and was determined to find it. He knew the Lord would not require us to walk before him in righteousness if it were not possible for us to do it. Joey had ordered an Expositor’s Study Bible. As a new Christian, this Bible which includes a commentary on each verse helped him in his understanding of the Word. He began reading in Romans. By the time he had come to Chapter 8 – he saw it! We have victory in our Christian walk the same way we came in. It’s by faith! When we place our faith in Christ and Him Crucified daily, it allows the Holy Spirit to work mightily in our lives. The Holy Spirit works within the parameters of the finished work of Christ and will not work outside of this. This is not sinless perfection, but a victorious daily walk before the Lord where sin will not have dominion over us.

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

Joey saw in this verse that “The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus” gives us victory over “the Law of Sin and Death” by what Christ accomplished on the Cross. Joey had found victory and he was overwhelmed by the provision of the Lord. Joey began sharing his faith and the way to victory with all those he came across as the Holy Spirit led. He sees himself as a debtor to the Lord for all He has done for him, and he sees himself as a debtor to all those who are so in need of the Salvation the Lord graciously provides. He had found Salvation and had found his way to victory. Joey felt so blessed.

Joey is still serving the Lord today. You may run across Joey as you go about your daily business. He’ll be the one sharing the Gospel with all those he comes across and sharing the way to victory with those who have become discouraged in their walk with the Lord. Yes, Joey feels blessed, and all those who know Joey have seen what the Lord has done for, and in, Joey. He is so thankful that the Lord reached down in His Mercy and Grace and saved him in his lost condition. Joey is so thankful that he has found victory in his walk with the Lord and is now led by the Holy Spirit. The following verse sums up where the Lord has brought us all from and what the Lord has done in each of our lives:

“And such were some of you (all of us have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God): But you are washed (cleansed of sin by the Blood of Jesus), but you are sanctified (our position in Christ), but you are justified (declared not guilty) in the Name of Jesus (by way of Calvary), and by the Spirit of God (Who comes to live & work in us at Salvation)” (1 Corinthians 6:11 with commentary from ESB & Mine)

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

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Titus, a Pastoral Epistle

An Overview of the Apostle Paul’s Epistle to Titus

“Paul, a servant of God, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after Godliness. To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, Mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior”  (Titus 1:1,4).

Titus was a Gentile who was converted to Christianity through Paul’s ministry and was a beloved coworker with Paul in the propagation of the Gospel. The Epistle to Titus was one of Paul’s pastoral epistles.

Paul addresses church doctrine, false teachers in the church, the Christian life, the Rapture of the Church, and justification among other issues facing the church at the time. Again, this was one of Paul’s pastoral epistles similar to the ones he wrote to Timothy. The following is a brief overview of this epistle.

“In Hope of Eternal Life, which God, Who cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2)

The plan of God was formulated before the world began. The Lord was not taken by surprise by man’s fall in the Garden. The hope of Eternal Life is a sure hope promised by God “Who cannot lie.” As believers, we possess Eternal life at the present time. We will come into the fullness of this promise when we pass from this life or are Raptured by the Lord. Jesus described Eternal life in this way, “To Know God and Jesus Christ Whom He has sent.” Eternal life is knowing and having fellowship with God, Forever! Paul next deals with the false teachers that had come into the church to deceive.

“For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the Circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre, They profess that they know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:10,11,16).

These false teachers were teaching error and were very convincing. The importance of sound doctrine cannot be overstated. We must know and study our Bible and must keep our faith anchored in the great sacrifice the Lord provided at Calvary. This being the case, we will not be deceived by false doctrine. Paul points out those of the Circumcision as a prime example of the deception being promulgated at the time. They taught that you had to be circumcised to be saved which ran contrary to our stand as Christians that we are saved by faith and faith alone.

“For the Grace of God that brings Salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world: looking for that Blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11,12,13).

Paul mentions the Grace of God that the Lord offers us when we repent and place our faith in Christ and Him Crucified. He goes on to exhort Titus, and us, to live godly lives “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts.” This can only be accomplished when we have our faith in Christ and the Cross which then allows the Holy Spirit to work in our lives bringing us the victorious Christian life that we cannot attain by our efforts. Paul then directs attention to our sure hope. That is, the promised coming of the Lord for His Church in the Rapture. All believers will be taken, or raptured, by the Lord before the Great Tribulation which will come upon all those living at the time ( see 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

In summary, God the Father, “Who cannot lie,” promises us Eternal Life. That Life is in His Son. We are to continue in sound doctrine which will protect us from false teachings and teachers who come from within the church seeking those who do not know their Bibles. Grace is our way to victory in this life. God provides His Grace freely to those who come to Him by faith. We are to anchor our faith in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified which will give us the victory we seek in our lives, and we are to anxiously await the coming of our Lord and Savior for the church He loves and died for. Paul starts and closes this epistle with the mention of God’s Grace which, as we have seen, is freely given by the Lord upon proper faith. Yes, all we receive from God is due to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and His love for us that brought Him to the cross. The following is Paul’s closing benediction:

“The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit” (Titus 3:25).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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

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