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The Lie That Heaven Is Beyond Reach - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) November 7, 2025

P L U N D E R E R
1 day ago
3 min read

Do you know somebody who thinks they won't make it to heaven? Such a person might believe their sins are too many or too bad for God to forgive them. They are unaware of people like David and Paul, both murderers, whom God showed mercy and elevated to greatness. Instead, they've listened to satan's lies that they are too far gone for God to do anything for or with. They, therefore, choose to live in debauchery and sin.

It is easy to discount such individuals and think there is no redemption for them, but if God had applied that approach to humanity, He would never have sent Jesus to die for our sins. As such, it is imperative to see them as the Lord does, as people, made in His image, who deserve His grace and love. Here are a few specific things you, as a believer in Jesus Christ, could be doing for them.

First, fast and pray for them. These people have been deceived by the devil. They therefore believe that heaven is beyond their reach. But you, as a believer, know that Jesus died to make God and heaven accessible to sinners. That includes them. So fast and pray for the scales to fall from their eyes and hearts so they can come to know the truth.

Second, let your light shine. You are God's ambassador. Be mindful that your behavior displays His truth and salvation. Do you reflect the kingdom you belong to, or are you living like everyone else? You are uniquely equipped to shine God's light through your words and especially your actions. Doing so can advertise that there is a better alternative to their current lifestyle. You might be sowing a seed that will germinate later and contribute to their freedom.

Third, don't condemn such people. The devil wants them to believe they don't deserve mercy. Don't agree with satan's objective but agree with God's instead. He doesn't want any soul to perish in hell, so treat such people with the love of Christ (2 Peter 3:9). They may do and say hurtful things, but overlook the hurtful things they do and don't condemn them. According to Proverbs 19:11, doing so will bring you glory.

Fourth, be patient. You might be praying and fasting for someone's soul only to see the very opposite of all you've prayed for. Don't be discouraged. Be patient and continue to persevere. Jesus told us to persist in prayer and be audacious when we approach God. What more when praying for the soul of someone He loves and wants to have a relationship with?

If you worry that being in proximity to such a person's lifestyle could pull you away from the Lord, then express your love quietly from a distance (Galatians 6:1). For instance, they don't need to know you are fasting and praying for them. It is only God who needs to know what you are investing for their souls. Know that God will reward your labor of love and trust Him to answer your prayers on their behalf.

God cares about souls, so you should, too. He doesn't want people to miss heaven because of the deception that God's mercy is inaccessible. Yes, heaven is off-limits to those who will not repent and believe in Jesus (John 14:6). And yes, we know that blaspheming the Holy Spirit is unpardonable (Mark 3:29).

Still, as believers, we must counter the diabolical narrative that God doesn't want the worst sinners to escape hell. We were all on the way to damnation before Jesus found us, cleansed us, and seated us in heavenly places with Him (Ephesians 2:6). The Lord will surely help us to be of service to those who have been deceived into thinking there's no heavenly hope for them, IJMN, Amen.

And if you think heaven is beyond your reach, please know that Jesus died for you. He loves you and can have a spot waiting for you in heaven if you desire. Tell Him you want to see Him there. He's always listening to you. God bless you!

As you wait for fellowship at 12 Noon EST, consider reading the following previous P&P messages:

Secrets Always Come Out - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) November 4, 2025

P L U N D E R E R
4 days ago
4 min read

Years ago, I was walking with a coworker after work. We discussed a workplace incident, and she wondered if the culprit would ever be caught. I laughed and told her there are no secrets under the sun, and that whatever is done in the dark will eventually come to light. She was surprised to hear my outlook and asked why I was so sure. I explained that I had always known that was the truth, and eventually we went our separate ways, with her heading home in one direction, and I in another.

I recently recalled that conversation while reading the New Testament. Luke 12:2-3 - There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. /What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. It's amusing that I somehow knew this truth even before becoming an ardent student of the Bible, and this wisdom remains as important today as it was when it was written thousands of years ago.

Many of us think there'll be no consequences for our actions because nobody saw us do it. For instance, we hide behind usernames to say and do things on the internet we wouldn't care to admit to in polite company. Even when offline, we do certain things quietly, away from prying eyes, despite knowing it's wrong. God's word states that all secrets will be revealed. Consider David's affair with Bathsheba and his attempted cover-up. God revealed the treachery to Prophet Nathan, who confronted him (2 Samuel 12:10). God continues to reveal the hidden things that people are doing till this day. He will tell one of His servants, and so, yes, no secret is safe.

Let's set the Bible aside and look at current events. How many scandals have hit the news where someone thought they would get away with something illegal and/or immoral? Either they slipped up and inadvertently incriminated themselves, or someone figured it out. How about when a confidant or co-conspirator snitched on them? Such incidents cause the older people to say, "God don't like dirty," as a way to explain the irony of such situations. And our elders are correct. Light has no business with darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14). If what we were doing was righteous, we wouldn't wait for the cover of darkness and secrecy to do it. So, He must bring that dark thing into the light.

The Lord wants us to do the right thing at the right time, all the time. He knows this will not be easy, so He left guidance in the Bible and constant counsel through His Spirit. The key is to submit to God's word in obedience, knowing that He transforms those who desire His blessed touch upon our lives.

So, are you planning something unrighteous that you hope will remain a secret? Think twice. Do you believe nobody will know about it? God knows. He might not expose you immediately, but that's because He's giving time to repent and confess the sin. He does this out of love because He warned in Proverbs 28:13 - People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. Confessing the secret and renouncing it is key to receiving His blessings. And He wants to bless all His people.

It is better to repent, confess, and, where possible, rectify the things done in the dark on this side of eternity. Imagine standing in front of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Heavenly Host, and all mankind on judgment day, only to be publicly held accountable for what we never repented for? That thing done in the dark will be placed on full display. How would it feel to discover that the gates of heaven remained closed because of secret unforgiveness in our hearts?

Do all things with humility and keep the fear of the Lord in mind. Treat others as Christ's Royal Law dictates - the way we want to be treated. Know that God is watching and we will be held accountable for the words we spoke, even the ones we didn't mean. Remember, Ecclesiastes 12:14 - For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. We, therefore, will also have to defend what we did. Those things said online or whispered so others didn't hear, plus all those things done in secret, will all come out in the open one way or another.

There are no secrets we can keep from God. He is the Revealer of Mysteries, and the truth will always come out. Now that we know this, let's do things better from here on. Let us endeavor to live public and private lives that please the Lord. James 4:17 - Whoever knows what is right but doesn't do it is sinning (GWT). The Lord will help us all by His grace and to His glory, IJMN, Amen.

As you wait for fellowship at 12 Noon EST, consider reading the following previous P&P messages:

How To Treat What God Reveals - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) October 31, 2025

P L U N D E R E R
Oct 31
3 min read

What do you do when you're reading the Bible and get a revelation about a verse or section of scripture? What do you do when you have a dream? What do you do when God uses someone to speak an edifying word to you? I hope you write it all down and take the time to pray on what you learned.

Alas, many don't, believing they'll remember. They don't realize that writing down what God says is an integral part of our relationship with Him. For instance, Habakkuk 2:2 teaches, Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it (NKJV). Jesus also told John the Revelator in Revelation 1:19 - Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.

God illustrated the significance of this on Mount Sinai. There, He gave Moses the Ten Commandments written on two stone tablets by His own hand (Exodus 31:18). He knew the nature of the human mind and didn't want His people to have to rely on memory alone to remember these instructions. This approach partly explains why we have the Bible - those who came before us wrote what He revealed, leaving it for future directions.

Prophet Jeremiah diligently kept track of what God revealed. His scribe, Baruch, faithfully wrote what the Lord told the prophet, and this earned Baruch a reward - the same God gave Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:19. God promised that nobody would kill Baruch (Jeremiah 45:5). This was a great blessing because Jerusalem was under siege by the Babylonians. The one who wrote down God's words for the prophet received the prophet's reward (Matthew 10:41).

Think about Daniel, who later studied Jeremiah's prophetic writings while he served in the Babylonian palace. That was how he learned that Israel would only be in captivity for 70 years. He launched into a fast that caused a confrontation when demons tried to prevent an angel from giving Daniel more understanding of the prophecy. He dutifully wrote what he learned, and countless others can read and learn from his experiences.

So what are you doing with the things God tells you? Are you noting them down as Baruch did for Jeremiah? Do you return to them, fasting and praying for God's insight and instructions, the way Daniel did? Or do you say to yourself, 'that was nice', then do nothing?

We cannot take for granted the great gift the Lord gives when He shares His wisdom. The Bible reveals how to treat such precious information, and it is up to us to follow the good examples left by God's servants. People God trusted to reveal the unsearchable things to. If it was good enough for them to write things down and meditate on them, why not us?

If, however, we choose to be irresponsible and squander what He reveals by not doing what we should - writing things down, praying about them, studying God's word for more insight on them - then we risk no longer being among those deemed worthy to receive His more. May that never be our portion. By the grace of God, we will treat what He shares with reverence and be trusted to get more, IJN, Amen.

As you wait for fellowship at 12 Noon EST, consider reading the following previous P&P messages: