What Is Essential For Redemption?
By
Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (9/21/2013)
“...Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem?...” (Isaiah 50:2, King James Version [Exhortation to trust in Christ]).
“...He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her...Woman, where are those thine
accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?...Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (St. John 8:7,10,11, KJV [Christ justifieth his doctrine]).
Greetings in the Name of Christ Jesus,
Good Morning, to you, on this Saturday. My brothers and sisters, the winter is upon us, as I listened to the check on weather report about Minnesota's and Wisconsin's folks, to name two only, already scraping snow off their windows, while I watched This Week In Agribusiness, of Farm Bureau, at 6 o'clock, in the morning. Earlier, in the Agribusiness show, they sent a woman out on the streets of Chicago, to discuss an increase in the price of milk. She found that milk was still essential even if the price increased, folks said they planned to buy.
One woman, whom she interviewed, out on the streets said that she and her husband drank three gallons of milk per week. They loved milk and the vitamins it provided for their health. One man said he drank four glasses per week and needed the fill you up feeling that it gave him as well as the fat and protein that he needed to exercise. Another man said he was raised on skim milk and always kept milk in his refrigerator. Another man was raised on 2% milk and he did not plan to stop drinking milk.
I raised my sons on acidophilus milk. The market provided a varied supply of milk products for the needs of the public, to keep Americans drinking milk. I do not think my sons still drank acidophilus milk. I know they do drink milk, probably not daily but at some point their bodies must need milk, the taste of it, other than the milk they received from prepared meals and desserts. I do strongly advocate that milk was essentially good for human growth and development.
What is essential for abundant living? Is credit essential? Now, my thoughts progressed from the essential for human growth and development to abundant living. How many of you, hit rock bottom and worked with a plan of action, to regain your credit worthiness, in the world market? Strategically, you worked a plan of action, without a job, without the income needed, to attract the credit, you felt you needed, to abundantly live, trusting in Christ Jesus, to provide (Jehovah Jireh), so that you received what you prayed for.
Consciously mesmerized, in the knowledge of what was essential to qualify, for the credit worthiness, I sought, I researched my archives of credit information, which I stored away, in a web page program folder. While I searched in my archives, to get the qualifying income, for the different credit cards, I pondered, if, the consequence of sin, was health, then, could milk, save us? I pondered, if the consequence of sin, was credit, then could a credit card, save us? Obviously, the truth, here, was trust in Christ Jesus; He, who redeems us and He, who frees us from the consequences of sin. Truly, the consequences of sins, laid us in captivity, for we lost health and we lost credit.
Menacingly captivated by the requirements to qualify for Capital One credit cards, I studied what I needed for each card and I found that; a Capital One Cash Rewards for Newcomers did not require a specific credit score but it required an average household income of $53,746, to get an average credit limit of $1,038, in which an average cardholder, was 33 years old. Yes, that was it! Well, when you started over, you must climb the credit ladder, again, that was all you could get in a credit limit, as of April 15, 2012. The My Points Rewards Visa Credit Card also did not require a specific credit score but it required an average household income of $56,169, to get an average credit limit of
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$2,355, in which an average cardholder, was 49 years old. Yes, indeed, the days of getting a credit limit of $5,000, was still available but I do not think with Capital One.
You never know, if there is a will, there is a way. Capital One was reviewing applications, for reapplication every 45 days, so hope was still there. You just needed to talk to them about your income.
Of course, there was always Chase Freedom Visa- $200 Bonus Cash Back, with a required credit score of 695, a required average household income of $55,957, to get an average credit limit of $3,177, in which an average cardholder, was 31 years old. What about Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card, which did not require a specific credit score but did require an average household income of $72, 610, to get an average credit limit of $6,994, in which an average cardholder, was 36 years old. And, Citi Simplicity Card, also did not require a specific credit score but required an average household income of $67,064, to get an average credit limit of $5,850, in which an average cardholder, was 37 years old.
American Express promised a higher credit limit of $11,931, which did not require a specific credit score but required an average household income of $92,843, in which the average cardholder, was 33 years old, who carried the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express. However, the Discover More Card , required a credit score of 707; required an average household income of $67, 406, to get an average credit limit of $4,864, in which the average cardholder, was 36 years old. All things are possible, in our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus. I heard Pay Pal answered the call, to provide a credit card with a $5,000 credit limit, with an average household income that was possible. All things are possible with our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus.
The house of Jacob needed to fast to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke. Prayer warriors for Christ Jesus, in fasting and prayer, bind and loose but for Jacob the question was, for how long shall we fast? How long, Lord? God accepted a day, of fasting (Isaiah 58:1-6, KJV [The fast which God accepteth]). He said:
“Is it such a fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to
afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to
spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a
fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD” (Isaiah 58:5, KJV
[The fast which God accepteth])?
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (St. John 8: 32, KJV [Christ justifieth his doctrine]). You, no longer can abide outside of the house of Christ Jesus, saying you know
not the truth or the way, of redemption. “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (verse 34). I know this to be truth, from experience.
As I worked hard, not hardly worked; I worked hard, refinancing my greater debt, from variable interest to fixed interest of three percent. Firstly, I refinanced a portion, at three percent, then, I decided to refinanced the whole debt, at five percent. Now, for my lesser debts, the strategy, was sacrifice; I sacrificed in my spending, not only purchasing conventional items but I purchased organic and natural groceries, at the grocers. Additionally, I sacrificed, salon care, for hair, manicure, and pedicure as well as spa treatment, for home care and I received clothes, as gifts.
I purchased the care products and I became my hair stylist, my manicurist, and my pedicurist. I became my every professional, even a contractor to rehabilitate the house that I needed, for care but some might say you cannot do everything. You needed help, don't you? I thought, I did not need help when I needed to get back on track with finances; I just needed to apply all the strength in me, commit to my wellness, and move forward, do what I needed to do, to care for myself, family, and property.
I did not say sacrifice myself and fail to care for myself, for I must care for myself and for my family. Who else would do that for me, in the way that I liked to care for all things. Who would use due
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diligence, like myself? Or, was it, because you do not use due diligence, you know you will not do what was needed so you depended on others to do for you what you know you would not do for yourself, and for your children, too, so, you were willing to pay for the services. This rendered you incapable of understanding what I felt, at the moment, I planned to commit, to a brighter future.
Well, in the absence of using yourself, to cut the fat of your budget, you could hire cheap labor
but of course, you know you will only get what you paid for? Let us, get back on track, for this
example, I decided to do the work. In America, there were many shops manned, by one man or one
woman, which stood the test of time, to stay alive, afloat, in faith, hoping the light of abundant living would stay on them until they made it back to the level of abundant living they prayed for. For abundant living for one person, was merely, a job to qualify to get a roof over their head and another person aspired to get a six figure salary to get a mansion or to leave corporate America and become a small business owner, to purchase land and build whatever they liked; the salt of the earth.
In 2008, immediately, since the death of my sister, in fact, the day after her death, I was approached, to date a married man, to get my cares, paid for? The choice to enter into sin and become a servant of sin, loomed over me and yoked me until I could not breathe or stand the sight of myself. I did not want to leave my God. “And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever” (verse 35). Did I need to do that because now that I was alone, without my sister, although surrounded by distant relatives, this person felt he could approach me with the adulterous proposition? He did not realize I was as close to Christ Jesus, as I was, for he did not want me to be as close to Christ Jesus as I was; he just wanted to get his needs cared for, close to his farm, so he would not need to travel to town.
Oh! How dared he? Yes, he dared. And, he dared, without fear, for he felt that only my side of the family would defend me, for he planted seeds to divide the family, so that everyone took care of only their family sect, leaving me alone. However, Christ said:
“...He that is without sin among you, let him first
cast a stone at her...Woman, where are those thine
accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?...Neither do I
condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (St. John 8:7,10,11,
KJV [Christ justifieth his doctrine]).
Where was my trust in God, to redeem me, with Christ Jesus? I was tired and I needed my cares paid for, right now. Why did I feel like just because this married man stood in my face and spoke out
the adulterous proposition of sin that his proposition made the words of God to no effect, in my life? This proposition of sin could not nullify God. This man's words made God's promise of Christ Jesus, who redeemed us, nothing.
Well, Satan, is and will always be a liar, when he spoke to me, through a man and for you, when he spoke through, whomever; whether he spoke through, a man, a woman or a child. Satan is was a liar. I know I did not want to be a servant of sin. I knew once you entered into captivity, you needed Christ Jesus, anyway, to set you free. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed”
(verse 36).
So, how could I deny the power of Christ to redeem me out of financial captivity, enter into adulterous sin, then cry out, for him to redeem me, anyway? What a mess of my thought process? It was not my thought process but Satan, coming between me and Christ Jesus, as he saw me progress toward the mark, the high calling, in all my affairs, running my course. He sought to bind me, if he could not bind me, in persuasive words, then, he would bind me, in body and take away my liberty.
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So, in 2009, Satan watched my every move and listened to my every word, to find a way to get in my course, while I ran it, to manifest a lie, to stop me, from pressing toward the mark. He did not
care who he used to get in; he watched to see who coveted, who was jealous, who was envious, who gossiped, who was double-minded, who was two-faced, who he could get to betray me. If, the weakness of conscious, was already a point in need of reconciliation, in their life, it would not take much to persuade them or possess them, if he had to, to get them, then, to betray me by taking my
horses, the horses he knew I honestly loved in my heart. Once, he took away my liberty, he could have his way, with me and lay me captive, to the sin that he proposed, in the first place, unknown to me
when he first thought it, now known to me, since he made the proposition. He must manifest the
captivity but without sin, it would take more work to keep me bound for if, I was not bound, in my heart or in my mind, the chains could not remain.
For, Christ was in me and he could not lay me captive, so, he agreed to one day; to lay me captive, for a day but then, in 2013, when it was all said and done, Christ did not let the one day stand, since four years in temptation. And I thank God, for that, for not letting even the one day of captivity stand, for I know I love God and I know Christ Jesus dwells in my heart and in my mind. Can you make it through temptation? Sometimes, we think we only need to stay on course, run our course and finish our course, we forget about temptations, laid at our rest, to unsettle us, to distract us, from God's plan and purpose, for our lives. Satan, refused to accept, Christ redeemed me and would not let him have his way, with me, so Satan took my horse, again.
Of course, the temptation, was far more complicated than the one betrayal, for my dying cousin prophesied, from her bed-ridden stay, on a summer day, when I sat with her, while the family celebrated reunion that she wanted me to read to her about the woman at the well. That's how she answered me, when I held the Holy Bible, in my hand and asked her what did she want me to read to her. I knew there was a message for me. Now, I know, more than the adulterous temptation, the deep south culture wanted me to be the woman at the well. In Atlanta, they called me Jesus and during passover, folks acted like I was Christ. Miraculously, I still stand, inasmuch as they envisioned me nailed to the cross, persecuted, as a man and turned out as the woman at the well.
Christ talked to the woman at the well (The woman of Samaria), in the absence of his disciples and said:
“...Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall
never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him
a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (St. John 4:
13-14, KJV [The woman of Samaria]).
I felt, Lord, Lord, how far they challenged me and took me, away from Christ, away from God; casting me afar off instead of drawing me nigh to the tender embrace of my God? I did not want five husbands and I did not want the man I was with not to be my husband as was the temptation of the woman at the well. I did not want to speak of the woman at the well, other than about the waters Christ promised so her temptation of five husbands would not become my temptation. I decided not to think about it and let Christ Jesus, do the judging and not think about how many frogs a woman had to kiss to find her prince.
I liked to believe the idea that David loved Bathsheba in the bible story of an adulterous affair that ended up, true love and also the bible story of ending up with more than one husband as well as more than one wife. David and Bathsheba, came up out of sin but they suffered the consequence of their sin, of the death of their first child. Yet, David loved Bathsheba. Here, I am, even further away
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from God, in the story of David and Bathsheba, away from my course, my purpose, in the plan of God. I thank God, for drawing me nigh when I was afar off.
What is essential for redemption, must not take you away from God because it is your relationship with God that is in question, so you must remain in God's plan and purpose, for your life and stay on course? How could you run your course and finish your course, without living your life in God's plan and purpose? Otherwise, you will get caught up, living everyone's else life, imitating
their way of doing things, instead of the way Christ Jesus modeled for you, to follow, here, on earth, when he said, “Follow me.” In that regard, you will find yourself measured up against what other
folks do and say instead of measured up against God's plan and purpose, for your life. Don't you see
folks, always talking about what someone else did or said, always in business that was not God's
business, minding to it, forgetting their purpose in God's business?
I do not want to see anyone lost by the wayside, caught up, confused, and misused, without God, outside of grace. Why do you think folks, find themselves, coveting what other folks have, jealous and envious, gossiping, double-minded and two-faced, all because they lost the way, Christ Jesus, to God's plan and purpose, for their lives? What do the teachers tell the students in class, “Stay on task.” So, also, must everyone, “Stay on course, with Christ Jesus.”
Let us say, the folks of the community and my kinsmen, without cause, did not hold any good news in their hearts, for me and tried to take me afar off, from God. I heard my neighbor, also a distant kinsman hiss like a snake, when I and another kinsman drove by and during passover, one neighbor, from the surrounding communities slapped me on the back and screeched in catholic church, like they were in the crowd as Christ Jesus walked up to Calvary carrying the cross, with blood running down his face from the crown of thorns, when I walked by in the communion line. Obviously, they were possessed of a demonic spirit. The priest exorcised in the baptismal ceremony and the one who slapped me on the back looked around as if she was not at fault and then, tried to capture anyone's eyes to come into agreement but no one met her stare, they just intently listened to the words of God in the exorcism prayer and she calmed down and stopped the possessed stare; she settled in her seat, finally, at peace.
Praise God! His mercy endureth forever. For me, this was the first time I witnessed the life of Christ Jesus, come alive, real in my life, with the spirits of 2,000 years ago or the spirits of my ancestors behaving like they did in their day and time, coming forth to dwell in the bodies of modern day folks. It was amazingly startling but Christ did not let me fight or go into shock; he kept me at peace, with it all, which amazed the ones, who were possessed.
We must be careful for nothing, only trust in our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus. Amen. May God bless you. May the Lord be with you. May the spirit be with you.
