Luke 23:39-43 - One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?"And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."  NASU 
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• Forgiveness 

As I read over this passage of scripture I am reminded that I too was once like these two criminals. I was carrying all of my sins by myself to judgment. If I had died before accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior I would have been rudely awakened by the torment that would have been rightly awaiting me.
 
I remember reading a quote in a book that goes like this: "It doesn't matter how you start. It only matters how you finish." Well, my early years were used for me. I did what I wanted to do and went where I wanted to go. Little did I know at the time the devil was playing me for the fool I was. I was on a fast track to hell.
 
I was at a class reunion a few months ago when one of my classmates had learned that I gave my life to Christ. He said this with all sincerity, "I am really glad you changed." In other words, he was saying, "I am really glad you gave your life to Christ."
 
He may be really glad but I am over the moon ecstatic that I became a Christian. I was like the criminals on the cross. I was headed to hell and needed forgiveness. I am happy that I was like the one criminal that realized he needed Jesus and not like the one that didn't realize his need for Him.
 
My start in my early years not so good, but it is my finish where I want to shine for the LORD.
 
If your start hasn't been so great, don't worry about it. Make the remaining years of your life count for the LORD. 

• The Lord's Kingdom 

The one criminal said, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!"
 
How did he know Jesus had a kingdom?
 
I will give you my two cents worth because he had heard either John the Baptist or Jesus preach a sermon about the kingdom, or maybe he heard both of them.
 
Matt 3:1-2 - Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
 
Matt 4:17 - From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
He may have heard one or both of them. We know he didn't listen to them when he first heard them, but now at the end of his life, he is ready to accept the truth and become a member of the Kingdom of God.
 
Maybe you haven't listened to the gospel in your early days. It doesn't matter how you start it matters how you finish.
 
Finish strong! Give your life to Christ! He can do more with it than you can. 

• Entrance Into God's Kingdom 

If you are one of my readers and have not entered into God's Kingdom now is the time to enter.
 
Here is what Jesus said about entering the Kingdom: John 3:5 - Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
 
Jesus is telling everyone to be baptized or immersed for this is how one is born of the water and the Spirit (read Acts 2:38). 

• The Criminal 

You might be thinking well the criminal wasn't baptized and you would be correct. He lived under the old covenant and we live under the new covenant.
 
The criminal was displaying repentance and a confession of his faith in God which was what was needed under the old covenant.
 
We are baptized into the death of Christ and Christ wasn't dead at this point.
 
Romans 6:3 - Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
 
I hope you will allow God to extend one of His greatest attributes to you and that would be the forgiveness of your sins.
 
Think About This:
 
There is one thing for which you should be thankful - only you and God have all the facts about yourself.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago 

Minister of God's Word

Gen. 41:50-51- Now before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him. 51 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household."   NASU 

• Lets Set The Stage By Reviewing Joseph Early Life 

Joseph you might remember was the boy with the coat of many colors. His dad was Jacob and his mother Rachael. He was the favorite son and is 17 years old at this time.
 
His older half-brothers detested him greatly and when the opportunity came for them to get rid of him they sold him to some slave traders. The slave traders will take him to Egypt where he will be sold again (Gen.37:18-36). 

• If You Have Had a Rough Childhood  

While being a slave his master's wife tries to seduce him. He refuses her advances and she lies about him, which gets him thrown into an Egyptian prison (Gen.39:20). While in prison he is beaten and placed in irons (Ps.105:17-18).
 
In prison he reveals the meaning of dreams to a butler and a baker. The baker will die exactly the way Joseph interpreted his dream.
 
Joseph will interpret a dream for the butler and when it happens exactly the way Joseph said the butler doesn’t help Joseph like he said he would. He will use this knowledge later to help Joseph to be freed from prison, but not immediately. 

• God's Blessings Can Come in an Instant and Change Your Life Immediately 

Next, the Pharaoh has a dream and wants the dream revealed and interpreted, but there isn't anyone who can reveal his dream and interpret it.
 
When no one is able to interpret the dream the butler remembers Joseph can interpret dreams. Joseph is brought in and he reveals Pharaoh's dream and it's interpretation. The meaning of his dream is Egypt is will experience seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.
 
God has given Joseph the ability to reveal and interpret the dream of Pharaoh, and because of this, the Pharaoh places him second in command over all Egypt at this time. 

•  Forget All Your Past Troubles 

Joseph named his firstborn son, Manasseh, which means "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household."  Joseph goes to Egypt when he is 17 years old as a slave. We are not exactly sure how old he was when thrown into prison for a crime he didn't commit. We do know that he will get out at the age of 30. Therefore, he could have spent 13 years or fewer in prison.
 
Joseph says, "God has made him forget…" So what about you, can you say I have had my share of troubles?  Have people lied about you? Have people been jealous of you or your accomplishments?
 
Have you been sexually harassed or physically abused? Have you been in prison for a crime you didn't commit? Have you been hurt by family members?
 
If you are able to answer "yes" to any of these questions then let me ask you one more question. 

• Have You Had Your Manasseh Moment? 

Have you been able to let it go? Have you been able to "forget about it"? Joseph said God was able to assist him in forgetting his troubled past. In fact, he names his first son, Manasseh, which means "causing to forget".
 
The secret to overcoming past hurts is to ask God for help. Ask Him to help you have a Manasseh moment.
 
God helped Joseph and He will help you.
 
Think on These:
 
It is far better to forgive and forget than to hate and remember.
 
We are like a beast when we kill, men when we judge others and God when we forgive.
 
Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago
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​Gen. 42:21-22 - Then they said to one another, "Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore this distress has come upon us." Reuben answered them, saying, "Did I not tell you, 'Do not sin against the boy; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood."   NASU

•  The Cause Of Their Guilt 

Jacob's sons are in a dilemma. They had years ago sold their brother, Joseph, into slavery. They took his coat of many colors and stained it with animal blood and then lied to their dad, Jacob, about what they had done to Joseph. Sibling rivalry once again raising its ugly head in the book of Genesis.
 
There had been a famine and Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain. When Joseph sees his brothers, he recognizes them but they don't recognize him. Joseph has them placed in prison and accuses them of being spies. He leaves them in prison for three days. He tells them they must leave one of the brothers in prison, travel home and bring their younger brother to Egypt to prove they are not spies.

•  The Guilt Of The Past Returns 

Their guilty consciences kick in and they remember what they had done to Joseph, their brother, and they are thinking this is why we are experiencing this disaster.
 
We probably all have done some thing in our past that periodically comes back from time to time to haunt us.
 
The two best ways I know to overcome a guilty conscience if you have hurt someone:

1. Apologize and ask for forgiveness from the hurt person if at all possible.
2. Apologize and ask for forgiveness from God if the hurt person cannot be contacted.

After their father, Jacob, dies the brothers send a message to Joseph asking him to forgive them. Gen. 50:16-17 -"Your father charged before he died, saying, 'Thus you shall say to Joseph, "Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong."' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father."       
 
The brothers asked Joseph for forgiveness and it was granted to them.  

• The Hope We Have In Christ

When your conscience brings up your past here is what I have found works for me. During those times I remind myself I am not the same person. That Gary died and was buried March 2, 1975 in the watery grave of baptism. Jesus was and is the perfect sacrifice. He atones for the sins of mankind. The best way to defeat your guilty conscience is to be born again.
 
I am not perfect now but thank God I am not what I used to be nor am I what I want to be.  I want to do what 2 Pet. 3:18 says, "…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
 
Like the sign says, "Under Construction: God isn't finished with me yet." Christians are under construction. God is working on us. We are a work in progress.

• Guilty Conscience About Something Done After Your Baptism?

In case you didn't know Christians aren't perfect and sometimes our guilty consciences come from things we have done after we have become a Christian. You may have done something that hasn't hurt anyone but yourself so you don't have to ask for anyone's forgiveness.

People have told you, "To let it go." You wish you could but everything you've tried isn't working. 
 
So what should be done in those situations? I would say, "You need to remember what God has done for you and that is He has forgiven you, so forgive yourself." 

• I Am Plagued By Feeling Guilty Constantly

Some people have a personality that dwells on the past and if you are a Christian that is constantly fighting your past mistakes then by all means you need to dwell on God's ability to forgive you of your sins.

• Christians Have The Same Enemy As Jesus

Christians must remember we have the same enemy Jesus had when He was on earth. The enemy constantly wants to bring up your past mistakes.
 
I like this saying, "When the devil wants to remind you of your past, remind him of his future." 

God is going to CRUSH him one day and so it says in Romans 16:20 - "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."    
 
If you want to dwell on something dwell on what God has done for you and what He will do to the devil. 

Think on These:

The head usher to happiness is a well-kept conscience.
 
Your conscience is not the voice of God; it is a gift from God.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

Heb 8:12 - "FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES,
AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE."  

• Remember Your Sins 

The first thing God can't do is to remember our sins once He has forgiven us of our sins. (I am not referring to backsliders here.)
 
This is probably the greatest piece of news any forgiven person has ever received. When God says, "I will not remember your sins." It doesn't get any better than that my friends.

One of my favorite preachers was a man named Don DeWelt.

I remember one of his illustrations about when he would visit his elderly mother in a nursing home. Don said, "Every time he visited her she would ask him the same thing. It was if he would pray for the Lord to forgive her of her sins?"

Don said, "At first I said, 'Yes' and would ask the Lord to forgive her." Finally, he said, "I couldn't take it any more and the next time he visited her and  she asked him, he said, "No. I am not going to ask God to do something He has already done."

This is a great lesson for all of us. When God has forgiven us of our sins and we remain in Christ, the blood of Christ continually cleanses us. In other words, God doesn't remember our sins.

1 Jn 1:7 -  "...if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."
 
We all have sinned and fall short of God's glory, but we can have our sins forgiven by accepting the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
 
1 Jn 2:1-2 - And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. 
 
The word "propitiation" means "to appease." Jesus' sacrifice of Himself appeased God's holy demand from His creation. I like how the Psalmist has written it.
 
Ps 32:1-2- "How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,…"
 
Have you ever taken the time to sit and ponder how blessed you are because God has forgiven you of your sins?

If not lately, now would probably be a great time to take inventory of this tremendous blessing. 

• Break His Promises 

Joshua 21:45 - Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.
 
The second thing God can't do is break His promises.
 
God not only makes promises He keeps them.
 
One of my favorite promises from God is found in Psalms 34:19 - "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all."
 
You will notice it says the righteous are going to have many afflictions, BUT the LORD will deliver us out of them ALL.  
 
I found that in 32 years of ministry a lot of Christians believed they weren't supposed to have any troubles. Yet, it is plain to see God's Word says the opposite.

The good news as I see it is God is going to deliver the righteous from ALL their afflictions.
 
What better way to build trust then to be there to help someone in their time of need.

God is there for us and that is a promise.
 
Think On These:
God makes a promise - Faith believes it, Hope anticipates it, Patience quietly awaits for it.
 
Promises are only as dependable as the individuals who make them.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago


 
Minister of God's Word

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