From: Francis Harper
wbfrmsup@iowatelecom.net
Francis Harper Message for 9/21/2018
Dear Ones,
We have been told to preach nothing but repentance to this generation. “Say nothing but repentance unto this generation” (Doctrine & Covenants 6:4-b). Before we can repent and change our ways we need to identify our sin or sins. We need to admit we have a problem. As in an Alcoholic Anonymous meeting in which each person introduces themselves by giving their name and saying, “I am an alcoholic.” Our sins need to be identified and admitted. My name is Francis Harper and I am a sinner.
First, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to penetrate our hardened hearts, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Evidently Paul’s heart was touched by the Spirit which caused him to say, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24-26). Isaiah answered Paul’s question when he prophesied of Jesus: “. . . he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities . . . and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
We are very good at covering up our sins and even denying them. Jesus said we can see the smallest sin of others and cannot see even the larger ones of our own. “Again, how canst thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote [small particle] that is in thine eye when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? . . .” (Luke 6:42).
Some of the behaviors that are specifically mentioned as being sinful in the Scriptures are no longer considered evil by many in our country today. The statistics compiled by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, and others in 2008, revealed the following percentages of adults who approve of the behaviors listed: gambling 61%, adultery 42%, fornication 60%, abortion 45%, pornography 38%, profanity 36%, drunkenness 35% and homosexuality 30%. 51% of mainline clergy support the legality of abortion, 65% of clergy support same sex marriage, 57% of Christians do not believe that Satan exists, only 42% are certain that God exists. Periodic updates since 2008 indicate the decline in moral values are declining at a rapid rate. We are rapidly becoming an “I’m ok, you’re ok,” society.
I am deeply concerned when I observe many of those I sincerely love, becoming involved in some of the sinful things listed, without recognizing they are endangering their immortal souls and salvation! I become very frustrated when I see their peers applauding them for their courage in taking a stand against what the Scriptures clearly teach as sin. As a result great multitudes of people live without the least conviction of the sins they are committing!
When people do not consider their sinful behavior as sin, they do not recognize their need to repent and in their blindness they do not repent! And if they do not repent God cannot forgive them! God never violates our freedom to choose.
Our lives can become a slippery slope. Choosing anything but complete obedience to the word and will of God, is the first step toward moral decay. We need to pray daily: “. . . suffer us not to be led into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:14IV). “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished” (2 Peter 2:9).
“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired you, that he may sift the children of the kingdom as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not: and when you are converted strengthen your brethren (Luke 22:31-32).
Jesus prayed for Peter. He will also pray for us, if we ask, “Lord, Pray for me.”
My Love to All,
Francis Harper
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“Open My Eyes, Lord”
There are two kinds of blindness; physical and spiritual. Which is worse? Most of us are afflicted with some degree of spiritual blindness, if not cured, may cause us to lose our immortal souls!
Jesus was speaking of spiritual blindness when he called the Pharisees “blind leaders of the blind.” He added: “If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:13-14). These words of Jesus on spiritual blindness are still appropriate for us to consider today.
Jesus promised that after his departure he would send us the Holy Spirit: “I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin . . . when he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come.” (John 16:7-13).
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul spoke of the Spirit as a sword: “. . . take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). “For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of body and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:12-13).
Blindness will be removed from our eyes if we abide in the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Our spiritual eyes will be opened if we diligently study his word.
Paul walked in darkness: physical and spiritual, until Ananias placed his hands upon him and prayed. Immediately scales fell from his eyes and he was “filled with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 9:17-18). The Holy Spirit awakens us to a “lively sense” of our sins. See Mosiah 1:83-84.
David and his son Solomon were guilty of some of the most abominable sins! David repented and was forgiven. Solomon did not repent. It is written: “And his heart (Solomon’s) is become (wicked and sinful) as David his father: and he repented not as did David his father, that I may forgive him” (1 Kings 11:33). How could Solomon who was known for his great wisdom, “neglect so great (a) salvation (Hebrews 2:3-4). Billions of people on the earth today are following in the footsteps of Solomon!
Why did Solomon “not repent as did his father.”? Most likely it was because the Holy Spirit was not present in his life to awaken him from his spiritual blindness! Solomon’s seven hundred wives, princesses and three hundred concubines had “turned away his heart” from God (1 Kings 11:3). Likewise billions today are not aware of their sins and of their need to repent and ask the Lord to forgive them.
David had a humble and contrite heart. He prayed: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions . . . Cast me not away from thy presence; take not thy Holy Spirit from me . . . my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me” (Psalm 51). David’s spiritual eyes had been opened by the Holy Spirit. He acknowledged his sins, repented and was forgiven.
We need to pray as David; “Cast me not away from thy presence; take not thy Holy Spirit from me.” Open my eyes, “that my sin may be ever before me.” Seeing our sins will create within us humble, contrite and penitent hearts. “. . . a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17). Most of us have not committed greater sins than David! When he saw the depths of his sins, he truly repented and was forgiven. This should give us the blessed assurance that when we see our sins and truly repent, we will also be forgiven. Open our eyes, Lord!
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