Tag Archives: sin

Nwsltr-031410-What Price-Redemption-part2

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Nwsltr-031410-What Price Your Redemption Part 2
By the Watchman Dana G Smith

Keywords: watchman newsletter, price, redemption, slaves, servants, sin, Jesus Christ, Calvary, Cross
Words:3214
What is the price of your redemption? For Christians everywhere the known fact of our redemption is focused on Calvary and the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the gospel. To be redeemed, to have redemption, to be saved from error or evil, that is redemption.

What price? Christ vacarious death on the Cross! Propitation for your sins!

What price? Christ vacarious death on the Cross! Propitation for your sins!

What is the price of your redemption? For Christians everywhere the known fact of our redemption is focused on Calvary and the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the gospel. To be redeemed, to have redemption, to be saved from error or evil, that is redemption. It is an act, whereby, someone or something saves another from certain evil or error.  Thus we have the error of our ways, a phrase, meaning that in our daily walk, that is, our ways, is error! For men and women everywhere, error is there, it is in the form of sin. It is a fact before God although people in the world don’t see it as such. They have no concept of redemption. They are not in bondage, error, or in evil ways, or so they think. It is easy to see a strangler, rapist, murderer, or even Hitler as evil and wicked. But many people do not see themselves as evil or in sin.

It is interesting to note here in Leviticus chapter twenty five the Lord gives the law concerning slaves. In one portion it talks about a ‘stranger or sojourner’ who lives among the children of Israel. In this segment of the chapter it specifically speaks to that ‘stranger’ waxing rich and then if one of the children of Israel becomes poor and ends up selling himself to the ‘stranger’ it gives the redemption for that Israeli. The whole concept here is that the brother [children of Israel] who has had to sell himself as a slave, can be redeemed by his brethren. The redemption price is figured in accordance with the years to Jubilee. Jubilee meaning ‘ram’s horn trumpet’ is sounded in the fiftieth year and is a time of emancipation and restoration. The year of debts cancelled, slaves freed, and everyone redeemed from their bondage. It signifies a refreshing and renewal. It is also a type of the ‘coming of the LORD’ when we all will be permanently redeemed and celebrate our own ‘jubilee’ in the millennium. But in order to be redeemed there is a price to pay!   To be redeemed from the bondage the Israeli must have someone pay, for he cannot pay; that is why he is in bondage as a servant or slave. But the price of his redemption must be paid. That is, until Jubilee. In Jubilee, those of the Children of Israel must be freed, why? Scripture says this “For unto me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” The children of Israel had a covenant with their God, they were already bought with a price. That price was the covenant and the law, with the sacrifices. The obedience of these people before their God, walking in his ways, thus, they were to be redeemed. The trouble, of course, Israel did not walk in the ways of the LORD. In the end, they were sent into bondage into Babylon for their rebellion.

Leviticus 25:47  And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger’s family:
48  After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him:
49  Either his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself.
50  And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubilee: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him.
51  If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for.
52  And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubilee, then he shall count with him, and according unto his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption.
53  And as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him: and the other shall not rule with rigour over him in thy sight.
54  And if he be not redeemed in these years, then he shall go out in the year of jubilee, both he, and his children with him.
55  For unto me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God

Today as believers, we have been bought with a price. Jesus spoke of the ‘kingdom of heaven’ in parables. In Matthew chapter thirteen he likened it to a “merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”

Matthew 13:45  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

The lesson here is not that we have to buy or pay our way into heaven. The lesson is, this ‘kingdom of heaven’ is so valuable, we need to give all we have just to obtain it. It is a lesson in things valuable and in the vanity of the world. It is a trouble today with all that we have as a nation and a people that we fail to see the true worth of what our Lord did for us and of the ‘kingdom of heaven’ as our final place of residence. All to often we are very slovenly and lackadaisical regarding our ‘faith and the kingdom of heaven’. We do not regard the bible nor God as we should. If it is convenient or if I get in trouble, then I will seek him, walk in faith, and keep his Word. We are too busy, too secular, and don’t give ourselves to the LORD as we should on this matter. Again, what is the price of your redemption?

What would you pay for being redeemed? What could you pay? What do you do today as the ‘servant of the LORD’ in obedience and faith? The fact here is, you cannot buy your way in but all faith and discipleship will cost you. Those who tell you redemption is free are hiding the truth! Your Redemption is not free! The things of God are not free! There is a cost, a price, and it had to of been paid!

1 Corinthians 6:9  ¶Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The Apostle Paul in the above section of scripture reminds the Corinthians that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God!  He goes through a list and then says: “and such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus , and by the Spirit of our God”. You are washed in the blood of the Lamb, set aside through faith by Gods grace, and are now justified in the name of our Lord Jesus and the Spirit of God which dwells in you. This is leading up to the next portion of Scripture where the Apostle lets them know the following:

1 Corinthians 6:17  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
18  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

If you are indeed joined to the Lord, you are one in him, one spirit. Therefore the whole point of this is, if you are joined to the Lord, don’t join yourself to a harlot. That is the world, the sins, the flesh, the carnal ways, and faithlessness. He goes on to say ‘flee fornication’. Today we have sin and especially fornication in one form or another everywhere. The world doesn’t see it as sin! God does! Therefore, as with Paul, let us agree that “our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you.” Furthermore, “ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.  The price is paid through Jesus Christ, a promise obtained by the faith of Jesus Christ is given to them that believe. This is redemption, the one sold under sin, the slave master, the task master today, the strong man, is the devil, our arch enemy Satan. He knows those who are in sin must not be redeemed, therefore he opposes any and all efforts to redeem those under his control. But God has ‘concluded all under sin’, but he has also concluded that the ‘price for their redemption from the sin and the taskmaster is the blood of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:22  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Today let us remind ourselves that sin is sin, it is death, it means separation from God. Those in sin are without hope, without God in this world. They are strangers from the ‘covenants of promise’. This covenant of your promise is found in Jesus Christ, the ‘PASSOVER lamb’, the one who was slain from the foundation of the world, the ‘lamb of God’ that took away the sins of the world.  We have been brought nigh by the blood of Christ. Those who once were far off without hope, in servitude to sin and the devil are now through Christ Jesus vacarious death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead ‘sons of God’ if we have faith, repent, and believe.  It is our Lord who broke the middle wall of partition so we could enter into the ‘holies of holies’ unto our God and Father, are redeemed and headed for the ‘Jubilee’ with Christ Jesus in the millennium and beyond.

Ephesians 2:11  ¶Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14  ¶For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

We therefore observe and experience this promise today being fulfilled in us through Christ and his Spirit as we being redeemed from the power of sin and the corruption that is the world through lust overcome by the ‘blood of the lamb’, ‘the word of our testimony’, and ‘we love not our lives unto death’..

2 Peter 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Revelation 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death

The truth is if we are redeemed, we are really redeemed therefore! As such, the power of sin and lust has no hold over us. It is through Christ, the Holy Spirit, Promises of God, with that divine nature imputed into us, so that we are truly and actually set free!  The world cannot be free like this! They cannot experience the peace, love, and communion with our God and Father through Jesus Christ unless and until they are redeemed!  It is that power Christ gives us as we have received him, believing [trust in, cling too, and believe on] in Christ Jesus and his work on the Cross.

John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

It is why our Father has commanded all men everywhere to repent! God loves the world, those whom he had made in his image. He has made a way for all men to be saved and delivered from his wrath. He thus commands all to repent. It is not a question, but a command! We talk about commandments. This is also a commandment, so men should follow this simple command to  repent and seek the Lord!

Acts 17:30  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

What is the price of your redemption? God put the price of the ‘death of his only begotten son’ as the only cost to pay for your servitude to sin and corruption!

1 John 4:9  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

1 John 5:20  And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:18  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.

What is the price of your redemption? What price do you put on it? Is it worth anything at all to you? What does the thought of the ‘sinless Son of God’, the ‘incarnate God’, ‘God with us’, mean to you? You were an indentured servant and had no way to redeem or release yourself from death and separation from God! There is also no way to repay for your redemption. God doesn’t want nor expect that. He wants your obedience, faith, and love as a ‘son of God’.  If you are truly his ‘son or daughter’, then as such, you should honor your Father.

One day, if you do not quit, you will overcome! You will inherit all things, as our God says of this time: “I will be his God, and he shall be my son” – Rev 21:7.  Of this time it is written as well saying “Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God” – Rev 21:3.  What is your redemption worth, take a close look, pray, ponder it, and thank God for it. Seek Him, for of that time it says: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” – Rev 21:4.

Thank God, the former things of Sin and Corruption will pass away. As we enter into the ‘trouble coming upon all the world’, which as a snare shall try all men on the earth, let us draw near to God knowing that the day of our Redemption draws closer. That time to be with our God forever! Praise the LORD, Bless his holy name! These things will shortly come to pass!

Revelation 22:6  ¶And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

I finish by praying these found in Revelation, which in prayers, I do pray them before my God!

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Excerpts from Rev 4:8, 11

“ Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”

“Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”  Excerpts from Rev: 5:9-13

“ Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.” Excerpt from Rev 7:12

Behold our Lord is coming and his reward is with him, to give to every man as his work shall be! Look up, for your Lord cometh, in the clouds, every eye shall behold him! King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Word of God, he comes!

My friends have faith in the Lord, and be found in Him.

Hardened Through the Deceitfulness of Sin

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Hardened Through the Deceitfulness of Sin
by the Watchman Dana G Smith

The hardening of Americans toward the LORD God

The hardening of Americans toward the LORD God

Hebrews 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;
15  While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
16  For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
17  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
18  And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
19  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Spring has finally arrived. It is always great to see green, the mark of life, growing around and sprouting up after a winter in our part of the country. We know snow, cold, chill, freezing temps, and the hardness of that time of year. The Canadian Geese are in the river and are noisy. They too, seemed to be happy that the seasons are changing. It won’t be long before the small ones will be arriving and you will see a gaggle of them in the water and on the shore.

The birds, squirrels, deer, antelope, and even most people seem to be quite happy that this time has arrived. For the most part, the troubles of the world and this nation are a faraway land somewhere. People here tend to get lost in their everyday lives and trust their government to bring home the policies and governance the nation needs. This has been going on for decades now and the policies that we have been ignoring are being laid at our doorstep. We finally are realizing that the congress and government left to itself is trouble. Our forefathers warned us and we gave no heed. As well, our lack of holiness, purity, and godlessness has brought to America the wrath of God. Howbeit, many still are blind and deaf to that fact.

Moreover as the season of growth has arrived, this I call Spring, so too has the season of confusion.  I remember well the Prophet Isaiah telling Israel that God would give ‘children to be their princes and babes shall rule over them’. This was God’s judgment upon a rebellious people. Isaiah also emphasized this by saying a ‘man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand.’  It would be time in Israel when Godly rulers did not exist. A time when ruin and judgment fell upon the land. No one knew what to do. The prophets and priests lied. The true Prophets like Isaiah eventually were killed for their testimony and message.

Isaiah 3:4  And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
5  And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.
6  When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:

Israel did not want the message the prophet of God told them. Nor today does this people want to hear the viable truth of the matter concerning America. I saw Barack Obama on Leno the other night. I saw it because the news all had segments of his appearance. Critics lamblasted this man we have as President. Even today he has enemies among the believers who have accused him of everything under the sun. Yet he has a ‘charisma’ like none other. He is definitely funny, charming, and witty. He comes across as trying to fix something that was handed to him broken. Yet the time is coming when a fed up public will no longer stand his chit chat. The truth is, neither Obama nor the congress can fix what is going on. This is and has been the judgment upon America.
When Obama was elected, House speaker Nancy Palossi was giddy. So too were the other democrats. They acted like kids who were let loose in a toy store with a candy aisle close by. They were so happy to be able to rule. No one could stop them, you could and still can see the look in their eyes. They are in power. They will bring in the laws they have wanted to bring in all these years. This is their time! Surely the massive bailouts we have seen is the results of that giddiness. They have passed bills without reading them, filled with pork, and later regretted it. From AIG to the mess of the economy, chaos and confusion reigns.

Daniel 9:7  O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
Daniel 9:8  O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.

Daniel in captivity in Babylon prayed to the Lord God. He knew what had happened in Israel for the sins of the people.  He acknowledge that the LORD sends confusion to people, kings, princes, fathers, and everyone in the land when that people sins against Him. This is what America has done! She, all her people, churches, pastors, congress, leaders, have sinned against the LORD God. It is he who made us great! It is he who blessed us! It is he who gave us victory in WWII! It is he who has been sending true Watchmen, Prophets, and others to warn America of its sins! Still in all this we have not listened. We still make plans as if America will exist in five years. What’s worse, we now have judgments, and with those ‘confusion’ in the midst of congress and the presidency. They do not know how to solve this. They are hoping it will work and they are not telling you the whole truth!

Alexander Hamilton wrote in The Federalist (No.28): “If the representatives of the people betray their constituents, there is then no recourse left but in the exertion of that original right of self-defense which is paramount to all positive forms of government …. “

When Americans are unemployed, starving, out of their homes and terrorism strikes they will be even further confused. When bombs go off in the cities of America, confusion will turn to terror and riots. When earthquakes and more natural disasters hit at the same time, even more terror will come. Lastly when every last vestige of safety has been conquered where there is no safe place in this land, still there will be more judgment! This is called the ‘fear, pit, and the snare’. An old testament trio of words that you can look up. It describes the completeness of Gods judgment.

I get a newsletter from Franklin Sanders who works in the markets so to speak. He is just one voice, including Ron Paul’s and others who are warning of the devastating actions in our Government which have been going on. Make no mistake Obama, in all his charming nature, still wants to bring in changes. This includes a socialist – communist agenda. He may deny it, but he wants to change it, so does others in our Government. This is what Franklin wrote recently.

Yesterday the Federal Open Market Committee announced the US Dollar’s coming demise. Oh, the dollar is still ambulatory, but the Fed doubling its balance sheet again, after already doubling it in the past 12 months, tells you the dollar is dead. You can keep hoping, you can keep sticking your fingers in your ears and your head in the sand, but the Fed announced yesterday that the Dollar most surely will be sacrificed to meet the dirigist & socialist agenda. Let the banks be saved, though the heavens fall!  The Moneychanger, ‘Newsletter’, Franklin Sanders

Have you known Deliverance?
I remember the time distinctly when the LORD made his delivering power available in my life. My wife and I have seen desires for and abuse of alcohol and cigarettes disappear. We have seen healing’s, blessings, and more deliverance’s. We have witness miracles of healing’s, one was of leukemia.  Along with that we have seen salvation sent and accepted by those we love. In all, I remember Gods deliverance, his goodness, his blessing, but also his correction and leading. In all these things, I have come to one unshakeable fact, God is 100% trustworthy. He does not do things the way you or I would do! He does not give you every want or desire! He is your Father, brought close through Jesus Christ and his work on the cross. He will lead you, guide you, correct you, and help you through this life, period! Of all the banks, safety nets, gold, silver, diamonds, weapons, safe places, or anything else on this earth, knowing this God, the Father through Jesus Christ is paramount. He is the best investment, the best friend, the best God, the only righteous God there is.
You need to look back at the first time you knew the LORD. What did he do in  your life? How has he helped you? How has he corrected you? What did he teach you? All this is the best lessons and most valuable investment anywhere. Remember his faithfulness! God not only forgave you, but he has a promise, that is his word. He will always be with you, clear to the end of the age.  In the midst of Chaos, you can have peace and hope. Recently David Wilkerson sent this in his ‘devotions’ that are sent out.

How does Jesus maintain God’s peace for me? He does it in three ways:
First, Christ’s blood removed the guilt of my sin. In this sense, Paul says, “He is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). Jesus made peace for me through his blood.
Second, Christ maintains my peace and joy in believing: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans15:13).
Third, Jesus causes me to rejoice at the hope of entering glory: “We…rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2).
David Wilkerson ‘Devotions’

Do not bank on America, but on God. It is in him that we must be, stand, and walk through the fire with. For this is a Great LORD and God. He is KING, this is his work. No nation or people on earth will prevent his work. As Daniel records of the three Hebrew children thrown in the fire and of the King who said “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God!”

Daniel 3:24  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
Daniel 3:25  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Daniel 3:26  Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

May God comfort you and give you peace, guiding you daily. Look to him my friends and rest in His abundant provision given to his children who wait upon him. Fast, pray, and seek the LORD. Luke 21:34-36  Be blessed today and rejoice in Him, giving him thanks. Rejoice and be glad, your God is on the throne. Have a great day today!