God Help the Outcasts - the Lord Jesus Christ gives Life!

Know For Sure.....GOD LOVES YOU and Has a Plan for Your Life~You have worth!

Luke 1:78-79 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

What Does God say to the Outcasts...

First........

Recognize that.....GOD LOVES YOU and Has
a Plan for Your Life~You have worth!

For God so loved the world that He gave His one
and only Son, that whoever (that means you!)
believes in him shall not perish
but have Eternal Life. (John 3:16)

Second.........

Recognize that.....Everyone has SINNED and SIN SEPARATES YOU from GOD

SIN is ...man walking
in his own way in rebellion against God's will. When we walk away from God, we walk away from life. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

As humans we are always trying to find life's meaning in the wrong ways and places.

There is a way that seems right to man,
but it leads to death. (Pro. 14:12)

Our own efforts can't save us Galatians 6 :14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Third.......

JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN FOR OUR SINS

He DIED in OUR place.
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8)

JESUS is the WAY to New Life.
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Cor. 5:17)

He gives INNER PEACE.
We have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1)

AND THE SON SETS YOU FREE.
So if the Son sets you free,
you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

AND ETERNAL LIFE.
...but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 6:23)

JOY!! "In Your presence is fullness of JOY!" Psalm 16:11

Fourth......

ASK GOD for FORGIVENESS

CONFESS YOUR SINS TO GOD (Talk to Him about it)
He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds MERCY. (Pro. 28:13)

FORGIVENESS is PROMISED.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Fifth.....

Place Your TRUST in Jesus
and Receive HIM as Your SAVIOR.

Jesus is READY.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock,
if anyone hears my voice
and opens the door. I will go in... (Rev. 3:30)

Receive HIM NOW.
Yet to all who receive Him,
to those who believed in His name
He gave them the right to become children of God.

The Bible says that
"we can come boldly to the throne of the Lord, and obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need"
(Hebrews 4:14) Let's do that now!

Ok, now let's start this relationship off right with the Lord!! Let's talk to Him! Simply, like this.........

Lord Jesus, I want to have a life with meaning.
I want to leave the darkness behind and
have Your Light within me. I confess that I have sinned
and I ask Your forgiveness. I believe that You died
for me and I accept You as my Savior.
I will turn away from a life of darkness and sin
and now follow You. It is Your grace and power
that will enable me to live for You. Thank-You, Jesus, for saving me, and for giving me a new life in Your Light. Amen!

That's not the end though! You need to find that Bible
that is somewhere in your house....is it understandable?
If not go get one you can read....
when you do that... read it!
In the day and in the night, so you receive
all God has to give you!!! Now ask the Lord to
lead you to the church He wants you to worship Him at.
Talk to Him everyday, all the time!
Start out by thanking Him and
then praising Him for the great thing
He has done in you & go on from there....
He loves and adores you, stay close ~
He always wants to hear from you!

In the past you were full of darkness,
but now you are full of light in the Lord.
So live like children who belong to the light.
Light brings every kind of goodness,
right living, and truth. Try to learn what
pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the things done in the darkness, which are not worth anything. But try to expose them. Ephesians 5.8-11

"For I know the thoughts that I think towards you,
says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil,
to give you a future and a hope. Then
you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me,
and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me
and find Me, when you search for Me
with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you
by your name, You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the Lord your God..." Isaiah 43:1-3

Understanding your identity in Christ is absolutely essential to your success at living the victorious Christian life." Copy this page & read it everyday if you have to.

I am accepted...

I am God's child ~ John 1:12

As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ ~ John 15:15

I have been justified ~ Romans 5:1

I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit ~ 1 Corin. 6:17

I have been bought with a price, and I belong to God ~ 1 Corin. 6:19-20

I am a member of Christ's body ~ 1 Corin. 12:27

I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child ~ Ephesians 1:3-8

I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins ~ Colossians 1:13-14

I am complete in Christ ~ Colossians 2:9-10

I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ ~ Hebrews 4:14-16

I am secure...

I am free from condemnation ~ Romans 8:1-2

I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances ~ Romans 8:28

I am free from any condemnation brought against me, and I cannot be separated from the love of God ~ Romans 8:31-39

I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God ~ 2 Corin. 1:21-22

I am hidden with Christ in God ~ Colossians 3:1-4

I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me ~ Philippians 1:6

I am a citizen of Heaven ~ Philippians 3:20

I have not been given the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me ~ 1 John 5:18

I am significant...

I am the branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life ~ John 15:5

I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit ~ John 15:16

I am God's temple ~ 1 Corin. 3:16

I am a minister of reconciliation for God ~ 2 Corin.5:17-21

I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm ~ Ephesians 2:6

I am God's workmanship ~ Ephesians 2:10

I may approach God with freedom and confidence ~ Ephesians 3:12

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me ~ Philippians 4:13

THE MORE YOU REAFFIRM WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity!

God has a calling for the outcasts

God has a calling for the outcasts who came to him

So what can we do in these dark times? Be who you are. Be confident in your unique calling. As now in the kingdom of God, you are a chosen tribe, a holy nation of priests (I Pet. 2:9) and a peculiar people (special treasure) (Exod. 19:5; Deut. 14:2) of a Holy (unique, special, set-apart) God. Be imitators of Christ. Look in the mirror. Surrender the weights (of fear, bitterness, the past, the pain) that hold you down (Heb. 12:1-4), and walk in His way. Do not forsake the fellowship of like-minded believers. Read the Word. Walk the Word. Remember where you came from. Come along side the misfits and the disenfranchised. Be ready to die: to your old life, to your dreams, to your glory, to your sin-nature, to this world, to this body. Remember it's all going to burn. Remember that our suffering will not last forever. Live to hear these words and these words alone: "Well done good and faithful servant" (Mt. 15:21, 23).

Persecution, Acceptance and Forgiveness

You're a outcast. Then you've been persecuted. You're a Christian. Then you've been persecuted.

Persecution happens. Like breathing, persecution happens. Like unusual garb, persecution happens. And like the way our makeup runs in the heat of summer, persecution seems to be worse for we Outcasts than other people.

Jesus promised that persecution would happen. In Mark 10:29-30, he says "I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return, a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property - with persecutions. And in the world to come they will have eternal life."

In John 15:20, Jesus also says "Do you remember what I told you? 'A servant is not greater than the master.' Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you."

If you are a Christian, the world will persecute you. Expect it. Non-Christians will ridicule you, call you an idiot, a freak, a moron. You might be beaten up. You might be thrown out of a Outcast club. You might even be threatened with death. This is especially true if you were deep into the Outcast scene as a non-Christian, then accepted Jesus. Your old friends might not understand or appreciate what you did.

But don't expect all non-Christians to persecute you. Remember Head, the guitarist for Korn? After his conversion, he left the band, and his bandmates were happy for him. Many non-Christians are nice to us.

As outcasts we have been called heretics and witches and liberals. It's sad. And it hurts. It hurts even more because it's a true reflection of the spiritual maturity of the people who persecute us.

That is still being persecuted for Jesus' name and Jesus' sake.

Jesus appreciates it and will take care of us. He says in Matthew 5:11, "God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too." You be you. You keep being who God made you to be. You keep remembering that he made you a Outcast. If you need to change, God will tell you. Don't give in to the persecution of the hypocrites.

But we Christian Outcasts have two weapons to fight persecution. We are already the most open, accepting and loving of the subcultures. Add the love of God to that and we arrive at forgiveness and acceptance.

FORGIVENESS

Forgiveness is key to being a Christian. The whole purpose of Jesus' death and resurrection was so God could forgive you and make you his child again. God forgives you, and he expects you to be as forgiving to others as he is to you.

Paul writes in Colossians 3:13, "you must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others." He also says in Ephesians 4:32, "Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." We can see how important it is to forgive others. It is a command.

Forgiveness does not exonerate the other person of what they did. Forgiveness pardons, but does not acquit -- the other party is still guilty, but you are letting them go in peace. Forgiveness does not say what they did was right. Forgiveness does not say that you were wrong. When you forgive someone, you are laying down your right for revenge. You are severing the other person's hold on you.

Let's take an extreme. Let's say you were raped. A lot of Outcasts have been. That is an awful crime. It isn't a crime of sex. It's a crime of power. Someone else exercising his power over you, striking at the core of your being, crushing your mind and crippling your emotions. As long as you remain bitter and resentful about what he did to you, it will be as if he continues to rape you every night. You will dread getting up in the morning, going to sleep at night, going out in public. You will feel filthy, dirty. A victim. That is continuing to allow someone to have that power over you.

If you forgive him, you destroy all that. We aren't saying forgiving him is easy. It isn't. Jesus never said it was. But forgive him anyway. You aren't saying what he did was right. And you are not saying you were wrong or deserved what happened. You aren't saying that you weren't raped, violated, hurt, damaged. You are turning the right to get revenge over to God. You are saying "as an act of my will, I forgive you." When you do that, you snap his hold over you. You are showing that you are a much bigger person than he is. You move from being a victim to being victimized, and are now on your way to recovery.

When you forgive those who persecute you, you are denying them the ability to persecute you after you leave the room. It's okay to be hurt. But forgiving them means you are not holding on to it or clinging to it. We are not to be like Cain holding on to resentment that will cause us to self destruct. You don't become bitter. You don't look for revenge. A hurt person looks for someone to heal her. An offended person looks for someone to hurt. Jesus can heal your hurt. You Jesus from helping you if you're offended and angry and bitter and unforgiving. He forgave the Romans and Jews who nailed him to the cross. How can we do less?

Your Worth

Oddly enough, the hardest person you will find to forgive and accept is yourself. Most Outcasts hate themselves. But you have to forgive and accept yourself.

God sees you as a prince or a princess. You may see yourself as worthless, but God sees you as worth more than many planets.

Jesus said to love your neighbor as you love yourself. If you hate yourself, or think yourself as trash, then that's how you're going to see others. It isn't easy. Forgiving, accepting and loving yourself is hard. Very hard. But do it anyway. Agape yourself. Make it an act of your will. You will see a big change in your life and how you see things once you do.

Letting Jesus Lead...

Jesus can do nothing through us and for us as long as they remain on the thrones of our hearts. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:15, So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. In other words, don't sit back in safety, numb to what God is doing. Get up and redeem the day! For the days are evil! And redeem the night as well. It is essential that we do this. The very lives of other people depend on us.

It is essential that we are in the right place at the right time for God to use us, and we can only do that if we tear down safety and security in our lives and chose to live lives offering God diligence in obeying His voice, and accepting uncertainty being content in whatever state we are therein, and BOLDNESS for God. God cannot use cowards!

In fact, Revelation 21:8 says timid faithless cowards who turn away from me, and unbelievers, and the corrupt, and murderers, and the immoral, and those who practice witchcraft, and idol worshipers, and all liars -- their doom is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death. Timid faithless cowards, those who live in safety and security, ignoring the will of God, are the first line of those banished from eternity with God.

A timid faithless coward stays in the cave while the army fights the battle.

Remember Jesus did not please men in safety and security. The Apostles didn't. Why are we even thinking about our own lives? God will take care of us. If we are in the center of his will, God will see to it that all our NEEDS are met.

This is not saying we should all leave our jobs and families and become pastors and evangelists. Only you know for sure what God has put you on Earth to do.

You need to be where God needs you to be when he needs you to be there for the people who need you to be there, and that cannot happen when you are somewhere else. There are great consequences to our actions; both bad and good.

You need to be where you are supposed to be and who you are supposed to be. Jesus needs you. The people you are supposed to reach need you. PASTORS NEED YOU! Pastors can't do this alone. The days of the pastor doing all the spiritual work while the congregation sits there and soaks are over.

All believers are called to the ministry of reconciliation. All of us can do something for Christ. All can help other people right where they are. All can live for Jesus and be who God made them to be!

Here is how to start...

Here are some examples where God can use us...

How? Start with comforting the checker at Walmart next time the person in front of you verbally abuses the man at the register.

Start with stopping and talking with the homeless guy who is asking for money. Start with giving up your seat for an elderly woman. These little acts of kindness are reflections of Christ in our weary world. They will prepare you for more bold actions later.

We must be willing to take to serve Jesus his way for Jesus' sake. We must care more about the well being of others than we do ourselves. We must be in the right place at the right time! People are counting on us! Jesus is counting on us!

Let today be the day of new beginnings. Let today be the day of birth of life of the scriptures in you. Let today be the day we say no to safety and security. Let today be the day we say yes to the will of God. Let today be the day we determine to be there for the people who need us, regardless of the cost to our Selves. Let today be the very day of Christ on Earth.

And may God bless our battle, for it is not ours but His.

What is next?

Yes, you are going to die. It's the ultimate statistic: 10 out of 10 die.

If your heart stopped right now, how would you respond in those few moments as your life drained from you? Don't deceive yourself any further by saying, "That would never happen to me." Human nature tends to think that way -- that death is something that happens to other people. But every single day 150,000 people die, and no doubt each of them that are now in eternity, thought just like you -- that death "will never happen to me."

When that day comes for you, you're going to have to face God's judgment. So the most important question you can ask is, "Will I go to Heaven?" Here's a quick test. Have you ever told a lie, stolen anything, or used God's name in vain?

Jesus said, "Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has committed adultery already with her in his heart." Have you looked at someone with lust? Will you be guilty on Judgment Day? If you have done those things God sees you as a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterer at heart.

Ask God to shine a spotlight on your heart and remind you of those things that you have thought and done that He saw. Nothing is hidden from His Holy eyes. Realize that if God gives you justice, you will end up in Hell for eternity. But that's not God's will for you. Jesus Christ suffered and died on the Cross in your place, so you could go free. That's how much God loves you. We broke God's Law, but Jesus paid our fine. Then He rose from the grave and defeated death. If you live God's way and not your ways from now on and trust in Him, God will forgive your sins and grant you everlasting life.

We only get one chance in this thing we call "life." Don't blow it for eternity. Obey the gospel today. Then read your Bible daily and obey what you read, God will never let you down.

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined." Isaiah 9:2

You can be a Christian, and still be who and what you want to be. God does not require you to be a clone of anyone in any church.

You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift
-- Ephesians 4:5-7.

Jesus is dedicated to YOU...

Jesus is dedicated to those who dwell in the shadows. You may be pierced and tattooed or wear a suit and tie. It doesn't matter.
Pain knows no boundaries. Anyone can describe the chaos of modern life.
We want to go beyond that and offer solutions for those who rage, fear,
hide, cut, weep, quit, seek, question, use, run or close up inside.

Some of you already feel dead even though your heart still beats. You
have been ground down, broken, shamed, neglected and wounded by people
or circumstance. It feels as if there are no safe places to hide from
the things that chase you down. Our goal is to become a haven even if
the setting is cyberspace. Our offering to you is words, pictures, art,
prayers and a reflection of truth and light.

'Because of God's tender mercy, the light from heaven is
about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in
darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to
the path of peace'. ~ LUKE 1:78,79 ~

THE CROSS

His story pulls you along. He taught, healed the sick, loved the outcasts and was hated by the religious community. Maybe it was because of His honesty. Maybe it was because He was so different. His love was more real than any ever known on this planet. The next major piece of the tapestry of his ministry is a beaten and bloodied Savior nailed to a crude death cross.

You touch Jesus' life and ministry and your fingers feel damp. A warm crimson fluid drips from your hand to the earth below. It is the blood of Christ.

The purpose of jesus life and death has been to bring hope to the wounded and broken. This is not from the perspective of an outsider looking in. God met me when I was shattered and scarred.

Psalm 40:2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and mire, He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.

Psalm 55: 4-8 My heart is in anguish. The terror of death overpowers me. Fear and trembling overwhelm me. I can't stop shaking. Oh how I wish that I had wings like a dove, then I would fly away and rest! I would fly away to the quiet of the wilderness. How quickly I would escape, far away from this wild storm of hatred.

Psalm 73:2 But as for me I came so close to the edge of the cliff! My feet were slipping and I was almost gone.

Psalm 71:20 You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth.

Psalm 142: 4,5 I look for someone to come and help me but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me. Then I pray to you O Lord. I say, "You are my refuge. You are all I really want in life. Hear my cry for I am very low".

"Christ wanted to do nothing more...
...than show and give love to people"

He was God incarnate. He was born of a virgin. He was also human. He felt the nails that were put through his loving hands. He felt the rejection of Peter denying Him three times. He felt the kiss of a friend and disciple grow cold as Judas led the Savior of the world to the slaughter. We all deal with rejection, loss of friends, and the longing for love. As those who have been rejected by the church, by our families, or by society, we can relate to Christ. "For we do not have a high priest (Christ) who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-but did not sin." (Hebrews 4:15)

He did one thing that nobody else do for us, He died. There was no physical reason for His death, He could have changed it, but He didn't. Jesus was the most popular man, had a great following, and could have led a rebellion to save His life, but He didn't!

There is one thing that Jesus Christ wants from His people that no religion has to offer, the choice to love Him or not. God doesn't want a people who just follow rules, that would be easy. He wants to be loved because people choose to. He put His son on the line for the chance that someone might make the choice to do that. If you can relate to any of these things, the relationship with Christ is easy, all the work was done for you, He made the sacrifice, all you have to do is make the choice!

The Bible says it goes like this:

Man enter the world, and sinned, creating death to enter the world. Sin is what seperates us from God. Jesus took care of that problem. Romans 5:12, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" All this means is that we all are sinners. (Romans 3:23) Then God was seperated from His creation, not only for life, but for eternity. Some of you know that kind of feeling because you have never known a father.

God made a plan for His beloved creation (you and me) called the commandments, but then we couldn't even follow those just as we didn't follow the one command he gave to Adam in the garden! So another way had to be made! This was the final way, his name was Jesus! The amazing thing about Jesus was this, "...God commandeth His love upon us, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.

Due to our sin, and God's desire to have us love Him by choice, the plan was perfected in the example of Jesus. He was perfect, to show us that we are not, and we need a Savior. He was led to the death, and did so voluntarily, so we could be with our Father in Heaven.

This is the plan.

Here is the how it works:

"If we confess with our mouths, "Jesus if Lord," and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) It is that easy, and is done through a simple prayer.

If you ask Jesus to come into your life, its like asking a friend to be your friend, you just ask! The difference is that He won't say NO! If you want this relationship with your Creator, your best friend, and your savior, please pray this prayer, out loud;

"Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you would die for me. I cannot comprehend your great love, but I want to know it. Take your place in my heart. I want you to be the Lord of my life and I want to serve you and not myself. I want you to be my Savior and friend. I know that God raised you from the dead, and you live in Heaven, and you want me to be with you when I die. I know now Lord that because You live in my heart, I will live with you forever. Thank you Jesus. I love you Jesus. In Your name I pray, Amen."

If you have just prayed that prayer and now turn from the bad things you have done and do the opposite instead, I will be the first to rejoice with you for joining God's family! There are some easy things to do after you get saved;

1. Get a Bible, dive into it! It is how God speaks to us.

2. Join a church that teaches the Bible, get involved in study groups.

3. PRAY as much as you can, God wants to spend time with you because you are his child and he loves you, even a few minutes before you sleep or when you wake up is a start. You can grow your relationship with God from there.

And Remember his Love for you!

God is for
Everybody

How God
Loves You

How to
Love God

God is
Your Source

God Fights
For Us