Religion seeks to substitute for Christ, even replace Him with doctrines. We need to understand that God is not a Christian. God is neither religion or religious. God is simply Spirit (We call God Him but in reality, He is beyond concepts like gender. We say He simply because it is inconvenient to say He/She/It all the time) The idea that the secular world is adversarial to faith prevents Christ followers from loving the world enough to approach humanity in the same compassionate spirit in which Christ approached US. As long as we see the world as a sin-wracked enemy we will never be able to appeal to people in the right spirit and with a healthy, hospitable attitude.
John 1:11 says "He came to his own, and his own received him not." It was not the secular world that rejected Jesus but religious people who despised Him, primarily His Jewish brethren, who were threatened by what He represented. Jesus was a magnet for sinners and those marginalized to the fringes of society. Such people were drawn to Him by His love, as seen in Luke 15:1-7.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathered around Him to hear what He had to say. But the Pharisees and teachers of the law muttered "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Then Jesus told them this parable. "Suppose one of you had one hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and goes after the lost sheep until he finds it?" I tell you that in the same way there will be rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who changes his mind than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to change their mind.
Note that Jesus said the shepherd had to pick up the lost sheep hoist it on his shoulders and carry it home. Many lost sheep will not respond simply to our voice or call, regardless of how elegant or doctrinally accurate we sound. Some sheep are not only lost, but are deaf and wounded. Many are injured and crippled, and need to be picked up emotionally and spiritually and carried by Jesus Himself back to the fold, Which is God's universal family of which ALL are members.
Note: Religion always points fingers while grace Himself always extends a hand.....
Let's all of us in the Digital Cathedral for the month of May be hand extenders as He is and not finger pointers.. It will begin a habit that will last the rest of your life.
In His Grace,
Pastor Don
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This month
Grace Point Network
is highlighting the ministry and books of
Dr. Roy Richmond
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Dr. Roy Richmond is a Scribe, Theologian, Teacher, Author and President of Tree of Life Ministries International, Inc. He began ministry in 1988 and pastored several fellowships. He resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA. He ministers around the world by way of the World Wide Web and live on Facebook every Sunday morning at 10 am central time. He travels abroad and across the United States ministering with a clear sounding word of man’s eternal Oneness with Father God. The mission, mandate and ministry on Roy’s life, is to teach and explain, concerning the Grace of our Father, which is founded in the Truthful Gospel revealed by Jesus Christ.
The truth of Jesus’ Passion was clearly revealed to the Apostle Paul and then John, and many others after them. However, what Paul and John was given needs no enlargement, except for removing what religious minded translators have done to what they wrote. Dr. Roy mines out the gold (divine nature) and the silver (redemption) and makes the Word understandable for the student and those who are hungry. The mandate and anointing on Roy’s life is to, “Eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared….” Neh. 8:10.
Dr. Roy also serves as a Professor and Academic Dean at Global Grace Seminary in Houston, Texas. He has written over 68 books that teach and explain the Word of God. Additionally, Dr. Roy has translated half of the book of Revelation, the Epistle of Romans, the Epistle of Galatians, Epistle of Colossians, hundreds of chapters in various books of the Bible, and several thousand sections of verses. His web page is
www.drroyerichmond.com
In Christendom and other religions, there is a common struggle among the followers; the struggle is always doing something to improve one’s humanhood. Roy calls this “do to be” laws; the Bible uses the phrase, “Dead works.” Roy believers we have possessed very little knowledge as to who we are, and how what we have sought, is already our possession. If you are weary by the religious struggles placed on you, and ready to be made free, the content of Roy’s video teachings and his books, will bring the experience of Life to you.
The most recent books Dr. Roy has published are, “Living as Holy Spirit,” “The Unforced Rhythm of Life,” and “Simple Answers to What Seem to be Difficult Questions” – thirty-two common questions are answered in this book.
Also, he and Dr. Kay Fairchild have recently published volume 1 & 2 of “No Penal Substitution.”
Roy also has created at Bachelor of Biblical Studies Course of Study at Global Grace Seminar. He along with Dr. Kay Fairchild are the teachers for this Course. You can view Roy’s introduction video at YouTube at
https://youtu.be/H0VI8XTHonw
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ADAM IS CALLED THE SON OF GOD in Luke 3:38 and that is written even AFTER he 'fell'. That is fully 100% Adam's identity, sooo as descendants of Adam, ALL human beings are God's sons and daughters also... How is that for turning the tables on the so called Adamic Nature?
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We must not conform the Father to our thinking but conform our thinking to align with the truth of the Father's self revelation as fully mirrored in Jesus.
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"JESUS IS THE author and perfecter of your faith. Jesus founded your faith and He will finish it and do everything in between. He does the work, not you. You are to work as hard and do as much as an apple tree does to grow apples. You are only deceiving yourself with religious nonsense if you think you can produce spiritual growth or change yourself."
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LIKE IT OR LUMP IT but the gospel truth is you can never over exaggerate the grace and love of the Father. Words like hyper-grace do not even begin to touch the depth, height, length or the width of God's love and grace. Blow it up, magnify it, enlarge it, supersize grace and it still has not even begun to describe how big love and grace really are....
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A GRACE COMMUNITY DOES NOT invite you in by grace then drop the bomb of performance on you by saying you are a child of God when you sign the doctrinal statement, beat the addiction, help with the children's ministry, get your act together, tithe, play by the rules, believe without doubt, are religious, straight, and good. A real grace community does not require that you go through the rinse cycle before you are accepted.
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Gracetimonies
"I really enjoy your teaching, I hope one day to meet you personally and give you a big hug. You have brought so much peace into my life. Thank you and keep preaching these truths." ~Cathy
"Thank you for the teaching because I never really believed that anyone went to hell. I knew deep inside that our Father was all love." ~Susan
"Good stuff Don !!! I am so in love with the Lord....Cause I know He is mad about me."
~Elaine
"We are in a love dance safe in Christ and we have never miss stepped-He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to LIVE in our predestined never ending embrace." ~Peg
"Thank you for your teaching on this important subject. Thought provoking to say the least. I have never heard that Satan and the fallen angels will be purified by the lake of fire. I definitely need a better concordance." ~Terry
"Great message!! It is time to get the hell out of church and loose heaven on the earth. Thank you so very much." ~Michael
"Keep tearing it up Don !! Restoring the portrait of the Father of infinite love and rescuing souls devastated by this lie is worth every negative response." ~Dave
"This is so good! I am excited that more and more churches are starting to challenge this borrowed idea of eternal torment." ~Ted
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Thank you for your interest in Grace Point Network!! Here are some ways you can support Pastor Don in helping him to spread the Great News of Grace!
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