ARE YOU LOOKING DOWN ON OTHERS?

Matthew 18:15 (NLT) “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.”

Who did Jesus forgive?

• The paralyzed man lowered on a mat through the roof (Matthew 9:2-8)
• The woman caught in adultery John 8:3-11)
• The woman who anointed his feet with perfume (Luke 7:44-50)
• Peter, for denying he knew Jesus (John 18:15-18, 25-27; 21:15-19)
• The criminal on the cross (Luke 23:39-43)
• The people who crucified Him (Luke 23:34)

Jesus did not just teach us about forgiveness, he demonstrated it as we can see above.

Matthew 8:15 is Jesus’s guidance for us Christians no for unbelievers, for sins committed against you an not others, and for conflict resolution amongst us Christians. These words are not a license to attack every person who hurts, or slights us, or we simply suspect them without confirmation. They are not a license for you to start a destructive gossip campaign against your brother or sister. These words are designed to reconcile those that disagree so that all us Christians can live in harmony.

Many of us when we feel we have been wronged do the exact opposite of what Jesus is teaching us. We turn away in hatred or resentment, we seek revenge, or engage in destructive gossip. Jesus teaches us that we should go to that person regardless of how difficult we may think it could be. Then as He tells us in Matthew 18:21-22 when Peter thought he was being so generous asked Him if he should forgive 7 times (seven being the “perfect” number), no “Seventy times seven.” meaning that we should not even keep track of how many times we forgive someone. We should always forgive those who are truly repentant regardless of how many times they ask.

What better way of restoring a relationship than following the teachings of our Lord and Savior who died in order that we could be forgiven, are we better than HIM?

Rayed Redemption Ministry

Euless, TX 76039

www.rayedredemption.org

THE COST OF BEING A DISCIPLE

Luke 14:27 (NLT) “…you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me.”

At the time Jesus was teaching us through parables it was known that when criminals were led by the Romans to their execution site, they had to carry the cross on which they would die. This showed submission to Rome and warned others that they had better submit or they would also face the same consequences of their not submitting. Jesus spoke to the crowd so that they could weigh out the cost of their enthusiasm for him. Those that were superficial were to go deeper or to turn back since following Christ means being totally submitted to him, remember some have even paid with their lives.

On the very next verse Jesus tells us, “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if there is enough money to pay the bills?” (Luke 17:28 NT). Does not a builder always estimate the costs associated with a job before starting to ensure completion, then think about the costs you will incur when you decide to follow Christ so you do not abandon your Christian life. And what are those costs? You may face the loss of social status, or wealth, you may have to give up control of your money, your time, or your career. You may be hated, separated from your family, and even put to death. Following Christ does not mean a trouble-free life. Carefully count your cost to becoming a disciple of Christ so that you will firmly hold on to your faith and be tempted later and then turn back later.

Later He tells us that salt can lose flavor, many Christians blend into the world and avoid the cost of standing up for Christ and Jesus tells us that if we lose our distinctive saltiness, we become worthless. Just like salt flavors and preserves food, we are to preserve the good in the world and bring new flavor to life. In order for us to fulfill our discipleship we should be willing to sacrifice, and commit to His Kingdom. If a Christian fails to be salty he or she fails to represent Christ in the world. Are you willing to pay the price to be a disciple?

Rayed Redemption Ministry

Euless, TX 76039

www.rayedredemption.org

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD PERSONALLY?

If you want to know God personally, ask yourself 3 very simple questions, then you need look no further than the Bible for the answers and on how to personally get to know Him. 

Here are the 3 questions with the proper Biblical answers that follow, and then finally the response and solution;

1. Is God in my life, is He missing from my life?

2. Why is He missing, what is the problem?

3. Is there a solution, what is that solution?

4. The response, the absolute solution

____________________________________________________

1.   Is God in my life, is He missing from my life?

"So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that this pleasure is from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?" Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 NLT

Solomon tells us to take pleasure in what we are doing now and to enjoy life because it comes from God. We search for so many things in our lives, but even when we find those things that we pursue we still feel emptiness in our hearts, it is a spiritual void that only a relationship with God can fulfill. Possessions, success, relationships and even religion do not fill that void. We need to have a purposeful relationship with God in order to fill the void but before we can establish that relationship we need to overcome a very serious problem.

2.   Why is He missing, what is the problem?

"The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" Jeremiah 17:9 NLT

Through the Bible God makes it very clear that the reason He is missing from our lives is because of a problem we come into the world with and this problem is sin. We are born as sinners, even King David acknowledged this in Psalm 51:5 when he said "I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me" and because we are born sinners, sinning comes to us naturally. And every problem we experience in society today can be traced back to our refusal to live God’s way. We can choose whether we want to continue in sin, we have a choice to continue yielding to temptations or we can ask God for help resisting temptations when they come.

3.   Is there a solution, what is that solution?"

“We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done." Romans 3:22 NLT

There is a solution, yes and God provided us with a solution to our problem, a problem that He knew we could not beat alone regardless of our background or our past behaviors. He sent us his own Son, Jesus Christ, to bridge the gap created by sin that separates us from God, John 3:16 tells us “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus experienced all of our troubles yet remained sinless; He was falsely arrested and killed on a Roman cross, not by accident but to fulfill the scriptures because He was to suffer the punishment that we all deserved so that we can have salvation. Then He rose from the dead 3 days later conquering sin and death on our behalf forever.

4.   The response, the absolute solution

"Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed of your sins." Acts 3:19 NLT

In order to know God personally you must know Jesus Christ personally. The void in our hearts can only be fulfilled when we knowing that we are sinners when we come to God through Jesus Christ His Son who died for our sins. We need to confess and turn away from our sins as we welcome Jesus into our lives as our Lord and Savior, once we do this He will move in and through the Holy Spirit change us from the inside out.

If you are now ready to repent of your sins and believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, and to receive his forgiveness, close your eyes and pray:

Dear God, I cannot help that I was born a sinner Lord; I am choosing to come to you and ask for your forgiveness turning away from sin Father. I thank you God for sending Jesus to die on the cross for my sins and I humbly ask you Jesus to come into my life to be my Lord and Savior. I thank you Father for your forgiveness and for giving me eternal life. In the most Holy Name of Jesus I pray. Amen

You are now an heir to the throne

Upon your accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior you have received God’s forgiveness for your sins, He has received you into His family, and your relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ will bring about some dramatic changes in your life.

The Bible tells us that "...those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life is begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

Your new life has just begun your walk with Christ has just started!

To help you get started in your walk, at Rayed Redemption Ministry we at would like to offer

you a free New Testament.

Fill out the form at http://www.rayedredemption.org/get-to-know-god.html and it will be shipped to you within 48-72 hours

*We regret that we can only send this free New Testament to addresses in the United States due to prohibitive mailing costs. If you live outside of the United States, we hope you will contact us and we will make available links to full text online Bibles, we will also be making available more resources for new believers on our website.

Rayed Redemption Ministry

Euless, TX 76039

www.rayedredemption.org

RAYED REDEMPTION MINISTRY IN CALIFORNIA NOW!

Euless, Texas, May 22, 2015There are inmates and their families who don't know the message of Jesus Christ across the United States; this is one consistently-overlooked group of people.
Rayed Redemption Ministry (Rayed) has been reaching out to this group of men and women on society's fringes through a proven effective model, in which we reach out to inmates and their families planting the seed of the Holy Gospel and supporting them through incarceration and then maintaining contact upon release from incarceration.

Rayed currently works in the state of Texas with offices in Euless, which in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex for the northern part of the state and in Houston for the southern part of the state. On May 20 RRM has joined in a working relationship with Pastor Ervin Hill and Bishop-Dr. Leerma Patterson-Lemons in Stockton California opening up the ministry in Northern California.

Rayed Redemption Ministry a Texas nonprofit corporation will be registered on June 1, 2015 as a California foreign nonprofit corporation with Pastors Hill and Patterson as representatives. “The partnership with local pastors will help implement the program thanks to their having established a strong foundation through their prior work with the community,” said David Barberis Founder of Rayed Redemption Ministry

Pastor Hill said “It is a blessing to be involved with Rayed Redemption Ministry, making a difference and planting the seed of God, as Jesus said in Matthew 25:36 ““I was naked, and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you cared for me, I was in prison and you visited me.””

Rayed Redemption’s Co-Pastor Carmen Ramos states that "By bringing the message of our

Lord Jesus Christ and helping inmates change their hearts, we can help in bringing a dramatic turn from the drug culture and violence that now dominates our society. Rayed is poised to help bring about that change."

Rayed provides people in prisons and jails, and their families with a faith-based reentry education and mentoring program that could be extremely valuable in California in particular.

Bishop-Dr. Patterson commented “It is with great honor that I join forces with such an outstanding prison Ministry as Rayed Redemption Ministry.

Rayed Redemption Ministry was initiated by contacts established through like-minded individuals first through the sport of Racquetball and then through evangelical associates. We visit inmates each week to present a message and distribute lessons, Bibles and other literature by mail. Backed by support from prison officials, the program will continue expand.

Pastor Barberis stated in a recent article, "Incarcerated people and their families across the United Sates have been ignored and under-served once they are released leaving them vulnerable to peer pressures as well the pressures of the “Free World.” Rayed's unique counseling and mentoring program responds to God's call to remember them, and we plan to continue expanding first on a national basis and should it be the Lord’s will globally."

Rayed’s expansion promises to continue, giving hope to prisoners and their families as we unite diverse cultures and regions with the Gospel message. Learn more about ways you can get involved and even become a volunteer with Rayed Redemption Ministry here.

For more information contact:

Pastor David Barberis                                               Pastor Elvin Hill
Rayed Redemption Ministry                                      Rayed Redemption Ministry
Tel. 469-528-0255                                                     Tel. 209-451-7086
dbarberis@rayedredemption.org                               ehill@rayedredemption.org

www.rayedredemption.org

PRAYER CIRCLE PRAYER

PRAYER CIRCLE PRAYER

Heavenly Father I come to you in the name of our brothers and sisters who are in prison behind iron bars or a concrete cell, our brothers and sisters Father are also inside prison of inner bondage to those things that have brought them to their current situation. We rebuke the forces of evil that seek to continue to hold and try to destroy our brothers and sisters. Father per 1st John 4:4 we claim, “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

We rebuke, cast away and bind Satan and all of his evil plans with the Triune Cord that is the Holy Trinity Father, and we declare Satan as the thief, robber, liar and murderer who is the father of all sin. We bind Satan, as we cast him and his demons out, and we now loosen the power of the Holy Spirit upon our dear brothers and sisters. 

Father we pray for your protecting grace for our brothers and sisters in prison from harassment, threats of violence and from the evil influence of fellow inmates. We pray for your protection around their bodies, minds, souls and spirits per Psalm 91 Lord.

And we declare them children of God reborn and coming to You dear God through the shed power and blood of our strong Savior, Jesus Christ. We speak freedom, health, healing, wholeness, forgiveness, repentance, reconciliation, restoration, peace, truth and hope into their lives. We pray that instead of ashes their lives transform to a multitude of praise. In the Most Holy Name of Jesus Father we pray for a blinding conversion experience such as the one experienced by Paul on the road to Damascus. 

Thank you for the lives of our brothers and sisters and for the Love that you have shown us, in Jesus Name let the Holy Spirit now dwell in their hearts, Amen.

For information on Rayed Redemption Prison Ministry or to request literature a loved one that is incarcerated contact:

Rayed Redemption Ministry

46 Abbey Rd.

Euless, TX 76039

info@rayedredemption.org • www.rayedredemption.org

RELEASE THE LOAD

"let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 NLT)

In supermarkets and airports there are carts or trucks to load the weight carrying food for the home, or the heavy bags that we carry for a trip.

The goal is to simply make our load light. However, there are loads that we must “throw away” or get rid of and these are the loads that may be in the mind or consciousness.

This is the heavy burden which consists of all that prevents us from properly develop our Christian life. This load is presented in different ways, which very often can lead us to the following:

• Low self-esteem. 
• Defeatist attitude.
• Feeling of rejection.
• Perfectionism. 
• Fear of failure. 
• Neglect. 
• Lack of self-control. 
• Lack of concentration. 
• Negative attitude. 
• Mistrust. 
• Indecision. 

That heaviest load must deal is "the weight of us besetting sin". A weakness is not sin in general, but is of "sin", in particular with specific characteristics, constantly personally harassing us. Examples are: lies, coveting what we don't have, get false testimony or propensity to talk badly of your neighbor, as well among other sins or weaknesses that we miss, because we say or tell ourselves: "that happens to everyone".

What should we do?

1. Admit we have onerous burdens in our lives and ask the Lord to help us to rid ourselves of them.
2. Try to get rid of sins that constantly cause us to stumble.
3. Honestly accept our personal responsibility for all that burden.
4. Decide to confront it, knowingly submitting to the Biblical precept that encourages us saying: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." (Hebrews 12.1 NLT).

Not trust in ourselves, but in Him who said that He would be with us until the end of the world (Matthew 28:20) and that we learn from it, who defeated the evil (John 16:33): Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12.2 NLT: " We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith"

Hebrews 12:1 NLT “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us”

Ptr. David J. Barberis

Rayed Redemption Ministry

Euless, TX 76039

www.rayedredemption.org

A LIGHT THAT DARKNESS CAN NEVER EXTINGUISH

John 1:4-5 (NLT) “Life itself was in Him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

“The darkness can never extinguish it,” the darkness of evil has never been able to overcome the light that God provided for us Jesus Christ the creator of life which brings light to us. In this light we saw ourselves as sinners who needed a Savior. As we follow Jesus the true Light we can avoid walking blindly thus stumbling into sin.

Light represents all that is good, pure, true, holy and reliable while darkness represents what is sinful and evil. God is perfect, holy and true and He alone can guide us out of darkness. We cannot continue on sinning and claim that we are in the Light because darkness will never be able to exist where there is Light, sin cannot exist in the presence of our Most Holy God. We cannot have fellowship with our Heavenly Father and still walk in darkness.

Jesus lights our path so that we can see how to live. Jesus removed the darkness of sin from our lives, and when we confess He removes it daily.

Allow for the Light of Christ to shine into your life, Let Him guide your life, every step of the way, pray on it incessantly and you will never again stumble into the darkness.

Rayed Redemption Ministry

Euless, TX 76039

www.rayedredemption.org