Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Each day, throughout this entire world, people like to maintain communications with others, whether through cell phones, the internet or even mailing a letter. Communication was so important that back in the mid 1850s they laid a cable that stretched across the Atlantic Ocean, allowing the first telegraph messages to be sent between Great Britain and the USA. Although it was such a great distance, they diligently laid out approximately 2,200 miles of underwater cable, which broke twice during the attempt. They finally succeeded in 1858 which allowed people to talk with each other on opposite sides of the ocean. But after only a few weeks of usage, the communication was interrupted. It seems that the insulation on the ½ inch line became corrupted, and eventually failed, creating short circuits in the cable, and at that point, the line of communication between each other was temporarily broken.
This reminds me of the Christian Life
Our relationship with God can become broken too. It can become interrupted through impenitence, and sinful living.in order to repair our line to God, it will require repentance and acceptance of the truth. It will necessitate fixing the problem by openly confessing faults. It is only through the acknowledgment of our sins that we can come to grips with what we are. When we come to God with a humble and penitent heart, our communication with Him can be restored, and reconciliation and forgiveness can take place.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
In order to turn away from sin, one needs to first accept the truth and admit the error of their way. If they don’t believe the truth, they end up being deceived and believing a lie, which causes them to become stunted and immature in their spiritual growth. Many people will try to justify their own sinful behavior by using scripture to back it up, but when they do this, they never can genuinely go through the process of repentance and sanctification. They twist the teachings of scripture to make it serve their own sinful ends.
2 Peter 3:15-16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
God’s Word is set forth to convict us of our sins, but they can’t do anything for you if you make the attempt to justify your own faults. Some people cannot find forgiveness with God because they won’t humbly accept the truth of their own sinfulness.
Luke 18:10-14 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Sometimes it only takes a gentle reproof to correct the behavior of a small child, but with others, it can take much more, depending on the hardness of their heart. I had a high-schooler once tell me that he needed a sharp spiritual chisel of rebuke. Love for others will ultimately speak the truth of God’s Word with them. Some need to be saved with love, but others with fear. In either case, it is done for the purpose of correction, and to save their souls from death.
James 5:19-20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
The Apostle Paul wanted people to reconcile with God, but without genuine repentance, people will come short of the finish line. Sin causes a broken line of communication with God. In order to repair it, we must humble ourselves, confess our faults, and take a sincere look deep down inside of the heart.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Someone who is a reprobate is morally corrupt and depraved. To repent of sin you have to examine yourselves and accept the truth of scripture. The Apostle Paul did this very thing, even referring to himself as the chief of sinners. You can never change your life if you don’t change your mind about the wrong things that you are doing. We must redirect and refocus our minds on God, and through a contrite heart, humble ourselves in His presence.
James 4:8-10 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
A lot of people don’t want to accept the fact that what they are doing is wrong, but herein lies the problems regarding our own salvation. You must be capable of addressing sin in your own heart. If you won’t do this, you cannot turn from your sins and find forgiveness with God.
1 Corinthians 11:28, 31 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
We live in treacherous times and it will only get worse until Jesus redeems his faithful off of the Earth. One of the biggest problems is that people who profess to be Christians refuse to turn from sin. The Apostle Paul was commanded to preach this message so people could obtain forgiveness.
Acts 26:16-18 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Sin will cause estrangement from God, so what we must do is actively seek Him with a humble heart and turn away from the things that are displeasing unto Him. You will need to take care of sin issues in your life, repairing the wrongs that you have committed, if you are ever going to fix…
…..The Broken Line
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 