Friday, July 31, 2009

Every Debt That You Ever Had - Apples of Gold - July 31, 2009 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for July 31, 2009

“Every Debt That You Ever Had”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

It’s a great thing to have your sins forgiven!

I know psychiatrists have their mumbo jumbo about, “Well, that’s nice for you.  If it makes you feel better to think some ‘god’ out there has forgiven your sins, well that’s just great.  More power to you.”

But have you ever tried to talk yourself into something you don’t believe? 

Like, try to talk yourself into believing that a relative just gave you a thousand dollars.  That’s ridiculous, right?  Unless they did just give you a thousand dollars.  And then you don’t have to talk yourself into believing it, because it really happened.  It may seem unreal.  It may be amazing and wonderful.  It may stir up a wide variety of emotions.  But you don’t have to talk yourself into some mind game about whether you got the money or not.  You got it.  You know you got it because you can look in your account and there it is. 

Well that’s what happens when you truly receive God’s forgiveness for your sins.  I have seen this happen to thousands of people, and I know it has happened to millions.  They bring their sins to the Lord, that heavy burden of their sins, and He forgives them. 

And it’s a glorious thing!  You can see the look on their face.  They brighten.  The load is lifted.  They weren’t forgiven before, and now they are. 

It’s not a mind game because before, when they looked at their account, they saw their sin.  It was big and black and heavy and ugly.  It was a ruiner, a destroyer. 

But then they come to Jesus and they lay it out before Him.

“Here is my sin, Lord.  I lay it before You.  I confess it.  I did it.  I am a sinner.  I need forgiveness.  Lord Jesus, please forgive me.”

And He does!  And then they look at their account, and their debt has been wiped clean! 

Oh yes, it has great psychological benefits, just as God designed it to have.  It’s a great leap toward mental health when your sins are forgiven.

Big sins.  Little sins.  Old sins.  New sins.  Accidental sins and on-purpose sins.  One-time sins and habitual sins.  Bring them all to Jesus.  Confess them.  Lay them out before Him, and He will forgive them!  The slate will be wiped clean.  “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be like crimson, they shall be as wool.”  “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.”

This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Yes, it’s the old fashioned Gospel, the Gospel that saved sinners in tents, at wooden altars, and on sawdust floors.  It’s the Gospel that saved St. Augustine and the Apostle Paul.  It’s the Gospel that rescued C.S. Lewis and Charles Colson.  It’s the Gospel that caused Kurt Warner to say, “Thank you Jesuuuuus!” when he won the Super Bowl.  

It’s the message that is still setting people free everyday, everywhere.  It’s so important that millions of people, after receiving it themselves, have dedicated their lives to spreading it around the world.

“What a message!” they say.  “I must tell everyone!  I must spread this to every soul I can!  Everyone must hear this wonderful news!”

Luke 24 says that repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in Jesus name to all nations.

This is the message to all nations, that Jesus Christ will forgive your sins!

You can be relieved of that terrible burden.

In Psalm 32 King David said, “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.”

At the Last Supper Jesus said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Acts 10:43 says, “All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believe in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

In Acts 2:38 Peter said, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 13:38 says, “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”

Ephesians 1:7 says “…we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”

First John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Oh, how many songs have been written about this free and wonderful gift of the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ?

One of my all time favorites was written by Michael Kelley Blanchard.  It says:

“Be ye glad, oh, be ye glad,
Every debt that you ever had,
Has been paid up in full by the grace of the Lord,
Be ye glad,
Be ye glad,
Be ye glad!”


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip 
 
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000

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