The Tragedy of “Almost”

“For the king knows of these things, to whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, for this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” Agrippa said to Paul, “With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?” Paul said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.” The king rose up with the governor, and Bernice, and those who sat with them.” (Acts‬ ‭26:26-30‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

The passage above records a very tragic moment. King Agrippa was on the verge of believing in Jesus as Lord, but he hardened his heart and stood up, rejecting the free gift of eternal life.

His actions are essentially saying this, “Stop it. I don’t want to hear anymore. I refuse to accept Jesus Christ as Lord.”

Other translations render Agrippa’s words like this:

“Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time [and with so little effort] you [almost] persuade me to become a Christian.”” (Acts‬ ‭26:28‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

The word “almost” is the great tragedy.

It is like coming so close to the finish line in a race but fainting and being disqualified when you are just a hair’s breadth away.

Hell contains many souls who are “almosts”.

“I should have responded when that preacher asked for us to place our faith in Jesus. Why did I harden my heart? I almost got saved, but now it is too late...”

“Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested me by proving me, and saw my deeds for forty years. Therefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, ‘They always err in their heart, but they didn’t know my ways;’ as I swore in my wrath, ‘They will not enter into my rest.’”” (Hebrews‬ ‭3:7-11‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

It is possible to know with the mind that Jesus is the Son of God and everything that He claims to be, and yet not be saved.

A person has to believe and confess Him as Lord. If you just believe that He is the Son of God but don’t receive Him as Lord, you are not saved.

Even the demons believe that God is real, but they don’t submit to Him as Lord.

The Holy Spirit convicts the hearts of unbelievers about their sinfulness and woos them to receive Jesus Christ as Lord. But they can choose to reject it. Every individual must choose to accept or reject the gift of eternal life.

Yet, it is God’s will for all to hear the Gospel and to be saved. No matter how dark someone’s past is, he can freely receive forgiveness of sins when he places his faith in Jesus as Lord!

If you are already a born-again believer, through faith in Jesus, you have entered God’s rest—the rest of your conscience and also rest from works-based justification.

You are a saint who is already sanctified, justified, saved, holy, righteous, pure, and blameless. The next time you read these words in the Bible, don’t feel condemned or shrink away. These words describe who you already are in Christ.

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” (Colossians‬ ‭2:8-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Dear brethren, you are not an “almost”. You are complete in Christ.

Let someone know the Gospel so that they are not almost, but fully saved through faith in Jesus Christ!

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One Sacrifice for Sins Forever

“then he has said, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first, that he may establish the second, by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and often offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins, but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet. For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews‬ ‭10:9-14‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

Once for all.

One sacrifice for sins forever.

By one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

The Holy Spirit inspired the writer to repeat the “one sacrifice for sins forever” idea three times.

He must have foreseen that many people would be trying to offer their own additional sacrifices to earn their salvation; that many would be afraid of somehow committing an unpardonable sin and losing their salvation.

Some believers use the same chapter, Hebrews 10, to show how believers can lose their salvation, but actually Hebrews 10 shows us how perfectly saved and forgiven we are.

You have been sanctified and forever perfected by the one-time offering of the blood of Jesus.

To explain it clearer, you have been born again through the Holy Spirit to become a new creature in Christ that still lives in the body of flesh you were first born with.

““Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” (John‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

Your spirit inside has passed out of death, into eternal life. You can no longer be under the Old Covenant of the Law because you have been set free from it through sharing in Jesus’ death at the cross.

You were also raised from the dead as a new creation in Christ, and you entered into the New Covenant of Grace. This means you are adopted into God’s family as His child, seated with Christ in Heaven. When God looks at you, He sees Jesus because you are a member of His body—you are “in Christ”.

Just as Jesus is seated at the right hand of Abba God, waiting for His enemies to be put under His feet as a footstool, so are you seated there as Him because you are in Him.

The posture we ought to live by is not as the Jesus that was tested by the devil in the wilderness and humiliatingly beaten by men on the way to the cross.

We are now living as the Jesus who is seated in Heaven next to Abba God, far above all principalities, powers, and every dominion in existence.

“and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians‬ ‭1:19-23‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

Now what we are waiting for is the last part of our redemption, which is the salvation of our body. When Jesus returns for His saints, our mortal bodies will be transformed into immortal glorified bodies, and our outward perfection will match what has already happened in our spirit. This is what all Christians ought to be focusing on and waiting for. It is our blessed hope!

Declare: “Just like Jesus, I am forever perfected and sanctified, seated at the right hand of Abba God, far above all principalities and powers. I have passed out of death into eternal life, and I am just waiting for Abba God to put every enemy under my feet as a footstool. The last enemy to be abolished is death, and that will happen when Jesus returns, and my mortal body is transformed into an immortal body. I am not waiting for death, but looking forward to eternal life in a new body. Thank You Abba God for this blessed hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

God has equipped us with mighty spiritual weapons in Christ. When we know how to use them, we can emerge victorious over every spiritual warfare. Discover all about this in “Silencing the Serpent”, and also be set free from long-time Satanic strongholds, yokes, and bondages through the revelations and prayers within:
https://bit.ly/silence-the-serpent-now

Guard Your Heart with Psalm 91

“I will say of Yahweh, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day; nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made Yahweh your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone.” (Psalms‬ ‭91:2-12‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

Remember that true protection comes from the Lord. Meditate on the Scriptures and confess them over yourself and your loved ones. Guard your heart from the fear and worry that is being perpetuated by the media.

When you believe and speak God’s word, God’s power is released in that related area of your life. His words are spirit and life, not just inanimate ink on a page.

A refuge is a place that you flee to after being attacked, while a fortress is a place you can preemptively position yourself to be far from the enemy.

Whether you have been attacked or not, Jesus is your source of safety, protection, and healing.

Someone may say, “What about those Christians that got it? So many in that local church got sick. How can God’s promises be true?”

Well, one needs to believe in God’s promises before he will experience it. They do not manifest for a Christian who is unbelieving and stricken by fear.

We do not know their state of mind at the time when they fell sick, and what their local church teaches about God’s protection. Some do not believe in it.

I like that Psalm 91 specifically shows that we can believe God for protection from everything that the world is afraid of nowadays. We do not have to guess God’s will in this case—it is plainly written.

Even if you hear of news about people getting sick in your neighborhood, God’s word remains true: a thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.

The enemy probably hates it when you believe this. “What makes you think you are so special? Others are dying and in critical condition, and you have the cheek to say that it cannot come near you?”

You are specially protected if you believe in God’s promises. You are a sanctified child of God who has access to His protection by faith. His angels will be mobilized to guard you in all your ways, to destroy every weapon of the enemy near you.

Sometimes, believers who just stumbled and sinned feel unworthy of experiencing God’s protection. They feel like the hedge of protection has been lifted because they sinned and that God does this to teach them a lesson.

That is a false assumption that is not true under the New Covenant of Grace. Committing sin can cause your conscience to accuse you, but we must know that Grace is all about believing in what Jesus has done at the cross.

You can enjoy God’s protection from all manner of harm because Jesus shed His blood to make you forever righteous and favored in God’s sight. Protection is not a reward that you have to earn through good behavior. It is freely given as part of the salvation package—but you must believe in order to enjoy it!

Actionable Steps:

1. Meditate on Psalm 91 today and see which portion of it resonates deeply with you. Keep it in your heart and mutter it with your mouth throughout the week ahead.

2. Include words from Psalm 91 in your daily prayers for your family in the morning. Before everyone sets off for work or school, take time to tune everyone’s heart to be conscious of God’s lavish protection.

3. Look out for anyone you come across that feels unsafe or fearful because of the current situation. Encourage them with promises from Psalm 91 and tell them that Jesus loves them. There is always a good time to plant seeds of the Gospel in people’s hearts.

Our Patreon community is currently on a Bible Study series called “The Way Forward: How to Thrive Amidst Change”.

In a time of great fear, how can we as Christians thrive when the world is changing the way they do things? Many in the world are depressed and terrified because of the things that are happening around the world; the change ambushed most people so suddenly. Yes there is deep darkness covering the earth, but there is always hope for God’s children.

The Holy Spirit is giving us a word in season, showing us how to tap on the grace that is available now, and how to reign in life, even from your living room. I’m excited to see what He will show us in the days ahead!

This Bible Study series will be compiled into an eBook once we complete it.

Join us as a “God Every Morning” tier or above patron on Patreon to receive this new Bible Study series in our patron WhatsApp group chat. You will also receive the other rewards like devotionals by email every weekday, and all my eBooks. Thank you for sowing into this ministry and being a valuable partner as we “Teach More, Reach More” every day in these end times: http://Patreon.com/miltongohblog

This clip is from: Joseph Prince—Wisdom for Holy Living (20 May 2018) @josephprince

We're constantly faced with the pressure and desire to fit in with everyone else. It's so easy to feel like we need to do or have the same things as people around us in order be accepted and respected.

But this isn't the life God had in mind for you. Not that there’s anything wrong with wanting things, but God doesn’t want us to do things, say things, or have things just to “fit in”. Did you know you are called to lead a princely life as a son or daughter of God? You're called to be sanctified or "uncommon"—set apart for God's purpose. This doesn't mean you have to follow more rules than others or never sin again.

It means that His Word gives you wisdom and sets you apart, separating you from evil, and unto His purity and beauty. It means the salvation Jesus paid for gives you healing, wholeness, peace and prosperity. And it means that while others may face deep discouragement and fear of the future, you can walk with certainty because you know Who loves you, and the calling by which He has called you.

Child of God, receive this revelation today and live fully the blessed and princely life your Heavenly Father has purposed for you!

–
Decibel.one: A digital magazine and online channel by Joseph Prince Ministries. Check out at https://decibel.one/ for more grace-centered content.

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