Full of Faith

Acts 6:8-15 NKJV

 

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. 10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. 13They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; 14for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” 15And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

 

Falsely Accused of Wrong

 

Have you ever been falsely accused of doing or speaking what is wrong when, in fact, what you were doing was completely in line with the teachings of the Scriptures? I have been, plenty of times. And were your accusers those who were the religious? Pastors, elders, deacons, or other professers of faith in Jesus Christ? My accusers mostly were in these categories, yes. And did they speak lies about you to stir up others against you? That was my experience. And have you ever been told that you have the face of an angel? No, but I have been told (past) that I have the voice of an angel.

 

Now Stephen’s accusers were of a religious sect called “The Synagogue of the Freedmen.” I researched them a few years ago, and this is what I learned at that time (source Oxford Languages):

 

“Synagogue - the building where a Jewish assembly or congregation meets for religious worship and instruction; a Jewish assembly or congregation.” Freedmen - “Libertine - a person, especially a man, who behaves without moral principles or a sense of responsibility, especially in sexual matters; a person who rejects accepted opinions in matters of religion; a freethinker.”

 

Market-Driven “Churches”

 

But as I read this passage of Scripture, and as I looked up these definitions, what this reminded me of is the institutional market-driven and flesh-driven “churches” (like synagogues) in America today which are really businesses of human origin, but they just call themselves “churches.” So they are loosely based off the original church, but they are altered and modified to fit with today’s culture and with what the world is craving, and in order to be more “user friendly” and not judgmental so as not to offend the senses of the ungodly, which includes many who are professing faith in Jesus Christ.

 

Many of them do not mind being judgmental and offending the senses of the godly, though, in order to cater to the felt needs of the ungodly who they want to attract to their gatherings. So many of them are being trained in who they want to attract to their gatherings and in who they want to get rid of. And I know this both from having gone through some of their training sessions and having been told by a pastor that he was warned about people like me, i.e. people with strong convictions. First he instructed me to let him be God’s voice to me, which I refused, and then he invited me to leave.

 

For many of these “churches” incorporated under (partnered with) the state  are being led by marketing gimmicks and marketing rules of engagement and not by God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They operate as human based businesses and not as the universal body of Christ in ministering God’s love and grace to one another. Many of their gatherings are about using a select number of people to provide the music, and one or two select men to bring all the messages. And the body is not encouraging one another in our walks of faith in obedience to our Lord in holy living, as we ought.

 

[Acts 2:14-18,42-47; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 5:15-21; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 2:1-8; Colossians 3:12-16; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25; James 5:19-20]

 

For a switch has taken place. The light of the truth of the gospel has largely been diluted and altered to teach what Jesus and his apostles did not teach, if studied in the correct biblical context. And Jesus is not the head of these “churches,” but the government is, and church denominations are, and marketing gimmicks are what many of them are following in order to grow their “churches” in number. Entertaining the world is a huge thing most of them seem to be offering, too. So many of them are like the “Synagogues of the Freedmen.” They are offshoots of the church, but are not Christ’s body.

 

Full of Faith

 

But we, as those who profess faith in Jesus Christ, are to be more like Stephen. And we are to hold fast to the truths and the doctrines of the Scriptures, but not just in theory, but in daily life practice. And we are to stand strong on what the Scriptures teach as truth, and not waver in opinion when someone else comes along and tries to convince us to follow after a lie, instead. Now we could be wrong on some things, so when challenged, we should be willing to go to the Scriptures to make sure we are on the right footing so that we are not believing the lies while rejecting the truth, too.

 

But if what we believe to be the truth is clearly and repeatedly backed by the Scriptures themselves (studied in the correct biblical context), then we should stand strong on the truth as Stephen did, even when we are being strongly opposed and threatened by those who have gone the way of compromise, instead. And if we are falsely accused, lied about, mistreated and cast out because we stand on the truth of God’s word and we refuse to compromise, well then glory to God who gives us the strength to do that. Let’s continue to represent well our Lord and his teachings, to the death!

 

[Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 10:16-25,34-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 9:23-26; Luke 12:49-53; Luke 21:12-17; John 15:18-21; Romans 5:3-5; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-17; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Hebrews 12:3-12; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7; Revelation 3:19; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-13]

 

As the Deer

 

By Martin J. Nystrom

Based off Psalm 42:1

 

As the deer panteth for the water

So my soul longeth after You

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship You

 

You alone are my strength, my shield

To You alone may my spirit yield

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship You

 

Full Of Faith

An Original Work / May 24, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

We Must Obey God

Summary Acts 5:17-25

 

Peter and John were put in prison by the high priest and a sect of the Sadducees for preaching the truth of the gospel of Christ to the people and for healing people in the name and power of Jesus Christ. But that night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said to them, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” But the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard that the apostles were standing in the temple teaching the people.

 

Acts 5:26-32 NKJV

 

Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”

 

29But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

 

Called of God to Make Disciples

 

We who are followers (disciples) of Jesus Christ are called of God to make disciples of Christ of the people of the world, teaching them to obey our Lord’s commands. We are to be his witnesses in taking the message of the gospel to the ends of the earth. For we are to proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light. And we are to speak the truth in love to one another so none of us are led astray by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming to believe the lies.

 

We are also to be teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, addressing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. And we are to be exhorting one another daily so that none of us may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. And we are to not neglect meeting together, but we are to be encouraging one another, stirring up one another to love and good works. And those caught in sin we are to restore back to a right relationship with the Lord. And all this we are to do in the power of God within us.

 

[Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 28:18-20; John 4:31-38; John 13:13-17; John 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 26:18; Romans 10:14-15; Galatians 6:1: Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 5:11-21; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25; James 5:19-20; 1 Peter 2:9,21; 1 John 2:6]

 

We will Be Persecuted

 

If truly we are doing what our Lord has called us to do, and if we are spreading the good news of the gospel of Christ to the people of the world, and if we are ministering to the body of Christ for their encouragement and spiritual growth and maturity of faith, and if we are teaching everyone that we must, as followers of Christ, obey our Lord’s commands, and put sin to death in our lives, then we may be hated, rejected, ridiculed, mocked, and forsaken, even by pastors, elders, and other professing Christians.

 

And we may be told that we must not teach the truth of the gospel as Jesus taught it, because it might offend people, and it might turn people away from wanting to attend the “church” services. Or they might try to convince us to accept an altered gospel that is more appealing to human flesh and to share that, instead. Or they might try to get us to hold off from presenting the message of the gospel until we have built a relationship with someone for at least two years. So either they will silence us or try to redirect us.

 

But we need to respond back respectfully, in the power of the Spirit of God, and tell them, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” And then we need to share with them the truth of the gospel, that Jesus taught that if we are to come after him that we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, and we do not obey our Lord and his commands, in practice, we will not have salvation from sin nor eternal life with God in heaven.

 

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

 

Should I Not Preach Jesus

 

Based off 1 Corinthians 9:16-10:13

An Original Work / July 4, 2013

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

Woe to me should I not preach Jesus.

I’m compelled to preach the full gospel.

I make myself a slave to ev’ryone

To win their hearts to Christ.

All this I do for my Lord Jesus,

And for the sake of His Name;

Do it for the sake of His gospel,

So that I, its blessings gain.

 

Scripture notates the sins of others;

Written down for us as examples

To keep us from setting our hearts

On evil as did those of old.

Do not worship other gods of man;

Do not give your hearts to them;

Not partake in immorality.

Do not test your Lord and King.

 

So, be careful if you think you are

Standing firm in your faith in Jesus.                        

God has given his word to warn us,

So through faith we will not fall.

No temptation has o’ertaken you

Except what is commonplace.

God is faithful to not let you be

Tempted past what you can bear.

He gives the way of escape.

 

https://vimeo.com/116057811

 

We Must Obey God

An Original Work / May 23, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

However, Many Believed

They who spoke to the people were Peter and John:

Acts 4:1-4 NKJV

“Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”

If You Teach the Truth

How is this applicable to us today? Well, there are many people within the gatherings of the church (or what are falsely being called “the church”) who are hindering sincere followers of Jesus Christ from believing in and from sharing the truth taught us in the Scriptures with regard to the gospel of our salvation and regarding other critical areas related to the gospel message. For many of them are teaching lies disguised as truth in order to appease human flesh and/or to willfully lead people to believe what is false.

Many are teaching faith in Jesus Christ as lip service only. As long as they profess faith in Jesus with their lips they are promised salvation from all sin and eternal life with God guaranteed when they die, or when Jesus returns. Or even if they teach on repentance and obedience to our Lord’s commands, many of them are teaching these as optional, but as recommended, yet not required of God for salvation from sin and for eternal life with God. So, if you teach the truth, you may be asked to leave or to stop speaking altogether.

But Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

Persecuted for Righteousness’ Sake

Or, if you question what is being taught, in the appropriate manner and setting, and with the right attitude and voice, you might be shut down and asked to remain silent and for you to let the pastor be “God’s voice to you.” Or you might be told, “I was warned about people like you, people with strong convictions,” and you might be invited to go somewhere else where you will be “a better fit.” Or you might be falsely accused of what you did not do and told that you must tell a lie or be put on church discipline.

And if you teach what the Bible teaches is biblical Israel today, and who are the true biblical recipients of God’s promise to Abraham and to his seed, who are Jesus Christ and all who follow Jesus Christ with their lives, you may be told by some that you deserve to be burned at a stake, that you must die because you do not honor the Jews who deny Jesus as their Messiah. And you may be called a heretic for speaking the truth of what the Scriptures teach about who biblical Israel is today under the New Covenant.

And if you question what is being taught in the gatherings of the church, and some of the immorality going on within these gatherings, again, all in the proper context, you may be barred from setting foot on the church property and told the police will be called on you if you show up. Or if you question false teachings, and so you write about them, you may have friends who will hate you for it, attack you verbally, and try to convince you that it is the majority who are on the right path and not the minority (meaning you).

However, Many Believed

The good news about all of this, though, is that good can come out of bad. And, yes, I was sharing some of my own experiences here, but I am not the only one to face such situations as these, for there is so much corruption going on within so many of these businesses called “church.” And so many pastors and elders are catering to the felt needs of the ungodly in order to draw in large crowds into their gatherings. And so many of them are giving permission for people to keep living in sin and are rejecting the righteous.

But good can come out of bad situations. For me, the Lord eventually convinced me to leave these market-driven institutional gatherings which are partnered with the government and with the world. And he called me to the internet where he is using me to share the truth of the gospel and to refute the lies of the enemy and to call people to repentance and to walks of surrender to God in obedience to his commands. And these messages are being viewed by people in over 150 countries – all glory and praise to God!

So, don’t be disheartened if not only the world does not approve of you, but the religious, those who profess faith in the same God as we do, also reject you and toss you aside as unwanted because you hold fast to the truth of what God’s word teaches and you do not compromise righteousness and truth in order to appease human flesh. Keep the faith. And keep speaking the truth of God’s Word wherever they will allow you to speak openly about what the Scriptures teach. For those freedoms we now have could disappear.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Matthew 21:43; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 9:6-8,25-28; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 3:16,26-29; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-18; Ephesians 3:6; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6,22; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

As the Deer 

By Martin J. Nystrom

Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water

So my soul longeth after You

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield

To You alone may my spirit yield

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship You

However, Many Believed

An Original Work / May 23, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Jesus Christ Sent to Bless Us

in turning every one of us away from our sins

Peter and John had been instrumental in the healing of a man who had been lame from birth. A crowd gathered because of that, so Peter took that opportunity to speak to them about Jesus Christ. And he let them know plainly that they had denied the Holy One and the Just (Jesus), and that they had killed the Prince of life (Jesus), whom God raised from the dead. And it was through the name of Jesus that this man had been healed.

Acts 3:17-21 NKJV

“Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

Peter let them know that Jesus was the Christ, their Messiah who had come to them, but whom they had rejected, persecuted, and killed in ignorance. And he let them know that the suffering and death of Jesus was in fulfillment of the prophesy of Scripture about him. Therefore, they were to repent of their sins. And to repent is not just saying you are sorry you did bad things, but it is a change of heart and mind resulting in a change of behavior. You were going one direction and now you turn and go the opposite direction.

For Jesus taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and follow (obey) him. So, to be converted is not just to say, “I believe in Jesus,” and “Jesus is Lord,” and “I believe God raised him from the dead.” It is a complete reversal of life direction and change of heart and mind and behavior. It is a decision to now say “No!” to sin and “Yes!” to God and to obeying his commandments. It is walking the walk and not just talking it. It is living for Jesus every day, all day long.

Will we all be perfect at this all the time? Probably not. But lack of perfection is never to be used as an excuse for deliberate and habitual sin and the lack of genuine biblical repentance and changed hearts. For if sin is what we practice, and not obedience to our Lord and to his commands, when Jesus does return to take his faithful bride to be with him for eternity, we will not inherit eternal life with God. And Jesus will say that he does not know us. So genuine repentance is critical to our salvation and eternal life with God.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22] 

Acts 3:22-26 NKJV

22For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”

The subject matter here is Jesus Christ, the Christ, the Messiah whom the Jews had long awaited. He had come, but most of them rejected him, and so they had him put to death on a cross. He is the Prophet being spoken of here. He is the “seed of Abraham” in whom all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Jesus is the one who God sent first to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles, to bless us in turning everyone away from our sins (iniquities). For Jesus died that we might die to sin and walk in obedience to our Lord.

And we read in Galatians 3:16 & 29: “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ.” “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” And in Ephesians 2:15-16 we read: “..so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” 

Therefore, it is not the Jews who rejected Jesus as the Christ, their Messiah, who are the promised seed of Abraham, but it is Jesus Christ, and it is all who are in Christ by biblical faith in Jesus. We only are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise God made to Abraham and to his seed. All people who reject Jesus, Jews or Gentiles, are not heirs according to the promise God made to Abraham and to his seed if they do not believe in Jesus, and if they have not died to sin, and if they are not obeying our Lord.

[Genesis 17:7-9; Genesis 18:19; Matthew 21:43; John 8:18-19,38-47; John 10:16; Romans 2:28-29; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 9:4-8,25-28; Romans 11:1-36; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Galatians 3:16,26-29; Galatians 4:22-31; Ephesians 2:11-22; Ephesians 3:1-6; Colossians 3:12-15; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-16; Hebrews 8:6-13; 1 Peter 2:9-10,24; 1 John 2:22; Jude 1:5; Revelation 2:9; Revelation 3:9]   

As the Deer 

By Martin J. Nystrom

Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water

So my soul longeth after You

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield

To You alone may my spirit yield

You alone are my heart's desire

And I long to worship You

Jesus Christ Sent to Bless Us

in turning every one of us away from our sins

An Original Work / May 23, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Feed My Sheep

Simon Peter, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples, denied three times that he knew Jesus when Jesus was arrested for a crime he did not commit. But prior to this, when Peter declared to Jesus that he would lay down his life for Jesus’ sake, Jesus responded to Peter by saying to him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.” So Peter was forewarned. And when Peter had denied Jesus three times, indeed the rooster crowed, just as Jesus said.

 

John 21:15-17 NKJV

 

15So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

 

16He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

 

17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”

 

Do You Love Me?

 

And here, in the above verses, we have the account of Jesus asking Peter three times to profess his love for the Lord. Now some people believe this matters, while others don’t, but when Jesus asked Peter the first two times if Peter loved Jesus, he used the word “agapas,” which means to prefer, in this case to prefer what God prefers, to choose his choices, and to obey them in his power. It is to choose holy living, moral purity, honesty, honor, integrity, faithfulness, and obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in practice.

 

But when Peter responded to Jesus, saying that he loved him, he used the word Philo, which means to have an affection for, or to fondly delight in. And perhaps that might have been intentional. Perhaps, after Peter previously had declared such devotion to the Lord only to fail him by denying him three times, that he was not yet ready to boldly declare agape love for him. The Bible does not say. And on the third time, Jesus also used the word Philo, perhaps accepting what Peter was willing to declare and give at that time.

 

But of note, as well, the first time Jesus asked Peter if he loved him, he asked him if he loved him “more than these.” And the Scripture does not spell out for us what “more than these” he was referring to, though it could be referring to fishing, for that is what he had been doing. But Jesus could have meant more than everything this world has to offer, or more than his flesh might crave, or more than his comfort and friendships and security, or more than the acceptance and approval and love of other humans.

 

Feed My Sheep

 

But, either way, the point of what Jesus was asking Peter is that if truly he loved the Lord, he was to show it by feeding Jesus’ sheep. And he was not speaking of animals called “sheep,” but he was speaking of those who followed Jesus, who was their Shepherd. Peter was to feed Jesus’ followers with spiritual nourishment. He was to feed them the Word of God and the teachings of Christ for their edification and spiritual growth so they would walk in the ways of the Lord in holy living and no longer in sinful ways.

 

And Jesus is saying the same thing to us today who profess faith in Jesus Christ. Do we agape love the Lord? Are we committed to obeying his commands and putting sin to death in our lives and living holy lives, pleasing to God? Do we honestly prefer what God prefers? Then we should show it by how we live, and by what we do, and by what we speak. And we should show it by how we treat others and by sharing with them the teachings of Christ so that they, too, can love Jesus and walk in his ways, in his power.

 

For the Scriptures teach faith in Jesus as obedience to his commands. And they teach disobedience as unbelief. For if we claim that we know God or that we love God, but we do not obey his commands, in practice, we do not know him nor do we love him. And to love him is to serve him, and to minister his love and grace to others. And it is to put sin to death in our lives. For if sin is still our practice, we are not in fellowship with God. Jesus said we must deny self, die to sin, and obey him, to have eternal life in him.

 

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

 

My Sheep 

 

Based off John 10:1-30 NIV

An Original Work / June 24, 2012 

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

My sheep hear me. They know me.

They listen to my voice and obey.

I call them and lead them.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

They will never follow strangers.

They will run away from them.

The voice of a stranger they know not;

They do not follow him.

 

So, I tell you the truth that

I am the gate, so you enter in.

Whoever does enter

Will find forgiveness and will be saved.

Nonetheless whoever enters

Not by the gate; other way,

He is the thief and a robber.

Listen not, the sheep to him.

 

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,

Who laid his own life down for the sheep.

I know them. They know me.

They will live with me eternally.

The thief only comes to steal and

Kill and to destroy the church.

I have come to give you life that

You may have it to the full…

 

They know my voice, so they follow me.

 

https://vimeo.com/114938263

 

Feed My Sheep

An Original Work / May 22, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Why Do You Strike Me?

Jesus Christ was now under arrest on false charges. And he was appearing before the high priest.

 

John 18:19-24 NKJV

 

19The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. 20Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. 21Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

 

22And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” 23Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” 24Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

 

Facing the Opposition

 

If we are following Jesus Christ with our lives, in truth, and in godly living, according to the teachings of Christ and of his New Testament apostles, we will face opposition. And some of that opposition might even come from the religious, i.e. from pastors and/or elders of institutional churches or from others who also profess faith in Jesus Christ. But if we are living the truth of God’s word, and if we are sharing the truth of the gospel with others, why would they oppose us? Why would they accuse us of what we did not do?

 

I believe it is because so many of the religious are religious in form only but they are not in genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. Although they may profess faith in the Lord Jesus, they are not living the life that God has for us to live. But they are followers of man, and they are followers of the thinking of humans, and they are followers of the culture they live in rather than be followers of God. And some of them are still living in deliberate and habitual sin against the Lord, and so they are not following Jesus Christ in obedience.

 

An Altered Gospel

 

Thus, many of them have accepted an altered gospel message which appeases human flesh and which does not call for death to sin and obedience to God and to his commands. Or if they do teach repentance, they teach it more as someone just saying they are sorry for their sins, no change in lifestyle required. Or if they teach true repentance and obedience, they teach them more as optional, but not as required for salvation from sin and for eternal life with God. Few it seems teach the biblical gospel message.

 

So, if you are someone who holds to the truths of the Scriptures, and who lives the life that God requires of us who profess faith in Jesus Christ, and who shares the truth of the gospel with others, you may find yourself being opposed and criticized and falsely accused of wrong you did not do by people who are outwardly religious but whose lives are not surrendered to the Lord in obedience to his commands. For so many are following and teaching an altered “gospel” that is not the biblical gospel of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

Punished for Doing Good

 

Jesus Christ was punished for doing good, not for doing evil. He was stricken because he spoke truth to the people and not the lies that so many were telling and believing. He confronted sin in sinful humans, and he did not pamper anyone in their sin. And he told them the absolute truth about what will happen to them if they reject him as their Lord, and if they refuse to deny self, die to sin, and obey his commands. They will not have salvation from sin, and they will not have eternal life with God, plain and simple.

 

And so they hated him for that! And they wanted him dead, because he did not cater to their whims, and he did not appease them in their sins, and he did not overlook their unrighteous, cruel, and hateful deeds. But he told them the truth they did not want to hear. But did he also teach on love and kindness and generosity and compassion? Yes! Most certainly! But love is preferring what God prefers, which is what is righteous, holy, morally pure, upright, kind, faithful, honest, and obedient to our Lord and his commands.

 

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

 

When I Am Afraid

 

Based off Psalms 56-57

An Original Work / October 17, 2016

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

When I am afraid, Lord, I will trust in You.

Your Word, Lord, I praise. I yield my life to You.

Enemies pursue me, slandering Your Name.

Lord, have mercy. I trust in You. Hear my cry today.

 

Lord, I love Your Word. It comforts me today,

As I look to you, and bow my head and pray.

You are Christ, my Lord. You saved me from my sin,

That I may walk, Lord before You, purified within.

 

Steadfast is my heart, O God, I sing of You.

I will praise You, Lord. To You, I will be true.

Oh, how great Your love. Your faithfulness endue.

Be exalted, God of heaven. Glory be to You.

 

https://vimeo.com/187821104

 

Why Do You Strike Me?

An Original Work / May 22, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

The Betrayal

John 18:1-11 NKJV

 

1When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”

 

5They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

 

10Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

 

Jesus Christ

 

Jesus Christ is not only the only begotten Son of God, born of woman, and conceived of the Holy Spirit, but he is God, the second person of our triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus always existed with God, and he is our creator God. And he was the spiritual Rock from whom the Israelites drank during their time in the wilderness. And he is the one they also tested in the wilderness (see 1 Corinthians 10:1-11). And all the time that Jesus lived on the earth he was fully God and fully human (God incarnate).

 

Jesus left his throne in heaven and came to earth, was born as a baby, grew to be a man, and he healed the sick and afflicted, raised the dead, delivered people from demons, fed the hungry, and performed all sorts of miracles. And he also preached repentance and obedience to God for forgiveness of sins and for eternal life with God. But his people, the Jews, mostly hated him, tested and tried him, plotted evil against him, and eventually carried out his death on a cross. And they who deny Jesus are antichrist.

 

The Betrayal

 

Jesus Christ had 12 men disciples who worked alongside him in ministry during his three years of ministry on the earth before his death. Judas was one of them, but Judas betrayed Jesus to his enemies which then brought Jesus to death on a cross. But this was in God’s plan that Jesus should die on a cross, for in his death he put our sins to death with him, and in his resurrection he rose in victory over sin, Satan, hell, and death so that, by faith in him, we might now die to sin and follow Jesus in obedience.

 

And Jesus warned us that if we follow him with our lives, in surrender to his will, in obedience to his commands, that we will be treated as he was treated. We will be hated, rejected, called evil, persecuted, mocked, and betrayed, too, some of us to the death. And our betrayers could be people of our own families, or others who profess faith in Jesus Christ, or they could be pastors or elders in the gatherings of the church, or they could be our political leaders who promise us good while they work evil against us.

 

Drinking the Cup

 

Jesus did not fight against his persecutors. He knew this was God’s will for his life. He knew his purpose in coming to the earth was to save us from our sins. And he accepted the fact that it meant him having to be put to death on that cross. So he accepted the cup of suffering that he knew he must endure in order that, by faith in him, we might die to sin and walk in obedience to his commands in holy living – all in the power of God. And he did this out of love for you and me so we would go free from bondage to sin.

 

And we, as well, if we are to serve the Lord Jesus with our lives, and if we are to share the truth of the gospel as Jesus taught it to the people, then we must also accept the cup of suffering we will most certainly have to endure because we stand on the truth of God’s word, and we don’t compromise with the world of sin. We must be willing to be hated, rejected, ignored, and treated like trash because we speak the truth that many do not want to hear, because we love God and we love the people enough to tell them the truth.

 

[Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 10:16-25,34-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 12:49-53; Luke 21:12-17; John 15:18-21; John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Romans 5:3-5; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 3:7-11; 1 Peter 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12-17; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5; James 1:2-4; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; Hebrews 12:3-12; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-13]

 

For Our Nation 

 

An Original Work / September 11, 2012

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Recording Via Gerry Peters, music producer and arranger

 

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.

Jesus Christ is gently calling

You to follow Him in all ways.

Trust Him with your life today.

Make Him your Lord and your Savior.

Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.

He will forgive you of your sin;

Cleanse your heart, made new within.

 

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.

On our knees to God we’re praying,

Seeking God to give us answers

That are only found in Him.

God is sovereign over all things.

Nothing from His mind escaping.

He has all things under His command,

And will work all for good.

 

Jesus Christ is gently calling

You to follow Him in all ways.

 

Men deceiving: We’re believing

In our Lord, and interceding

For our nation and its people

To obey their God today.

He is our hope for our future.

For our wounds He offers suture.

He is all we need for this life.

Trust Him with your life today.

 

https://vimeo.com/379406352

 

The Betrayal

An Original Work / May 21, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love