Spirit Food - June 2018

Once you are presented with what the Word of God has to say about an issue, you are responsible for receiving His love, grace, & favor; and the gift of His righteousness. Remember, you are greatly blessed, highly favored, and deeply loved by your Heavenly Father.

This June, let’s focus on the redemptive power of Jesus’ blood!

You need to know that God is not punishing you for some past sin. Ephesians 1:7 says “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace”.

As a Clinical Pastoral Psychologist, I’ve counseled many Christians who believe that although you have forgiveness of sins, you are not free from the penalties of your sins. In other words, they still expect punishment from God. They believe this because they have been taught incorrectly. For example, some married Christian couples have been told that they are childless because God is punishing them for having had pre-marital sex. So although God has forgiven them of that sin, they still think He has to punish them for it. Many churches still teach that although God forgives sin, and that mankind still must “deal” with the consequences of what the sin may have caused (like AIDS or a VD). That again is incorrect teaching. God is not the author of AIDS or a VD. Correct teaching is: God forgives and is our healer.

Now, let me be clear about this - I am certainly not for pre-marital sex. God created sex. He intended it to be between a man and a woman to procreate. He created Adam and made Eve from a part of Adam. Notice I said He created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. God is the only one who can fully appreciate the full value of His Son’s blood, and who is completely satisfied by His Son’s sacrifice. He is at rest in His heart today concerning your sins! This is why He is not against you even when you fail. Neither is He out to punish you when you sin. No, He still loves you! He is for you and wants to help you overcome that sin.

In the Old Testament, the blood of bulls and goats could only “cover” sins and not take them away. (Hebrews 10:4) The blood of Jesus is not like the blood of animals! For by one sacrifice, the eternal blood of the Son of God has forever removed your sins (Psalm 103:12) and cleansed you of all unrighteousness! (1 John 1:9) In fact, God is so satisfied with His Son’s perfect work that He says to you today, “Your sins and lawless deeds I will by no means remember!” (Hebrews 10:17) If God does not remember them, why would He punish you for them?

You have “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”. Because Jesus’ work is complete, all your sins have been completely forgiven. Complete forgiveness means that the penalties for your sins can no longer fall on you because they had already fallen on Jesus at the cross. (Isaiah 53:5)

So don’t think for one moment that God is punishing you for some sin just because something bad happened to you. Look to the cross and know that all your sins have already been punished fully in the body of Christ (past, present, and future). Believe that God is for you and expect victory!

The Apostle Paul shared this inner conflict in Romans 7:14-8:1, and concluded that because of the blood of Jesus, there is no condemnation. Be mindful of what you listen to (your ear gate), what you see (your eye gate), and the words you speak (life and death are in the power of the tongue). Faith comes by hearing. (Romans 10:17) Right thinking comes from right hearing; right believing comes from right thinking and enables us to make correct decisions. Right decisions lead us to taking right actions enabling us to live quiet and peaceable lives.

If you’re reading this, but you have not made Jesus the Lord of your life, and would like to, pray this prayer out loud in an audible voice:

Heavenly Father, your Word says in Romans 10:9-10- “that if I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead, that I would be saved. For with the heart one believes unto salvation.” I believe your Word, Heavenly Father, and confess Jesus Christ (the anointed one and His anointing) as Lord of my life now. I believe that You raised Him from the dead. I confess that I was a sinner, but now I’ve been saved by Your grace, and in Your thoughts, I am now in right standing with You. I denounce Satan and all he stands for. In Jesus Name. Amen (so be it).

Congratulations! If this is your first time praying this prayer, please write and let us know!

Should you decide to give and financially support this ministry with gifts given in faith, I join my faith with yours to see the devourer rebuked (Malachi 3:11) and for you to receive a harvest; pressed down, shaken together and running over (Luke 6:38). Please remember to name your seed!

Rev. Dr. Mark Krom, Ph.D., D.Psy

Mark Krom Ministries

drmkrom@gmail.com