That’s how the Chrisitan deals with his or her already-forgiven sins! (The moment any soul is saved, God “washes away” all sin, past and present and future!)

Confess!

But “unconfessed” sin can still be a liability to the child of God. It can hinder our prayers. It can diminish our joy and peace and even our communion with God the Holy Spirit.

So, 1 John 1:9 teaches us what to do … “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Then, instantly upon confession (not to a priest or bishop or any other spiritual authority) to the Lord Himself … those pesky sins are purged, cleansed!

One verb, confess!

The key to a victorious Christian life!

The key word for a lost man … “BELIEVE!”

The key word for the saved person … “CONFESS!”

But what does “confession” really involve?

The exact verb is “homologeo.” It’s Greek, of course, being in the New Testament.

And it essentially means “to say the same thing.”

Yes, “homo” means the “same.” And “logeo” means “to say, to talk, to verbalize.”

When I confess some sin … I am agreeing (saying the very “same thing”) God says about that sin!

That it’s rebellion!

That it’s hurtful!

That it’s dangerous to my spiritual growth!

Agree with Him!

Then hindrances of that sin … GONE!

Now that’s a word (homologeo) well worth remembering!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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According to God’s Word, those three words in the Lesson Title describe part of the beauty of our future, dear Christian friends.

The Apostle John writes … “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was NO MORE SEA.” Revelation 21:1

Then immediately John saw … “The holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

If literally “no more sea,” what will be the water supply for God’s future universe?

Revelation 22:1 gives this information. “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

And, as far as we are told, this is the only Source of water available. For all God’s “new creation!”

Do not worry! God is “Scientist” enough to make all this work! Of that fact I have no doubt.

Now, why have my mind and my heart and my prayers taken me to this Verse today?

Because, born out of the warm (ninety degree plus) water of the Sea, a category four hurricane is devastating part of the Country where God allows me to preach His Word. In Revival Meetings, ministering to and working with some of the sweetest folks on earth!

Sadness for sure, at the damage to be done. But a note of rejoicing as well, of victory. We Believers in Jesus are someday to live in an environment that will spawn no killer storms! No storms, period!

No sin as well!

Eternity, with our Saviour!

I’ll guarantee you, on the authority of God’s Word … “Weeping may endure for a night, but JOY cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

Yes, Jesus is coming!

The Prophet Malachi calls Jesus, our Lord, by a unique Name in the following Verse … “Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.” The “Sun of Righteousness!” Malachi 4:2

I’m positive, no cyclones, hurricanes, tornadoes, no bad weather (all a result of sin no doubt) when His “Sunshine” blankets the world!

What a Saviour!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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I just read a lovely devotional article on her, Asenath!

She is mentioned only 3 times in the whole Bible!

And on each occasion she is referenced in relation to her husband, Joseph!

Here is our initial contract with this unique lady … “And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.” Genesis 41:45

Her name means “belonging to the goddess Neith!” Truly, a heathen name suggesting a very sinful background! Gentile to the core, wicked and idolatrous by very definition!

And Joseph her husband?

Jewish to the core! In fact, in over a hundred ways, a type of Jesus Christ our Saviour!

Mercy!

I am seeing in front of my very eyes a picture forming!

A man who is a “picture” of Jesus. And a woman, who is his Wife, a picture of rank ungodliness!

And these two, together?

A Miracle!

I am about to break out praising the Lord!

For in essence, I am that filthy Bride, or part of Her for sure!

And in my sin I was brought into contact with Jesus!

Sinless Jesus!

Sacrificial Jesus!

Saving Jesus!

I got saved!

I believed on (John in his Gospel would have said “into”) Jesus as God’s Son!

And He cleansed me.

I now no longer follow some vile goddess, but have a new allegiance … to my Saviour, to my Bridegroom, to my “Jospeh!”

Oh, what a Love Story!

Asenath and Joseph!

By the way, this cleansed Bride bore Jospeh two sons!

“And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah … bore unto him.” Genesis 46:20

And the meanings of the names given these two sons?

Manasseh means “to forget!”

And Ephraim means “fruitful,” actually “doubly fruitful!”

Jesus my Bridegroom, my being part of His Bride … I too should bear to His Glory “children!”

In my heart, in my soul …

Some things to forget!

And some things to “double up” in my life!

This little Story keeps growing in sweetness!

Thank God for Asenath!

And truth be told, Jesus is still seeking and saving lost Asenaths!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Our great God is the Expert on what I call “reversals.”

Sorrow, with Him, can (immediately or eventually) become joy!

Sickness … health!

Even this change, death into life!

How about a destiny in Hell … turned into an eternity in Heaven?

Yes, He can!

And really, He does all these things through the greatest reversal of all. Through the Power of an old rugged cross!

Through the Death, the shed Blood, of His Son Jesus Christ!

I recently bought and have now received a book on crucifixion. What ancient people had to say about that terrible form of execution.

Quite revealing!

If I could put it in today’s terminology, the Roman method of torturing a man to death by nailing him to a cross is the equivalent of the “electric chair” of my younger years.

Anyone eliminated that way … pretty much the “dregs” of society!

Certainly not a hero of any kind!

Yet that Roman “electric chair” (I mean “cross”) has, in God’s Hands, been given such a miraculous Reversal that we sing songs about it!

“So, I’ll cherish that old rugged Cross,” for example.

Jesus’ Death there has become my life there, eternal life at that!

Jesus’ Hell (His untold suffering and agony) there has become my ticket to Heaven for all eternity! A painless Heaven!

Let’s call it the “REVERSAL OF REVERSALS!”

Friend, have you been to Calvary?

That Roman form of execution, the cross, because of JESUS … is mentioned over and over again in the Bible.

Galatians 6:14 is a great specimen … “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the CROSS of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

Ponder this Colossians 1:20 Line today … “Having made peace through the blood of his CROSS …” The Verse is saying that God made “peace” for us who believe … through the Blood of Jesus sacrificed on that Roman Cross!

And 26 more “mentionings” of the Cross are available for us to study, in the New Testament I mean.

Calvary …

Reversal!

Miracle!

Salvation!

Praise the Lord!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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A battering ram, to be effective, needs it. Needs momentum to knock down that enemy gate!

A broad jumper does too. He can’t set any records leaping from a standstill position! He too needs that prior motion we call momentum!

“Momentum” as a noun comes from a Latin verb “movere” meaning “set in motion.”

Now, to the spiritual life.

Simply put, the longer and stronger we run the race for Christ … the greater our momentum comes to run even longer and faster!

Faithfulness, in other words!

“Up and down” lives, “in and out” behavior, “wishy-washy” belief … all sap momentum, keep it from even forming!

But being “steadfast and immoveable” (1 Corinthians 15:58) and “always abounding in the work of the Lord” … augments powerful momentum every time!

Hebrews 12:1, in part … “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.”

Keep running and running and (as a result) “momentum” will begin to form, to build, to grow!

Let’s get started!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Paul is, in some ways, the New Testament’s “Mr. Momentum!” Read him here … “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

That will do it!

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