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Micah 7:18-19 (KJV) Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

The Hebrew Tanakh say it like this:

Who is a God like you, forgiving iniquity and remitting transgressions; Who has not maintained His wrath forever against the remnant of His own people, Because He loves graciousness! He will take us back in love; He will cover up our iniquities, You will hurl all our sins into the depths of the sea.

“He will take us back in love”…

“Well, I really messed up, didn’t I, Lord? Please forgive me… AGAIN”

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

We have ALL sinned and fallen far short of God’s awesome glory. Yet He is faithful to us over and over and over again! All through the Old Testament God tells Israel to come back to Him… to stop sinning and worshipping their pagan idols. Why? So He can bless and not curse them.

Whether you feel that you are being “tested of God” or tempted of the devil, you must stand in God’s grace and remember that His mercies are new EVERY SINGLE MORNING!

Lamentations 3:22-23 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion’s fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

If you recognize you have sinned against God – DO NOT RUN AWAY from Him whatever you do! Instead, turn TO Him. Running away seems to be the automatic case with humans, because fear enters into our heart. Fear, not necessarily of man… but of what God may do to us. Things may then get worse; more emotions arise; frustration and anger, which tends to be taken out on others. Things only go from bad to worse. But when we immediately turn to God, and ask for forgiveness, He will, right then and there!

Heb 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

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.

If you have hurt others – go to them. Ask for their forgiveness. Then ask them to pray with you, if possible. Be bold in this. Don’t be fearful. God is bigger than any problem you may have.

2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Any sin that has been committed in secret, God WILL certainly bring out into the open some way, some how, by some one. That person will be found out sooner or later. God will see to it, even if years, from the time the sin was committed, pass by. So there’s no use in trying to hide anything from God! You can rest assured in that!

Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested (brought out into the open); neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad (brought out into the open – made known).

Deut 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God (He knows all): but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Eph 5:11-13 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Once you have made up your mind to accept and walk with God, He promises that He will help you. Know that when you first accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, you became His. And He “ain’t gonna let you go, for nothin’ or no one!” lol

John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

You will ALWAYS be His son or daughter. However, you must realize that there will be consequences for your sin actions, because God does chasten and discipline those He loves, just as our parents (should have) disciplined us to teach us right from wrong.

Deut 8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.

Prov 3:11-12 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

When you decide to turn to God, and His Word, He WILL take you back in love.

Let’s take a look at the parable of the “Prodigal Son”.

Jesus was speaking to the pharisees who were being very judgmental against Him because of the company He kept. He “hung around” with tax collectors, prostitutes, fishermen, and other, what the pharisee’s would consider “low life’s”. Why? Because He knew these people wanted the more abundant life He had for them. He loved them all now matter what station in life they held.

Luke 15:11 And he (Jesus) said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13-16 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

:17-21 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

:22-24 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

:25-30 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

:31-32 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Discussion:

Out of greed the younger son desired the inheritance of his father right then. He didn’t want to wait til his father passed away to receive it. So, the father gave him and his brother the inheritance they were entitled to, to do with whatever they desired.

The older son prudently stayed with his father, honoring him; carrying on the chores around the farm: tending sheep and other animals, planting the crops, etc. There was a lot of work to be done, and he realized his responsibility. he reaized the result of hard work paying off. He continually respected and showed his love for his father.

The younger son, probably a teenager of about 15-16 years of age, was ready to go out on his own to see the world, as teens tend to do. He didn’t realize the impact of wealth versus poverty. This brother wanted what he thought he had coming to him (worldly wealth) now, while he was still young. So his father gave it to him.

He left his father’s house and “blew” all his endowment on trivials – food, drink, parties, friends, etc., instead of investing it wisely, considering the future.

There is something strange about humans and money. Money attracts people like a magnet and destroys them like fire destroys paper.

For an example, when someone wins the “lottery” by millions, people they never knew existed would come “crawling out of the woodwork”, being sooooooooo nice… and friendly… Charities will come calling, and business companies would come pleading with them to buy their products and services. People want to become “friends”, even “best friends”… until the money runs out. Then, they act like they never knew him. Because of this, and lack of wisdom, many of those very same “winners” have “gone nuts” literally.

This is exactly what happened to this son. He spent his inheritance without saving or investing any of it, and “went broke”. Then, a famine broke out, from lack or rain, or too much rain flooding the crops and soil. He had nothing left to help him through this time. And, when his money ran out, so did those who called themselves his “friends”. He couldn’t satisfy their greed any more, so what good was he to them? They left. The famine continued and now because of this, and the fact that he was broke, the son was very hungry. But he had no job, no home, and no money. No one would help him.

After a time, he was able to secure a job as a swineherd; one who feeds and tends pigs. This was the worst job any human could have… especially for an Israeli back in those days.

Swine were considered an abomination to them. In their culture, to be a swineherd was the lowest type of “slime” a person could be. It was against the law for them to even touch a pig. I say this, because in order to eat of their flesh, pigs had to be killed. In order to kill them, they had to be caught, which requires touching. Plus they were not permitted to touch the carcass, at all.

Deut 14:8 And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass.

This boy, out of desperation, put flesh before God and took on the job, which he knew was against God’s commandments. He also began eating the husks. Husks are the outer membranous or green covering of some fruits or seeds, as that of a walnut or an ear of corn or an orange peel, etc.

One day he began thinking of how well off his father was, and how even his servants ate well. He decided to go work for him. Things had gotten so bad for him, that now, he regretted his past rush for riches and blowing it all on festivities and fun. He said so to himself, and went home to his father.

But before he even reached the property line of his father’s estate, his father saw him. One thing I want to mention here is this: His father must have been watching out for his “missing child”. He realized how young his son is, and how foolish he may be with all that money. He wanted to teach his son a lesson… but never let him out of his mind, and was always watching for his return, which he knew would come. And when he saw his son, disheveled, and thin, he had compassion on him, hugged and kissed him. That act, I can imagine, blew the son’s mind, even while he may have been expecting it… because he knew how his father was.

He said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven (by tending pigs) and in your sight and am no more worthy to be called your son”.

So what does his father do? He tells the servants to bring the best fatted calf and says, (in essence) “let’s party!” because his son was dead to him because of his greed, and then came to his senses and returned home wanting to become one of his servants. Papa took him back. Not only because his son had learned his lesson, but simply because he loved him.

This is exactly what God wants to do for us. He wants to take us back – and whats more, He does it in love!

Isa 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

:8-11 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

When you decide to REturn to God, and His Word, He WILL take you back in love.

BUT…

God will not be mocked. Do not think that because you are saved, you can continue in sin, because of God’s grace and His mercies are new every morning… (Lam 3:22-23). What I am saying is that our loving Father has provided a way out for those He calls, and He helps those who are serious about their lives in Him. Only when we realize this, will one be able to truly live the abundant life Jesus talks about in:

John 10:10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Other Scripture:

Pro 14:9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

Gal 6:1-5 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.

Gal 6:6-10 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Isa 28:22a Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong

Rom 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

:31-39 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lk 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Also, please take time to read all of Romans 6.

Prayer:Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Savior of us all. Please forgive me for these sins against you and our Father God. I have fallen into the temptations of the world again. I ask your mediation for me to God.

Father God, Help me to get back on my feet by your love and mercy. I need you to help me to be strong. Please be my strength and courage to stand against the enemy and his guiles of temptation. I want to obey only you. Please restore me into your fellowship. Set your Holy Spirit on me to guide and teach me. In Christ’s Holy name I pray. Amen and amen.

You can know now, that you have been restored to the sweet fellowship of God.

As Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery…

Now go and sin no more.

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