Tag: repent of your sins

Expectations. We all have them. Sometimes, our expectations end up leaving us disappointed. Usually, because our expectations are unrealistic, humanly speaking. But for one lame man who encountered Peter and John at the temple, he is about to receive something far beyond any expectation he could have imagined.

Some lame expectations

If you had spoken to him that morning and he said to you, “I woke up this morning knowing that by the end of the day I will be walking,” you would say his expectations for his day were unrealistic. You might even feel pity for this man who not only was lame, but also seemed to have some mental issues too.

This man had been born lame. He had never walked a day in his life. His expectations for his life would be to beg for alms and hope each day he would receive enough to feed himself for the day. He didn’t have grand expectations. In fact, you might could say his expectations were rather – well – lame. There was no “fair labor laws” that would allow him to have an occupation even though he was lame. There were no government assistance programs where he could claim “disability” and receive money. He earned money by swallowing his pride begging others to give him a coin or two.

Because he was lame, he was carried to the temple gate called, “the Beautiful Gate,” and he begged people for money. He probably was there so often that he became an expectation of people as they came to pray at the temple. This day started out no different for him. He was carried to the gate and they sat him down and he began asking for alms.

A day like any other

He watched as the rich walked by without a care or concern. They simply walked by as if He wasn’t there. His stomach grumbled. He watch a young boy who stared at him while his mother grabbed his hand and steered him far away as if his “lameness” watch catching. He looked in his container. One small coin. Not enough for even a piece of bread. Gathering both his pride and courage, he held the container out and called, “Alms? Alms for the poor.”

Two men came walking towards him. They’re just ordinary men and from the looks of them, they probably don’t have much to spare. He lowered the container, not expecting anything from them. But the look in their eyes was different. The man looked at him – not with sympathy or pity, but with kindness and compassion. He changed his direction and walked towards him. As he got closer, the lame man, with his eyes looking towards the ground, again begs, “Could you spare a coin, sir?”

Disappointing Expectations

The Bible tells us that Peter fastened his eyes on the lame man and said to him, “Look on us.” The man looks, expecting them to give him a coin – or maybe, if he were lucky, they each would give him a coin. Two coins would let him buy bread. Can you imagine him looking at them, hope in his eyes, but yet there had also been others who had given him hope for a coin and then laughed and walked away. Would these men be like that? His stomach growled again, so he held his container stretched out for them to drop a coin in.

The encounter started out positive, but Peter’s next words probably were very disappointing. Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none.” Can you imagine the thoughts going through the lame man’s mind? Thoughts like, “Then why did you want me to look at you?” or “Just another person making fun of me. He was never going to help me anyway.”

Confused, but hopeful expectations

But then Peter continued, “but such as I have give I thee.” Perhaps now the lame man is feeling a little perplexed and thinking to himself he says, “you just said you had no silver or gold.” Then he thinks that maybe the man was going to give him some food or an extra coat to keep him warm. People had offered food before, but it was usually bread with mold. He had picked off the spots of mold and ate the rest. Something to eat was better than nothing to eat. But, little did he know that through Peter’s next words he would encounter the power of God and it would change His life forever.

Expectations. We all have them, but for one lame man who encountered Peter and John, he is about to receive something far beyond any expectation he could have imagined. He asked for alms but encountered the power of God working through Peter – and it changed His life forever!

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The Power of the One Who Defies All Expectations

Peter said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Peter takes him by his hand and pulls him up. The Bible tells us that instantly the man’s feet and ankle bones received strength – not just to stand on, but a man who had never taken a step in his life went walking and leaping, and praising God!

When the lame man encountered Peter, his feet and ankle bones immediately received strength. He came to the temple lame and had never walked a day in his life – but he left the temple walking and leaping and praise God!

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Notice who he gave praise to. He didn’t praise Peter and John. He recognized the healing came from God and he rightly gave God the praise. Peter and John were both just ordinary men. In fact, they were fishermen when Jesus found them and said, “Follow me.” They had no power to heal anyone. Which is why Peter said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” That was where the power came from – not from Peter. Yet Peter was willing for the power of God to be given to the lame man through him and the lame man was lame no more.

When you have no expectations left

More than likely this lame man had reached a point of having no expectations left in life. You may be in the same place. You’ve been let down so often until you just stop expecting anything from anyone. The people who should have been there for you, were not. Those who should have cheered you on, looked down on you. You may even be ready to give up and walk away from that dream God placed in your heart. But can I tell you that our God is a God of the impossibles? In fact, He likes doing the impossible because then He get the glory and not us. And in those moments where we have absolutely no expectations left, God shows up and when he does, He works so that your grandest expectations look rather lame compared to what He does.

Have you reached a point of having no expectations left? It in those moments where God likes to show up and when he does, He works so that your grandest expectations look rather lame compared to what He does.

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Knowing and experiencing are not the same

Maybe you have a specific prayer request and you’ve been praying and praying – for years. And it seems as if God walks by without even noticing you. The Bible doesn’t tell us if the lame man ever prayed for God to heal him. Perhaps he was just sitting outside the temple because people who go to church are supposed to be kind, giving, and helpful. Or maybe he had prayed for God to heal him so many times that he gave up and stopped asking. We really don’t know because the Bible doesn’t tell us. But since he did recognize that his healing came from God, he knew God how the power to heal him. But knowing God has the power to answer your prayer and experiencing God’s power are two different things.

Are you shortchanging God in your expectations?

Maybe the lame man had even heard of Jesus and how he had healed many people – some lame, just like him. But they had crucified him. Maybe he had moments of jealousy and bitterness that others had been healed and he had not. Again, we don’t know. All we do know is he was there, asking for money but received something far beyond his wildest expectations. What if what we are asking for so shortchanges what God wants to do in our lives because we don’t have the faith to ask the impossible? Or what if we ask the impossible so many times and then give up but we were just one prayer away from receiving the impossible?

Why? or How?

When we are waiting on God, it can often feel like God is not at work. However, we can trust that He is working all things out for our good (Romans 8:28). His answer will come and will come at just the right moment. He’s never late and His answer is always the very best one.

This lame man’s story would become part of the story of the early church growing and thriving and spreading. God choose for this man to encounter Peter and John on this day, in that moment and his story would be a testimony for what God had done for him. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” I can only imagine how many times in his life the lame man asked, “Why me God? Why was I born lame?” What if instead of asking God “why?” we asked, “God, how can you use this experience?” If we truly trust Him, then we can know that every experience we face in life has a purpose and when given to God, He can do something far beyond our wildest expectations.

I can only imagine how many times in his life the lame man asked, “Why me God? Why was I born lame?” What if instead of asking God “why?” we asked, “God, how can you use this experience?” If we truly trust Him, then we can know that every experience we face in life has a purpose and when given to God, He can do something far beyond our wildest expectations.

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Encountering the Power of God

The lame man came to the temple with the expectations of receiving enough coins just to feed himself for that day. He had no expectations of leaving the temple on his own two feet, much less walking and leaping and praising God. But the moment he encountered the power of God working through Peter he was instantly changed. He asked for alms – he received a miraculous healing.

We can trust God that even if he doesn’t give us what we are asking for, that He has something so much better in mind or that while we think something we are asking for is what we really need, God sees something we don’t and what we are asking for is not for our good – so He doesn’t give it to us. Or the time is not right, so He waits. Perhaps, God has an expectation of you that you’ve not met and He’s waiting on you. Even when things come our way that we don’t understand, we can trust that God will only do what is for our best interests.

What are your expectations?

What expectations do you have today? Have they left you feeling let down and disappointed? Are you ready to give up on that dream God placed in your heart? Surrender your expectations to God and trust Him for His plans for you – whatever they are – and when you encounter the power of God at work, your greatest expectations will be nowhere near anything you can imagine. In fact, your greatest expectations will look “lame” in comparison to what God will do in your life.

What expectations do you have today? Surrender them to God and trust His plans for you – whatever they are –  and when you encounter the power of God at work, your greatest expectations will be nowhere near anything you can imagine. In fact, they will look “lame” in comparison to what God will do in your life.

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Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template

Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.

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Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan

We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.

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Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan

With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!

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Download our Free Self-Care Wheel

The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.

Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.

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<<<SPOTLIGHTING>>> In the Spreadshop Store:

Prayer Warrior

Are you a person who stands in prayer for others on a consistent basis? Are you a person that people come to when they need prayer? If you know what it means to be an intercessor in prayer, then you’re a prayer warrior.

The slide show below highlights some of our favorite Christian Tees designs available in our Spreadshop and Teespring stores.

Canvas art and posters are available in the Teespring store. Many of our Christian Tees are also available at Teespring.

To see the collection of Canvas and Poster Prints

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Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube

You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel

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God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

• Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
• Conversation Starters.
• Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
• Romance Builders.
• Relationship Builders.
• Personal reflections.
• Date ideas.
• Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

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People have many reasons for rejecting God. Some choose to believe that He doesn’t exist. Some choose to see and believe only what they want to about God. For example, some see how God judged sin in the Old Testament and think God is cruel, but never see the mercy He shows. They refuse to see all the times that God called the people to repentance and they rejected Him. But for some people, they look at their life and say, “I’m too far gone. God would never accept me.” If that’s you – then there is one of the most exciting words for you found in Acts 2:21. That word is “Whosoever.”

Some people look at their life and say, “I’m too far gone. God would never accept me.” If that’s you – then there is one of the most exciting words for you found in Acts 2:21. That word is “Whosoever.”

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Who is a “Whosoever”? — You!

Whosoever is for any age!

Whosoever. It doesn’t matter what your age. If you are breathing and of an age to understand you’re a sinner who needs a Savior, then “Whosoever” means you. It is for the child, the teen, the adult, the senior adult, and the person soon to die.

Whosoever is for any career!

Whosoever. It doesn’t matter what your job. Whosoever is for the President, the politician, the judge. It for law enforcement, doctors, teachers, social workers, psychologists, nurses, managers, retail clerks, waitress/waiter, day care worker, postman, garbage man, military, engineer, construction worker, web designer, copywriter, and those looking for a job. It’s for the person who’s been a deacon for years or small group leader or church ministry staff…and even a pastor or two, but just realized they are lost.

Whosoever is for any socioeconomic statue!

Whosoever. It doesn’t matter your socioeconomic status. It’s for the billionaire, the millionaire, the upper class, the “new money” class, the middle class, the working class, the working poor, and those who live in poverty and it’s for the homeless.

Whosoever is for any race!

Whosoever. It doesn’t matter what color your skin. Red or yellow, black, or white – we are all precious in Jesus’ sight and He loves everyone of us. We are all uniquely and creatively made. Every single one of us is a masterpiece designed by the hand of God. You are exquisite – just the way you are.

Whosoever is for any any one with a past (or present or future)!

Whosoever. It means that no matter who you are or what’s in your past, Jesus is waiting for you.

#Whosoever. That means you! It doesn’t matter your age, your job, your socioeconomic status. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, who you are, or what’s in your past. Dear Whosoever, Jesus is waiting for you!

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Whosoever. It means that if you had been the only person that ever lived, Jesus would have still come to earth to die for you. To pay the price for your sin. That’s how much He loves you. All you have to do is call on the name of the Lord. But what does calling on the name of the Lord mean? At one time, doctors would make “house calls.” He wasn’t just stopping in to say, “Hello. How are you today. Have a nice day.” He was going to tend to the needs of his patient. At one time, a gentleman would “call” on a lady. His intentions were to get to know her, court her. Similarly, calling on the name of the Lord involves more than just calling out the name of Jesus. Calling on the name of the Lord involves several steps.

Whosoever. It means that if you had been the only person that ever lived, Jesus would have still come to earth to die for you. To pay the price for your sin. That’s how much He loves you. All you have to do is call on the name of the Lord and you will be saved.

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Steps to “Calling on the name of the Lord”

Step 1: Recognizing yourself as a sinner

Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” So “whosoever” means you – but so does “all” in Romans 3:23. Every single one of us a stickin’ rotten sinner! And there is nothing you can do on your own to get yourself out of sin. When we realize the depth and hopelessness that we are in because of our own sin, we then understand our need of someone to save us from our sin. “Calling on the name of the Lord” is saying, “God, I’m a sinner and hopelessly lost without You. Save me!”

Step 2: Recognizing Christ as the Savior that paid your sin debt

I do quite a bit of driving and in areas that I’ve never been to before. I can recognize and understand that I’ve made a wrong turn and have no idea where I am, but if I don’t do something about it, I will stay lost. The same is true about recognizing ourselves as sinners. If we don’t do something about our “lostness,” then we will stay lost in our sins. I am quite depended on my GPS to get me to all the places I need to go.

Spiritually, we are dependent on Christ to get us to Heaven. He is the only way. God sent Jesus to earth to pay the debt for our sin. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The price for our sin is a spiritual death that leaves us separated from God and an eternity in Hell. But God’s gracious gift of allowing His only Son, Jesus, to pay the price for us through His death on the cross, gives us eternal life in Heaven.

Each one of us have to settle for ourselves who Jesus is and what we are going to do with Him – reject Him and continue living in our sin or to call on His name and repent of our sin. “Calling on the name of the Lord” is saying, “I believe Jesus is the only Son of God who paid the price for my sin and there is nothing I can do on my own to save me from my sin. Jesus is the only way.”

Step 3: Recognizing the need to change your direction by repenting of your sins

Repenting means that there is a change of your heart and mind. It is a regret or remorse that accompanies the realization of your sinful self. Repentance is saying, “God, I’m sorry for my sins.” When true repentance has occurred, there will be evidence of it by a person’s reversal of thought so that the person makes a complete change from their sin to turning to God. It is like driving somewhere and realizing you missed your turn, so you do a U-turn and go back the other way.

Repentance occurs when a person is following the path of sin, realizing that path leads to destruction and death and surrendering their heart to God, they make a U-turn and begin following the path that leads to God and eternal life. When we make the change of direction, we begin to align our heart and will to the heart and will of God.

Step 4: Recognizing your need for forgiveness of sin

With a heart that has acknowledge your sinfulness and you have begun to align your heart and will to God, you need to ask Him to forgive you of your sin. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” “Calling on the name of the Lord” then is a broken and contrite heart that says, “God, I’m sorry, please forgive me.”

Step 5: Recognizing your are now a new creation in Christ Jesus

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.” As a new creation, saved by God’s grace, we experience a total and complete surrender and willing submission of our lives to Him. Our old “sinful self” is dead and we now have a new life in Christ.

An emphatic promise – it’s a guarantee!

How can we know that God will save us – no matter who we are or what we’ve done? Acts 4:21 says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” It didn’t say “might be saved.” It doesn’t say “will be saved, if your good enough.” It is an emphatic promise. If we call on Jesus, recognizing ourselves as a sinner, that Jesus took our place to pay our sin debt for us, repent of our sins, ask Him for forgiveness of our sins and to make us a new creation, then we can know without a doubt that we will be saved.

Whosoever. It means you! Jesus is waiting for you to call on Him now.

“Calling on the name of the Lord” means that we recognize: 1) we are a sinner; 2) that Jesus, God’s son, took our place and paid our sin debt for us; 3) we need to change our direction by repenting of our sin; 4) we need forgiveness of our sin; 5) we become a new creation.

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#whosoever #prayingforAmerica #whosoeverisyou #Jesusiswaiting

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Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template

Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.

[Download not found]

Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan

We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.

[Download not found]

Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan

With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!

[Download not found]

Download our Free Self-Care Wheel

The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.

Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.

[Download not found]

<<<SPOTLIGHTING>>> In the Spreadshop Store:

Prayer Warrior

Are you a person who stands in prayer for others on a consistent basis? Are you a person that people come to when they need prayer? If you know what it means to be an intercessor in prayer, then you’re a prayer warrior.

The slide show below highlights some of our favorite Christian Tees designs available in our Spreadshop and Teespring stores.

Canvas art and posters are available in the Teespring store. Many of our Christian Tees are also available at Teespring.

To see the collection of Canvas and Poster Prints

---

Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube

You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel

---

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

• Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
• Conversation Starters.
• Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
• Romance Builders.
• Relationship Builders.
• Personal reflections.
• Date ideas.
• Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

---

Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More

Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.

Christianbook Distributors Search: Title Author/Artist ISBN CBD Stock # Keywords Publisher

Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.

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Here’s some of our recent posts.

904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL 

Follow us on: