Mid-Week Encouragement January 17th, 2024

House of Faith Church Mid-Week Encouragement with Rev. Bruce A. Shields

It is sometimes difficult for us to believe or accept that God can forgive our sins. We may say, but you don't know what I've done. That may be true. However, God does and promises to forgive those who trust in Him and repent.

Last Sunday, I spoke about the fact that Romans (Romans 3:23-24) says we are all sinners and fall short of God's glory. We all need to call on the name of Jesus for forgiveness. In fact, scripture tells us that the only unforgivable sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, as in Matthew 12. The Pharisees, having witnessed irrefutable proof that Jesus was working miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit, claimed instead that the Lord was possessed by a demon. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit cannot be repeated today, although some people try. Jesus Christ is not on earth—He is seated at the right hand of God. No one can personally witness Jesus performing a miracle and then attribute that power to Satan instead of the Spirit. The unpardonable sin today is the state of continued unbelief. The Spirit currently convicts the unsaved world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). To resist that conviction and willfully remain unrepentant is to “blaspheme” the Spirit. There is no pardon, either in this age or in the age to come, for a person who rejects the Spirit’s promptings to trust in Jesus Christ and then dies in unbelief.

A perfect example of forgiveness of sin is found in John 8.

John 8:3-11

"The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6 They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have evidence to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go, and from now on sin no more.”]"

We see the pattern of a woman who was caught in the act of committing adultery. Her accusors stand before the Lord to condemn her to death by stoning. The Lord turned each one away with a word written in sand. We can only guess what He wrote, but most scholars agree that it was the sin of each accusor. One by one, they left until none were left because none were without sin and, therefore, not qualified to condemn another to death for their sin.

Jesus then tells her it is forgiven and to repent (go and sin no more.)

When we call on the Name of Jesus, ask for forgiveness for our sins, and repent (go and sin no more), we are not only forgiven but also in a right relationship with our Lord. Like the perfect Father, God does not give us what we deserve but cleanses us from our iniquity if we place our trust in Him.

Isaiah 43:25-26

“I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins. 26 Bring Me to remembrance, let us enter into judgment together; Recount your cause, that you may be proved right."

Let us daily bring our transgressions to the Lord, call on His name for forgiveness, and turn away from iniquity through the strength and might of the Lord's Holy Spirit.

SERMON FROM LAST SUNDAY

www.TruthDigest.org

NEXT SUNDAYS SERMON

The Spiritual Gifts Part 3: Spiritual Gifts in Scripture

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Community Prayer, hosted by Susan Moon, will be on Thursday, January 18th, from 6 – 7:30 pm.

The House of Faith Year-End Meeting will occur on Sunday, January 28th, immediately after the regular service. All board members must be present, and everyone else is encouraged to stay, but it is not mandatory.

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR

With Hebrew Scholar Chad Bird from 1517, a nonprofit organization that exists to declare and defend the Good News that you are forgiven and free on account of Christ alone.

https://www.1517.org/oneyear

OTHER NOTES

Pastor Bruce's latest book on faith, Drowning in Milk: A Guide to Spiritual Growth, is available at the church, along with his other books, Heaven & Hell and The Minister's Manual, on the vestibule table just outside the sanctuary. All of his books are also available on Amazon.

Drowning in Milk: A Guide to SPiritual Maturity by Rev. Bruce A. Shields

Our new online giving system makes supporting our church easy. The new system allows you to give a one-time, weekly, or monthly donation of any amount. See for yourself at https://www.ps127.org/tithes-offerings. Please support our ministry by giving.