Tag Archives: You are forgiven!

Forgiven 4:7

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Romans 4:7 Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.  

Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.  We are the blessed, dear one.  We are the blessed because our Father in heaven forgives us all our sins with the covering of Jesus’ blood on the cross. He no longer sees us as the lost, messed up, broken, bad-choosing, prideful sinners we are — that is washed away by Jesus’ redeeming blood. He sees us as pure children, clothed now in clean robes of white, with hearts clean inside and out, all our thoughts and actions are of Him, we walk in His word and by His Holy Spirit.  We are sheltered under the covering of His wings, like chicks around the mother hen. And any time we want, we can cuddle up safely in His nest, for even the sparrows have a place at His altar. But He does not make us stay there, He allows us to choose to come and go and grow and bring others into HIs family. And lest we wander too far from Him, He calls us back. Oh, dear one, bless the Lord for blessing you with His forgiveness and covering.  Always remember the cross and how Jesus bled and died for you and rose again. And stay close in His Word and prayer always, sheltered under His wings. ❤️ Amen. 

Leviticus 4:7 And the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the Lord, which is in the tabernacle of meeting; and he shall pour the remaining blood of the bull at the base of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.  

Here we see the Gospel story of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.  Leviticus 4 describes the sin offerings God ordained for His people Israel. This involved an animal without blemish (4:3) being sacrificed by the anointed priest at the tabernacle, for there was no forgiveness without the shedding of blood.  When Adam and Eve first sinned, God had to shed the first animal blood when He made them coats.  This is God’s Law, it’s how He ordained our purification, and yet still we could not sacrifice enough perfect animals for all our sins. So, God the Father sent His only Son Jesus to come into the world to die for our sins. He had to remain pure and spotless to be the perfect sacrifice. Jesus not only gave His life and shed His blood, He was also the anointed Priest who poured it out and interceded to the Father on our behalf.  And, just as the blood was poured out by the Tabernacle door, Jesus is the Door, the only way to heaven, everyone must enter through Him by accepting His free gift of salvation. And thus, we will all be sheltered under our Father’s Tabernacle forever.  Believe in Jesus, dear one, believe!  Come Lord Jesus, come!  Come Holy Spirit, come!  Come, Emmanuel, come!  ❤️ Amen. 

And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.  Hebrews 9:22 (NKJV)

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV)

(See also Psalm 17:8, Psalm 36:7, Psalm 57:1, Psalm 61:4, Psalm 84:3, Psalm 91:4, Isaiah 1:18, Matthew 23:37, John 10:9, John 14:6, Romans 8:1, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, Colossians 1:20, 1 Peter 1:18-20, Hebrews 9:22, 1 John 1:7, Revelation 1:5)

In summer 2022, the Lord called me to write 4:7 Petitions, Prayers, and Proclamations…  I heard the Lord saying, “Pay attention to 4:7!” I started reading every 4:7 verse in the Bible. When there wasn’t a 4:7, I read the closest verse. I used these verses as Prayers, Petitions, and Proclamations to the throne room of Christ our Savior. Bit by bit, I’m sharing them with you, my TEA CUPP Sisters.  Thank you for reading and praying 4:7!  

 

How Many Have We Broken?

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Then the Lord delivered to me two tablets of stone written with the finger of God, and on them were all the words which the Lord had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.  Deuteronomy 9:10 (NKJV)

If God had given the Ten Commandments to Adam and Eve, how many did they break?  You know the story… Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden and God told them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Adam and Eve are found in Genesis in our Bibles, while the Ten Commandments first appear in the second book, Exodus, so Adam and Eve actually didn’t have these ten rules from God.  Besides God telling them to be fruitful and multiply and to watch over all the living things (Genesis 1:28), His only other command to Adam and Eve was this:

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. Genesis 2:17 (NKJV)

When the serpent came and told Eve to eat the fruit, she ate it and gave some to Adam to eat, as well.  But, I wonder, if they had been given the Ten Commandments, which ones would they have broken?

Here are the Ten Commandments as listed in Exodus 20…

  1. You shall have no other gods before Me. Did Adam and Eve make the serpent their God?
  2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image.
  3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
  4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
  5. Honor your father and your mother. Did Adam and Eve bring dishonor to their Father in heaven when they disobeyed?
  6. You shall not murder. (Their son Cain took care of this one)
  7. You shall not commit adultery.
  8. You shall not steal. Did Adam and Eve steal the forbidden fruit?
  9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Did Adam and Eve try to hide what they had done?
  10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s belongings. Did Adam and Eve covet the fruit?

Looks like Adam and Eve broke at least five of the Ten Commandments. Now let’s look at the track record for the USA…

  1. You shall have no other gods before Me. Sports, Hollywood, money…the list goes on.
  2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image.Seems like there are statues everywhere.
  3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Even conservative talk shows take God’s name in vain.  Lord help us!
  4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. How many stores and people don’t keep a Sabbath any more?
  5. Honor your father and your mother. How many kids even live with their fathers and mothers?
  6. You shall not murder. Countless babies are murdered every day by abortion.
  7. You shall not commit adultery. Don’t even want to go there. 
  8. You shall not steal. Crime is rampant.
  9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Even the politicians and judges tell lies.
  10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s belongings. Think we could do this one?

…I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” Romans 7:7 (NKJV)

If Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden for breaking only five out of Ten Commandments, how much more the USA for breaking all Ten Commandments?? No wonder we are hurting!  No wonder every day brings more bad news.  But there is Good News, dear sister in Christ.  For God not only punished Adam and Eve, but He also promised a Savior.  At the very time God gave Adam and Eve their punishment, He gave a promise that from Eve’s Seed would come a Savior to bruise the head of Satan (Genesis 3:15).  That Savior is Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins and rose again to eternal life in heaven.  Believe this Good News for yourself and for our country, dear one!

Every day in my Bible readings I find more verses to pray for our nation.  Just think how God could see the future and know that His Word would not only cover Adam and Eve and the Israelites,  but even us today, and also for the end of time.  For our National Day of Prayer, I prayed a prayer based on Isaiah 1.  I invite you to pray this prayer today…

Today’s TEA CUPP:  Dear Father in Heaven, …Our country is desolate, our cities are burned with fire; Strangers devour our land in our presence; and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. …Unless the Lord of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, We would have been made like Gomorrah. O help us hear Your Word, O Lord, you rulers of the USA. Give ear to the law of our God, you people of America. Our hands are full of the blood of unborn babies. Wash us clean, O Lord. We repent and put away all evil, we seek justice, We claim Your promise to make our sins white as snow. May we eat the good of the land again; Protect us from the sword of the enemy, Restore our judges as at the first. May we be called once again the city of righteousness, the faithful city. May we be a beacon of hope to the world. Send a revival across this land, O Jesus, put Your law in the hearts of Your people and be our God, the God of the United States of America. May the dark night be over!  We claim Your promise to help us at the break of dawn. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.  Amen.

…Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all. Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NKJV)

...keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 1 Corinthians 7:19 (NKJV)

Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.  Romans 7:12 (NKJV)

He who despises the word will be destroyed,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.  Proverbs 13:13 (NKJV)

And the statutes, the ordinances, the law, and the commandment which He wrote for you, you shall be careful to observe forever… 2 Kings 17:37 (NKJV)

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  Hebrews 8:10 (NKJV)

And I will delight myself in Your commandments,
Which I love.  Psalm 119:47 (NKJV)

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
“Let God be magnified!  Psalm 70:4 (NKJV)

Now do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord; and enter His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you.  John 15:10 (NKJV)

(See also Deuteronomy 26:16-17, Deuteronomy 30:8-10, Psalm 119:60, Psalm 119:115, Psalm 119:127, Matthew 5:19, Revelation 22:14, )

Thank you for stopping by My TEA. CUPP Prayers!  If you enjoyed today’s devotion, you might also like to read Admitting with Eve and USA, Arise, Come Forth!

Scripture taken the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson

The Blessed Easter Tree

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 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV)

God planted a tree for you, my friend.  This Blessed Easter Tree, this Old Rugged Cross, is truly the Tree of Life for all humanity.  For no one can enter into the presence of God in heaven, unless she goes through the door of this Blessed Easter Tree.

“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; and I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain” (George Bennard, 1913).

Who would think that we could find this favorite old hymn and the Easter story in the Old Testament book of Ezekiel? Yet we shouldn’t be surprised, for the entire Bible, God’s Word, points to our Savior Jesus Christ, telling His story from creation to eternity.  In Ezekiel we find not only God breathing life into dead bones, making them new creations like we are when we believe in Jesus. He also paints the picture of a tree planted on a hill to save a nation.  Could this be our “Old Rugged Cross?”

Set aside time today to read Ezekiel 16 and 17, chapters which outline the sins of Israel.  As we think of our world today, you might even think Ezekiel is talking about the USA, while at the end of each chapter, God sagaciously gives us hope!  In Ezekiel 16:63, He promises us, “…when I provide you an atonement for all you have done…” And in Ezekiel 17:23 He says, “On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar…” So first comes the promise of atonement in Ezekiel 16:63, followed by how God will do it in Ezekiel 17:23 — by planting a tree on the mountain.  That tree is the cross of Christ, a fruit-bearing tree. The fruit is you and me and all those who believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection, spreading the Good News to others.

And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.  Luke 23:33 (NKJV)

On Calvary’s mountain a wooden cross was planted in the ground. On that same cross, the Son of God was willingly nailed to pay the price of the world’s sins (that means yours and mine!).  His Name is Jesus, perfect, without sin, our precious Lord. After He died, His followers laid Him in a tomb. Roman soldiers stood guard before the stone, but they had no power over the Son of God. For on the third day, angels came and rolled the stone away and Jesus rose from the grave, appearing first to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9), saying, “Mary” (John 20:16). And He still calls our names today.  God’s Church has brought forth many branches and has been bearing fruit ever since that day, bringing glory to our majestic Savior.  

And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’  Acts 13:32-33 (NKJV)

“So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown” (George Bennard,1913).

Today’s TEA CUPP:  Read Ezekiel 16-17 and other Easter verses. Confess your sins and the sins of our nation.  Claim Jesus’ promises of atonement (Ezekiel 16:63) and salvation (Ezekiel 17:23).  Rejoice in the good news of His resurrection. Hear your risen Savior call your name, “_______.”

…rejoice because your names are written in heaven.  Luke 10:20 (NKJV)

Why Jesus Came: ...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 (NKJV)

Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”  John 18:37 (NKJV) – Oh, how we need His truth today!

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  John 3:16-17 (NKJV)

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:8-11 (NKJV) – Oh Father, be glorified this Easter!

How Jesus saved us:  Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Colossians 2:14 (NKJV)

An Easter prayer:  That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.  Philippians 3:10 (NKJV) – Amen.

Happy, Blessed Easter from My TEA CUPP Prayers to you!  If you enjoyed today’s devotion, you also might like to read My Glory All the Cross and Remember the Cross and The Witness of the Stone.

After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight.  Hosea 6:2 (NKJV)

But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”  Matthew 28:5-6 (NKJV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  John 15:5 (NKJV)

For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!  Job 19:25-27 (NKJV)

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.