"THE GREAT WHITE THRONE OF JUDGMENT - IS IT TOO LATE FOR ME?"

"Guilty as charged!" 100% of the jail and prison inmates have heard something similar to this from their courtroom judge. 

I personally am guilty as well... I am guilty of my sin against God and other's. 
I'm confessing openly to all, that I am weak and unable to save myself. 
I resonate with Paul when he says in Romans 7:15: 

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." 

Do you also struggle with Paul's tug of war concerning sin? I do. Some common questions I often hear and will address are: "Am I judged for my sin after I am saved?" "Why do I still sin if I am free from it." "What will happen to my family if they don't believe?" "If there is grace, why not just keep on sinning since I'll be forgiven?" "I am a good person, doesn't that count for something?"

Since this topic is widely ignored by Christians we will be discovering together about the "Great White Throne of Judgment" from Revelation 20:11-15. We will explore the misconceptions of this topic as well as the two types of judgment. 

"There will be triumph and tears at the judgment seat of Christ." (Erwin Lutzer)

This is going to be a "hot" topic!  How do I know...? 
Because, I am currently under attack from the enemy in my personal life. As miserable as this is, I do not want to miss the learning application of the trial for myself, as well as learning from this life experience as a teaching tool for the inmates. 

I sure could use your prayers:

1. For my time and preparation - that God would speak through me using scripture and role-playing. 
2. That the Holy Spirit will take this broad topic and make it understandable and applicable to their lives.
3. That I will have God's heart and love others like He does. (I am a work in progress with this one.)

1. That the inmates will attend and invite friends and the auditorium will be full to the brim. Pray for attentive listening and no prison disruptions.
2. Boldly, let's lift these inmate's up to God, asking they will believe deep in their hearts they are accountable and will give an account to Christ for the deeds done in the body... whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
3. Pray this message will motivate them to faithful living in Christ.
4. (Then there is the judgment topic... I am working on as well.) Please pray they will not become judgmental over other's as a result of this message but instead be filled with mercy and grace.
5. The Holy Spirit will remove the chains of unbelief and the enemy will be bound.
6. Many will invite Jesus to be their Savior.
7. I am praying BIG... That this message will change all of our lives.

What about the prostitutes, the robbers, the murderers and the outcasts of society? 
It doesn't matter how "good" you are, none of us is worthy. What we lack is the righteousness that God requires for entry into heaven. We all fall short compared to God's righteousness. Impossible!

"What we lack is Christ's righteousness that God requires for entry into heaven." 

PLEASE KNOW that it is not too late to "trade" in your sins for Christ's righteousness. It is open to everyone... yes everyone! Even people living in the deepest, darkest pits of depravity. There is no sin too bad or terrible for Christ's love to erase. Jesus is waiting for you to pursue Him, for you to invite Him into your life. Did you know, Jesus also "rewards" those who put their faith in Him and then continue to live a life loving others?

Jesus is waiting... for you to pursue Him, for you to invite HIm into your life. When you confess and believe Jesus paid the price for your sins by dying on the cross... Jesus supernaturally exchanges your sins for His white robes of righteousness. The chains of sin's power are released from your life... forever!  

Hang on, it gets even better! 

Then Jesus places His Spirit IN us... "signed, sealed and delivered!"

A wonderful counselor to guide and empower us 24/7!

So how about you, what will you experience at the judgment seat of Christ? Is your name written in the Book of Life? Will you be seeing Christ as your Judge or your Savior? Together, let's spur one another on to look in the mirror and really ask ourselves, "Am I daily living my life with God's eternal vision in mind?"

"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done." 

Revelation 22:12

It is not too late to be freed from the penalty of "Guilty as charged."

Shug

PRISON TURF WARS - "Where Did Jesus Go For Three Days After He Died?"

An inmate's hand shot up out of the blue with a question in the middle of the church message. "Hey Shug, where in the Bible does it say Jesus went to Hell? You know, when they say 'he descended into hell?'" I detected a little attitude in her voice, almost a dare for me to find the verses. So I decided to act upon it.

(I love this about prison church services... there is never a dull moment.)

So I asked, in the middle of the service; "Would you like me to do a message next time on this topic?" I saw heads nodding and a resounding"YES" from the majority of the inmates. Some realizing they didn't know this is said in part of the Apostles Creed.

"...suffered under Pontius Pilate; 
was crucified, died and was buried; 

he descended into hell, 

on the third day he rose again from the dead;

he ascended into heaven,

and is sitting at the right hand of God the Father Almighty..." 

At this point everyone in prison was wondering..."Where did Jesus go after he died for three days?"

Alone in my office as I finalize the research on the Apostles Creed, Scripture and commentaries.  I came to realize through prayer, this controversial topic is really about "TURF WARS."

There are all sorts of "Turf Wars" going on in our lives. Just wake up and get out of bed and you'll witness good and evil battling it out for the "Turf" in our lives. Gangs fighting for their neighborhood turf. Addictions beating up their victims until they surrender from the battle. The invisible "Turf" in our souls that ache to be filled by the love of Christ and then we fill it with everything but...

Biblical Scholars are even battling for "Turf", dissecting these verses and forming a variety of logical differing conclusions. The question on the table for generations has been; "Did Jesus descend into hell?" Basing their queries from some of the content in 1 Peter 3:18-20, 1 Peter 4:4-6 and Psalm 16:1-11.

Pot stirring trouble... comes to the forefront when we mix one of my favorite verses in Luke. When Jesus and the criminal were hanging on the cross, side by side, death knocking on their door...

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom."

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." 

Luke 23:42-43

Join me in being still for a moment, resting in the thought that no matter what the scholars say, no matter what religion says, our God does not contradict Himself. (Paradise today vs. descended into hell.)  We may never know until we see Christ face to face what the true meaning of these passages are... but rest assured the "TURF WAR" battle for our souls has already been won!

Strengthen up my friends... we need to claim back the "Turf" that is rightfully God's. "Turf" that is already won by Christ on the cross. As you get out of bed today, remember, that you are already starting your day from the territory of VICTORY!

So... what are you waiting for?  Let's go out and boldly live that way!


Shug