My book is called things I have heard, but I would like to start with things I have seen so that you will know something of my life, and how I came to write. The Lord said to me “write the things you have seen and heard.” Some of my writing in this book has been easy, some has been fun, but some has been very hard to think about again and write down.
Occasionally in life I heard stories of the Man from Galilee, the One with the smile on His face, who welcomed sinners to His fellowship, who healed the lame, fed the hungry, casting out condemnation everywhere He went with that Sword of His, that Sword of Pure Love and acceptance, grace mercy and power. the One that came to set the captives free….The One that died for us on that real cross, the One with more than empty words, The one that didn’t want us to join His organization so He could make more money of our labors and build bigger churches for His chosen ones. The One that came to give and not to take. The One that gave so much He died giving. The One that didn’t care what color we were or if we were fat or ugly or beautiful. The One That Gathered The Outcasts and changed their lives forever by His Love. The One who is alive forevermore, the Living God. If I could just find Him I knew I would be ok.
When I sought Him, I heard a lot of different things. people told me that He was retired, that He was too busy, they told me that He only loved Righteous Sinners, They told me that He only helped those that repented first, cleaned themselves up and served Him in diligent selfless labors. Some said He came only for the worthy. Some said that He would save me but if I ever fell there would be no second chances only judgement and hell. Some said I was just too wicked to save and cast me out, they often did this with their lofty looks, sometimes with actual words. Some said I couldn’t find Him or His blessing because I hadn’t memorized enough or claimed enough or prayed enough. I looked for years and years and never found Him. Every now and then I got a glimpse of Him but I didn’t know it was Him.
If you are not a christian and want to use this section for church bashing, a word to the wise, it says judgement begins in the house of God, but it doesn’t say it ends there. The Lord tells me to look in the mirror before I open my mouth, it is good advice. While I am going to share with you some pretty hurtful things that have happened to me on my walk in this life, I do not include these things to judge those individuals that have hurt me in the past, I have forgiven them, I have written them that we may all look at our own actions and return to following Jesus, and walking in His Love.
Jesus told us that Judgement is coming on all the earth. In the book of Ezekiel, God shows a clear picture of His judgement. In Ezekiel 9:3-6 it describes God sending judgment and He shows us that it begins in His sanctuary. Any that did not sigh and cry for the abominations done in the midst of the city were destroyed. Prophets and believers of old like Ezekiel and Jeremiah sighed and cried for the abominations in the city, not like some of today, “God destroy those wicked sinners!” But they interceded with great heaviness and sorrow for the souls of men, that God would turn His people back from their sins so that they could be saved by His mercy and compassion.
Also in the new testament it says that judgment begins in the house of God:
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Peter 4:17-18
the basics of salvation is here in Romans: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:9-13
When we are saved by believing in Jesus we will still face a day of Judgement, that is why we confess our sins and pray that we turn from them, that is why a daily walk with Jesus is so necessary. He covers us in His grace and mercy, He leads us. Some people receive Jesus as their Lord and then go on apart from His direct leading and build churches or organizations or ministries thinking that they are doing a great service to God. They get caught up in doing what seems right but not in a daily walk with Jesus in His Spirit. Jesus tell us that His judgement isn’t going to be in whether or not we did mighty works in His name, whether we built giant churches, whether we claimed shiny new cars and prosperity, or anything like that:
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matt 7:21-23
Jesus said exactly what we shall be judged on:
first:
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:17-18
and then:
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matt 25:31-46
I am going to begin with my visits to churches when I was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, and in prison(jail). please consider how many times someone just like me visited your church or organization.
Little Sanctuary Ministries 