This section is a compilation of brief messages I’m starting to write. Frankly, my usual posts at GodsClayGodsWay.com have been getting longer and longer. I’m not sure a lot of folks are taking the time or energy to read through them, though I think they’re worth the effort.
So, I’m adding these brief messages on this page, in no particular order. As I write new ones, I’ll add them here. My hope is that I’ll get to record these as videos. I’ll let you know here when that happens.
May these bless you!
Brother Mark
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Episode 7
Accepting His Payment
You can try to pay for your sins by doing enough good things, but that doesn’t really work, not even close. Romans 10:3
In fact, Scripture clearly tells us that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6
Trying to establish your own righteousness says three things:
- First, you really don't trust that what Jesus paid was enough.
- Second, you really don't want the changes our Lord wants to work in you.
- Third, you're harboring stuff not yet surrendered to Him.
When I was almost 19 (a long time ago!), some teenagers came up to me and said, “Hey, Man, do you want to meet Jesus?” I didn't know the Gospel, but I'd seen the ingrained ugliness of my life and knew I couldn’t fix it. Meeting Jesus seemed like a great idea, so I said Yes.
They led me through a simple prayer that changed me. I've had some serious ups and downs in the years since, but that prayer is still changing me. I don’t remember the exact words, but here’s something that you may want to pray. The wording isn’t official; it’s whether you mean it that counts.
“Heavenly Father, I believe that your Son, Jesus, paid the full price for my sins through His death on the cross. I accept His payment. I believe that He has risen from the dead and is able to make my life new.
I can't fix myself, so I give ownership of myself -- all of me and everything about me -- to Jesus. Please forgive all my sins and cleanse me from whatever isn't right with you. Come live your life in me! Have your way with me. Don't leave me the way you find me now. Amen."
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Episode 6
Getting Plugged In
Whatever got Christians by in past years won't be enough going forward. In Matthew 13:20 through 23, Jesus talks about Kingdom seed being scattered on different kinds of soil. Only some seed fell on good ground.
He makes it clear that being a casual, fair weather Christian won't cut it, especially not in tough times. Troubles, persecutions, the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of riches try to pull us away from God's best. The list could go on and on, but that's enough for starters. You get the picture.
So let me ask:
Are you plugging Jesus into your life as an add-on? Are you treating Him as if He's a life-jacket, a safety net, or a back up plan?
Are you wanting Him to be a mostly quiet backseat passenger you can call on to help when there's trouble?
Do you have Him there to get your life past rough spots, making Him a just-in-case kind of Savior?
Here's the real picture. To take you deeper into His incredible story, He'll need to
- Prepare you,
- Shape you,
- Clean up a few things,
- Renew the way you think, and
- Toughen you up.
Like a military boot camp, it won't be easy but it will be so worth it.
So, are you plugging Jesus into your life or letting Him plug you into His?
This is an enormously important decision. Are you going to really trust Him with ownership and control over your life? If so, it's the best choice you'll ever make.
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Episode 5
He Qualifies the Called
You may feel stuck in what seems to be a where-is-God kind of season. You may feel forgotten, as though your Kingdom assignment has been set aside, frustrated or even defeated. I know what that feels like. I've been there.
But the Lord is using this time to prepare you. You're not Called to a particular Kingdom role because you're qualified. If you let Him, He will qualify you. Trust Him. Stay surrendered. Make up your mind to keep a tender heart. He knows what He's doing.
Before He can transition you into whatever is next, He will likely change some of your habits and strengthen your character. You need Him to do all of that and more. There may be trials and testing, purging and refining. But in the middle of all of that, He is always working.
You are like silver in God's purifying fire. He is removing the dross that's unsuitable for His next move in you, through you and around you.
God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the Called.
Trust Him as you seek Him. Stay surrendered and tender to Him. Refuse to become hard hearted. He's working to transform you into a unique vessel, one that's ever more suitable for His many layered purposes.
And now pray this:
"Father, change me from the inside out so that everything about me reflects your rule and your character. Turn me into the person You dream about me being. I want to know You. I want to bring your heart joy! I trust you to do this. Thank you, Lord!
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
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Episode 4
No Such Thing as Sex Change
There's no such thing as sex change. No matter how much society tries to convince you or you try to convince yourself, you will always have the DNA you were born with.
There are two sexes, two sets of DNA: male and female. That’s all God made. Period, end of story. Anything else is a lie.
No matter how you change your appearance, even with surgical mutilation and drugs, your DNA won't change,
No matter how you change your mannerisms, your appearance, your friends, your activities or sexual liaisons, your DNA won't change.
No matter how many new demons -- yes, demons -- you open yourself up to, your DNA won't change. And you'd better believe that there are demons involved with these deceptions.
Remember Doctor Anthony Fauci and his cohorts? They lied about Covid's origins and the so-called protections provided by masks and social distancing. They said "Trust the science". They were lying and they knew it.
Folks who say you can change your sex are also lying. They're badly deceived, They don't love truth. Read 2 Thessalonians 2:9 and 10.
The Lord can set anyone free from lies, deceptions, and ungodliness. In New Testament days, the city of Corinth was a center for every kind of godless perversion. In 1 Corinthians 6:9 through 11, the Apostle Paul makes a list, then says to the Believers there
"And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
Jesus can set you free from those sins, lies and deceptions. He's the only one who can.
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Episode 3
Recognition
Imagine for a moment that you're part of the prayer team at the end of a famous preacher's big meeting. You're just one of several ministry team people up front, praying for those who are pressing forward to receive prayer. A woman you pray for is instantly, miraculously healed, delivered and set free.
A few minutes later, she's brought up to the platform to share the news of what God has done for her. But when asked who it was that prayed for her, she didn't know, saying “It was just somebody up front.”
Would that bother you? Would it bother you not to be recognized?
Jesus Himself addressed the difference between receiving recognition from people and seeking the glory that comes from God alone.
“How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?”
So I'll ask again:
Would it bother you if you weren’t recognized as the person God used to touch this woman? The quiet answer inside you says a lot about the condition of your heart.
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Episode 2
The Payment He Made
God knows all about your past and your present, your problems and your issues, including the ones you can’t seem to shake and even the ones you don't see.
No matter how you’ve fallen short, your value in His eyes has nothing to do with your good deeds or your misdeeds.
Your value in His eyes is determined solely by what He chose to pay for you. 1 John 2:2
Nothing can change or even cast a shadow on what Jesus paid. When you really, really mess up, does that change how much Jesus paid for you? No, it doesn’t!
When you do really, really well--by that I mean that you’ve been on a truly impressive run--does that add to what Jesus paid? No, it doesn’t!
There’s nothing you can do one way or the other to change what He chose to pay.
Jesus did His part; He paid your sin debt. You have free will, so you can accept or reject His payment, but you can't change it.
Your part is to accept His payment, turn your life over to Him, then surrender to the changes He wants to bring.
That's called faith and repentance. It's the action at the heart of the Gospel.
God has been pursuing you for a very long time.
The big question is whether you’ll surrender to Him, ask His forgiveness, accept what He chose to pay for you, and stay surrendered as He transforms your life.
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Episode 1
What You're Worth
What is your real value in God's eyes? The answer is surprisingly simple.
With the sacrifice of His life, Jesus paid all of humanity's sin debt. All sin debt, for every person, for all time. 1 John 2:2.
You can't add to or take away from what Jesus paid. He paid what He paid. It can't be changed. All you can do is accept or reject it. By paying humanity's sin debt with His life, Jesus set your value.
The Lord set all of this creation up. He knew humanity would fall but He wanted us anyway. So He set up the way He would redeem us.
He could have chosen to pay our sin debt with one of His Angels. But what would our value be when we got to heaven? We’d have the same value as that Angel. Now I imagine that God’s Angels are worth a lot, but He doesn’t want us to be Angels.
Scripture is clear. Angels have a wonderful relationship with God, but they're not Sons and Daughters. The Father wants us to be His Sons and Daughters. We're called to that special relationship, one not enjoyed by His holy angels. 2 Corinthians 6:18
That’s why Father God chose to pay your sin debt with His own Son, Jesus Christ. Isaiah 53:6.
Your sin debt has been paid, but because of your free will, there's still something left for you to do. You must choose to accept Jesus' payment, then turn your life over to Him and the changes He wants to bring. We call those steps repentance and faith. Acts 20:21
The big question becomes whether you’ll choose to surrender to Him, ask His forgiveness, accept what He paid for you, and trust Him to have His way as He transforms your life in the obvious ways and in the dark corners.
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