Why God? And Why Now?

Missionary Jim Kilgore

 

Romans 11:33: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

Some of you right now are hurting. Some of you are struggling with problems and the pressures of everyday life. Some are facing deep-seated fears about the future. Some have recently lost a Family member that you loved dearly. The pain seems almost unbearable at times. You try to remain strong, yet you feel so weak. You wonder how much more you can take. You wonder how much longer you can hang on.

Some begin asking the questions, “Why God? And Why Now? Why does everything seem to be ripping me apart? God, Why me? What have I done that has made you Do these things to me?

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In April, I wrote about Devastation: “The News That you NEVER Expected To Hear.” I dealt with our Biblical responses to a tragedy in our lives, and how we might Glorify our Lord in the midst of devastation.

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Listen to me very carefully. God NEVER does anything to You; God is always doing things FOR you!  The songwriter reminds us that “God never moves without purpose or plan.”

Ron Hamilton WROTE the song of great encouragement called “Rejoice in the Lord” to those that are wondering Why God? And Why Now?

“God never moves without purpose or plan
When trying His servant and molding a man.
Give thanks to the LORD though your testing seems long;
In darkness, He giveth a song.

I could not see through the shadows ahead;
So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead.
I bowed to the will of the Master that day;
Then peace came, and tears fled away.

Now I can see testing comes from above;
God strengthens His children and purges in love.
My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;
Through purging more fruit I will bear.

O Rejoice in the LORD
He makes no mistake,
He knoweth the end of each path that I take,
For when I am tried
And purified,
I shall come forth as gold.”

By Dr. Ron Hamilton

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You might want to read the second part of my April message: “Devastation: The News You NEVER Expected To Hear.”

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God and He Alone Knows Why Everything Happens

“And his ways past finding out” (11:33c). Matthew Henry has a helpful word about this. The main things God wants us to know are clear and plain. They are he said, like a highway open for all to travel. But the judgments of his hands are dark and mysterious. That road is closed forever to us.

We must not pry into the mysteries of God but rather bow before him in adoration for things we don’t understand. Then he added this sentence: “God leaves no footprints behind him.” You can’t tell where God has been or where the Almighty is going. He leaves no track or trail that we can follow.

That means that many things will happen in our lives that we simply will not understand. Sickness, violent crimes, sudden financial reversals, divorce, broken dreams, cancer, death. The list is endless and heartbreaking.

If God Had Come To You 17 Years Ago And Said, ‘I’ll Make You A Bargain”

A few years ago Michael Gartner wrote in USA Today about the sudden death of his 17-year-old adopted son Christopher. “He died on Thursday. He was a healthy, robust boy on Tuesday. He got sick on Wednesday. And he died on Thursday.” Then he said, “You would have liked him. Everyone did.” Father and son didn’t look alike at all. Michael Gartner is five-foot-eight and weighs 160. Christopher was close to six-four and weighed around 300 pounds. “He looked like a cement block with a grin.”

He died of a sudden attack of juvenile diabetes. Despite heroic medical efforts and fervent prayers, Christopher was suddenly gone. “It is awful and horrible and sad, and no words can comfort his four grandparents, his brother and sister, his friends or his parents.”

The day after he died, a friend called and said the only thing helped get him through the tragedy was the wise counsel of a good friend. “If God had come to you 17 years ago and said, ‘I’ll make you a bargain. I’ll give you a beautiful, wonderful, happy and healthy kid for 17 years, and then I’ll take him away,’ you would have made that deal in a second.”

“And that was the deal. We just didn’t know the terms,” Michael Gartner said. He’s right. That’s always the deal. And we never know the terms in advance. God gives us life, health, happiness, our children, our friends, and says, “Enjoy it while you can. Someday I will come back for them.” And we never know the terms in advance.

Only God Knows Why Things Happen. Most Of The Time We Can Only Wonder

And even if we knew the Reason God allowed something to happen, other than to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29), would the explanation satisfy?

I Have Learned Through The Years That I Cannot Live By Explanations, But I Can Live By God’s Promises

 

Introducing Jim Kilgore Ministries

The Glorious Grace of God

https://www.facebook.com/JimKilgoreMinistries

Luke 23; 42, 43: “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

We once again return to Calvary. Calvary, the most sacred and significant place in the world. Calvary is the place where Jesus Died that you might Live. Calvary is the place where we see Man at his Worst while seeing God at His Best. Calvary, where the royal, rich, and red blood of our Sinless Saviour was shed so that wicked, vile sinners could make peace with God through His Son Jesus Christ.   Calvary, the place where the Angels in heaven wept while the Demons in hell were rejoicing.

Let us remember the first words of Jesus while hanging upon Calvary’s cross. We strained to listen as Jesus prayed for those that had just clamored for His crucifixion; then they placed the crown of thorns upon His head, and drove the thorns deep into His scalp.

Listen as the Son of God prays for those that spit upon Him; He prayed for those that had pummeled their fists into His face; He prayed for the one that thrust the spear into His side. In Luke 23:34: “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do …”

As the crowd stood gazing upon the One they had wanted to hang and suffer on the Cross, they stood beholding the excruciating pain of God’s only Son (Luke 23: 35). They had now started the mocking, the ridicule, the gambling for His clothing, the taunting to save Himself.   But this was NOT in plan of our Gracious God.

Finally the crowd heard a small conversation taking place between all three that were hanging on the cross. What were they saying? Each wanted to get closer to hear this monumental conversation that would have eternal consequences for both men on either side of Jesus (Luke 23: 39-43).

These words speak loudly and unmistakably of the Glorious Grace of God. Neither man had a right to ask Jesus to forgive them. They were both guilty, condemned men. They were convicted thieves.   Yet, God in His grace listened to each man and responded accordingly to each one.

The Clearest Picture Of Salvation By Grace In The Entire Bible

Grace is the unmerited, and the unmeritable favor of God. Grace is God NOT giving to man that which he deserves. If you and I received that which we deserve, we would all be burning and suffering in hell this very minute.   No, these men did NOT deserve God to even listen to them, let alone answer their prayers.

An Example Of God’s Grace

When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day’s pay for his time, that is a wage.   When a person competes with an opponent and receive s a trophy for winning, that is a prize. When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements and good performance, that is an award.

But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award, yet receives such a gift anyway, it is a good picture of God’s unmerited favor. This is what we mean when we speak of the Grace of God.

 

Throughout His ministry, Jesus had been “the Friend of Sinners” (Matthew 11:19). His antagonists derided Jesus for this. They mocked Jesus by saying, Since Jesus loves sinners so much, and they were His companions in life, we will give Him the privilege of dying with them. Little did they realize that Jesus was actually dying FOR them and not merely WITH them (II Corinthians 5:21).

 

Let Us See What Each Person Represented While Hanging On The Cross

• We see one man dying IN his sin; one man dying OUT of his sin, and of course Jesus dying FOR sin.

• We witness one man Scoffing Jesus; another man Seeking Jesus; and Jesus Sacrificing Himself as the ONLY sacrifice for sin His Father would accept.

• We witness one man making a decision to go to Hell; the other man making his decision to go to Heaven; whereas Jesus is providing the only HOPE that any will have in gaining entrance into Heaven.

 

Placing Your Faith in Jesus Christ is Your ONLY Hope of Going to Heaven

  One man went to heaven because he placed his faith Completely in Jesus Christ.   He finally understood the truth found in John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”   This man did not deserve to go to heaven any more than you and I do, but he made the correct decision. He placed his faith in Jesus Christ as his only hope of going to Heaven.

While in India in May of 2014, I realized just how big idol worship was in this great land. There are over 330 million false gods various people worship.   Yet, 1,287 came to Jesus Christ during this missionary journey, understanding that Jesus Christ is the ONLY name whereby men MUST be saved (Acts 4:12).  What made the difference? Simply preaching and presenting Jesus Christ, and His atonement for man’s sins.

 

Jesus Christ Wants EVERYONE To Go To Heaven

Now there were two sinners hanging beside Jesus while He was paying for the sins of the world (John 1:29). As joyful as Jesus was in one responding to His sacrificial work on the Cross, He was just as broken for the one that literally saw what the Son of God was doing for all people, yet chose to reject the Work of Christ.  

I Timothy 2:4 reminds us that God wants YOU to be saved and go to heaven. “Who will have all men to be saved , and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 2:6 teaches us, “Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

There is no one that Jesus will not forgive and thereby save and take to Heaven. I Timothy 1:15: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

 

Here What The Repentant Sinner Understood And What He Did To Go To Heaven

 

1. He understood his Condition.   He knew that he was a sinner. He knew that he deserved his punishment, both in this life, and the life to come.   He knew that he deserved hell. Romans 3:10 reminds us that that: “There is NONE righteous, no not one.” Romans 3:23 is clear about the spiritual condition of us all when Paul declared that we have ALL sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

 

2. He understood God’s Provision. He finally grasped that Jesus Christ was doing, not only for him, but for any and all that might call upon Him in faith. Luke 23:41: “And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds : but this man hath done nothing.” God’s PROMISE is found in Romans 10:13: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord SHALL BE SAVED”! This is a promise from God.

 

3. He understood that HE must make his Decision.   It was his decision to call upon Jesus Christ. It was His decision to place his complete faith in Jesus and Jesus alone.  It was HIS decision to ask Jesus to save him.  II Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  

 

In light of this, what was the response of Jesus towards this sinner calling upon Jesus for salvation? Luke 23:42, 43, “ And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Jesus promised to take him to heaven.

The same promise by Jesus is offered to you as well. Romans 10:13 is a promise from God to you, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord SHALL BE SAVED.”

 

Will You Call Upon Jesus Right Now, Placing Your Faith In Him; Trusting In His Grace?

 

If you do, please email me at: JimKilgoreMinistries@gmail.com and I will send you some free Bible Study materials to help you as a new Christian.

Jesus Praying for His Persecutors

The Last Words of our Saviour:  Jesus Praying for His Persecutors

Luke 23:33, 34

This morning we come to Calvary. CALVARY was a place of curse as well as a place of blessing. It was a place of curse for our Saviour; yet a place of eternal blessing for us. CALVARY is where we see man at his Worst and see God at His BEST. Calvary is the place where the sinless Lamb of God was slain, and the very place where God shed His precious blood to pay for the sin of the world (John 1:29). Calvary, the place where each sinner must come if they desire to gain entrance into heaven.

As we approach Calvary, or Golgotha’s Hill, and as we stand gazing at this hill which was in the shape of a skull, we will immediately see three crosses outlining the sky. As we walk nearer, we learn of who is hanging on those crosses and the reasons why.

Two thieves occupy the first and third crosses. On the middle cross we see the greatest person that would eve live, for here we are viewing the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus had been born in a stable, just 33 years before this horrific event. He had been raised in Nazareth. He had lived a PERFECT and completely SINLESS life. Yet here we see the innocent dying in the place of the guilty. Here we witness Perfection dying in the place of Imperfection.

The crowd had already clamored for His crucifixion. Now, at this point in history, the hatred for Jesus Christ had risen to its hellish heights. Jesus has already been condemned, even by one government official that had said, “I find no fault in this just man.” The cry, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him” has already been echoed throughout the great gathering of people. The long agonizing march to Calvary has ended. People watched and listened as the nails had been driven into the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. The cross has long since been lifted heavenward. Those that remained at the foot of the cross were watching with the sinful smirks upon their faces as they were well-pleased that Jesus was dying such an excruciating and painful death.

In the midst of this, we hear Jesus Christ speak seven different sentences. This day, let us hear the first words which Jesus spoke from the Cross. With all that Jesus had already endured, were His first words lashing out against His enemies? No, He is praying for them. He just prayed for those that had placed the crown of thorns upon His head; for the Roman soldiers that beat him mercilessly; He prayed for those that had condemned Him; for those that mocked Him; for those that clamored for His crucifixion.

What did Jesus pray, “Father, forgive them?” Who else but God’s Son could had prayed a prayer such as that and under those circumstances? His public life began with prayer and now He closes His public ministry in prayer.

As Jesus is ending His earthly life, he could no longer use His hands to serve the sick, for they are now nailed to a wooden cross. No longer would His feet be able to run errands of mercy and compassion, for they as well have been nailed to the cross. No longer could Jesus teach His disciples, for they have ALL abandoned Him. What then could Jesus do in Hid final hour? He could pray. In fact, the first, fourth and seventh words were all prayers. In the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of His suffering did Jesus pray.

When did Jesus Pray?

The Bible says, “THEN Jesus prayed.” Then, when wicked man was at his worst; THEN, when Satan was laughing in his wicked glee; THEN, when the demons of hell were rejoicing and mocking at what APPEARED to be a triumph for evil! THEN, when the physical pain was at its worst, then Jesus prayed for his enemies.

In this prayer we see Jesus practicing that which He had previously taught from Matthew 5:44, We are …”to PRAY for them which despitefully use you.” We see here man’s greatest need—the need for the forgiveness of his sins. This is why Jesus prayed this prayer for His tormentors. This is why Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
In this prayer, Jesus was asking His Father to withhold Divine punishment until these people could understand the real spiritual significance of what he was doing. Father, they are ignorant now, but they will soon learn of the Gospel as it will be preached. Then they will have the opportunity to repent and receive me as their Saviour. Give them one more chance Father.

Yes, this prayer was answered and many gathered here would be saved as Peter preached to this same basic gathering in Acts chapter two. Three thousand were saved after Peter’s sermon. Can you not imagine the people passing by Peter saying these words?

I spat upon Jesus, but now I understand and repent of my sins. Another rushes up and says, I was the one that drove the nails through His hands. I just asked Jesus for forgiveness. Another sheepishly edges closes to peter and asks, “Can I be forgiven? I drove the crown of thorns deep into the scalp of Jesus. Peter would simply say, Repent and believe and you will be saved! Another runs up to Pewter asking with tears streaming down his face, “Can I receive forgiveness? It was I that slapped His face and pummeled His face until you could not even recognize that His was the face of a man.

Read my words carefully, they did not understand what the true impact of that day was. But you and I do! We know what Jesus did on that crosses and by placing your faith in Jesus Christ, and Jesus alone, you will be forgiven of all!

If you would like to know 100% sure that you have the Complete forgiveness of God, please take a minute to respond and I will show you more from God’s Word how you CAN KNOW this great truth.

Look at Your Hands: How Much Blood Is Dripping From Your Hands!

Ezekiel 33:1-8

Look at Your Hands: The Blood Is Dripping From Your Hands!

Ezekiel was a prophet that was a watchman to the house of Israel. His business was to warn sinners of their misery and danger. He must warn the wicked to turn from their way, that they may live. If souls perish through his neglect of duty, he brings guilt upon himself.

Ezekiel 33:7 reminds us that it was God that gave Ezekiel this responsibility of watching and warning: “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.”

The business of every Christian to remains the same. We are to share the Gospel (I Corinthians 15:1-4).   The last words of Jesus Christ, as He was about to ascend into Heaven was to take the Gospel to the entire world (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; John 20:21; Acts 1:8).

Every believer will one day stand before Jesus Christ (Romans 14:12; II Corinthians 5:10), and will be held accountable for the opportunities that one had to win the lost to Jesus Christ.

God made it clear concerning the personal accountability of each watchman (Christian) with regards to soul-winning. Ezekiel 33:2-6 says, ” Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:  If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;  Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning ; if the sword come , and take him away , his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning ; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.  But if the watchman see the sword come , and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned ; if the sword come , and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”

 

We Can Draw Two Lessons From This Passage 

First, If he sounds the warning and is not heeded, then he is not responsible for defeat. Then he would be free from the blood of this man. When we share the Gospel, the unbeliever has a decision to make. They may either receive the Gospel or they may in fact Reject it, (John 1:11,12). Our responsibility is to share the Gospel.

The second lesson we find is for the Believer to fail to sound the warning makes the watchman accountable for defeat or death. This is when their blood will be upon our hands. Oh the bloody hands that we must all have. Look at your hands. See the blood dripping from those hands that could had witnessed to so many souls that died, or will one day die without Jesus Christ.

 

Paul made a bold assertion in Acts 20:26 when he could honorably say, “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.” How could he make this claim? Because of Acts   Acts 20:31 tells us how he could make such an unflinching proclamation, “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”  Paul further said in Acts 20:27: For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Paul reminded the people in Ephesus that for over two years he had shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them, Acts 19:8, 10 says, “ And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.   10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks”.

 

Paul could truthfully say that he believed in what I call, “Everyday Evangelism.”    Acts 20:20 says, “And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house.”     Notice the broken heart Paul had for the souls of men in Acts 20:19, “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears…” Truly his desire is best seen in Romans 10:1: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”  Daily Paul was teaching the Word of God. Daily he was preaching the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. Daily he was out soul-winning.

Christian, how often are you out sharing the Gospel? Preacher, how many times a week are you out trying to bring the lost to Jesus Christ? Christian leader, when was the last time that you asked God to break your heart for the lost people that you know? Sunday School Teacher, have you asked God to help you witness to EACH student in your class to ask them personally the most important question that could ever be asked? That question is, “If you were to die today, are you 100% sure that you would go to Heaven, or would you have to admit, I just do not know?”   Then you could share the glorious Gospel with them.

 

Paul clearly understood that warning in Ezekiel 3:18 where it reads: “When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die ; and thou givest him not warning , nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life ; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”

 

A lady recently visited a Church and during the invitation, she raised her hand saying that she would like to know that she was going to Heaven when she died. However, she did not come forward to have someone take the Bible to guide her through God’s plan of salvation.

The pastor approached this lady following the service and asked her the following question. “Do you know the Lord?” Her immediate reply was, “I am working on that.” The pastor then said, “If I can be of any help, let me know.” And with that, he let that that young lady walked into his Church not knowing that if she were to die , that she would go to heaven. And he let her leave the same way!  

She provided the pastor with a golden opportunity to win her to Jesus Christ, yet he for whatever reason, let her walk out of his church without asking if he could have a few extra minutes of her time to help her to KNOW that she was going to Heaven.

She did not leave a visitor’s card and he may never have this young lady come back. Ezekiel 33:8 says, “When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”

 

Who do you need to go to before this week is over and present the Gospel to? Do you really want them to go to hell?  Do you really want their blood staining your hands spiritually? My dear Christian, remember there is no escape from hell once a sinner dies without Jesus Christ.    Preacher, will you commit to “Everyday Evangelism?”   Can you not schedule 2 hours each day to winning the lost in your field of service?

Charles H. Spurgeon said, “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”

 

 

 

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Behold Thy God!

Behold Thy God!

Isaiah 40:9-10

By Missionary Jim Kilgore

 

Isaiah 40:9-10: O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
Isaiah chapter 40 is overflowing with expectations of the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. John would later say, as He saw the fulfillment of this promise in John 1:29: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Here in the fortieth chapter of Isaiah, we have God speaking tenderly to his people. Through this message, Isaiah told Israel to “Behold their God.” In Psalms 27:4 we are to “behold the beauty of the Lord!”

What Does it Mean to “Behold our God?

Behold means: “to look; to stare at; to fix upon.” It means to spend time fixing our minds and hearts upon the majesty of God. Certainly this was some good counsel by Isaiah. And it remains great counsel to modern-day Christians as well. It means that we are so enraptured and mesmerized with His presence, and by His infinite glory, that we can only be stare in wonderment at our God.

• II Chronicles 13:12 “And, behold, God himself is with us.”  This Speaks of His Omnipresence.

• II Chronicles 6:18 “Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!”  This Speaks of His Majesty.

• Psalms 46:8 “Come, behold the works of the Lord. “ This Speaks of His Power.
• Psalms 66:7 “He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations.” This Speaks of His Power.

   While in India during the month of May, 2014, I was astonished with the number of idols this country worshiped. In all, India claims to have 330 million gods! This completely overwhelmed my heart as I knew that there is but one God. Malachi 2:10 “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?”

• Mark 12:32  “For there is one God; and there is none other but He:”
• I Corinthians 8:6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”

   As I had been picked up by a taxi driver in Chennai, India, I immediately noticed three objects mounted and handing in this man’s taxi. I had what I believed to be a three-hour drive to the remote village where I would be preaching. I thought I would get to know him and break the ice as I sat up front with this driver that was obviously of the Hindu religion. Yet as I saw one idol swinging in front of my face as it was hanging on the rear-view mirror, and as I was gazing upon the two small statues mounted on his dashboard, I decided that this preacher could wait not longer to share the Gospel with him. This man had to learn of Jesus Christ so he could go to Heaven when he died.

    I had learned that he was married and the father of two children. I asked him if his gods were alive. He stared at me through his dark black eyes, and finally admitted that they were all three dead. I asked if these men that were dead would be able to provide healing for his children, should they be facing death. He quickly responded by saying no, they could not. I asked him why they couldn’t, and as I pressed him gently, he admitted it was because they were dead.

   I then asked him if he would allow me to present my God, which is the only true and living God, and that with Him, nothing would be impossible. He readily agreed to listen. After several minutes of sharing the Glorious Gospel, and by focusing upon the majesty of Jesus Christ, he was marvelously saved.

   There are no thoughts in the world are deeper and more astonishing to the mind of mortal man than to think great thoughts of an Omnipotent God. God, in all of His Glory is far beyond our comprehension. God is glorious in all things. He doeth all things well! Job 5:9 “ Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number.”

But Who is God?

   How would one try to define God as He is? This is but a feeble attempt at best to describe and define God. God is a spirit, infinite in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. I earned this definition decades ago in Bible College and it remains embedded deep within my heart and mind.

Why Aren’t We Hearing More About God in our Pulpits?

   If it be true, and it certainly is, that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to gain entrance into Heaven, (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; I Timothy 2:5), then why aren’t we hearing this clearly preached in the pulpits across our World? If the statistics that I recently read are correct, by the year 2025, Islam will have more followers than Jesus Christ! Incredible! Astonishing! Unfathomable! Yet it could be true.

  We Need a Revival of “God Preaching” From Our Pulpits.

   Very little preaching is seen exalting and lauding the precious name of Jesus. Many have strayed away from presenting God in the grand and glorious manner in which the great men of God of yester-year presented Him.   I remember when my jaw would drop as I heard the Man of God lift up on high the name of Jesus. Preachers, we must let people in the pews see Jesus.

• Luke 19:3 “And he sought to see Jesus who he was.”
• John 12:21 “The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. “
• Hebrews 2:9 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. “

   The need remains great for people to see Jesus! It is through Jesus that they can be saved and have their sins forgiven. It is through Jesus that their daily needs will be met. It is through Jesus that healing comes to our bodies. It is through Jesus that miracles come into our lives.

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An International Challenge: Going Global with the Gospel

I want to challenge 650 Christians, from at least 25 Countries, to pass out 5 tracts each day during the month of July.    I look forward to hearing that Representatives from across America and the World, are signing up for this soul-winning endeavor.  Will you commit to getting the Gospel of Jesus Christ out to your City, State, and Country?

This is a deep passion and burden which Our Father has spoken clearly and decisively about to me.  Romans 10:1:  “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”

I am extremely confident the spiritual results will be staggering.  This would mean a minimum of 100,750 lost souls receiving the Gospel in their very hands – and in only 31 days! 

Do we believe the time is short?  Do we believe that Jesus could come at ANY moment?   If so, this is our opportunity to join a focused effort with Believers all over the World in handing God’s plan of Salvation to those who are one breath away from hell!

Daily, I remind myself that I am living in the final years of my life.  What I need to do for Jesus Christ, I MUST do NOW!   Will you join me?

Just think, Christians from different countries, speaking different languages, teaming up in an earnest effort to distribute the Gospel.  We WILL see the hand of God upon this missionary enterprise.  Souls WILL be saved!   This is your opportunity do something which is far greater than yourself!

I would love to publish a brief testimony of your soul-winning experiences for the purpose of Glorifying Jesus, (Matthew 5:16) and to encourage those who are new at witnessing.

Please email me to sign up today.  I will NOT share your social information with anyone.

The information I will need in your email is: 

1)   Name

2)   Email Address

3)   City,  State,   Country

Matthew 28:18-20.   Will you sign up now? Will you pray DAILY for this soul winning effort today?

* I will in turn email you a simple, easy to use “Tract Tracking” spreadsheet. 

JimKilgoreMinistries@gmail.com

The Salvation of a Sinner

The Salvation of a Sinner

II Peter 3:9

By Missionary Jim Kilgore

 

“The  Lord  is  not  slack  concerning  his  promise,  as  some  men  count  slackness;  but is longsuffering  to  us-ward,  not  willing  that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  II Peter 3:9.

 

During March of 2013, while witnessing in Harare, Zimbabwe, I approached a man in his early fifties about placing his faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. He proceeded to tell me of some heinous sins he had committed and did not think that he could go to Heaven.  I thank God that while on a street crowded with hundreds of people, this man bowed his head and called upon Jesus Christ to save him.

This is not an isolated feeling among people I have tried to evangelize. Yes, I understand clearly the awfulness of sin and the devastation that sin brings. I further understand that God’s love for sinners is why Jesus came from Heaven to travel straight to Calvary’s cross to pay man’s sin debt.

But I also have heard so many people claim they could not get saved because their sins were too great and grievous. 

Romans 5:20 encourages me concerning God’s Glorious Grace which says “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”  

Grace is the unmerited favor of God.  Grace is God giving to you and that which we do not deserve, namely Heaven, the forgiveness of sins, justification which means in its strictest sense that God sees the Believer as though he had NEVER been a sinner in the first place.

 

Grace, of course, reminds me of Julia H. Johnston, the songwriter that penned the following words:

“Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,  GRACE THAT EXCEEDS our sin and our guilt,

Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured, there was the blood of the Lamb was shed,

Grace, Grace, God’s Grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, Grace, God’s Grace, Grace that is GREATER THAN ALL OUR SIN!”

 

God didn’t overlook your sins, lest He endorses them. He didn’t punish you, lest He destroys you. He instead found a way to punish the sin and preserve the sinner. Jesus took your punishment.  This is why Jesus cried out on the Cross when the sins of the world were being placed on His sinless body. “And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).    

 

What Must I Do To Go To Heaven?

In the book of Acts, Paul was asked THE most important question one person could ask of another. Acts 16:30: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul answered his question with the following words: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou SHALT be saved.”

To answer this question to make it so clear as to remove any question from your mind, I shall use the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to convict, as well as convince you of these Biblical truths.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. – John 14:6

 

Jesus Has Already Provided For Your Salvation

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. – I Peter 2:24

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: – I Peter 3:18

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. –  II Corinthians 5:21

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 3:16

 

By Faith Accept Jesus Christ Today

 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. – Acts 16:31

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus – I Timothy 2:5

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. – Romans 10:9

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) – II Corinthians 6:2

 

Jesus has Done EVERYTHING for you to saved and go to Heaven, but He will not “Force You” to go to heaven. HE HAS LEFT THAT DECISION UP TO YOU.

THERE IS ONLY ONE THING YOU CAN DO NOW. You must Place your Faith in Jesus Christ as your ONLY Hope of Going to heaven.  Romans 10:13.

 

EVERYONE Can Be Saved

Today, I remind all people that God is both Able and Willing to save Any and All that will come to Jesus. 

Hebrews 2:9 reminds us that “Jesus tasted death for EVERY man.”  

I Timothy 2:4: “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”  Paul reminds each person of the gracious invitation of God that ANYONE and EVERYONE  can be saved.  

Romans 10:13: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord SHALL be saved!”

Will You Sincerely Pray Right Now?

Dear Jesus,

I know that I am a sinner and that I deserve to go to hell because of my sins. I Know That You Died on The Cross and Shed Your Blood to Pay for All My Sins.

I ACCEPT WHAT YOU DID FOR ME, AND RIGHT NOW I AM TRUSTING COMPLETELY IN YOU, AND ONLY YOU, JESUS, TO TAKE ME TO HEAVEN WHEN I DIE.

JESUS, YOU PROMISED that if I would call on You, that You would take me to Heaven. Jesus, I believe You. Right now, I accept Your Free Gift of Eternal Life.

Thank you for saving me from Hell and allowing me to Heaven when I die. Amen.

 

If you sincerely received God’s Free Gift of Eternal Life today, please send me a brief message so I may rejoice with you.   I would also be willing to send you some discipleship lessons to help you in your new life in Jesus.

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The Importance of “Being” a Friend

More important than “having” a friend is that of “being” a friend. The Bible speaks of having a friend that sticks closer than a brother.. Driving to work today, I had been thinking about Leadership and Friendship.  I had been meditating on how vital it is that a leader focus on the encouragement of his team, family, followers, and one’s friends.

The leader must provide HOPE!  Why?  Because a Leader cannot lead others to rise to the Top while they are living on the Bottom of life! People need Hope! They need to know there is going to be a better tomorrow!  A word of encouragement from a friend, or one that is greatly respected can make all the difference in the world, to a person who is clinging to very little hope! The best way in which I provide encouragement to those who are discouraged is to remind them of God’s promises.

• I love to remind people that God STILL loves them.  God said in Jeremiah 31:3: I have loved thee with an everlasting love.  This simply means that there is no circumstance that would cause YOUR Heavenly Father to withdrawal His love from you.  His love is everlasting!

• I love to remind people of how much God cares about them!   Peter reminds us of God’s “personal interest” in us as he penned these words, divinely inspired by God Himself, “Casting ALL your care upon Him, (why) for He (God) careth for (who) YOU.”  I Peter 5:7.   Dear Reader, God not only loves you, but He cares deeply about the things which you are going through.   This is why God has invited YOU to cast (to toss or to throw) ALL of your cares, concerns, fears, hurts, loneliness, upon Him.  But why should you?  Because God careth for YOU!!

• I love to remind people that God has sent a personal invitation for each Believer to come boldly into His throne of Grace.    Hebrews 4: 16 says:  “Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, (why should we) that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

• I love to remind people that God is Omnipotent, which means that our God is All-Powerful.    There is nothing too hard for our God to do on our behalf!!  Matthew 19:26 states, “But Jesus beheld (means to turn one’s eyes upon to look at) them (you) and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God ALL things are possible.”  The question was raised in Genesis 18:14, and again in Jeremiah 32:27 the following:  “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?  Jeremiah 32:17 provides us with the answer to this crucial question, “Ah Lord God!  behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is NOTHING too hard for thee.

Aren’t you grateful to share in the promises which God has made to those of us who are Believers?   But you may be reading this article and are uncertain as to where you might spend eternity.   I would like to remind you of a few promises about eternity.

In Titus 1:2, the Bible, speaking about eternal life, makes the following promise to you. “In hope of eternal life, which God, that CANNOT lie, promised before the world began.”  God has made a commitment to man, that He would never deceive us in any way,

God made another promise to those earnestly seeking Him for eternal life, which means living with Him in Heaven.  In Romans 10:13:  “For whosoever (this means ANYONE and EVERYONE) shall call upon the name of the Lord, SHALL be saved:

Thank God for His promises which become a soft pillow for the troubled heart.

Whom do you know that needs your encouragement today?  Will you help encourage them in the Lord today?  Will you commit to focus more on “Being a Friend, than in Having a friend?   It will become a life-changing decision for you.  There are so many hurting hearts in this world.   We must be used of God to encourage and help our friends, and yes, even strangers.

Note:  Should you desire to learn more on how you can know you will go to Heaven when you die, please email me at:  JimKilgoreMinistries@gmail.com.   I will personally call you on your phone and help you settle this matter today!!

The Importance of “Being” a true Friend

More important than “having” a friend is that of “being” a friend. The Bible speaks of having a friend that sticks closer than a brother..
Driving to work today, I had been thinking about Leadership and Friendship.  I had been meditating on how vital it is that a leader focus on the encouragement of his team, family, followers, and one’s friends.

The leader must provide HOPE!  Why?  Because a Leader cannot lead others to rise to the Top while they are living on the Bottom of life!
People need Hope! They need to know there is going to be a better tomorrow!  A word of encouragement from a friend, or one that is greatly respected can make all the difference in the world, to a person who is clinging to very little hope!
The best way in which I provide encouragement to those who are discouraged is to remind them of God’s promises.

• I love to remind people that God STILL loves them.  God said in Jeremiah 31:3: I have loved thee with an everlasting love.  This simply means that there is no circumstance that would cause YOUR Heavenly Father to withdrawal His love from you.  His love is everlasting!

• I love to remind people of how much God cares about them!   Peter reminds us of God’s “personal interest” in us as he penned these words, divinely inspired by God Himself, “Casting ALL your care upon Him, (why) for He (God) careth for (who) YOU.”  I Peter 5:7.   Dear Reader, God not only loves you, but He cares deeply about the things which you are going through.   This is why God has invited YOU to cast (to toss or to throw) ALL of your cares, concerns, fears, hurts, loneliness, upon Him.  But why should you?  Because God careth for YOU!!

• I love to remind people that God has sent a personal invitation for each Believer to come boldly into His throne of Grace.    Hebrews 4: 16 says:  “Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, (why should we) that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

• I love to remind people that God is Omnipotent, which means that our God is All-Powerful.    There is nothing too hard for our God to do on our behalf!!  Matthew 19:26 states, “But Jesus beheld (means to turn one’s eyes upon to look at) them (you) and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God ALL things are possible.”  The question was raised in Genesis 18:14, and again in Jeremiah 32:27 the following:  “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?  Jeremiah 32:17 provides us with the answer to this crucial question, “Ah Lord God!  behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is NOTHING too hard for thee.

Aren’t you grateful to share in the promises which God has made to those of us who are Believers?   But you may be reading this article and are uncertain as to where you might spend eternity.   I would like to remind you of a few promises about eternity.

In Titus 1:2, the Bible, speaking about eternal life, makes the following promise to you. “In hope of eternal life, which God, that CANNOT lie, promised before the world began.”  God has made a commitment to man, that He would never deceive us in any way,

God made another promise to those earnestly seeking Him for eternal life, which means living with Him in Heaven.  In Romans 10:13:  “For whosoever (this means ANYONE and EVERYONE) shall call upon the name of the Lord, SHALL be saved:

Thank God for His promises which become a soft pillow for the troubled heart.

Whom do you know that needs your encouragement today?  Will you help encourage them in the Lord today?  Will you commit to focus more on “Being a Friend, than in Having a friend?   It will become a life-changing decision for you.  There are so many hurting hearts in this world.   We must be used of God to encourage and help our friends, and yes, even strangers.

Note:  Should you desire to learn more on how you can know you will go to Heaven when you die, please email me at:  JimKilgoreMinistries@gmail.com.   I will call you personally on your phone and help you settle this matter today!!